Free Secret of Richmond Manor by Gilbert L. Morris Page A

said. “I’m Leah Carter, and this is Jeff Majors.”
    â€œOh, yes.” Mr. Driscoll nodded. “I’ve heard about you. Good to have you with us, Miss Carter, and you too, Private. What’s your unit?”
    â€œStonewall Brigade,” Jeff said proudly.
    â€œWell now, that makes you doubly welcome. Any member of that brigade is a hero in our eyes. Come along. I’ll take you to where the young people are.”
    They passed out of the large foyer and turned to the right into what was one of the largest rooms Leah had ever seen in a private house. Candles and chandeliers threw brilliant light over the floor, andtables along the walls were set with crystal glasses and shiny china plates loaded with food.
    The two followed Mr. Driscoll to the end of the room where a group of young people was chattering. “I hate to interrupt, but you have two new guests. This is my daughter, Lucy,” Mr. Driscoll said. “Lucy, this is Miss Leah Carter, Silas Carter’s niece, and this is her escort, Private Jeff Majors.” He smiled broadly and said, “Of the Stonewall Brigade. I’m sure you will welcome them.”
    Lucy Driscoll looked at Leah. “So good to have you, Leah.” But then she turned to Jeff and smiled brilliantly. “Private Majors, how
nice
to have you!”
    Lucy was a small girl, well-shaped and possessing that prettiness that Leah always envied. She had curly blonde hair, light blue eyes, and a rosebud mouth. She was approximately Leah’s age but somehow behaved as if she were much older.
    â€œYou must tell us about your campaigns with General Jackson,” Lucy said. “First, let me make introductions.” She introduced them to the group, some seven or eight young people, and then said, “Now, come. We’ll have some refreshments. Cecil, why don’t you escort Miss Leah? I want to hear what this young soldier has to say.”
    A thin young man with chestnut hair and a pair of bright blue eyes said, “Come along, if you will, Miss Carter. You won’t be seeing much of your escort anymore.”
    Leah glanced at him with surprise. “Why, whatever do you mean?”
    â€œDidn’t you see how Lucy took him right off? She’s that way, our Lucy is. Pretty as a picture, but sometimes she does show unseemly interest in new young men.”
    Cecil was correct. For the next two hours, Lucy did not let Jeff out of her sight. She smiled at him and touched his arm as she leaned forward to give a tinkling laugh from time to time.
    As for Jeff, Leah saw that he was enjoying himself immensely. She had always thought him a rather shy boy, but he seemed to blossom under Lucy’s constant attention.
He’s making a fool out of himself
, she thought shortly.
You’d think he’d never seen a girl before in his whole life!
    She herself was not having a good time. All the other girls were wearing dresses of silk and satin and fine cloth. They were bedecked with bows. Most wore jewelry and had had their hair dressed, it seemed, by experts. Leah felt like a clod, wearing her old checkered dress.
I wish I could get out of here
, she thought grimly.
I feel like an old donkey in with all these other girls
.
    Cecil was a good host, however, and saw to it she had plenty of refreshments. When Lucy dragged Jeff to the dance floor and he was not
too
reluctant, Cecil said, “May I have this dance, Miss Leah?”
    â€œWell, I don’t dance very well.”
    â€œWell, I dance superbly,” he said with a grin.
    He was not tall, so she looked him right in the eye as they went out on the floor. She found he had not misled her; he was a beautiful dancer.
    â€œI haven’t had much practice,” she said.
    â€œYou’re doing splendidly.” Cecil nodded. “What do you think of this house? Fine, isn’t it?”
    â€œBeautiful. I’ve never been in a mansion like this.”
    Her honesty caused Cecil