Diane T. Ashley (10 page)

“I don’t know what the problem is, but the two of them will have to work it out on their own.” Blake’s mouth quirked upward in the crooked smile so dear to her. “I can remember a time or two way back in the past when you and I didn’t see eye to eye. Neither of us would have welcomed outside advice on how to run our lives.”

“That’s true.” Lily leaned her head against Blake’s shoulder. “But were we ever quite so stiff with each other as they have been on this trip?”

Before he could answer the question, passengers began appearing on deck, coming from their staterooms or one of the two lounges.

With a reluctant sigh, Lily pulled away from her husband. “I left the children with Tamar and Jensen, so I’d better go collect them.”

“I thought you were going to ask Aunt Tessie to keep an eye on them for you.”

She rolled her eyes. “I told you I’m worried about overloading her.”

“I wouldn’t concern myself with that. From the amount of time my aunt and your father are spending together, I think you can count on his helping out if she runs into any complications.”

Lily halted in midstride and turned to him, her eyes wide. “What are you talking about?”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I think Henrick may be smitten with her.”

“Of course I don’t mind.” Lily hugged herself. “I just can’t believe you noticed something like that before I did.”

He grinned. “One of these days you’re going to have to admit that I can see beyond the end of my nose.” Without waiting for her reply, he bounded up the stairs to the hurricane deck.

Lily shook her head and set out once again for the galley.

Jasmine met her at the door, Benjamin squirming in her arms. She could see Tamar and Magnolia stirring a pot at the stove. Noah sat on a bench close to them, aimlessly swinging his legs.

Noah jumped up as soon as he saw her. “Mama, will you tell Aunt Jasmine it’s time for Bible study.”

Smiling at her firstborn, Lily shook her head and took Benjamin from Jasmine. “I’m proud of you for remembering, but we’re docked now. I’m afraid we’ll have to wait until we get to the Thorntons’.”

Jasmine said nothing as Lily gathered her children and began herding them to the stateroom that served as their nursery. When Lily glanced back to see what had caused her sister’s uncustomary silence, she realized Jasmine’s wide eyes were fixed on something extraordinary. “What is it?”

“A floating theater!” The excitement in Jasmine’s voice didn’t bode well.

“I don’t see any reason for your excitement.” Lily looked past the motionless paddlewheel and spotted the gaudy barge decorated with streamers and flags. Lanterns cast a yellow light on the large signs proclaiming the exhibits and dramas available at all hours of the day and night. “Lately, there’s always one or another of those boats stopping in Natchez. Most of them are full of drunks and ladies of ill repute.”

Jasmine crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot on the deck. “I shouldn’t be surprised at your attitude. You’ll never change—” With a sob she bit off whatever she was going to say and whirled around.

“Wait.” Why did her sister have to be so melodramatic about everything? Lily hadn’t meant to evoke such a response. She wanted to run after Jasmine, but her children were also clamoring for her attention.

Benjamin patted her cheek with a chubby hand. “Mama?”

Her heart melted as she looked at him. “Yes, sweetheart, I’m listening to you.”

Maybe once they were all settled at the Thorntons’, she could devote some time to Jasmine’s needs. Beginning to wonder if bringing her to New Orleans had been a mistake after all, Lily sighed. Only the good Lord knew what she could do to make Jasmine happy.

J
asmine ignored David’s hand as she stepped out of the rented carriage. What did she care if no one understood her? She was beginning to think Lily and the rest were conspiring against her. Even Aunt Tessie seemed distant. And Papa had barely said a word to her the whole time they were on the boat. She sailed through the wrought-iron gate and entered the shady courtyard that separated the Thorntons’ townhouse from the street.

The door opened, and Mrs. Thornton—
Tante
Charlotte to her and David—stepped onto the veranda, her arms wide and welcoming. “Come let me see you, cher. Let me see how beautiful you have grown since your last visit.”

Jasmine began to feel a little better as she allowed Jonah’s mother to hug her and draw her inside. “Tante Charlotte, you’re the real beauty. You’ll have to teach me how to stop aging.”

Tante Charlotte laughed and turned to greet the rest of the group. Soon they were all ensconced in the back parlor, a room that seemed as familiar to Jasmine as those of Les Fleurs.

“Lloyd will be home in a few minutes, and we can all go to the dining room to eat.” Tante Charlotte had to raise her voice to be heard over the noise of so many conversations occurring simultaneously in the crowed space.

Jasmine had taken a place beside Tante Charlotte on a shorter settee, while Papa and Jensen were perched on the edges of two straight-backed chairs. Aunt Tessie, Tamar, and Lily were seated on the sofa—the latter with Benjamin on her lap. Blake stood behind Lily, one hand on her shoulder, and David stood next to a small round table, claiming that he preferred to stand after spending so much time sitting while aboard the
Water Lily
. Noah and Magnolia sat on stools dragged in from the garden.

“My goodness, I could hear you from outside, Maman.” Tante Charlotte’s daughter, Sarah, breezed into the parlor, adding more chaos as everyone tried to greet her at once.

“Don’t think you can keep all of these guests to yourself.” Sarah swept her arm out wide, barely missing a collision with David. “I will take sweet Jasmine and her David to my house.”

Jasmine opened her mouth to protest that David did not belong to her or any female, but Sarah rushed on in her usual impetuous manner. “I can also offer rooms to Henrick and Miss Matthews. In fact, I can take the whole family to stay with me.”

“I was planning to stay at a hotel.” David inserted his statement when Sarah stopped for a quick breath.

“Nonsense.” She wagged a finger at him. “You are family. You will not stay in some hotel.”

An odd look crossed his face. If Jasmine didn’t know better, she would have thought he felt honored to be counted a member of the family. But that was ridiculous. David had practically grown up with them. No matter that they were not blood related, he was one of them.

Whatever he felt was now hidden from view. “You are most generous, but I insist. I have work to do while I’m in New Orleans. I don’t want to disturb you with my comings and goings at all hours.”

Sarah’s smile peeked out. “You will be in our garçonnière, of course. It has a separate entrance, so you may stay out all night or come in as the sun rises. You won’t disturb anyone.”

“I agree with Sarah. Of course the same is true if you would rather stay here, David. No one will ever know your schedule.” Tante Charlotte turned her attention to Sarah, her brow furrowed. “However, I will not allow you to take all of my guests away. I have plenty of room for everyone else.”

Sarah looked as though she wanted to argue the point, but she was forestalled when Jensen cleared his throat. “Thank you for your hospitality, but Tamar and I will stay on the
Water Lily
as usual. Someone must meet with the new passengers and keep the boat safe from pickpockets and looters.”

Blake exchanged a glance with Jensen. “If you want to stay here, I can hire someone to watch the boat.”

Jensen shook his head. “That’s our home as much as yours. I don’t trust anyone else to protect it like I would.”

Sarah clapped her hands to regain everyone’s attention. “Who else will come to stay at my home?”

“I promised to help with the children, so I’ll need to be wherever they are.” Aunt Tessie smiled at Sarah. “It was the main reason I came.”

Sarah turned to Papa. “How about you, Henrick? Would you like to share the garçonnière with David?”

He glanced toward the sofa before answering, making Jasmine wonder whose attention he sought. “I think I will remain here, if your parents have room for me.”

“It’s settled then.” Tante Charlotte snapped her fingers for emphasis. “You may have Jasmine and David, but you must bring them to me when I ask.”

Sarah agreed and reached a hand out to Jasmine. “Come with me to point out which bags should go with us.”

Jasmine could hardly contain her excitement. With Sarah as her hostess, she would be much freer to embrace life. Even though she enjoyed the Thorntons and their home, she could hardly wait to leave.

By the time they had the luggage sorted, Tante Charlotte’s husband,
Oncle
Lloyd, had arrived. Even though it had not been that long since Jasmine had seen him, his dark hair did seem to have gained a few more white strands. His hug was as affectionate as ever, and his dark eyes still gleamed with intelligence.

When the greetings were over, Jasmine discovered that Noah and Magnolia had been taken to the nursery on the third floor of the Thorntons’ spacious townhouse by one of the maids. Now everyone else was waiting on the two children to return before going in to dinner.

Jasmine remembered the dining room as being spacious, but she wondered if they would all fit at the table.

Oncle Lloyd took his place at the head of the table after helping Tante Charlotte to her seat at the opposite end. The two married couples—Lily and Blake and Tamar and Jensen—took up the left side of the table while the other five—Sarah, Papa, Aunt Tessie, David, and she—squeezed together on the right side of the table.

“I can sit with the children upstairs.” Jasmine didn’t want to rub elbows with David. Her suggestion caused a stir.

Aunt Tessie, on the other side of David, pushed her chair back. “You stay. I should be the one to go upstairs—”

“No one will be banished to the nursery.” Tante Charlotte frowned at them. “We are all family here.”

“Bow your heads.” Oncle Lloyd’s command was stern. No one at the table dared argue. “Lord, we give thanks for the bountiful blessings You shower on us. Thank You for this gathering of family and friends. Please banish the spirit of discontent among us and help us to be ever mindful of Your love for all. Amen.”

Feeling properly chastised for bringing the spirit of discontent to the Thorntons’ home, Jasmine kept her attention centered on her plate of fresh vegetables and braised beef. Several conversations went on around her.

David handed her a basket filled with crusty rolls, holding onto it a second or two as she reached for it. Was he trying to bait her? She refused to meet his gaze as the silent tug of war ended.

“It’s been awhile since you visited with us, David.” Tante Charlotte spoke as she took the basket from Jasmine. “Tell me what has been keeping you busy.”

Jasmine could see David’s hands as he spread butter onto his roll. “I am working in Chicago now, so I don’t get to spend as much time in Natchez.”

“David has taken a job with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.” Blake’s voice was full of encouragement and pride.

“A growing area of the country.” Oncle Lloyd joined the conversation from the far end of the table. “Plenty of opportunities open to hardworking young men. I’ve thought of opening a shipping office up there, but I’ve never taken the time to go that far north.”

“I would be happy to show you around, sir.”

Jasmine wondered what kind of home David lived in. Did he rent rooms at a boardinghouse or had he purchased a home of his own? Did he live close to the agency’s office or on the outskirts of Chicago? Shame hit her as she realized how little she actually knew about his life anymore. When had they grown so far apart?

“Eli is thinking of closing down the office in Memphis. He believes railroads are the key to the future.”

“Is that right? I am surprised to hear that he is ready to abandon the family business.” The tension in Lily’s voice brought Jasmine’s head up.

What was going on here? She saw Blake and her sister exchange a glance.

He covered Lily’s hand with his own. “Perhaps after we visit with the attorney here, we should go to Memphis and talk to Eli.”

Papa leaned forward. “I find it hard to believe people will exchange their luxurious accommodations on riverboats for smoky, dangerous rides across the country.”

“If not for the gold discovered in California, I doubt many would try it.” Aunt Tessie spoke with authority. “It’s dangerous, too. Thieves and bandits rob trains, taking the passengers’ possessions from them by force.”

“Mr. Pinkerton has been hired by several of the operators to provide safety.” David’s voice, so close to her, startled Jasmine.

She glanced sideways at him, suddenly able to see him confronting dangerous men on a trek out West. And able to see him lying face down on a dusty prairie, dead at the hands of a ruthless bandit. Jasmine shuddered.

David must have felt the movement. He looked down at her, concern on his face.

For a moment their differences and arguments faded away. She could see the longing in his eyes. It called to her. Jasmine wanted to comfort him, tell him that everything would be all right. She opened her mouth to find the right words.

But then his expression changed, hardened into a cold mask. He became once more the stranger she didn’t understand at all. A man who appeared without warning. A man who had nothing in common with her childhood friend.

Jasmine turned a shoulder on him and gave her attention to Tante Charlotte for the rest of the meal. She would not mourn the friendship they had shared. She and David wanted very different things from life. Very different things.