Chapter Ten: Oak Alley

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Crystal sat on the back veranda of Oak Alley observing the festivities that went on around her as she bounced baby Faith on her knee. She hummed a lullaby absently. Music filled the air as a small band, set on a quickly constructed platform, strummed out a rhythm. The grass was trampled beyond repair by the dozens of guests that pranced around the yard. The hot summer sun beat down upon sweating faces; many sought comfort under the magnolia trees that surrounded the house. Drinking fresh lemonade as they were cooled down by the light breezes that fluttered across the grounds.

The small party had been thrown in honor of Dawn’s sixteenth birthday. An event the young girl had looked forward to since the day she turned fifteen. She had been dancing, laughing, and basking in the glow of the attention that was heaped upon her ever since the celebration had began. Crystal, on the other hand, had been enjoying the day for the complete opposite reason. For the first time in more than a month she and Charles were not at the center of the party. The only downside to this was that Charles had nothing to distract him. She had spent the past few hours dancing and talking with him. Finally making her escape when Elizabeth had asked her to hold Faith while she and Jacob had a turn on the dance floor.

Charles had resigned from dancing at her departure and joined William on the sidelines. Most probably to discuss some important business venture by the way there heads had been lowered in deep conversation for the past half-hour. Crystal’s gaze flickered to them now as she ceased to bounce Faith. The baby was becoming fussy, and she tried swaying her knee from side to side to calm the child. Their intense expressions were unsettling to her, she had noticed they had been spending an unusual amount of time together. Either locked up in Papa Marginy’s study or –from what Jacob said – in a back room of Aliex’s Coffee House. The mysterious way they were acting reminded her of the night of their engagement, and the strange conversation she overheard. June had suggested it was a surprise wedding gift when Crystal mention their odd behavior, but she was convinced it was something a little more important.

A shriek of laughter drew her attention back to the dancers. She caught sight of Dawn whirling around in the arms of the familiar Creole that she had been pursuing at the ball a months before. Crystal laughed at the sight they made. Dawn blushing scarlet as the dark haired young man leaned down to whisper in her ear. She watched for a moment, but the bright summer colors of the dresses that swirled about the yard had a dizzying affect. She shifted her gaze to the brilliant blue of the summer sky.

There wasn’t a cloud in sight, and though the day was hot the air was dry making the heat bearable. Summer had taken hold of Oak Alley in a dazzling way. Lustrous magnolia flowers bloomed on the trees. Bright pink and white azalea bushes accented the light pink of the small Japanese Magnolia’s that hung like little bells on the trees, and golden sunlight lit the lawn. Reflecting off the small pond to the left of the yard; along with the clear sky it was an arresting sight. The sweet smell of sugarcane perfumed the air, bees buzzing from flower to flower, crickets chirped one to another in quiet rhythm, and cardinals sang mother natures melodious song. Nothing could compare to a summer evening in Louisiana.

She closed her eyes as a breeze threaded through the pillars along the patio and caressed her face. Her thoughts strayed to the top of a cathedral where the sun set over a blazing river. Emerald green eyes studied her with quiet intensity, imploring her to open up but refusing to give anything in return. She clenched her eyes tight, fighting back sudden tears.

She had tried not think about him. The past week had been horrible, she had fought with her own reasoning. Her own hurt feelings and wounded pride. She had trusted him, and he had betrayed that trust, yet she still trusted him. She hated it.

Opening her eyes, she fingered Faith’s light blonde curls. Her head was drooping as she sagged into sleep. Crystal kissed the top of her head, and shifted the baby in her arms so that Faith could lay on her shoulder. Crystal leaned back in the wooden rocking chair and slowly swayed back in forth as she stroked her nieces soft hair.

It seemed obvious that she was entirely wrong about Joseph. He was cruel and cunning. One moment the most captivating rogue, the next a violent devil. Yet she couldn’t help but recall the flash of guilt that had crossed his face. What had been the cause of his complete change in character? She remembered the man that she had seen from the roof and wondered if that had been the reason for his vicious behavior. He had seemed his old self when she had seen him in the square minutes later, and she had for a moment wondered if she’d dreamed it all. But the bruises on her back from when he had shoved her made it evident that it was very far from a dream. He had hurt her, physically and emotionally.

‘You cannot stop it.’ The voodooist’s words from a month before came back to her. Now she knew what the witch had meant. She couldn’t stop it because she would never see him again. ‘You’re the only one that can help me . . .’ Curse the voices that resounded in her head!

Why should she help him? The woman had said it was impossible, but could she live with herself if she didn’t try? Damn him! He had come into her life unwanted. Disrupting her dreams, then humiliated her. Yet she had to help him, that voodooist couldn’t have been right. She wouldn’t let her be right.

For a while Crystal sat in silence. Lightly tracing a finger over Faith’s tiny delicate features as a slew of troubling thoughts crossed her mind.

“Soon we will have a child of or own.”A deep voice whispered in her ear. “I long for it immensely. ”

She did not look up at her fiance; the picture that his words put in her mind sent heat rushing to her cheeks. She hoped that he was not thinking the same thing, but found that unlikely. His presence made her uneasy, his breath tickled her ear and she resisted the urge to move away. “Though I know you would give me the son that I long for.”

Crystal held back a sigh and finally met Charles’ gaze with a weak smile. “A son? Would it be so horrible a thing to have a daughter as the firstborn?”

“Not horrible. No.” Charles pulled up a rocker and took a seat to her right. Apparently in no hurry to leave her side. “But it would be a comfort to me to have a son that could carry on the family name.”

She murmured her acceptance to this reasoning, only because she did not wish to start an argument. Charles was a very arrogant man and any hint that she was questioning his opinion would wound his pride and set him reeling with defenses. “Is everything alright between you and William?” she inquired, shifting in her seat so that she could more easily see him. “You both looked quite grim a moment ago.”

A dark look flickered over his face, quickly replaced by a grin. Though it wasn’t completely genuine. “Nothing to concern your lovely head about. I assure you,” he said patting her hand as it rested upon the arm of her chair, like she were a naive child. “But darling I must say you’re looking a little pale. Have you been sleeping enough lately?” Crystal nodded slowly. Her mind still upon Charles’ strange reaction to her innocent question; it had not escaped her notice that he had abruptly changed the subject. “I know all of these wedding plans can be trying, but it’ll be worth it in the end.” He gave her hand a squeeze. His eyes and touch saying everything his words did not.

Crystal retained a shudder and adjusted Faith on her lap. Hoping the child would wake up and give her an escape from this conversation. Charles, as always completely unaware of her discomfort, began rubbing her hand. She scanned the yard desperately seeking someone who could save her

She spotted June sitting under a nearby tree laughing and talking merrily with Phillip Almonaster. Crystal’s futile attempt to catch her friends attention merely by looking at her seemed completely pointless. Nevertheless, June happened to glance her way, and noticing her dismayed expression, searched for the cause of her discomfort. Catching sight of Charles, she rolled her eyes, laughed and waved at her before turning back to Phillip. Crystal was struck by an overwhelming urge to throw something large and heavy at that bouncy blonde head.

June had stopped being sympathetic to Crystal’s plight weeks before. Now she never failed to point out that Charles would soon be her husband so she better get used to him wanting to touch her. Preferably learn to enjoy it; Crystal agreed with her on the one hand, but that did not make it any easier to do.

Ten more minutes passed before Crystal spotted Elizabeth and Jacob coming to join them. Charles rose to greet them and Crystal let out a soft sigh of relief. Charles’ bold whispers in her ear, and the light caress of his knuckles along her arm were more than she could handle. Elizabeth immediately took note of her sisters fretful state, and taking the seat to her left, lifted Faith from her arms and comfortingly grabbed Crystal’s hand. “Are you ill, dear?” she whispered in her ear. Quietly enough so that Jacob and Charles would not overhear if they so happened to end the lively conversation they were having.

“You could call it that,” Crystal murmured in reply, relief evident on her face at Charles altered attentions.

“Maybe you should go upstairs and rest,” Elizabeth said. “Liza told me you’ve been a little high-strung of late. What with the wedding so close and so many changes. It’s no wonder you find yourself crying for no reason at all.”

Crystal’s eyes darted up to meet her sisters gaze. Searching for any sign of doubt in her blue eyes that that really had been Crystal’s reason for breaking down so completely. There was none.

“Perhaps you’re right.” Crystal rose from her chair as well and moved to Charles side. “Charles, I do hope you don’t mind if I take my leave of this celebration. I’m not feeling quite myself. I think I’ll go and lie down for a while.”

Charles brows furrowed, taking her hand he gently patted it. “Surely a walk in the gardens would do you more good. Come, I will escort you. If you will excuse us de Bore.” Charles linked Crystal’s arm with his own and made to move around Jacob; Crystal began to follow. Then it occurred to her that she had never said no to Charles. She always let him have his way because that was what her mother had told her to do. But she was sick of it, didn’t she have any say? Planting her feet firmly on the ground she tried to detach herself from her fiancé. “I assure you, I need to lie down. Walking will do me no good.”

He was plainly irritated by her refusal, and even more annoyed that he was unable to voice his anger in front of others. With a stiff bow of his head he relinquished her hand. “As you wish, madamoiselle.”

Crystal took note of the uncomfortable looks on her sister and brother-in-law’s face and gave them a sympathetic smile before she slipped into the house. She could hear Charles announcing his departure immediately after that. His voice sharp and coarse as he bid Jacob and Elizabeth good day. Upstairs she watched from the hall window as Big Ben readied his coach. Charles roughly jammed his hat on his head before climbing inside. She stayed there until he disappeared down the avenue of oak trees, followed momentarily by William Dreaux’s grand coach. With a heavy sigh she turned and headed to her bedroom.

*******

A few hours passed before she woke from a fretful sleep that had been full of familiar dreams. She peeked out her window to assess the stage that the party was at and found that Oak Alley was nearly deserted. Making her way downstairs, she could here Elizabeth trying to hush Faith’s muffled sniffles in the living room. Not wanting to disturb a work in progress, Crystal went to the back door and quietly opened it. Her three younger sisters were sitting on the veranda’s front step giggling softly and speaking in whispers. Father and Mother sat in the chairs Crystal and Charles had occupied earlier that day, silently rocking.

Upon spotting her daughter in the doorway, Mother gestured for her to come join them. “Are you feeling better, darling?” she asked though she obviously did not wish for an answer, as she hurried on to her next sentence. “I noticed Charles left rather abruptly, did you do something to upset him?”

“Now, Katherine, give the child a break,” Father cut in before Crystal could respond. “It’s possible that de Mandeville simply had other places to be. A young girl’s birthday party is not the best entertainment for a man of his standings.”

Crystal felt a burst of gratitude towards her father, it wasn’t very often that he felt inclined to stand up for his children in the face of their mother’s anger, but it seemed he had noticed Mother’s unrelenting criticism of Crystal’s behavior with Charles of late.

Mother gave a compliant nod of agreement at her husbands suggestion, though she didn’t seem the least bit convinced by his story. “Perhaps, I was merely proposing that she may have accidently said or did something to cause his sudden departure. Maybe he was offended when she took leave of his company only to nap.” Crystal pretended not to see the pointed look her mother threw her way, instead focusing her attention on a wasp that was buzzing around behind them. It was obvious that Mrs. de la Chaise was certain that her assumption was accurate. Crystal, however, refused to confirm this idea. “He seemed in good spirits when he bid me farewell,” she lied with no remorse.

“I see.” After a moment of studying her critically, Mother dismissed her daughter with a wave of her thin hand. Crystal gave a short curtsy and hurried to join her sisters on the steps.

“Was Mother asking you about Charles?” Dawn asked in a hushed voice so their parents wouldn’t overhear, moving over to make room for Crystal between herself and Christy as she spoke. “She’s been talking about him ever since the party ended, she’s set upon discovering why he left so early.”

Crystal rolled her eyes. “She’ll never rest until she does I suppose. But what does it matter, did the party go over well after I left?” she said changing the subject. “Was it as wonderful as you had hoped?”

“Oh yes,” Dawn breathed. “I wish we could throw parties every day. It’s so dull around here at times.”

Crystal chuckled. “You always think it’s dull around here.”

“Well, it usually is.” Dawn replied, putting her chin in her hands.

Rose grinned mischievously. “Dawn just wants to see that boy–. Ouch!” She cried suddenly.

“Hush, Rose,” Dawn snapped. “Don’t talk about things you don’t understand.”

“She pinched me!” Rose complained loudly.

“Dawn, ladies do not pinch,” came Mother’s strict voice from behind them.

“Sorry, Mother.”

Crystal laughed. “You’re all so childish.”

“Oh and you aren’t?” Christy demanded, poking Crystal in the ribs.

“Ouch! No,” Crystal said poking her back repeatedly.

“Stop it!” Christy cried giggling madly.

The poking struggle went on for a matter of moments before Mother’s voice rose above the noise. “If you four cannot behave like ladies, I’m sending you all to bed.” she said sternly.

“Sorry, Mother,” they said in unison.

“Now, your father and I are going for a walk in the gardens.” Mother informed them. “Do you think you can behave yourselves ‘til we get back?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Their parents walked off the veranda and over to the garden, Father chuckling as they went. The four of them watched them go and when they were out of ear shot Dawn turned to look at her sisters.

“Thank goodness they’re gone. I have just been dying to tell you.”

“Tell us what?” Crystal asked.

“What happened earlier, oh, you wouldn’t believe it!”

“This is about that Creole boy isn’t it?” Crystal demanded.

“This is what I was trying to tell you,” Rose interjected.

“So tell us what happened?” Christy said eagerly.

“Well, his name is Benjamin Taylor,” Dawn said excitedly.

Crystal nodded. “And you met him at the ball right?”

“Yes.” Dawn’s cheeks flushed red, plainly remembering that evening. “And he was here today and he asked me to dance.”

“That’s it?” Rose exclaimed, throwing up her arms in despair. “Are you trying to waste my life?”

“No, no. That’s not it, it was after we had danced. I was standing by that tree sipping lemonade.” She gestured to a pecan tree across the yard. “And he came up to me and gave me the most beautiful red rose I have ever seen. And he said – oh, it was so sweet – He said ‘A rose for a rose.’ Isn’t that sweet? The rose is up in my room now I’ll go get it.” Dawn jumped up and ran into the house, nearly slamming into Elizabeth holding Faith, as she darted into the house. “What is Dawn in such a hurry for?” Elizabeth asked, watching Dawn fly up the stairs with alarm.

“Oh, she has again met the love of her life,” Crystal said “She wanted to show us the token of his love he gave her.”

“Ah, yes, and who is the lucky young man this time?” Elizabeth asked as she sat down in Mother’s vacated rocker.

“Benjamin Taylor,” Rose said.

“John Taylor’s son? I’ve met him, he’s a sweet boy,” Elizabeth said in a motherly tone.

“At seventeen I would not exactly call him a boy,” Rose said. “Why, he’s almost your age, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I guess when you become a mother you feel as if everyone who does not have children is younger than you.”

“So you’re saying you feel old?” Rose asked.

“No, just older.”

“Well, I do not ever want to feel old. Or,” Rose said quickly before Elizabeth could speak. “older. I do not want children, I’ll just play with yours.”

“You’re just too young, eventually you’ll be craving a baby.”

“Not likely.”

Elizabeth shook her head with a smile. “Someday you’ll find out.”

“Here! I’ve got it!” Dawn came running out of the house in a painfully unladylike fashion, cradling something in her hand. “Look, isn’t it beautiful?” She kneeled down beside Crystal and handed the rose to her.

“Lovely,” Crystal said caressing the petals with her finger tips.

“It is beautiful,” Elizabeth said taking her turn to look at the rose. “But try not to fall in love with Benjamin until you know him.” She passed it to Rose.

“I am not in love with him,” Dawn said quickly. “I just think he’s sweet.”

“That’s what you always say,” Rose said examining the scarlet petals. “And then you fall in love anyways.”

“I do not,” Dawn said taking the flower from Rose.

“Let me see it.” Christy held out her hand in anticipation.

“Be careful,” Dawn said giving it to her. “It’s delicate.”

“I will.”

Dawn watched Christy cautiously until she gave it back. “I’m going to put this away, I will be right back.” She hurried off again.

“So . . .” said Elizabeth when Dawn disappeared from sight. She turned to Crystal. “Feeling better after your nap? Charles was sore disappointed when you retired, as I’m sure you are aware. Mother was not too happy about it either.”

Crystal sighed. “I can’t find it in myself to care overly much about his hurt feelings at the moment.

“What did he say?” Rose asked curiously.

“Look, Mama! Look what we caught!” Came a shout from around the house. They all turned their heads at once to see Jacob and their two little brothers returning from the pond where they had obviously been hard at work catching frogs by the muddy state of their clothes and bulging pockets.

“Mama, Mama! Come see!” Jimmy and Harry darted across the lawn towards the garden where Mr. and Mrs. de la Chaise could be seen strolling under a cherry blossom tree. Jacob, walking at a slower pace behind the boys, joined them on the veranda.

“What did they catch?” Elizabeth questioned her husband.

“Garden snake, and enough frogs to fill their trousers,” Jacob informed them, coming up onto the porch. “The overseer’s old cottage is a goldmine when it comes to reptiles.”

Crystal shuddered. “It’s no wonder, there are enough mice in that place to feed every snake in Louisiana.”

“I would never go near that cottage,” Jordan said. “It’s been abandoned for a decade. Who knows what’s in it. And I hate snakes.”

“Mother’s not particularly fond of them either,” Elizabeth pointed out. “I hope she doesn’t faint when they show it to her.”

“Anyways,” Rose interrupted. “What was it that Charles de Mandeville said, Crystal.”

“Oh, nothing of much interest,” Crystal told her. “He was just a bit irritated that I would rather rest than go for a walk with him.”

“I think he was more than a bit irritated,” Jacob said leaning against one of the twenty-eight pillars that surrounded the house. “He had a hard time simply being civil after you went in. The man’s got a temper it seems, though in all my years of knowing de Mandeville this is the first time he’s let it show in public. He’s been looking worn of late, though I can’t imagine what could be so stressful to him. It must be something you bring out in him, Crystal.”

Crystal looked up at Jacob quizzically. “So you’re saying I bring out the worst in him?” She wondered if that wasn’t true, maybe that was the reason she was the only person who truly disliked him.

Jacob shook his head, seeming abashed that she’d mistook his meaning.“I was only saying that he seems more sensitive where you’re involved. The fact that you didn’t want to spend time with him probably hurt his ego and caused him to lose his temper.”

Crystal nodded turning this suggestion over in her mind. Everyone seemed to be waiting for her reply, silence hung over them like a thick blanket, silence filled with crickets, hooting owls and croaking frogs. “What do you think of Charles, Jacob?” she finally asked. “I mean, what do you think of his character? His morals? Is he a good person?”

Jacob heaved a sigh and rested his head against the stone. Staring up at the marble molding that decorated the ceiling he considered her question. “I think Charles is a good person, yes. He respects his parents. He’s a gentleman. He comes from an esteemed line of businessmen, and he values his good name. But no one’s flawless. Why, what do you see in him?”

Crystal, who had been distractedly playing with one of Christy’s long braids as she listened to Jacob, glanced up at his question. “I think that he’s completely arrogant. He has no respect for a woman’s opinion, and thinks his word is law. I mean, you would suppose all women were made for was to dance and look pretty.”

“And really, Jacob,” Elizabeth put in. “ Do you think that I married you simply because you were a gentlemen and you came from a respected family?”

“Why, of course not, darling.” In one step Jacob took the seat beside Elizabeth and then put her hand to his lips. “You married me because you were hit by cupid’s arrow. Which blinded you to the fact that I am not good enough for you,” he said with a loving smile.

A girlish giggle escaped Elizabeth’s lips as she completely forgot what they had been discussing.

All three girls turned away from the two lovebirds in mock disgust. Returning to the conversation at hand. “You really shouldn’t be so hard on him, Crystal,” Rose said. “Charles is just a man, there’s nothing he can do to change the way his gender acts.”

“I know,” Crystal said sullenly. “But sometimes it’s nice to complain. Once I’m married I’ll stop, I promise. Just for right now let me rant to my hearts content, please?”

“Now your just being silly,” Rose said with a smile. “But I won’t deny you since you asked so nicely.”

“Thank you,” Crystal said almost cheerfully. “Now where should I start? . . . He’s so arrogant!” She proclaimed once more, causing Rose and Christy to burst out laughing. “And –and . . .Oh I don’t know, he’s hopeless!”

“Who’s hopeless?” Dawn came bouncing out of the house, and plopped down between them.

“Charles de Mandeville. Crystal’s telling us of his many flaws,” Rose said.

“Are you still on about him?” Dawn asked the happy expression on her face fading to one of irritation. “I, personally, do not see a problem with him.”

“He is arrogant,” Christy informed her, giggling.

“All men are arrogant,” Dawn pointed out.

“This is true,” Elizabeth agreed, finally returning to the conversation.

“I resent that comment,” Jacob interjected good-naturedly.

“Oh hush,” Elizabeth said, hitting her husband lightly on the arm. “You know it’s true.”

Crystal heaved an audible sigh. “No one understands me,” she said miserably resting her head on her raised knees, though she couldn’t suppress a grin.

“Poor baby,” Dawn said, puckering her lower lip as she patted her sister’s back in feigned sympathy.

Crystal stuck her tongue out in a childish gesture. “You’ll find out one day when Mother makes you marry that Benjamin Whatever-his-name-is and you realize he’s a pompous spoiled brat.”

“I don’t care if he’s a pompous spoiled cow, as long as I can look into those dreamy black eyes of his.”

Crystal let out a shriek of laughter and shoved Dawn playfully. “You do not mean that.”

Dawn shook with laughter as she spoke. “Maybe not, but his eyes are lovely.”

“I prefer green eyes,” Crystal said without thinking.

“What color are Charles’ eyes?” Rose asked.

“Grey.”

“That is rather dull,” Dawn agreed. “But what makes you so fond of green, Crystal.” She nudged her pointedly, raising her eyebrows. “Whom are you thinking of?”

Crystal felt heat flush her face and shook her head adamantly. “No one in particular, I just like that color.”

All three girls looked at her suspiciously, but said nothing.

Just then Father appeared from the garden gate. Behind him were Jimmy and Harry, in his arms was Mother. Fainted dead.

“Coming through. Out of the way!” Father shouted coming towards them. “Rose hurry get the smelling-salts,” he said before disappearing inside the house. Rose jumped up and hurried after him.

“What happened?” Crystal asked Jimmy and Harry, though she thought she already knew.

“We showed her the snake we caught,” Harry answered her, shrugging his shoulders, apparently baffled by their mother’s reaction. “I guess she didn’t like it when we put it on her shoulder though.”

“Yeah,” Jimmy put in. “But how do you think the snake felt when she threw it across the yard?”

Silence issued as they all took in what the boys had just said, followed by a burst of hysterical laughter that echoed across the plantation.

*******

Please continue with: "Chapter Eleven: Secret Meeting "