The Pattern of Her Heart (29 page)

“My wife is unwilling to give you final authority on the sale price, Mr. Turner, but if you telegraph any offers, we will make every effort to reply promptly,” Nolan said. “Of course, we remain hopeful you might locate a qualified purchaser prior to our departure.”

Mr. Turner nibbled on one of the molasses cookies he’d placed on his saucer. “As I said, there’s little likelihood you’ll have a buyer any time in the near future—however, one never knows. There may be a potential purchaser who is anxious to invest in this fine plantation. Bear in mind, however, that the market is depressed at this time. Even though we’ve not suffered losses such as those experienced in the North, we’re now beginning to feel the repercussions of this economic downturn, and there are fewer men willing to take risk with their capital.”

“The Willows isn’t a risk,” Jasmine asserted. “It has always turned a fine profit for our family.”

Mr. Turner gave her a perfunctory smile. “I’m sure that’s a fact, Mrs. Houston, and I’m going to do my very best to secure the highest possible price for your family’s home. I merely wanted to warn you in advance that the sale might take longer than you would normally anticipate. So long as we’re clear on that issue, I believe we can sign the necessary papers and I can be on my way.”

Nolan and Mr. Turner took care of the necessary paper work, and Mr. Turner wished them a good evening.

“I don’t particularly like Mr. Turner,” Jasmine said to her husband after the land agent had departed the house.

“He seems as trustworthy as the other agents I spoke with. He bears a good reputation in the area, though I suppose he is rather negative,” Nolan replied.

“Truly? I barely noticed,” she said with a glint in her eye. “Anyone listening to him for long would find himself in a state of utter despair.”

Nolan glanced up from his desk and motioned Toby forward. “Come in and sit down,” he said while pointing his pen toward the chair opposite the massive desk.

Toby hesitated for a moment but finally dropped into the chair and stared into Nolan’s eyes. “You wanted to see me, suh?” he quietly inquired.

“Yes. Please understand I’m not passing judgment, Toby, but given the circumstances, I would highly recommend you and Prissy marry immediately.”

“Yessuh. Prissy told me ’bout the situation this afternoon. I told her not to be worrying—that we’d get ol’ Samuel to marry us. Ain’t no need for nothing more’n the three of us to get things taken care of. I’m going down an’ talk to him soon as we’s finished with our talk.”

Nolan nodded. “Miss Jasmine asked me to tell you we would be pleased to help with any wedding preparations. Surely Prissy would prefer something just a bit more elaborate than repeating your vows before Samuel.”

“No, we’s agreed ’bout the marriage. Everything should be taken care of by dis time tomorrow,” he said. “It’s better dis way.”

“If that’s what you prefer. And did Prissy tell you that if the two of you want to come to our farm in Lowell, we’d be pleased to have you come and work for us? You’re not obligated, but Prissy was concerned about finding work and there’s plenty at the horse farm. You could stay until after the baby is born, and if you then decide you want to leave, we’ll not have any objection.”

Toby began to fidget at the mention of Prissy’s condition, and Nolan regretted going into detail.

“You and Miz Jasmine is very kind. When da time comes to go north, we’d be proud to work for you, Massa Nolan.”

“Good. And if you need
anything
for the wedding, please—”

“No, suh, we ain’t gonna be needing nothin’—nothin’ at all,” Toby said. “We’s jest fine. If we’s through, I believe I’ll go on down to the quarter and talk to ol’ Samuel.”

“Yes, of course.”

Nolan was deep in thought when Jasmine entered the library a short time later. “Did you talk to him? What did he say?”

“I talked to him. They don’t want any type of large ceremony. Toby has gone to speak to Samuel, and he advised me that they will be wed by this time tomorrow. He said he and Prissy are in agreement about wanting just the three of them present when they say their vows.”

His wife exhaled and she frowned. “And here I was hoping for something cheerful to focus upon.”

“I’m not certain Toby shares your enthusiasm. However, he did accept our offer of employment, so at least that much should please you.”

“Yes. It pleases me they’ll be with us and I’ll have the pleasure of seeing their child,” Jasmine replied. “If only
all
of life’s problems were so easily resolved!”

February 1858

N
OLAN ADJUSTED
his silk top hat before lifting Alice Ann into the carriage and onto Prissy’s lap. “I believe we’ll have ample room in the carriage. Especially since Henrietta and Martha decided they weren’t feeling well enough to join us,” he told Jasmine.

“I do hope you don’t mind going along with us this evening, Prissy. With Henrietta and Martha both ailing, I thought we might be forced to remain at home,” Jasmine said. “But the children wouldn’t have forgiven us if we attended the festivities without them.”

“It’s fine, ma’am. I’s glad to help.” Prissy peered at the house. “Where’s Henry? Ain’t he gonna drive the coach?”

“Henry’s ailing too,” Nolan said. “I told him to remain abed and perhaps he’ll be better by morning. Besides, I enjoy driving my own coach from time to time. It will give the gentry of Mississippi yet another grievance against me,” he said with a grin.

Jasmine stroked Clara’s soft hair. “Clara and Alice Ann will likely be asleep soon after we arrive.”

“I won’t sleep. I’ll remain awake until we return home,” Spencer promised. He was sitting beside his father and obviously feeling quite grown up.

“Personally, I would have been happy to remain at home,” Jasmine told her husband. “Besides, I find it strange that we received an invitation to the gathering at Rosewood. After all, we’ve been excluded from every other social function since our arrival. Why would the Woodsons invite us to their party celebrating the final picking? After all, there’s no denying the fact that John Woodson dislikes us intensely.”

“He’s extended an olive branch, my dear. The least we can do is reciprocate in kind. And the children haven’t had an opportunity to participate in any festivities. Christmas, after all, was quite glum this year.”

“You’re right, but services at the church were quite nice, I thought,” she said as they made their way down the lane. “And I’m completely surprised you want to attend tonight, Spencer. I feel certain some of your schoolmates will be among those invited.”

Spencer flashed a smile at his mother. “Since we’re leaving next week, this will give me a chance to tell all of them what I truly think of their deeds.”

“Now, son, I expect you to be on your best behavior,” Nolan warned. “No rowdiness.”

He nodded. “Not unless they start it.”

“No fighting whatsoever!” Jasmine insisted in a stern tone. “If you encounter any difficulty, you must come directly to your father or me for assistance.”

“All right,” he begrudgingly agreed. “Do you think it’s snowing at home?”

“Probably so,” she replied absently.

Spencer scooted around in his seat and directed his attention to Prissy. “Just wait until you move up north. One morning you’ll wake up and look out your window, and you’ll see piles and piles of white snow covering the ground.”

“We had us some of dat white stuff one or two times. It come fallin’ from da sky in little white flakes, but it melted to water when it hit the ground—didn’t do no piling up,” she said. “Massa Wainwright told us snow was for up north, where it be cold and unpleasant, an’ rain is for in da South, where it be warm and agreeable.”

“That sounds like something my father would say,” Jasmine commented. “However, the North is not unpleasant, though it does grow cold in the winter. But you’ll soon learn to love the North.”

“I s’pose,” Prissy said, although her voice lacked enthusiasm.

“Here we are,” Nolan said as he pulled back on the reins and the horses brought the carriage to a halt outside the main entrance of Rosewood.

Festive decorations adorned the foyer of the big house, where both John and Ramona Woodson stood near the entrance greeting their guests. Mrs. Woodson immediately directed one of her house slaves to escort Prissy and the children upstairs, where they were to be entertained.

“We’re pleased you accepted our invitation,” Mr. Woodson said as he pointed to another slave to take their wraps.

Jasmine directed a dutiful smile toward their host. “We were pleased to be included.”

Mrs. Woodson whispered to a butler, who stepped forward and ostentatiously announced their arrival to the many guests gathered in the loggia, where music was playing and the guests were beginning to dance.

“Shall we?” Nolan asked as he led Jasmine to the dance floor.

“Seems everyone in the area is in attendance,” Jasmine said as they circled the floor. “It’s been years since I’ve attended one of these parties, yet most of the faces remain familiar. It appears as if few of my generation have departed this area. You’d think they would want to strike out and see another part of the world.”

Nolan led her in a wide circle toward the rear of the dance floor. “I’m certain they do see other parts of the world. Most everyone here is widely traveled. But unlike you and McKinley, they chose to return.”

“They travel, yet they’ve not yet become enlightened,” she remarked.

Nolan cocked one eyebrow. “I believe they would quite disagree with you, my dear. In fact, I believe you’d find they think
you
are the one who is unenlightened.”

“No doubt.”

The music proved quite delightful, and Jasmine spent much of the evening dancing with Nolan and a few of her schoolmates from years ago. Throughout the evening, she watched the doorway closely, almost expecting to see Spencer emerge with a bloody nose, but such was not the case. Instead, he remained ensconced upstairs until after midnight, when they were preparing to depart for home.

“From all appearances, you and the other boys got along well this evening,” Jasmine commented as she settled Clara into a nest of blankets in the back of the carriage. Prissy helped Nolan settle Alice Ann in beside her sister.

“Yes. They were quite friendly—even apologized for their behavior and said the issue of slavery was one that should be settled by our parents.”

“I’m pleased to hear their parents have spoken to them and explained their actions were inappropriate,” she replied.

“Did you enjoy yourself, my dear?” Nolan inquired as the carriage rocked to and fro on the uneven road.

“The evening was tolerable, though I didn’t find it as jovial as I remember from my childhood. And what happened to all of the men? One moment the dance floor was filled with more couples than one could imagine, and suddenly it seemed as if all of the men had disappeared and the women were standing about fanning themselves and drinking punch.”

Nolan nodded. “I wondered at that myself. I even commented to Woodson about his missing guests. He said they’d gone into his library to conduct business of some sort. Rather rude, if you ask me. Seems they could conduct business somewhere other than a social gathering that occurs but once a year.”

“Indeed you would think so. I thought Lydia looked quite lovely this evening, though she and Rupert both were somewhat aloof, didn’t you think?” Jasmine asked.

“Jasmine! Look up ahead! Is that glow of red coming from the direction of The Willows?” Nolan’s voice was an urgent plea begging for a denial from his wife.

She stretched to the side and leaned out the carriage window. “Oh, Nolan! The Willows is on fire! Hurry! Hurry! It appears to be the house. Martha, Henrietta, and the other house servants are in there.”

Nolan flicked the reins and urged the horses into a gallop. “It’s more than the house. The entire sky seems lit up. It’s coming from all directions. It appears that nothing has been spared. I fear the entire plantation is afire.”

“Surely not. Dear God, let this be a dream!” she cried out.