Chapter 2
Isabel walked into her merry little sitting room where her nurse, Martha, was sewing Isabel a new dress by the bay window. The sun glimmered off the sapphire blue silk that was pilled Martha’s lap.
“Where did these roses come from?” Isabel asked curiously noticing a beautiful crystal vase containing thirteen deep red roses on her walnut dressing table. She smelled them before flopping down on her sofa.
“I dunno, Miss Isabel. Cato brought em in sayin’ they was a special delivery for you.” Martha said, her dark eyes twinkling slightly. “Mabe you got a secret admirer?” she suggested almost hopefully.
Isabel shrugged carelessly. “I hope not.” she said emphatically. “How’s the dress coming?” She asked changing the subject quickly.
“It should be ready for the Christmas eve ball next week. I needs you to try it on tomorrow,” Martha replied snipping a thread and smoothing out the glimmering folds.
Isabel nodded in agreement as she tried to stretch without popping her corset. “I abhor these contraptions.” She burst out suddenly.
Martha shook her dusky head at her young mistress. “Missus wouldn’t want you talking like that.” She scolded firmly. “Don’t break it again. I just had to fix it.” She warned as Isabel continued her movements.
Isabel sighed with annoyance dropping back down on the crème colored sofa. “I wish I was a little girl again. Then I wouldn’t have to act like a lady or dress like one either.” She complained with a very unladylike yawn.
“Russell and Kevin are here!” Ivan called running past his sister’s room on his way downstairs thus saving Martha from answering Isabel’s complaint.
Upon hearing this news, Isabel leapt up and followed Ivan. She took a shortcut by sliding down the cherry mahogany banister to the main hall.
“Isabel Davis!” Russell exclaimed catching his cousin and setting her on her feet. “How many times have I had to do this?” he asked, his baby blue eyes sparkling playfully.
Isabel shrugged carelessly. “I don’t know.”
Ivan piped up from his perch on Kevin’s strong back. “She does that every time Mamma’s not looking.” He told his cousins as Isabel and Russel shushed him quickly.
“Isabel does what when I’m not looking?” that lady questioned coming out of the sitting room to greet her company. She curtsied stiffly to Mr. Bender as he bowed and removed his hat.
Kevin carried Ivan away before he could say anything else, leaving Isabel and Russell to explain the situation. Russel and Isabel looked helplessly at each other, hoping the other would answer Mrs. Davis.
“Ivan just said that Isabel listens to you even when you’re not looking,” Russell said hesitantly looking at the ground.
Mrs. Bender removed her long cape and handed it to the waiting maid. “It’s good to see you, Brenda,” she said addressing Mrs. Davis much to the children’s relief.
Mrs. Davis curtsied again before leading her guests to the fancy drawing room and calling for some hot tea to brought in.
“Close one,” Isabel said sighing in relief. “I panicked for a minute.” She told Russell once they were alone in the hall.
Russell nodded in agreement. “By the way, I was going to ask if you wanted to go skating in the pasture.” He added remembering suddenly. He ran his fingers through his thick honey blonde hair.
Isabel turned to run back upstairs. “Let me grab a wrap and my skates.” She exclaimed quietly taking the steps two at a time. She burst into her sitting room startling Martha.
“Slow down, missy!” Martha exclaimed jumping when her mistress burst in.
Isabel hurried to her walnut wardrobe and grabbed a quick brown shawl and her silver skates. “I’m going for a ride.” Isabel said turning to go.
Martha stood up quickly. “You’re not riding in dat dress.” She said pulling out Isabel’s riding habit. In a few minutes, Isabel was sliding back down the banister ready for her ride.
“Why did you change?” Russell asked catching her again.
Isabel pulled him out the front door and down to the stable. “Martha wouldn’t let me go unless I wore this.” She explained handing Russell a leather bridle.
“Oh right. You have to act like a lady even when your mamma’s not watching.” Russell teased as he bridled a tall black horse and led him out into the aisle.
Isabel groaned. “Be quiet.” She snapped as her lips twitched and a smile spread over her face. Being with Russel made her feel like she could handle anything her mamma told her to do no matter how much she hated it.
Russell helped his cousin mount her own black mare before following her out into the snowy pasture beside the stable. “On your mark get set go!” he yelled after they were both ready to go.
Both ebony horses galloped across the thick blanket of snow down to the ice-covered pond where the tall snow laden oak trees stood like sentinels. The frosty air made white clouds as the horses snorted from their run.
“Beat you!” Isabel exclaimed sliding off her mares back. She seated herself on a fallen log after brushing off the snow. Russell joined her with a laugh.
“I’ll get you next time!” He responded as he fastened his skates.
Isabel walked out onto the frozen pond. “We’ll see about that!” she called back mischievously.
After racing around the icy pond several times, Russel and Isabel settled down to a slow leisurely pace. The solitude seemed to break down doors in both that they never knew were there.
“Your mamma always acts so perfect even with my parents. It looks funny sometimes.” Russell commented as he reached out to help Isabel steady herself.
Isabel snorted. “I know. What’s worse is when she expects me to act like that.” She replied with exasperation. “I know I’m twenty-one and I need to start acting like a lady but I still wish-”
“That you could act like a little girl.” Russell finished with a smile. “I agree. We used to have so much fun when we were younger. Even if it was only seven years ago.” He recalled with a tinge of sadness.
“Remember that time we were singing in the music room and Kevin came in?” Isabel asked glancing at Russell.
Russell chuckled. “How could I forget!” He exclaimed. “You dared me to sing with you. Kevin still doesn’t believe that.”
“I know. We were sixteen. What else would be doing in the schoolroom?” Isabel wondered aloud although she already knew the answer.
“I don’t think we want to know.” Russell responded as Isabel echoed him. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. “You do have a beautiful voice, though.” Russell said half under his breath.
Isabel skidded to an abrupt stop and stared at Russell in disbelief. “You’ve never said anything like that to me before!” She exclaimed recovering slightly.
Russell’s face turned scarlet with sudden embarrassment. “It’s true.” He insisted shyly looking away and refusing to meet Isabel’s steady gaze.
Isabel changed the subject when she noticed Russell was ill at ease. “We’re back at the beginning. How about we take a break?” she suggested starting to lead the way off the ice.
Russell followed Isabel as they seated themselves on the fallen log. After sitting in silence for a few minutes Russell molded a snowball and chucked it at her as she sat beside him.
“Russell!” Isabel squealed as the fluffy snow exploded in her face. She molded her on cold ball and returned the shot.
Within seconds they had a furious snowball fight going. Both participants were experts as they had done this every winter when they were younger. After a few minutes of not getting anywhere, Russell and Isabel charged toward each other with fierce battle cries. After a brief scuffle Russell had succeeded in pinning his cousin to the cold ground and sat on top her. Pounding hoof beats interrupted their play as Sampson reined in his borrowed steed beside them.
“Get your filthy hands off her!” Sampson shouted leaping to the ground and pulling the young man off Isabel and throwing him aside.
Isabel jumped to her feet and stood over Russell as Sampson bared his dark fists. “We were playing, Sampson! He wasn’t hurting me!” She exclaimed angerly defending her cousin from the angry servant.
Sampson unclenched his fists. “I’m sorry, massa Russell and miss Isabel.” He apologized helping the surprised Russell to his feet. He brushed the snow off Russell’s dark coat as if to prove that he was sincere.
“Why are you down here anyway?” Isabel asked still watching Sampson suspiciously.
“De massa wants to see you.” Sampson explained remembering his reason for coming.
“Tell him I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Isabel replied quickly as Sampson mounted his horse and cantered away.
“Well that was not what I was expecting.” Russell said still in shock. “Why did he act like that?”
Isabel shook her head. “I have no idea.” She replied as Russell helped her mount her black mare.
Together the cousins cantered back to the house. After sending Russell to tell Jon where she was, Isabel ran upstairs to change. When she entered the drawing room, there was no sign other then the pink cheeks that showed her recent experience. Her grey gown was crisp and her golden curls were pulled up into a tight bun and tied with a grey ribbon.
“Yes, Jon?” she asked her step father who was conversing with Mrs. Bender on the wine-red sofa.
Jon looked up briefly. “I just wanted to let you know it was almost dinner time.” He told her.
Isabel curtsied and turned to leave the room.
“Isabel, it is impolite to ignore the guests in the room.” Mrs. Davis’s firm voice stopped her daughter’s exit.
Isabel groaned inwardly as she turned to face the room. “How are you, Aunt Amy?” she asked feeling her mamma’s disapproval from across the room.
Aunt Amy smiled noticing Isabel’s annoyance. “I’m good. Why don’t you find Kevin?” she suggested trying to help her niece.
Isabel willingly did her aunts bidding and hurried out of drawing room. She started upstairs before noticing that Russell was following her.
“Are we going to scare Kevin?” he asked eagerly.
Isabel giggled. “Come on. He’s probably in the workshop.” She agreed running up the winding stairs eagerly as she spoke. However, as they reached the end of the hall at the top of the stairs, the dinner bell rang.
“Ah, I wanted to scare him,” Russell groaned turning to lead the way to the dining room.
Isabel sighed. “Me too.” She agreed.
After a filling dinner and the Benders were preparing to go back home, Russell leaned out of the carriage. “When we come over Christmas, we will have another race and this time I’ll bring my own horse.” He said grinning at his cousin.
“Alpha or Liberty?” Isabel asked thinking about his two beautiful mounts.
Russell shrugged his broad shoulders. “I don’t know. Alpha most likely.” He said shaking his honey blonde hair out of his eyes.
“But he’s so fast! That’s no fair!” Isabel exclaimed her artic blue eyes shining with fun as she argued with Russell.
“You beat me today so to me its fair.” Russell said laughing pulling his head back inside.
“As the carriage started away down the avenue, Isabel heard her mother’s voice calling her indoors.
“The Benders have decided to accompany us to Europe after Christmas.” Mrs. Davis told her daughter when they were both seated in the sitting room. “Jon already said they could.” Her voice portrayed her slight annoyance at her husband’s decision.
Isabel smiled ever so slightly. “We’ll all have fun. Don’t worry, mamma,” She responded happy about this turn of events.
“This trip was meant for you to take music lessons though,” Mrs. Davis said sounding slightly confused at her daughter’s seeming forgetfulness.
“I know and I will have plenty of time.” Isabel said rising to her feet.
Mrs. Davis felt as though she had lost an argument and her temper was rising, however as it was never ladylike to show anger, she said aloud, “I’m turning in for the night, dear. Good-night.”
“Good-night, mamma,” Isabel responded climbing the stairs and entering her room.
Bright Sunshine with a few High Clouds
