“At least I know how to conduct myself with lady-like deportment and demeanor.” Thea lifted her nose. “Should I fetch the dictionary for you?—”
“Girls.” Mrs. LeBeau snapped her napkin. “Thea, why don’t you tell the lieutenant about Robson’s Castle? I’m sure he’s never heard of such a wonder in Texas.”
“Castle?” His eyebrows quirked up. Anything to avoid a fight at the table.
“Oh, you’d be amazed.” Thea glowed. “Colonel Robson is from Scotland. I believe he’s a duke or lord, or something like that. He came to America in search of adventure and found his way to Texas, of all places. He built a castle on the shores of the Colorado River in Columbus. Three stories of granite. You should see it.”
“Limestone.” LeBeau waved a servant over.
“A real castle?” Devon shifted in his seat.
Morning Fawn slurped her soup and glowered.
Thea smirked across the table. “It has a moat and a drawbridge. A rooftop garden. And the ballroom with its chandeliers and the carpets, and champagne dinners… Why, I feel as if I’m visiting the Queen of Scotland when I go there.”
“I read that they chopped off her head.” Morning Fawn’s voice rang with a touch of amusement.
“Speaking of heads...” LeBeau drew his carving knife through the ham the servant had given him. “I heard news today that the Yankees have moved farther up the coast. Theytook Mustang Island, and it’s rumored they’ll try for Matagorda Island next.”
Mrs. LeBeau gasped. “That means there’s nothing between them and Corpus Christi.”
“I’m sure Amy is on her way to Austin, Judith.” LeBeau exhaled and handed Thea a plate with a thick slice of ham. “Harris wrote that he’d made all of the arrangements.” He nodded to Devon. “Amy is our oldest daughter. Her husband is a major serving at the capital.”
Mrs. LeBeau gripped the table edge. “I will not rest assured until I receive a letter confirming she’s there safe and sound. Why didn’t you tell me this earlier, Robert?”
“I didn’t want to worry you.” LeBeau dug his knife into the thick, juicy meat again. “Amy should have plenty of time to escape. The Yanks won’t waste their forces on the city when they need every man they can muster if they plan to head for Fort Esperanza.
“Remember Sabine Pass? Forty-two Confederates held off a fleet of Yankee gunboats and troop transports. Did you hear about that battle, Reynolds? It was something.”
“Forty-two Confederates?” Devon choked on his peas. That wasn’t the way he’d heard it, but the troops who had drug themselves off the transports back into New Orleans had been in no mood to talk. Thankfully, he wasn’t part of the mission. There’d been no fleet of gunboats. That much he knew. Reb newspapers had probably filled the citizens’ heads with propaganda.
LeBeau showered them all with the glorious details as the servants added stewed tomatoes and buttered squash to the ham-laden plates.
Thea pressed her palms together at the end of the rendition. “Papa, maybe we should evacuate and head to Austin too. You know that’s where our men will hole up. I’ve heard the horrors of New Orleans. General Butler threatened to treatrespectable ladies as women of the street plying their trade. I swear he must have horns under his hat.”
Devon dropped his gaze to his food to hide the roll of his eyes.
A murmur from Morning Fawn snapped him to attention. Had she noticed his disapproval, or was she merely voicing her own?
LeBeau puffed out his chest. “Daughter, I have no intention of fleeing. Cotton is the blood of this Confederacy. If the Yanks dare set foot in Colorado County, I’ll stand my ground. This is our land, our cotton.”
Devon rubbed his thumb over his fork handle. If the Rebels made a stand in Colorado County, he’d be expected to help. What a conundrum that’d be. He glanced up from his plate to catch Morning Fawn staring at him.
She played with her spoon. “It sounds like the army needs every man it can get.”
Meaning him? She might as well come out and say it. His hand twitched upward to his eyepatch. “If the enemy heads this way, Miss Logan, I imagine even you would be relieved that not all of the men are in the middle of a swamp somewhere defending the coast or marching through cacti to defend the cotton.”
She plunked her forearms on the table. “Seventeen months ago, when you sneaked into my village and paid someone to lure me to the creek soyoucould kidnap me,youwere the one I needed to be protected from. I’d rather take my chances with the Yankees.”
His food turned to sawdust in his mouth.
“Young lady, you will be respectful to our guests or go to your room.” LeBeau clenched his fork.
“It’s all right, sir.” Devon waved his hand toward his host. He deserved her wrath.
Morning Fawn flicked a strand of hair from her forehead. “Don’t worry, Uncle. I’m done pining away for what was. You’ve made me an offer, and I’ll accept it.”
“What kind of offer?” Thea perked up.
