Jacqueline gasped. "Yes, Elijah, I will." She leaped frantically for joy as he pulled her in for a chaste embrace. She pushed him back. Gathered her skirts as quickly as humanly possible.
"I must inform Mama. Please escort me back to her darling." Her grin was so wide. He nearly believed that she was shocked, but as ever he knew her to be a consummate actress. Had not this union not been in negotiations for months now?
"Of course, Dearest, as you wish." He took her hand and led her to her party.
Jacqueline's corpulent mother, Eliza, sat in a large chair in the center of all the chattering matrons. She was the head of Virginia's gossip mill, the despicable old crone. She spent her days recounting groundless rumors about others. Plotting and backbiting seemed routine hobbies to her. It was a wonder she had not yet been poisoned or inadvertently landed at the bottom of a cliff. Her husband, Sir Marcus Morgan was a quiet, unassuming man of small stature and thinning grey hair with kind blue eyes. He sat next to his wife having the appearance of total disassociation with reality. Elijah supposed that after spending over twenty years with Eliza any man would lose his will to live. Eliza was a tyrant in her home, which was no secret.
"My Lady Morgan," Elijah bowed and kissed her fleshy hand. "I have returned your daughter to you, in hopes you will allow me to steal her away again soon."
"Oh, you...Elijah...ever your father's son, charming as the day is long. It is a wonder you've been unattached this long." The grey-haired woman demurely smoothed her gaudy black and gold gown from her large bosoms, down past her waist. She knew where to draw a man's gaze; she must have been a proper vixen in her time.
"Unattached no longer Mama; Elijah, has asked for my hand and I have consented." Jacqueline squealed in self-indulgent delight. Elijah fought the urge to roll his eyes and sigh.
"Oh my dear, this is wonderful news. Your parents must be thrilled I know that we are. By the by, how is your dear father? I heard that he has recently purchased slaves, a smart move that." Eliza said, with the corners of her mouth curling up into an impish grin; knowing full well that this news would cause great displeasure for Elijah.
Lord and Lady Morgan's Plantation was the only one in the region to rival Elijah's father in the agricultural industry. While they reaped huge profits upon the backs of their ill-treated slaves, The St. John family business suffered.
The year was 1855; the employ of slaves was a common practice, one Elijah's father, Thorne St. John, refused time and time again. Being from London, a place where society is built on different principals, the St. John family decided it would uphold its religious and moral beliefs and not stoop to inhumanity. To hear such news shook Elijah to his core. Anger permeated his entire body. Something so revolting in his very home and he was the last to be aware of it.
"I was ill-informed," Elijah said solemnly, fighting to keep his mask of indifference in place. "I beg your pardon ladies; I must return to my party and share the joyous news." He turned to Jacqueline, "My love, I shall call upon you on the morrow." With this, he bowed and turned away.
Elijah searched for his parents but it was obvious that they had already taken their leave. Had he gotten a chance to speak to his father there it may have caused a scene. Perhaps it was better this way, he would have a chance to calm himself and then discuss it rationally. He returned to Thomas he would need his counsel immediately.