Diane T. Ashley (22 page)

“I agree, Sister. And if it were necessary, I would beg you and Blake to remain here a few days. But we’re coping. You should go.”

Jasmine held her breath as she watched the emotions crossing Lily’s face.

“Are you going, too, Jasmine?”

Grateful for the chance to put her plans in motion, Jasmine stretched out her arms and yawned. “I don’t think so.” She looked at Lily, summoning all the pathos she could manage. “I’m really tired. Would you mind if I stayed here with Camellia?”

Lily shot her a concerned look. “Are you sick?”

“Not at all. Sarah was such a whirlwind of activity. I need a little time to recover from all that gadding about. I love staying with her, but it does wear me out.”

“I know what you mean.” Lily’s expression turned to one of sympathy.

“So it’s settled.” Camellia headed for the door. “Jasmine is staying, and everyone else is leaving in the morning.”

“I suppose so.” Lily’s nod eased the tension in Jasmine’s shoulders. “Did you leave anything on the
Water Lily
that we need to send back before we leave?”

Without hesitation, Jasmine shook her head. “I have plenty of clothes here.”

Camellia stopped and turned to her sister. “Are you planning to stop in Vicksburg?”

Jasmine’s heartbeat tripled. Why would Camellia ask about Vicksburg?

“No, why? Do you need something from there?”

“Oh no. It’s nothing. I was going to send a reply to a letter from Jane Baxter, but it can wait.”

Jasmine’s shoulders tensed again. She didn’t want Lily and Blake to stop in the port that was her destination. If they saw her in Vicksburg, her bid for freedom would end before it began.

“It wouldn’t be any trouble to stop.” Lily stood. “We could send it by messenger to that bank where her husband works.”

“Don’t worry about it, Lily. I probably need more than one evening to write the letter anyway. I want to tell her all about the fire and that wicked Jasper Calhoun.” Camellia shook her head. “Now that I think about it, I’m sure it wouldn’t work.”

Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief as she followed her sisters inside. For a moment she’d thought she would have to wait another day to avoid running into her oldest sister on the dock at Vicksburg. She also didn’t want Lily to see either the
Ophelia
or Vance. Her sister didn’t need any clues about her possible whereabouts.

Camellia was leaving for the schoolhouse when Jasmine finally made her appearance in the front parlor. “You really must be exhausted. Do you feel all right?”

“Yes.” The dark circles under Jasmine’s eyes belied her answer.

“Are you sure you’re not sick?”

“I—am—certain,” Jasmine stated emphatically. “Don’t try to act like Lily. One of the main reasons I didn’t want to go with them to Memphis is because she’s always hovering. I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m sorry.” Camellia could hear the exasperation in her own voice and knew some of it was directed at herself. It wasn’t that long ago she’d felt the same way Jasmine did. Was she becoming as domineering as their older sister was at times? “I’ll try to do better.”

Jasmine looked contrite. “I’m sorry, too. I didn’t sleep well.”

“I was going to ask if you wanted to go with me to the schoolhouse, but maybe it would be better if you stay here and try to get some rest instead.” Did she still sound like she was trying to manage Jasmine’s life? “Or whatever you want to do.”

Camellia’s mouth dropped open as her sister darted across the parlor and threw her arms around her. She wanted to ask what was wrong now, but she was afraid to. Afraid she’d be accused of hovering. She returned Jasmine’s hug. “I love you.”

Was that a sniff? Was Jasmine crying? When Camellia pulled back, her sister’s violet eyes were dry, so she decided it must have been her imagination. She searched Jasmine’s face for some hint of what had her acting so oddly. “I got a new copy of
Godey’s
last week. Would you like to read it?” It was the only thing she could think of to offer.

“No, thank you. I think I’m going to visit Miss Deborah at the orphanage, and I also plan to stop by to see Jean Luc and Anna.” Jasmine’s smile didn’t seem as perky as usual, but Camellia put it down to her sleepless night.

“I could hardly believe it when Lily told me about Tessie and Papa.”

“Are you upset?”

Camellia shook her head. “Of course not. Tessie’s a wonderful woman. She taught me everything I know about medicine and healing. If not for her, I might never have learned how to be a proper nurse. If Papa’s happy, I am, too.”

“It seems a little odd to me.” Jasmine wrinkled her nose. “They’re so old.”

Laughter bubbled up from Camellia. “Did you think romance was limited to the young?”

“Of course not. I was just surprised because it’s Papa. I guess I thought he was still in love with Mama.”

Camellia picked up her bonnet and walked to the window. “Mama will always have a special place in Papa’s heart. But he has a right to seize happiness if he can find it with Aunt Tessie.”

“I suppose.”

Tying a large bow under her chin, Camellia glanced in the window to check her appearance. “Maybe we’ll have a wedding for Christmas.” Jasmine shrugged.

Camellia supposed her sister was still trying to get used to the idea of “old people” falling in love. “I have to go, dearest. I’m taking a lunch to share with the children since it’s going to be a long day.” She turned to find Jasmine studying the newspaper. “I’ll see you sometime this afternoon.”

“Don’t worry if I’m not back when you return.” Jasmine glanced up. “I may stay in town for a while.”

Camellia pointed a finger at her. “If you go shopping without me, my feelings are going to be hurt.” The laugh her comment brought eased Camellia’s concern. She breezed out of the room with a kiss and a wave.

She enjoyed the walk to the schoolhouse in spite of the scorched ground from last week’s fire. Wondering which of the children would be in attendance this morning, she opened the front door and sniffed. The mint she’d gathered yesterday morning and left inside had done the trick, replacing the pungent smells with freshness. No hint of smoke remained inside the room. Thanking God once more that Jasper Calhoun had not done any more damage, she checked the children’s slates while she waited for her students to arrive.

The morning was a busy one as always. Camellia loved the bright eyes and eager minds of her pupils. Their week-long separation made the day even more special than normal. The hours flew by, and by the time she sent them to their homes, the shadows outside were beginning to lengthen.

Arriving home, Camellia pulled off her bonnet and let it dangle from one hand as she went in search of her aunt and her sister. Because it was the first room off the main entrance, she stopped to see if they were in the library. “Jasmine? Aunt Dahlia?” No one answered, which was not surprising. Jasmine had already read most everything inside, and their aunt probably never would. Moving to the parlor, she checked for the two women, growing a little concerned when she found the room empty.

They weren’t on the porch or she would have seen them coming in. Had they gone to the dining room? Concern prickled across her skin when they didn’t turn up there either. Before she could descend into a full panic, however, footsteps descending the main stairwell brought her into the foyer.

Aunt Dahlia steadied herself on the handrail as she negotiated the stairs. “Did you call me?”

Nodding, Camellia smiled. “Is Jasmine upstairs?” Her sister must have returned to her bedroom for a nap before dinner.

“I haven’t seen her at all today.” Aunt Dahlia reached the bottom step before continuing. “Didn’t she leave with Lily and Blake?”

Camellia’s heart clenched before she remembered that Jasmine had warned her she might not be back on time. She glanced out the window. It would grow dark soon. “No, she didn’t go with them. She had some errands to run. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”

“Someone needs to put a rein on that girl. She’s allowed far too much freedom.”

“According to what Lily told me, Jasmine would definitely not agree with you.” Camellia gave her aunt a peck on the cheek. “I’ve got to go meet with the cook about the menu before I go upstairs, change for dinner, and check on Amaryllis.”

“I’ll send Jasmine up to you if I see her before you’re done.” Aunt Dahlia’s sigh was filled with disapproval.

She opened her mouth to continue, but Camellia cut off her words with another kiss. “Thank you.”

Aunt Dahlia entered the parlor as Camellia headed to the back of the house, her mind full of all that needed to be done prior to dinner.

When she finally made it back to the parlor, the lanterns had been lit. She entered the room and looked around expectantly.

Aunt Dahlia put down her needlework. “If you’re looking for your sister, you’re going to be disappointed. She’s not returned.”

A frisson skittered down Camellia’s back. She was going to talk to Jasmine about being more considerate. It was fine to stay for dinner with friends, but she should at least send a message so her family wouldn’t worry.

Jonah walked into the parlor, already dressed for dinner. “You look worried.”

“I’m more irritated than anything.” Camellia told him about Jasmine’s absence. “Would you mind taking me over to the Champney’s? I know she must have decided to have dinner with them, but I’d feel better if I knew for certain she’s okay.”

Jonah rubbed his chin with one hand. “Do you really think that’s necessary?”

“Probably not, but I hate to think of her riding her horse back home in the dark.”

He dropped his hand and nodded. “Okay.”

Camellia hadn’t realized how tense she was until her husband agreed. “Thank you.”

His smile warmed her heart. “Go get your cloak. I’ll have the carriage brought around.”

Aunt Dahlia was shaking her head, but Camellia knew she had the most wonderful husband in the world.

J
asmine was ready to get off the
Evangeline
long before it docked at Vicksburg. She had purchased the cheapest ticket she could manage—an outside ride on the hurricane deck between the paddlewheel and the pilothouse. Several immigrant families huddled together and watched her with suspicion in their eyes. She tried smiling at some of the children, but their mothers gathered them closer and chided them in a guttural language she had never heard, apparently reminding them to steer clear of strangers.

Someone stepped into the pilothouse, and she caught her breath as a desire to see her father overwhelmed her. But that was silly. If Papa were here she wouldn’t be on her way to meet Vance.

Wishing she had brought more than a shawl as protection from the damp wind, Jasmine set her chin and focused on the future. They should reach Vicksburg within the hour. She hoped it wouldn’t be too hard to find Vance. Jasmine couldn’t wait to see him. Would he be as thrilled as she? What role did he have in mind for her? She knew she would excel even if she only got to appear in a minor part for now.

It wouldn’t take her long to rise to the rank of someone like Miss Barlow. She might not have much experience as a professional actress, but Jasmine had been performing for family and friends since she was old enough to memorize lines. Everyone raved about her acting abilities. And it was due to her efforts that the orphanage could hire workers to replace the roof.

In spite of his parents’ warnings, one of the immigrant children moved cautiously closer. Jasmine wished the little boy wasn’t afraid of her. She would love to talk to him, find out where his family was headed and maybe even offer some pointers to his parents about dangers on the river. It would be so nice to help them like she had the orphanage. One day perhaps she would have enough money to fund an organization to help those in need. The idea warmed Jasmine better than her thickest shawl would have done. She would do it … as soon as she was famous enough.

They docked with little trouble, and she disembarked with her bag held firmly in one hand. As soon as she reached the other end of the gangplank, she began looking for the
Ophelia
. Her heart pounded when she spotted the long, two-story barge floating in front of a shorter tugboat called the
Miss Polly
. This was it. The beginning of the rest of her life. Raising her chin and tightening her hold on her portmanteau, Jasmine marched across the gangplank and stepped onto the
Ophelia’
s deck.

“Sorry, ma’am.” A wiry man with a narrow face stopped her. “The next show won’t start until seven o’clock. You can come back around five to purchase a ticket, but the doors won’t open until a quarter to seven.”

“I’m not—” Unhappy with the shaky sound of her voice, Jasmine halted her words and took a deep breath. “I’m here to see Mr. Vance Hargrove.”

His face grew thoughtful. “You’ll find him inside, but if you don’t mind my saying so, you ought to turn yourself around and go home before he ruins your life.”

“That’s enough, Arnold. Are you already finished with the repairs to the backdrop?”

Jasmine recognized Vance’s voice before he finished speaking. She turned, and there he was, as tall and handsome as she remembered. And his attractive smile made her knees weak. She thought she might die of happiness then and there. “Vance.”