Northern Star (16 page)

“If it’s money, Grandfather, we can get money,” Perry pleaded. However, in her mind, she wondered where she could locate any cash. Her mother’s pouch, with jewelry tucked between the folds of family papers, was hidden in a barn Perry would never be able to locate again. The only thing of any value she had was Ravenwood, and it belonged to her brother too. It would be unthinkable to sell their home just as Andrew returned.

“No, it’s not the money. He also made me another promise I value more than this place.” He stood somewhat unsteadily and cupped her face in his hands. “You have to understand; I’ve buried a wife and a daughter,
both dying during childbirth. He promised me there will be no children from your marriage.”

“How can a man promise such?” Perry asked, her cheeks reddening.

“Never mind, Perry. Just take your time. You’ll realize I’m right about Wade. The South we know is dead. Here’s your chance to survive. I plan to see that you get this chance.” His eyes clouded over, and Perry knew he could no longer hear her. He picked up a half-empty bottle and disappeared into the study, as he did every night.

Perry walked to the window and stared out, The three oak trees made dark shadows on the front lawn. She watched their mournful swaying. She was angry at her grandfather for trying to manipulate her life. But he was an old man whose logic was clouded by drink. Wade was a different problem. The arrogance of his bargaining with her grandfather for her hand overwhelmed her. She walked slowly to her room, chin held high with pride and determination. Wade Williams would find he had more to reckon with than an old man if he continued with this insane scheme.

*   *   *

The next three weeks were a nightmare for Perry. Wade came to the house almost daily. Each time her hatred of him grew. He smiled at her and made polite conversation in front of her grandfather. However, when alone, he took great pleasure in trying to aggravate her. She thought this a strange way to try to win her heart, but it seemed in keeping with his personality.

Pondering Wade’s actions for the hundredth time, she slowly dressed for a dinner party. This was the first dinner at Three Oaks in over twenty years but Perry had no wish to attend it. Wade arranged every detail of the evening with her grandfather. He even hired a girl to help with the cooking. Though Perry would serve as hostess, she felt very much like a guest. Noma was so excited about the party that Perry wished she could share some of her enthusiasm.

Noma had spent hours cleaning the formal dining room. Invitations went out to four local couples, including John and Mary Williams. Normally the idea of a dinner part would have thrilled Perry. Only tonight she faced it with dread, due to Wade’s presence. Noma thought her criticism of Wade unjust and kept laughing about sparks of anger igniting love.

Perry tried again and again to understand exactly what it was about Wade that fired such hatred in her. She even tried to tell herself that he’d been doing his job when he’d kidnapped her. Perhaps he was even unaware of how greatly he was hurting her in the carriage? But she’d been there, she’d seen his cruelty firsthand. In the final analysis she knew, more than anything else, that her repulsion was rooted in the air of evil she felt when close to him. She disliked his way of manipulating people, but she hated the look in his eyes when he watched her. It reminded her of a wild animal watching his prey. Now, tonight, she would have to spend an entire evening across the table from him.

Noma broke into Perry’s thoughts with her chatter, “It’s time to go down. Now, no more nonsense about Mr. Wade. I will not hear another bad word about the man. Didn’t he send extra kitchen help for Sarah and three stable boys to help out back? No man that considerate would make a bad husband. Besides, it’s time you learned that every man has his good and bad side. A woman just has to live with one in order to get the benefit of the other.”

Perry refused to comment. Noma carefully checked each curl of Perry’s ebony hair, now pulled high in a crown atop her head. Perry stared at her reflection in the triple mirrors, feeling very much alone. Her ray of hope remained with her brother, Andrew. He would stop this insane courtship when he returned home. More men were returning every day. It was just a matter of time. He would protect her from Wade’s scheming.

As Perry moved down the hall she remembered her grandfather saying he wouldn’t rush her into marriage.
Maybe this obsession of Wade’s would play out in time. If she could keep her grandfather from getting too upset, she could stall for time indefinitely.

With stubborn determination Perry lifted her head. She would enjoy the evening, regardless of Wade Williams. There were guests waiting downstairs, and this was her first real dinner party. She and Noma had worked all morning remaking one of her mother’s dresses. The dark blue silk was now draped in flowing clouds from her tiny waist. The rich material pulled snug across her breast, broken only by the snow-white lace at the collar and bell-shaped cuffs. She wished Hunter was the one waiting downstairs and not his cousin, but Hunter had become more a dream each day.

As Perry descended the stairs she noticed that three of the four couples had already arrived, leaving only John and Mary Williams. She stood politely as her grandfather introduced her to each of their guests. They were all older, influential people in the area. Perry made polite conversation as she watched the door for the last couple.

Wade circled the room, refilling drinks and talking. He smiled each time he passed Perry, yet said nothing. His wiry grin made her flesh crawl.

To Perry’s relief the Williamses arrived just as dinner was being announced. Wade hurried to greet them, as if it were his party and his home. Mary Williams said hello to her nephew, but her usual bubbling warmth was absent. John apologized for being late, explaining he had been busy helping his grandson ready a flying balloon for lift-off.

The guests turned all conversation to John as he explained Hunter’s landing a day earlier not more than ten miles to the south.

Enjoying the center stage, John elaborately described Hunter’s landing in a field between his farm and the old church. Everyone could see the pride John had in his grandson as he explained that the lift-off would be in sight
of the church, about mid-morning tomorrow. At Mary’s suggestion, he invited all for a drink of her lemonade afterward.

Everyone was interested and amazed, except Wade, who sulked quietly by the window. Perry watched him force a smile and knew Wade resented Hunter’s name intruding.

Perry felt sure that people would come from miles around to see the balloon lift off. She turned to her grandfather. “May we go watch?” she asked as they strolled a few feet away from the other guests. She could feel Wade following close at their heels and hoped he wouldn’t invite himself along.

Wade stepped between her and her grandfather. “Of course I’ll take you, Perry. It will be right on the way to church.”

Perry noticed that he addressed her informally, but she made no comment. She resented the intrusion into her conversation. Her voice was cold as she whispered, “I hadn’t planned on attending church, Mr. Williams. Tomorrow is Saturday, I believe.”

Wade seemed not the least discouraged. He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “Yes, dear,” he whispered back, “what better day for a wedding? Your grandfather and I have been talking, and we decided a short engagement would be in order.” His lips disappeared into a thin smile that framed his teeth. Clasping his hands behind his back, he rocked forward off his heels in arrogant victory.

Anger clouded Perry’s vision as she fought for control. How dare he be so presumptuous! Her hands balled into fists as she fought the urge to grab his throat and choke the smug smile from his face. “I’ll not marry you tomorrow—or any other day, Mr. Williams! Do I make myself clear?”

Wade grinned like an animal who’d just trapped his prey. “It’s been arranged, Perry. You might as well sit back and enjoy your engagement party, for tomorrow will be your wedding day.” A fire danced in his dark eyes as his smile
distorted his face into an evil mask. Perry watched the small scar above his eye and wished Hunter were there to help her as he’d once helped Abram, for she felt she was about to be trampled by Wade.

Perry looked to her grandfather for support. He was just finishing his third glass of wine. She knew he could be stubborn once he’d made up his mind and had a few drinks to fortify his determination. Well, she was just as stubborn, and she was not going to marry this man. She knew women had little more rights than slaves, but she also knew she was a fighter. Wade must be out of his mind to think she would marry him—she’d see them both dead first.

The other guests were watching her. She slowly forced her hands to relax at her side. She had to control herself and think. Maybe later, when her grandfather was sober, she could talk to him. If he knew how Wade had harmed her in Philadelphia, he would change his mind. As she took her grandfather’s arm and proceeded to the dinner table, her mind raced for a way out of Wade Williams’s clutches.

Perry remembered little of the dinner party. The guests talked around her, unmindful of her distress. Even as they said good night Perry was so consumed by her hatred of Wade Williams that she only muttered short farewells. In her mind she plotted what she would say to her grandfather when they were alone and, if that failed, what she would say to Wade.

With the hall finally empty, Perry turned to face her grandfather. “I can’t marry Wade tomorrow.” She fought to keep her voice calm.

His eyes were blood red with drink and anger as he stared at her. “You will marry him tomorrow. We’ve talked it over and we think a fast wedding will cause less problems.”

“But what of Andrew? Can’t we wait until he returns?”

The old man shook his head.

Perry could feel herself losing control. “You promised you wouldn’t hurry me. I’m not ready to marry.”

“Ready or not, the time has come, my dear.” He reached to pat her shoulder but almost lost his balance and had to grab the banister to keep from toppling.

Wade appeared in the study door. From his smirk Perry knew he’d been listening. “Nothing will change the fact that tomorrow is your wedding day.” He handed her
grandfather another glass of brandy. “All brides are nervous the night before.”

“This is not the night before. I don’t know how to say it any plainer. I am not marrying you tomorrow.”

Wade’s laughter chilled the warm night air. “You’ll learn in time not to challenge me, but I swear you will be my wife tomorrow.”

Perry looked from her drunken grandfather to the insane captain before her. There was no reasoning with either of them. She turned and stormed up the stairs. She had to stall for time. Her first thought was to fake illness, but she decided against that ploy. Wade might bring the preacher to the house.

The only other alternative was to get away. But where could she run? John and Mary Williams might help, but they were Wade’s aunt and uncle. The only other place was Kingston. She had enough money saved from her shopping trips to last her a few days, and then she could take a job in one of the many reopened shops. Wade probably would not bother to follow her, but if he did, it would take him at least a few days to find her.

Taking a deep breath, Perry tried to calm the urgency in her voice as she opened her bedroom door. “Noma, help me dress. I must leave tonight.” Perry ignored the black woman’s shocked expression. “Pack a few things in a traveling bag.”

Noma faced her mistress without showing any sign of following the orders she’d been given. Age lines materialized as she wrinkled her face in disapproval. “What are you talking about, Miz Perry? You’re not ridin’ off in the middle of the night. No, sir!”

“Noma, you don’t understand. Wade Williams plans to marry me tomorrow,” Perry said over her shoulder as she struggled to remove her evening dress.

The older woman’s face lit up, as bright as a firefly’s bottom on a moonless night. “Marry. Well, my, my…” Seeing her mistress frown, she added, “Now, Miz Perry,
you just nervous about marryin’ and I knows how you feels. But marriage is the best thing for you. To a fine man like Mr. Williams too.” Noma’s mind was already whirling with plans for Perry’s future. She reached toward Perry to hug the girl.

Jerking free, Perry stormed toward the wardrobe. “I’m not marrying Wade Williams. I have some say in the matter. I will not!” She stopped, realizing she had no time to argue with Noma. An hour’s delay might mean the difference in Wade catching up with her before she could get to Kingston. She opened the wardrobe door and pulled out her riding clothes. “I wish everyone would stop treating me like a dim-witted child. He’s no good. There’s bad in him, more bad than I have ever seen in a man. I’ve seen it. I wish I had time to take you with me, but I know how you hate riding, and I must travel fast. Wade will return in a few hours to take me to the church. By then I’ll be miles away. I’ll send for you as soon as I get settled in Kingston.”

Noma tried again, pointing her chubby finger. “Now, Miz Perry, I knows how you is when you sets your mind to something, but this time being stubborn ain’t goin’ to do you no good. Every woman needs a man, and you’s doin’ right nice with Mr. Williams.”

Perry’s anger showed from the tip of her slender foot to the flashing in her eyes. “I’m getting dressed and riding to Kingston tonight. Nothing you say will stop me.”

Noma walked slowly to her small room. “You can’t do this, Miz Perry. You can’t ruin your life,” she mumbled as she went into her room and closed the door.

Perry knew Noma would always see her as a child, and she had no time to make her understand. She quickly removed her evening clothes and tossed them unceremoniously across her bed. Ten minutes later she had packed a small bag and dressed in her mother’s riding habit of midnight blue. She barely glanced at her reflection as she
pulled her long black curls behind her neck and tied them with a blue ribbon.

It would be a long ride, but by dawn she’d be out of Wade’s reach and free once more. Glancing at Noma’s closed door, she longed to say good-bye and beg Noma to follow in a few days, but she wanted no more argument. Noma would come to her senses soon. She would just have to trust Perry’s judgment this time, or at least accept it.