Wild, Beautiful, and Free(34)

“How do you do, my dear? I’m Missus Livingston. Come sit. You’ve had such a long journey.”

“I have,” I said. “But I’m glad to be here.” I sat in the chair without the knitting. She picked up the blue yarn and needles and sat in the other.

I removed my bonnet and looked around the room. In a moment, the young lady returned with a tray of tea and small sandwiches. Missus Livingston poured tea for us and spoke to the woman as she did so. “Leah, please tell Stephen to take Miss Bébinn’s trunk up to the blue room.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I enjoyed the attention, but I was surprised. Missus Livingston treated me like a visitor. I had expected a more formal reception, with a serious recital of a list of what was expected of me in my position. But perhaps she wasn’t my supervisor, I thought. Perhaps the severe person had yet to appear.

She handed me my cup and then a plate with two small sandwiches. I hadn’t thought about food since I was on the train, but suddenly I was quite hungry and found the sandwiches, made of ground-up ham and dressing, delicious. Since Missus Livingston was so natural and comfortable, I decided it would be all right to ask questions instead of waiting to be told what I should be doing.

“Will I meet my students today?”

“Oh, dear, that can wait until tomorrow. The village is within walking distance, but I need to take the carriage, and I won’t ask you to get in it again so soon. Just rest this evening, get your things unpacked, and I’ll show you the school tomorrow.”

I had wanted to ask about her connection to the village but realized that might be too intimate. Instead I asked about Fortitude Mansion.

“As you can see, it’s a lovely place. You might enjoy taking a walk in the garden later on, when you get settled. I am so glad you are here. The house really should be filled with guests, but recently there’s been just me, Leah, Stephen, and the kitchen staff. Oh, and there’s Founder. She lives in a suite on the third floor. But she keeps to herself so much. I’ve often invited her to sit with me as you’re doing now, but she prefers her solitude, I suppose.”

“Founder? Who is she?”

“She is a fine woman who came north with the other slaves, but she stays here, not in the village.”

The mention of the village and its people made me forget about Fortitude. I wanted to know more about their story, which was sure to be impressive.

“Where in the South did they come from?”

“Well, I don’t know the state well enough to give you an exact location, but they came from a plantation called Belle Meade, in Louisiana.”

“Louisiana!”

“Yes. Do you know it?”

“A little.” I could have said more but thought better of it. I should learn more about the people first, see if there was a chance that they might know Papa or Catalpa Valley. But the state was large; I knew that from Papa’s maps. It was possible that they knew nothing about my home.

“I know it’s unusual,” Missus Livingston continued. “But the owner denounced the practice of keeping slaves. He sold his property, gave the people their freedom, then assisted those who wanted to do so in moving here and getting established.”

“That is . . .” I searched for the word. “Stunning.”

“Yes, isn’t it? Quite extraordinary. But I’ll not keep chattering on. There’s plenty of time to learn all this. You have been traveling for so long. You must be tired. I’ll show you your bedroom. I’ve had the room down the hall from mine prepared for you. I hope you’ll be comfortable there.”

“I’m sure it will be fine.” I said this, but I knew it in fact. I hadn’t had my own room since I’d lived at Catalpa Valley. This room would be, for me, an unexpected luxury.

She led the way upstairs. The steps were wide and flanked by beautiful banisters made of oak and polished to a shine. A window near the top of the stair was decorated with stained glass in the pattern of a bluebird sitting on a branch of green leaves. We walked a little ways down the hall. Missus Livingston was opening the door to my chamber when we heard another door close. I turned to see a fine-looking colored woman, dressed in brown silk, about to make her way downstairs. A black net gathered her hair behind her head, and she wore gold hoop earrings. She was an older woman with a stout frame. She moved slowly, but it seemed like she moved that way not because of age but because she had all the time in the world to get where she was going. Missus Livingston called out to her.

“Oh, Founder! Come meet Miss Bébinn. She will be the teacher for the new school in the village.”

She strolled our way and looked me up and down with striking black eyes that felt like she could bore right through me.

“How do you do?”

I curtsied. “I’m fine, Miss Founder. Glad to meet you.”

“I ain’t a miss or missus. Just Founder.”

I was unsure how to respond to this, so I only said, “Thank you, Founder.”

She nodded and turned back to her progress toward the stair. She raised her chin, spread her arms open wide, and seemed to speak to the air in front of her.

“Welcome to Fortitude!”

I looked at Missus Livingston, and she shrugged. “Well, yes, that’s Founder.” She quickly opened the door to my room and showed me in.