“Jenna!” Elizabeth grabbed hold of the desk behind her for support. “What are you doing in here?”
“I might ask the same of you,” she returned in a voice of utter calm, leaning against the door and watching Elizabeth.
“I’ve come to—” Elizabeth stopped herself from defending her reason for being here. She was unsettled by Jenna’s unconcerned manner. “I do not believe I owe you an explanation.” With an attempt to match the other woman’s demeanor, Elizabeth walked to the opposite window and drew aside the heavy drapery, flooding the room with light. Turning once more to face Jenna, she gestured to the desk. “Why were you searching it?”
Jenna smiled, but there was no warmth in her eyes. “Like you, Elizabeth, I don’t wish to explain. But you are forgetting the colonel is my husband’s commanding officer.”
“Jenna, I’m tired of your lies. If you think to play me for a fool, I beg you to reconsider the thought. You have no right to search this room, you have no right to be in it. And if you think I will not inform Colonel Saxton of your being here when he returns, then it is you who plays the fool.”
“My, my, the little mouse has courage.”
Elizabeth curled her fingers tight to prevent her from giving in to the urge to slap her face silly. Jenna’s soft laugh sent her blood up. “Perhaps you would like to explain your presence to one of the officers at the War Department.”
“And you’re catty, too.” With a careless shrug, Jenna came away from the door. “Stop making idle threats to me. If I am questioned you can be sure I’ll expose your part in all this.”
“My part?” Elizabeth almost choked on the words but recalled Emily’s warning of the very same. “Dear Lord, it is true. You’re spying for the Yankees.”
Jenna neither denied nor confirmed it as she prowled around the room.
“Where have you been, Jenna?”
“That’s of no import to you.” Coming to the desk, Jenna scattered papers until she found the one she wanted. Holding the folded missive, she turned to face Elizabeth.
“How did you manage to get Colter’s mail?” she demanded of Jenna, thoroughly incensed.
“Colter, is it?” Jenna asked with a curious lift of her brow. “My, we are on friendly terms with the colonel, aren’t we?”
“Stop it, Jenna. You’re insulting. And attempting to distract me won’t work. Now, tell me how you got hold of his mail.”
“Hasn’t anyone told you that scowling will age you, dear?” Jenna chided, but when Elizabeth stepped forward, she hastened to add, “Oh, very well. I merely flirted a bit with the clerk, and when he bent to pick up a dropped package, I removed the packet from his box.” With a mocking look that swept Elizabeth from head to toe, she remarked, “Men are rather easy to manipulate, if you know how.”
“I’m sure it is a skill you have perfected, Jenna. For myself, I have never cared to manipulate anyone. And I believe this conversation is going nowhere. You have no intention of telling me why you’re here. I will draw my own conclusions and act accordingly.”
Elizabeth started for the door and turned once more. “For your sake, I hope you are rid of those notes you stole. Mrs. Marstand is suspicious of you.”
“Warning the enemy, Elizabeth? How charming of you. But you see, I’ve grown tired of all this Virginia politeness and being brave, along with having to work for a pittance. Don’t worry your pretty little head over me.”
“I am not concerned for you at all, Jenna. I was thinking of your husband risking his life, while you betray everything he is fighting for.”
Elizabeth waited, hoping for a sign that Jenna felt some remorse. The woman began tapping the letter she held against her open palm, studying Elizabeth.
“Before you leave, you should read this, Mrs. Waring.”
Elizabeth paled. In her confusion of hearing Jenna use her married name, she took the letter from her and turned blindly for the door.
“No, don’t leave. Read it here, Elizabeth.”
“Why?”
“Just read it.”
Elizabeth unfolded the letter without looking at it. For a moment, she thought she spied compassion in Jenna’s eyes, but knew she had been mistaken when a cold smile creased her lips. Elizabeth began to read the letter.
December 12, 1862
To Colonel Colter W. Saxton, C.S.A.
Richmond, Virginia
Please accept my apology for the delay in answering your request as to the whereabouts of James Waring. I have just this week returned to active duty after being wounded, and received post forwarded from the secretary.
Under the circumstances surrounding the losses at Shiloh, what you have asked might well have been an impossible task. Far too many of our soldiers lost their lives, but none haunts my memory as does James Waring.
I will not attempt to recall the details for you. On the night of April 5th, after day-long skirmishes between our forces under the command of General Albert Johnston against the Union forces led by Grant, James Waring proved himself to be that most detestable of men, a coward. By my own witness, he was shot down by men under his most immediate command when he attempted to run before the coming battle.
It grieves me to report this to you, since you have professed close friendship with this party. To further answer your query, I myself wrote to the family, notifying them of his death and asking what arrangements they wished to make. No reply was received. There is an unmarked grave in the tangled brush on a small hill; I believe his body is there. It also may interest you to know there is rumored to be a widow and child, but it is not my providence to verify this.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Lieut. G. Beauregard, C.S.A.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” Jenna asked.
Elizabeth continued to stare at the letter she held, tears streaming down her face, unaware that she had cried out. James, poor James, to have lived beneath Alma’s strong hand and now in death to be branded a coward.
“You had no idea that your husband was dead?” Elizabeth glanced up and shook her head, feeling the wetness of her tears. She fumbled in her reticule for a linen hankie, turning away until she composed herself.
“What will you do, Elizabeth?”
“Do?” she repeated, facing Jenna. She couldn’t seem to order her thoughts. A strange calm overtook her, one that left her blessedly numb.
Jenna moved to the wardrobe and opened the door. From the top shelf, she removed a decanter of bourbon and two glasses. “I don’t know about you, but I am in need of a drink.” She poured out full tumblers for each and handed one to Elizabeth. “Drink it down. You’re as white as the bed linen.”
With a tremoring hand, Elizabeth reached for the extended glass. She felt as if the blood had drained from her body. After her first sip of liquor, she felt a surging force, almost like a sudden storm, bringing flashes of Alma’s grief-stricken face before her. The grief had been real, but the rest was lies…lies that had tormented her. All this time, Alma had known that James was dead.
Elizabeth closed her eyes, unable to bear her own thoughts, fighting now against the memories that were returning against her will to batter her.
“No. No!” she cried out, spilling the drink in her hand.
“Stop it,” Jenna ordered, coming to her side and slapping her face. “Do you want every damn gray-coat in the place to come rushing in here?”
“You don’t know,” Elizabeth moaned, losing control. “You don’t know what she did to me.”
“And I don’t want to.”
“She nearly destroyed me. She tried to take away my child.”
“A child?” Jenna repeated. With a shrewd look, she took the glass from Elizabeth and finished it herself. The burn of the liquor eased her pain. The loss of her child was not a lie. Jenna shook her head. She couldn’t allow herself to get caught up in the past. Glancing around the room, she shrugged at the disarray and set the glass down on the desk. Tomorrow she had to leave Richmond. At the door, she turned back to look at Elizabeth.
“Come with me. We can’t stay here any longer.” But she had to go and take hold of her arm, since Elizabeth appeared to be incapable of moving on her own. Closing the door, Jenna saw the hallway was empty.
Elizabeth hung back. “Tell me, did you find that letter in Colter’s desk or the packet of mail you stole?”
“I didn’t steal his mail. Stealing implies the taking and not returning. I merely borrowed it for a short time. But the letter was in the packet,” she snapped, stung by the accusation and unwilling to ask herself why she bothered to answer her. Voices coming from the direction of the stairwell alarmed her. “Come to my room, Elizabeth. We can’t wait here.”
“No. I must see Alma. She tried to have Nicole taken and she won’t stop until she has her. But she has no right. I have proof of that now.”
“Well, you can’t go traipsing all over Richmond alone at night.” Almost dragging Elizabeth down the hall with her, Jenna pushed open her door.
“Not Richmond. Petersburg. I’ve got to go to Petersburg.”
“The Union forces are down there. Oh, damn you! Get inside. Why I should even think of helping you, I don’t know.”
Elizabeth went with her simply because she could not find the strength to argue.
“Give them the wagon and mules, Josh,” Emily ordered.
“But Miz Elizabeth’s waitin’—”
“And you heard Captain Halleck explain they have wounded men to transport.” Emily glanced at the mounted patrol of Confederate soldiers. Four men rode double with the injured men held in an upright position in front of them.
“If you’ve blankets to spare, ma’am, they’d be mighty ’predated.”
Shivering beneath her light shawl, Emily turned to Rutha. “You heard the captain. Find all we can spare.” Emily knew he was merely being polite by asking and would not hesitate to take what he needed for himself or his men.
Muttering to himself, Josh stalked off to the barn as a grumbling Rutha slipped back inside the house.
“Don’t suppose you’d have a little something to warm a man’s innards, ma’am?”
“Liquor, Captain?”
“Be fine, if you do.” But he was sniffing the aroma that drifted out from the open kitchen door.
Emily thought of Colter’s bottle of bourbon and swore silently to herself. She would give him the spirits, but that kettle of venison stew would have fed them for three days. No matter how small the portions, it would barely divide to feed all these men. But even as she turned to call out to Rutha to fetch the liquor, she thought of Colter stopping at some farm, hungry, and asking for something to eat while his stomach rumbled like the captain’s.
“You and your men are welcome to share what little we have.”
They refused to come inside, so Rutha continued her muttering under her breath while she filled bowls and cups with stew and carried them outside. Josh followed behind her, dispensing the last of their real coffee. But by the time they were done serving, they, too, remembered Colter, and wore smiles as praise was generously offered for the makeshift meal.
“I’ll make sure your wagon and mules are returned, ma’am,” the captain said, once they were mounted and his wounded men made comfortable in the wagon bed.
Emily doubted she would ever see them again. She dismissed the idea of telling him that they were the property of a colonel. Once the wagon and mules reached Richmond, someone would have need of them and likely not care who had owned them.
“You do that, Captain. And if I may ask a favor in return, could you give a message to my niece? She resides on Franklin Street and was coming for a visit.”
“Be happy to, ma’am.”
Emily made the message brief and wished them all well. Following Rutha and Josh into the kitchen, she latched the door and faced their reproachful stares.
“Now, you two know I had no choice. At least by giving them the wagon and mules and sharing food with them, they didn’t take anything.”
“An’ Miz Elizabeth’s waitin’ for me,” Josh reminded her.
“I know. I can only trust that the captain will keep his word and deliver the message to her. And as much as I dislike asking, Mister Josh, you’ll have to walk to the city tomorrow. I should have asked them to take you with them.”
“Be a heap glad you didn’t. I wasn’t ’bout to ride with them.”
“An’ he don’t like bein’ out in this dark, Miz Emily,” Rutha stated.
“Well, then, it’s settled,” Emily answered in a brisk voice. “Tomorrow you’ll leave at first light. And I pray that Elizabeth realizes something prevented you from fetching her.”
“Miz Beth ain’t no chil’. She ain’t gonna do no fool thing an’ risk hurtin’ that sweet chil’,” Rutha said, scraping the last of the stew from the kettle to fill three bowls.
“You’re right, Rutha. Elizabeth is a sensible young woman.”
Being sensible at this moment did not enter into Elizabeth’s mind. Her whole being was consumed with confronting Alma Waring. It was the only thought she had in mind as she made her way home from the hotel. Her head ached from the constant questions she asked herself, and the lack of answers. Her control was hanging by a slim thread, and it almost broke when she walked into the house and saw Dobie’s haversack near the door and no sign of Josh waiting for her.
Nicole rushed to her side, telling her what she already knew. Dobie had to leave and Josh wasn’t here. But she was surprised that Dobie questioned where she had been.
“Working,” she snapped. “We are shorthanded.” But she couldn’t look at him or understand why she lied.
“Can’t rightly figure what happened to Josh. Know he got my message.”
“How can you be sure?” she asked, managing to speak calmly.
“Farm up the road from Miss Emily’s, ’bout four or five miles, raises hogs an’ the corporal heading up the detail promised he’d see to it. Wasn’t more than three or four hours ago that he stopped by.”
“Maybe a mule went lame or he lost a wheel. Don’t worry, Dobie.”
“Can’t help that, but I can’t wait any longer.”
She held out her hand and then flung her arms around his neck, giving him a quick hug. Stepping back, she warned him to take good care of himself.
“I will. And I’ll try to come by and see you all.”
“We’ll miss you, Dobie,” she said, holding Nicole at her side, knowing that she wouldn’t be there if he did manage to come.
Dobie hunkered down before Nicole. “You won’t be forgetting all I taught you, will you?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head.
He caught her small chin with a gentle hold, ignoring the quiver of her lips. “You’re a real brave girl, but I’ll be needing a big smile to take with me.”
Nicole tried but couldn’t quite give him a real smile. She, too, flung her small arms around his neck, clinging tightly to him, until he removed her arms and stood up.
“Tell the colonel—”
“I’ll explain,” she cut in, anxious for him to go. “And don’t worry about us.”
He picked up his sack and with a curt nod, he left.
“Mama, we’re all alone now.”
Elizabeth stared down at her daughter but didn’t see her. She knew what she had to do to buy peace and a future for her daughter, herself and Colter. What she had not counted on was having Nicole with her.
“Have you had your supper, Nicole?”
“Yes, Mama. Mister Dobie an’ me together.”
“Good. I want you to go to sleep because in the morning at first light we are going to take a trip.”
“To Miss Emily’s?”
“No, precious. We’re going on the train. To see someone who…” Elizabeth stopped, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter. But I need you to be very good for me.”
“A train? I never had a ride on one.”
“No. No, you never did.” She rushed Nicole through her bedtime, impatient tonight, for she had to wait for Jenna and the passes she had promised to secure should the need arise for Elizabeth and Nicole to pass through the Yankee lines.
A fleeting thought crossed her mind that either Jenna was an excellent forger or the city of Richmond played host to more Northern spies than anyone was aware of.
She paced the length of the hall as she waited and finally considered the danger she was placing both herself and Nicole in. But a devil’s voice nagged at her, promising that if she confronted Alma and all the lies of the past that had twisted her life, she would be free.
Free to love Colter without a hint of shame. Free to have him claim Nicole as his daughter. Free of the terrible guilt she carried for never having loved James, for she had finally come to understand that he had merely been Alma’s pawn.
When Jenna arrived, she refused to come in. Their conversation was hushed. Elizabeth took the papers and before she had thanked Jenna or asked what she intended to do, the woman was gone.
Elizabeth closed the door, and knew that a mental door latched at the same time. If Jenna left Richmond, Elizabeth vowed to keep silent about what she knew.
Too restless to sleep, she packed a basket of food to see them through the day, for she had no intention of spending more time than she needed with Alma.
With this single-minded purpose driving her, she sat and waited for morning. In the pale dawn light, Elizabeth bundled up her sleepy child and left the house.
Under the same overcast sky, Josh, wrapped in the quilt Emily insisted he take to wear over his wool jacket, began his long walk into Richmond to get Elizabeth and Nicole.