Disclaimers : I do not own the characters and the story of Gone With The Wind which belong to Margaret Mitchell.
Chronology : 1865 : Duncan returns to Paris, creates La Mode Duncan - 1873, December, divorce - 1874, January, Rhett visits Paris - 1875, january : Duncan returns to Charleston ; he buys Magnolias' Mansion - 1876, February : Grand Father Robillard died, Scarlett inherits, discovers La Mode Duncan' shop in Savanah - 1876, May : Scarlett opens her fashion shop in Atlanta - 1876, May : Charleston's event for Duncan.
To all my followers and reviewers, thank you for your kind words. I am exciting too to write the meeting between Scarlett and Duncan. Before that, I have to help Duncan keeping his fortune despite the crisis (this chapter) and building his weaving factory and sewing workshop in order to become the king of Fashion – or it is doubtful that our Scarlett would find a poor and unemployed Prince charming at the end ;-)
Charleston, 2nd of January 1875
Aymeric Vayton, a large landowner and a leading figure in Charleston society, had just died of a heart attack.
Duncan's return to his birthplace was brutal. The serenity that had protected the „Soft South" Plantation was shattered. The funeral had had held the previous month while he was still in the boat, crossing the ocean for coming back to Charleston. When he arrived, he required a memory celebration in which attended the Charleston community, the planters of the Old South, Southern and Yankee businessmen gathered for the occasion, and many strangers. This recognition warmed the hearts of the three mourners.
Duncan had always been a good son, and his father had enjoyed praising him. In his honour, the business man had renamed his empire Vayton Ltd to Vayton & Son Ltd, eager to see his heir succeed him.
With a touch of remorse, the young man was aware that he had disappointed him in one respect: his reluctance to marry had not allowed Aymeric to be assured of any descendant of the Vayton branch.
Now heir to the largest plantation in South Carolina and head of one of the largest fortunes in the United States of America, the young industrialist was also going to have to face the marasms of the economic recession that was coming down like a big black cloud.
Fortunately, Aymeric Vayton had been a clever manager. He had secured his fortune in gold bullion and had not made speculative investments in suspiciously booming stock companies. Therefore, he was not affected by the Coinage Act.
The planter's son's first concern was the future of his family's cotton plantation which stretched for miles and miles along the Sotono River.
The fall in production had been staggering from 1861 to 1866 - when it was fortunate, as at Soft South, that his estate had not been burnt down and the cotton plants ransacked by the Yankees during the war. Aymeric Vayton had held on. By 1868, the number of bales coming out of his warehouses had returned to pre-war levels, as had the other large farms.* The plantation could continue to prosper on the Sotono River.
At the end of the war, the money of Aymeric Vayton had partly melted, because, alike may Charlestonians, he had generously given part of his fortune to the Confederate Army.
But, very quickly, the Vayton patriarch regained colors and diversified his fortune. Over the years, huge tracts of land in the most dynamic southern states had come into the possession of Charleston's oldest family. Aymeric had set his sights on well-irrigated farmland, some fertile for rice paddies, others for cotton or wheat.
Aymeric Vayton had the foresight to plant indigo's trees as far as the eye could see. He was inspired by the meteoric success of the Coffin family's move to Beauford. The Coffins had become the largest producers of indigo, not only for South Carolina, but for the South as well.** The Charlestonian did not aim to match their market' share, but the gains he got from this additional culture let him say that his gamble paid off.
While reading the notarial records of Vayton & Son Ltd, Duncan hardly believed his eyes finding out that he owned now these wide fields of indigo trees.
« Father, you bequeathed me a « war treasor », the indigo ! This is going to be the special touch, the „griffe" of „La Mode Duncan"….
After 1865, Aymeric Vayton chose to expand into real estate by investing in old buildings, focusing on colonial planters' mansions and antebellum mansions in the historic centres of Charleston, Savannah and New Orleans. All had suffered some damage during the war and had been bought at very low prices. Betting on the demand for a return to authenticity, he had surrounded himself with a solid team of restoring architects, masons, ironworkers, painters, carpenters and decorators who all advocated quality craftsmanship and respect for Southern elegance.
Certainly, the added value generated by the embellishment of these well-built mansions would further perpetuate the Vayton heir's capital, even though this was not a good time to be selling property. But Vayton & Son Limited could afford to put its investments on hold until the economy recovered.
Discovering the numerous buildings owned by Vayton & Son Ltd, Duncan got an idea : «Oh ! There are at least three antebellum houses which will be useful for «La Mode Duncan" !
Satisfied with the infrastructure of the business created by his father, Duncan had the wisdom to keep his teams in place, reappointing some key men to bring new blood and energy to Vayton & Son Limited.
The choice of safeguarding and restoring the historical and architectural heritage of the Old South ends up certifying the image of respectability and generosity of the Vayton family.
In the same spirit, the recession and poverty that were beginning to flare up made Duncan decide that future family action should be in this charitable vein. The day after his father's tribute, he spoke with Cathleen and Melina about this.
"Mother, Melina, I would like to share my concern with you. Our family needs to be there to alleviate the suffering that is starting to show for all those brave Charlestonians who have just lost their jobs. The misery will increase throughout the year, probably for the next two or three years. The financial crash will result in a cascade of bankruptcies of many industries and businesses. What can be done to help the poor employees who will be left "out in the cold? »
"I am moved by your initiative, which does not surprise me, my dear son. You have a big heart, like your sister. We should first create a foundation that will structure our good deeds. »
"What if we named it "Aymeric Vayton Charity's Foundation » said Melina excitedly.. What do you think? »
"Very good! Your father would be proud. I will invite my friends of the Embroidery Circle and the Friends of Literature to share our ideas. It is true that the charitable initiatives of Charleston's good society are disparate. Our foundation will bring them together and coordinate their actions. »
"Mother, we should be able to identify as soon as possible the needy who are in emergency, those who no longer have enough to eat. Could you ask the priests and pastors of the neighbouring parishes? I think that these indications will be precious and will allow us to organise a distribution of meals as soon as possible. »
Melina applauded. "It's going to be a tough job. But I'm so proud to be part of a family that wants to do good around them. »
"That is agreed. Mother and Melina, you will take charge of the foundation. With advisors, of course. We will decide on an annual budget. It is up to you to distribute the funds according to the urgency. For my part, I will unfortunately be too busy with the weaving factory and the creation of my sewing workshop."
Before going about his business, Duncan added, "I have another suggestion for you. Now that Father is gone, it would be sad for the two of you to live alone on the Soft South plantation. My fashion shop is going to be based in Charleston, and I have just bought there a fine house with a large garden in Old Town. I shall be very glad if you will come and move in with me. Will you do me the honor? »
"This is great news, my son. It is true that I have so many fond memories in our beautiful colonial house. It is haunted by the laughter of the two of you as children. I must admit, though, that continuing to live there without my husband would be too painful. »
"Mother, during the hot Charleston summer, we'll be enjoying as a family the paradise that is our beloved Soft South. So don't be too melancholic. How convenient it will be for you to be close to the members of your charitable circles. And having you both near me will enable me to spoil you with invitations to restaurants and the theatre, after mourning times, of course. »
"You are right, Duncan. I'm very happy with this decision. I know Melina is already excited about being able to live near her friends. Isn't she? "The delighted look on her daughter's face left no doubt in her mind. "Have you already selected an available property in the old town? »
Duncan's cheeky smile broke out: "Well, yes, I've found and bought the gem! At the Battery, a large three-storey house perfectly restored, with all the comforts, wide piazas, magnolias. In short, happiness for the three of us! The neighbourhood is peaceful, and I presume that many of your acquaintances have taken up residence there. »
" Oh ! I've almost forgotten : the building is next door to a friend of yours, Mother. I think I remember you telling me about her. A certain Butler. Yes, I remember now, it is Mrs. Eleonor Butler."
Endnote :
*My sources of information on the cotton economy and textile mills in the USA in 1870 are based on Louis Reybaud's thesis published in 1870, "L'Industrie et les Ouvriers du Coton aux États-Unis depuis la guerre de secession", Revue des Deux Mondes, 2nd period, volume 90, 1870.
**Indigo cultivation in South Carolina in the 19th century: Beauford (source Wikipedia).