Chapter 9: A Night to Remember

Mabel came to visit me in my cabin after church choir practice to present an invitation to the barbecue and ball the following week. She had a new silk gown made in a light pink color. She bought a new bonnet following the new European fashion plates. I boiled some water to make mint tea. She told me all about Newport. She went sea bathing, watched yacht races, rode her horse on the beach, and went to the opera. Gradual emancipation of slaves in Rhode Island began years ago, but this year it was formally abolished. They hired a couple of freedmen gardeners, and they lived above the stables to watch the house as it was rented out. Mr. Thompson felt awkward paying Negroes a weekly salary, but he adjusted to northern ways while in Newport. Freed Negroes accounted for about three percent of the population in Rhode Island and failed to affect the economy full of immigrants to work cheaply in the factories and mills. He feared that if abolitionists got their wish, freeing the southern slaves would account for a third of the population of North Carolina and greatly affect the economy if the slaves left the plantations for city work. Newport had no Presbyterian church, so they joined a similar Congregationalist Church. They met people staying in cottages from South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Cape May, New Jersey, was said to be a popular resort town, and a few of the county planters went there to stay in hotels. Others went to Europe, the Caribbean, or any city on the coast. Those who had money spent it enjoying life. The economy was improving, and people wanted their tobacco and cotton. The new railway transported the county's tobacco and cotton up north, and steamships took it to Europe. I was breaking even and planning my new house to satisfy the Thompson family, to marry Mabel.

“Do you like the farm, my love?” I inquired.

“Oh yes, I can picture it in my head. Bedchambers upstairs and a large parlor for dancing after a supper party. I hope you have enough room for dancing in the parlor.” she replied.

“Yes, I plan for a two-thousand-five-hundred-square-foot house with five bed chambers and a washroom upstairs. My parents’ house is two thousand square feet with four upstairs rooms. You may have to use my study instead of a morning room. I could put in a couch and chairs to use your bedchamber as a sitting room. If that is acceptable to you, of course.” I explained.

“I don’t need a large mansion with seven bed chambers, a morning room, and a sitting room upstairs to be happy. I suppose our children will not have room for a governess. I can teach them when the public school has its breaks. Whatever you build will be acceptable to me, my love. If you like, we can get married tomorrow, and I will move my hope chest into your cabin.” she asserted.

“Well, I am unsure about that. You might find my straw mattress uncomfortable.” I teased.

“I shall see then.” she smiled as she sat on the bed. “I don’t think the bed is large enough for all of my gown.”

“You could take it off,” I teased again to hear her gasp.

“You are naughty to say such things,” she whispered.

“Lord, forgive me for wanting to kiss you and hold you in my arms. You should come back tomorrow so you can view me wash up for dinner.” I teased her to watch her face turn bright red. “You want to kiss me, don’t you?”

I leaned over to touch her lips and wrapped my arm around her shoulder. I sat beside her, refusing to let go. I could feel her desire in her staggered breathing. She melted into my arms to lie down next to me.

“When did you first fall in love with me?” I asked.

“Well, I always liked you. You were such a sweet boy, playing with my brothers and me. Cute, too. But I think I first fell in love with you when I saw you warshing at that well with your brothers, and you said I blushed. I saw this handsome man before me, and I wanted to be close to you. Then I felt sad that you didn’t believe in yourself, thinking you would be poor like your father and marry the first girl you got pregnant. I thought if I educated you and built up your confidence, you could at least be happy with a farm of your own to marry a girl you loved, even if it wasn’t me. Just being your friend was an honor.” she answered, wrapping her arm around me. “What about you?”

“I always liked you too and wished for a girl who was a sweet angel like you. But I think I first fell in love with you when you first started wearing a corset to admire your handsome bosom. I saw you become a beautiful young lady and enjoyed dancing with you. I prayed you would find happiness with your husband, and I was heartbroken when your suitors just wanted your papa’s money. I told your papa I would marry you without a dowry. I still would.” I replied.

Lying on my bed, listening to the wind howling as wispy clouds stretched across the sky, Mabel lifted her head to kiss my cheek and hug my chest.

“One of these days, I am bound to steal your virtue.” I whispered.

“Hopefully after the wedding, my dear.” she replied.

“Careful not to visit my cabin during a storm, or you will receive heartfelt hospitality during your overnight stay.” I said.

“People would certainly gossip if I spent the night here without a chaperone and call me a harlot,” she asserted.

“Now we can’t have that,” I finished.

As a proper lady, she left after tea, and I waved farewell. I attended her grandfather’s barbecue and ball to spend the night with my brother, Beau. We received a letter from Zachary announcing his engagement and a wedding planned for June, a month after my brother Herman’s confirmation. I visited my family for Thanksgiving and recited my future plans. Uncle Ellison and his wife, Maybelle, continued caring for my grandfather, who was devastated over my grandmother’s death. Their son took over their old house and farm of three hundred and ten acres.

Field corn had been harvested and taken to the grist mill to be ground into cornmeal to be ready for making Bourbon Whiskey. The fine corn flour was stored to make cornbread. Some of the grain went to the granaries for storage. I sold sacks of flour to the dry goods stores, taverns, inns, and bakeries. All winter, I made whiskey with my new employees, who were sons of farmers who lived nearby. My cousin Ridley helped me make deliveries. Christmastide arrived with many orders for my Bourbon Whiskey, lager, and red wine. One Saturday afternoon, when I knew the ladies were at a tea party, I dropped off a letter proposing marriage. I attended the church worship service on Sunday morning. I had my grandmother’s ring in my pocket. We walked down to the creek bridge, where we had confessed our love four years before. She accepted my marriage proposal with a smile. I declared my plans to finish our farm buildings by the end of next year, and we may marry anytime afterwards. She wished me to visit Newport next summer and maybe go to France to select fabric for her wedding clothes. She wanted a shop in Newport to make her wedding gown and have the Smithfield shop make her going-away gown. Her mama wanted to go shopping for dishes, glassware, and art for the new house. Standing next to the bridge, I pulled my grandmother’s ring from my pocket. I presented it to her and slipped it on her finger. I told her my grandmother knew she would die before we got married from her stroke. I had said she liked yellow, so my grandmother pulled this ring from her jewelry box for her. She cried at the heartfelt gesture. I told her about the brooch she left for her in her will, which her brother wrote out for her, to be given on their wedding day. We walked back to the church, and Mabel wanted to stop at my grandmother’s grave and thank her tombstone for the ring, promising to wear it with pride.

The next Sunday, I was invited to dinner after church. I informed them that my brother Zachary got married in Pine Junction to his beloved, who discovered she was pregnant. They were married by the pastor at their church, with her parents and his sister as witnesses. They live in a rental house and plan to build a new one in town. Mama was embarrassed by the elopement after writing that they intended to have a June wedding. Zachary is unsure if he will be close enough by working on the railway to come home for Christmas, but Mama insists that his new wife come to Christmas dinner to celebrate the marriage with the family. Mama was working on a lace tablecloth to give as a wedding gift. For supper, Mr. Thompson invited my family and their family to formally announce the engagement before it appeared in the newspapers. Mr. Thompson toasted our engagement with French Champagne and oysters with crackers in the parlor. Mama wore her new evening gown of velvet with opera-length cotton gloves. My grandparents and grandfather enjoyed themselves. Mr. Jacob Thompson was there, as well as Mrs. Thompson’s parents. Everyone congratulated us with smiles, and Mabel gladly showed off my grandmother’s ring. I commented on how eager Mabel was to move her hope chest into my cabin, but I insisted we finish the house first. We have the rest of our lives to be together; there is no great push to hurry the wedding.

I attended the Thompson Christmas Ball in my evening suit, driving my own sleigh from the blizzard we had two days before. I gladly told the guests that my new songbook was being published in Raleigh. I also explained my farm plans to the guests. Mr. Thompson asked Mabel and me to stand by the orchestra while he announced our engagement to the guests. Then we danced a waltz together. Mrs. Thompson seemed happier than Mabel. Her last child was engaged again, and certain this arrangement would end in an actual wedding this time. I spent the night in Beau’s cabin. His wife made grits and sausages for breakfast. Soon, the Smithfield newspaper announced our engagement, and I received letters of congratulations. Two days before Christmas, Mabel came to the cabin after I finished my work at the distillery. She gave me a lard oil lamp made of brass for a Christmas gift. She commented that they were nicer than the candles I had in my cabin. I gave her the gift I had planned to give her at church. She insisted I come for Christmas Day supper at her home. I could eat with my family for dinner and come over for tea and supper. She said I could sleep in the guest room downstairs. Since we are engaged, I am family now. I promised to come. She opened the gift box and viewed a brooch shaped like a daffodil with gold filigree. She gasped and picked up the brooch.

“Your grandfather said that you liked daffodils. I hope you like it.” I explained.

“It’s beautiful, my love. Thank you.” she finally spoke and attached it to her gown.

We drank some mint tea until I feared a snowstorm would come, as the sun completely disappeared behind the dark gray clouds as I looked out the window. The wind picked up to whip our hair in the doorway. I feared for her safety, traveling four miles back to her house, which would take a good hour or more. She likely would be forced to take shelter at a neighbor’s house when the snow begins to fall, or the wind-blown snow stops the horse.

“Or I could stay here and be safe with you. We are engaged, and you are a gentleman, correct?” she reacted.

“Yes, I am a gentleman. Let me grab some more wood for the fireplace before it starts snowing.” I said.

“I will help you,” she replied.

We both went outside to grab as much wood as we could. We made four trips to the fireplace to drop our wood in the box. I felt we had enough wood for the night and closed the shutters to keep out the cold. I went upstairs for smoked beef. I washed my hands before preparing supper for us. I made roast beef, carrots, potatoes, corn muffins, and I had some pieces of ginger cake my mama gave me on Sunday. It began to snow and blew across the road. I failed to see any travelers on the road who would seek shelter. Mabel enjoyed the meal and complimented me on being a good cook. I explained that I helped Mama with chores growing up. I wrote down several of her recipes before I moved into my cabin. I washed and rinsed the dishes, then Mabel dried them. We played cribbage with my cards, and then I played my guitar for her. She loved the way I sang. I offered to teach her poker or keno, but she did not wish to learn to gamble. I tried next for small talk.

“I am certain people wondered if you would actually get married this time after your history of broken engagements with greater men than me.” I commented. “People often wonder if you would ever marry, given your history of saloon girls and hussies. Mama thought that once you would elope with Rose of the Fairfax Saloon, the muse of your poems. Then Cossette replied she thought your aching heart poems were about a lady you could not support in your parents’ saddle house.” Mabel reacted.

“She told me she saw the disappointment in my face when you announced an engagement during a social call. I long thought I would take my secret love to the grave, but Mrs. Thompson saw right through me. My mama even laughed at the suggestion of my marrying you because you never gave me any special attention.” I said.

“John told me about your social call to Cossette, raging like a lunatic that he came out of his study to listen in the hallway about my betrothed’s bragging in the billiards room about getting engaged to a plain girl with a healthy dowry. You said you had no idea he was referring to me and dreaded that I was making a huge mistake. John said you started weeping in the belief that my marriage would be miserable with him, and he entered the parlor, wondering why someone was shouting. He said Cossette calmed you down, saying the engagement was long and will pray his true nature would be revealed before the wedding. And she was right; he did show me who he really was.” Mabel replied.

“Thank God for that. I prayed you would marry a refined man who would love you as much as I. But the men courting you spoke unkind things about you; it made my blood boil.” I reacted.

“Thank you for saving me from those ungrateful suitors. I remember your kiss after my first fiancé died in Barbados, and I still have your handkerchief. I know your love is real.” finished Mabel, pulling my handkerchief from her bag.

“I know your love is real, too. If you felt nothing for me, you would never have taught me to read and keep accounts to save my family from ruin. Then teach me to read sheet music and practice on your parlor organ to earn extra money at church. Your genuine kindness I have never found in anyone else. Just being your friend was an honor for me. And having you raise our children in our future life would make me the happiest man.” I finished.

I played another tune on my guitar until Mabel grew sleepy. I helped remove her gown, petticoats, and corset. She joked about my knowledge of removing ladies' clothing from brothels. I smirked to reply that I helped my sisters with their corsets before then, sleeping in the same room. She removed her shoes and stockings. She settled into my bed wearing her shift. I slipped off my clothing to sleep in my drawers. She was surprised I did not have a nightshirt and slippers. I explained that poor people don’t wear nightclothes, but I’m wearing my drawers to keep warm and not embarrass her by showing her too much of me. I settled into the trundle bed after I kissed her goodnight. As I was trying to sleep, Mabel whispered:

“Darling, are you asleep yet?”

I grunted. She climbed down to my bed with my wool blanket.

“It is quite cold in this cabin. May I sleep next to you?” she asked.

“I can put another log on the fire for you,” I replied, getting up to come back.

“Thank you. Papa said he never told you what my dowry is, and you thought a hundred dollars was a healthy dowry.” she inquired.

“True. I am marrying you, not your dowry. You may tell me what it is on our wedding day. Good night, my love.” I said.

“Well, I have my own money too from tatting lace, teaching piano and French, writing stories and poems, and from investing in Samuel’s paddleboat. I have over three thousand dollars in a cash box. You may have some to help buy lumber for our farmhouse this spring.” she said.

“What? You have over three thousand dollars? I think fifty would help buy the lumber for the farm buildings and house. I can pay for the lumber for the outbuildings and pay the mortgage with my profits. Good night, my love.” I replied.

I put my arms around her shoulders and drifted off to sleep. I held back from temptation until I could no longer resist the warmth of her touch. In the dim light from the fire, I kissed her hair. She perked up and raised her hands from my chest to find my jaw. She kissed my cheek.

“I love you, Michael.” she whispered.

“I love you too, Mabel.” I replied.

“John once said there was no difference between a lady and a barmaid in the dark. Is that true?”

“Don’t get me started, or you’ll regret it in the morning.” I reacted.

“Sorry, my love, good night.” said Mabel.

We lay there in silence, listening to the crackle of the fire.

“Michael, are you awake?” she whispered.

“Hm. Barely. What did you want to talk about now?” I replied.

“I have a confession to make,” she answered.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“I’m getting tired of waiting for you. I wish I could move my hope chest into your cabin tomorrow and build our home together this spring. A whole nother year before our farmhouse is built, and then I must wait some more to have my wedding gown made. I don’t want to wait anymore. I want to get married and have children. It’s hard, hungering for you and having to hold back my feelings, being a proper lady.” she confessed with a sniffle.

“Darling, don’t cry. We have the rest of our lives to be together. There’s no hurry to get married. Enjoy your time planning our wedding and selecting your wedding gown. If it is meant to be, it will be so.” I comforted her with a kiss.

“I know I need to be patient,” she replied.

“It’s alright, my love. It’s normal to hunger for a man and want to marry him. It’s called love.” I explained, embracing her in my arms.

She had finally done it, and I couldn’t hold back my passion for her anymore. I pounced like a hungry fox onto a chicken and took her virtue that night. I woke up with her arms around my chest and her head against my shoulder. I restarted the fire in the fireplace to make grits, sausages, and coffee for breakfast. I washed and shaved my face at the washstand, with her gazing in wonder at my bare back. She felt guilty stirring last night’s passion. I explained that she may get her wish if she found trouble. I hitched up her sleigh and fed the horses. She left, kissing me goodbye to step up into her sleigh. Luckily, nobody saw her leave my cabin, half buried in snow and knee-high drifts. I met her later at the Christmas Eve church service and then again at the Christmas Day service. I visited my family during meals and then drove my sleigh to Wiltshire Manor for Christmas teatime and supper, wearing my evening suit. I packed a carpet bag with a change of clothes for the next morning. Mabel was delighted to see me enter the parlor. She went ice skating, sleigh riding, and visited the inn's tearoom to hear local farmers play music. The slaves had a party in the parlor after dinner, dancing in their bare feet, not to scratch the floor with their shoes. They had a habit of grabbing the master and mistress, saying “Christmas Present” to receive small gifts like buttons, coins, or candy. They also received gifts from the master and received an annual allotment from the overseer. In the parlor, we sang Christmas carols to take turns playing the instruments. I settled into the guest room across from the study and drifted into a wonderful dream. Mabel was a bride in the parlor, and we shared our first dance. Then she collapsed, and her skirts had blood on them. She cried that she had lost my baby and apologized. I woke up in a cold sweat and convinced myself it was just a dream. I returned to my cabin and made certain not to entertain Mabel in my cabin overnight again. I paid her a social call on New Year’s Day and made plans to reopen the distillery tomorrow. Spring slowly crept in to melt the winter to produce fields of spring flowers. Mabel caught a chill after falling off her horse and stayed in bed for a week. I visited the house after the church worship service. Mrs. Thompson was displeased to see me in the parlor. I inquired about Mabel’s condition.

“She is healing from the fall. I rubbed on vinegar for her cuts and made a yarrow tea for her fever. One of her arms has a sprain. She shortly thereafter had a miscarriage. She said you took her virtue when she spent the night in your cabin waiting out the snowstorm. I have to ask you to refrain from any more overnight visits until after you are married. My husband should get his shotgun out for that. I understand you wanted to make certain no other man would ever want her, but provoking a shotgun wedding when you are honorably engaged is despicable.” Mrs. Thompson scolded.

“Yes’m. I apologize to you and Mr. Thompson for my dishonorable behavior before Christmas. May I visit her?” I inquired.

“She said you may visit her in her chamber if you wish,” said Mrs. Thompson, and walked me upstairs.

“Good afternoon, my love.” Mabel said, sitting in her bed.

“I am so sorry for causing you such pain and trauma. I should have behaved better.” I tried to apologize.

“It’s my fault. I knew what you were doing from my friends telling me about their wedding nights, and I failed to resist you. I enjoyed your kisses and being held in your arms. It felt like heaven. I didn’t want it to end. Papa scolded me that he would take away the dowry if I misbehaved again. You said you would marry me without it. Yes?” she replied.

“We can marry tomorrow if you like, and move into my cabin or my parents’ house. Next Christmas, we will have our farmhouse built. I ordered the lumber for the buildings and bricks for the foundations.” I reacted.

“No, I haven’t had a gown made yet to marry you tomorrow. I just have my hope chest of linens and dishes. We plan to visit France during our stay in Newport this summer. Would you like to come with us? Cossette announced she is pregnant and expects a child in May, and we plan to leave after she gives birth. I said I would give you fifty dollars to help build our farmhouse. I should give it to you now to buy your supplies. I would like pink granite mantels and yellow upholstered furniture in my private rooms.” she explained.

“It shall be done, my love. I will fetch your cash box.” I asserted.

She guided me to the cash box in her dressing table drawer. She took a hundred dollars to help pay for the lumber and pink granite mantels. She said there was a pink granite quarry near Greensboro that I could order from. I left the house to prepare for the construction of the farm outbuildings and house. Next month, they plan to visit Newport and have invited me to come along. In May, Cossette gave birth to a girl named Charlotte. She was baptized in the church, and I gifted two yards of linen for the baby. Little Ainsley and Paulette enjoyed their new sister. Mabel came out to view the barn raising and inspect the foundations we had begun. A grand cellar was dug, and walls of stone with mortar were whitewashed. She was pleased with the bulb planting last autumn and dreamed of her future flower gardens. We left for Newport at the end of the month. Cossette wanted to search for a French governess for Ainsley. I was interested in purchasing dishes for the dining room.