Mankillers

“You take my breath away,” he told her when she entered the room. “You’re beautiful.”

“Why, sir,” she drawled, “I do believe I’ve kept you waiting too long.”

“It was well worth it.”

“Shall we then to di

His hand was damp as he escorted her out into the night.

#

Sarah stretched luxuriously in her four-poster bed as the morning light sneaked through the hurricane shutters of the French windows. Last night had been exciting if not completely fulfilling. They’d dined in the city. The food wasn’t very good or generous, but they didn’t care. It was the conversation. They talked for hours about every imaginable subject, from books to politics to religion to what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives. She’d never met a man who so fascinated her. He was well-educated, highly literate, and his ma

The evening ended too soon, though it was after midnight when he escorted her home. Then came the awkward moment. They both knew what they wanted, how they felt about each other, yet propriety—damn propriety—kept them from following through on their desires. He kissed her goodnight outside her front door, then, hand held out behind him, bade her adieu.

As she lay in her bed alone, she promised herself not to let the next opportunity slip by.

She was sitting in the morning room, sipping hot, creamy coffee, when Oscar entered holding a salver.

“A letter for you, Madame. It was just delivered.”

“A letter? From whom?” She tore it open and read:

“My dearest Sarah. I’ve found a very nice house in good condition here in Columbia and have decided to stay. It’s not exceptionally large, but it is big enough for the two of us. If you want to stay in the house in Charleston, you may, of course, but I’m hoping you’ll come here and live with me. I miss you dreadfully. I don’t know if you can sell the house there. I’ll leave that decision to you. Write soon. With all my love.”

It was signed “Mother”.

She fell back against the chair, her hands hanging over the arms. If her mother had wanted to shock her, she’d succeeded. Sarah couldn’t imagine Ruth Greenwald living anywhere but in this bustling commercial city in the house she’d made into a small castle. And yet Sarah understood. Charleston and this house had become the abode of too many bad memories. The good ones she could take with her wherever she went. She didn’t need constant reminders of the sorrows this place conjured.

Strangely, after the initial shock, Sarah felt elated. A new life was about to start. Whether it would be here in Charleston or some other place—like Columbia—she wasn’t sure, but the challenge of a new adventure thrilled her.

She picked up the ceramic bell beside her breakfast plate and rang it. Oscar entered the room a few seconds later.

“As soon as I’ve finished eating, have Felix bring around the carriage.”

“Yes, Madame.”

#

Simon Weinberg rose from his leather-upholstered swivel chair when Sarah was shown into his office.

“I didn’t expect to see you this morning,” he said, after the usual greeting and a genteel kiss on the cheek. He showed her to a fiddle-back chair and resumed his place behind his ornately carved desk.

“Mother has decided to stay in Columbia. Apparently she’s found a house there. Knowing Miriam Grayson, I’m sure she had something to do with it. And I’m glad. I can’t imagine Mother without Father, but I think the adjustment will be far easier for her to make in a new place with old friends.”

“How can I help?”

“I’ve decided to sell our house, most of its contents, as well as the brokerage.”

“Selling the brokerage may not be too much of a problem, however, I must advise you that this is not a good time to be disposing of private property. I’ll do my best for you, of course, but it’s unlikely you’ll get more than half of what it was worth before the war.”

“I’m in no great hurry. You can wait for a rich Yankee who wants the social standing of living on the Battery.”

He chuckled.

“There is one condition, however,” she warned.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing will be sold to any member, relative or close associate of the Drexel family. I’m counting on you to insure there is no subterfuge.”

“You have my word.”

She stood up. “I want to go to Columbia to see Mother and perhaps live with her, at least for a while, but first I need to settle matters here. It’ll take me at least a month to pack what I want to keep and arrange for the servants employment. Do you think rail service will be reestablished by then. After what happened last time I can’t bear the thought of making the trip again by coach.”

“From what I’ve heard work has already commenced restoring the lines. There’s certainly enough labor available to do it.” Simon rose, came around the corner of the desk, and extended his hands. “I’ll look into this for you and let you know. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to call on me if there is anything I can do to help you, not only as your attorney but as your friend. I’ll greatly miss your presence here in Charleston. Your parents and I go back a long time together. The future doesn’t look very bright at the moment, but you’re still young, and that’s my consolation.”

Sarah left the lawyer’s office a few minutes later and had her driver take her to the Isaac Hayne Hotel. At the desk she asked for Dr. Thomson’s room. The desk clerk tried not to impart any judgment that an attractive young woman was inquiring about a single man’s room number, but didn’t quite succeed. He hit the bell on the counter and when the bellhop arrived moments later, directed him to take “this lady” to Dr. Thomson’s suite. Sarah almost giggled as she followed the young man in the brass-buttoned red uniform up the stairs.

Buck opened the door and stepped back when he saw her.

“Dr. Thomson, sir,” the black bellhop said, “this here lady come to see you. That all right?”

Buck stared at Sarah, then replied, “Yes, yes. Just a minute.” He spun around to the table behind him and removed a coin from his purse and handed it to the boy. “Thank you.”

The lad, who couldn’t have been more than twelve or thirteen, gazed at the coin. His jaw dropped. He’d probably never been tipped a whole dollar before. As if he were afraid Buck might reconsider, he backed up, bowed, offered effusive thanks and disappeared down the hall.

“Come in. Come in.” Buck backed away from the door and waved his hand in invitation.

She stepped into the room, her hoop skirt gliding over the worn carpet, and turned to face him. He closed the door and stood speechless in front of her.

“May I sit down?” she asked with a smirk on her lips.

“Yes, of course. I’m sorry. Of course. Please, sit down.” He rushed to the table and pulled out a straight-back chair. “Can I give you something to drink? Wine or tea or . . . something?”

“I want to tell you about my plans. Won’t you sit down too?”

“Plans?” He pulled out the chair across from her and almost tripped into it.

“I’m leaving Charleston,”

“Leaving?” He looked shocked, fearful. “Why? Where to?”

“Columbia. I received a letter from Momma. She’s decided to stay there. Told me to sell the house and brokerage. Wants me to visit her there.”

“And you’re going?”

She nodded.

“When? Not right away, surely.”

“No, not right away. In about a month perhaps, depending on how long it takes me to settle my affairs here.”

He said nothing for what seemed like an eternity. “I don’t want you to go,” he finally declared.

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t want you to go. Not by yourself.”