Words Heard in Silence (79 page)

"I do not expect that either one of us will be good tonight."

Charlie grinned at that comment, then set to work helping Rebecca finish removing her wedding dress and don a more comfortable party dress. The sooner they got back to the guests, the sooner they could bid them good night.

T
he guests were cheerfully drinking Charlie’s champagne and munching on little delicacies that were being handed around by the troopers turned waiters. Most were happy and amused by the antics of their hosts, willing to wait until Charlie and Rebecca returned before they began serious celebrating. A small cluster of ladies, centered on Mrs. Williams, were busy noting every flaw, every event that strayed from Southern tradition, every ineptitude of the troopers as waiters. The lovely Misses Reynolds and Simms were part of the crowd. It rankled that Rebecca Gaines had captured such an eligible bachelor, particularly since she had already proven she could not give the distinguished General any heirs.

Elizabeth stood quietly listening to them carry on until she simply could not take it any longer. She finally stepped into the middle of the group, turning slowly and managing to give each one of them a dirty look. "All right. I have had quite enough. From the moment I met all of you, all you have done is continually harp on Rebecca and Charlie. You do not like the fact that they have found each other in this disturbing time and you are miffed that Charlie would rather have an educated and talented lady on his arm than whiney young girls who have no clue what it means to be a woman. And you," she turned to Mrs. Williams, "you hateful, spiteful woman. If you are so taken aback by all of this, then why do you not ride your high horse right out of here? These two people are my dear friends. They are kind, loving, charitable, good Christians. I will not have anymore of your sniping on what should be the happiest day of their lives."

Richard watched as Elizabeth took the hen fest to task with raised eyebrows and lips pursed to keep from grinning outright.
My, my, she is a feisty one. If only she could see her way……
Richard shook his head slightly. He had not found the same courage that Charlie had. Perhaps before they left for the spring, he would ask her. Smoothly, he inserted himself at Elizabeth’s elbow. "Excuse me, my dear, but General Sheridan is asking for you."

Elizabeth looked at Richard and started to argue, but she could see by the look in his eyes; she should just be quiet now and leave gracefully. "Yes, Richard, of course."

She looked back at the women she had just taken to task. Mrs. Williams was an interesting shade of red, while some of the younger women had the grace to look abashed. "Excuse me, ladies, but duty calls." The acid behind the words was unmistakable.

Richard, in the interest of veracity, escorted Elizabeth over to the corner where Sheridan and Grant were chatting; the Generals had watched the little contretemps with interested amusement. Grant spoke up first. "Ah, Doctor Walker, lovely day, lovely wedding. By the way, in the future, may I call on you to admonish my troops when they get out of hand?"

At that point Elizabeth had the good grace to blush.

"Oh, no, General. You cannot have her. She is my secret weapon in keeping my troops motivated in the field –– and not just because of her lovely appearance or her skill as a physician." Phil Sheridan was grinning ear to ear. "By the way, Polk. When are you going to step up to the line with the good Doctor?"

Richard choked on the champagne Sheridan had allowed him to take into his mouth before asking that question. Elizabeth managed to give him a gentle pat on the back. "Actually Philip, I am not sure Richard is the marrying type. I think he is married to the Army."

Richard blushed, a rare sight on his usually relaxed and self-confident visage. "I am not sure of that, sir, but I suspect that Dr. Walker is married to her profession." In that moment, Richard found a certain courage, as he turned to Elizabeth. "Nevertheless, I would be joyous to join you in supporting that commitment, if you will have me."

Elizabeth did not have an opportunity to answer before several things happened as once. Richard realized exactly what he said, and looked as if he wanted to bolt. General Grant, completely amused by the junior officer's unfortunate timing, allowed himself a loud laugh. Rebecca and Charlie entered the room, drawing all the attention to them and Em piped up for her Papa.

Sheridan leaned forward and whispered in Richard’s ear, "You know I will hold you to that, even if she does not." Richard gulped and nodded.

Rebecca and Charlie stopped halfway down the stairs, as the guests turned and again applauded the newlyweds. Rebecca, in her blue and ivory wedding dress, had been radiant. In the green velvet and lace ball gown, she was absolutely alluring. The look on Charlie’s face, a mixture of pride and joy, was a portrait that burned itself into everyone’s memory. The moment was broken by a small voice piping "Papa. Mama Becca. Em hungwy."

Charlie caught Duncan’s eye and nodded. As the doors to the dining room were thrown open, he announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, dinner is ready. Please, join us." He scooped Em up in his arms and escorted Rebecca into the room, followed by Richard and Elizabeth as their best man and maid of honor. The other guests filed in as well. Between tables in the dining room and the large reception hall, there was seating for all sixty odd guests.

The flurry of formal actions gave Elizabeth a moment to regain her composure, as well as a bit of privacy with Richard in the midst of the crowd. "Did you mean what you said?"

"Umm...well...." He straightened up, took her hands in his and bestowed his best and brightest smile on her. "Absolutely, my dear. Absolutely. Whenever you are ready and are willing to have me."

Elizabeth bit her lip. Richard was always charming and courtly. She had come to rely on his steady presence and support more than she liked to admit. But intensely personal emotions were something Richard had trouble expressing.
D
o I love him? Yes, I think I do. Will I marry him? I think we will need to talk about that.
She smiled tenderly, knowing full well what that proposal had cost her friend. "Thank you, Richard. Can we discuss this in a more private setting?"

"Of course, my dear. Whenever you are ready."

With that, they were seated and the meal that Sarah and her aides had labored over for so long was served. It was a jovial meal, laced with laughter, good food, good wine, and not a little bit of teasing. In the midst of so many people, Em glued herself to Charlie and would not let go, so he found himself with his hands full indeed. Two women to attend to, two women who loved him, each in their own way. Much of the teasing he got that day was about starting his family early.

With stomachs replete, Charlie invited the guests to join them in the ballroom, where the musicians of the regiment had formed their band, this time with a piano player to round out their melodies. Charlie had planned to let the strains of the piano playing the first dance, a waltz, announce his wedding gift to Rebecca. The two took their place at the center of the ballroom, waiting for the first notes.

Rebecca looked at Charlie as the music started, then turned her head to make sure of what she was hearing. Then she saw it. Tears formed in her eyes as she looked back to her husband. "How did you find it?"

"Mr. Cooper had kept track of it, and we managed to get it back."

At the same time, Mrs. Williams heard the notes from the spinet. Again, her face reddened. Under her breath she muttered, "Why, Edward Cooper, you will pay for this."

Rebecca caressed Charlie's cheek, not caring that everyone they knew surrounded them, and she bestowed him with a very sincere kiss. "Thank you," she whispered as she looked at him again. "I love you, Charlie."

"I love you, Rebecca. Now dance with me, wife, or I will have to embarrass you in front of all of these people." Charlie was already eager for Rebecca’s touch. Her kisses just made waiting that much worse. He was feeling rather like a cat in heat.

"As you wish, husband," and with that, she let him lead her around the dance floor.

The second dance began with Mr. Cooper, representing Rebecca’s father, and Mrs. Cooper, in place of her mother, dancing with Rebecca and Charlie, respectively. As their dance progressed, the officers and gentlemen of the community solicited the hands of various ladies of the community. Richard found himself holding Elizabeth in his arms, a pleasure he always anticipated. Mrs. Williams was stiffly dancing with her husband, who proceeded to use the intimacy of the dance to scold his wife.

"Now you listen to me, Margaret Williams, it is time for you to stop being cruel to General and Mrs. Redmond. They are good people, they have done much for this community and people are talking about how you are acting with them. It is shameful. And from this moment on it will stop."

"James, it is impossible. How can you expect me to welcome this Yankee carpetbagger into our community? He represents everything our glorious boys have fought against. He and those like him have destroyed our Virginian culture, our lands, our youth, and our future. How dare you ask me to accept him and his like?"

"I am not asking you, Mrs. Williams, I am telling you. As your minister and your husband, I expect you to listen to me and stop this nonsense."

It was unheard of for the Reverend James Williams to command his wife like this. How dare he do this to her, embarrass her like this publicly and demand she accept this interloper? She was so angry with both Rebecca for accepting this –– enemy –– into their community, and with her husband for ordering her around as he had never done before that she was sputtering. "James ––"

"Margaret, there is no room for argument here. You will cease in your public condemnation of Charlie and Rebecca. You may feel how you will in private, because I cannot change that, but I am demanding that you stop speaking out against them in the community."

It finally penetrated Mrs. Williams’ stubborn skull. She had crossed the line one too many times and her husband had more backbone than she thought. "Yes, husband."

The dancing continued until it was time for the cake and the toasts. Charlie had been anticipating this moment eagerly, as it signaled the time when he could take Rebecca off to their room. Richard had been dreading it, for it was up to him to deliver the first toast.

Duncan and Raiford carried in the wedding cake, while other troopers passed more champagne. Charlie and Elizabeth stepped behind the cake, while Richard stood before them with a raised glass.

Richard grinned. Charlie looked concerned, having a vague memory of the toast at his party the previous night. "Today," Richard began slowly, looking at Charlie, "I lost my position as the first person best friend turns to when things are difficult. He has found a lovely lady to spend his life with and I am exceptionally happy for him. I hope that Miss Rebecca finds him to be not only a wonderful husband, but also the best friend she has ever had. To Charlie and Rebecca Redmond, may they only know happiness for a very long time to come."

"Charlie and Rebecca!" rang through the room as the guests joined Richard in his good wishes.

General Grant stepped forward. A normally retiring, soft-spoken man, those at the farthest corners of the ballroom had to strain to hear him.

"Just about eighteen years ago, when I was a second lieutenant serving in Mexico under Zachary Taylor, I had the honor of serving with a young Captain from Virginia, Robert Lee. After the horrors of the Battle of Buena Vista, Captain Lee and I had observed the valor and skill of a young recruit who rose to command with a field promotion to second lieutenant. Both of us endorsed this young man to our commanders as true officer material. Over the years, we watched Charlie Redmond rise through the ranks, always the model of a soldier and a gentleman. I, for one, never thought he would find a place in the world outside of the Army. It gives me great joy to be here at his wedding. I am just sorry my wife could not join us in wishing you, Charlie and Rebecca, all of the best. We will be sorry to lose you from the Army when this war is over, but I can tell you folks of Culpeper, and I think our old friend General Lee would agree, you are getting one of the Army’s best."

To hear Grant, who, to Mrs. Williams, was the devil incarnate, speak of his friendship with the hallowed General Lee was incredible. The woman was overwhelmed; first her husband had chastised her publicly, and now she discovered that the abominable Redmond was a friend of Lee’s. It was too much. She fainted dead away, creating quite a stir in the room.

Charlie looked over at the woman with a raised eyebrow. "Looks like she finally exceeded her limit."

F
inally, Charlie and Rebecca had escaped the wedding party. Tess had taken Em up to bed before the dancing began, much to Charlie’s relief. The local guests left in varying degrees of sobriety. Mrs. Williams had spent the last part of the evening reclining in one of the small sitting rooms, supported by an elderly cousin. Richard had been hard pressed to relieve Elizabeth of her vial of pepper oil and replace it with smelling salts when reviving the offensive woman. Reverend Williams remained downstairs for the rest of the toasts and the cake.

Charlie stood regarding his bride, who was still flushed with the excitement of the last few minutes of the evening. Following tradition, she had tossed her bouquet from the top of the stairs. Her aim had been good; Elizabeth was hit squarely in the chest.

"You know, darling, marriage seems to be bringing out the imp in you. You certainly managed to embarrass our dear friend the doctor this evening. Did you know that Richard asked her to marry him tonight?"

"Elizabeth made a comment about it. She is very nervous."

"You think she is nervous? Richard may have left bruises on my arm from hammering on it as he told me. It was actually funny. He kept saying, ‘‘My God, Charlie, do you know what I have done? I really did it –– right in front of Sheridan and Grant. If I back out, Sheridan will have my ass for breakfast, I think.’ The babble level was amazing."