Lynna's Rogue (32 page)

             
Lynna’s heart plummeted
as Suzanne snatched the red rose from Joshua’s hand, broke the stem and tucked it behind her ear. “Oh, thank you, Joshua, darling. That’s just what this outfit needed!” Silas appeared around the corner of the house and Suzanne tugged on Joshua’s arm to steer him toward her father. “Father wishes to have a word with you before we depart. Let’s not keep him waiting.
And please,” she leaned toward him to whisper, “just agree with him when he prattles on about the dangers of us sharing a carriage for that length of time, and how it is of the utmost importance that my virtue remain intact.
”

             
Lynna remained inside, heartbroken, until the carriage rolled away in a swirling cloud of dust. She
could not
bear to witness Joshua’s departure or Suzanne’s gloating victory.

             
Several days later, still inconsolable, Lynna went to the big house to visit with Jasmine and in search of her favorite comfort food, blackberry cobbler.

             
“
Miz
Suzanne
sho nuff
is taken
wit
’
Mist
’
Joshua, ain’t she?

             
“Yes, she certainly does seem to be.”

             
“He
sho
ain’t taken
wit
’
her though.
Actin
’
like
po
white trash and
runnin
’
after
dat
man. Why
Miz
Mary let
dat chile
go, when
Mist
’
Joshua
sho
ain’t
wantin
’
to take her,
plum
confusin’
me!”

             
“You know Suzanne always get her way, Jasmine. I expect to hear any day now that s
he is
moving to Charleston.”

             
“Ole Jasmine ain’t miss much
whut
goes on
round
heah
and
I’s heah
to tell you
dat
Miz
Suzanne ain’t
gwine
be
da
one
whu
t
moves to
Char
’
ston wit
Mist’
Joshua.”

             
Lynna knew Jasmine spoke one truth. She
did not
miss many of the happenings around Magnolia House. And what little she missed was soon filled in by one of her daughters. Rose, being Suzanne’s chambermaid, often was presented with the opportunity of listening to her mistress
’
mo
st private conversations. While
Iris, the downstairs maid, reported the most infinitesimal details that may have slipped by the other two sets of ears. So, Lynna knew better than to deny anything Jasmine said. “Whatever do you mean, Jasmine
?
Who do you suppose is moving to Charleston with him?”

             
“You is.”

             
Lynna was struck dumb. Had Joshua been revealing his innermost secrets to Jasmine? She had to know. “Why Jasmine, I fear
you are
dreadfully mistaken. If anyone relocates to Charleston to reside with Joshua
,
it will in all likelihood be Suzanne.”

             
“I ain’t wrong,” she replied adamantly. “I
could not
love
dat chile
no
mo ifn
she
drapped
out my own body. But she
ain’t
da
one
whut
Mist’
Joshua done set his cap on.” She just
could not
keep a secret, no need in trying. “He done much as
tole
me so.”

             
Lynna dropped a spoonful of cobbler and was immediately by her side. “He told you what, Jasmine?”

             
“Well, he ain’t come
rite
out an
tole
me, but silent
rivah’s
run deep. His
querstion
s
done
to
l
me all I need to know.”

             
“Querstions?
I mean
,
what questions?” she inquired, wanting to know every word that had passed between them.

             
“I
cain
recollect
jus
’
when it was, he
jus
’
come in
heah
one day
axkin’
did I see
yo
face an
axkin
’
a bunch of
querstions
.
”

             
“You
did not
tell him about Uncle Tobias, did you?” Lynna prayed
that
she had
n’t
. She
could not
bear the shame if Joshua discovered her own uncle held such a deep, abiding hatred for her. She would never be able to face him again. “Please tell me you
did not
, Jasmine!”

             
Jasmine was at once contrite, seeing the shame on Lynna’s face. She would never hurt Lynna by admitting her own breach of trust. “No chile, I ain’t
tol
’
him
dat de
man he
searchin’ fo
is Tobias.” She turned her head away, shamefaced, unable to look Lynna in the eyes. She had never lied to her before and
did not
like doing so now one bit.

             
Lynna moved to hug the rotund woman, “Thank you, Jasmine. I knew I could trust you.”

             
Jasmine was consumed with guilt as she wrapped a slice of cobbler for Judith. Watching Lynna walk home
,
she wondered if Joshua had found that low
-
life Tobias Mathison yet
,
and prayed fervently
to the Good Lord in heaven
that he had.

             
It had been an eternity, but at long last the day arrived for their departure to Charleston
to attend the Harvest Ball
. The morning dawned cool and overcast
,
promising a more comfortable journey than before. The birds chirping on her windowsill awakened Lynna
,
and she rolled over
,
deciding to sleep a while longer, when she suddenly remembered what day it was. Jumping up, she ran
straightway
to her aunt’s room. “We must hurry, Aunt Judith, and get dressed before
the carriage leaves without us!
”

             
“You certainly are anxious to get to Ch
arleston. Why, I had no idea
you missed Suzanne so much,” she teased, knowing full well that Suzanne was the last person her niece wanted to see.

             
Within the hour,
Lynna, Judith, Mary and Rose were again settled in the carriage for the long ri
de to Charleston. Lynna was
scarcely able to sit still
,
leaving Mary puzzled. Judith and Rose knew the reason for her excitement. She would soon be with the man she loved and the waiting was agony.

             
The ride was uneventful and they arrived at Cedar Hill
late,
extremely relieved to have finally reached their destination. Lynna fell into bed exhausted
,
and when she awakened the following morning
,
the guests had already begun to arrive. The lawn was scattered with brightly colored gowns of every color, matching sunbonnets and elaborate twirling parasols. She searched among the handsomely garbed men for Joshua, but he was nowhere to be found.
She thought she might burst from excitement as she bathed and prepared herself to greet Joshua and a
new day
.

             
After soaking in a tub of lavender
-
scented water
,
she felt refreshed and the happiest she had been… well, she
could not
remember ever being this happy. Stretching lazily in front of the mirror
,
she closed her eyes and sighed
,
knowing soon she would be with
her
Joshua. Her hands trembled so she could hardly accomplish the task of dressing. Combing her hair until it shone
,
she entwined blue ribbons to stream down her back to match her dress of blue watered silk
,
cut with a square neck and
short puffed sleeves. At last ready, she was
too high-strung and jittery to go down just yet.

             
Going to the balcony
,
she peered across the well-manicured lawn bustling with activity as couples strolled arm in arm and children romped with delight. The delicious aroma of cooked pork and poultry drifted to her from below and she realized she was ravenous. From her lofty perch she could hear the shouts and laughter coming from the slave quarters, as they
,
too
,
were having a feast.

             
On this day the field hands did no work and were fed as much as they could eat. Afterwards, there would be dancing and singing late into the night, as the slaves celebrated
the harvest, birth and even
death
with throbbing music and dance. This was not the case on all plantations of equal size, but Samuel had inherited his father’s kind heart and belief that slaves were more productive when shown a fair amount of decency. When he enjoyed a day of revelry
,
so did his slaves.

             
Lynna turned from the g
ay vista below and drew in a
deep,
cleansing breath. This was it! The moment
she had
been waiting for. Picking up her skirts
,
she hastened down the stairs before she lost her wavering nerve. What she saw waiting patiently at the bottom of the stairs caused her heart to lurch.

             
Joshua was there with one foot propped on the bottom step. If possible, even more handsome than she remembered
,
in
grey trousers and a fine white
ruffl
ed
linen shirt. She took each step carefully
,
willing her feet to move
,
and watched his grin widen as she drew near.

             
“
There you are, my love, and even more beautiful than ever.
It
has been a long time…
m
uch too long.” He smiled, taking her hand in his an
d bringing it to his lips. “I have
missed you, Lynna. More so than you could ever imagine.”

             
They gazed hungrily into each other
’
s eyes for several moments until Lynna at last found her voice. “I have missed you
,
too, Joshua.
I did not think this day would ever arrive.
”

             
Placing her hand in the bend of his elbow
,
he grinned that devilish grin. “We
wi
ll join the others for the noon meal and then you and I have some catching up to do.” He laughed boisterously at her blazing face, once again correctly interpreting her thoughts. “
I am
pleased to note that our ruminations travel along the same path.”

             
She knew she should be embarrassed and rebuke him, but she was too happy
to do so,
and laughter bubbled forth as they joined the others
,
arm in arm.

             
The long tables set up under the shade of
fragrant
magnolia trees were filled with a veritable feast. But, as was usually the case, with Joshua near
,
Lynna’s appetite deserted her. After filling their plates
,
they took seats under
the shade
where they were soon joined by Judith, Patricia
,
and Malinda.