never gambled. One of his maddening affectations, Hamilton considered it. A refusal to risk paltry sums of money when he delighted in risking other people's fortunes—more than their fortunes, their ideals.
Hamilton hurried his wife and daughter's departure, cutting short their polite farewells.
The others followed in a leisurely manner. There were
pretty speeches praising the food, the wine, the music, and felicitating Theodosia again upon her birthday.
She stood beside her father in the great hallway, and many of the guests were struck by the resemblance between them. The brilliance of their smiles that uncovered identical rows of perfect white teeth, a brilliance that, though it was not entirely spontaneous, yet had a heart-warming quality which sprang from an interest in people and a desire to please them.
'It has given us the greatest pleasure to have you with us,' said Aaron, kissing Mrs. Jay's hand.
'Indeed, ma'am, we have been much honored by your company,' said Theo, and her voice, with its caressing breathless quality, sounded as much like her father's as it is possible for the voice of a seventeen-year-old girl to resemble that of a man of forty-four.
Alexis opened and shut the front door a score of times, until Theo, thinking them all gone, at last turned with a tired and happy sigh to Aaron.
It was then that she saw with exasperation that Joseph Alston still remained, half-hidden by the shadow of the stairs.
Aaron also discovered their lingering guest and advanced to him. 'I trust you have enjoyed your evening, Mr. Alston. It was kind of you to come. Perhaps you will place me still further in your debt and join me in a nightcap?'
Alston shook his head. 'I—I must be going'. But he didn't go, he stared at Theodosia instead.
Aaron laughed. 'At any rate, sir, we shall see you tomorrow. We shall expect you in the forenoon. My dear'—he placed a warning hand on his daughter's arm—'Mr. Alston is not comfortable at the Phoenix Tavern, and he has most graciously consented to stay here with us during his sojourn in New York.'
Theo barely controlled a gasp of dismay, and Aaron's hand increased its pressure. 'That will be—be delightful,' she managed, after a moment of uncomfortable silence.
When the young man finally took his abrupt, ungraceful leave, she did not raise her eyes or respond to his words except by a vague smile.
Father and daughter walked past the disordered drawingroom to the library, as was their nightly custom. Natalie had long since retired. Aaron settled himself in his favorite high-backed chair, and Theo curled up on the footstool beside him.
'Well, puss—did you enjoy yourself? I found the evening most entertaining.'
She hesitated. 'Yes—it was fun. Especially the dancing. But——Oh, Papa, why do you show to Mr. Alston so much attention? I don't like him, I find him ill-bred and'—she frowned, idly tracing a whorl on the brocade pattern of her stool as she searched for the word—'and monstrous impulsive.'
Aaron raised quizzical eyebrows, reached for his snuffbox and inhaled delicately. 'Oh?' He waited for her to continue, but she sat silent, her small face troubled.
He leaned back and crossed his legs. 'Alston is one of the richest young men in the country, and would have great political power in the South if he knew how to use it. What did he do that was so monstrous impulsive?'
'I promised, in a way, not to tell you, because I knew you'd be very angry, and he was sorry afterward. But it is impossible to have him staying here. I never wish to see him again.'
He was seized by a rare burst of irritation at her. 'You are being excessively childish, Theodosia. Spare me these maidenly flutterings. You mean, I suppose, that he kissed you, or something like that.'
She flushed, sharply hurt by his tone and bewildered by annoyance directed at her when she had expected it to be all for Alston.
'Well, is a kiss anything to make such a pother about?' he Continued,
Hamilton hurried his wife and daughter's departure, cutting short their polite farewells.
The others followed in a leisurely manner. There were
pretty speeches praising the food, the wine, the music, and felicitating Theodosia again upon her birthday.
She stood beside her father in the great hallway, and many of the guests were struck by the resemblance between them. The brilliance of their smiles that uncovered identical rows of perfect white teeth, a brilliance that, though it was not entirely spontaneous, yet had a heart-warming quality which sprang from an interest in people and a desire to please them.
'It has given us the greatest pleasure to have you with us,' said Aaron, kissing Mrs. Jay's hand.
'Indeed, ma'am, we have been much honored by your company,' said Theo, and her voice, with its caressing breathless quality, sounded as much like her father's as it is possible for the voice of a seventeen-year-old girl to resemble that of a man of forty-four.
Alexis opened and shut the front door a score of times, until Theo, thinking them all gone, at last turned with a tired and happy sigh to Aaron.
It was then that she saw with exasperation that Joseph Alston still remained, half-hidden by the shadow of the stairs.
Aaron also discovered their lingering guest and advanced to him. 'I trust you have enjoyed your evening, Mr. Alston. It was kind of you to come. Perhaps you will place me still further in your debt and join me in a nightcap?'
Alston shook his head. 'I—I must be going'. But he didn't go, he stared at Theodosia instead.
Aaron laughed. 'At any rate, sir, we shall see you tomorrow. We shall expect you in the forenoon. My dear'—he placed a warning hand on his daughter's arm—'Mr. Alston is not comfortable at the Phoenix Tavern, and he has most graciously consented to stay here with us during his sojourn in New York.'
Theo barely controlled a gasp of dismay, and Aaron's hand increased its pressure. 'That will be—be delightful,' she managed, after a moment of uncomfortable silence.
When the young man finally took his abrupt, ungraceful leave, she did not raise her eyes or respond to his words except by a vague smile.
Father and daughter walked past the disordered drawingroom to the library, as was their nightly custom. Natalie had long since retired. Aaron settled himself in his favorite high-backed chair, and Theo curled up on the footstool beside him.
'Well, puss—did you enjoy yourself? I found the evening most entertaining.'
She hesitated. 'Yes—it was fun. Especially the dancing. But——Oh, Papa, why do you show to Mr. Alston so much attention? I don't like him, I find him ill-bred and'—she frowned, idly tracing a whorl on the brocade pattern of her stool as she searched for the word—'and monstrous impulsive.'
Aaron raised quizzical eyebrows, reached for his snuffbox and inhaled delicately. 'Oh?' He waited for her to continue, but she sat silent, her small face troubled.
He leaned back and crossed his legs. 'Alston is one of the richest young men in the country, and would have great political power in the South if he knew how to use it. What did he do that was so monstrous impulsive?'
'I promised, in a way, not to tell you, because I knew you'd be very angry, and he was sorry afterward. But it is impossible to have him staying here. I never wish to see him again.'
He was seized by a rare burst of irritation at her. 'You are being excessively childish, Theodosia. Spare me these maidenly flutterings. You mean, I suppose, that he kissed you, or something like that.'
She flushed, sharply hurt by his tone and bewildered by annoyance directed at her when she had expected it to be all for Alston.
'Well, is a kiss anything to make such a pother about?' he Continued,
Similar Books
