Southern Beauty

chapter 11

bigail, it is so nice to see you!” said Johanna as she hugged her friend. “I have missed you so very much.”

“Johanna, oh how I have missed you too,” Abigail equally excited to see her dearest friend.

“How is married life?” Johanna asked.

“It’s pretty amazing, I would have to say,” Abigail went on, “although I do miss you coming over for a chat and a cup of tea.”

“Me too, thank you for letting me stay with you while I am here,” said Johanna as she scanned Abigail’s parlor. “I heard New Orleans is a magical place.”

Abigail eyed Johanna with curiosity. ”Okay Johanna, what is going on with you? You are never one for small talk. What is on your mind?”

“What do you mean?” asked Johanna.

“First of all, I got word from my cousin Mary Alice and she told me all about the ball and your three handsome gentlemen, is this true?” Abigail asked with no reserve in her manner.

“They are not all gentleman,” said Johanna thinking of David. “But, they are all very handsome indeed!”

Both of them laughed the way women do when they are together conversing about intimate details.

“Please do tell,” said Abigail even more intrigued.

“You are sounding like your cousin now,” Johanna grinned and then sighed over her predicament. “Oh Abigail, I have never felt such conflict within my heart. It is silly really, but I don’t know what to do?”

“Johanna, this isn’t like you,” Abigail observed. “You always have been clear on every direction you have taken.”

“It seems God has other plans for me,” Johanna smiled.

“Yes, sometimes He does. Well, how do you feel about each one of them?” Abigail said trying to help Johanna sort out her feelings. “Let’s start with the dashing Rene Beauregard!”

“Oh Abigail really, that is absurd. Rene and I just met and I think he needs someone a little more adventurous than I. It would be hard to keep up with his aristocratic lifestyle. And by the way, could you imagine Clarice being my sister-in-law?” Both women grimaced and then laughed.

“Well, if you change your mind, I just want to let you know that he is in town staying at his family’s house,” Abigail said with a wink.

“I will keep that in mind when I am desperate for a genuine heartache,” teased Johanna.

“Okay, let us move on to your number two man,” said Abigail, with a big grin on her face and her curiosity mounting.

“All right, you are truly making me sound like a harlot,” laughed Johanna. She continued anyway, “Malcolm is adorable, you should see those dimples when he smiles. It makes your heart melt. He can make me feel important, like I am the only one for him. It truly is a gift I am sure he spent time perfecting.”

“You don’t trust him?” asked Abigail.

“No, it’s not that,” said Johanna. “He is a perfect gentleman, handsome, and kind.”

“Okay then,” said Abigail, eying Johanna. “What’s the problem?”

Johanna sighed, “The problem is number three.”

“Did you find her?” asked Jacob.

“Not yet, but I did get in touch with the vixen from Charleston. It seems she is also in town. I think I can use her to my advantage once again,” said David smiling.

“Isn’t there some kind of riff between her and Miss Lee? Are you sure you want to do that?” Jacob asked with concern.

“They definitely have some history,” David agreed. “But they run in the same circles. She is a perfect cover for me to get to Johanna.”

“What do you plan on doing once you finally find her?” asked Jacob.

“First and most important making sure she is safe away from Graystone,” David said with a determined look on his face.

“Then are you going to whisk her away from her family and take her to Harrisburg? Do I need to remind you about Kathleen? Or are you planning on marrying her too?” asked Jacob trying to get David to think about his actions.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Jacob, you are making it sound like a Greek tragedy,” David laughed.

“It very well maybe if you don’t get killed before this ends,” Jacob warned him.

“Killed? Are you insinuating that Malcolm will kill me before he lets me have Johanna?” asked David laughing at the thought.

Jacob ignored David’s question. “This is maddening to watch.”

“What do you mean my friend?” asked David.

“I have never seen you act like this before, at least about a woman,” said Jacob.

“She is not just some woman,” said David serious now.

“No, she is not,” agreed Jacob. He sighed as he eyed David, “I am concerned about you. Do you really love her or is this some crazy infatuation?”

David bit his lip, contemplating Jacob’s question. He sighed and then smiled at his friend, “I really love her.”