Ladybird adjusted herself in the mirror for the hundredth time and sighed.

"You look perfect," Wysteria laughed.

Ladybird turned to the dresser and penned on the floral broach Philemon had given her when they first got engaged. "I hope so," she said. "I've been nervous about this dinner since it was first planned."

"They'll be your family one day so there is no need to be nervous," Wysteria said. "I'm the one who is always nervous and I feel fine tonight." She joined arms with her sister and they walked downstairs where Beatrice was waiting.

"You looked splendid, Ladybird!" she declared. "The boys don't know what they have missed." She opened the door and the three stepped out arm and arm and into the coach that had been sent for them.

"Just think, this is just for a supper. Imagine what the wedding will be like," Beatrice said as the coach rocked forward.

"Philemon already says he wants a carriage with six white horses and ten flower girls to walk behind me with baskets of white rose petals. The benches will be decorated with linen dyed sage and hydrangeas will hang from the ceiling," she sighed. "I would have settled for an outside wedding but he has persuaded me otherwise."

/

The coach arrived at the house which stood tall and white and aglow. The Yewtrees boasted three servants who greeted them at the door and showed them up the foyer to the lavish dining room. It was no secret that the Yewtree family was the wealthiest colored family in Minnesota or 'this side of the Colorado' as Grandmother Winters liked to put it.

The sisters were greeted by the Yewtree family. Mr. Yewtree at the head of the table and his wife to his right. Next to Mrs. Yewtree was Theodora Brown nee Yewtree and her husband George Brown. Across from his mother sat Philemon who pulled out Ladybirds chair so she could sit between him and her grandmother. Wysteria and Beatrice took their seats with less distinguished relatives.

The meal was served in three courses. Wysteria found herself full after the soup but Beatrice easily devoured her rotisserie chicken. Light laughter floated around the table as they watched how Ladybird presented herself before the family.

"She's a natural," Beatrice whispered to Wysteria. "Look how she glows like a prima ballerina."

"I'm really going to miss her," Wysteria whispered. "She doesn't realize it now but marrying into this family is going to keep her busy. She'll be expected to take a place among polite society and entertain guests of all sorts. That's not to bring running a household and raising children into the mixture."

Beatrice watched Ladybird talk away to Mrs. Yewtree then looked at Wysteria. "You and I should do something too," she said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you've been offered to go to England right?" Beatrice asked and Wysteria nodded. "Well so have I."

"What? When?"

"Mr. Candlewood said I should go and reach my full potential. He said he'd pay for my expenses. He also said that I'd go with the Smiths in your place but I don't see a reason why we both can't."

Laughter momentarily distracted Wysteria. "Is that what you want, Beatrice?" she asked. "Truly? Are you sure Mr. Candlewood won't ask for something in return?"

"He only asked that I think about it," Beatrice said. "It would be a wonderful opportunity. For both of us." Beatrice felt someone staring at her and she looked up to see a young man burning her with his eyes. She looked down at her plate to avoid his gaze and was thankful when desert was served and he had something else to occupy himself with.

After supper was finished they party went into the parlor where all of the furniture had been cleared for dancing. A servant played the Skater's Waltz while couples took to the floor led by Mr. and Mrs. Yewtree. Philemon took Ladybird onto the floor and danced with her, the tails of her airy orange gown sweeping the floor.

"She looks like a dream."

Beatrice looked up when she heard the voice above her and saw the young man from supper. "She does," she said politely then gave a wide glance at Wysteria.

"And you," the young man went on. "What odd eyes. It's a rare occasion that I see such eyes on a negro girl."

Beatrice looked away from the young man's dark face.

"Have you ever wondered about your paternity?"

"No," Beatrice said softly.

"Come again."

Beatrice stood abruptly. "I said no!" she shouted. "No I haven't you disrespectful cad!" The piano stopped playing and all heads turned.

"Beatrice!" her Grandmother hissed.

"She got it right calling you a Cad, Anderson," another man said.

"Say what you like," Anderson said. "But if I ask me I have all the evidence to think her father was a white man."

"Anderson that is entirely inappropriate," Mr. Yewtree said.

"Forgive me, uncle I must have had too much to drink," Anderson said. He collected his jacket and left the room leaving everyone else flabbergasted.

Beatrice stared back at all the perfect brown eyes looking at her.

"Beatrice," Ladybird started toward her but Beatrice ran. She ran from the parlor and out of the house not stopping when her feet hit the sidewalk. She didn't know where she would go but she had to get far from there.

/

"Thank you for walking me home, Philemon," Ladybird said as she unlocked the door and went inside.

"It's my duty," Philemon said. "I'd like to apologize for my cousin."

"Thank you," Ladybird said. "It's not late so maybe I'll join my sisters in the park. It's very lovely after dark."

"I'll wait here and walk you," Philemon said.

Ladybird nodded then went upstairs to change out of her gown. As she changed into a skirt and blouse she thought back to the dinner. Most of the family had seemed nice but now the more she thought about it many of them had cast curious glances at Beatrice as though they had never seen her before. She kicked herself for not saying something in front of them all when Beatrice was insulted.

"Are you almost finished?"

Ladybird peeked out of the washroom to see Philemon standing in the bedroom. "I didn't think you'd come upstairs," she said nervously fastening the buttons of her blouse.

Philemon whistled as he walked the room. When he came to the closet he paused and tilted his head when he noticed a rifle in the corner. "I didn't know you could shoot."

Ladybird stepped out of the washroom fully dressed. "Oh," she laughed. "It was my father's he taught me how because of wild animals going after our chickens back home. He always warned me though; never point it at another person."

Philemon nodded his head. "That's a good warning for a negro girl in the south," he said. "If you had ended up hanged I would have never met you."

"Philemon, please don't talk like that," Ladybird said.

He smiled at her then took her in his arms. "And what a lovely southern woman you are." He placed a kiss on her lips.

"Philemon, please."

"Why?" he raised one dark brow. "We're as good as married aren't we?"

Ladybird pushed against his chest to distance herself from him. "I don't think that way," she said.

"Do you think someone will see?"

Ladybird stood like a statue watching the smile spread across his face. "I...I..." "Never let any man make you less than what you are". Her mother's words echoed in her head. "I am a lady, Philemon. A Christian woman. God's laws are my own. I had hoped they were yours too."

"They are," Philemon said taking her by the shoulders. "But my goodness, Ladybird, your are irresistible to me."

"I'm not sorry to say that I don't feel the same way about you," Ladybird said. She couldn't even bring herself to look at him after letting her tongue rear such words.

Philemon nodded and backed away slowly. "Very well." He left the bedroom and she followed him to the top of the stairs where he descended halfway then stopped and turned around. "You know, Ladybird I've been meaning to get this off my chest and I think tonight is as good a night as any. Your sister Wysteria will take some getting used to me and I could get used to having her around but-"

A knock at the door interrupted him. Ladybird stood frozen to her place, curious to what he had to say until the knock sounded again brining her down stairs. She opened the door and found Silas.

"Now is not a bad time is it?"

Ladybird looked over her shoulder at Philemon on the stairs then let Silas in. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm looking for Tennessee."

Philemon laughed and came down the stairs. "Planning on leaving town?" he asked putting one arm around Ladybird.

Silas simply smiled. "I take it-"

"I'm on my way to the park now, Silas," Ladybird said. "My sisters have gone ahead of me perhaps you wouldn't mind walking with us."

Silas looked between the two of them. "Uh sure."

"I was actually on my way home," Philemon said. He placed a kiss on Ladybird's cheek. "I'll put her in your hands." He rounded both of them and went out the door.

Silas watched him walk up the dark street then turned to Ladybird. "Are you all right?"

Ladybird sniffled and nodded. "Yes...yes I'm perfectly fine I'm just..." she couldn't keep the tears from coming to her eyes. "Silas will you do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"Please, if you will,fetch my sisters from the park. I don't think I can go out." She practically pushed him out the door then closed it.