Page 19 of The Pursuit of Elena Bradford

19

General Dawson escorted Elena and Vanessa into the dining area, where he called the servants by name and within minutes had an array of fruit, sandwiches, and delightful cakes on the table in front of them.

He seemed to know everyone they met and had a story about them all. Usually one that had Vanessa and Elena smiling.

“General,” Vanessa said. “You are going to have to stop this. Elena and I won’t be able to look any of these gentlemen in the face when they ask us to dance.”

“Then I suppose you will have to dance every dance with me.” When he smiled, he didn’t look so old.

“How are you going to dance with both of us every dance?” Elena asked.

“That could be a challenge, but it’s one I’m ready to take on now that the good Dr. Graham’s spring water is easing my rheumatism.” He popped one of the small ham biscuits into his mouth. He eyed them while he chewed and swallowed before he went on. “Are you ladies taking advantage of the waters?”

“I only arrived this morning and it’s been such a swirl ever since,” Vanessa said. “And I don’t think Elena did this morning since her sister said she was out at sunrise to do some sketching.”

“Sketching?” The general raised his bushy eyebrows. “Are you an artist such as Mr. Frazier?”

“I can’t compare to him, sir.” Elena wished Vanessa hadn’t told him about her sketching. She assumed the general would be like her mother and think it a frivolous waste of time, but he surprised her by showing true interest.

“It is as hard to compare art as it is to compare grapes with peaches.” He pointed toward the fruit on the table. “Both are fruit, for a certainty, but much different. The good Lord makes us all unique with a variety of talents. I hope you will show me some of your sketches. Perhaps you could even do a sketch of this old man.”

“Oh no. I need more practice on drawing people.”

“I can supply the subject for your practice. What about you, Miss Vanessa? Willing to sit for another artist?”

“Perhaps on a different day. I fear I couldn’t face sitting that still again today. You cannot imagine how much I wanted to touch my face.” Vanessa rubbed her nose as if even the thought of it was causing an itch now.

“That’s very kind of you both.” Elena shook her head. “But I had best practice on roses for a while longer or perhaps birds.” She started to mention the snake she’d drawn among the roses that morning but didn’t. The general might think a woman drawing a snake extremely odd, and even the thought of a snake might frighten Vanessa. Something about her made Elena think she might be prone to the vapors.

“Before the summer is over, then,” General Dawson said. “Your mother did tell me you were staying until August.”

“You’ve spoken with my mother?” Elena felt a sudden drop in her spirits. What must her mother have said to make him so ready to escort them to the dining room?

“Yes. A delightful woman. My sympathies for the loss of your father.”

“Thank you.” Elena looked down at the petit four on her plate. She had lost her appetite.

She pulled in a steadying breath. No need to imagine the worst. Her mother surely wouldn’t have hinted at anything about marriage. Elena needed to think as positively as she could. Perhaps the old gentleman had a son. General Dawson might make a very nice father-in-law. At any rate, she was ready to switch the conversation away from her art.

“Do you have children, General?” she asked.

“No, I fear I am all alone. Delores, my dear wife, died a couple of years ago. We did have three children. The two girls succumbed to fevers at very young ages. Such happened much too often to babies in those days, and our son took pneumonia and died while he was out west in the army.”

“How sad.” Vanessa touched her eyes with her handkerchief.

“Yes.” Elena echoed her sympathy.

“None of those sad faces now.” He waved away their words. “That all happened years ago. Not that the death of a child ever loses its sting, but one does find a way to go on. My wife and I had many good years together. But since she passed, I have been lonely. That’s why I spend as much time as I can here among these good people. Besides the palliative effect of the springs, I get to meet lovely ladies like you.”

“You are too kind.” Elena took a bite of her small cake. No son. That was disappointing.

Vanessa leaned forward across the table toward the general. “Have you considered marrying again?”

This line of conversation was worse than her art. Elena took a sip of her tea before managing a smile.

“As a matter of fact, I have been seriously considering such a move.” The general’s smile looked more sincere than Elena’s felt. “While to you youngsters, I may seem to be older than dirt, I have plenty of life still in me. What about you? Either of you married or considering such a move?”

Elena’s mouth went dry, and she took another sip of her tea. It had a very odd taste. Perhaps made with the spring water.

Vanessa appeared to be as unsettled by the question as she was. She looked over her shoulder as though expecting someone watching to make sure she told the truth. “No, no. Much to a father’s distress.”

“That’s right. Your father is Judge Hasting in Louisville.” General Dawson’s forehead tightened in a frown. “I have met him at some political events in the past, but I don’t think he mentioned having such a lovely daughter. You weren’t with him, were you?”

“He rarely took my sister and I along with him to business gatherings.” She shifted in her seat as though she’d suddenly noticed the chair lacked comfort.

“Fortunate for you. Those gatherings are always very dull.” General Dawson turned to Elena. “And what about you, Miss Elena? Marriage plans?”

“Someday, I hope.” Elena kept her smile steady. “If I meet the right person.”

“Ahh, the right person is always best.” He twirled his glass. “Do you have someone in mind? That right person.”

“I fear not. I’m not sure but what my younger sister might beat me to the altar.”

“She is a lovely girl,” Vanessa said. “So full of enthusiasm.”

“That’s Ivy. But we are still mourning our father. So, she might have to temper her enthusiasm for marital bliss.” Elena hoped that kept her from looking so available.

“Yes. I suppose that would be a consideration.” The general looked from his glass to Elena. “How long since your father died? If I may ask.”

“He died in January, right after the holidays.”

“I see.”

Elena imagined him counting off the months. Five months. Was there an official period of proper mourning time before a daughter could marry? Or did that only matter for the widow? Her mother had allowed them to put away the black dresses. Not just allowed. Insisted.

Elena looked down at her cream-colored skirt with lilac flowers scattered in bunches on the material. Lace and ruffles adorned her collar and sleeves. There was nothing to show Elena was in mourning except a black ribbon around her wrist. Her father deserved some remembrance from her. But her mother still wore the black signature of grief even though it made her stand out here at the Springs amidst all the fashionable colors.

Elena had overheard a few whispers about how a widow still in mourning should not be basking in the pleasure of a place like the Springs. As if a widow couldn’t have health needs that could be improved by taking the waters the same as any other person. That wasn’t why they were here, but it could be. Other whisperers noted how aware her mother obviously was that widow’s weeds happened to be a perfect color to flatter her blonde hair and pale skin.

As always, Elena stood in the shadow of the beauty of both her sister and her mother. Yet she was supposed to attract a suitor to save them all. Perhaps this man across the table from her. At least spending time with him let her see him in a different light than she had when they first arrived at Graham Springs. He came across as a caring person and was not nearly as ancient as she originally thought. Perhaps the spring water did have rejuvenation properties.

Now, as if being outshone by her sister and mother was not enough, here she was with this beautiful young woman. Vanessa could outshine anyone in her light blue dress with sleeves slightly puffed from elbow to wrist. She wore a bonnet bedecked with flowers. Her tiny waist gave proof that she was properly corseted, just as Elena was now after slipping out in the early morning free of the dreadful undergarment.

“And so, Miss Vanessa?” General Dawson turned his attention to the other woman. “Has your father sent you here to find romance?”

Color stained her cheeks as the young woman touched her lips with her napkin. All of a sudden, she seemed a little out of breath. Her corset perhaps. The garments had a way of depriving a lady of air if she moved too quickly or ate more than a tidbit of food.

She recovered enough to answer. “I’m sure my father would be thrilled if that were to happen.”

“Would you be thrilled as well?” the general asked.

“Romance is always thrilling.” Vanessa appeared to be recovered from her breathlessness. “Don’t you agree, Elena?”

“My sister certainly would.” Elena tried to think of a way to shift the conversation away from romance. She picked up one of the little cakes. “These are delicious, aren’t they?”

General Dawson laughed. “I do believe Miss Elena is not interested in talking about romance. Does that mean you have a young man waiting for you at home?”

There was nothing for it but to answer. “Regretfully not. Most of my friends think I am fated to be a spinster.”

“Dedicated to your art, perhaps.” Vanessa took a nibble of her petit four. She seemed as ready to leave the romantic talking behind as Elena was.

“My dear ladies, romance is the very flower of life.” General Dawson picked up one of the little cakes.

“Did you keep the romance alive in your marriage?” Vanessa asked.

“I did try. Did you have that example with your parents?” He took a bite of the cake.

Vanessa stared down at her plate a moment before she said, “Sometimes romance has a way of dying out.”

“That is a sorrow. One I hope you never experience.” The general turned his gaze on Elena. “Of course, Miss Elena, you are observing a time of sorrow along with your mother, but I doubt your father would wish either of you to embrace that sorrow overlong.”

“I’m sure you are right. Father did want us to be happy,” Elena said. “However, my mother feels at least a year is the proper bereavement period, but I wonder how such can be settled on as this or that number of days and months. How long were you in mourning for your wife, General Dawson?”

“The loss of my Delores will always be a sorrow in my heart. In many ways, I will forever be in mourning for her. At the same time, I have room in my heart for more love. I think your mother might be the same. She could find a new companion just as I intend to do. I think Delores would want that for me, and although I didn’t know your father, I feel he would surely think the same for your mother. In time, when she is ready to think of such a future.”

“In time.” Time was what Elena did not have if they were to pay her father’s debts. Their debts now. Perhaps she should embrace the idea of marrying an older man like General Dawson. While he wasn’t a prince, he wasn’t a frog either. Besides, she was hardly a princess.

An image of Kirby Frazier flashed through her mind. His broad shoulders, his expressive hands, his warm brown eyes. His empty pockets. As her mother kept telling her, she had to face up to the truth that she couldn’t keep hiding out in gardens while imagining romantic encounters with the wrong men. Her morning with Andrew came to mind, but that was merely the meeting of two who thought to be friends.

Her mother was right. She needed to commit to the plan and dance to the music whether she had a chance for love or not.

The general put his hands down on the table and pushed his chair back. “But enough about love lost and yet to be found. Why don’t we go see if we can find a lawn bowling game? Have either of you ladies played before?”

Both Elena and Vanessa stood up. Vanessa said, “Is it a game a lady can play?”

“Indeed. A very easy game. One merely has to roll a ball to see how close you can get it to the target ball without hitting it. Even at my age, I can defeat all comers.” He smiled at them. “However, if we can find an empty green, I’ll go easy on you ladies.”

“That sounds like delightful fun. Don’t you agree, Elena?” Vanessa hooked her arm in Elena’s. “I don’t know when I’ve had a better day. Meeting new friends. Having my portrait done. Enjoying some repast with two such wonderful people. Thank you both for being so welcoming to a lonely lady.”

“Lonely? I can’t imagine you ever lacking for friends,” Elena said.

For an instant, Vanessa looked almost sad before she smiled brightly. “I certainly never imagined a place as beautiful as this.”

The general stepped between them to take both their arms again as he had at the lake. “Don’t forget about the dance tonight and how you’ve both promised me every dance.”

“Come, General, other gentlemen will be in line to secure a dance with our newest guest,” Elena said.

“Oh, very well.” The man chuckled. “I will be happy with two dances with each of you.”

“That will just make the day even more wonderful,” Vanessa said. “I love to dance.”