Everlasting Light - A Civil War Romance Novella (6 page)

“Oh, he just feels badly for me because Braeden has been so preoccupied. Why, he told me so. I mean, Braeden is his best friend, and Michael feels … obligated.”

“Don’t be so naive. If Michael felt so sorry for you, he could easily see to it that my cousin, Suzanna, and her husband attended to you rather than taking the task upon himself.”

Alaina felt her brow pucker. “No …”

“It’s true. Michael Wheeler has designs on you. I just hope you’re not planning to encourage him.”

“I’d never do such a thing!”

“Perhaps not intentionally.”

Alaina reflected on the last two days. True, she’d spent a lot of time with Michael and had enjoyed his companionship. It had made up for the sting of Braeden’s neglect, although Alaina knew it couldn’t be helped. Braeden, strong and courageous—he’d joined the cavalry and she couldn’t feel more proud of him. He’d report for duty within the next couple of weeks, and Alaina sensed there would be talk of marriage before he left.

She hoped so, anyway.

“Now, honey, listen to me good.” Jennifer Marie’s brows knitted together and she wagged a finger at her. “Stay away from Michael Wheeler.”

Alaina nodded, although her friend’s advice would be hard to follow. It wasn’t that she invited Michael’s solicitations, it was that he sought her out. She couldn’t find it in her heart to be rude to the man. He was charming, friendly, and a proper gentleman at all times, and he was ever so interesting. Alaina scarcely believed him when he admitted that he liked to paint. He promised to show her his collection someday of the portraits, still life, and pastoral scenes he’d created on wood and canvas. Alaina couldn’t wait to see them. She fancied artwork herself.

Yes, they’d enjoyed each other’s company, but perhaps tonight things would be different. Perhaps tonight she could remain dutifully at Braeden’s side—and perhaps tonight he’d ask her to be his wife!

Chapter 7

The lavishly-decorated ballroom never ceased to impress Alaina, even though she’d been inside it quite often during the past couple of days. Looking up at Braeden, she smiled. “You look positively dashing in that gray uniform.”

“Yes, so you’ve told me.” A teasing gleam shone in his brown eyes, and a good-natured smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.

Alaina let out a dramatic sigh. “I suppose I should be used to your teasing by now.”

“Indeed.” Braeden chuckled. Around them couples made their way to the middle of the parquet floor and began waltzing to the sweet notes wafting from the string ensemble in the far corner of the ballroom.

“Are you sure I can’t get you some punch?”

“I’m quite sure. Thank you.”

Braeden scanned the elegantly clad guests. “Hmm, I see my dear cousin has found another suitor.”

“Really?” Alaina scanned the room. “Where?”

“Over there. See her?”

Following the direction of his gaze, she spotted Jennifer Marie flirting shamelessly with a uniformed officer. “And here I thought she was sweet on Michael. In fact, I was going to speak to you about that.”

Braeden peered at her expectantly.

“I noticed Michael’s lack of interest toward Jennifer Marie and I hoped you would be the one to break the news to her.”

Braeden grinned. “Alaina, my dear, at least four people have broken the news to Jennifer Marie with regard to Michael. She simply won’t believe any of us. Michael, himself, tried to explain his feelings. In a word, he said she’s much too bold for his liking.”

“And she’s not a believer.”

“That’s the biggest problem, yes.”

Alaina’s heart sank. “I wish Jennifer Marie would come to know the Lord.”

“We all do.” He smiled warmly into her eyes. “Keep praying.”

“I will.” She gazed up into his handsome face. He stared deeply into her eyes. No one else in the world seemed to matter except the two of them.

“Braeden! Come quick!”

The moment shattered. William rushed up to them, sounding breathless. He too had enlisted and wore a crisp, gray uniform.

“What is it, Will?” A little frown furrowed Braeden’s brow.

“It’s General Beauregard. He’s here.”

“Here?”

“Hurry! You must hear what he has to say!”

Braeden turned to Alaina and, despite the apologetic look on his face, disappointment enveloped her. “I’ll return shortly. Wait for me?”

“Of course.” What more could she do? Watching his retreating form, Alaina gathered her golden skirts and carefully sat on a nearby chair, hoping not to wrinkle the lavish material. She determined not to sulk as she turned her gaze to the happy couples gracefully waltzing around the room. Mama always said dancing was a sin. Considering how closely Jennifer Marie’s partner held her in his arms, Mama had a good case.

“I don’t suppose you waltz, Miss Alaina.”

Looking up to her right, she spied Michael Wheeler. He wasn’t in uniform but looked dapper in spite of his somber attire. Before the party he’d told her the suit was the best one he owned, and he saved it especially for funerals. Alaina had laughed at the wisecrack. “No, I don’t waltz. I don’t dance at all.”

“You’re a fine Christian woman.” Michael sat in the chair next to hers. “I don’t dance all the dances, but I’m partial to a brisk reel.”

“Reel? I don’t know what that is.”

The music stopped and the ensemble announced their short intermission.

“It’s a lively dance,” Michael explained, “and involves two or more couples. They hook arms and swing around from partner to partner, moving in a figure-eight.”

“Hmm …” She gave it but a moment’s thought as she smoothed out her skirt with gloved hands. “And why, may I ask, aren’t you listening to the illustrious General Beauregard?”

He pondered her inquiry for several moments. “Guess I don’t care to hear him gloat over this first victory. Call me a skeptic, call me a pessimist, but I just don’t believe the South is going to have such an easy time of it. We’re farmers. We’re gentlemen. We’re not soldiers.”

“I believe you’re the only man in all of South Carolina with any sense!”

Michael chuckled.

“But I hope you won’t misunderstand,” Alaina added seriously. “I am extremely proud of my brother and Braeden for volunteering.”

“And I have every intention of doing my part.” He gazed out over the consorting crowd. Then he looked back at Alaina. A kind of wistfulness entered his dark brown eyes. “But not just yet. I need to make certain that Pa will be able to run the farm since I know my two brothers will enlist—if they haven’t already.”

Made sense. Michael had already informed her that he was the youngest of his brothers, all just a little more than a year apart. His mother had died when they were young, and his two older brothers had been in and out of various scrapes, although they appeared to be showing signs of settling down. But of the three Wheeler boys, Alaina gathered that Michael was the most loyal to his father. In fact, it sounded to her as if Michael was the one who held his family together.

“I have every confidence that you’ll do what’s right.” She smiled.

An expression hinting of chagrin crossed his face. He stood. “Shall we get some air?”

“I’d like that. Thank you.”

Michael helped her to her feet. “That’s a lovely dress,” he said, escorting her through the opened double doors and out to the verandah.

“Thank you. Jennifer Marie had it made for me—for my upcoming eighteenth birthday. Wasn’t that just the sweetest thing for her to do?”

“It was. She can be very thoughtful.” Michael glanced over his shoulder before backing up against the wrought-iron rail. “I see she’s found another diversion.”

“Seems you’re off the hook.” She and Michael shared a smile. “Oh, now, that wasn’t nice of me to say, was it? Jennifer Marie has only been gracious and kind to me, and I had no cause to speak of her in that dim light.”

“I’ll take it to my grave, Alaina.” Michael leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I swear.”

Her face flushed as she gripped the railing and stared out over the black expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Jennifer Marie’s warning about Michael having designs on her rang in her mind. Was she encouraging his attentions by standing beside him out on the verandah? But there were others around. It wasn’t as if they were alone and unchaperoned.

“It’s a nice night,” Michael remarked.

“A bit chilly.”

“Just look at all those stars …”

Glancing up at the sky, Alaina recalled how Papa liked to create all sorts of stories about angels riding through the galaxies.

Michael turned and his coat sleeve brushed against her satin-clad arm. “You’re quite fetching in the moonlight. Braeden’s a lucky man.”

She opened her mouth to question his motives, but suddenly an enthusiastic melody accompanied by hardy applause captured her attention. Michael listened a moment then dropped his head back and laughed. “A reel. Come on.” His hand folded over hers and he led her toward the door.

Alaina jerked back. “Michael, I—”

“It’s harmless. Here, watch for a minute.”

He stood behind her, his palms resting on her shoulders, while Alaina watched a couple skip up a row paneled with ladies on one side and men on the other. When they reached the end, the couple locked elbows and swung around one way then the other before making their way behind the group and standing at the beginning of the line. The women stepped forward and curtseyed. Then the men stepped forward and bowed. The next couple proceeded in the same manner, but when they reached the end, they did a different jig before returning to the beginning of the queue.

“See, it’s easy.”

Michael’s warm breath sent a shiver down her spine. What sort of shiver, Alaina couldn’t be sure. Delight? Warning?

“When a couple reaches the end of the line, they do a dance step of their choosing. Let’s join in.”

Alaina still had reservations, but before she knew it he had pulled her into the middle of the ballroom, and they were melded into the clapping, chanting throng.

“Alaina!” Jennifer Marie called, sporting rosy cheeks, “Isn’t this fun?”

She wasn’t sure, although she couldn’t withdraw from the queue now without making a scene.

Alaina followed the other ladies and stepped forward and curtseyed. Directly across from her, Michael stepped forward and bowed. He gave her a rascally wink.

Finally it was her turn with Michael. Arm in arm, they promenaded up the middle of the row of humanity and at the end, he pulled her into his arms and they twirled around in a close embrace before he released her.

“That was shameful.” Alaina glared at him after they’d gotten back into line.

He feigned a curious frown. “You think so? It was all in good fun.”

“Well …” Perhaps she made too much of his antics.

“Michael, you dickens!” The gaiety in Jennifer Marie’s tone was laced with disbelief.

Alaina mouthed the words, “told you so,” to Michael.

He smiled and his dark eyes shone with amusement. However, he was much more a gentleman on their next turn when he simply took her hand and led her into a pirouette. Alaina couldn’t help giggling as the room spun around her.

When it stopped, she found herself staring into a pair of very unhappy, golden-flecked eyes.

Her heart did a dive. “Braeden!”

“I believe you and I have some talking to do.” He took her elbow and led her from the ballroom. At last they stood in a dimly lit hallway.

“What do you think you’re doing, dancing with my best friend? I asked you to wait for me.”

“I, um, well …” She had no excuse. “It was an innocent, harmless reel, that’s all.”

“Is that so? Well, I have a notion to confront my
innocent
best friend about this scandalous incident.”

“Scandalous?”

“What else would you call it?” A weighty pause. “My family and friends know you came to the party with me. I feel … disgraced.”

Alaina gasped. “Oh, Braeden, I’d never disgrace you intentionally. Please forgive me.”

“And dancing … you. Had I not seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

“Don’t be angry, Braeden.” Didn’t he know that she loved him, not Michael Wheeler?

“To make matters worse, I learned from my sister that you and Michael have been quite chummy ever since we arrived in Charleston. Is that true?”

Alaina’s face flamed with humiliation. “You were busy. Michael was merely being polite and keeping me company.”

“Are you really that naïve, Laina or are you playing games? If it’s the latter, I thought you were above all that sort of nonsense.”

The anger and disappointment in his voice stole her reply.

“And here I thought you’d be a good example for my cousin Jennifer Marie. But just exactly who is influencing whom?”

“How dare you accuse me! This is all your fault. You’ve spent scarcely ten minutes with me this whole weekend, what with all this war business.” The words flowed out of her as if they had a life of their own. “For all your indifference, I wish I never would have come. Dancing with Michael is the most fun I’ve had in days.”

She pushed past Braeden and pulled away after he reached for her arm. Tears blurred her vision as she took to the staircase. She heard Braeden call her name but ignored him and ran down another shadowed hallway to the bedroom she shared with Jennifer Marie.

Turning the polished brass knob, she entered and closed the door soundly behind her. Two startled Negro maids gaped at her untimely arrival.

“You in for the evenin’, Miss?” one of them asked.

Doing her best to swallow her emotion, she rolled a shoulder in uncertainty. She prayed for composure, but Braeden’s words haunted her. She’d embarrassed him. Everyone thought she’d encouraged Michael.

At her back, the door pushed open, and Jennifer Marie made her way into the room. She waved off her servants before wrapping Alaina in the closest embrace her hoopskirt would afford.

“You poor thing. That cousin of mine is an absolute scoundrel. When I saw you two leave the ballroom, I followed, and I heard every harsh word he spoke to you. But you handled the likes of him just fine.”

“On the contrary. I’ve muddled up everything. My attitude was all wrong.” So much for a marriage proposal tonight. “I didn’t have that meek and quiet spirit every godly woman should possess. I behaved like a shrew!”