Storm Clouds Rolling In (10 page)

Rose
had not suspected a thing as she hurried to get her mistress ready. There was no time for their usual small talk. There was just enough time to get Carrie ready for the tournament, and check to make sure she had everything she needed for the ball and for an evening away from home.

Carrie felt composed when Sam arrived at her door to collect her trunk.
She even managed to act natural through breakfast. It was seeing Robert astride Granite that threw her into such a state of confusion. Every detail of the dream had come flooding back. How on earth could she act natural with someone that she had dreamed about kissing just the night before?
Almost kissing
, she told herself sternly.
He didn’t actually do it
. Carrie knew she was behaving badly, but the only thing she knew to do was keep her eyes hidden. Rose always told her that her eyes spoke everything going on inside of her. It would
not
do for Robert to suspect what she was thinking.

“Are my lovely ladies ready to depart?”

Carrie could have cried with relief when she heard her father’s cheerful voice. Suddenly all she wanted was for the carriage to start moving. Anything would be better than sitting here in awkward silence while her mother and Robert struggled to carry on conversation.

Carrie felt much more like herself when their shiny, green carriage turned into the drive leading to the Blackwell Plantation.
Whatever her feelings toward Louisa Blackwell, it most certainly did not extend to the plantation. Carrie had loved Blackwell Plantation from the time she was very young. She had often longed for a corridor of cedar trees to line the road to Cromwell. Louisa’s home had been one of the very first pieces of land developed in the New World. When she was younger, Carrie had wandered among the mighty cedars, listening quietly, hoping they would tell some of the secrets they must surely hold. Their silence had never diminished her joy. Oftentimes she would pick sprigs of the fragrant greenery and take it home to simmer in a pot of water on the wood stove. The heady aroma had always delighted her.

This morning was no different.
The storm from the previous night had released a wonderful cedar fragrance into the morning air. The day was warming nicely, but there was still just enough coolness to trap the aroma close to the ground. Carrie felt as if she were riding through a cedar-lined closet. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply.

“We couldn’t have a more perfect day for the
tournament.” Abigail’s eyes sparkled with anticipation and her smooth skin was flushed with excitement.

Carrie smiled.
“I think you love parties more than anyone I know.”

Thomas laughed.
“Don’t ever expect her to change, Carrie. Her enjoyment of them seems to simply increase as the years pass.” He looked at his wife fondly. “You look beautiful, Abigail. You’re simply glowing with life. No wonder people sometimes have trouble telling who is mother and who is daughter.”

“We’re here, father!”
Carrie exclaimed, allowing herself one small wriggle on the carriage seat to express her excitement. Sometimes growing up was so tedious. She preferred her younger days when it was perfectly acceptable to bounce all over the carriage.

“So we are, dear.”

Carrie knew her father was not immune to the pleasure of these occasions.
Plantation life, however wonderful, was also one of isolation. It was occasions like these that brought him into contact with his neighbors and gave him the chance to share opinions and ideas with other men of his kind. She knew he had been looking forward to the Blackwell festivities for weeks now. With so much going on in the world, he longed for the opportunity to discuss it with other Virginian men.

There were two other carriages in front when Miles eased the Cromwell carriage in to join them.
At two stories tall, the Blackwell House was not as high as her beloved home, but it sprawled further, and the aged, red bricks gave a stately look to the distinguished mansion. The spacious circular drive surrounding a beautiful boxwood garden offered plenty of space for the fleet of carriages that would be arriving soon. Off in the distance, Carrie could see more of the tournament horses being led into the freshly painted, red barn. Many of them had already been here for several days. Carrie knew that many of the competitors had gotten here up to a week early to practice their skill and make sure their horses were familiar with the course.

Carrie looked up at Robert and smiled.
It was the first time she had looked directly at him since they’d left home. “You can take Granite to the barn over there, Mr. Borden. Charles, Miles’s assistant, will take charge of him until you need him.”

Robert returned her smile.
“Thanks, Miss Cromwell. I will do my best to bring honor to your horse and to your plantation.”

“I’m sure you will, Mr. Borden.
I hope Granite gives you a good ride,” Carrie said demurely. Carrie saw her father struggling to choke back his laughter as he turned away. If anyone else would have dared suggest Granite wouldn’t give Robert the best ride of any horse there, she would have responded with fiery indignation. Her own attitude startled her. She saw her father watching Robert with heightened interest. What was he thinking?

“It’s good to see you, Cromwell!”

Thomas turned with a forced smile toward his greeter.
“Good morning, Ruffin. It’s good to see you as well. Perfect day for the festivities, isn’t it?”

“That it is, indeed.
I’m glad to see you could make it. Tension seems to be growing on our Southern plantations. Not all owners feel it is wise or even possible to leave their homes for such festivities.”

Carrie watched her father smile through gritted teeth.
She knew he was in no mood to tangle with his neighbor today, however, he maintained his pleasant demeanor and refused to rise to the bait. “Wouldn’t have missed it for the world, Ruffin.”

Just then a reprieve arrived in the form of Alfred Blackwell.
Within minutes, a group of men formed and headed for the large wraparound porch and the spittoon—a centerpiece at all parties.

Carrie watched with amusement as her father escaped Edmund Ruffin.
The two had at one time been close friends. It was Ruffin’s agricultural expertise that saved the Cromwell plantation from ruin. But now they were both solidly entrenched on opposite sides in the controversy embroiling their country. Father was a staunch Union man. Edmund Ruffin was a fire-eating secessionist. Many times they had butted heads and hearts over the issues. Carrie knew her father wished to escape any nasty confrontations today. She wasn’t sure it was possible.

“Oh, Carrie!
You’re here! Let me show you upstairs to my room. We’ll be sharing it with Natalie Heyward and Sally Hampton tonight.”

Carrie turned with a smile to meet her lifelong friend.
She was determined to be as pleasant as possible in spite of the differences between them. “Hello, Louisa. It’s wonderful to be here. It’s such a beautiful day.”

Chatting easily, the two girls made their way into the house.
Carrie knew Miles would bring her trunk up when he was done with Granite in the barn. As they passed through the entrance of the elegant, old brick mansion, she paused to smile a greeting at Polly, the Blackwell’s cook. Louisa barely cast a look in the direction of her faithful slave.

“Didn’t I recognize Granite out there earlier?” asked Louisa as they made their way up the spacious staircase to her second
-floor bedroom.

“Yes.”

“And wasn’t there an absolutely divine-looking gentleman riding him?” Louisa cast an eagerly questioning look in Carrie’s direction.

“That was Robert Borden.”
Carrie didn’t care to address whether she considered him absolutely divine. Louisa found many men
absolutely divine. Yet, she had to admit that Louisa never suffered a lack of young men flocking around her. Louisa was beautiful, with glowing blond hair setting off her dainty features and startling blue eyes. It had never bothered Carrie before, but now she suddenly felt a desire not to have Robert in that flock.

“Robert Borden...” Louisa paused on the stairs.
“That must be the young man from Goochland County mother invited. I’m not really sure how he wound up on the guest list. I don’t really know anything about him.”

Carrie continued her steady walk up the staircase.
She wouldn’t be the one to enlighten her friend.

“I wonder if he means to ride in the
tournament?” Louisa continued her questions as she moved to catch up with Carrie.

Carrie remained silent.
She had learned it was best not to antagonize her hostess.

Louisa wasn’t easily deterred, however.
“Is that why he’s on Granite, Carrie? I believe he had written back to mother, telling her he wouldn’t be able to ride because he wouldn’t have his horse with him. Is he actually going to attempt the tournament on
your
horse?” The tone of her voice indicated she found the idea simply ludicrous.

Carrie turned to glare at Louisa just as they reached the door to her room.
With great control, she managed to keep her voice even. “Yes, he’s riding Granite in the tournament. And he’s going to win.” The last words were delivered in a quiet tone. She opened the door and strode into the room, all the while silently praying that Charles would arrive soon with her bags.

Louisa laughed merrily as they moved into her sunny bedroom.
She leaned against one of the four-poster beds. “Have you forgotten, Carrie? There has been no one to beat a Blackwell horse in ten years. My brother Nathan will be riding Comet again this year. The two have never been beaten. Surely you don’t think your gray gelding and that unknown man can vanquish them?”

Carrie did indeed think they could
, but she didn’t really know why she was so certain. Granite, she had confidence in. Robert Borden was a complete unknown to her.

“Oh, Louisa, we’re here!
We’re coming up.”

Carrie breathed a deep sigh of relief
as a familiar voice drifted up the stairway. She knew she was close to losing her temper. Louisa’s arrogant haughtiness was sometimes more than she could take. At times she could be merry and amusing but that was usually only in the presence of young men.

Seconds later, Natalie Heyward and Sally Hampton swept through the door, resplendent in their silk hoop dresses.
Carrie glanced down at her own lime-green gown, thankful Rose had picked this one for her. She knew it set off her features well. In the company of other girls who put so much stock in their appearance, she was glad to know she had nothing to be ashamed of.

“Why, Carrie.
You’re here already. It’s so wonderful to see you.” Natalie finished off her exuberant greeting with a big hug. Carrie returned the hug and smiled at the large-boned redhead. Natalie was not beautiful, but she had an open, friendly nature that drew people to her. Sally Hampton was a slender blonde with even, pretty features and a smile like sunshine. Carrie, in truth, was happy to see both the girls. Though they lived on nearby plantations, she hadn’t seen much of either one of them for quite some time. They had always had good times together. She looked forward to this day in their company.

More than that, she looked forward to what would happen in the
tournament.

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