I smiled to myself, wondering if he would have really enjoyed it. “The city was nothing then like it is today. The streets were muddy, and the federal buildings were so far apart, it was hard to get from one place to the next. But the worst part was probably the dirty canal. It ran through the city, directly between the White House and Washington’s unfinished monument, carrying disease and filth. Some people believe Willie Lincoln contracted typhoid fever from the canal.” I hated thinking about poor little Willie and what his death would do to his parents. “If that wasn’t bad enough, there were constant threats to the residents. You never knew, fromone day to the next, if the Confederates were going to overtake the capital.”
Seth stared at me, his eyes shining with admiration and awe. “How do you know so much about the city at that time?”
If he only knew the truth—but he’d never believe me, and I’d never tell him. “I love history,” I said with a smile. “Now, what would you like to do? The city is yours.”
“I’ll go anywhere and do anything you want today. The city might be mine, but today, I’m all yours.”
His words brought heat to my cheeks, though I saw the teasing gleam in his eyes.
“How about we walk to the Lincoln Memorial and then check out the Vietnam Memorial and the Korean War Memorial before we find somewhere to eat lunch? I know this amazing restaurant in Chinatown, if you like Chinese food.”
“I love it. And if you recommend it, I’m sure it’ll be perfect.”
“You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?” We started walking west toward the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool.
“I guess it takes a bit of charm to be elected to the US House of Representatives at the age of twenty-five.” He grinned at me. “What about you? You’re over here being brilliant, spouting off facts as if you lived through the history personally, and doing it as a fourth-year med student—at the age of twenty. I’m going to be honest, it’s a little intimidating being around you. I feel like I’m going to say something and give away the fact that I’m actually an idiot.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Believe me, I’m not that brilliant. I just worka lotand have no life. Most people could do what I’ve done if they did nothing but study.”
“I hardly believe that, and now I’m adding humility to your growing list of attributes.” He brushed his hand against mine and said, “Not to mention that you’re beautiful. I’ve never met anyone like you, Meg. I really do feel honored to spend the day with you.”
His words sounded genuine, though I didn’t deserve such praise. I knew my faults and limitations, but my heart did a little flip anyway. “Thank you. I feel the same way about you.”
“Mutual admiration is a great way to start a friendship.” He grinned. Then slowly, as if weighing his words carefully, he said, “I was going to wait until the end of the day to ask you this—after I knew whether or not you liked me—but I have tickets for the National Symphony Orchestra’s spring concert at the Kennedy Center next weekend, and I was wondering if you’d like to come with me.”
I focused my attention on the Washington Monument as we passed by. It was easy to like Seth Wallace—too easy. If I didn’t have 1861 and 1941, I could see myself saying yes to his invitation. Being with him felt effortless and a little thrilling. Having him look at me the way he did, with those charming blue eyes, made my stomach fill with butterflies. Yet I had made a promise to myself, and I would stick to that promise. I couldn’t allow myself to fall for anyone, at any time, until I’d made my final decision.
“I’m sorry, Seth.” I swallowed my disappointment. “I do enjoy your company very much, but I have less than nine months left—of med school. I really have to focus all of my attention on my work right now if I want to get a residency position at GUH. If things were different, I would say yes without a doubt.”
“I suppose there has to be some sacrifice, if you’re going to be brilliant.”
I smiled, appreciating his willingness to accept my decision without making me feel uncomfortable. So many others made me feel guilty for putting my work above everything else. “A lot of sacrifice, especially for the next nine months.”
“So,” he said gently, slowly, “you’re saying that I have a chance in January?”
Warmth filled my cheeks again, and I dipped my head. “Maybe.”
“Then that’s all I need to know.” He motioned toward the Reflecting Pool. “Let’s go have some fun and not talk about it anymore.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“But I can’t promise I won’t be secretly looking forward to January.”
For the first time in my life, I could say the same thing ... almost.
7
APRIL 25, 1861
WASHINGTON, DC
Spring had finally returned to the city, bringing with it warmth and sunshine, drying some of the mud, and coaxing tiny flowers from the earth. Leaves unfurled on the trees, and birds twittered in the branches, unaware of the growing threats on every side of the city.
It had already been a week since nine hundred soldiers arrived from Baltimore, but along with them, word had come that twenty miles of train tracks had been destroyed between Baltimore and Washington, cutting us off from the rest of the nation and preventing more soldiers from arriving. Telegraph wires had also been cut, our mail and newspapers were being withheld, and Virginia farmers refused to cross the Potomac to bring food into the nation’s capital.
Though the president had called for seventy-five thousand soldiers ten days ago, less than two thousand had arrived. Threats of a Confederate invasion pulsated through the city, and everyone believed an attack was imminent. The local militia, which should have amounted to seven thousand men, wasdrastically reduced as Southern sympathizers refused to swear an oath to the Constitution, and many of them left to join the regiments assembling in Virginia.
The fear was palpable as I walked into the US Capitol Building that morning. My own trepidation at disobeying Papa made my heart pound fast. What if he learned that I had come to nurse the injured soldiers? I had never willfully disobeyed him in the past. To do so now, on top of all his other worries and concerns, would devastate him. Yet I could not sit back and do nothing while others were suffering.
