Midnight Rose Read Free

eyes met hers in the huge oval mirror above the dressing table. She didn’t want to think about the past. “You’ve got to be the most gorgeous lady at that ball. That’s your mama’s orders.”
    Erin made a face. “As if I care. I don’t even want to go.”
    “You shouldn’t talk like that,” Letty dared to say. “Your mama got the finest dressmaker in all of Richmond to make that gorgeous gown especially for you. Why, those are real black pearls sewn into the netting, and no telling what that cost. I’ve never seen a dress so fine, and none of the other house workers has either. Everybody’s eyes are gonna pop out when you walk in.”
    “Oh, I’m sure of that,” Erin said bitterly. “But not over my dress. They’ll be staring out of shock that I dared go where I wasn’t invited. This whole thing is ridiculous, and if I had anywhere to run to, I would.”
    “That’s just no way for you to feel, Miss Erin. You might meet your husband tonight, and—”
    “Don’t call me Miss Erin!” she cried, unable to keep still any longer, and implored, “Oh, Letty, what is wrong with you? You’re not the same. We’ve known each other almost all our lives, but since I’ve come home, you’re different. And you know you don’t have to be formal with me.”
    “Folks change,” Letty murmured, trying to concentrate on what she was doing, despite the way her hands were starting to shake. She wished Erin had stayed in Atlanta but didn’t dare say so. Instead, she pointed out, “Besides, if the mastah hears me call you anything but Miss Erin, he’ll have me whipped.”
    “Not with me around, he won’t! And I’d better not hear of any whippings going on, anyway. Dear God, I hate slavery. It’s wrong, and—”
    “And nothing for you to concern yourself with, my dear.” Arlene Tremayne breezed into the dressing alcove. Slender, not as tall as her daughter, she was stunning in a gown of champagne silk. Letty was just interlacing the delicate white and smoked pearl band among the tight ringlets at her crown. “Magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!” she praised as she set down the bowl she was carrying. “You’re a jewel, Letty. You have such a talent. I don’t know how we’d manage without you, but you can run along now. I’ll finish adjusting this. Erin and I need some time for a mother-daughter chat, you know.” She dismissed the woman with a patronizing smile.
    Letty nodded and quickly backed out, obediently bowing and curtsying as Master Zachary required all his slaves to do.
    The moment they were alone, Arlene sternly admonished, “You should never say such things in front of the servants. What if your stepfather heard you?” She shuddered, envisioning his reaction. “Ladies of good breeding never discuss such things anyway, to anyone. Remember that.”
    “You don’t like slavery any more than I do,” Erin tartly reminded her. “You won’t even refer to them as slaves. Like now, you said servants. Slavery is just as detestable to you as it is to me, but you won’t dare admit it.”
    Uneasily, Arlene countered, “Well, some things you have to accept whether you like them or not. Now here—” She abruptly changed the subject, gesturing to the bowl she’d brought. “This is fresh. I made it this afternoon.”
    Erin knew what it was. For as long as she could remember, her mother had insisted she scrub her skin vigorously with a solution concocted of lemon juice, unripe grapes, parsley, and horseradish water. For nice skin, she said, smooth and soft.
    Arlene continued, “When you’ve finished, I’ll help you with your gown. It is lovely, isn’t it?” She turned to look beyond the alcove to where the shaded rose gown was spread across her canopied bed. “Now what did we decide to do about your corset? Madame Cherise says most women aren’t wearing them anymore, but I feel naked without mine. I forgot to ask her what you should wear, and—”
    “Mother, don’t worry about it,”