The Last Heiress by Mary Ellis Read Free Book Online Page A

venture to Richmond to call on President Davis?” Amanda asked between sips of surprisingly delicious tea.
    â€œGoodness, no. Richmond isn’t around the corner, dear sister. It’s in another state, Virginia, and an arduous train ride away. Considering the fighting between here and there, that is out of the question. Could you imagine landing within range of Yankee artillery? No, no. A courier will take Papa Henthorne’s request to the capital. In the meantime, you can catch me up with newsfrom home. And when we’re done with that, we can start calling on my friends during the afternoon. Everyone is eager to meet you.” When Abby shook the bell a second time, a three-tiered tray of sweets and savories appeared. “Look! A proper English tea to celebrate your arrival.”
    Amanda leaned forward to admire crustless sandwiches, orange scones, and tiny iced cakes decorated with pink rosettes. “How lovely. Thank you.”
    For the next two hours she filled her sister in on changes in the village of Wycleft on the outskirts of Manchester: marriages of childhood friends, the death of their former nanny, scandals among the servants, old beaus who still asked after her. Abigail laughed much, cried a little, and in general appeared homesick, especially when the conversation turned to their mother.
    â€œGrandmama sent a gift to you,” said Amanda. “But she insisted that I wait until our birthday.”
    â€œOh, please, may I have it now?” Abby dropped her scone onto the plate, her interest in food gone.
    Amanda hurried to her room and a few minutes later presented Abigail with a small box covered in pink silk and tied with a black ribbon. Her sister pulled off the wrapping and extracted a hand-carved cameo bracelet—their grandmother’s favorite piece of jewelry. “Are you certain she wanted me to have this?” Her words cracked with emotion.
    â€œYes. She was quite emphatic it was for you.”
    Abby clenched her eyes shut but couldn’t stem the tears. They trickled down her face like a leaky faucet. After a while, she cleared her throat. “Let’s talk about your afternoon before my face turns red and puffy. Jackson doesn’t like to see me upset.”
    Amanda described the dressmaker and milliner she found, along with a resident artist who painted portraits in the front window of his cluttered studio. But before long, the conversationlanded on Cooper’s Greengrocery, and there it remained until Jackson’s carriage pulled up to the mounting block.
    â€œThis shopkeeper has accomplished what no Englishman has been able to do—impress my extremely particular sister,” Abby teased, finishing her discarded scone.
    â€œI couldn’t believe how forthright the man was, quite unafraid to say what he thought.”
    â€œDear me, I hope he wasn’t rude to you. Some of those stores on Water Street—”
    â€œNot at all. Mr. Cooper behaved like a perfect gentleman. He just didn’t waste time talking in circles like the men of Papa’s acquaintance.”
    â€œI thought the same about Jackson when we met. He spoke his mind and went after what he wanted in life. Looks as if you’ve made your first friend in Wilmington. Well done.” Abby rose to greet her husband, who had paused on the walkway to give instructions to the gardener.
    â€œMay I take a lunch hamper to Mr. Cooper tomorrow? After all, I caused him to go without today.”
    Abby smiled indulgently. “I don’t see the harm, but let’s not mention this at the dinner table. Jackson can be overprotective at times, which I’m afraid will include you while you’re here.”
    That night when Amanda blew out her bedside candle, she was filled with anticipation. She had made the right decision in coming to America. Seeing her sister confirmed that five years meant nothing to twins. Her reception at the Henthorne and Sons office