It was very warm outside that evening and much more guests were in attendance at the picnic than there were at the ball. Children were among the guests and most of them were running around in the grass trying to catch Summer fireflies which they would then keep in a jar so they could have their own personal lantern. One overly eager five year old was so hell bent on catching one firefly in his sight that he was not paying attention to where he was running to. This carelessness led to the child tripping and tumbling down a hill, landing into the pond.

The shock of the fall predictably caused the poor boy to burst into tears. He just sat there dripping wet and sobbing for his mother but he had wandered too far for her to see or hear him. However he was not completely unnoticed.

"Oh my, you poor dear." A gentle voice said.

He looked up to see a beautiful lady dressed in gold calmly approach him. With great gentleness and care, she lifted him out of the pond while not at all caring about the boy dripping water on to her gown, even using a part of her skirt to wipe his tears away. Luckily though no stains were left on the garment.

"There now, no reason to cry." She said comforting him. "You only got a little wet. That's all."

He calmed down a little.

"You shouldn't be all by yourself like this." She told him. "Why don't we try to find your mother?"

The boy nodded and Charlotte went up the hill to where the picnic was being held, unaware that her entire scene of compassion had been witnessed by Alastor. The young man had been eagerly awaiting her arrival for quite sometime and as soon as he saw her from a distance he was quick on his feet to greet her. She was more beautiful than he remembered and he would have spoken to her himself right away had she not immediately gone to that small boy's aid. He had become curious and wanted to see what she would do. Her kind and gentle nature was just as astonishing as her beauty, wit, and grace. Truly this young woman was one of a kind.

"Good heavens, Edmund. What a mess you've made of yourself." The boy's mother said to her son. "And while wearing your Sunday clothes no less."

"I'm sorry Mama." The boy called Edmund said.

"Well at least you didn't twist your ankle or worse." She turned to Charlotte. "Thank you for helping my boy. He can be a such a handful. I turn my back for one minute and he's already gotten himself into some trouble."

"I'm just grateful he wasn't hurt." Charlotte said.

"Excuse me, Madame." Alastor said walking toward them with a folded white towel in his hands. "I believe you might find this rather useful."

"Thank you sir." The mother said when he handed the towel to her. She then took her son somewhere to dry him off, thus leaving Charlotte and Alastor alone with each other.

"I'm glad that you were able to make it to the picnic." He spoke first. "Part of me worried that last night would be our only meeting."

"It might have been." She said trying not to become flustered. "I...I almost didn't come tonight but I suppose I just couldn't resist a tasty meal outside under the stars."

"In that case you must be quite famished my dear." He offered her his arm. "Will you allow me to escort you to a proper table?"

She nodded with a smile and hooked her arm with his. He led her over to the various tables which were set with many mouth-watering delicacies. Jambalaya, crawfish, salted pork, roasted venison, rice, red beans, turnip greens, potatoes, and buttermilk biscuits. To drink they had whiskey, cider, tea, wine, and milk. And for dessert beignets, chess pie, and bread pudding. Charlotte couldn't remember the last time she had consumed a more delicious and filling meal. Everything she put in her mouth had a most sumptuous taste and she savored it all.

"Enjoying the jambalaya?" He asked after noticing that her bowl was halfway empty.

"Yes it's wonderful. Probably the best course I'd say." She answered.

"I'm glad to hear that because you see I made the jambalaya."

"You did?" She said.

"Yes. It's my mother's recipe and it was my favorite food in all the world when I was a boy."

"I can see why. It's marvelous really. You're a good cook." But then a thought occurred to her. "Wait I thought all the food here was prepared by the cooks of the household."

"They are but...But the master is so fond of my mother's recipe that he insists that whenever jambalaya is served, that I be the one who cook it."

"You and the master must be very close if he trusts you to prepare a dish for him."

"Oh yes we're very close." He grinned. "A lot closer than you would suspect."

She chose to eat the beignets for dessert and she offered some to Alastor but he wasn't one for sweets. She on the other hand could not resist the soft pastry with powder sugar and honey. She had never tried one before that night and they were so wonderful tasting to her that she hoped for a chance to enjoy them again.

After dinner the guests began to participate in some activities that were being set up by some of the master's foremen. Activities included horse shoe toss, croquet, gambling card games which Husk would no doubt spend the whole night playing, and Alastor's personal favorite shooting targets.

Now Charlotte was not fond of guns. In fact she was too terrified to even touch one. She had this fear that somehow the weapon would just explode or go off shooting everyone in sight. So naturally she was very anxious when Alastor insisted that she fire a few shots.

"I'm not sure about this Alastor." She said shaking with the rifle in her hands. "I've never even used a firearm."

"All the more reason why I should teach you my dear." He chuckled. "Suppose some scoundrel broke into your home and attempted to do you harm, you would have no way to defend yourself should you choose not to take this lesson."

"But I-"

"Here let me help you."

He put his own arms over hers and helped her grip the the rifle firmly. Her cheeks became warm as she felt his chest against her back and his strong arms around her. She was now more nervous than ever.

"You're so tense." He told her. "Relax."

"How can I relax? If I miss someone could get hurt."

"Don't worry my dear, I'm with you and I never miss a target so neither will you if you have my assistance. Now just take a breath and let it out, make your aim, and slowly pull the trigger."

"Okay."

She was still a little unsure but she did as he instructed. She took in a deep breath then let it go, aimed for the target in front of her, and slowly pulled the trigger. A shot rang out and the blank that was fired from within the rifle hit a perfect bullseye.

"Well done." He said. "And on your first try."

"That was only because you were helping me. If you weren't here then I definitely would have missed."

"Perhaps but practice makes perfect as they say. Care to take a shot on your own?"

"Maybe another time."

Alastor chuckled at how adorable she looked when she was anxious. He felt that she would probably make a great shooter if only she would let go of her fear and practice. But he would respect her wishes tonight and move on to another activity.

Later a bonfire was started and all the guests gathered around to listen to long stories of travels made to distant lands and states or experiences in the war or legends of the supernatural. The men who spoke these tales were very expressive with their words. Charlotte could picture the events in the stories as if they were happening right in front of her. She was intrigued by description of the hot savannas of Africa and the fish merchant ports of the Northern states which she had never seen before. She felt grieved by the sorrowful words used to portray how the many brave men fought and/or died during their many battles during the civil war. And she shuddered and clung to Alastor as she heard the spooky myths of ghosts and apparitions.

Normally Alastor did not like being touched so suddenly but he rather enjoyed seeing Charlotte retreat to him when she felt frightened. Each time her hand touched his side when a ghost story scared her he would just move his arm to her waist as a way to assure her that if such beings did exist, he would not let any of them harm a single hair on her head. No words were said but she knew that she was safe with him. In fact she didn't think there was anyone else in the world that she would ever feel more safe with.

Eventually the two of them broke away from the gathering and decided to walk across the plantation and see if any deer were out in the fields. They saw two: A buck and a doe. Obviously intending to mate with each other. Alastor and Charlotte were careful to be quiet and to remain hidden so they wouldn't frighten the deer away. They watched the buck and doe playfully prance through the tall grass.

"They're so graceful when they move." Charlotte said quietly. "Is there any creature more beautiful?"

"I only know of one." Alastor said gazing at her. He then plucked a magnolia from one of the trees that line the path and gave it to her.

"Thank you. It is lovely." She said upon accepting it. Then she looked up at the night sky and saw that the morning star was beginning to fade. "Oh."

"What's the matter?" He asked.

"I must go now."

"So suddenly? Again?"

"I must. It's...It's hard to explain. Goodbye."

"Will I see you again tomorrow night?"

"If fate is kind." She said.

And like the night before she left in hurry without an explanation and returned to her cellar room where her golden gown changed back into mossy rags as soon as the morning star faded completely.