Counterfeit Courtship (2 page)

As Ellie neared the back door, Sugar got up from the rug and let out a sharp bark. Ellie grabbed the braided leather leash from the nail she'd hung the dog's leashes on for the past ten years. Fastening it to Sugar's matching soft leather collar, she gave silent thanks to God for allowing them to keep their ancestral home, as stately as Graham's and even larger. Others around them had suffered much more than she and her uncle had, but now the war was over, and they could all make a new start.

Everything would be fine—if Uncle Amos recovered. And if Magnolia Grove returned a profit this year.

The thought took her breath. As the only father she'd known since the age of twelve, her uncle had to get well. But he had shown little improvement since the early days of his affliction, and she had to face that fact.

Magnolia Grove stood an even smaller chance of improving—and now it was up to Ellie to make that happen. At least she still had ground to work. Graham, on the other hand, had little to come home to.

If things had been different, he might have come home to her.

She brushed aside the thought as always. Their world had changed—they'd changed—since that summer night when he'd come calling, a bouquet of white crape myrtle in his hand and his heart in his eyes.

If only she'd been free to accept his offer...

The black-and-white-spotted English setter barked again and tugged at the leash. Ellie made her sit, then she scratched behind the dog's floppy, curly ears and opened the door. With Sugar nearly dragging her toward Graham's home, she let her gaze drift over the white house with its two-story columns and Doric capitals.

A white handkerchief hung from his bedroom window, fluttering in the gentle breeze.

Their distress signal?

She picked up her pace, Sugar trotting ahead of her. He'd been home ten minutes. What calamity could have happened in that time? And why ask for help from her, of all people?

She caught sight of him in the stable and hastened toward him. “Graham, welcome home.”

He turned toward her from the horse he was brushing. If she thought earlier that he'd changed, she now saw how much. Once the best-looking boy in Natchez, today he could turn every woman's head in Mississippi. Of a stronger build than she remembered, and still in his uniform, he looked at once both powerful and intimidating—and yet she felt strangely safe with him. His dark hair brushed his collar, needing a trim, and he wore several days' growth of beard, but the lack of scissors and razor couldn't detract from his stunning looks.

His eyes had changed the most. She'd dreaded this day in the past weeks, not wanting to see cold, war-hardened eyes. But instead, she found gray-green eyes that had surely seen the worst of horrors—horrors he had commanded—and yet had become even softer than before.

They no longer held his heart in them—at least not for her. At the thought, she drew a long, slow breath of thanksgiving that held a pinch of bitter disappointment as well.

“Ellie.” He dropped his currycomb onto a low table. Then he bowed from the waist, a little too formally, considering their long friendship. “Perhaps you'd rather I call you Miss Ellie, or Miss Anderson.”

“That would be silly.” Equally silly was her sudden pleasure in hearing his deep, velvety voice. “Why did you hang the distress flag?”

He drew a ragged breath and glanced toward the house, his eyes intense, as if he was heading into battle. “I'm in trouble.”

“You?” Ellie couldn't help laughing. “The hero of Natchez needs my help?”

“It's female trouble.”

Female? “Well, you do work quickly. Don't expect me to get you out of a hasty engagement or any such nonsense.”

“It's nothing like that.” The intensity in his eyes lessened a bit, so maybe her teasing had lightened his mood. “A whole flock of women was here when I got home. They came inside with me, but Noreen's gone.”

“Is that all? All you have to do is put on some water for tea. Noreen keeps a few cookies in the pantry, so put them on one of her Spode dishes—”

“I don't want to serve refreshments. I want them out of the house so I can find Noreen.”

The man must have been too war-weary to think straight. “She'll be back. You can surely tolerate an hour with a few pretty women.”

“You don't understand. Something's wrong. I know she left in a hurry, because her half-eaten breakfast is still sitting in the library. And Father's revolver is missing.”

Now, that was different. “In that case, tell them you need to go. If Miss Noreen left dirty dishes, something has happened.”

“They're not going to listen.”

She thought for a moment, watching Sugar inch closer to the horse.

“Don't worry. I have a plan.”

Chapter Two

I
have a plan.
How many times in his life had Graham regretted having heard those words? He had a feeling he was going to regret it again. “All I want you to do is go in there and ask those women to leave while I look for Noreen.”

“If that's all it takes, you do it,” Ellie said in her easy drawl.

The sick feeling in Graham's stomach intensified to a burn. How was he supposed to tell her that, since he left her house that night eight years ago, he had spent almost no time with women and had no idea how to handle them? What was he supposed to say—that he'd led men into battle but couldn't lead a gaggle of women out of his home? After all his time at war, he simply didn't trust himself with the social graces. But the grin on Ellie's face told him she wasn't interested in hearing about it anyway.

Well, she was going to hear about it, whether she liked it or not. “Look, I've been three days without a bath and in the saddle the past day and a half, and I smell worse than a wet dog. I've been stripped of everything I own, plus my citizenship, and now to be disgraced in front of all those ladies— I still have my pride. I can't do it.”

“My plan is brilliant. Trust me.”

He blew out his breath, sounding a little like Dixie when she saw something she didn't like. “Don't even tell me about it. You're just like the Confederacy—full of great ideas that never quite work out.”

“I'm honored to be compared to the glorious Confederate States of America.”

To his dismay, she smiled her sweet smile. He'd wanted to make her mad, prod her into helping him. Why couldn't she just do as he asked?

Then he realized she was baiting him, as she had for years when they were young.

“Fine. Carry out your plan. But I don't want any part of it.” He stuck his foot in the stirrup, swung himself onto Dixie's back and guided her out of the stable.

Just as he was about to tap the horse's flank and take off, Ellie slipped out of the stable and closed the door, leaving the dog inside. She climbed the marble carriage steps and then took him by the arm and started to hoist herself right up there in front of him.

“What are you doing?” Against his will, Graham helped her mount. He'd left this woman here eight years ago, and she'd gone crazy while he was away. Now he not only had to get five girls out of his house, but he had to get another one off his horse.

“Ride up to the front of the house and pass as close to the south parlor windows as you can. You put the girls in the parlor, right?”

“Where else would I put them? The cellar?”

She leaned back against him. “Get the horse moving, and act as if you like it.”

“Ellie, we're not children anymore. This isn't one of your schemes. Noreen could be in trouble.”

“The sooner you stop talking and ride up there, the sooner you'll be gone to look for her.”

How did she always make everything sound so logical? But in his situation, what else could he do? He nudged Dixie with his heel and she took off.

“Slower. We're supposed to be enjoying this.”

He gritted his teeth so hard, they might break, and he slowed the horse. When they were ten yards from the window, Ellie began to giggle.

She really had gone crazy.

Turning back to look at him, she stopped the laugh cold and spoke through her teeth as she smiled. “You're scowling like an old schoolmarm. Smile and act as if you like me.”

After all those years of war and responsibility, he wasn't sure he remembered how. He tried a rather tentative grin but it felt like a grimace.

“Better but not good. Think of something pleasant.”

“Be glad you get this much. I'm out of practice.”

As they passed the windows, Ellie primped a little and giggled again. “They're looking right at us. Smile.”

This was ridiculous. He urged Dixie across the side yard and to the front hitching post, although he didn't exactly want to advertise the fact he was home. He didn't need any more women showing up. “Now what?”

“Help me down.” She gave Dixie a good pat on the head and then held on to Graham as she slipped to the ground, her white hoopskirts twirling.

He dismounted and secured the horse. Then they ambled up the walk, Ellie clasping his arm as Susanna had done earlier. “I'm surprised you can stand being this close to me,” he said.

She looked up at him, her eyes blue as the sky and almost as wide. “You're not that bad.”

“I was referring to my hygiene—or lack of it.”

“I admit you don't smell like a crape—” She cut herself off and lowered her head, a flush across her cheeks.

But he knew what she was going to say. Crape myrtle. He'd wanted to cut down that tree eight years ago, and he would have, if Father hadn't stopped him.

She remembered too. And since he didn't know what to say to break this sudden, awkward silence, he let it remain.

Actually, after the first few seconds, it wasn't so bad. Quiet was a rare thing around Ellie.

On the gallery, he opened the door for her as he had for those girls. And the quiet stopped.

“Graham, how nice of you to give me a ride. I'd been counting the days until your return.” Ellie tugged at his arm and pulled him along with her until they stood outside the parlor doorway. Then she looked up into his face and batted her lashes at him, smiling like a debutante. “I can't believe you're finally home. Now we can—”

She pulled her gaze from him and turned to the parlor. “Oh, dear. You have guests.”

Graham ventured a glance into the parlor. If Ellie was trying to get their attention, she'd accomplished her goal. They all sat motionless as sharpshooters, and a few had their mouths open.

Then, before he could figure out what she was doing, she took his hand and nudged him toward the parlor. Now what? Holding Ellie's hand in front of these girls was more awkward than the silence had been.

“Graham was on his way upstairs to freshen himself after his journey.” She looked at him with those big eyes again. “Go ahead, honey. I'll serve refreshments.”

This time she pushed him toward the stairs. Whatever she was trying to do, at least he'd get a quick sponge bath. Nothing else was going the way he wanted today, so why shouldn't he take ten minutes to get cleaned up? It would have taken a lot longer than that if he'd had to wait for those women to decide to leave. Come to think of it, he couldn't very well go out to look for Noreen as long as he smelled like a horse. A dirty, sweaty, dust-covered horse.

Although it was hard telling what he'd have to deal with when he got back down here.

* * *

“Ladies, if you'll excuse me, I'll fetch some cookies and tea.” Ellie started for the hall, knowing full well she wouldn't get out the parlor door, acting the hostess this way in Graham's home. Immediately, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see the group rushing toward her, hoopskirts dancing with the motion.

“We appreciate the offer, but we must decline,” Susanna Martin said, making the decision for the whole group as usual. “We came to see the colonel, and since he will be occupied for a time, we'll come back another day.”

Ellie moved farther into the room and perched on the edge of a gold damask settee. She took a white lace handkerchief from her day-dress pocket and flicked an imaginary fleck of dust from the gas lamp next to her. “Whatever you say, Susanna.”

She needn't have wondered about the effect of her actions. The girls, all from her Pearl Street neighborhood, sat back down as well and began asking questions all at once.

The charade was rather enjoyable, and Ellie let them answer their own questions for a time. Then she held up one hand. “Ladies! Your mothers would be appalled at your manners.”

“Colonel Talbot was right here in this room with us just minutes before the two of you came in. How did you end up riding with him?” Not surprisingly, Susanna took the lead.

“He sent a message for me. A white flag, so to speak.”

“While we were all in the house?”

“It would seem so.”

“But you never allow a man to come calling.”

Ellie cast her gaze out the parlor door and toward the staircase. “Of course not.”

“How long have you had this understanding with Colonel Talbot?”

“Understanding?”

“I heard years ago that he proposed marriage to you. Is that true?”

Ellie turned her face to the floor in what she hoped looked like a demure gesture. “It's true.”

“Something's not right about this.” Susanna stood and made for the door. “I don't believe you and the colonel are courting at all.”

“Believe what you like, Susanna. It makes no difference to me.” Ellie walked with her to the entrance, and the other girls trailed in their wake. “See you at church on Sunday.”

When she'd shut the door behind them, Ellie fetched Sugar from the stable and brought her back to the parlor. Although she still wanted to go to Magnolia Grove before the heat of the day, she probably needed to stay until Graham came downstairs.

She went to the library to collect the dirty dishes he had said were there, and she washed them in the kitchen dependency. This area was as clean as if Miss Noreen still had a staff of twelve servants. How she kept it that way was beyond Ellie. If Lilah May and Roman hadn't stayed on after the others left, the Anderson home would be in sorry shape.

Moments after she had dried and put away the dishes, she heard Graham clambering down the stairs. Ellie hastened through the breezeway to the dining room and then the center hall.

“They're gone?” he asked, freshly bathed, shaved and dressed in what must be his father's suit—a good idea, considering all the Union troops still occupying the city. “How did you manage it?”

“I didn't manage much of anything.” Ellie moved to the sunny spot Sugar always chose on the faded runner extending from the front entrance to the back door. The dog ignored her until she picked up the leash. Then she came to life, prancing in anticipation of going outside.

“I told nothing but truth, but I let them come to the conclusion that we are courting.”

“But we're not courting.”

“Lands, no. But since they think so, they got out of here in a hurry. You're free to go and look for Miss Noreen.”

The look of dismay on Graham's face was not what she'd expected. “I can't believe you did that. Don't you realize why they left in such a hurry?”

“Of course. They wanted to leave us to our happiness.”

He sat down hard on the wooden settle bench along the hall's east side and dropped his head into his hands. Just the way he always had when one of her childhood schemes had gone wrong. “No, they didn't. Have you forgotten who you're dealing with? Susanna left here to spread the ‘news' all over Natchez.”

“I'm not sure about that...” Or was she? What if he was right?

“The entire Pearl Street neighborhood will know by the time the party starts. Maybe the whole town.” He raised his head and impaled her with his gray-green eyes. “You did it again, Ellie.”

“What did I do?”

“You trapped me in another of your great ideas without thinking it through. That's why these plans of yours don't work out. You don't stop to think.”

“I thought about it—”

“You never think beyond the present. You have to start considering the consequences of your actions.”

Hadn't she heard that all her life? First from her parents, then from Uncle Amos and the tutors he'd gotten for her. “I can't help it if the consequences surprise me, can I?”

He groaned. “We're going to have to figure out what to do. After I find Noreen.”

“Graham, I'm sorry—”

“You say that every time too.”

Well, maybe she did, but that was better than not saying it.

Graham got up and started for the door. “I'm going to see if the neighbors know anything about Noreen. This afternoon, we'll decide what to do about this. And how I'm going to get out of going to Aunt Ophelia's party.”

The party. Ellie retrieved her note from her dress pocket and handed it to him. “I was going to slide this under your door, but then I saw your signal.”

She grabbed Sugar's leash and followed Graham outside as a carriage pulled up near the spot where his horse snitched mouthfuls of grass from the yard's edge. Within moments, Miss Noreen stepped unassisted from the conveyance. She turned and faced the carriage door and held out her arms. Someone placed a bundle into them.

A bundle that squirmed and cried...