A/N: I probably won't update again until next Monday night or Tuesday morning. I'm going on vacation and I don't know if I'll have Wi-fi. But I will have my laptop so I will be able to write. Happy reading.
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Part One, Chapter 12
Duncan's Gift
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"Oh!" Courtney said with delight as Duncan opened a hat box, carrying a present Duncan had gotton her from Paris.
It was a green velvet bonnet. One one end there was a green feather and on the other there was green taffetta.
"Oh," Courtney gasped yet again with the same delight as Duncan took the bonnett out of the box. "Oh, the darling thing. Oh, Duncan it's lovely. You didn't really bring it all the way from Paris just for me."
"Yes, I thought it was about time I got you out of this fake mourning," said Duncan, handing the bonnett to Courtney. "Next time I'll bring you some green silk for a frock to match it."
"Oh, Duncan," said Courtney, looking towards him her mouth forming a beaming smile.
"It's my duty to our brave boys at the front to keep our girls at home looking pretty," said Duncan.
"Oh, it's so long since I've had anything new," said Courtey, standing on a stool so she could get a good look at herself in the mirror.
She put the bonnet on with the end with the feather in front. She stopped herself and put the end with the taffetta on it in front.
"How do I look?" Courtney asked as she turned around with the green taffetta ribbons crossed in the front.
"Awful," said Duncan, making Courtney's face turn into a look of shock. He stood up and walked over to her. "Just awful."
"Why, what's the matter?" Courtney asked with a shocked and surprised tone of voice.
"This war has stopped being a joke when a girl like you doesn't know how to wear the latest fashions," said Duncan as he took the bonnett off of Courtney's head and turning it around so the end with the feather was in the front.
He started tying the green taffetta ribbons on the bonnet but Courtney said in a laughing tone, "Oh, Duncan, let me do it."
Courtney turned around, her mouth forming a beaming smile, as she tied the green taffetta ribbons in a bow under her chin.
"But Duncan, I don't know how I'd dare wear it," said Courtney, knowing that if she went out of mourning, it would be quite scandalous.
"You will though," said Duncan as Courtney got off the stool revealing pantalettes. "And another thing, those pantalette. I don't know a woman in Paris that wears pantalettes anymore."
"Oh, what do they...?" Courtney started asking, but then she trailed off, a reprimanding look on her face. "You shouldn't talk about such things.
"You little hypocrite," said Duncan. "You don't mind my knowing about them, just my talking."
"But, I really can't go on accepting gifts from you, though you are afully kind," said Courtney.
"I'm not kind," said Duncan. "I'm just tempting you. I never give anything without expecting something in return. I always get paid."
"If you think I'll marry you to pay for a bonnet, I won't," said Courtney, looking Duncan straight in the eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself," said Duncan. He had a charming and winning smile on his face as he walked over to the window.
"Well, I won't kiss you for it either," said Courtney as she followed him to the window.
Duncan turned around and looked at Courtney intently. He wrapped his arms around her and she tilted her head upwards and closed her eyes.
"Open your eyes and look at me," said Duncan, grabbing her chin as Courtney did as she was instructed. "No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing badly. That's the problem with you. You should be kissed and often. And by someone who knows how."
"Oh, and I suppose you think you're the proper person," said Courtney in a bit of a mocking way.
"I might be," said Duncan, still with the charming an winning smile on his face, "if the the right moment ever came.
"You're a conceited, black-hearted varmint, Duncan Butler," said Courtney. "And I don't know why I let you come and see me."
"I'll tell you why, Courtney," said Duncan. "Because I'm the only man over 16 and under 60 who's around to show you a good time. But cheer up, the war can't last that much longer."
Courtney, wh was fiddling with her bonnet, stopped and turned around to face Duncan.
"Oh really, Duncan?" Courtney asked with a curious and also a somewhat cheerful look. "Why?"
"There's a battle going on that ought to pretty well fix things," said Duncan, "on way or the other."
"Oh, Duncan," Courtney said as her expression changed from curious and somewhat cheerful to somber. "Is Mike in it?"
"So, you still haven't gotten the wooden-headed Mr. Wilkes out of your mind," said Duncan, turning angry. He walked to the foyer and got his hat and coat. "Yes, I suppose he's in it."
"Oh, but tell me, Duncan," Courtney asked in a sort of pleading tone of voice, "Where is it?"
"Some little town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg," said Duncan reaching for the handle of the door. He opened the door and left.