Carolina Gold Read Online Free Page A

Patsy, is coming to keep house for him. At least there will be somebody my age to talk to.” Josie heaved a dramatic sigh. “I swear, if we don’t return to some sort of social life soon, I shall go mad.”

    “Many of us are still in mourning.”
    Josie nodded. “Our family is too. But honestly, what good does it do? The departed are still departed, no matter how deeply we grieve. And I simply detest not having any entertainments to look forward to.”
    In the soft sunlight filtering through the black-laced canopy of trees, the girl’s face seemed devoid of any sign of hardship, as if the war had barely touched her. She reminded Charlotte of so many privileged young women she’d known in Charleston, with little purpose beyond having fun and snaring a suitable match. Josie ate another bite of apple. “Father says the Tuckers have invited a new minister to stay at Litchfield. He’ll hold services at the chapel there and use it as a base for his sundry charitable endeavors.”
    “Another sign of life returning to normal.”
    “I suppose.” The girl shrugged. “Did you know the Hadleys are back on the Pee Dee at Alder Hill?”
    “Yes. Mrs. Hadley is meeting me at the landing.”
    “I feel sorry for her. Mr. Hadley is not well.”
    “So I hear.”
    A few more passengers appeared on deck. Josie moved closer to Charlotte and lowered her voice. “They say he has trouble with strong drink.”
    “Poor Lettice. I hope that’s not true.”
    Josie shrugged. “They also say one of the Willowood heirs has turned up, intending to start up the rice fields again.” Josie shook her head. “I don’t care what Papa says. Rice growing is a lost cause, if you ask me.”
    “I hope you’re wrong about that. I’m planning to restore Fairhaven and plant rice again.”
    “But where will you get enough workers? Papa tried to hire a few of our former slaves to help with our cotton and corn crops, but they don’t seem all that interested.”
    “Perhaps I can find workers in Georgetown.”
    “Maybe.” Josie Clifton regarded Charlotte from beneath the brim of her hat. “I don’t remember seeing you around here.”
    “I enrolled at Madame Giraud’s boarding school in Charleston when I was nine.” She smiled at the younger woman. “I’m older than you. It’s unlikely our paths would have crossed then.”
    “You are not that much older. I’ll be seventeen in a few weeks. I’ve never been to boarding school. I’m sure I could not have abided being so far away from my parents.”
    “My cousin Della was a student at Madame Giraud’s, and I wanted to go with her. After that I was home between terms and at Christmas. We spent summers on Pawley’s Island.”
    Instinctively, Charlotte glanced over her shoulder. Pelican Cottage, her own little paradise at the edge of the sea, lay only four miles away as the crow flies. As soon as the rice was planted and growing, she would move to the island for the summer. Pawley’s would do wonders to soothe her spirit.
    The steamer slowed and bumped the pier. The passengers gathered their belongings and lined up along the ship’s rail.
    “We’re home.” Josie tossed her half-eaten apple into the river. “Perhaps I’ll see you again sometime.”
    Charlotte joined Josie and the others waiting to disembark and searched the landing for Lettice Hadley. Soon she spotted her mother’s oldest friend sitting atop a farm wagon, a pink ruffled parasol unfurled to ward off the sun. A uniformed black man held the reins. Not the most fashionable conveyance, but the wagon was needed for ferrying Charlotte’s belongings across the Waccamaw River and up the road to Fairhaven.
    She waved and hurried down the slanted gangplank. Lettice’s driver jumped down from the wagon and hurried over, a smile creasing his wrinkled face. “Miss Cha’lotte? Is that really you?”
    “My word. Trim?”
    “Yes’m. It’s me all right. I’m still on this side o’ the dirt.”
    “I never expected to see you