High Hearts by Rita Mae Brown

Author:Rita Mae Brown [Brown, Rita Mae]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780307793973
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2014-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

SEPTEMBER 20, 1861

“Good God, Miz Lutie, Jennifer Fitzgerald is comin’ up the driveway!” Ernie panted from running to the library from the kitchen.

Sin-Sin hurried into the pantry off the dining room as soon as she heard the news. “I better hide the silver.” She began throwing silver into her apron.

“She may be crazy, but she’s not a thief.” Lutie laughed to hide her own nervousness.

A knock on the door cut short their conversation. Lutie glided through the cavernous rooms into the majestic foyer and opened the door. Jennifer, in riding attire even though she’d been driven in a carriage, smiled weakly.

The two ladies walked to the long, arched window walkway where Lutie liked to receive guests in the warm months.

Ernie presented a tray of her best morning sweets, then ducked around the corner only to find Sin-Sin hiding there. They jockeyed for listening positions in silence. As Ernie was so fat, she had the advantage.

“A man named Cassius Rife,” Jennifer was saying, “owns a munitions factory in your original home.”

“The Rifes spawn profit and contention and have been doing so since the late 1600s. I know the family only too well since Chalfontes came over with Lord Baltimore. The Rifes claim to have come over on the Mayflower, that overburdened vessel, but I think they packed over with Oglethorpe. Regardless, they founded Runnymede along with ourselves and the Creightons. Thatchers came later.”

“Apparently he’s in business with Reddy Neutral Taylor for the express purpose of enriching themselves at the Confederacy’s expense.”

“A scorpion and a tarantula, an interesting marriage of creatures.” Lutie observed Jennifer. Aside from pallor and alarming thinness, she appeared lucid.

Jennifer abruptly cut off this subject and moved to the one closest to her heart.

“I can’t bear to think of the way Greer suffered! I can’t bear my own suffering.”

“He was killed instantly. I am certain of that.”

Jennifer made no attempt to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “If only I knew that he was safe.”

“Here.” Lutie handed her a Belgian lace handkerchief.

“I’ve spent years being snide and nasty to you, and now I’m prevailing upon your good nature to help me.” Desperately she bargained. “I know you can talk to the dead. You know somebody from the spirit world. Please, please let me talk to my son.”

Prepared for this, Lutie spoke slowly. “I can’t speak to the dead.”

Miserable, Jennifer sobbed. “Oh, Lutie, I know you can. Please, I don’t care who you talk to, just find out if my boy is safe.”

Somewhat frightened by Jennifer’s outburst, but also sympathetic to her pain, Lutie fudged. “I know Greer is safe. He’s with God.”

Jennifer continued to sob uncontrollably.

“Emil says Greer didn’t live long enough to store up a peck of sins. Greer’s with God and wishes you to leave off your terrible grieving. Just look at you, Jennifer.” Lutie now warmed to her embroidery. “You’re dangerously thin. You’ve powdered your face until you look like a bled pig. Forgive me, but I must be blunt. You are trying to deceive my eyes, but powder won’t help.

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