A Radiant Soul by Kianna Alexander

Author:Kianna Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Kianna Alexander, Beverly Jenkins, african american historical romance, historical romance gilded age, historical romance victorian
Publisher: Kianna Alexander
Published: 2017-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

July 2, 1881

When Sarah stepped out the back door in her party dress, she could see that the yard had already been outfitted in celebratory finery. She scanned the scenery with a smile, noting how everything reflected her mother's favorite color. Festive yellow bunting had been hung along the top edge of the old wooden fence that marked the boundary of the yard. The trestle tables filled with food had yellow tablecloths. And the new gazebo, the centerpiece of it all, had been draped in yellow ribbon. Sarah instinctively knew her mother would love the setup.

The time was ten minutes until one, and the party was to begin on the hour. Elizabeth Webster thought of punctuality as a virtue, and that was a well-known fact in town. Most of the party guests had already arrived, and were scattered around the yard. People sat in pairs or stood in groups, carrying on various conversations as the warm Carolina sun shined down on them. As custom dictated, the food hadn't been touched. No one wanted to be rude by eating before the guest of honor made her appearance.

Sarah moved off the back porch and into the yard, greeting her friends and neighbors. It was nice to see everyone dressed in their best clothes, and she complimented a few people on their attire as she made her way toward the gazebo.

Her father, in his best summer-weight suit, waited there with her sisters, who'd donned their party dresses. Mary's dress was a high-necked creation in a soft shade of green, while Katherine had chosen a soft-lavender gown with a square neckline and cap sleeves. Sarah brushed a bit of dry grass from the skirt of her own dress, a pink, off–the-shoulder ensemble, and took her place next to the rest of her family.

As the clock chimed the one o'clock hour, Elizabeth stepped out of the back door. She looked resplendent, and far younger than her forty-five years, in her daffodil-yellow party gown. The sweetheart neckline, edged in lace, provided lovely framing for the gold necklace her daughters had given her as a gift.

A smiling George left the gazebo to escort his wife off the porch and into the yard. As Sarah and her sisters looked on, their parents began making the rounds of the assembled guests.

"Mommy looks so pretty." Kate made the remark.

"Indeed. Mrs. Alston must have spent weeks making that fancy gown." Mary clasped her hands together.

"Well, ladies, Mommy wouldn't approve of us standing around the gazebo." Sarah stepped down off the platform into the summer brown grass. "Let's go greet the guests."

The three of them parted, fanning out across the yard to speak to the fifty or so people positioned around the yard.

Seeing shipbuilder Will Rhodes enter through the open gate brought a smile to Sarah's face. Knowing his wife and daughter could not be far behind, Sarah hastened toward him.

"Miss Sarah. Good to see you." Will stuck out his hand to her.

With a smile, she shook with him. "Mr. Pruett. Good to see you again, as well.

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