Always Love Me - Book Three of White Pillars Series

By Dee Gibbens

At thirty-two years old, Alex Montclair was one of the wealthiest Creole planters in Louisiana.  His cotton and sugar cane crops for the 1859-1860 Season were his most profitable since he had inherited White Pillars Plantation at the age of seventeen.  He and Katherine, his Americain wife have now been married five yeaars and have three sons: twins, age 4 and a single, age 3.  Tebeau, their wolf-dog rounds out the family.

 

Life had not been without obsticles that would have weakened most marriages, but Alex and Kate had conquered each one with courage and their faith that God would get them through the trials.  Despite attempts on their lives, kidnapping, crevasses, and the loss of a baby boy, their love had withstood the storms and had only grown stronger and deeper than ever.  But life as they knew it was about to change drastically.  In 1860 there were rumors of war to come between the North and the Souoth over the slavery issue.  In April 1861, war came with the shelling of Ft. Sumter in Charseston Harbor, SC.  In April 1862, the war came to New Orleans, and to the front steps of White Pillars Plantation.

 

Would Alex lose everything he and his forefathers had worked so hard to accomplish over the past 180 years?  Would the Negroes on the plantation leave?  He and Kate could only pray that  God would be merciful and spare the burning of their home and property.  Their love had survived so much already.  Could their love survive the Civil War?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dee Gibbens
• Release date: Nov 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215716014

Dee Gibbens

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born in New Orleans in 1947, adopted at three months of age, and raised in a small rural community in northeast Louisiana, this “Daddy’s Girl” will proudly tell you that she was a “chosen” baby.    Louisiana French (Acadian) by birth, Dee is a country girl at heart. At the age of six, she got her first pony and rode horses all through her high school years. Now in the Seventh Decade of her life, Dee is realizing her dream:  her first published book, For Better Or For Worse.    “Writing has provided both emotional and creative outlets for me for as long as I can remember.   It’s my way of venting when I’m sad or angry…or ecstatically happy.  It’s fun to create word pictures of a fantasy world, the people who occupy it, and then breathe life into them.    It’s addictive!”                                                                                                                       Dee Gibbens              

Book preview

Special Dedication

To Karen Dianne Gibbens

My daughter, my biggest fan, my sounding board, and my proofreader.

Despite your own personal obstacles in life, you have continued to encourage me to continue the White Pillars series: to reach for the stars and not give up. (Just like your Daddy did)

When I get frustrated about the lack of sales and ask myself, Why the hell am I doing this, you remind me that I love writing and I just have to keep the faith. (Just like your Daddy did)

You have kept me grounded and given me hugs for encouragement. You are forever by my side to give me moral support and to tell me you can do this. (Just like your Daddy did)

You are my heart and the light of my life, Baby girl, and I love you more than mere words can ever express.

I love you to the moon and back.

Mama

Dear Lord, thank you for instilling in me a love of books from an early age. You have blessed me with the desire and the patience to do extensive research before (and during) the times I write, and the ability to incorporate those materials into my writing to bring my novels and my characters to life.

Also by Dee Gibbens

For Better or For Worse (2017)

To Love and Protect (2019)

White Pillars Series

(must be read in order)

Book One: A Creole in Charleston – 1855 (2020)

Book Two: White Pillars - 1855-1856 (2022)

Book Three: Always Love Me -1860-1862 (2022)

Book Four: Ghosts in the Mist -1863-1865 ***in progress

**Book Five - during the Reconstruction Years

**Three Contemporary Romance Novels in the works

You will find my books online at the following:

Apple (iPad)

Barnes & Noble

Tolino

Baker & Taylor

Vivlio

Bibliotheca

Kobo

OverDrive

Scribd

CONTENTS

The Southern Mammy

Before the Battle

Before You Begin

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Epilogue

Note from the Author

List of Characters

Glossary

Special Acknowledgements

About the Author

The Southern Mammy

No picture of Southern life would be complete without old mammies and house servants. They were important and helped to make the house a home.

The Mammy was the zealous, faithful, and efficient assistant of the Mistress in all that pertained to the care and training of the children. Her authority was recognized in all that related to them directly or indirectly, second only to that of the Mistress and Master. She tended them, managed them, and disciplined them. Her affection was undoubted. Her regime extended through two to three generations. She was a careful and faithful nurse from their infancy through adulthood. Her devotion was unquestionable. The young masters and mistresses were her children long after they had children of their own. When they parted from her or met with her after separation, they embraced her with the same affection as when they were children. She was loved, adored, and honored as a member of the family.

NOTE: the mammies in the White Pillars Series are modeled after my own mammy, Eula Mae. She always called me her uddah dawdah, and Karen was her uddah grandawdah. She loved us and spoiled us. She taught me to cook cornbread when I was nine years old. When she died of cancer, my heart broke. I miss her every day, and I have a photograph of her and her husband, Tom (my Daddy’s foreman for years) proudly displayed in my kitchen.

Before the Battle

I met a Dark Stranger today. He never spoke his name, but somehow I felt as if I knew him.

There is an uneasy feeling in the pit of my belly: a deep foreboding that grips me to the core of my soul, as if something horrifying is about to happen though I know not where or when it will come.

The sky is dark now – void of moon and stars – and this cold feeling will not let me rest. There seems to be a mutual feeling of foreboding throughout the camp tonight, shared by every man here.

Visions of home and loved ones come in a rush to me now and I seem to have lost all control of my emotions. Louisiana seems a far away dream now, yet the sweet fragrance of Magnolias, Honeysuckle, and Night Jasmine fills the air around me. The white columned plantation and centuries old live oaks with ghostly manes of Spanish moss are but a vision now; sweet memories of the past.

We meet the enemy at daybreak, ma cher. I have grown so weary of war and its horrors. It has no respect for age or rank; man or boy; soldier or civilian.

Mon Dieu, the Dark Stranger has returned and grips my shoulders. Sacre Mere, I now know this one who bids me come. Goodbye, mon Couer. Goodbye my precious bebes. Goodbye my fair and beautiful Louisiana.

Death has come for me. Tomorrow I will die.

Je’ t’aime.

*Dee Gibbens, 1994

**Revised 2022

Before You Begin

I hope you have read Book One: A Creole in Charleston, and Book Two: White Pillars, which literally picks up where Book One left off. Book Three: Always Love Me reintroduces some of the characters from Book One and picks up five years after Book Two, at the onset of the Civil War (1860-1862). Book Four: Ghosts in the Mist will take the family from 1863-1865, when the Civil War ends. I will be writing a fifth book to the series which will carry the family into Reconstruction and (hopefully) a new start rebuilding their lives on the plantation.

The most important new character in Book Three is John Quincy Adams Fellows, an ancestor of my late husband. JQA (John) was the Grand Master of the Perfect Union No. 1 Masonic Lodge in New Orleans from 1861-1865. I have included a condensed version of his biography at the back of this book. I hope you will take time to read it. If I could go back in time and spend one day with a historical celebrity, it would be with JQA Fellows: a truly extraordinary man.

Dee

Prologue

In 1840, New Orleans, Louisiana, with a population of 102,000 was the fourth largest city in the United States, and her port of trade ranked second only to New York City as a world port. By 1850 cotton alone counted for half of New Orleans commerce, and ranked as the greatest slave market in the world.

True, many Southerners owned slaves, but practically every American ship bringing slaves to the United States was owned and operated by Northerners. The Northerners owned slaves, as well. Later the Northerners freed their slaves by selling them to Southern planters at a huge profit. It is also true that some Southern planters abused their slaves, but they were in the minority; and in most cases, slaves were much better off with the Southern owners than with their Northern owners.

The Africans were an uncivilized race when they were brought to the United States, but after living in close contact with their Southern owners, they began to embrace the Christian faith. They had their own chapel on the plantation, they were well fed, well clothed, had good cottages, their own garden plots, and livestock – mostly chickens, milk cows, and pigs. Most importantly, they had access to the health care of their master’s physician.

Slave marriages were always festive occasions attended by their owners and friends. Marriages of favored slaves were sometimes performed in the big house by the Master’s minister or priest.

Christmas was always a plantation holiday: time for worship and festivities. The slaves would gather at the big house on Christmas to receive gifts of food, clothing, and candy for the children.

However, slavery was the most heated debate in Washington and in all the State Houses. There was no neutral side to the argument: you were either fer it or agin’ it – and passionately so. Thousands of Southerners would have gladly freed their slaves, but without them the entire economy would collapse. The North was proposing to liberate all slaves on all plantations without compensating the planters for their losses; and in 1860, there were 3 ½ million slaves in the South at an average value of $1000-plus per slave. There was no way in Hell the planters would submit without a struggle!

The 1859-1860 Season saw the largest receipts of produce at New Orleans, and the heaviest, most profitable trade in the Crescent City’s history. Cotton alone was 4.5 million bales. River trade that year was valued at $239,565,000. Little did the South dream that in one year’s time their entire economic system would collapse like a house of cards. Relatively few would be prepared for it, but the greatest majority would not.

Chapter 1

January 1860

White Pillars Plantation

It was the first month of the first year of a new decade. Alex Montclair was one of the wealthiest planters in Louisiana, and the end of the cane season was fast approaching. His cotton crop had proven to be most profitable since he had taken the reins after his parents’ deaths fifteen years ago. He was seventeen then; he would be thirty-two this year.

"Mon Dieu, has it been that long?" He didn’t realize he had spoken the words aloud.

Has what been that long, Darling?

Alex looked up from the account ledgers that always littered his desk at this time every year and smiled as Katherine joined him in the study. She strolled leisurely across the spacious room and he pushed his chair back from the desk to make room for her on his lap. I was wondering when my beautiful bride would come rescue me from this torture.

Oh posh! I’m flattered that you still think me beautiful, but I’m hardly a bride any longer. In case you haven’t noticed, there have been three little hellions running around the house all day.

Hm, I do recall the presence of three small boys who seem to have taken up residence here. Who did you say they are?

Alex Montclair, shame on you, Kate exclaimed. If you weren’t so handsome, I’d have to hurt you, she teased.

"Ah, ma cher, I do love you so. What must I do to prove it to you?"

I suppose you could begin by kissing me, she said, giving him a coy smile.

Alex smiled. I thought you’d never ask. He drew her closer into the circle of his arms and did just that: a tender, loving kiss that lingered, with the promise of more to come later. Enough of that for now or I will ravish you right here, he said, and winked. I have work to do.

Not quite yet. Lucy is bringing refreshments.

Lucy? Isn’t she Andrew’s little girl?

Oh, very good! Do you recall the names of the other three?

Is this a test?

Possibly.

Hm, what will my reward be if I guess correctly, he asked as a devilish smile spread across his face.

Coffee and Hannah’s teacakes.

Well, in that case: Henry-age eleven, Josiah-age nine, and little Tillie-age seven. His brother Clovis has five children: Maddie-age fourteen, Jake-age twelve, Joe – age ten, Jeremiah-age nine, and Sallie-age seven. How did I do, Madame Montclair? He flashed a triumphant grin.

Excellent! You get an A-plus! I think you have earned and extra teacake, she replied with a soft laugh.

Excuse me, Miss Katherine. Where do want us to set these trays? Lucy, a young Negro girl of ten years old, stood at the doorway of the study bearing a silver tray laden with fresh teacakes, two bowls with roasted pecans and almonds, and Alex’s favorite, chocolate pralines. Lucy’s cousin, Maddie stood patiently behind her bearing a tray with a tea service for Kate, and coffee service for Alex.

Place them on the table by the French doors please, Lucy. She took one of Alex’s hands in hers and quickly stood. Come, darling, time for you to take a break, she said as she tugged him up from his chair.

Kate, I really need to finish these ledgers.

You also need to rest your brain a while. You’ve been at this all afternoon.

Hm, and is that an order, Madame? He tried not to smile as he followed her to the table, but failed miserably.

Yes, it is, and not one to be questioned, she responded sarcastically.

Lucy and Maddie giggled at the playful teasing between their Master and Mistress. The girls’ grandmother, Hannah, had been Alex’s mammy since the minute he was born, and she had told them when they began working in the big house to expect to hear a lot of that playful behavior between them.

Alex pulled a chair back for Kate, and then seated himself across the table from her. He smiled at the two girls as they carefully placed each item on the table. Now, tell me which of you is which, and when you came to work in the big house?

Maddie, the eldest of the two spoke. I’m Maddie, Mista Alex, an’ dis is my cousin Lucy. Granny Hanna say we old enough to be workin’ de ‘big house now, an’ she be trainin’ us. Today be our first day fo’ servin’ tea," she added with a bright smile.

Well you are both doing a fine job. Don’t let this bossy lady here scare you away, he said, and winked.

Lucy giggled. Oh, Mista Alex, she ain’t bossy. Miss Katherine be ‘bout de nicest lady I evah met.

Hm, just wait until you’ve known her a little longer, he teased.

Alex Montclair, you stop that, Kate exclaimed, but she couldn’t help but smile at her husband. The day he quit teasing her would be the day she would have to bury him!

Alex laughed. The girls giggled again.

Will dat be all fo’ now, Miss Katherine, Maddie asked.

Yes, Maddie, you girls did an excellent job on your first serving. I’ll be sure to tell your Granny how pleased we are to have you here now.

Thank you, Ma’am. Come along, Lucy, before Granny comes lookin’ fo’ us!

Okay. If you need anything else, just ring that little silver bell, Lucy said.

With that, the girls left the study in a flurry of giggles.

After Kate poured Alex’s coffee and her tea, she sat back in her chair to nibble on a teacake. Now then, tell me what you were mumbling about when I came into the study earlier?

Um…what?

Something about you couldn’t believe it’s been so long?

Oh, that. I was just thinking about how long it’s been since I took over White Pillars. The years have flown by fast.

I can’t believe we’ve been married five years and have three sons!

Alex gave a soft chuckle. And you cut as perfect a figure as you did the night I met you.

You’re too kind.

"It’s true, ma cher. First the twins, and then Benji a year later; Mon Dieu, I’ve seen women who never regain their figures after one child!"

I just wish….

Shhh, Alex took one of her hands in his. "Bijou, you were seriously ill during that last pregnancy. You must stop blaming yourself for the loss of our little boy. Doctor Lou said he was too weak at that stage, and that his lungs and heart were not strong enough for him to survive."

I know, Alex, but….

My dearest Kate, we will have more children. You are still young and healthy. He flashed a wicked smile. And I am more than willing to work toward that goal.

Oh, Alex, I love you so.

I love you more, and he leaned across the table and kissed her.

They talked of other family matters. The twins, Robert and Jonathan would be five years old in June and Benji would be four in September. They were all bright boys, and they should have a tutor now. I’ll talk to some of my Masonic brothers who have contacts in that area, Alex said.

There are a few more young girls in the Quarter who are being groomed to work in the house, Kate informed Alex. Several female house servants are getting too old to carry on their duties now, and they want to spend the rest of their days in the Quarter tending to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Speaking of changes, Alex began, I have been talking with Jonah and Daniel. He didn’t miss the expression on his wife’s face, and the sudden tears that welled in her eyes.

Oh, Alex, I’ve been dreading this day!

"I know, Bijou, but they are both young men now."

But Jonah is only fourteen!

Yes, but he is big for his age, very bright, and more mature than most boys at fourteen. He has spoken to me about going to London to pursue studies in the fine arts.

Do you feel that he is ready for that, Alex?

Yes, I do. I also think that the timing is right, as well.

Timing? What do you mean by that?

Come, sit on the sofa with me. He helped her from her chair and led her to the settee. Now, as I was about to say, things are heating up here politically. Abe Lincoln is in Washington saying that if he is elected President next year he will emancipate the slaves. Some of the Southern states are saying that if that happens, they will secede from the Union, and that could easily turn into a war between the states.

But why secession? I don’t understand.

"For a while now Northern shippers have been exploiting Southern Planters; not just Louisiana, but the entire south. They handle most of our exports, especially cotton, sugar, and tobacco, and supply the Country with manufactured goods. Ergo, they reap additional profits from trade with the Southern states. As planters, what profits we make are literally ploughed back into additional crops, which for many of them means more acreage and more slaves to work the fields. We’re talking at least one-hundred slaves per one-hundred acres."

But you haven’t bought any….

No, I haven’t. White Pillars is just a little over three-thousand acres, and I have had no need to purchase additional slaves in the five years that we have been married. Besides, the people we have here breed like rabbits, he added, with a soft chuckle, but I’m still responsible for their needs: clothing, food, medical care. Food and clothing alone is $30 to $40 per person, per year, and that all adds up to a small fortune. One-hundred and thirty – both men and women – hire out, mostly to other farmers who sometime need extra help, and the rest to merchants in the City so that they can better themselves and move up in life.

You’ve told me that our cane and cotton crops this season have been the best in the history of White Pillars. That should account for something.

It does, Kate, but increased tariffs, freight, commissions, and any other charges the Northern merchants can dream up take a huge slice out of our earnings.

Oh, Alex, I had no idea. You’ve never indicated in any way that there were problems.

There haven’t been until recent months, and my gut feeling is that the situation will only get worse.

"Oh dear; I hate when you mention your second sight."

I don’t like it either, but it has saved my life on several occasions.

Do you really think there will be war?

I hope to God there won’t be, but the winds are definitely blowing that way. That is precisely why the time is perfect for Jonah to go to London. Having been born out of slavery, he’s a free man of color. But if war does come, who knows what will happen. I want him to have a chance for a good life. That was always my promise to him, Kate, from the time we brought him here, and I never go back on my word. His vision blurred with unwanted tears at the thought of the Negro boy he loved as much as his own sons, and he suddenly found himself in Katherine’s arms. For a very long time, they simply held each other.

What about Daniel, Kate finally asked, but she remained nestled in her husband’s arms.

He wants to remain here close to his family, but he wants to apprentice out as an attorney.

Kate sat back with a surprised gasp. Are you serious?

Quite serious. He has always been exceptionally bright, much like Jonah. He’s good at numbers, he is well read. Well you know that as well as I. Monique taught them both. She even managed to find some books on Louisiana law for him to begin reading to familiarize himself with it and see if it held his interest.

That’s wonderful, Alex, but who would apprentice….

"I’m way ahead of you, ma cher. I have spoken with John Fellows and he has agreed to tutor Daniel. If the boy does, indeed, show a real potential for law, John will hire him on as an apprentice in his law firm."

Have you told Daniel?

Not yet. I only just spoke to John yesterday and I haven’t seen Daniel since I left the house yesterday morning. Where is he, anyway?

His father fell ill yesterday afternoon and he’s is helping his mother with chores at the cottage until Hank gets better.

Has Doctor Lou been out to check on him?

He came while you were in the City, she replied. Hank has some kind of intestinal infection, but Doctor Lou said it isn’t contagious. He should be fine in two or three days, but if not, we should send for him again. In the meantime, Daniel runs between the house and the Quarter. He should be back here by the evening meal to help in the kitchen.

That boy is worth his weight in gold, Alex commented. We will never have another one like him.

As much as I hate to leave your company, Darling, I’ve kept you from you ledgers long enough, and I need to go check on our little boys. They’ve been much too quiet, which always raises suspicion.

Alex laughed. He stood, took both her hands in his, then he pulled her to her feet and into his arms. I love you, Katherine. I hope I haven’t frightened you with talk of war. Hopefully, it won’t come to pass.

Whatever happens, Alex, we will weather it together.

Alex lowered his head and captured her mouth in a kiss that was both tender and passionate. Now go, before I change my mind and ravish you right here. If I don’t finish these accounts in two hours, send the hellions in to rescue me.

That’s a splendid idea! They’ll love that. She kissed him again, and then left him to his work, softly closing the door behind her.

He heaved a heavy sigh and then made his way back to the desk. For a long moment, he simply sat there in the quiet stillness with his head in his hands. The thought of war sickened him. He was Creole – of French and Spanish decent; and he had no desire to fight a war that would be a battle between Americains. True, his wife was Americain; his children were half-Americain. No! He would not commit to take up arms for a useless Cause; but if that battle were to come to his doorstep and threaten his family, his home, his Negroes, and his land, he would defend them to the Death. He took a deep, cleansing breath, raised his head, picked up his pen, and got back to his ledgers.

He was totally immersed in his work when the study door flew open wide and three little hurricanes raced across the room, shouting as they came. Whoa, whoa, whoa, he exclaimed amid the squeals and giggles as all three boys clamored for a space on his lap.

Mama says your two hours are up and you have to stop working now, Robert declared.

It’s time to play with us now, Papa, came from Jonathan.

Papa, I wanna play horsie! Benji always wanted to play horsie so he could ride around the room on his father’s back.

Alright, I surrender, Alex said with a laugh. I know when I’ve been outnumbered! He laughed again and encompassed them all in a giant hug.

I see that my little scouts found you, Kate commented as she entered the room in the wake of her sons. You did say earlier that I should send them to your rescue, and supper will be ready in an hour.

Ah, plenty of time to play horsie with Benji, and wrestle with the twins, Alex replied. Who’s first?

Me, me, me, they all shouted in unison as they jumped out of his lap and tugged him out of his chair and onto the floor.

He lay on the floor laughing, with all three giggling boys piled on top of him, and the wrestling battle began.

Love and pride filled her heart as Kate watched her husband and sons playing together on the floor. She hoped and prayed that they would always be as close as they were now. She turned and quietly left the room, leaving Alex to enjoy this special time alone with his boys.

The next hour passed quickly. Kate appeared in the study to announce that supper was almost ready. Okay, Children, time to go wash your hands before you eat.

Awww, Mama, hey whined.

You heard your mother, boys, Alex commented in a tone that bore no questioning.

Reluctantly, they scampered out of the study and ran to the kitchen to wash up.

Alex remained lying on the floor trying to catch his breath, his arms folded behind his head, and staring at the ceiling. "Mon Dieu, Kate, those boys are exhausting!"

Kate sat on the floor beside him. Don’t tell me you’re getting too old to play with your sons, she teased with a soft laugh.

Alex chuckled. Never; and I’ll never be too old to play with my wife either, he replied, suddenly reaching up to pull her down on top of himself.

Alex, let me up before the boys come back, she exclaimed among a rush of giggles.

I’ll just tell them we’re wrestling, and they will join in the fun.

That’s what I’m afraid of!

Alex laughed, and then covered her mouth with a passionate kiss. After a long, breathless moment they became aware of little feet hurrying down the hallway. Sounds like playtime is over, he declared. He eased Kate to one side, pushed himself up off the floor, and helped his wife to her feet. "You get the scamps settled at the table, Bijou. I’ll go wash my hands and join you in a few minutes." They left the study hand-in-hand, and parted ways at the dining room as he continued on toward the kitchen to wash up.

Chapter 2

1860 – New Orleans, La

Masonic Hall – Perfect Union No. 1

John Quincy Adams Fellows had been affiliated with Perfect Union No. 1 since 1856, and now, at age thirty-five he was serving as Grand Master. On the first Monday of February, he called a special meeting of the brothers at the Lodge to discuss some issues that could potentially cause major dissention within the Brotherhood in the coming months.

Gentlemen, as you are all well aware of the political turmoil in our country, I have growing concerns about the animosity our Northern neighbors have expressed about slavery. As you all know, I came to New Orleans in December of 1850 from Vermont, and I have family and friends there with whom I correspond on a regular basis. From those letters, I have learned that the Northern legislature has avowed to destroy the rights of all slaveholders guaranteed by the Constitution and protected by Acts of Congress.

There were angry outbursts among the men and it took Mister Fellows several minutes to calm them enough so that he could continue. Brothers of this Lodge, my reasons for concern are simple. All through history, dissention among peoples and the desire for a stronger power to conquer a weaker power has always led to warfare; and war can divide even the strongest of families. Gentlemen, we here tonight are a family – a Brotherhood. I hope and pray that our bond will hold us together if the worst happens. A hand raised in the air.

Andrew, you have a question?

Andrew Worthington was a prominent broker in New Orleans. He was a good and faithful lodge member, but in business, he was arrogant, greedy, and had often been accused of dealing under the table, although it could never be proven.

Yes, Mister Fellows, I’m curious now. You’re saying that your family and friends are anti-slavery. Where, exactly, does that put you, Sir? Are you for or against owning slaves?

That question is completely out of order, Worthington, Alex stated in a loud, agitated voice.

Mister Fellows raised a hand to cease further comments between the two men. It’s quite alright, Alex, he said in a calm voice. It’s a valid question, and considering the fact that most of you here are planters, you should know my stance on the matter. First of all, Andrew, I never stated that my family and friends are anti-slavery. What I did say was that correspondence from them bears the news of legislation hostilities. However, there is one member of the family – Uriah Golladay, a Presbyterian minister – who is passionately against the institution of slavery and preaches Abolition from the pulpit.

As to my personal views: I will tell you honestly that I am neutral on the subject. When I was a youth, I had friends whose fathers owned slaves. Sometimes when I would visit one particular friend, I would hear his mother yelling at a servant, followed by a loud slap, and a young female crying. Another told me that his father had raped two of their servant girls in one week. I soon stopped going to visit them. Soon afterward I moved to New Orleans.

In my law practice here in New Orleans I have come across a few instances of wrongful treatment toward slaves, but those are rare. For the most part, what I have observed in the homes of New Orleans slave-owners, treatment of the servants is quite humane. On a personal level, I do not engage in the practice. My wife and I do have a Negro woman who cooks, her daughter tends to the cleaning, one is a laundress, and her son tends the gardens. They are free People of Colour and they are paid for their work. On the other hand, I understand and support the need for slaves on your plantations, for without them our economy would collapse. Unfortunately, because of the large plantations, slavery is a necessary evil in the South.

The political issues and how they could affect the future of the Lodge continued for another hour before the meeting adjourned and everyone departed for the evening.

Alex and Jerome Devereaux had ridden into town in Alex’s carriage for the Lodge meeting that afternoon, and they voted unanimously to stop in at Pat O’Brien’s for drinks and platters of shrimp and oysters before the long ride back home. The two Creoles had been blood brothers from early childhood, and they could read each others’ face and body language as if they were identical twins.

When the server brought their drinks, Alex proposed a toast: To the Future, and the hope that we can side-step a bloody and costly war.

"I’ll drink to that, mon ami, Dev replied, and clinked the rim of his glass to Alex’s. Umm, good bourbon. When Alex didn’t reply, he sat still and studied the other man’s face for a moment. I know that look. Are you bothered by John’s response to Worthington’s question today?"

No, I’m angry that Worthington asked such a personal question! He was blatantly out of order, Dev. It was all Alex could do to keep his voice relatively calm in order to not make a scene.

How would you have responded to the same question, my friend?

I would have told the bastard that it was none of his god damned business!

Dev gave a soft chuckle. That’s what I thought.

That man is a pampas ass, and I don’t trust him any further than I could throw him. One day he will push me too far, and I swear I will beat him to a bloody pulp.

Well, for what it’s worth, you aren’t the only man in N’awlens who shares that feeling.

They raised their glasses and clinked the rims, then drank to that comment.

Dev, I have an uneasy feeling about the business going on in the Northern states. Nothing good is going to come of this.

Is your statement based on facts, Alex, or on your second sight?"

Both.

Let’s just hope to God it is all bluster.

If it isn’t, will we be prepared?

Where are you going with this?

Alex started to speak, but paused when the server brought their food. When the youth was gone, he continued. Just suppose that the North does invade us, what do you think they would seize first?

Our cotton, sugar, and tobacco warehouses.

Very good. What do you suppose would happen next?

They would likely take control of the City and then move on to our plantations to take our Negroes.

Right again. You learned more from your history classes than you let on.

Thank you, blood brother.

Now then…think; what would be the best and safest way to prepare for a long siege if it came to that?

A slow grin begins to spread across Dev’s face when his picked up on Alex’s thoughts. "I like the way you think, mon ami!"

I thought you might, Alex said with a short laugh. Now we just have to find a safe area that’s not only accessible, but hidden, and on high ground so it doesn’t flood in spring. We will have to build the warehouses ourselves. No one outside our plantations can know about them, and only our most trusted men chosen to help us build.

Two questions: how long do you figure that it will take to build these warehouses, and how big will they be?

I haven’t gotten that far yet, Alex replied.

Dev laughed. While you’re pondering the answer to that question, would you like another drink?

Alex laughed then, "You read my mind, mon ami!"

Dev motioned the server over to their table and ordered refills of bourbon.

Kate was reading in her parlor when Alex arrived home that evening. She smiled when she heard him greet Daniel at the front entrance.

Is my wife still up, Daniel, or has she retired for the evening?

She’s in her parlor reading, Mista Alex. The boys been gone to bed a while ago.

Good; I’ll go see my wife now. Goodnight, Son.

Night, Mista Alex.

Kate marked her place with a lace bookmark, and placed it on the small table beside the settee, then waited for Alex to join her there.

Ah, there’s my beautiful wife, Alex said when he strolled into the room. I was afraid you might had already gone to bed.

Oh Heavens, no! By the time Hettie and I got the boys ready for bed I decided I needed a bit of quiet time to myself!

I hope you aren’t too tired to have a little quiet time with me tonight, he crooned as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Rarely am I too tired for time with you, my darling. She nestled into his embrace and lay her head against his shoulder. Are you hungry? Have you eaten?

Dev and I had some business of our own to discuss after the lodge meeting and we dined at O’Brien’s before heading home; so, no, I’m not hungry.

Did you have your usual platter of shrimp and oysters, she said with a soft laugh.

You know me far too well, my love.

You mentioned before you left today that this was a special meeting?

Yes, John had news of the political situation brewing in the Northern states. I can’t say that any of it came as a surprise to me.

You seem a bit tense, Darling. Did something happen at the meeting today?

Not this time; but if Andrew Worthington doesn’t keep his nose out of other men’s personal affairs, something will happen.

Oh dear. The sound of subdued rage in her husband’s voice made her sit up and take notice of him. Did he say something to you that has you so angry?

Not to me; to John. Even as he said it, his eyes turned onyx. The bastard had the unmitigated gall to ask John his stance on the slavery issue in front of the Brotherhood, he said through clenched teeth.

Oh my stars, Alex! What did Mister Fellows say?

He very graciously answered the question. If Andrew had approached me….

No, no, no! I don’t even want t o think about what you would have done!

Neither do I, Alex replied. I’d much rather think about you and the things that I want to do to you…starting now. He lowered his head and captured her mouth in a passionate kiss that lasted several minutes. When they finally came up for air, he gave a deep satisfied sigh. Very nice, Madame Montclair, but I do believe I’d like to continue this activity in the privacy of our bedroom where I can properly ravish you without possible interruption.

That sounds like a wonderful idea, Monsieur Montclair.

Alex rose and took her hands in his, and brought her to her feet. Then he scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs to their bedroom.

Daniel completed his rounds of the rest of the house, checking to be