Glory Over Everything (45 page)

I sat back from the table to stare at this willful girl.

She met my gaze. “Life is meant to be lived,” she said, “and I mean to live it!”

I laughed aloud, causing the few others dining to look in our direction. “Miss Spencer,” I said, leaning forward, “what a pleasure it is to know you.”

“Now, that, Mr. Burton,” she said, adjusting her lavender and green traveling bonnet, “is more to my liking.”

W
HEN WE ALL
crammed back in the carriage, to everyone's joy, we left behind the goat and carried instead a hamper filled not only with a fine lunch but also with two cold bottles of goat milk, more than enough to see Kitty through the last of our journey. We were certain to make it to Williamsburg by evening, and though my relief was great, my heart dreaded the arrival, for then I would be forced into decisions that I did not want to make.

I
T WAS EVENING
when we rolled up to our destination. Yellow candles flickered in the many windows that fronted the street of the Madden home.

According to Robert, Mr. Madden had died ten years previous during an influenza epidemic, but the elder Mrs. Madden, my grandmother's sister, still lived in their home, though she was now something of an invalid. Miss Meg, her daughter, and Miss Eleanor, Lavinia's daughter and my half sister, both resided with her. It was thanks to Miss Meg, who had retained the integrity of the property with vigilant maintenance, that the house presented such a pretty picture.

It wasn't as large a dwelling as many I had seen, but it was sizable enough that a number of servants would have been required. The two-story home was painted white with black shutters and had low wings that rambled off on either side. Gardens in the front were surrounded by white fencing, while brick paths wound back to whitewashed outbuildings.

Two women rushed out the door as our driver pulled the horses to a stop. I was the first one out. The older woman, who came forward carrying a lantern, was short and rather round. Her hair was knotted at the back of her head, with gray and brown strands frizzing out from the security of hairpins. If I had been pressed, I would have guessed her to be in her early forties. She had a lopsided gait, and because of a cane, she was more slow-moving than the redheaded younger woman who sprinted in front of her.

Lavinia! I stopped myself from calling out her name, for of course it couldn't have been her. Yet here was her replica, though this woman was no more than in her mid-twenties. In the end, the eyes made all the difference. Where Lavinia's amber eyes had been demure and shy, Miss Eleanor's were blue, bright, and bold, and they did not hesitate in their examination of me.

“Brother?” she asked, coming forward and offering her hand.

I took it and leaned forward in a bow. “I apologize for my appearance,” I said, infinitely grateful for the haircut and shave Robert had given me back at the inn.

She continued her unblinking gaze. “I see no similarity in our appearance,” she announced.

“Yes, well . . .” Startled by her forthright remarks, I had no answer. Just then, Hester emerged from the carriage with a squalling Kitty. Relieved at the distraction, I moved to take the babe while Hester lifted her skirts to step down.

If either Miss Meg or Miss Eleanor was surprised to see a Negro baby thus placed into my arms they hadn't time to absorb their astonishment before Robert and Pan stepped out. Then Addy, the last of our lot, made her appearance. Her lavender traveling dress was heavily wrinkled, and a lengthy tear down the side exposed her petticoat. She had long since abandoned her bonnet, and with a flourish, she swung back her thick black hair. Pausing on the top step, she looked around at the astonished faces that stared up at her, then waved her bonnet in a full sweep as she exclaimed to all, “We have finally arrived!”

From the little I knew of our hostesses, they defied ordinary convention and lived, if not on, then close to the fringe. They recognized in Adelaide another like themselves, and their acceptance of her was immediate.

A
FTER
P
AN,
H
ESTER,
and the baby were taken to their quarters in one of the outbuildings, Caroline was brought to me. She was everything Robert had said she was. A beautiful baby, indeed, with sky-blue eyes and such fair skin that I wondered how she would handle the sun. On first sight of me, she wrinkled her full round face and began to howl. Everyone laughed as I tried to soothe her, but she continued to object to me so vehemently that Miss Meg scooped her away.

“She does not know you. You must give her time,” each of the women said reassuringly. I was not so certain.

I
WAS GIVEN
a large comfortable room in the main house, with Robert made available to me in a small room adjoining mine. Though I was exhausted, sleep would not come after we retired.

In the last few months, since I'd lost Caroline, danger had been a constant. I had been on the run until my deadly encounter with Rankin. Now, in this peaceful room, back in orderly civilization, I felt disoriented.

I expected to feel more at home in these surroundings. I, too, had searched Miss Eleanor's face, expecting to see some family resemblance, but had found none. The fact that she so looked like Lavinia, yet held such an opposite disposition, further bewildered me. The worst of it was when I recalled Rankin's words about my mother. Unable to rid myself of the thoughts of her abuse by Marshall and Rankin, I could not rest.

Until now I had not known that I was conceived in violence. I had judged Belle harshly for having given herself to Marshall. Understanding now that she had been molested, I wondered how she could have tolerated her pregnancy. Surely she could not have loved me. Yet Rankin had said that my removal from her had been an act of vengeance. It could have been that only if Belle had cared for me.

From old habit I began to pace; when the floorboards creaked, afraid of disturbing others, I seated myself next to the open window. The road below was worn smooth and the gardens groomed. All about lay order and serenity. I struggled with questions late into the night. Should I try to make a home here in Williamsburg? Robert did not think this place would welcome me. Where, then, did I belong? Was my birth an accident of fate, or was my life intended to have some purpose?

I
N THE MORNING
I was invited into the dining room for a morning meal, and there to meet the elderly Mrs. Madden, who had been asleep on our arrival. I had met her as a child, for she was my grandmother's sister, and though I was young, I knew that she strongly disapproved of my grandmother's attachment to me. Yet Mrs. Madden was my great-aunt, and I felt hopeful of a warm reception. However, when Miss Eleanor presented me, I soon learned otherwise.

After the introduction and before we sat to eat, I asked if Hester was available, as I wanted to know how Kitty had fared through the night. Mrs. Madden requested that I wait with my business dealings until after we ate, and manners dictated that I oblige.

After Miss Meg, Miss Eleanor, and Miss Addy had all been seated, I took the position indicated for me at the foot of the beautifully set table. This signaled for Mrs. Madden, who sat at the head, to ring the hand bell for the kitchen staff to bring in the food.

It had never been my habit to eat a large morning meal, so when heaping platters of bacon, sausages, and eggs arrived, I held back my surprise. Both of the Negro servants left, but one soon returned with a platter of waffles. Behind her followed Pan, carrying a crystal decanter of warm maple syrup. A clean white shirt and oversize trousers hung from his slender frame. How thin he looked! His hair had grown back enough to partially cover the scar on his head, but his ears poked out as endearingly as ever. He made an effort to act the servant, but his smile for me was so genuine that I broke protocol and greeted him enthusiastically. “Pan!” I said. “How are you feeling today?”

Mrs. Madden looked at me quizzically.

“I am good, Mr. Burton,” he said. “I'm helping out in the kitchen.”

“Place the syrup on the table, and then you may leave,” Mrs. Madden said to Pan. He looked to me for direction.

“Here.” I patted a spot on the table. “Put it down here and I will see you later.” I smiled and nodded him toward the door.

“Do you allow that kind of familiarity with all of your servants?” Mrs. Madden asked as he left.

“I do,” I said, causing her lips to purse.

Silence fell over the table until Adelaide spoke up. “You should see how well he treats Kitty.”

“And who is Kitty?” asked Mrs. Madden.

“Yes, well,” I stumbled, “she is a child I have taken responsibility for. She is the daughter of . . . a friend.”

“And where is this Kitty?”

As one, all of the women stared at me.

“Indeed,” I said, looking to Miss Meg.

“Hester cared for her during the night,” she said.

“Hester?” asked Mrs. Madden.

“She is my family's servant,” said Addy. “She is traveling with me.”

“This is all too much for me,” said Mrs. Madden. “I like my home to have order.”

“I appreciate your position, Mrs. Madden, and I assure you of my gratitude for the hospitality you have shown all of us,” I said, doing my best to offer genuine appreciation for the shelter she had provided baby Caroline and Robert in my absence.

“I don't see that I had a choice,” she replied.

“Mother!” said Miss Meg.

“It is true. After the two of you”—she nodded toward Miss Meg and Miss Eleanor—“offered your help in spite of my opinion, what choice was I given? Both of you are too headstrong for your own good. Is it any wonder that neither of you are married?”

After Miss Meg and Miss Eleanor exchanged a quick look, Miss Eleanor took a bite of waffle to hide her smile.

“Mr. Burton is our guest, Mother,” said Miss Meg.

“How long will we have the pleasure of your company?” Mrs. Madden asked me pointedly.

“If I could have another day or two,” I said.

“You may have as much time as you require,” said Miss Meg. “Mother and I are happy to accommodate you and your household as long as you have need.”

“Thank you,” I said. I looked at Mrs. Madden when I spoke. “I'm sure that Grandmother would be happy to know that you have included me as family.”

Mrs. Madden met my gaze and glared. She opened her mouth and I braced for her response, but she clearly thought better of it and returned to her food. I, too, turned to my plate, and amid the clinking of cutlery and china, I ate as a man starved.

A
FTER THE MEAL,
on Miss Meg's request, I followed her to the back parlor. At first glance, the room looked comfortably furnished, but after Miss Meg sat, she began to pick at a loose thread on the arm of the settee, and I noticed the wear on the rest of the furniture.

“I must apologize for Mother,” she said.

“I understand her position,” I said. “I'm afraid she will always see me in a way that does not conform to her standards.”

“How nicely you put that.”

We looked at each other, neither holding back in our examination. I felt strangely comforted to be with someone who actually knew me.

“To look at you, no one would ever know that your mother was a Negro,” she said bluntly.

“So I understand,” I replied.

“It should not make a difference,” she said, “but I'm afraid that for people such as Mother and many like her, it does.”

I said nothing.

“I will not inquire of your past difficulties, but perhaps you would tell me where it is you plan to travel from here. Your Robert indicated that you have permanently left Philadelphia and are looking to relocate? I would love to welcome you to Williamsburg, but we are not immune to gossip, and I'm afraid you would never be accepted into society in this small town,” she said openly.

Though I did not feel that it was her aim to hurt me, the truth of her comment stung. I took a long deep breath before I leaned forward. “Miss Meg, I appreciate your being so forthright. Let me assure you that I have no intention of residing here. However, the debt that I owe both you and Miss Eleanor is one I doubt I can ever repay.”

“There is no need to repay us. It was our pleasure to help out a family member in a time of need.”

There was a quiet knock on the door before Miss Elly entered. “May I join you?” she asked.

“Come.” Miss Meg patted a space on the settee beside her.

“Your mother is settled in her room,” Miss Elly said to Miss Meg, then to me, “but she was in a fine temper, admonishing me for referring to you as my kin.”

I was surprised at the openness of both these women. Taking a cue from their honesty, I directed a question to Miss Eleanor. “Have you had recent word on your mother or . . . mine?”

“As a matter of fact, I have. Belle is doing very well. As usual, she is at my mother's side and has no patience with what she calls my interference.”

“Your interference?” I asked.

“If you can believe this, Mother is actually considering marriage. Imagine!”

“She is?” I asked. “Have you met the gentleman?”

“Yes, many times. He is a neighbor of ours and has been ever since I can remember. He has four boys, all under the age of twenty. When I was younger, before I came to Aunt Meg's school, I shared a tutor with the two oldest. Those two Stephens boys were impossible! Can you imagine my quiet mother with a houseful of boys, one more rowdy than the other?”

I smiled. “That does present quite a picture.”

“I'm afraid she's going ahead with it and is planning a wedding. Can you imagine? A wedding! At her age!”

Miss Meg laughed. “Please don't belabor the point, Elly. She is not that old. Don't forget that your mother and I are of a similar age.”