Free To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander Page B

to hear. “How can I live here, Aunt Elizabeth, and not contribute to the family? To the household, in some way?” She shook her head. “It’s not done. It wouldn’t be proper. And … I can’t help but question whether the general really wants me here.”
    “He does want you here, Livvy.” Elizabeth’s expression changed, and Olivia knew whatever Elizabeth was about to say next was the unvarnished truth. “He was hesitant at first, I admit, with everything happening so quickly. But he’s warmed to the idea. Especially in the last day or two. And don’t you worry one bit about contributing, Livvy. You’ll do that simply by being with us.” Elizabeth gripped her hands. “So we’ll have no more talk of this, all right? Now … help yourself to the refreshments on the table over there. Susanna made her beaten biscuits with ham. They’re delicious. Then come on inside and we’ll show you to your room.”
    Not at all convinced, but grateful to have a place to call home, at least for now, Olivia nodded. “Thank you, Aunt Elizabeth.”

    Ridley followed Olivia Aberdeen’s progress through the crowd, grateful for the vantage point the porch provided, as well as the partial concealment of a lilac bush. He still felt bad for her about the confusion over her welcome. But she’d received a cordial enough greeting from the first lady of Belle Meade, which surely made up for some of the disappointment.
    From what he’d witnessed, he’d have to say the two women were indeed close, as Mrs. Aberdeen had claimed. He’d also have to say there was more to Olivia Aberdeen than he’d originally thought upon first meeting. Not that he had any business thinking about the woman in the first place.
    Focusing on his task, he descended the porch stairs, both eager — and also not — to see if his reason for coming all this way was still here. He could’ve asked Mrs. Aberdeen, to see if she knew Robert Green, but Ridley didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to himself. Not with her being so close to the Harding family.
    He cut a path around the crowd, instinctively keeping an eye on two people — Mrs. Aberdeen and General William Giles Harding. The general stood with a host of other suited men, nodding and accepting pats on the back while he admired his new thoroughbred. Harding appeared older than in the drawing that had circulated during the war, and — if his beard were any indication — even more stubborn.
    Ridley scanned the crowd, hopeful when he saw a group of Negro men gathered at another corral. He closed the distance, staying to the fringes and trying to think what he’d say to Robert Green when —
if —
hesaw him again. He discreetly searched faces as he went, but none of them was Robert Green. His hope waned. He spotted a skinny boy carrying a load of wood. The lad was short and barefoot, his pant legs hovering above his thin ankles. But it was the cap the young boy wore tugged down close to his ears that was most distinguishing.
    Ridley approached. “Excuse me, young sir.”
    The boy stopped, looked at Ridley from beneath the curved bill of his old worn cap, then turned around and glanced behind him before speaking. “Is you aimin’ that talk my way, sir?”
    Ridley had to smile. “I am. I have a question for you.”
    The boy came closer. “Then I do my hardest to know the answer, sir.”
    “You know a man here by the name of Mr. Robert Green?”
    The boy cocked his head. “Can’t say I know nobody by that color name, sir.”
    “How long have you been here, son?”
    “Nigh onto a year. I come from Georgia, sir. With my mama. She be a dairy maid, workin’ with them cows. I work in the stables.” The boy’s chest puffed out. “I exercise them racehorses … When I ain’t totin’ wood or doin’ nothin’ else.”
    Feeling hope siphon away, Ridley thanked the boy and turned back to the estate. If the lad worked with horses and hadn’t heard of Robert Green, it pretty much depleted any