Southern Beauty

chapter 9

ohanna stepped out into the small balcony adjacent to the drawing room. She just needed to clear her head. What was she doing? She knew she could never let that passion between her and David ignite again. She had to stay away from him. His presence was too strong. She felt helpless every time he stood near her.

“If I just keep my distance I shall be fine. Just keep my distance and don’t look at him. Yes, I will not look at him,” she insisted. Those green eyes melted her. That was the key, if she just didn’t look into his intense gaze. “If I don’t look I won’t be tempted,” she told herself.

“My kiss does make the ladies swoon.” David came out of the darkened corner of the balcony. Johanna froze.

“I actually thought I was going to be sick.” She clammed back at him.

“Uh huh,” he smiled.

Johanna was determined not to look at him. She tried to measure. “If I stay three feet, no five feet from him, I will be fine.”

“Is it your goal to kiss a different girl in each room?” she asked still upset with him about Clarice.

“If you so desire, I will go room to room with you,” David smiled.

“How dare you,” Johanna said appalled.

David laughed at her anger.

“You took advantage of me,” she said.

“And how did I do that?” he asked.

“I don’t know you just did,” she said.

“You didn’t stop me, at least not right away,” David smiled watching her frustration rise.

“I was confused, I am confused,” she said. “You just shouldn’t have done that. You have not been kind to me.”

“I haven’t been kind to you? I think it is you who left me for dead,” he reminded her.

“I guess that bump didn’t knock any sense into you,” Johanna continued. “You have got to be mad! You kidnap me, hold my uncle by gunpoint, and you expect me to be nice to you? You are the one who hasn’t any manners. You have no idea how to treat a lady.”

“You are a prisoner of war, not a lady I am courting,” said David.

“There isn’t a war.” Johanna snapped back.

“There will be,” insisted David.

“What makes you think I won’t let everyone here know right now whose side you’re really on?” Johanna threatened.

“Because you would never forgive yourself if something happened to the man you love,” he said.

“You mean my uncle?” she questioned. He wasn’t talking about her uncle.

“You’re coming with me now,” David gently but firmly pulled her toward the ballroom and through the crowd of cadets and ladies. Johanna looked around for someone she might know, but it seemed everyone was too busy to notice her and David.

“I can’t leave with you, what will people say?” Johanna whispered.

“Whatever do you mean?” David asked.

“If I leave here with you unescorted, people will assume we are to be engaged,” she explained as they continued through the crowded ballroom.

“Engaged? Are you insane? To… be… married?” David asked in confusion.

“Is there any other kind?” They both stopped.

“Do you know how frustrating you are?” David said becoming agitated.

“Oh I do so loathe you!” Johanna said frustrated.

“Loathe me? Such harsh words coming from you Miss Lee,” David frustrated now.

“You come here and threaten me and my uncle and you think I should not?” Johanna whispers get louder.

David laughs, “Alright, then why don’t you get your friend there to come with you.”

“Oh, Clarice is not enough. You want to kiss Mary Alice too? I will not drag her into this,” Johanna bit her lip.

“Oh, this is all about Clarice,” David smirked at her comment.

“Have you not promised to be in engaged to her this very evening?” Johanna asked.

“Now I am engaged to her?” David even more confused.

“That is what she is telling everyone,” Johanna now back to a whisper.

“That I am to be engaged to her?” David questioned.

“Well, she didn’t say you by name, but said it was a new soldier,” Johanna beginning to realize she is now gossiping.

“So you assumed that it was me?” David now annoyed.

“Well, after I found you two embracing on the balcony,” Johanna accused him with more anger than she wanted to show.

“Well Miss Lee, did you also see me brush her off and tell her I was in love with someone else?” He continued to pull her through the crowded ballroom.

“What?” Johanna tried to stop not sure if she should be thrilled by the news or not.

“Why am I arguing with you about this?” He grabbed her arm and continued through the mingling couples.

“Are you trying to steal my date?” Malcolm asked David.

“Oh you again, don’t you have something you ought to be doing?” asked David.

“Do you two know each other?” Johanna continued to switch back looking at both of them. They ignored her.

“Sir, may I have a word with you?” Malcolm stared David down.

“It would be a pleasure,” David stared Malcolm back down.

“Excuse us Miss Lee,” they both headed toward the door without once glancing at Johanna.

“What was that all about?” Mary Alice noticed Johanna had been left on her own.

“I have no idea,” Johanna and Mary Alice watched the men walk out of their sight.

”Do they know each other?” inquired Mary Alice.

“I don’t’ think so,” answered Johanna confused at the new situation played out in front of her.

“Now this is very exciting! Maybe they are fighting over you. Where is Rene?” Mary Alice looked around the room. “He should be in on this.” exclaimed Mary Alice.

Johanna ignored her friend’s excitement. “For some odd reason, I don’t think it’s really about me.”

“You have the audacity to come here and ruin all my plans,” Malcolm accused David.

“Ruin your plans? Who are you working for now, Malcolm?” asked David.

“I have special orders to take Lee’s niece to Virginia, envious?” Malcolm smiled arrogantly. “What are you doing here?”

“You, you are Johanna’s escort? Wait…you’re the mole?” asked David.

Malcolm grinned. “So, I see you are on a first name basis with her? Well, that is too bad, this one is mine. I suggest you leave us alone. You don’t want to ruin that squeaky clean reputation of yours by divulging my secret.”

“My mission has nothing to do with Miss Lee,” David insisted. “You are supposed to be reporting Lee’s every move. How can you do that taking her to Virginia?”

“You don’t need to worry about that, I have everything under control,” said Malcolm.

“Under your control, what are you getting out of this?” David asked.

“I have my orders. I suggest you stay away from Miss Lee,” Malcolm warned David.

“How could anyone trust you with their niece?” David asked him.

Malcolm laughed. “You still sore that I left your sister at the altar? I do hope she has gotten over that by now, clearly you haven’t.”

David ignored his jab and stared him down.

“I want to know why Johanna is so important to you,” Malcolm questioned.

“She’s not.” David lied.

“Then what do you care if I fancy her or not?” Malcolm now intrigued by David’s concern.

“You, you care about her? That is a laugh. What does she have that you are so interested in?” asked David.

“She is a pretty thing isn’t she?” stated Malcolm ignoring David’s question, while trying to provoke him.

“Just stay away from her. She doesn’t need to be hurt by this.” David warned.

“Oh, are you becoming noble now? Don’t worry, McPherson, by the end of this mission, I will have saved the day and won the girl!”

David couldn’t have predicted this. Not only was the man who was spending time with Johanna someone he actually knew. He was Malcolm Graystone. He was on the Northern side pretending he was a wavering patriot following Lee. He was a master of trickery. He hurt his sister and now he was after Johanna. This was grave indeed.

Malcolm had been bent on beating David at everything since they were at West Point together. Malcolm always looked for the next big mission to carry out, the next mountain to climb, and the next goal to achieve without any regard to morality. David had caught Malcolm cheating at West Point and had him expelled. Malcolm never forgave him and went after his sister when he was away for months with General Meade. Now Johanna was caught in the middle of this. He needed to save her. And if Malcolm had any idea how much David loved her, he would never give up. Malcolm would forever ruin her if it would destroy David.

“Johanna, I thought you would want to know, I just overheard G.T. talking with some cadets. Your uncle was delayed and will not be able to make the ball,” Mary Alice relayed what she overheard. “There seems to be some talk of conspiracy and it was too dangerous for him to reach Charleston.”

“That lying…” Johanna headed toward the stairs.

“Fight! Fight! There are two soldiers fighting in the foyer!” A young cadet yelled out to his schoolmates.

Everyone stopped dancing and headed to see the added entertainment. “Who are they?” another cadet asked.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Johanna stopped dead in front of the two men throwing punches at each other. There before her was David and Malcolm acting like school kids with one knocked to the floor and the other shoved into the door. It was broken up by cadets who were standing by, both men bloodied from their battle.

Mary Alice came behind Johanna, “Which one do you choose? I would definitely take Rene, less mess to clean up.”

After David and Malcolm’s encounter everyone returned to the party. The orchestra continued to play and guests returned to their rightful places which included dancing, gossiping and drinking.

Before David stepped out of the parlor he was approached again by Malcolm. What David did not know is Malcolm had seen Johanna watching them carefully by the door.

Malcolm used her eavesdropping on their conversation to his advantage.

“I just want to know one thing?” asked Malcolm holding his hands up in retreat.

David stared him down not sure if he should trust him. He was on guard in case Malcolm was going to sucker punch him when he wasn’t ready.

“What is that?” David asked.

“Do you love Miss Lee?” asked Malcolm loud enough for her to hear.

“Absolutely not,” denied David. “I will do anything I can for my mission, and that includes pretending my affections.”

“Does she think you love her,” asked Malcolm.

“Well, if she does she is mistaken,” said David. “I am not marrying anyone. As soon as this mission is over, I will be free to go home. Johanna is just a means to an end. Frankly, I don’t know how anyone would want to marry her. Her family is disgraceful. Her parents are in Paris completely ruined and her uncle is becoming a traitor to our country. How could anyone think she is good for marrying?”

“I see,” said Malcolm smiling in triumph.

Johanna’s face went white and her heart sank. He didn’t love her. He was appalled by her and her family. These were all things that she had to swallow in five seconds. Ten seconds ago she might have followed him to the ends of the earth. She now had to accept that he had been deceiving her in so many ways. She had to run. She had to get out of the house, get out of the city, she had to disappear and find her family once and for all.

David walked into the ballroom and saw Johanna’s friend standing with other young girls laughing. Mary Alice looked up at him in surprise as he walked toward her.

“Perhaps you could direct me to Miss Lee?” He asked in a serious tone, wiping blood from his lip.

“I…don’t know where she went,” Mary Alice felt his strong presence intimidating. “She ran off after I told her that her uncle had never made it to Charleston.”

“You didn’t?” David frustrated his bluff was revealed, “I need to find her now. Will you help me?”

“Sure,” she tried to smile. She didn’t know why she was helping him. She knew nothing about him, but he was gorgeous, and if he wanted Johanna that was enough for her. She figured Johanna would be thanking her at their wedding. That made her smile widen. Mary Alice and David searched the party to no avail.

“I seem to keep running into you Miss Lee,” Rene smiled.

“Are you following me Mr. Beauregard?” Johanna looked up into his handsome face.

“I just wanted to be near in case you fainted again,” he jabbed.

“Very funny,” she smirked.

Concerned he asked, “Are you leaving so soon?”

“Yes, I think I am ready to retire for the night. This girl belongs home with a good book in her hand sitting next to a quiet fireplace.”

“A good book, you would rather be at home reading a book than being at the Beauregard’s ball?” Rene asked appalled.

“You could say that,” smiled Johanna.

“Well, I have a problem with you leaving my party,” stated Rene.

“Oh. I am sorry. And why is that?” asked Johanna.

“Well, because I have not got my chance to dance with the most beautiful girl here. You are ruining my reputation. You wouldn’t want that now would you?” He grabbed her hand gently, kissed it, and walked her to the dance floor before she could protest. Music and laughter once again filled the air.

Johanna was thinking to herself as she stood on the dance floor once again with another handsome man: “What is going on here? For years I have been ignored and unnoticed by every man alive and here I am at this ball, like Cinderella, except I have three, yes, three men biding for my attention. Even if one was only pretending his affections. Am I in someone else’s body this month? Maybe I should look in the mirror to see if I am still me.”

When the dance was finished she thanked Rene.

Rene kissed her hand again, and said, “Until we meet again, Miss Johanna Lee,” He bowed with a slight grin.

Johanna returned the smile and walked toward the entrance where Malcolm stood with her cape and a black eye.

“Are you ready?” He asked with a quiet smile.

“I am, thank you,” said Johanna. She looked once again into the ballroom. Ladies still dancing with their handsome escorts, it was a moment she wanted to remember fondly, despite the drama that had come from it earlier. She held Malcolm’s arm and headed toward the exit where a coach waited. She continued to feel as if she was in a strange dream even as he helped her into the carriage.

“It’s been quite a night, hasn’t it, Miss Lee?” Malcolm asked.

Johanna replied, “Yes, quite a night indeed.”