Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House(58)
A few months previous, with Mr. Leeds’s encouragement, I had submitted my name to the Peale Museum for consideration for one of their esteemed grants. To my amazement, in January I was notified that I had been selected for a subsidized excursion into the Carolinas. On my return I was to present renderings of birds, flora, and fauna native to that area, and based on approval, funding for an illustrated handbook of birds would follow.
When the offer came from the museum, I had rethought the course of my life. Since Mrs. Burton’s death, I had worked diligently at the silver shop but had grown weary of the long hours; the bulk of my time was spent in the office balancing figures. Along with the silver shop, the Burtons had left me a sizable estate, and as my interest in the business faded and the opportunity of the excursion came, I went to my lawyer to arrange selling the silver shop.
I had not told Caroline of my plan to sell the business, for I was saving it as a surprise. It would allow us more time together—something I felt certain would please her. As for news of the excursion, I was waiting for a favorable moment to tell her, for though it meant we would spend some months apart, I wanted her to see the opportunity that it was for me.
But then she came with her own news, and there was no time to explain the decisions I had made. And now that I knew of her condition, what was I to do? Naturally, she would remain with her husband, but how could I best support her? Dread followed that question, for the one thing I did not wish to do was to add to her dilemma. Yet she must learn the truth, for if the child had color, we would have to arrange to have it cared for.
I decided it was best to keep a distance, for I suspected that her husband was on high alert. The man already disliked me and now would not hold back on destroying my good name.
But the sale of the silver business was slow, and one week followed another until the whole of February had passed. Much to my regret, I stayed away from Caroline.
IN THE FIRST week of March, a letter came from Lavinia in response to one that I had written while flush with excitement about the grant.
In the years following Delia’s theft of my letter, too afraid of another interception, I had not corresponded with those at Tall Oaks. Soon after I received the award from the museum, while studying the map and planning the route I might travel on my excursion, I was surprised to see the proximity of Tall Oaks, located in southern Virginia, to the parts of North Carolina where I meant to journey. Though twenty years had passed since I had fled that home, I still dreamed of seeing it again. Now, with Delia out of the way, and believing that my safety in Virginia was no longer in question, I wrote a letter to Lavinia and asked if I might visit.
Two months later, that first week in March 1830, came her response. It was not what I had expected.
My dear James,
What news! How proud we are of you! You always had such skill with a paintbrush. All of your childhood paintings were lost in the fire, but I remember so well how vividly you captured the cardinal and bluebird. I cannot imagine an improvement.
Pardon me for the delayed response to your letter, but Belle and I only just returned from a visit to Williamsburg. There we visited my daughter Elly and her cousin Meg Madden. The two have successfully established the Madden School for Young Girls. Can you believe that my Elly is already twenty-seven years old? She was so young when you left, but early on was made aware that the two of you share Marshall as a father. Perhaps that is why she is so free-thinking.
You may remember Meg, who is as independent in her thinking as my Elly. Because of their liberal views, should you ever need friends, I believe you might be warmly welcomed if you find yourself in their vicinity.
Which brings me to the visit you requested here at Tall Oaks. How it breaks my heart to refuse you, but because we are such a small community and word travels so quickly, I do not think it wise. You might recall our former overseer Rankin and his son Jake and how determined they were to locate you. Though they are no longer under our employ, I have heard rumors that they are still about, and I believe that should those two learn of your presence, they would mean to harm you. Given the time that has passed, I doubt that you would be recognized, but your distinctive eye gives me concern.
Please take care and know that both Belle and I want only the best for you.
Always your friend,
Lavinia Pyke
I sat down after reading the letter. To learn that Rankin and Jake were still around stunned me, and though it was already the first week in March, I began to question my wisdom in going ahead with the excursion. But a few days later, when Henry came with the news that Pan was missing, I knew I had to go. Now I had until my departure to tell Caroline the truth and see what our love could bear.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
1830
James
I RETURNED HOME from the event at Mr. and Mrs. Cardon’s, shaken to have seen the effects of my procrastination on Caroline. That night I resolved to set things right. I would meet with her the next day, tell her the truth, and offer to provide for the child, should it have color. But in the morning, when I sent a note to her home requesting to see her, it was returned with a note from the housekeeper stating that Caroline had already left for Stonehill with her mother. Not knowing what else to do, I waited uneasily for Mrs. Cardon’s invitation.
Meanwhile, I worked to find Pan. The theft of young Negro children was very common, but it was a complex problem. I hired a man familiar with the shipyard to investigate. When he learned that Pan had likely been sold into North Carolina, I kept the man on, hoping he would uncover more detail.