ROSEDALE IN APRIL
Chapter Eight

Rosedale in April was a time for awakenings…a season for rebirth…a promise of new life. The early spring winds were rushing across the black waters of Caddo Lake this fateful star-studded night allowing the tall lead paned windows to be raised to catch the refreshing cool breezes. In the formal dining room, a punkah fan was lazily waving from the high ceiling attended by young Jacob who was thrilled to be slowly pulling the rope for a treat of Nanny’s pecan pralines. Captain Jack Dalton was imperiously seated at the head of the long elegant dining table meticulously laid out in all its opulent finery. Silver candelabras, starched white embroidered and lace linens, fine English bone china, and a lead crystal vase centerpiece that boasted a fresh bouquet of daffodils, lily-of-the-valley, narcissus, and jasmine alluringly tantalized the room with their lush fragrance of sweet perfumes. Nanny and Lizzie were frantically loading down the massive sideboards and buffets with a scrumptious feast fit for royalty. Although the Union officers were presently engaged in leisurely male dominated conversation around the luxurious table, their stomachs growled anxiously waiting…the Captain heavily sighed in irritation and impatiently began to drum his fingers on the table before crossly complaining.

"Ma'am…is she always so rudely late for meals around here?"

Nanny shot him a crooked smile well aware of the Yankee Captain’s evident agitation. She was certain all the men were famished, but she knew Rose, too. Deliberately inciting discord and dissension especially among those she had a bone to pick with. As if on cue, Jack testily glimpsed at the doorway…and the reason for his present petulance filled the room with her stunning regal presence.

Unable to help himself, his astonished mouth gaped open as Rose gracefully glided into the festive room. The candle glow from the chandeliers and candelabras caught the red crystal beads in the scarlet velvet dress causing them to twinkle as if a galaxy of stars were teasingly winking in flirtation. Jack’s hungry gaze immediately went to her dangerously exposed bosom where a petite gold medallion nestled in the deep valley between her generous breasts. His breath locked in his chest and his breeches instantly became uncomfortably and annoyingly tight as he slowly perused her in a warm intimate caress. Her shiny copper hair was swept up with garnet encrusted combs while ruby and diamond dangling ear bobs set the vision literally glowing in her radiance. Pouting vermilion lips were slightly parted in an ever so taunting grin. Crossing her arms, Rose expectedly waited for the Captain to gallantly rise.

The others saw their Captain’s stunned expression and curiously followed his line of vision. Chairs hastily scraped back at her tardy yet spectacular entrance…all except the Captain’s. A fumbling young Private Fabrizio di Rossi swiftly jumped up to hold the lady’s chair and cast the glamorous southern belle a look of pure fascinated infatuation.

Nevertheless, Jack stubbornly kept his seat…so…she’s dressed like an expensive whore…now let her be treated in kind! His men were ridiculously fawning over her and literally making complete fools of themselves. Paying her petty compliments of how gorgeous she was and how honored they were to be in her exalted presence. Jack disdainfully watched in wry bemusement…and testiness.

Raising a finely arched brow at the Captain still discourteously seated, Rose scoffed, "Gentlemen?" Simultaneously, Rose’s glittering emerald eyes insultingly ran over Jack for his intentional lack of good manners and breeding.

"Although the dress suits you, Miss Bukater, why the sudden change of heart?"

"Whatever do you mean, Captain Dalton?" Rose coolly responded yet disinterestedly interrupted his answer by bestowing a coquettish smile at Private di Rossi’s clumsy attentions. Beforehand, Rose had deliberately arranged her place setting at the opposite end of the table as far from the obnoxious Yankee Captain as possible. "Thank you, Private. It’s good to know that the North breeds at least some proper gentlemen among its soldiers." Again, Rose’s scornful eyes flicked insolently over Jack.

Captain Jack Dalton wasn’t offended in the least.

"Did I hear you correctly or didn’t you promise to wear your wedding dress tonight, Miss Bukater?" Jack provokingly jabbed.

"I am, Captain…I am!"

Abruptly, Private di Rossi nervously knocked over his glass spilling his beverage on the clean starched tablecloth. While Sergeant Ryan literally choked prompting him to hastily grab his napkin to cover his mouth to keep from spitting out his half chewed piece of meat. Intermittently, ornately gilded silverware was unintentionally dropped onto the china emitting a clanging that sounded like church bells ringing for Sunday mass. The entire Union gathering sucked in their breaths in shock at the gall of the fetching Confederate woman’s audacity and bluntness. Having so rattled the Union soldiers, Rose feigned complete indifference to the commotion she had deliberately provoked. However, such wasn’t the case with Captain Jack Dalton. For Jack simply pushed back in his high back chair and cast Rose a sinister half smile while his dark brow flickered up in amusement.

"Speaking of weddings, I don’t believe you answered my question before Miss Bukater."

"Remind me, Captain. I’m sure I don’t remember your question." Daintily placing her napkin in her lap, Rose demurely picked up her crystal wine flute and delicately took a sip.

"When the blessed event takes place?" Jack sarcastically clipped.

Jack could have sworn she mischievously sent her maid a sly calculating smile before settling an impish gaze on him.

"It seems I have a phantom dark angel as my guardian, Captain Dalton. The day before the scheduled nuptials, we received word that the Major was seriously wounded which fortunately granted a reprieve. Of course, you must be aware of this injury, no?" Rose was trying to get the Captain to admit his real reasons for being at Rosedale. For she was certain he had come to reap Cal’s hateful revenge…not daring to hope otherwise.

Secretly grinning at his sergeant and best friend, "I did hear somewhere about the Major’s regrettable—unmanning!" Jack was suspiciously beginning to think that Rose might possible connect him to the laughable crime. But then again, it was highly unlikely and probably just his subconscious…if he had a mind to even possess one concerning the filthy eunuch.

While Rose unexpectedly stood up to help clear away Private di Rossi’s accidental mess, Lizzie boldly interjected, "Miss Rose was besides ho’self dat day. She swore right den to worship da man dat shoot dat Major Henley fo’ the rest of hers life! Gits downs on hers hands and knees! Pardon m’ frankness, but dat Major dis a bad man!"

Jack and Tommy shot each other a sly, conspiratorial laden grin. It was short lived however when Jack noticed that Rose had surprisingly begun helping with cleaning up the spilled iced tea. And the statement about worshipping him certainly didn’t go unnoticed even if she didn’t know that dark angel was her future promised bedmate. Ah, the irony! Nonetheless, Jack confusedly sat back in total bafflement. Why was Rose assisting a slave in performing menial tasks? Furthermore, why had she allowed the black house servant to even speak during their conversation? He had always been under the impression that slave owners never allowed their "property" to speak at social gatherings or parties let alone work along beside them. She obviously wasn’t at all what he had contrived that the aristocratic elite lady was all about…in that respect at least.

As Rose leaned over Private di Rossi to clear away the mess, her generously displayed breasts came into the slightest contact with the young Italian’s arm causing him to flinch then furiously blush. Rose didn’t seem to notice…but Jack did. The young private was already enamored with the little slut and she was obviously wantonly leading him on. Twin fires of blue burned into cool pools of green.

Private di Rossi finally found his voice to squeak in a heavy Italian accent, "I so sorry Miss Bukater for my carelessness. But…may I ask a question, Miss?"

"Certainly. Your name is Private di Rossi, is it?"

"Yes, Miss Bukater. But it do my heart good for you to call me Fabrizio." At Rose’s disarming and flirtatious smile, the young private continued, "You like bambinos, no?"

"Well of course, Private, I mean Fabrizio. Why in the world do you ask?" Rose curiously inquired in a tender caressing simper.

"Cause Major Henley…he can’t make no bambino no more. It’s bad, no?"

Rose unguardedly allowed full-fledged shock to overcome her astonished visage for once in her short seventeen years. Her hand splayed over her bosom, and her mouth dropped open in mock horror. Gradually, she slowly sat down in dawning and cast the Captain a look that floored him…was it warped elation or marked disappointment? She was harder to read than his boring scholarly Latin books back home in Pennsylvania until she sarcastically declared with laughter literally dripping from her musical lilted voice, "That’s just terrible Fabrizio. I do declare! I think I’ll just cry in my pillow all night…imagine that…no more little Caledon Henley brats blessing the world! Umpf…umpf…well bless the Major’s lil’ pea pickin’…'thing'!"

And with that said, without warning, Rose joyfully slapped the table and snatched up her wineglass and raised it high in a toast, "To Major Henley’s unmanning…may it rest in peace!"

The entire room screamed in loud guffaws and squeals of laughter at the pun…finally, even the Captain could only sit back and shake his head before his chest erupted into a fit of unrestrained chuckles. It was a grin that most women would adore, yet Rose chose not to outwardly notice.

However, after a time, the conversation switched to boring military philosophy and strategies leaving Rose completely out of the circle. And being ignored was something totally new for one that was usually squat dab in the thick of things. Right in the middle of one of the Captain’s sentences, Rose brazenly interrupted, "War, war, war…is that all you men can ever talk about?"

Crooking a brow, Jack attempted to admonish the lady for her dim-witted intrusion, "Pardon me if I’m wrong, Miss Bukater. But that’s exactly what we’re all about…that’s why we’re here in this God forbidden state in the first place!"

"Umpf…this bloody war makes me sick. Men make me sick! I hope the whole damn bunch of you, both North and South, get your asses licked good and proper! Texas shouldn’t even be in this damn conflict anyway!"

"Now how’s that? Texas seceded like the rest of your damn Confederate states and you rebels defiantly fired the first shots at Fort Sumter. What the hell did you southerners expect?" Jack’s hackles were rising on the back of his neck. She was pushing him again…very close to the edge of his patience and tolerance…deliberately baiting him.

"Well, if I were Queen…Texas would’ve never joined your damnable union in the first place. We’d still be an independent republic and the rest of you could just kill each other off like the bunch of silly fools that you are while we sat back and watched! That way, the cotton trade would fall completely in our laps and we wouldn’t have to share the markets with the other southern states! Therefore, cotton would then fetch a much higher price…line our pockets with a pot load more of gold so we’d be essentially self-sufficient! And Texas could then be declared King Cotton…and I its rightful Queen!"

Every man, including Captain Jack Dalton, stopped chewing their food and gaped. Not knowing how to respond to her stinging yet ludicrous snooty tirade, Jack intentionally changed the subject. But the more he thought about it and the more he stared at the rebellious little hellion with her delectable body wantonly displayed vying for every man’s undivided attention, Jack deviously sought to punish and humiliate her. Turning to Sergeant Ryan, he seemingly dismissed her.

"Sergeant Ryan, I understand that all the officers have been assigned their appointed rooms and they have been made ready?"

"Yes, Captain. The accommodations here are more than adequate." Casting Rose an admiring glance, "Miss Bukater, they’re more than adequate, they’re absolutely splendid!" Turning his attention back to the Captain, he re-verified, "But I’ll be sleeping outside in the garconiere. Excluding the lady’s boudoir, we were one room short."

Maliciously grinning, Jack stared right through the annoying enigma as he made his next vicious declaration. "The lady here will not be occupying her usual room, Sergeant. She has already had her personal belongings removed to another."

"But Captain, I really don’t mind. The garconiere is very private and actually quite spacious and comfortable. And I’d hate to inconvenience Miss Bukater in the least!" Sergeant Ryan tried to politely assure her that it was totally unnecessary to extend such unselfish hospitality. Besides, he honestly was beginning to like the beautiful woman despite her "different" philosophies and opinions. They just added to her unique wit and charm…for she was truly one of a kind.

As Jack stoically witnessed the exchange, he seethed inside with something akin to jealousy. Shit! The wench captivated even his best friend!

"The lady has generously offered to share a room, Sergeant Ryan…with me! Isn’t that right, Miss Bukater?" Jack lifted a brow in warning…taunting, provoking, daring her to deny him…daring her to defy him…daring her to lie even to save face. He’d just see how free spirited and independent she really was to carelessly shuck her southern elitist moral codes of ethics and conduct!

Gritting her teeth, Rose angrily threw down her napkin in a fit of furious temper. In a short, clipped hard shrill, she forcefully ground out, "Yes…that’s…right…Captain. If, that is, if you can rid yourself of that dirty, filthy Yankee scum that you wreak of! Now, if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I think I need another bath!"

Knocking over a chair in her haste to leave, Rose with her head held high, stomped out of the room fuming. In a short moment, a thunderous crash of a second floor door slamming shut reverberated off the ceiling and dangerously rattled the crystal chandeliers over the table snuffing out half the burning candles in the process. Every pair of eyes were nigh to popping out of their heads at the openly blunt intent of their Captain’s obscene suggestion. It was obvious to all that he was blatantly declaring her as his own personal mistress…and with the lady’s apparent consent!

Lizzie audaciously stared at the Captain and started to loudly cluck her tongue in obvious distaste and reproof.

"Umpf…we knows now why dat Major sent you mens to burns us out!"

"Whatever do you mean, Lizzie?" Jack perplexingly questioned.

"Dat letter Miss Rose sents to the Major. Miss Rose sho’nuff ruffled his feathers fo’ sure widout evens knowin’ wheres da man was shot. I tries to tell dat girl…but ifn I knews dat day what Iz knows now…she sho’nuff wouldn’t have sent it…Iza be sho’ of dat!"

"And how pray tell could you stop her, Lizzie? But more than that, what did the letter say in the first place?" Jack was virtually interrogating the girl…overly curious for some unknown reason even to him.

"Miss Rose tells da Major she ain’t gonna marry him. Dat he couldn’t satisfy…Lawsy, Iz jes’ cants says whats dat girl writes…not in mixed company fo’ sure! Umpf, umpf!"

"Did Miss Rose tell you what the letter said?" Jack continued probing.

"Naw…I reads its m’self! You ain’t gonna tells nobody, iz you Cap’un Daw’un? Miss Rose could git in mighty heaps o’ trouble, you knows!"

"Of course not, Lizzie. But she actually taught you how to read…and write?" Jack surprisingly asked.

"Sho’nuff…and to cipher, too. Even the young’uns arounds dere. Massah Sterlin’…well he fo’sure never knowed. But Miss Rose always do what she wants…spite of everythin’! She ain’t skered of nuthin and nobody! Even whens Miss Rose shoulds be!"

Jack couldn’t help but amusedly chuckle at the obvious valid description that the girl had openly revealed in regard to her "owner" and mistress of Rosedale.

"Somehow I guessed that! But, Lizzie, you must tell me…I implore you…you have got my insatiable curiosity aroused and I won’t be able to sleep a wink before I know." Jack had such a way about him that even the most stoic people he could win over with his charming boyish smile. If he chose to be, he could break down anyone’s resistance with his seemingly innocent, friendly style of persona.

Looking around to see if Nanny was nearby, Lizzie leaned down to confidentially whisper verbatim the contents of the letter in the Captain’s ear.

"And she actually said that?" Jack charmingly smiled while his sapphire eyes danced in teasing laughter.

"She sho’nuff dids. I tells her and I tells her…her never listens to nobody…dat girl as stubborn as a mule…now look what itz done and got her!"

"And what’s that, Lizzie?" Jack was grinning from ear to ear.

"Umpf…you knows, Cap’un Daw’un whats I means…you no fool! Course, yo Mamma and Papa must’ve not loved you too good…or they’d put a strap to yous hide fo’ what yous doin’ to Miss Rose!"

Jack playfully laughed in spite of himself before Lizzie cast him a slanted grin. Nanny reentered the room with her famous pecan pies balanced on both hands and set them down on the sideboard. They both began enthusiastically serving up the delicious mouth watering desserts to the delight of all. As Jack ate, he started to doubt his decision to make Rose his mistress because in reality, she wasn’t technically Henley’s fiancee anymore. His conscience was tugging at his heart…but his inner desire was pulling back in a virtual tug of war. And he knew without a doubt, which side would win! Besides, he was sure the gossip that another man was cavorting with Rose would eventually find its way back to the Major and the sure fired damage that would do to Henley’s prideful male ego. Of course, he’d make absolutely sure the bastard found out!

As Sergeant Ryan stared at the pecan pie, he licked his chops in eager anticipation. Seeing Nanny cutting more slices, he couldn’t help but brag, "Ma'am…this pie is too pretty to eat. Is it as tasty inside?"

"Sho’nuff, Sergeant Yankee…yous eats all Nanny’s pecan pie that’ll fit in that blue belly of ya’lls…tain’t poison yo’ knows…dat iz ifn Miss Rose didn’t sneak somes ins."

Jack hastily let his fork clink into his plate and virtually paled. Nanny saw his suspicious fear and cast Sergeant Ryan a teasing little grin before she impishly winked.

"Serg’t Yank…Iz a leaves the pie safe opens fo’ ya’ll…case ya’ll needs a late night snacks. How’z dat sounds?"

"Well thank you, Nanny…you’re an angel…can I have as much as I want?" Tommy warmed to the game between the Negress and himself. It wasn’t every day such a golden opportunity arose to set Jack Dalton’s nerves on edge!

"Sho’nuff honey chile. You sho’nuff know hows to makes Nanny happy! Eats up! Whatza madder, Cap’un Yankee…yous not likes Nanny’s pie?"

"Yes, Ma'am…I’m sure it’s simply delicious…I just lost my appetite for some reason!"

Tommy cast Jack a mischievous grin before teasing, "Captain…you just don’t know what you’re missing."

"Well, we’ll just see who’s still breathing after you finish your dessert, Sergeant!"

Chapter Nine
Stories