apart.”
Robert nodded, knowing that Thomas was wrong - and knowing Thomas knew he was wrong. He could remember the look of pain mixed with determination on Carrie’s face when she had turned down his marriage proposal. On the long trip to Charleston, he had toyed with the idea of returning and telling Carrie he had changed his mind about slavery. His love for her was like a burning coal sinking into his heart. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t envision life without her.
Two things kept him from doing it. One was the reality that he couldn’t imagine life on Oak Meadows without the labor and income from his slaves. It was the only way he had ever known. The other was honesty. Carrie, in spite of the pain it had caused, had been courageous enough to be totally honest. In his more lucid moments, he realized how much her position was costing her as well. He could do nothing less than respond with the same honesty.
The silence between the two men deepened as each sat, absorbed in his own thoughts.
“Mr. Cromwell?”
Robert started and turned to gaze at the carefully clad young man standing behind him. He couldn’t help noticing the anxious note in the intruder’s voice.
Thomas rose to meet him. “Peter.” Then he looked at Robert. “Peter is an aide at the Capitol.” Then he turned back to the blond young man, barely out of his teens. “What is it?”
“I hate to bother you, sir. Governor Letcher has called an emergency meeting of the legislature.”
“Is something wrong?” Thomas asked sharply.
Peter shook his head. “I wouldn’t know, sir. I was simply dispatched to find you.”
Thomas looked anxious for a moment and then shook his head, laughing lightly. “There has been no ringing of the Capitol bell, so there is no threat of an invasion. I’m sure it has to do with little more than figuring out better ways to handle the pressures our fair city has come under now that Richmond is the capital. We find new challenges thrown our way almost daily.”
Robert nodded. “I’m sure you’re right, Thomas.” He hid the disappointment he felt about the older man being called away. Not that he seemed to have any answers about his beautiful daughter. Robert flinched when he realized how much he had been counting on Thomas to give him some hope concerning his love for Carrie. One look at Thomas told him his friend’s mind was already behind the columned walls of the Capitol.
Extending his hand, Robert stood up. “It was wonderful to see you, Thomas.”
Thomas looked up from laying his napkin next to his plate. “Good to see you as well, Robert. Keep up the good work, son.”
“Yes, sir. I will.”
Thomas turned to leave and then as if realizing the condition of Robert’s heart, turned back around. “Don’t worry too much about, Carrie. Things will work out. And right now, all of us have plenty to keep our thoughts busy. She will come around.”
Robert nodded, watched him walk away, and then turned back to mechanically finish his meal. He knew Thomas was wrong.
CHAPTER FOUR
Carrie looked up from where she was sitting behind her father’s massive oak desk. Hazy sunlight poured in through the tall window, but there was no movement in the still, hot air. “Are you sure this is what you want to do, Opal?”
“Yes, Miss
Robert nodded, knowing that Thomas was wrong - and knowing Thomas knew he was wrong. He could remember the look of pain mixed with determination on Carrie’s face when she had turned down his marriage proposal. On the long trip to Charleston, he had toyed with the idea of returning and telling Carrie he had changed his mind about slavery. His love for her was like a burning coal sinking into his heart. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t envision life without her.
Two things kept him from doing it. One was the reality that he couldn’t imagine life on Oak Meadows without the labor and income from his slaves. It was the only way he had ever known. The other was honesty. Carrie, in spite of the pain it had caused, had been courageous enough to be totally honest. In his more lucid moments, he realized how much her position was costing her as well. He could do nothing less than respond with the same honesty.
The silence between the two men deepened as each sat, absorbed in his own thoughts.
“Mr. Cromwell?”
Robert started and turned to gaze at the carefully clad young man standing behind him. He couldn’t help noticing the anxious note in the intruder’s voice.
Thomas rose to meet him. “Peter.” Then he looked at Robert. “Peter is an aide at the Capitol.” Then he turned back to the blond young man, barely out of his teens. “What is it?”
“I hate to bother you, sir. Governor Letcher has called an emergency meeting of the legislature.”
“Is something wrong?” Thomas asked sharply.
Peter shook his head. “I wouldn’t know, sir. I was simply dispatched to find you.”
Thomas looked anxious for a moment and then shook his head, laughing lightly. “There has been no ringing of the Capitol bell, so there is no threat of an invasion. I’m sure it has to do with little more than figuring out better ways to handle the pressures our fair city has come under now that Richmond is the capital. We find new challenges thrown our way almost daily.”
Robert nodded. “I’m sure you’re right, Thomas.” He hid the disappointment he felt about the older man being called away. Not that he seemed to have any answers about his beautiful daughter. Robert flinched when he realized how much he had been counting on Thomas to give him some hope concerning his love for Carrie. One look at Thomas told him his friend’s mind was already behind the columned walls of the Capitol.
Extending his hand, Robert stood up. “It was wonderful to see you, Thomas.”
Thomas looked up from laying his napkin next to his plate. “Good to see you as well, Robert. Keep up the good work, son.”
“Yes, sir. I will.”
Thomas turned to leave and then as if realizing the condition of Robert’s heart, turned back around. “Don’t worry too much about, Carrie. Things will work out. And right now, all of us have plenty to keep our thoughts busy. She will come around.”
Robert nodded, watched him walk away, and then turned back to mechanically finish his meal. He knew Thomas was wrong.
CHAPTER FOUR
Carrie looked up from where she was sitting behind her father’s massive oak desk. Hazy sunlight poured in through the tall window, but there was no movement in the still, hot air. “Are you sure this is what you want to do, Opal?”
“Yes, Miss
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