Antebellum BK 1 (59 page)

“
I think the biggest attraction is his made to measure clothing.”

“
Doesn’t every dress shop offer that service?”

“
Not like this. There’s a clothing factory in the store. You go in, pick a design from a book and fabric from swatches, then they take your measurements and make your dress for you in less than an hour.”

“
That’s impossible.”

“
You said you wanted a new dress for Christmas but didn’t have time for the fitting. Now’s your chance.”

Anna looked at the clock across the street. “Okay. Do you want to come in with me?”

Nancy took her arm. “I can’t let you wear a new Christmas dress if I’m not wearing one too, can I? Let’s go down to the 14
^th
Street entrance. That’s where the women’s department is.”

December 25, 1858

Van Buskirk Point, New Jersey

“
A
re you still awake?” Robert whispered into the darkness as he gently closed the bedroom door behind him.

“
Yes.” Nancy replied. “Do you have my Christmas present for me?”

“
Maybe.” He sat down on the bed and pulled off his right boot. “But I have a question for you first.”

“
Do you want me to light a lamp?”

“
No. I can undress in the dark.”

“
What’s your question?”

“
Did you think that Anna was behaving strangely today?” He took off his left boot, then stood up to unbuckle his trousers.

“
In what way?”

“
She seemed to be forcing herself to be gay.”

“
She’s lonely, Robert, and she’s trying to decide what to do with the rest of her life.”

“
Oh.” He crossed the room and bumped into the dresser.

“
Let me light a lamp,” Nancy said.

“
No. I found it. Just let me hang up my clothes.”

“
Don’t stumble over your boots on the way back.”

“
I know where they are.”

“
Did you know that Phillip Key asked her to marry him?”

“
No. She didn’t mention it.” He crossed the room and got into bed and slipped his arm under Nancy’s neck. “What was his wife’s name? Virginia?”

“
No. Ellen.” She moved closer to him. “Ellen Swann Key.”

“
Why do I think her name was Virginia?”

“
He was engaged to Virginia Timberlake before he married Ellen.”

“
Oh, that’s right. She’s the daughter of Andrew Jackson’s Peggy Eaton.”

“
Yes, that’s right.”

“
I suppose that the son of the author of the Star Spangled Banner being married to the daughter of the cause of the Petticoat Affair was too much irony.”

“
As I recall he jilted her when he met Ellen.”

“
I should keep my mouth shut. I don’t remember it all that well.”

“
So, what do you think about Phil Key as a brother-in-law?”

“
When did his wife die?”

“
Toward the end of March in fifty-five. The twentieth, I think.”

“
How is it that you know the actual date?”

“
Anna had a terrible attack of guilt when Ellen died.”

“
Oh.”

“
You knew that she and Phil were lovers, didn’t you?”

“
I’d heard rumors.”

“
I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”

“
My sister’s an adult.”

“
Are you ducking my question?”

“
What question?”

“
About Phil and Anna.”

“
I like Phillip Key but I don’t approve of him. I love Anna and I don’t approve of her. It makes answering your question difficult.”

“
It probably doesn’t matter anyway. She’s said no.”

“
Does she know about Key and Congressman Dan Sickles’s wife?”

“
Everybody in Washington knows except Dan Sickles.”

“
Is that why she said no?”

“
Phil promised that he’d stop seeing Teresa and follow the straight and narrow path if Anna would marry him. I don’t think she believed him.”

“
I don’t think I would either. He’s a rake.”

“
He’s too handsome.”

“
Glad I don’t have that problem.”

“
You’ll do. Can I have my Christmas present now?”

February 27, 1859

Washington, D. C.

P
hillip Key strolled casually through Lafayette Park and sat down on a bench across the street from the home of Congressman Dan Sickles. From this vantage point, he could see Teresa Sickles through her parlor window. Focusing the opera glasses that he had brought with him, he realized that she was not looking toward the window so he waved his pocket handkerchief to attract her attention.

Moments later, Congressman Sickles burst from the front door, rushed across the street and fired a derringer at Key. Key had only been able to gain his feet and to raise his hands in self-defense before Sickles fired. The bullet struck Key’s left hand but he still managed to catch Sickles and wrestle the pistol from his grip. Sickles broke free, pulled another derringer from his waistcoat and aimed it at Key. In desperation, Key threw the opera glasses at Sickles causing him to flinch as he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit Key in the groin, knocking him to the ground. Finally, Sickles drew a third derringer and, standing over Key, fired a fatal shot that struck Key in the chest.

April 18, 1859

Washington, D.C.

J
udge Crawford banged his gavel. “Order in the court. The bailiff will swear in the witness.”

The bailiff stepped forward with a bible. “Place your left hand on the bible and raise your right hand. Repeat after me. I, state your full name, do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.”

“
I,
Anna Marina Van Buskirk Lagrange,
do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.”

“
The witness will be seated,” Judge Crawford pronounced.

Anna sat down and smoothed her dress.

The judge looked toward the defense table. “Mr. Stanton?”

Edwin M. Stanton got to his feet. “Mr. Graham will be questioning this witness, if it pleases the court.”

“
You may proceed, Mr. Graham,” Crawford said.

John Graham got to his feet. “Thank you, your honor.” He looked at Anna. “Would you state your full legal name for the record?”

“
I just did when I swore the oath.”

“
Please do so again.”

“
Anna Marina Van Buskirk Lagrange.”

“
Is that Miss or Missis?”

“
Missis.”

“
You use your maiden name in your profession, is that not so, Mrs. Lagrange?”

“
Sometimes,” she said.

“
Why is that?”

“
When he hired me, Mr. Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune thought that my maiden name was better recognized in New York.”

“
You are a widow?”

“
Yes.”

“
And have been for many years.”

“
Yes.”

“
But you have remained sexually active.”

“
Objection,” the prosecutor said, getting to his feet. “Irrelevant and badgering.”

“
Considering the nature of this case, I’ll allow it,” the judge responded. He nodded at Anna. “The witness will answer.”

“
To answer I need a definition of what the defense means by sexually active,” Anna said.

The judge nodded agreement. “Define it, Counselor, or rephrase your question.”

“
Have you had sexual relations since the death of your husband?” Graham asked.

“
Yes.” Anna nodded.

“
How frequently?”

Anna looked at the judge. “That’s a very personal question. Must I answer?”

“
The witness will answer,” Crawford replied.

Anna locked eyes with him. “Am I to include masturbation, or is there some specific sexual activity about which the defense attorney is asking.”

“
The question was not intended…” Graham began, coloring.

The judge raised his hand. “The witness understood the question and is avoiding answering by trying to embarrass the court.” He leaned toward Anna. “You, Madam, are in jeopardy of being held in contempt.”

“
Masturbation has been my only consistent sexual activity since my husband was murdered,” Anna countered.

“
Perhaps your question could be more specific, Mr. Graham,” the judge said with an angry look at Anna.

Graham was flustered. “Have you had sexual relations with men since your husband’s demise?”

“
Yes.”

“
How many?”

“
Men or relations?”

“
Men.”

“
I don’t know.”

“
Give us an estimate.”

“
I can’t.”