It was during the two-day meeting in Norfolk that he’d decided to head north straight after his last visit to Stone Plantation. He’d kept this news to himself, but he was now set on returning to his own family and to his own people. As much as he loved Jacob and Hendry, they were not his people.
Time to get married, his mother had stated in her last letter to him.
It’s time you came home darling, she’d written. It’s about time you thought about settling down with a nice girl from Boston. I have a hankering for grandchildren before I get too old to enjoy them.
It’s time to be a real doctor in the hospital with your father and with real patients. And it’s time you took your loyalty to our nation seriously.
That last statement had scared him. His mother was not the kind of woman to talk about political goings-on – no lady did.
As he rode, Isaac suddenly became mildly anxious. The very thought of leaving Virginia brought on a heavy, dull ache. It didn’t stem from geographical love for the South. No, it was his love for Mercy Carver that was leaving him despondent and miserable – more miserable than he’d ever felt. Loving Mercy was futile, yet she filled his every thought. She and Jacob were inseparable and so much in love with each other that it seemed to him only God had the power to separate them. But he loved her nonetheless, and only God could wipe clean the passion that resided in silence within his heart.
He felt an inexplicable exhilaration of life in its purest form course through his veins when in her presence. He would never have her, hold her, or make love to her. He would never tell her how he felt, no matter how much he wanted to. She confided in him, laughed with him, and teased him on occasion. She vented her numerous questions at him about America and his city, Boston. She told him all about the poverty she’d witnessed and lived through on some of the poorest streets of London and about the rats that were her playmates, crawling over her rough bed at night on the kitchen floor.
He missed her now, just as much as Jacob did, he guessed. But Jacob would see her in two days, and they would marry. Isaac could only hope that by removing himself to the North, his heartache would subside. Life would dictate another path that might or might not include love, and his dreams would be redirected into a more realistic realm.
Mercy: his Mercy, a secret never to be shared, yet always in his mind’s imaginings. He hoped she would fade from his memory and he would be released from the pain that haunted him.
Chapter Forty-Two
The three men rode their horses through the stone pillared entrance to Coulter Plantation. They passed slaves mending fences and overseers watching them on the way. The toilers were forced to pick up tools for the day because of a sudden blizzard that blinded them. Jacob, Hendry, and Isaac held their hats on whilst attempting to guide the horses at a decent pace down the long road that led to the Coulter house, which was built in the same colonial style as Stone Plantation, although slightly smaller in size.
When the house finally came into view, Jacob noticed how grey and jaded it looked. His house would look the same. Plantation houses were never painted in the winter. To do so would be a futile exercise. The winter of rain, snow, and mud would leave its imprint on the facade until spring, when cleaning would begin. No one bothered with appearances at this time of the year, and all properties were as dull and bleak as the weather.
Jacob’s belly was turning, twisting, and knotting so much now that he thought he would be sick. This would be the hardest and the worst thing he’d ever done or would ever have to do, but whenever he thought about Mercy, he was filled with unfaltering determination and courage.
They reached the front of the house. The small roundabout in the centre of the driveway and just a few feet from the stairs leading to the main doors still housed some hardy plants and strong cacti that didn’t mind winter cold or summer heat.
The horses halted at the main entrance and were immediately taken away by two slaves to the stables. Jacob told the men to wipe them down and feed them.
“Are you ready for this?” Hendry whispered to Jacob.
“He’s as ready as a chicken with its neck laid out for chopping,” Isaac replied, laughing.
At that moment, Mrs Coulter, Elizabeth’s mother, scuttled outside in her enormous crinoline gown. It was as wide as the doorway. She was forced to pull in the enormous underskirt hoops to get through.
Mrs Coulter had a very small head and would have resembled a knitted teapot caddy had it not been for her floor-length shawl. She stood staring at Jacob with eyes that were welcoming but at the same time frozen with confusion and questions. After her initial surprise, she flicked her eyes to Hendry and then Isaac, welcoming them with a generous Southern smile.
“Why, Jacob and Hendry Stone, to what do I owe the pleasure? I declare, you two boys are the last people I expected to see here today. And, Isaac, it’s always a pleasure to greet one of our Northern neighbours. But I wasn’t expecting you at all. Why, Jacob, you’re the last man I thought I’d see, especially today!”
“I hope this is not an inconvenience?” Jacob said, beginning to feel uneasy at the absence of the rest of the family, who would usually be taking tea together by the fire at this time of day.
“Of course it’s not an inconvenience. Why, I’m just flushed with joy at the sight of you boys. You must come in – and of course you’ll stay the night? I believe we’re set for a mighty storm; it may last for days! Jacob, you must tell me all about your grand adventure. And, Hendry, I do declare you get more handsome every time I see you. Why, it must be three years since your last visit. And you must tell me all about Belle. She’s such an interesting character. I declare I don’t know how she manages to live at sea when she could be perfectly comfortable right here in Virginia, waiting for your return. But that’s Belle, always the tomboy.”
Mrs Coulter went on and on and didn’t stop talking until they were inside her hallway. Jacob had opened and closed his mouth various times, trying to get a word in. Where the hell was everyone, he wondered. Where were Elizabeth, her father, and her brother?
“Now, you boys know the rules – boots off. I can’t have my lovely rugs muddied, now can I?”
“No, ma’am,” said Jacob.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Hendry said.
Isaac simply did as he was told.
House servants were lining the hallway. Mrs Coulter wasted no time in organising them with various tasks. “Matilda, bring some hot chocolate and cookies for these gentlemen, and tell the cook I’ll be having guests for dinner. Steven, get Mona and Susan to ready three rooms and make sure there’s a fire lit in each.” She turned to the men, who were now displaying wet socks. “Come into the drawing room, boys, just as soon as you take those wet jackets off. I have a bright fire going. I’ll get you warmed up in no time.”
“I’ve come to see Elizabeth, ma’am. Is she home?” Jacob finally got the chance to ask. He had a sinking feeling that Mrs Coulter was alone in the house.
“Why, Jacob, I was so happy to see y’all that I didn’t get around to telling you that my husband, Elizabeth, and my George have gone to Stone Plantation to see you. They left early this morning. I’m sure they’re there right now, as we speak. Elizabeth insisted on seeing you as soon as she heard you were back, and you know how my daughter is when she has a bee in her bonnet – why, there’s no stopping her. She was so excited, and what with the wedding less than two weeks away, she just couldn’t contain herself.
“My husband told her to wait until we were sure you were at home, but she insisted that, as you’d arrived in Norfolk three days ago, it was more than likely you’d be at Stone Plantation by now. You know Elizabeth; she can be as stubborn as a mule.”
Jacob’s face was as white as the snow outside. This was a disaster. Elizabeth, her father, and her brother would be sitting in his house talking about the wedding. Mercy would have learned he was getting married by now. She would be devastated. He had landed himself in hot water. He had completely miscalcu
lated the timing and his fiancée’s quick thinking. Elizabeth and her family had left nothing to chance and had outsmarted him. His heart was thumping as the dire consequences of his actions hit home.
He looked at Hendry and Isaac for support. Both of them were probably thinking the same as he. Hendry looked as though he wanted to tell him he was a jackass, which he’d been saying aloud for two weeks. Isaac eyed him with a pitiful smile.
They would have to stay the night, of course, but what if the blizzard got worse? Would they be stuck here for days? Jesus, this was going to be a long night or maybe even days. The more time Elizabeth spent with Mercy, the more she’d revel in wedding conversations. Mercy was proud. She’d be angry, and she’d be feeling hurt, let down, deceived, and worse, untrusting of him and his words.
He gained some composure and said, “Thank you, Mrs Coulter, ma’am. It’s very kind of you to put us up. We just need to eat something. I can’t speak for Isaac and Hendry, but I’m dead on my feet. It’ll be an early bed for me, and we’ll leave at sunup, weather permitting. I’d hate to keep Elizabeth and her father and brother waiting.”
“Now, Jacob Stone, you know I won’t allow you to ride out until the weather permits, not even if you begged me. Why, you’re practically family already, and I’m sure my boys and Elizabeth will be well taken care of in your home, just as you will be here. Who is at Stone Plantation, might I ask?”
Jacob stared blankly at her and was relieved when Hendry spoke for him.
“Belle’s there. She went home as soon as we docked. She’ll be mighty happy to see Elizabeth and keep company with her. We have some great news, Mrs Coulter. Belle’s with child. I’m going to be a father. That’s why we’ve come home to stay a while.”
Hot drinks and cookies arrived. Jacob smiled gratefully at Hendry. He could talk about Belle and the baby all night without being urged to do so, and Mrs Coulter would be happy to listen. They would eat dinner and have polite conversation. Isaac would be interrogated as usual about the North, his family, and his view on the South’s slave expansion plans, which were all over the newspapers. As Mrs Coulter rarely paused for breath, all he would have to do was nod in agreement until it was time for bed.
He drank the hot chocolate, thawing out his cold bones. He was dreading the night ahead, not only here but also for those at Stone Plantation.
Chapter Forty-Three
Mercy yawned and then stretched like a contented cat. She’d slept the night and half the day away in a luxurious four-poster bed and was now feeling refreshed and eager to explore her new home once again. She got out of bed and realised that the fire was still lit. She’d slept through the sound of logs being piled onto it throughout the night. The heat inside the room made everything outside look even more picturesque. As she sat on the window seat watching sheets of snowfall, she believed she’d never be as happy as she was now.
She’d seen very little of her new home in these first two days. The weather had made it impossible to walk any distance at all, and so she had contented herself exploring the house and keeping company with Belle.
Their arrival had generated great excitement within the household. Servants had scurried out of every door and had lined the hallway. Belle’s pregnancy and her own fresh face raised a few eyebrows and more than a few whispered questions. The house slaves had been dressed beautifully. The slaves were not afraid, had a lot to say, and didn’t wear shackles. They were not raggedly dressed and, most importantly of all, seemed happy. In fact, the entire house had an air of warmth and love, and she had felt at home almost immediately.
Mercy had been given a slave the moment she arrived. The girl, Abby, was roughly her own age, and she talked non-stop in a high, accelerated voice about how excited she was to meet someone from another part of the world. Mercy could barely understand her. She found Abby’s incessant chatter irksome after an hour of unpacking but put this down to being overly tired and wanting nothing more than a hot bath, a tray of food, and bed.
Abby called her “Miss Mercy” after or before every sentence, depending on where she took a breath. Mercy found this amusing, but Belle had warned her that although slaves were allowed to express themselves, a strict owner-slave relationship still had to be maintained.
Mercy dressed quickly in a dove-grey gown piped with black and carried a black woollen coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. Belle had promised to have her escorted around the entire plantation, but she’d be happy to see just a fraction. It was not a day to be outdoors for any length of time, no matter how much she wanted to explore Jacob and Hendry’s vast lands.
As she reached the top of the curved stairway, she heard the sounds of a woman’s laughter, men’s voices, and Belle issuing orders for tea. She raced down the stairs. These would be the first visitors to Stone Plantation since her arrival. Had Jacob arrived with guests? She stopped and smoothed down her hair. She would have liked to have taken the time to look her very best, but if Jacob was home, she would throw herself into his arms, regardless of how she looked or how wet he was from the blizzard outside.
She entered the drawing room. A woman much taller and fairer than she stood beside two men, one older and the other roughly the woman’s age. The woman was removing a fox fur hooded cloak. She was beautiful, Mercy thought. Her hair was the colour of gold and sat perfectly in ringlet lines to her shoulders.
Mercy turned her gaze to the two men. The older man, possibly a father figure, helped the woman with her coat, and the younger good-looking fair-haired man was laughing with Belle.
All three turned to settle their eyes on her. She felt unsure of herself in the presence of these people and looked keenly at Belle, waiting to be introduced. None was forthcoming. Planting a smile on her face, she took matters into her own hands. “Hello. I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Mercy, you’re awake!” Belle finally exclaimed. “I’d like to introduce you to our closest friends. You should have seen my face when they arrived. I was surprised to see them, especially with the weather being as it is.”
Belle walked towards Mercy and pulled her to the centre of the room. She introduced her first to the woman. “Mercy, this is Miss Elizabeth Coulter, of Coulter Plantation.”
Mercy curtsied, as did Elizabeth. Each woman looked the other over with polite curiosity. Mercy liked the woman instantly but couldn’t help but see a certain resentment flashing in Elizabeth’s eyes. She took a step backwards and was then introduced to Elizabeth’s father, who greeted her with a broad smile and open admiration.
“Miss Mercy, it’s a great pleasure to meet you. Do I hear an English accent?”
“Yes, you do, sir. I’m from London – South-East London, to be exact.”
“And what do you think of Virginia? I believe it must be a complete change in culture and scenery for you. I’m sorry you’ve been greeted by this weather, but the damn winters here can go from sunshine to blizzard in a single day. You’ll get used to it.”
“It snows in London too,” Mercy told him. “In fact it’s probably snowing there right now. The snow’s much nicer to look at here, though. It’s pure and white. In London, it turns very quickly to brown slush, and it’s not nice to walk in or to look at.”
Belle interrupted. “Mercy, this is Elizabeth’s brother George, Mr Coulter’s son, of course. He’s one of Hendry’s dearest childhood friends.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Mercy. You’re very lovely, I have to say.”
“George! Don’t be so forward.” Elizabeth scowled.
“Well, it’s true. She is lovely. What, are you afraid you won’t be the belle of the ball anymore? Don’t like competition, do you, my dear sister?”
Elizabeth tossed her head and laughed disdainfully. “Why, what do I care about being belle of the ball, George? I’m getting married in eleven days, and I won’t need to compete with any single girl in the county ever again. I have my beau, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Isn’t that right, Pa?”
“Yes, it is, my darli
ng. George, stop teasing your sister. You know how disappointed she’s feeling right now.”
Mercy listened to the chatter, which carried on until they were all seated and tea had been served. She had been forgotten for the moment and was glad, for it gave her time to study the Coulter family. She took a quick look at Belle, who was strangely quiet and distant. Belle’s manner towards her had changed. There was an underlying look of trepidation in her eyes. Mercy had spent enough time with Belle to gauge her moods and was beginning to feel the first tinge of anger. She hoped Belle wasn’t ashamed of her or embarrassed to call her friend in front of her fancy visitors. That would make her just like Julia: unwilling to understand and accept Mercy’s background.
Jacob’s name had been mentioned several times. Elizabeth seemed to be very fond of him, and Mercy felt resentment building. She was jealous! She, Mercy Carver, was jealous of another woman. Elizabeth obviously knew Jacob very well. She was calling him “my darling Jacob!”
“So, Miss Mercy, how long do you plan to stay at Stone Plantation? I do hope it’s a long visit. You sure brighten this old place up,” George said.
Mercy smiled. His jovial banter was not rude, as his sister thought. He was being playful. He reminded her of Isaac, always teasing her and she him in an easy-going friendship.
“I don’t really know how long I’ll be staying,” answered Mercy. “But I hope that it’ll be for a long time. I love Belle, Hendry, and Jacob, of course. Belle’s just like the sister I always imagined having.”
“So you have no other plans, Mercy?” Elizabeth asked.
“Well, no, actually, I don’t.”
“In that case, I will have to make sure to put you on the wedding guest list, although the invitations have gone out now and it would be better if you had a partner. Why, I don’t think we have any single ladies attending unescorted. I’ll speak to Jacob about it when he gets here.”