Chapter 9:
Emeline mind completely muddled and confused after the ball. She longed to go home even more. She could feel her identity shifting. She did not understand her own feelings for Ben. He told her that he loved her! It was something Emeline was not used to. Many men had admired her for her beauty but never for her. The very thought that she could love him too terrified her.
She did her best to distract herself. She started reading The Complete Works of Shakespeare. She would take the incredibly thick book with her on her rides. She would sit for hours and read his plays letting the prose wipe over her mind. Her favorite was Twelfth Night. She related to Viola because she had lost her family and was learning to adjust to a new environment.
It had been a week since Ben confessed his love for her. She had not spoken or seen him since. He had started eating in his room. He was out of the home for most of the day and would not return until very late at night when everyone was asleep. Emeline wondered if he was purposely trying to avoid her.
Night was beginning to fall when there was a knock at the door. Martha answered it and there was a young girl and her father standing there.
"I am so sorry to bother you, but we were wondering if you could spare any food"?
Emeline had walked down the staircase to see who the visitor was.
"Oh you poor dears. Please come in. I will go get the master of the house".
Martha shuffled the father and daughter in.
"Claiborne, make sure they are comfortable".
Emeline nodded. She went off to get some milk for the family.
When she returned Ben was in the parlor. She stopped at the door afraid to go in. She shook off her nervousness and walked in. She gave the milk to the father and daughter. Ben had stopped speaking as soon as he noticed her. Emeline could feel his eyes on her for a brief moment when he suddenly looked away and cleared his throat.
"Mr. Allen could you tell me what happened"?
"Yes, we were at home enjoying a peaceful evening when two British soldiers came to our home. They demanded that we quarter them for the night. They drank all of our ale and ate all of our food. They trashed our home. They disrespected my eldest daughter, and left us with nothing".
Emeline could feel the heat rising within herself, when she blurted out, "Those heavens, how can have such little respect"?
She shocked herself. How could she insult her own countrymen? The very people her family supported? In that moment she new her life had changed irrevocably since arriving at the plantation. She was no longer a loyalist. She flushed profusely and stared at the ground.
She had surprised Ben as well. He could feel himself break into a grin, but stopped himself.
"You are both welcome to take enough food to support yourselves for a few days. I will have one of men come over to your home tomorrow to help out wherever they can. I am so sorry this happened to you. We are doing our best to keep those scoundrels away from our civilians".
"Thank you sir, you are too kind".
Martha led the father and daughter back into the kitchens to collect food.
There was an air of tension in the room. Emeline stared at her hands and Ben frowned at the floor.
Emeline opened her mouth to speak, "I suppose I am no longer a loyalist".
She had shocked herself once again. She could not believe that she had said that out loud.
Ben looked up at her quizzically. His eyes softened as he spoke. "No I suppose not".
Emeline nodded and looked away shyly.
Martha and the father and daughter came back carrying basketfuls of food. Ben stood to bid them goodbye. They left and Martha went back to her room, leaving Ben and Emeline alone. They did not speak for several minutes when Emeline rose up from her chair and said, "I must be getting to bed".
Ben nodded. Emeline began to leave the room when she stopped and turned "Ben?" she said.
Ben looked up. "Yes?" he said softly.
Emeline shook her head, "Nothing". She walked up the stairs quickly having embarrassed herself.
"Goodnight" Ben whispered after her.
