Morning Fawn pressed her lips together as she accepted it.
“Have Lucy fetch you a cloak.” Aunt Judith buttoned her own heavy garment of pink-and-brown silk and draped it over the folds of her deep-purple skirt and blouse. “I’ve already asked her to bring out a quilt. There’s a chill in the air today.”
“I’m coming, missus,” Lucy called from above, but Aunt Judith was already heading out the door.
Morning Fawn turned toward the hall mirror by the coat rack and gingerly set the bonnet on her head. Not her. Not at all. The royal-blue dress with its rose-patterned print was more than enough. She yanked the dainty hat from her head.
“The missus won’t be pleased.” Lucytsked as she walked up with a red wool cloak on one arm and a quilt on the other.
“I need my straw hat.”
“I ain’t going to help you get in trouble.”
“You don’t have to.” Morning Fawn reached around the backside of the rack and retrieved the hat from beneath the coattails of her uncle’s hunting coat where she’d hidden it.
Lucy blew out a breath and draped the cloak over Morning Fawn’s shoulders. “Maybe all your gumption will catch the lieutenant’s fancy.” She’d lowered her voice to a whisper.
“I could care less about what he thinks.”
Lucy smiled. “If I was you, I’d find me some mud puddle to trip over and have him rescue me.”
“That man isn’t to be trusted.” She narrowed her gaze at her friend. “He stole me and sold me.”
Lucy shook her head. “Begging your pardon, but you don’t know much about being sold.” The doom of the auction block weighted her tone.
“I’m sorry. You’re right.” Morning Fawn touched her friend’s arm. “Maybe once I have my land, I can ask my uncle to give you to me, and then I can set you free.”
Lucy blew out a breath. “You’ll have your husband, and he’ll be the one doing the deciding.”
“I’ll find a way. Or who knows? The Yankees might win this war.”
Lucy gnawed her lip, her expression flat, and handed her the quilt. “You’d best find your way out to the carriage before your aunt comes to fetch you.”
Morning Fawn would show her there was hope. Until yesterday, she hadn’t believed in it herself. She turned and hurried outside.
A mockingbird trilled from a nearby tree.
Her aunt peeked from beneath the carriage top. “I told you to wear the bonnet.”
“It didn’t suit me.” Morning Fawn pattered down the steps.
Reynolds’s mouth quirked upward as he stood at the carriage step ready to assist.
“Mr. Nicholas Moyer prefers bonnets.” Her aunt waved her finger.
“He can take me as I am.” The shoes were already pinching her feet. What she wouldn’t give for a pair of rabbit fur-lined moccasins.
“What do you mean, take—” Reynolds cut himself short.
Morning Fawn glared at him. Moyer was none of his concern.
No softness in those lake-blue eyes today.
Aunt Judith scooted her skirts over to her side of the seat. “If we have time after shopping, I’m thinking we’ll drive over to Alleyton to ask Mr. Moyer to supper later this week.”
Reynolds glanced at the sky with its trace of clouds. “I doubt we’ll have time. I think the weather might turn.”
“We’ll leave it up to your discretion, Lieutenant.” Aunt Judith folded her cloak around her. “We can always send a note if we don’t go in person.”
