Brooklyn Rose (2 page)

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AS IF ALL THAT
weren't enough, later on in the day Daddy had to go to my great-grandmother and-grandfather's grave because it is the anniversary of their death in 1860. What it is, really, is a vault. And during the war Yankees broke it open to look for treasure. These days it is somewhat in disrepair, and Daddy always means to get it fixed. I don't know why people had to have vaults. No wonder the Yankees thought it contained treasure. It is very large and carved with lots of angels.

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TODAY IN
school I got into a disagreement with Amelia Caper. She is one of those people who is your friend one moment and saying something mean to you the next, so that you are so confused you don't know what she is. But you must pay mind to her, because if you don't you might miss something.

She has her nose up in the air so much I'm surprised birds haven't poked twigs in it. She said my daddy owes her daddy money from way back to Grandmother Frampton's time, that her daddy, who owns the bank, loaned Grandmother money to start her pie business and we never paid it back. Amelia's daddy knows everybody's business because he is a banker. And she must listen at home because she seems to know it all, too. And she holds it over everybody in school.

When I came home, I asked Daddy and he said it wasn't true. Amelia thinks she is so special because her father drives one of those new-type automobiles. I think it is ugly. And I'll wager if it fell through the planks on the bridge, it would never be able to take them home again, like Becky Sharp and Little Dorrit did.

I go to the village school. This is my last year. Mama says next year if I don't go north, I must go to Normal School in Beaufort, which means I will board there. I don't want to go away from home.

I HAVE HAD
a dreadful cold so I have not written in this book for days. The wind has been blowing sand all over the place outside, and inside the fires are warm and comforting. I especially like it around the big black stove in the kitchen. Opal always has something good cooking there. I wander around the house, taking some pills the doctor left, and then taking some remedies from Opal and her people. I figure between both worlds I should get better. Still, I look terrible and I feel terrible, and I would like to curl up and hibernate like a bear. My hair needs washing and Mama won't let me wash it until my cold is gone, and that makes me feel even worse.

We are all getting ready for Christmas. I'm helping Heppi, bad as I feel, and Daddy has promised us a tree for the front parlor.

Heppi is going to sing in the choir in church and has been practicing. She fancies herself a regular opera singer. If I never hear another Christmas song I will be the happiest person on earth.

Before my cold got bad, Daddy took us in the boat to Beaufort to shop for Christmas presents. Since it's a very long trip and we needed the afternoon to shop, we stayed over at the very elegant Sea Island Hotel, and Daddy had supper with his "girls" in the dining room. What a lark! I bought a journal for Heppi. I think she should be keeping one, as I do. I have saved my money for my presents all on my own, money I got from doing chores around the place. And then Mama surprised me by giving me five whole dollars for all the times I took care of Benjamin for her, when Lilly wasn't able. I felt so rich!

I bought Daddy two books on the history of Beaufort County, and Mama a fringed shawl. I bought Benjamin a play-pretty that spins on the floor when you wind a string around it and let it loose. I can't wait for him to see it.

CHRISTMAS EVE
. We all went to church and it was so very cold. I was hoping Daddy would say it was too cold, but we went to hear Heppi sing in the choir. Afterward I saw Josh Denning kissing her in the cloakroom. I think they will become betrothed soon. Heppi's eyes glow these days like Christmas candles. I wonder what it is like to be in love. I wonder if my eyes will ever glow like that. I wonder if a man will ever love me, just because I am me. Can you imagine that?

Mama says Heppi is lucky because she and Daddy approve of Josh, and Heppi loves him. She says most girls our age have arranged marriages, and many times love does not come into it.

CHRISTMAS DAY
. Opal came to my room early, carrying a torch of light wood because it was still dark. She lit the fire in the fireplace then came to lean over me, as she did every morning. "Room be warm," she said. "Little girl get up."

I waited a few minutes so the underclothes she laid over the screen in front of the fire would be warm. Then I jumped up and dressed. Oh, warm underclothes are so delicious!

Downstairs, Mama made us drink hot chocolate and have a biscuit before we opened presents. Daddy lit the candles on the tree, and we all opened gifts. Soon we had to put the candles out because Benjamin wanted to grab them. I got new ice skates from Daddy and Mama and three books. Little Benjamin got lots of play-pretties. My family loved the gifts I gave them.

Then we all went into the dining room for a hearty Christmas breakfast. Daddy looked at the outside thermometer and said he never remembered it being so cold. At noontime, in the sun, the thermometer read ten degrees. Icicles are hanging from all the outside buildings in back of the house. I took an apple to my horse, Tom Jones, and I put a special blanket over his back. After Christmas dinner I rode him around the plantation, and steam came out of his nostrils.

We had delicious pound cake and oranges, and I was even allowed a sip of champagne at supper. I felt very grown-up. The cake is the same recipe that Mama and Daddy had for their wedding cake. Mama made it special, and I am going to make it one of these days. Josh Denning came and was in the back parlor with Daddy a long time. I think he was asking for Heppi's hand. He brought presents for all of us, and I wished I had one for him. He gave me a spyglass I have always yearned for. I think he is a lovely catch for Heppi.

THE LAST DAY
of 1899. Daddy and Mama had some friends in, and there was much gaiety and gossip. I was allowed to stay up until after midnight and I should be in bed now, but I just had to write down what happened. Mr. Scully, the newspaper editor, told us that he received word today that Sioux Indian chief Spotted Tail died in Paris. He was one of the most famous war chiefs of the Sioux tribe.

Everyone was wondering what the new century will bring. It's very scary. The turn of the century. Mr. and Mrs. Caper came but not Amelia. She had another party. Mr. Caper didn't look at all as if Daddy owed him money.

The Capers brought with them a gentleman friend everyone whispered about, who is very handsome and is supposedly French. He is tall. I'll wager over six feet. And he has broad shoulders and a slim waist. He bears himself with grace. His hair is a mixed brown and blond, as is his mustache, and he has a presence about him. He spoke very precise English, and when Daddy was talking to him, he called me over to introduce me.

I crossed the room, even though I was shaking inside. Just looking at the man made me shaky and excited.

"This is Mr. Dumarest," Daddy said. "He has business in Charleston."

I remembered to curtsy as I've been taught. Daddy seemed very proud of me and anxious to show me off. Mr. Dumarest asked me about our horses. His eyes are so blue you could drown in them. His face is strong. There is nothing about him that isn't sure and strong. His voice is masterful.

The announcement was made tonight. Heppi and Josh will wed on Valentine's Day. Heppi was flustered when Daddy announced it. She even managed to look like a bashful bride. From across the room, I saw Mr. Dumarest watching me, and I felt very uncomfortable.

Later on, when we were getting ready for bed, Heppi came into my room and asked me to be her maid of honor. I couldn't believe it! Then she hugged me and we sat a long time talking on my bed. She told me how she loved Joshua, how his book of Negro music would soon be published and he was going to dedicate it to her. And how they were going to live in a fine house in Beaufort. She said they were looking at the James Rhett house at 303 Federal Street.

For the first time, I felt like we were sisters. Then she told me how Mr. Dumarest had offered Daddy some silk for her wedding dress. "He imports silk," she said. "He's offered silk for your dress, too."

I blushed that he had thought of me and what dress I should wear.

"He's been doing business with Mr. Caper forever. And Daddy has known him for quite a while," Heppi told me.

Then she leaned forward and said quietly, "Rose, it's time you knew. Daddy isn't doing so well financially. I've known it for some while. Don't tell him I told you, but he has debts he can't meet."

The way she said it frightened me. "What has this to do with the silk?" I asked her.

"You've got to marry soon, Rose. When Daddy has two daughters who are well married, things will be easier for him."

"Is that why he showed me off to Mr. Dumarest tonight?" I asked.

She smiled. "Don't tell me you weren't attracted to him."

"That has nothing to do with it. I felt like a horse at an auction."

"You could do worse." And she giggled.

I blushed and thought of his blue eyes, his regal bearing, his confidence. "Don't be silly," I said. "Now go to sleep."

IT SEEMS SO
strange to write "1900." I can't get used to it. A whole new century stretching out in front of us. What will happen? Heppi says it doesn't make any difference, that neither God nor the universe knows it is another century, that only we humans make a fuss over time. But she was having one of her sophisticated moments.

Amelia's father has a telephone in his house, but we don't have one yet. He is talking about getting a steam generator to have his own electricity in his home. When that happens, Amelia won't be bearable.

Mr. Dumarest was back today for New Year's dinner. He seems so comfortable at our table, but I was self-conscious, thinking of what Heppi told me. Are Mama and Daddy planning on wedding me to him? Why, he must be in his thirties, at least. And, oh, I couldn't be married. The very thought of it frightens me.

But I am attracted to him. And I find myself watching him when he doesn't know it. I like to watch the way he moves and holds his head. And when he looks at me, I want to dive under the table.

Still, everything seemed normal until Daddy asked me, after dinner, to take Mr. Dumarest out to the stables to see the horses. It seems he wants to purchase one.

So I put on my coat, trembling. Mr. Dumarest helped me with it. He opened doors. He kept the conversation going. He was so gallant. I felt like a clod, like I was blushing all over.

We ventured out back to the barn. I showed him the paddock where Jimmy and Daddy break the horses. In the barn, Jimmy was there to welcome us.

He showed Mr. Dumarest the new cotton gin Daddy had bought and the other farm machinery. I showed him all the horses in their stalls. Then I showed him the small office Daddy had off the barn, and the leather books that had all the breeding records. He liked everything, especially the old buggy that used to belong to Grandmother and Grandfather Frampton. "This is the one they left in when you Yankees and General Sherman put them out," I told him.

Well, that's enough to get anybody talking. His eyes shone with amusement. "I wasn't born yet when that happened," he said. "And, anyway, when I was born it was in France."

We patted the horses. I noticed he has a way with them. He turned and looked at me. "We ought to go riding someday while I'm here," he said to me.

I blushed. I could not look into those eyes, because I felt that they saw all of me, all my secret hopes and fears. "Yes, someday we should ride together," I said, which sounded too forward, so then I went mum. Thank heaven for Jimmy's man chatter with him.

On the way back to the house, we talked more. "I'd love to see the whole place sometime," Mr. Dumarest said. "Perhaps you can take me about when we ride." He spoke with a slight French accent.

"When did you come to this country?" I asked.

He smiled. "About five years ago. I came with my brother, Adrian. We're in business together."

"Is Adrian older?"

More smile. "Yes."

"Does he boss you about?"

"No. We're business partners. We import silk. We have two warehouses, one here and one in New York."

I gasped. "Oh, tell me about New York! I've always wanted to go there." And then I blushed some more.

"In five minutes?" he asked.

"No, of course not," I said demurely. "Some other time, maybe."

"Yes. When you take me on that ride about the place. Oh, what color silk do you like? I'm to bring some for you and your sister next time I come."

"It isn't my choice," I told him. "It's up to Heppi. It's her wedding. Mama says she gets to run the whole thing." But then I told him, "During the War of Secession, my grandmother made a flag of blue silk with a palmetto tree on it for the Saint Helena's Volunteers. We still have it up in the attic. I think it is so pretty."

"Then I'll ask Heppi if I may bring you blue. In memory of your grandmother," he said.

Why is it that when we went back into the house I felt as if I had the edge on everyone else, as if I knew him better than anyone in the family? Why did I feel just a little taller? When he left he asked my father if he could come around this week and ride with me. That he had a horse all picked out. My daddy said yes.

"You have a date," Heppi whispered as we went upstairs to bed.

"Don't be silly," I said. "He's way too old for me. He's got to be thirty, at least. I'm just helping Daddy sell a horse."

MR. DUMAREST
purchased from Daddy a light sorrel mare with a star on her forehead. Since she was not named as yet, he asked me to help him think of a name for her. But first he took her out riding.

I thought that Mama would insist we take Heppi along for a chaperone, but she did no such thing. And Daddy did not insist, either. He knows me too well. He knows I would never suffer mistreatment from a man. And he knows Rene, too, I suppose.