And off her aunt went through the door, leaving Darcy to stand in the middle of the room with her dress in hand. She held it against her body and gazed into the mirror.
“It will do just as it is.”
With that resolved, she put it away and headed downstairs. She took up a willow basket from beside the kitchen door and went off to the hen house.
2
Along the country road, summer thrived, and the breeze blew dogwood petals onto the ground. Wild raspberry bushes drooped with succulent blood-red fruit along dusty hedgerows, and the songs of goldfinches echoed through the woods.
The Breeses owned one wagon, which doubled for family transport when needed. Mr. Breese had applied a fresh coat of black lacquer to it and painted the wheel spokes bright red.
“I wish we owned a carriage.” Mrs. Breese frowned. “People will stare and think very low of us.”
Darcy moved closer to speak to her aunt. “Just think, Aunt Mari, no wagon of this kind has ever rolled down the lane at Twin Oaks before, or along the river road for that matter. People will admire it, you’ll see.”
Darcy and her cousins sat together in the rear, while her aunt and uncle sat in front on cushions. A hat made of tightly woven straw shaded Darcy’s face. Her plain gown paled among the pink and blue calicos her cousins wore. Their hats were trimmed with matching ribbons, and each girl wore tan gloves and pale yellow shoes.
“Gloves are out of the question on such a hot day.” Darcy slipped them off and set them beside her. Her aunt turned with pursed lips.
“Dear me, Darcy. No gloves? What will Mrs. Rhendon think? At least keep your hat on until we enter the house.”
Darcy smiled and adjusted the wide ribbon under her chin. She brushed away a few petals that had found their way into the folds of her gown and settled back. Pulled by two dappled horses, the wagon rolled over the river road under a canopy of tall trees and then crossed the creaky bridge into Virginia. Crossing the bridge frightened Mrs. Breese, and she looped her arm through her husband’s and shut her eyes the whole way over.
When Twin Oaks came into view, Darcy put her hand above her eyes to study the large house with white porticoes and a wide porch. Embowered in wisteria, it stood at the end of a broad drive lined with sugar maples, with two oak trees out front. Farther back in the rear stood a stable, a smokehouse, and an icehouse constructed of whitewashed stone.
Locusts trilled, and warm air drifted through the trees. To the right waved wheat fields, to the left an apple orchard. At first glance, Twin Oaks appeared a pretty picture, but Darcy wondered how appealing were the lives that dwelt within its massive walls.
Out front were a number of carriages and saddled horses. “Many guests have already arrived,” commented Mrs. Breese, nodding back to the girls. “I’m glad we are not the first. I just hope we are not the last.”
“I hope they have lemonade.” Dolley fanned her face with her hand.
“And cake,” Rachel chimed in. “I adore cake.”
Martha nudged Rachel’s shoulder. “How can you think of food on a day like today?”
Abigail and Lizzy joined in to chastise their sisters, each chattering away at the same time. Darcy sighed and gazed up at the lush umbrella of limbs overhead. How misty the streams of light looked as they filtered through the trees. It made her heart swell. Why could her aunt and cousins not see such beauty and soak it in the way she did?
Dolley and Rachel sat on each side of Darcy and she looped their arms within hers. “Just look at the light coming through the branches above us. Is it not lovely?”
Dolley huffed. “Oh, Darcy. Must you grow poetic? We’d rather see tables full of cakes and pies and …”
“I am certain they shall have food and lemonade in abundance for you and Rachel to enjoy, Dolley. Your sisters are older and have no interest in the food at such a gathering as this. For there are other distractions.”
“Darcy is right,” Martha said. “Just look at the men gathered on the porch. Have you ever seen such gallants as these?”
“Are they not fine?” Abigail sighed.
“We are not close enough to tell,” Darcy said. “Besides, they may all be taken.”
“Still there are plenty to dance with,” finished Lizzy.
After they alighted from their wagon, a carriage rumbled toward