Heroines in Hoopskirts

Chapter 1

The train that had brought Matthew Davis and Amanda Bishop back from Philadelphia by way of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore reached Washington just before eight o'clock on Sunday morning, November 9, 1862. They'd been traveling for fourteen hours and they were exhausted; sleep had been almost impossible because the trains had made frequent stops, and they'd had to change trains in Harrisburg at midnight.

"We really should have just stayed the night in Philadelphia," Matthew said. "At least we would have gotten a good night's sleep before we made the trip back. I don't mind sitting up all night, I'm used to it, but shouldn't have asked you to do that."

"I was just as anxious to come back as you were, Matthew," Amanda said firmly. "Don't take all the blame on yourself. I'll be fine once I get home, get some breakfast and a hot bath, and sleep for about eight hours."

"Or ten, or twelve..."

"Oh, yes."

They crossed the platform and entered the station waiting room, only to stop short when Dorothea North came hurrying over to greet them. She embraced and kissed Amanda and then turned to Matthew. "There you are, you wonderful man, you. Bend down so I can kiss you."

He smiled and obliged; Dorothea bussed him on the cheek and said, "I'm so glad to see you looking so well, Matthew."

"Well, I'm glad to be well, Mrs. North, but I think Amanda is a bit puzzled. We thought you were in Boston."

"Oh, Boston - -I had to come home, I just had to. What that terrible man tried to do to Matthew, well… I can't believe we welcomed him to our home, Amanda, and please, Matthew, call me Dotty."

"Dotty, then, thank you."

"Daniel Macklin had a lot of people fooled, Mother; you certainly weren't the only one," Amanda said. "You mustn't reproach yourself."

"But he never fooled you, did he?"

"No, Mother. There was something about him that just wasn't right. I thought that even before I met Matthew."

"And to think he tried to have Matthew killed, and that he was working for the other side…Well, I'm glad he's dead, although I would have liked to have been there when he was hanged as a traitor, and if that sounds bloodthirsty, I'm not going to apologize,": Dotty said firmly.

"He saved the government the trouble of hanging him, though, so that's good. Mother, did you come home because of what happened with Macklin – and how did you know about that anyway?"

"Oh, darling, it was in all the papers, well, not about him trying to have Matthew killed, thank heavens, but about the treason and the suicide."

"How did you know about the shooting, then?"

"Oh, Mrs. Everhart wrote and told me. Well, she sent it to Newport, because that's where she thought I was, of course, and they sent it on to Boston. She said she was putting the cat out for the night that night when she heard the gunshot and then heard someone riding away very fast, and the next day she talked to some of the men that were investigating what happened and found out that the man had been shooting at our house! Well, after that she just had to write and tell me what happened."

"No doubt," Amanda said dryly. "Mother, I appreciate your coming back to make sure we're all right, but I didn't mean for you to cut your visit with Cousin Daniel short."

"Why wouldn't I, Amanda, when you and dear Matthew were in danger? Besides, I didn't like Boston very much."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Let's just say that unless Daniel West gets out from under his daughter's thumb, he and I have no future together."

"Oh, dear. It's that bad?" Amanda said, as Matthew managed to hide a smile at Dotty's dramatics.

"My dear, it's worse! She henpecks him. She manages him. She whines and pouts if she doesn't get her way, so he gives in just to keep peace in the family, and what's worse, she and I took an instant dislike to each other."

"I see. She doesn't want to share her Papa with anyone?"

"Exactly! I wasn't expecting to be greeted with open arms, since I don't even know the woman, but she was so cold I almost took a chill the first time I walked in the door!"

"I'm sorry, Mother. When did you come home?"

"I got home yesterday, expecting to find you and Matthew here, but Molly told me that you'd gone to Philadelphia for a few days while Colonel Thornton – who is a lovely man, you are very fortunate to be working for him, Matthew – caught that terrible man. I called on Mrs. Thornton yesterday and we found so many things in common, and isn't it wonderful that she's moved into the Rosemont house? I am so glad to see that woman and her son gone, let me tell you!"

" Molly Thornton told you when our train was arriving?" Amanda asked.

"Oh, yes, and loaned me their carriage, too. Oh, why are we standing here talking when you must be exhausted? Let's go home. Now that I'm back, Matthew, you can have your old room back, and it will be perfectly proper."

"That will be good, Mrs. North, thank you," Matthew said. "We don't have much luggage, since we were only out of town for a few days; let me see to claiming it and we can go."

"Oh, yes, of course, and I've told Molly to cook you both a big breakfast. Even though you don't eat breakfast, Matthew, you might want this one, and she and McGuire are heating water for hot baths."

"It all sounds wonderful, Mother," Amanda said.

"And once you wake up again, you can tell me all about your trip to Philadelphia."

"Yes, Mother."