Sylvia had requested a tray in her room instead of eating with the family. Angel fixed a plate of the chicken and buttered a slice of fresh bread. She added a tall glass of cold milk, and had Matt bring it up. He returned a few minutes later. “Angel’s mama wants to know where her tea is.”
“Tell her I’ll send it to her when supper’s finished.” Angel spoke over her shoulder as she tied Julia-Rose into her chair.
Matt came back down, wide-eyed. “Angel’s mama wants her tea now.”
Nate looked up from filling Julia-Rose’s bowl. “Tell Angel’s mama that Angel’s husband said she’ll get her tea when supper’s over.”
When Matt returned this time, he didn’t say a word, but slid into his seat and grabbed his fork.
Nate’s eyes flashed. “I won’t have that woman turning you into a maid.”
“I wonder, what did happen to her maid?” Angel thoughtfully chewed on a piece of bread. “It just now occurred to me. She accompanied Sylvia to Virginia.”
“She probably begged the enemy to take her with them.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “As long as she doesn’t think you’re her maid now.”
Angel sent Mark to get Sylvia’s tray, and she and Nate cleaned the kitchen. The usual confusion reigned as the boys settled at the table to do homework. Angel spent time helping Luke and John copy their letters on a slate, and then devoted a half hour to Mark’s reading, before the boy grew restless.
Nate got Julia-Rose ready for bed, and since the baby couldn’t keep her eyes open, he carried her upstairs with her rag doll clutched firmly in her chubby hands.
It was well past suppertime when Angel arranged the tea things, and carried the tray to Sylvia herself.
“Oh, thank goodness.” Sylvia smiled brightly at Angel.
“I’m sorry it took so long, but I had to help the boys with homework.”
“Dear, I think you work much too hard. Why doesn’t Nathan hire some help?”
“Nate’s not in a position to hire servants, Sylvia.” Angel placed the tray on the bed and poured tea for both of them. She’d added a small plate of sugar cookies from the bakery.
“It looks as though your marriage is working out well.” Sylvia took the steaming cup from her hand.
Thoughts of nights in their dark bedroom in Nate’s arms made heat rise in her face. “I would say it’s worked out quite well, actually.”
Sylvia closed her eyes as she savored the tea. “So, you’re not angry with me anymore?”
Angel shook her head. “I still think you played a dirty trick on Nate. He expected someone who knew how to run a home, with everything that entails. Instead he got me, who knew absolutely nothing about running a household.”
Sylvia covered Angel’s hand with her own. “Was it very hard?”
“You should have seen my first breakfast.” She smiled at the memory, and both women laughed.
“I can imagine. But it all worked out, and I can see you’re very happy. My faith in your ability to succeed was not misplaced.” Sylvia squeezed Angel’s hand.
They drank their tea in comfortable silence until a slight knock on the door caught their attention. Nate stood in the doorway for a moment, studying them.
“I assume you’re Mr. Hale?” Sylvia simpered, putting forth her best smile. She held out her hand as if Nate would come forth and kiss it. Instead, he walked slowly into the room, and shook it.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Please, have a seat.” She seemed oblivious to the fact that this was Nate’s house, his bedroom, and his bed.
Raising his eyebrows, he took the chair from the fireplace, carried it next to the bed, and turning it around, straddled it, leaning his arms on the back.
“So tell me, Sylvia, what brings you all the way out here?”
“I don’t know how much Angel told you, but the situation with my sister disappointed me.” She shifted slightly and glanced at Angel. “Not long after I arrived, that nasty war started, and it didn’t take long for our house to be seized by the enemy. And I explained to them that I was not a southern woman. Needless to say, that was most distressing.” She fumbled in the blankets for a handkerchief, which she used to dab her eyes.
“Louise and I were forced to remove ourselves to Richmond where she had friends.” She stopped to delicately blow her nose.