Dark Chaos (# 4 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series) (18 page)

             
Carrie gasped and then searched his face.  “You’re lying,” she accused him.  “I don’t really snore!”  She hesitated.  “Do I?”

             
Robert laughed and headed for the door.  “I don’t know if I’d tell you if you did, but thankfully I can honestly tell you that you don’t.”

             
Carrie sighed with relief, then ran forward, and pummeled his chest.  “Don’t ever scare me like that again.” 

             
They were still laughing when they entered the dining room.  All the boarders had already gone off to work.  Thomas looked up from his paper.  “I’m glad you two can find something to laugh about,” he said grimly. 

             
“We all have to find something to laugh about,” Carrie said soothingly.  She hadn’t had time to tell Robert about her father’s increasing bitterness and defeated attitude.  Now he would get to see it firsthand. 

             
Thomas scowled and tossed his paper aside.  “Well, I’m not going to find it in that paper.  I’m afraid there’s not much good news for the Confederacy right now.”

             
“Surely our most recent victory was good news,” Robert protested. 

             
“I’m afraid losing 13,000 men, as well as one of our finest generals, is not much to cheer about.  Yes, I’m thankful Hooker is not marching through our capital right now, but I don’t think it will take him long to get strong enough to try again.”  He shook his head dolefully.  “This will be a long summer.”   He let out his breath in a heavy sigh.  “I wonder whether we will still have a capital when it’s all said and done.”

             
“Lee may have a plan to make sure Richmond is still standing at the end of the summer,” Robert said strongly.  “I think he shares some of your concerns about Hooker’s future plans.”  

             
Thomas looked at him curiously but didn’t respond.               

             
“Lee is proposing the Army of Northern Virginia head north,” Robert said confidently.  “There is news that Hooker will be reinforced.  That is clear indication that Virginia will once more be the theater of action.    Lee believes if he moves his troops north it will ease the pressure on Virginia for a while - as well as keep even more reinforcements from heading to Tennessee and Mississippi.  Lincoln will be cautious if he believes Rebel troops are advancing in the direction of Washington, D.C.  He’ll have to think more about protecting his capital than about capturing Richmond.” 

             
Thomas looked up, a spark of hope in his eyes.  “Lee really thinks he can take on the Army of the Potomac in their territory?  Without a ready line of supplies?”

             
“Lee is considering this as a defensive move,” Robert asserted.  “He is not going looking for a fight.  His aims are more moderate than that.  He hopes to disrupt Federal plans for the summer.  He also wants to use the maneuver to gather supplies for his army from the North.  Not to mention that if Union troops leave Virginia more supplies can reach our state.” 

             
“If I’m hearing this right,” Thomas observed thoughtfully, “Lee plans on spending the summer maneuvering in the North, hoping to return in the fall in better shape than he is now.” 

             
“That’s it exactly,” Robert agreed.  “I think President Davis will go for it.” 

             
Carrie listened with a sinking heart.  She had been so excited just minutes earlier.  Now Robert was telling her they would be apart for the whole summer.  “When do you leave?” she asked woodenly.

             
“The question is not when
I
leave,” Robert replied, smiling.  “The question is when do
we
leave?”

             
Carrie stared at him, confused.  “Whatever are you talking about?”

             
Robert reached over and took one of her hands.  “I’m not going with General Lee, my love. 
We’re
going to London.”  He sat back, a grin lighting his face.

             
“London?” she echoed stupidly.

             
Robert nodded excitedly.  “Think of it, Carrie.  Us - together - in London, England.  I’ve always dreamed of going there.”

             
Thomas cleared his throat.  “If I’m feeling confused, I can imagine what my daughter must be experiencing.  Maybe you should start from the beginning,” he suggested dryly.

             
“I’m sorry,” Robert apologized.  “I wanted so much to tell you last night, Carrie.  I wanted to let you know we wouldn’t have to be apart again.”  He stopped short.  “I’m still not explaining myself.”

             
Carrie sat quietly still too surprised by his announcement to say anything or to even know what she was thinking.

             
“President Davis called me to his office yesterday.  I was there early in the morning - before the funeral procession.”  He paused.  “The President looked awful.  He took Jackson’s death very hard.”  Sorrow clouded his face.  “I was there,” he said quietly, seeming to forget all about London.  “I saw Jackson get shot.  I helped carry him behind lines.”  His face grew grim.  “It was a terrible night.”

             
Carrie watched him closely.  His face was saying everything his words weren’t.  Her heart wrenched as she envisioned what he had experienced.  Suddenly she was eager to hear about London.  “Tell me about England,” she said quickly, reaching forward to grasp his hand. 

             
The haunted look faded from Robert’s eyes as he glanced up.  “England?” he murmured.  His eyes brightened.  “Yes, London.  I was telling you about President Davis.”   His voice strengthened as he pushed his memories away. 

             
Carrie regarded him tenderly.  She knew he was groping toward the future to help him deal with the horrors of the past.  She loved him for his strength.  She also loved him for his raw vulnerability.  He had endured more in the last two years than she could even imagine.  A fierce desire to protect him gripped her. 

             
Robert turned to Thomas.  “How much do you know about the situation in England?”

             
Thomas shrugged.  “That it seems to change depending on how the wind blows.  The English aristocracy seems to be decidedly against the Northern position.  I believe if it were left up to them they would grant recognition of the Confederacy.  On the other hand,” he continued bitterly, “the queen and many of the English people favor a continuation of Northern control and aggression.”  He shook his head.  “Their official position is one of neutrality.”

             
“President Davis has not given up hope that we might yet gain British recognition,” Robert said.  “We didn’t have long to talk yesterday, but he believes there is a chance England will swing in our direction.”

             
“And if they do?”  Thomas asked skeptically.  “What good will it do us?  It is still the actions of our troops on the field that will determine the outcome of this war.”

             
Carrie found herself agreeing with her father.  She wasn’t sure what the excitement over foreign support was all about. 

             
“England has the capacity to build the boats we need to smash the blockade,” Robert interjected.  “The Union blockade is strangling us from all directions.  Our troops are suffering because we can’t get supplies to them.”

             
“And men are dying for lack of medicine,” Carrie added.  “Not to mention that people are going hungry.”

             
“Exactly,” Robert said, turning to her.  “Davis realizes this spring is a critical time.  If we can convince England to let us take possession of the ships that we need, there is still a chance we can smash the blockade and turn things around.”

             
“How long would it take to build these boats?”  Thomas asked. 

             
“They’re already being built,” Robert said excitedly.  “Davis had hoped they would be ready this spring, but there have been delays.”

             
“And England will be release them to us?”

             
“Well,” Robert replied, “let’s just say it’s not clear what their intended use is.  Our man over there has managed to quite cleverly cover any tracks that would indicate Confederate involvement.   Davis told me the ships being built are regular battleships, heavily armed and armored.  Tremendous advances have been made already in the naval industry, but these boats outshine anything constructed thus far.  They are much more seaworthy than the sluggish monitors and far more powerful than any wooden warships afloat.”  He stopped, his eyes shining.  “With these boats we can break the blockade all along our coastline.”

             
Thomas leaned forward, genuine interest shining on his face.  “That would make a tremendous difference,” he said.  “If we could equip our armies properly, there is no one who could stop us.”

             
Carrie listened, contradictory feelings raging in her heart.  She wanted to scream that she just wanted the fighting to stop.  Instead, she turned to Robert.  “I’m afraid I still don’t understand what this all has to do with you.”

             
“I’m getting to that,” Robert replied with a quick smile.  “Davis wants to keep his pulse on British sentiment as closely as he can.  He already has plenty of government officials there.  He wants some common citizens who can get a feel for how the general population is reacting.  He wants someone with expertise in farming to determine how hard the lack of cotton is hitting their economy.”

             
“Why would President Davis be interested in my going along?”

             
“I convinced him I would have a much better chance being accepted into British society if my wife went along with me,” Robert said, grinning triumphantly.  “Just think of it, Carrie.  We’ll be somewhere we can make a real difference.  We’ll be together!”

             
“How long?”  Carrie asked quietly, trying to determine why her heart was so heavy.  Wasn’t this what she wanted?  To be with Robert?  Not to constantly be wondering whether he was dead or alive?

             
“Six, eight months.  Maybe a year.  As long as we can send back information that will be helpful, we’ll stay.  By the time we get back, I’m sure this whole thing will be over.”

             
“When do you two leave?”  Thomas asked in a tired voice.  Then he leaned forward and took Carrie’s hand.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to sound like that.  It will be the best thing for both of you.  God knows, something needs to happen to turn things around here.  I think Robert is right.  If we can break the blockade, things will be different.”

             
“We leave in three days,” Robert said.  “We have to take the train to Wilmington, North Carolina.  We leave from there.  It is one of the few places where the blockade can still be run.”

             
“Just how dangerous will this little expedition be?”  Thomas asked sharply.  “I can’t imagine the Union navy will simply wave and let you pass through.”

             
“President Davis assures me that there is not a great danger.  We are being sent out on one of the newest blockade-running ships.  She is fast and sleek.  Nothing has stopped her yet.”

             
Thomas nodded while he folded his paper.  “I have to get to the Capitol for a meeting.  I’ll see you two tonight.”  He turned to Carrie.  “You’re going to the hospital today?”

             
Carrie nodded, grateful the morning conversation had allowed no discussion of what had kept her so late the night before.  Somehow, in the light of Robert’s news, it had faded in her own mind.  “Dr. Wild is expecting me around lunchtime.  I’ll be home late.”

             
Robert waited until Thomas left the room and then turned to her, his face beaming.  “You can tell Dr. Wild today that you won’t be coming back to the hospital.  It will take us the three days to get everything ready.”

             
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Carrie said quietly, surprising even herself. 

             
Robert quickly set his cup of coffee down, its contents sloshing onto the table.  He ignored it.  “What do you mean?  Why not?”

             
Carrie took a deep breath.  Somehow in the last few moments, she had reached her decision.  “I can’t go to England with you, Robert.”

             
Robert stared at her in astonishment.  “Whatever are you talking about?”

             
Carrie groped to find the words to express what she was feeling.  “It’s not right.  My work is here.  The hospital.  My patients.”  She paused and then looked at him pleadingly.  “They need me.”

             
Obviously at a loss for words, Robert continued to stare at her.