“I’ll go in soon enough. I wanted to enjoy the fresh air.” She flicked her riding crop at a fly. “Speaking of fresh air, I’m surprised Lieutenant Reynolds didn’t invite you to ride to Alleyton with him today, seeing that neither of you cares about what is proper.”
Morning Fawn stilled. “Dev—the lieutenant went to Alleyton this morning?” Her voice wavered. A mistake.
“Devon?” Thea’s face glowed with an impish grin like the old woman who had lured Hansel and Gretel into her gingerbread house. “He didn’t tell you? Weren’t you talking to him in the stables a few minutes ago? When I rode up in the yard, I saw you hurrying out of there, and him standing at the door.”
“It’s none of my concern where he goes.” She might as well have bared her neck to Thea’s claws for the kill.
“I don’t know. You seem a little concerned. Do you think he went to see the doctor again? Or someone else?” If Thea had a tail, it would have switched back and forth like a cat’s while eyeing its prey. “By the way, just how many men are you on agiven-name basis with? First Mr. Moyer, and now the lieutenant?”
Morning Fawn jutted out her chin and pivoted toward the house. “I don’t waste words on busy bodies.”
Thea’s laugh scraped across her nerves all the way back to the house.
“Lieutenant Reynolds says he’ll help.” Morning Fawn ran a brush through her shoulder-blade-length hair.If he’s not too busy having lemonade with Miss Frieda.
The dinner bell rang outside, calling the work day to an end. Newly lit oil lamps flickered, supplementing the gray dusk from the attic window.
Lucy hugged the petticoat she’d dug out of Morning Fawn’s trunk. “But what if Ned ain’t willing? You expecting me to ask him? That ain’t the way it’s supposed to be.”
“How is Ned supposed to ask you if he doesn’t know it’s possible?” Morning Fawn pivoted on the stool where she sat in front of the mirror. “You can tell him how the lieutenant helped save both of you?—”
“I’m sure he’s heard. Us slaves know how to get the word around.”
“So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to him that the lieutenant and I are offering to help with a wedding.”
Lucy bit her lip. A raised welt stretched along her jawline, a raw reminder of LeBeau’s blows. How many more marks were on her body? “I don’t know about this whole scheme.”
“You love Ned, don’t you?”
“With all my heart. I’d give anything to be free and have my own little cabin with him. Only, it don’t matter how many times we jump over the broom, it ain’t going to be like that.” Clouds filled Lucy’s usually cheerful expression.
“Someday maybe it will be.” Morning Fawn touched her arm. “All I know is, if you’re going to willingly have Ned in your bed, you got to marry him. That way, you know you’re doing right, regardless of what happens. And you’ll know he’s made his commitment to you. Control what you can.”
Lucy pulled away. “I’ve got little say so about who’s in my bed.”
Morning Fawn shuddered. Were Devon’s suspicions about her uncle correct? One more reason to despise her uncle. An image of the way Old Owl looked at Eyes-Like-Sky back in the village before Dancing Eagle had claimed her flickered through Morning Fawn’s mind. She fumbled for words, her voice barely more than a whisper. “But Ned gives you a choice?”
Lucy nodded.
“Then that’s what you can control.” Morning Fawn hugged herself. “Maybe things will change if the Yankees win this war.”
“I’ll believe that when I sees it.” Lucy exhaled and handed the petticoat to Morning Fawn. “But I believes you’re right. Why wait for someone else to fix things?” She threw back her shoulders. “I’ll pass on word to Ned. I’m not going to let Massar LeBeau or no one else tell me who I can marry. I’m willing if Ned is.”
What about herself, rushing to marry for a piece of land? Just like her uncle to think he could control every inch of a person’s life.
Lucy picked up a corset. “Let’s get you ready for dinner, or folks will be wondering what happened to you.”
“I don’t need that thing.” Morning Fawn turned her nose up at the contraption. “Not unless Mr. Moyer decided to pay us an unexpected visit.”
“Mr. Moyer don’t need nothing. You’re wearing this for the lieutenant. The cook tells me he’ll be joining you all for dinner tonight.”
Morning Fawn folded her arms across her chemise. “I don’t care what the lieutenant does.”
“Whys, you was just telling me how he going to help us, and how I should be pleased.”
“Helping you is one thing, and I’m grateful for that if he manages to keep his word.”
“You think he might change his mind?” Lucy’s voice faltered.
