“Would you please excuse us?” Leah said to Justin as she led Kim to a corner.
“Did you see Wesley? What did he say? Was he really mad?”
“Kimberly,” Leah said slowly, sniffing. “Have you been drinking?”
“Just a tiny bit. Not even enough to count. Justin’s father makes this wonderful stuff that relaxed me with one swallow. I’ve just been so nervous and John is hardly speaking to me. Don’t you think Justin looks nice tonight? But then so do all the men. Every man looks good except my husband.”
“Kimberly, I want you to eat something right away and for heaven’s sake, stop talking!” With some force Leah led Kim toward the food-laden tables.
“Leah!” Linnet Macalister said, looking at Leah as if she were a ghost. “I didn’t think you were going to be here.”
“What a pretty dress,” Agnes Emerson said. “Is that a picture of your mother?” she asked, referring to the brooch Leah wore.
“It was a gift from a friend of mine. Could I get a plate of food for Kim and maybe someone would see that she eats it? I need to talk to Doll Stark for a moment.”
Agnes took one look at Kim and understood immediately. “I hope you say a few words to Doll for me too,” she called after Leah.
Doll sat in his usual place before the fireplace, except that now his chair was turned to face the dancing people. Lester Sawrey, sitting next to Doll, punched the older man when he saw Leah coming.
“Yes, ma’am,” Doll said. “What can I do for you?”
“I want to ask you not to give Kimberly Hammond any more of whatever you gave her.”
“That little lady sure can drink,” he said in wonder. “Thought she was gonna drain the jug.”
Leah glared at him.
“Where’s that husband of yourn?” Doll asked. “I didn’t think he’d let you come to this shindig.”
Still refusing to answer, Leah just looked at him.
“All right,” Doll said heavily. “I won’t let her have no more. Sure seems a shame to me, though. That little lady has capacity.”
“Mrs. Stanford?”
Leah turned to look at John Hammond. He was a good-looking man with beautiful gray hair. “May I have this dance?”
After a quick look to see that Kim was sitting down and eating, Leah took John’s arm.
Her dancing lessons hadn’t prepared her for the energetic country dances, and when they were finished she was fanning herself with her hand.
“How about a breath of air?” John suggested, his eyes twinkling.
“Yes, I need it,” Leah said with a laugh.
Outside with the stars winking overhead, the cool, fragrant night air about her, Leah was very glad she’d come to the dance. And to think that Wesley had forbidden her to attend.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
She smiled at him. “I was just thinking that I’m glad I came.”
“I am too,” John said seriously. “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time. Actually, I wanted to ask your advice. You see, I know Kimberly is very unhappy, but I honestly don’t know why or how to make her happy. I’ve tried my best to be as patient as I know how. When I come in from the fields, supper isn’t ready, and it’s taken me weeks to teach her how to fry eggs for breakfast. I’ve done everything I can to be lenient with her, to understand that she’s not used to so much work, but no matter what I do, she still seems to resent me. You must believe me, Mrs. Stanford, I love my wife, and if I could afford servants for her I’d gladly hire them, but I can’t. I know the two of you are friends and I thought maybe she’d said something to you. Could you please help me?”
Leah wasn’t sure, but there seemed to be tears in his eyes. Damn Kimberly! she thought. Her laziness was causing this gentle man a great deal of misery. “She hasn’t said much to me,” Leah lied.
“But anything could help,” John said in desperation. “She won’t talk to me and if I just knew exactly what she complained about maybe I could fix it. I do want to make her happy.”
“I guess marriage in general is difficult for her,” Leah said slowly. “She’s not exactly in love with work.”