Patty Franklin Cooper
Chapter II
The dinner bell rang as in days of
yore at half past two. Savannah’s mother
met her in the hall and instructed her to come downstairs in five minutes.
“Where are you going Mama,” Savannah
asked?
“To join your Father. Come down the stairs the way you were taught
before the war in five minutes daughter.”
“Mama won’t you tell me what is
going on?”
“Five minutes girl. We’ll
be waiting for you. Okay?”
“Yes, Mama,” Savannah said.
“Remember, Savannah--glide and smile,
glide and smile.”
All
of the women fussed with every detail of Savannah’s attire one more time. Some were giggling, some shushing and some
looking forlorn. At exactly the
appointed time Ann, Savannah’s life-long best friend and her mother’s youngest
sister said, “It’s time love.”
Savannah stood at the top of the
stairs as erect as a goddess. She slowly
started down the stairs barely holding onto the banister just as she had been
taught. She looked straight ahead as she
slowly truly seemed to glide down the long curved staircase. She couldn’t see them, but those in the
dining room could see her. Her father
gasped at the beauty of his eighteen year old daughter. Her hair was the darkest brown and she was
petite looking so much like his wife had looked at that age. She is so beautiful he thought.
Savannah’s mother also watched her
daughter with pride. This moment took
her back to the old south. But, the
horrible reality was that it was 1869 and things were definitely not as they
used to be. Yes, she was proud of how
graceful and poised and perfect her daughter was in this her last minute of
childhood. But Rhonda’s heart felt like
a huge stone. She had become so proud of
how Savannah had embraced the hardships after the war and how she had thrived
under the new role she accepted becoming a helper and hard worker taking up the
slack of jobs others used to do. She had
marveled as Savannah seemed to love this what was to Rhonda a horrific
afterlife. Now became the question. Now, how to proceed?
When Savannah reached the bottom of
the stairs and turned toward the dining room she nearly swooned, because
standing beside Papa and Mama was that horrible man Reginald R. Ryan. She looked at his face for just a second and
saw the most fiendish grin then swiftly averted her eyes as she had been taught
continuing to maintain the most natural pleasant look upon her face. At that moment she was lucky to have all of
her manners fully ingrained, because she
needed to rely on all of her history to remain standing to not scream out
something unseemly and to not embarrass her parents. But, what was he doing here?
General Beauford Morris stepped
forward and took his daughter’s hand.
“Savannah, although I understand you met Mr. Ryan this morning may I
properly introduce you? Savannah
Charleston Morris may I have the pleasure of introducing Mr. Reginald R. Ryan
of Surry’s Landing, South Carolina late of Newport, Rhode Island and formerly
of London, England. Mr. Ryan my daughter
Savannah Charleston.”
Savannah curtsied and Mr. Ryan bowed
then Savannah extended her hand as she responded, “My pleasure Mr. Ryan.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Miss Morris,” responded the man
in a voice sickeningly sweet as he bent and kissed her hand.
“Grand, grand,” General Morris said,
“now let us share a meal.” He took his
wife’s arm and lead her to her place at the foot of the table pulled out her
chair and seated her. As he was doing
that, Reginald Ryan took Savannah to the side of the long polished table and
assisted her to her seat. General Morris
sat at the head of the table and Mr. Ryan sat on the side opposite Savannah
looking straight at her.
The household unaccustomed to
serving did an admirable job as the party ate on what was left of the best
china and silverware. It was a mismatched
service and the fare was tasty but more country kitchen garden than what would
have been previously served to a guest. There
was general chitchat during the meal, but no mention of the war.
Savannah had great difficulty eating the meal
and felt very happy that the great south took pride in their women eating like
a bird at important meals.
After the meal Savannah’s father
said, “Before Mr. Ryan and I retire to the library we want to accompany Mrs.
Morris and Savannah into the parlor.”
Once in the formerly ornate sitting room April arrived with a glass
rather than a silver tray, because there were no more silver trays. The war took care of that. Upon the tray Savannah recognized her
father’s small remaining amount of sherry and four delicate glasses.
“Thank you April please put the tray
there,” Rhonda said pointing to a table.
“You may leave us now,” she continued.
“General Morris will you pour,”
asked his wife?
The General moved to the table and
while pouring the sherry into the small glasses said, “Today
is a very great day. Certainly it is a
day that is cause for celebration.”
After pouring he straightened then continued, “Formerly, we would not
have such an auspicious occasion in late afternoon with only the four of us
present. Formerly, there would have been
an announcement with many more family members present, then soon thereafter a
great ball. But, times as they are we
must all adapt.”
Savannah still did not know what was
going on because everything seemed so strange and so out of place. She saw that her father was holding his mouth
that little way that seemingly only she could ever recognize. It always bode badly as when he had announced
to their then much larger family in this very room that war was declared. Her mother was white as a sheet as if every
drop of her blood had drained out of her body.
The four were standing around the
table as the General handed each of them a glass of sherry. Savannah couldn’t believe her eyes as her
mother took a glass. She never drank anything stronger than tea. For the first time in her life her father
handed Savannah a glass just as if it was as normal as having a glass of cool
water from the well.
After
all of them had their glasses the General raised his glass stating, “It is with
the greatest pleasure that I announce the marriage of our beloved daughter,
Savannah Charleston, to Mr. Reginald R. Ryan.”
Savannah’s knees buckled, but Mr.
Ryan standing beside her while still holding his glass aloft took hold of her
elbow tightly and kept her on her feet.
“Now, let us all toast their
upcoming marriage and their long and happy life.”
Savannah did drink the sherry. Not as a toast as the others did although
that was how it seemed, but because after that announcement she just plain
needed a drink. Savannah had seen much,
and endured more, in her short life but this blow had been so unexpected.
Mr. Ryan said, “I couldn’t be
happier. When I laid my eyes on your
beautiful daughter this morning I knew at that moment that I must have her as
my wife as soon as humanly possible! Go
get the preacher!”
“Now wait just one minute …” Savannah
exclaimed using the sharpest tone that she had ever used in her life.
Rhonda quickly intervened, “There
there Savannah, Mr. Ryan is kidding there will be no preacher called today.”
“But, no madam, I do mean call the
minister today for a wedding this evening!”
Rhonda looked at Savannah who looked
as if she had been struck by lightning, “Why Mr. Ryan, what I was meaning to
say is that we have preparations to make and people to notify and it is not
seemly to marry too soon after an engagement is announced. So,” as she looked to the General for
support, “we simply must have some time to prepare.”
“Quite right my dear,” the General
replied, “we must not be too hasty.”“Well, dear folks and family to be I understand your situation, but as we all know things are no longer how they used to be. I think that a fortnight should suffice,” Mr. Ryan pressed.
“Papa, I feel rather tired. Will you please grant me my leave and please
let Mother and I discuss how much time it will take us to prepare. We should know by tomorrow.”
“Well certainly daughter. I am sure that Mr. Ryan can wait until
tomorrow to allow you and your mother catch your breath and to decide what you
need to do.”
Savannah saw Mr. Ryan frown ever so
briefly and his black eyes seemed to flare once again with the anger she
witnessed just this morning. The look disappeared
as quickly it had appeared.
“Why certainly my betrothed, and that
will allow me time to bring and present to you my own dear mother’s engagement
ring. Tomorrow it is! Shall we say noon?”
“My two dears why don’t you go
upstairs to begin your mother daughter talks regarding preparations. Please excuse us as Mr. Ryan and I retire to
the library to discuss some business and to do some serious drinking. I am sure that my dear wife will allow me
this one time expression due to the occasion!”
end of Chapter Two
© Patty F. Cooper, 2018
