Chapter Sixteen
Monday morning, Val greeted Melinda, Eb, and five adults who couldn’t make the classes set for Tuesdays and Thursday evenings, along with ten of the twenty-five children who’d registered initially, and ten parents. Melinda asked to take on the children, so that left Val to teach the adults. Inside the classroom she was telling the students about herself when a young man arrived carrying an elderly woman. Val guessed him to be in his mid-twenties. He set the thin gray-haired lady gently down on the end of the bench and said, “Sorry for being late. My name is Micah Green, and this is my granny, Miss Delia.”
“No need to apologize,” Val said kindly. “I’m glad you’re here.”
The old woman stared with wet unfocused eyes and Val realized she was blind. Miss Delia said in a strong voice, “What’s your name, young woman?”
The full voice was such a contrast to her frail body, Val was caught off guard for a moment. “Valinda Lacy.”
“You don’t mind me being here, do you?”
“No, but I’m not trained to teach someone with your condition.”
“That’s okay. Not here to learn. I’m just here because I can be. Spent all my life wanting to read. Figured it must hold power if the masters didn’t want us to learn how. When my grandson told me there was a school being taught by a pretty little Colored lady, I told him I wanted to come. So, don’t mind me, Miss Lacy. You teach. I’ll sit here and listen to you, and enjoy the other folks getting to learn.”
Wiping at the tears stinging her eyes, Val began the first day of class.
It was a long week filled with laughing children guided by Melinda and sometimes-frustrated adults in Val’s class who found the introduction to the letters and the sounds difficult. Miss Delia came every day. According to her grandson, Micah, she was well into her eighties, had been enslaved since birth on a plantation west of the city, and had vowed to live long enough to walk free. Val found her to be the most inspiring individual she’d ever met. Drake was impressed by her as well. When Val learned that Micah was carrying his grandmother a mile and a half each day on his back, Drake immediately purchased the young man a wagon and a team to make it easier for them to get around.
By Friday evening, Val was exhausted but happy that her dream of teaching had finally taken root. She had a full roster of students, an assistant teacher, and, tomorrow afternoon, she’d be marrying the man she loved.
Dressed in a formal black suit, Drake waited at the bottom of the stairs for his bride. He’d never imagined his wedding day, and certainly never imagined playing groom in a situation that began as a ruse. The ceremony would be witnessed by the family only. Later, Julianna would throw open the doors to the people she’d invited. Never one for large social events, he prayed it didn’t include everyone in the state.
And then, there she was, beautiful as a sunrise. Sable was behind her, but Drake barely registered her presence. Valinda’s sweeping gold gown with its low-cut décolletage accented by a thin line of a paler silk tastefully showed off the sensual lines of her bodice and throat. Her hair was up, face accented by a touch of paint, and he had difficulty breathing.
Beside him, Rai said, “Breathe, brother. If I’m captivated by her, I know you must be inches from keeling over.”
He was right. As she seemed to float down the stairs, eyes locked with his, he was glad they were no longer pretending to be love-matched. Their match was true, and all he wanted to do was sweep her up into his arms and retire to someplace private, to hell with the guests.
She stopped before him and she was all he could see. “You look very beautiful,cheri.”
“Thank you,” she replied with what sounded like a touch of nervousness.
“I have something for you.” Unable to take his eyes from her, he reached into the pocket of his coat and removed the thin black box.
She gave him a curious look.
“Turn around, please.”
She did, and he draped the ornate gold necklace around her neck and hooked the clasp. She fingered it and walked over to the large mirror above the mantel. Her eyes showed her shock. “Where did you get this?”
The necklace with its alternating stylized leaves and delicate posts that supported tiny beautifully formed rosettes had been in the family for some time. “Mama has a trove of family jewelry, and each son gets to pick a piece for our bride on our wedding day. I chose that.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“It pales in comparison to the woman wearing it.” He walked over and stood behind her. Her eyes held his in the mirror. He placed a soft kiss on the lovely curve of her bare shoulder and felt the delicate tremor that rippled over her in response. “The others are waiting for us at the gazebo. Shall we go get married?”
She nodded.
He gallantly offered his arm and escorted her out.
While Henri’s nephew read the words of the ceremony Val stood beside Drake. She couldn’t stop shaking. Still reeling from the ornate necklace, the expensive gown, and the gold-and-diamond-accented studs Julianna had given her earlier, it was as if she’d awakened this morning and stepped into some other woman’s life. Surely this couldn’t be her own. It was, however, and as she and Drake were pronounced man and wife, the kiss he placed on her lips left her reeling as well. He drew back but not before whispering, “There’ll be more to come, later.”
Her body caught fire.
And it stayed lit for the rest of the afternoon, and as the reception guests arrived, into the evening. Each time his eyes met hers, she felt stroked by his hand. Her nipples tightened, her thighs grew warm. It didn’t matter if he was across the room or standing next to her while Julianna introduced them to people whose names she’d never remember, thoughts of the pleasure toyed with her lustfully. She longed for the festivities to end because she wanted Drake LeVeq—the sooner the better.
As the evening finally wound down, guests offered the newlyweds their congratulations and departed. Soon, only family remained. Drake, standing beside her, asked, “Are you ready to go up?”