The Lady and the Officer by Mary Ellis Read Free Book Online Page A

be moving to the heart of Dixie.”
    Madeline cut another piece of cornbread with her fork. “Hardly the geographic heart, ma’am, considering Richmond is a scant hundred miles from Washington.”
    The older woman clucked her tongue. “The number of miles makes little difference.” Suddenly, she gripped the table as though dizzy. “Your uncle isn’t a slave owner, is he? That is such ghastly business.”
    Madeline considered fibbing but dismissed the notion. A person shouldn’t lie to the wife of her preacher. “If my memory serves, the Duncans own a few slaves who work in the house. But they live in town, not on a plantation. My uncle makes his living as some sort of treasurer.”
    â€œSlavery is slavery. It’s an abomination.”
    After an uncomfortable moment, Madeline replied in a soft voice. “Then we must both pray for a swift resolution of the war and slavery’s abolishment. But their lifestyle doesn’t alter my current circumstances.”
    â€œAmen!” Mrs. Bennett rose to her feet to refill their coffee cups. Changing the subject, she asked, “Are you eager to see General Downingthis evening? I thought we could serve fried chicken, succotash, fresh corn, and cucumbers. What say you?”
    â€œThat sounds delicious, but I thought we were using leftovers that won’t travel or keep well.”
    Mrs. Bennett tsk’ed rather primly. “We can’t serve dried bread, deer jerky, and two-year-old preserves when a general and his staff come to call, especially not considering… ” The rest of her sentence hung in the air like laundry on the line.
    Madeline nearly choked on her food. “Considering what, exactly?”
    Mrs. Bennett picked up her empty plate and bustled to the sink. “Considering the fact the gentleman checked on your welfare two days in a row and then made a third trip here last night. Surely you don’t believe that’s ordinary behavior for a military man.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Scores of people have been uprooted and rendered homeless after a battle. An officer keeps his focus on the task at hand, unless… ”
    â€œUnless what?” Madeline’s back stiffened at the suggestion of impropriety.
    â€œI mean no offense, my dear, but I think the man is sweet on you. And I saw your eyes glow like stars when he arrived. Beggin’ your pardon, of course.”
    She shook her head. “Nobody courts during wartime.”
    â€œQuite the contrary. Many a young man proposes on the eve of his enlistment and then marries the gal the next time he’s home.”
    Madeline stood and went to the sink. She began washing the dishes for something to do. How could she balk at Mrs. Bennett’s conjectures when James Downing had crossed her mind no less than a dozen times? “We’ll just see if he drops to one knee and pledges his undying love after dessert.”
    â€œHe might if you play your cards right.”
    â€œMrs. Bennett! Our sect doesn’t allow card playing, as you well know. Your husband would be aghast to hear you say that.”
    â€œYou know very well what I mean,” she said with a wink.
    A few minutes later, Madeline left the room to get her laundry. She planned to stay busy helping Mrs. Bennett prepare for the move, and also to keep her mind from fixating on the woman’s preposterous ideas.
    That evening Reverend Bennett was pacing the front hallway, anxious for his supper, while his wife paced the kitchen, hoping her chicken wouldn’t dry out in the oven. Madeline rearranged a vase of wildflowers for the third time.
    â€œWhy don’t we feed your poor husband?” she asked Mrs. Bennett. “He must be famished.”
    â€œLet’s give our guests another fifteen minutes. A corps commander has plenty of responsibility.”
    Madeline opened her mouth to protest when the sound of hooves cut her short. She