A Love Restored Read online

  Muggy, oppressive air filled the carriage—August in Virginia. She retrieved the fan from her satchel. With swift flicks of her wrist, she created a cool breeze that lifted the loose, damp tendrils from her neck. The more she thought about the conversation awaiting her, the faster her fan flapped. Was there no relief from this suffocating heat?

  Joseph gently lowered her hand. “If you wave that fan any faster, you’ll sprain your wrist.”

  She gazed out the window at the purplish hue of the Blue Ridge. A humid haze had settled on the mountains, obscuring their beauty. Their rounded summits appeared blurry and indistinct—like her future with James.

  She closed her eyes and leaned against the seat cushion, her fan waving nonstop. The heat and humidity were worse than last week when she had wandered to the creek. Images of speckled trout came to mind—and the broad shoulders of the man that had held up that string of fish. A sudden warmth rose to her cheeks as she recalled his thick, wavy locks. Dark, too—black as coal. But, he had whiskers. Scruffy ones at that. Nope, she couldn’t abide a man with whiskers.

  Why did she care, anyway? The man clearly had no scruples. He’d insulted both her singing and her dog.

  Ruth Ann straightened in her seat, unable to wipe the smile from her face. But she could put it to good use before Joseph started asking questions. She extended her arm out the window and waved to Adam and Nancy Whitmore. Mr. Whitmore lifted his hand, but a stern glance from his wife appeared to make him think better of the idea.

  “What in the world has gotten into the Whitmores?”

  Joseph shifted to face her. “Many folks don’t like the idea of a white woman teaching Negro students.”

  “Then why did they support the placement of a Freedmen’s School in Catoctin Creek?”

  “They assumed a Negro teacher would be the instructor.”

  She shook her head. “This is ridiculous. They are children, like the Whitmore’s own, who need to learn to read and write.”

  “I agree, but I warned you how some folks would react to a white woman teaching Negroes.”

  “I remember.” Standing up for what she believed in could have serious consequences. She’d already lost Tilly Hirst’s friendship. “So much bloodshed, so much destruction, and the Negroes are little better off than they were before the war.”

  “Perhaps, but if I were you, I’d stick to reading and arithmetic. I happened to see the list of things written on the blackboard. What was the point of your lesson?”

  Ruth Ann grasped the seat as the carriage veered left onto Colonial Highway. “We were discussing the values whites and negroes share.” Her chin lifted with the conviction in her voice. “Things like honesty, fairness, faith, and freedom. It’s time people started to think about what we have in common rather than what we don’t.”

  “Ruth Ann, it’s not good to fill their minds with ideas of equality. Many folks who were opposed to slavery don’t consider Negroes their equals. Others have anger and hostility over the war and emancipation. They may explode at the slightest provocation.” Joseph patted her hand. “Be patient. Change will come in its own time.”

  She leaned her head against the window frame. “I suppose.”

  The carriage slowed as the driver steered the team onto the path beside the Sutton’s home. Buddy barked, announcing their arrival.

  Without waiting for Joseph to assist her, Ruth Ann opened the door, hopped out, and stooped to pet Buddy behind his ears. The dog whimpered and jumped on Ruth Ann’s knees, knocking her backwards. He placed his paws on her chest and licked her face with reckless abandon. “Okay boy, enough.” She giggled. “Enough.”

  With a soft grunt, she pushed to her feet. What a sight she must be. She brushed the dirt from her skirt then felt her hair for any loose coils. Believing her appearance to be satisfactory, she approached the house. James leaned against a pillar on the veranda.

  He’d witnessed the entire spectacle.

  She smiled, hoping to lighten the tension that hung in the air like the dense humidity.

  He didn’t return her smile. Instead, he pulled his pocket watch from his vest and checked the time.

  She chided herself. No doubt another error in ladylike behavior. Why couldn’t she be more reserved? “Hello, James.”

  Handkerchief in hand, he wiped her face where the dog had licked her. He leaned over and gave Ruth Ann a quick buss to her clean cheek before opening the door. “You have made things very difficult for me.” He refolded the cotton cloth then wiped his lips and returned it to his pocket.

  “I planned to discuss my position at the Freedmen’s School with you when you came home for Edith’s wedding in a few weeks. I wanted to talk with you in person.”

  James nodded toward the door. “Everyone is inside.”

  Not one face looked happy to see her when she entered the parlor. No greetings. No smiles. Her stomach churned.

  They had circled the wagons.

  Mr. Thornton withdrew the cigar from his lips. “Sit down, Ruth. It is time we had a rather frank discussion.” He motioned for her to sit on the settee, and she obliged him.

  Mr. Thornton withdrew a cigar from his vest pocket and offered it to Joseph who declined. “Are you sure, Joseph? It’s an Upmann, imported from Havana, Cuba. I won’t smoke anything else.”

  Joseph held up his hand. “No, thank you, William. Despite their popularity, I prefer my pipe.”

  James, however, accepted. When had he started smoking cigars? She enjoyed the smell of Joseph’s pipe, but cigars? She cringed.

  The men clipped the ends of their tobacco sticks with a cutting tool Mr. Thornton removed from his suit pocket before swiping a matchstick against the mantel. Both father and son took several long draws on their cigars as they rolled the tip near the flame. James removed his and inspected the lit end. Satisfied, he stuffed it in the corner of his mouth and joined her on the settee.

  Mr. Thornton cleared his throat. “No doubt Joseph has informed you why we are here.”

  She nodded. “Yes, but—”

  Mr. Thornton held up his hand. “I will do the talking, young lady.”

  A sudden tightness gripped her throat. She resisted the temptation to cross her arms in protest. Instead, she placed her hands demurely in her lap. Perhaps she could throw him off guard by feigning attentiveness to his concerns. She bit the inside of her cheek while Mr. Thornton rattled off a list of reasons why she shouldn’t teach Negro children.

  When he paused to take a puff from his expensive Upmann, Ruth Ann grew bold. She wouldn’t give up her position without a fight. “Certainly, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, you who were so instrumental in the anti-slavery movement, must see the need to educate our freed slaves so they can contribute to society. What good is emancipation if they are now in chains to their own ignorance?”

  Mama stiffened and raised her finger to her lips.

  This might be her only chance to make her case. She ignored her mother’s silent plea and forged ahead. “It’s my Christian duty to meet the needs of the less fortunate.”

  Mr. Thornton’s cigar waggled from between clenched teeth. “That may be, Ruth, but the politics of it are a mess. This part of Virginia has more support for the freed blacks than Richmond, but even here in Loudoun County, it is a very touchy subject.” He inhaled deeply from his cigar then rocked back on his heels. A trail of smoke escaped his lips. “The point is, I must placate both sides on the issue to maintain my coalition of political supporters. If my future daughter-in-law is teaching Negroes, the scale will tip in a direction many of my financial donors will not like.”

  “But—”

  “Ruth, this matter is no longer up for discussion. You will give the Freedmen’s Bureau your notice and resign immediately, or James will terminate the courtship.”

  Mrs. Thornton sat in a wing back chair near her husband. She was mama’s dearest friend. The only one who had stood by her mother when infantile paralysis ravaged her leg. The jut of her chin demonstrated that she could not agree
more with her husband’s proclamation. Mrs. Thornton’s eyes met Ruth Ann’s briefly then drifted slowly down her form, taking close inspection of her posture and attire before shifting to the window.

  What was she going to do? She’d expected to stop teaching once she married. Since James hadn’t made any declarations, she’d assumed she had more time before needing to face that reality. She sighed, earning her a look of disapproval from her mother.

  Joseph clasped Mr. Thornton’s shoulder. “Look, William, perhaps we can come to a new arrangement where James and Ruth Ann are concerned. Both our families have held moderate views toward the races. We are not unaccustomed to unkind remarks on this topic, are we?”

  “No, definitely not.”

  “Your coalition of supporters must also include those who favored emancipation or you wouldn’t have enjoyed such political success.”

  Mr. Thornton nodded.

  “Besides, James hasn’t proposed to Ruth Ann yet. Perhaps she could finish the term and give the oversight committee the opportunity to find a suitable Negro teacher for the school.”

  Ruth Ann searched her beau’s face. Would he approve the plan? Did she want him to?

  James stood and took a long puff from his cigar. He motioned for his father to join him by the window. They spoke in hushed tones. Then Mr. Thornton nodded and clapped his son’s back heartily. James extended his hand to Ruth Ann, his grin broadened. “May I please have a word alone with you, darling?”

  4

  He intended to propose.

  Ruth Ann trembled as she slipped her arm inside the crook of James’ elbow. She rested her free hand against her stomach in a vain attempt to settle the queasiness. James guided her to the veranda at the rear of the house. Palms sweaty, her anxiety rose with each silent step. What was she going to do? She plastered what she hoped was a convincing smile on her face before her eyes darted away, following the antics of a hummingbird hovering above the butterfly bush. Buddy followed, unwilling to let Ruth Ann out of his sight. She slowed her pace to accommodate her four-legged friend.

  “Must he follow us everywhere?”

  Ruth Ann ignored his comment. At that moment, she preferred Buddy’s company to his, and the conversation they were about to have. She lifted an unspoken plea for Heavenly wisdom then tried again to make amends for the mess she’d made. “I did intend to discuss my new position with you when you came home for Edith’s wedding.”

  James patted her hand. “The entire situation has escalated beyond my control, Ruth.” He motioned for her to take a seat on the bench and then leaned against a pillar, one hand in his pocket and the other holding his cigar. “The Vandenbergs have learned of your teaching position as well and are not pleased. Not only has Jonathan threatened to end his engagement to my sister, but his parents will pull their financial support from father’s campaign as well.”

  She brought her hand to her mouth and covered a soft gasp. So, this is how the rich and powerful got their way. She had no idea her actions could affect so many outside of herself.

  “The Vandenbergs have numerous wealthy and influential friends throughout the South. They will not only scrutinize me but my wife. These will be very powerful and influential connections, Ruth—connections that could take me to the United States Senate or beyond.”

  Beyond? Her head was spinning. The only thing she could imagine beyond the United States Senate would be the White House itself.

  Taking her hands in his, James pulled her up from the bench. “I have thought about you considerably while in Richmond, and I have decided we should marry. You are a keen judge of character that will no doubt help me navigate the muddy waters of politics. And your frankness, while troublesome at times, will keep me humble.”

  She stared at him, unsure what to say, her pulse pounding in her ears.

  “You are a smart woman, Ruth, well-educated, charitable. While your father may not have been from as prestigious a family as my own, his name is well-respected in the capital.” He removed a gold timepiece from his pocket, manipulating it in the palm of his hand. “You will be an ideal wife for my future ambitions.”

  His eyes brightened as he spoke of their future together. “Imagine all we can accomplish. We will wine and dine with the most prominent businessmen and politicians in the South. We will negotiate deals in the boardroom and in the parlor. Our prodigy will lay the foundation of a business and political dynasty that will influence the halls of power from Atlanta to Richmond and possibly, Ruth, to Washington itself.”

  For a brief moment, his enthusiasm spilled over. What would life be like as Mrs. James Robert Thornton, entertaining influential businessmen, powerful politicians, and their wives? The image he painted enticed her.

  His fingers glided over the smooth face of the timepiece as he spoke. “There are, of course, a few youthful indiscretions we will need to explain as “works of charity,” and other subjects, such as women’s suffrage, must be avoided. However, mother has convinced me that your potential benefit to my future ambitions far outweighs any detriment…”

  Ruth Ann folded her arms tightly to her chest. Youthful indiscretions? The only hesitation he has had? Certain subjects we need to avoid? James rocked on his heels and puffed his cigar, smug and confident like his father had been in the parlor. Head spinning, she forced herself to concentrate.

  “Yes, it does seem to be coming together nicely.” He strolled to the edge of the veranda, dropping ashes from his Upmann on Myra’s pristine floor. “We should marry next spring—you can fix the date. That should give you plenty of time to organize your trousseau and plan a grand ceremony. You will need to run every detail by mother as many of the Vandenbergs will be in attendance.”

  Her stomach roiled. His discussion of marriage lacked any of the romantic gestures she had always hoped her future husband would bestow. Her life seemed to be arranging itself before she had accepted his proposal. Did he even have any romantic feelings for her? There was only one way to find out. She swallowed hard, her tongue thick. “James, d-do you love me?”

  He chuckled. “That is a rather impertinent question, Ruth, but you have always been forthright.” James stepped closer, taking her hands in his again. “My affection for you, darling, is implied by the mere fact I want to marry you.”

  Ruth Ann shook her head. “You have acknowledged I have many of the characteristics you desire in a wife, but you haven’t expressed any romantic sentiment toward me, nor have you proposed. You haven’t even kissed me.” Why had she blurted that out? Heat rushed up her neck and exploded across her cheeks.

  “Well, darling, we can remedy that situation right now.” He took one last puff of his Upmann, dropped it to the floor of the veranda, and then extinguished it with the toe of his shoe.

  Now that the moment had arrived, she wasn’t sure she wanted James to kiss her. But if they were to marry, she supposed kissing him would be inevitable.

  James put his arms around her and drew her close. He was small for a man—barely a half-inch taller than her. His narrow shoulders and thin arms made her feel gargantuan. She tried to focus on his hazel eyes. His one feature she found attractive.

  His fingers trailed along her cheek. “I know some may find your robust figure unattractive, but it’s of little consequence to me.” James sat on the bench then tugged Ruth Ann into his lap nuzzling her neck below her ear with his nose.

  Ruth Ann stiffened.

  “It’s all right. No one can see us from the parlor.” He wrapped a loose curl around his finger. “You smell wonderful. Is that lavender?”

  Ruth Ann swallowed hard and managed to nod.

  He cradled her cheeks in the palms of his hands. Their lips met briefly then parted.

  She didn’t know what to expect. She had never kissed a man before, but she didn’t think much of it. Surely, it should have stirred something inside her, but there was no tingling sensation, no rapid heartbeat, and no shortness of breath. And no desire to kiss him again either.

  His lip
s grazed her jaw.

  “We mustn’t, James.”

  A roguish grin spread across his thin lips. “Now that we are engaged, we are allowed to be a little more—friendly.”

  “Un-uh,” she replied wedging her hands between them. “You still haven’t answered me.” She searched his eyes. “Do you love me?”

  Silence.

  He didn’t love her. This wasn’t surprising, but somehow, she had allowed herself to believe that he wouldn’t propose unless he did. She pushed herself off his lap and slipped to the edge of the veranda.

  James followed and placed his hands on her shoulders, nudging her to face him. “Look at me, Ruth.”

  Yearning to see love in the eyes of the man who sought her hand, she hesitated.

  “Can you not sense my desire for you?” His soft breath tickled her ear. “Kiss me, Ruth.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “Physical desire and love are two very different things, James.”

  “Perhaps, but in time, I believe a deep affection for one another will blossom between us. My parents married not for love but for the excellent connections between their two families and the continued security their marriage would provide. Over time, they have developed a strong bond—a strong partnership.”

  A shiver traveled down her spine. Was a loveless marriage, a mere partnership, to be her fate? She stepped back from his embrace. “What are you proposing, James, a marriage or a business contract?”

  He smirked. “Is there a difference, darling?”

  She didn’t find him the least bit amusing. “What did you mean earlier when you mentioned my youthful indiscretions?”

  “Ruth, must we talk about this now? Sit on my lap again. Perhaps give me another kiss?”