All Things New by Lynn Austin

Author:Lynn Austin [Austin, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: General Fiction, FIC042000, FIC042030, FIC042040
ISBN: 9780764208973
Publisher: Baker Books
Published: 2012-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

20

JUNE 2, 1865

Something was wrong with Lizzie. The moment the servant had crept into the dining room this morning, Josephine saw that her eyes were swollen as if she hadn’t slept all night. It was obvious she had been crying. As soon as Mother and Mary went upstairs, Josephine had snuck out to the kitchen to help her. Lizzie had been vague about her husband’s accident, but Jo sent her home to tend to him, and now she was content to be alone in the kitchen for a few peaceful minutes. There was something about the smoky scent of the hearth and the aroma of biscuits baking that gave her comfort. Josephine had enjoyed working in the kitchen with Mrs. Blake, doing simple tasks like washing dishes and tending the fire—slaves’ tasks. Now that she was home, she hardly dared to do those things anymore.

Jo finished washing the dishes, then swept the floor, glancing up guiltily as if expecting to see her mother. Eugenia would never understand the simple satisfaction these chores gave Josephine or how thoroughly weary Jo had become of living an idle life. She was on her way to the woodpile for another log when she saw Roselle and her two brothers walking toward the kitchen.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in school, Roselle?”

“We can’t go, Missy Jo.” The girl was close to tears. “There was a fire at the school last night and everything burned up, the books and chairs and everything.”

Josephine felt a moment of panic. Alexander Chandler lived in the rooms above the school. “Was anyone hurt?”

“Our papa was,” Roselle’s brother said. “Somebody hurt our papa.”

“But that wasn’t from the fire,” Roselle said. She nudged him as if warning him to keep quiet.

Before Jo could ask more questions, Lizzie hurried up the rise toward the kitchen, tying her apron around her waist. “Don’t you be bothering Missy Josephine now. Go on and get your work done.” The children scattered, the younger boy to the woodpile, the older boy to the stables, Roselle into the kitchen. “I’m sorry they bothered you, Missy Jo. I’m giving them jobs to do since they don’t have school today.”

“How is Otis?”

“He’s resting now. I can get some work done while he sleeps.”

“Please tell me what happened. Do his injuries have anything to do with the fire at the school?”

“No, ma’am.”

Jo waited, forcing her to say more.

“Like I said, he went out last night to ask his brother to help him plant cotton. Only time he could go was after dark, and the night patrols caught him.”

“Night patrols? But—”

“We ain’t supposed to be out after dark. Thank you for helping me, Missy Jo, but I got plenty of help now.”

Maybe this was none of Jo’s business. Was she intruding into their lives if she stayed? Lizzie seemed very uneasy with her here. Josephine was trying to decide what to do when she heard her mother’s bell ringing inside the house. Lizzie sighed and turned to go, but Josephine stopped her.

“Let me see what my mother wants.

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