Antebellum BK 1 (71 page)

“
Johnny.” Quincy nodded. “Indeed. What a shame.”

“
But his brother’s with our First Cavalry.”

“
I think so, sir. I pray that they never meet on a battlefield.”

“
This is going to be the bloodiest and dirtiest war in the history of the world. The victor is going to have to kill his brother to win.”

July 20, 1861

Washington, D.C.

N
ancy staggered sleepily from her bedroom wearing only a shirt-length cotton nightgown. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were puffy. “What’s all the noise?” she grumbled.

Anna was standing on the small terrace of her fifth-floor suite in the F-Street Annex of the Willard Hotel. She pointed down at the street. “A parade, of sorts. General McDowell’s army is marching to Richmond.”

Nancy leaned over the rail. “Has anyone told General McDowell that there’s a secessionist army on the other side of the Potomac that intends to stop him?”

“
I think he’s going in that direction to start, and hopefully end, the war.”

“
Well, he could have waited for a decent hour.” She waved at an officer who was grinning up at her.

“
Go put a robe on,” Anna chided. “Your legs are bare.”

Nancy stepped back into the parlor. “No one is interested in my legs anymore.”

“
That’s not true,” Anna said. “For an old lady they’re not half bad.”

Nancy cackled. “Oh dear. If you find my legs attractive you must be in desperate need of a man.” She walked to the full-length mirror by the door and fluffed her hair. “So am I, for that matter. Let’s go carousing tonight like the old days.” She looked at Anna. “Or do I mean tomorrow night?”

“
Carousing as we once did wouldn’t be the same.” Anna came in and shut the French doors, closing out the sound of drums and fifes. “In the old days, you weren’t married, and every man that saw you was interested.”

“
I don’t feel married and I have enough interest for everyone,” Nancy replied. “Is there any coffee?”

“
Tea.” Anna pointed.

“
I want coffee. Will you ring for it while I get dressed?”

“
I’m going out. I’ll stop by the desk and order for you.”

Nancy looked at the clock. “It’s the middle of the bloody night, Anna. Where in the world are you going?”

Anna moved beside Nancy to look in the mirror and began pinning on her hat. “On a picnic.”

“
A picnic? Now?”

“
Yes, a picnic. Now.”

“
Where and with whom?”

“
The picnic’s to be held on the lawn in front of Fairfax Courthouse. I think.”

“
You didn’t say with whom.”

“
A congressman. You wouldn’t know him.”

“
Does he have a friend?”

“
I’m not going to act your Cupid so that you can cuckold my brother, Nancy.”

“
Your brother shouldn’t have gone off to play soldier if he didn’t want to be cuckolded. Is that a word? Or should it be cuckheld?”

“
You’re a shameless hussy.”

Nancy was looking in the mirror and supported her breasts with her hands. “An old hussy with saggy breasts.”

“
But they’re bigger now,” Anna said. “I remember when you wished for bigger breasts in your nightly prayers.”

“
Yes, but I didn’t include my hips and butt in those prayers.” Nancy dropped her hands to her sides with a sigh. “How long is the battle going to last?”

“
I have no idea.”

Nancy turned away from the mirror. “Will it still be going tomorrow?”

“
That’s possible. Why?”

“
I’d like to see it too.”

“
If it does last, I’ll ask my friend if he has a friend and we can do it again tomorrow. Or if we stay overnight, I’ll send someone to get you.”

“
Thank you.” Nancy kissed her on the cheek. “You’re the best.”

“
Don’t thank me. I’m going to do my best to find you a man that’s too old to scratch your itch.”

“
Oh well.” Nancy walked toward the living room and stopped. “Never mind ordering coffee. I’ll make do with tea and soak in the bathtub. Maybe I’ll scratch my own itch while I’m soaking.”

Anna laughed out loud. “I’d rather not hear about it.”

“
I keep waiting for the
change of life
that’s supposed to stop all these adolescent itches. I wish it would come.”

“
My mother was sixty.”

“
Have you had any symptoms?”

“
Yes. But my sex drive hasn’t decreased. If anything it’s increased.”

Nancy raised her eyebrows. “The world isn’t ready for me with an increased sex drive.”

Anna laughed. “I have to go. Enjoy your bath.”

“
Enjoy your congressman.”

Anna put her hand on the door handle, then turned to look at Nancy. “How long will it take you to get ready?”

“
Ready for what?”

“
To come on the picnic. My friend will be meeting other friends. I’m sure there will be extra men and that no one will object to an extra woman.”

“
No, go on without me. It would take me at least half an hour to get ready.”

“
He can wait another thirty minutes.” Anna walked away from the door and pulled the room service bell cord. “I’ll order your coffee and pack a bag for you.”

“
Thank you. Are you taking any jewelry?”

“
Just a few costume pieces in case there’s a celebration with dancing. I’ll pack some for you too.”

“
How about gowns?”

“
No,” Anna said. “I think they would take up too much room in the carriage.”

“
What if there’s no room for me?”

“
We’ll find an old man who will let you ride on his bony knee. Hurry up.”

~

Anna and Nancy walked out arm in arm under the Willard’s canopy, with four bellmen trailing behind them carrying picnic hampers and luggage. “Did you notice the prices they charged us for the hampers?” Anna whispered.

Nancy wrinkled her nose. “No. I never look at prices.”

“
It must have been treble the usual price. Taking advantage of a war is unconscionable.”

“
Where is your congressman?”

Anna looked back at the long line of barouches, carriages and cabriolets, then waved. “Quite far back. Do you see him waving?”

“
The one in the top hat?”

“
Yes.”

Nancy giggled. “He’s a child.”

“
He’s twenty-nine and very energetic,” Anna replied with a huff. “Oh, look. I see that he has a friend with him.”

“
His friend looks even younger.”

“
Younger suits my purposes,” Anna said. “But please remember that you’re a married woman.” She turned toward the curb and waved at Senator Lafayette S. Foster and Congressman Alfred Ely who were picking up their passengers.

“
There’s that man Russell from the London
Times
,” Nancy said, as the next carriage pulled forward.

“
Who’s that he’s picking up?”

“
I don’t know her, but she’s overdressed for a picnic.” Nancy held her hat as an errant breeze whipped along the street.

“
Underdressed, you mean.”

Nancy checked her hatpins. “Bare backs and shoulders are the thing for evening in Paris.”

“
Maybe, but not in Washington day or night,” Anna replied.

“
What’s your congressman’s name?”

“
You won’t believe me if I tell you,” Anna said with a chuckle.

“
Tell me and we’ll see.”

“
Charles LaGrange.”

Nancy laughed loudly, turning many heads. “Perfect for a hotel register. Mr. and Mrs. Lagrange.”

“
But he spells it with a capital G where Charlie used a lower case G,” Anna giggled. “Oh. And he insists that the nickname Charlie must never be applied to him. It’s too bourgeois.” She tipped up her chin and looked down her nose at Nancy.

“
Who’s my boy? Do you recognize him?”

“
Yes,” Anna said. “His name is Rupert Greene. He’s a lawyer, but we don’t know that he’s unattached.”

“
Of course we do. Your Congressman Charles was going to share you with his friend and I’ve spoiled your ménage à trois.”

Anna gave her a disapproving look. “That’s not something that I’d ever try.”

“
Pity.”

“
You have?”

Nancy fluttered her eyelashes. “There’s very little that I haven’t tried, Anna.”

Anna made a disgusted face.

“
You must read
On Liberty
by John Stuart Mill,” Nancy said. “I’ll buy you a copy the next time we’re near a book store.”

“
I take it that John Stuart Mill approves of ménages à trois?”

“
He approves of everything that doesn’t harm anyone else. He says that the individual is the ruler of her body.”

“
Just remember that slipping into the bushes with Rupert Greene would harm my brother,” Anna said.

“
Not if you didn’t tell him.”

“
I suppose that’s true, but then it would be me that’s harmed by having to keep a secret from Robert.”

“
If I slip into the bushes I won’t share the details with you, and you therefore won’t know anything for certain.”