Read Online Camellia by Diane T. Ashley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Diane T. Ashley
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plate. “You cannot imagine how much easier I feel because you are here to watch over my sister.”
“Never fear.” Mrs. Thornton leaned across the corner of the table and patted Lily’s hand.
Camellia ignored the sardonic look in Jonah’s eyes and wondered if she could slip away before anyone realized she was gone. Probably not. Unless she wanted to ride in the wagon as Jonah had suggested. Camellia’s ears burned at the thought of arriving on such a pedestrian conveyance. Perhaps there were worse things than having to introduce her papa.
She went upstairs to the bedroom she had been sharing with Jasmine to gather her cloak and check to make sure she was presentable. Staring into the mirror, Camellia tried to imagine what life would be like at the school. Now that the day had finally arrived, she found herself oddly reluctant to forge ahead.
“I’m going to miss you.” Jasmine had entered the room without making a sound and came to stand behind Camellia’s left shoulder.
“It’s not like I’ll be gone for a long time. The school term will end in a few months, and I’ll return to Natchez.” She turned and held out her arms, enfolding Jasmine and dropping a kiss on her forehead. “But I don’t want you to get any older until then.”
“I won’t.” Jasmine could usually be counted on to giggle at her silliness, but this morning she seemed more somber. Her lower lip protruded slightly, and her violet eyes were shadowed. “Please don’t forget about us.”
“As if I could.” Camellia leaned back and stared into her sister’s eyes. “I know you don’t understand why this is so important to me, but I promise to come home again.”
“Lily says you’ll probably be married before the end of the year.” Jasmine’s dark eyes filled with tears again.
What a wonderful idea. Camellia was glad her sister was prepared for that eventuality. But this was not the time to admit as much to her younger sister. “Don’t worry so. It will be your turn before too much longer.”
Jasmine shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t ever want to get married.”
Feeling the full weight of her eighteen years, Camellia drew on her own experience. “You’re a warm and caring young lady who is not quite grown up yet, but wait and see. One day you’ll wake up and realize that a home and children are exactly what you want most.”
Jasmine didn’t look convinced, but she did not argue the point, instead looking around for her cloak and bonnet.
Once she was sure they were both ready to leave, Camellia took a deep breath. She would go through with this. Nothing, not even a marauding Yankee army, was going to stand in her way.
Mrs. Thornton arranged her skirts with care in the crowded carriage. “I’m glad you could arrange your schedule to accompany us, Jonah.”
Ignoring the beautiful Camellia, whose skirts were taking up the majority of the bench he shared with her, Jonah leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “I am happy to be of service.” The thick irony in his voice was carefully contrived. None of the four females in the carriage could suspect his real motive for joining them.
“How far away is the school?” Lily was sandwiched between his mother and Jasmine. She sounded as uncomfortable as she probably was.
“Not too far,” his mother answered. “The Garden District is not as close to the river as our town house, but it is a lovely area.”
“Why is it called La Belle?”
Jonah lifted his head, wondering why Lily encouraged Jasmine’s never-ending curiosity. One of these days it would likely put her into a perilous situation, much like those faced by an inquisitive feline. It was a pity Jasmine could not boast nine lives. She would probably need several.
“The name is La Belle Demoiselle.” His mother answered the question. “It means the beautiful young girl. The man who built it, Mr. Peter Hand, was a successful architect with a very young bride. I have heard that he named his home for
“Never fear.” Mrs. Thornton leaned across the corner of the table and patted Lily’s hand.
Camellia ignored the sardonic look in Jonah’s eyes and wondered if she could slip away before anyone realized she was gone. Probably not. Unless she wanted to ride in the wagon as Jonah had suggested. Camellia’s ears burned at the thought of arriving on such a pedestrian conveyance. Perhaps there were worse things than having to introduce her papa.
She went upstairs to the bedroom she had been sharing with Jasmine to gather her cloak and check to make sure she was presentable. Staring into the mirror, Camellia tried to imagine what life would be like at the school. Now that the day had finally arrived, she found herself oddly reluctant to forge ahead.
“I’m going to miss you.” Jasmine had entered the room without making a sound and came to stand behind Camellia’s left shoulder.
“It’s not like I’ll be gone for a long time. The school term will end in a few months, and I’ll return to Natchez.” She turned and held out her arms, enfolding Jasmine and dropping a kiss on her forehead. “But I don’t want you to get any older until then.”
“I won’t.” Jasmine could usually be counted on to giggle at her silliness, but this morning she seemed more somber. Her lower lip protruded slightly, and her violet eyes were shadowed. “Please don’t forget about us.”
“As if I could.” Camellia leaned back and stared into her sister’s eyes. “I know you don’t understand why this is so important to me, but I promise to come home again.”
“Lily says you’ll probably be married before the end of the year.” Jasmine’s dark eyes filled with tears again.
What a wonderful idea. Camellia was glad her sister was prepared for that eventuality. But this was not the time to admit as much to her younger sister. “Don’t worry so. It will be your turn before too much longer.”
Jasmine shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t ever want to get married.”
Feeling the full weight of her eighteen years, Camellia drew on her own experience. “You’re a warm and caring young lady who is not quite grown up yet, but wait and see. One day you’ll wake up and realize that a home and children are exactly what you want most.”
Jasmine didn’t look convinced, but she did not argue the point, instead looking around for her cloak and bonnet.
Once she was sure they were both ready to leave, Camellia took a deep breath. She would go through with this. Nothing, not even a marauding Yankee army, was going to stand in her way.
Mrs. Thornton arranged her skirts with care in the crowded carriage. “I’m glad you could arrange your schedule to accompany us, Jonah.”
Ignoring the beautiful Camellia, whose skirts were taking up the majority of the bench he shared with her, Jonah leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “I am happy to be of service.” The thick irony in his voice was carefully contrived. None of the four females in the carriage could suspect his real motive for joining them.
“How far away is the school?” Lily was sandwiched between his mother and Jasmine. She sounded as uncomfortable as she probably was.
“Not too far,” his mother answered. “The Garden District is not as close to the river as our town house, but it is a lovely area.”
“Why is it called La Belle?”
Jonah lifted his head, wondering why Lily encouraged Jasmine’s never-ending curiosity. One of these days it would likely put her into a perilous situation, much like those faced by an inquisitive feline. It was a pity Jasmine could not boast nine lives. She would probably need several.
“The name is La Belle Demoiselle.” His mother answered the question. “It means the beautiful young girl. The man who built it, Mr. Peter Hand, was a successful architect with a very young bride. I have heard that he named his home for
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