The Travellers Chronicles Book Five: To Build A Country

Chapter Three

Samuel led Lisette through the marketplace towards a small French café about a ten minutes' walk from her house. While they walked, they chatted about their likes and dislikes. When they arrived at the café the host gave them a table by a window to look out at the people passing by.

Samuel pulled out Lisette's chair for her to sit before he took his own seat. The host passed them the menus and left. "I recommend the macaroons." Samuel suggested.

"Macarons." Lisette corrected him. "The French dessert is called macarons, while the Italian dessert is macaroons."

"Oh goodness." Samuel chuckled. "I have been ordering wrong for a year then."

"It is alright; it is a little-known fact here."

The waiter came to their table and took their order before either spoke again. "How did you come to know so much about French pastries?"

Before Lisette could answer the waiter brought their order. When he left, she answered. "My mother is of French descent." Which is not a lie. "Her maiden name was Fabray. Both my parents wanted me to know all I could about the world, so my lessons were quite extensive." Lisette hated lying to Samuel, but she had no choice.

"How remarkable; many young women do not learn so much about the world." Samuel prepared his tea and took a sip. "Were you raised in Washington?"

"No, I was raised in Greenwood, Maryland. We came here after my father finished his time as mayor."

"How interesting." He offered Lisette a pastry. "Your father has always been in politics then?"

"Yes." She took a drink. "He very much enjoys it. Do you enjoy what you do?"

"Being a Captain, yes. The war however, I do not."

"Of course not, how stupid of me."

Samuel took her hand. "You could never be." Lisette blushed before taking a drink again with her other hand. "Tell me more about yourself."

"What would you like to know?"

The Captain thought a moment. "Your hopes, dreams. That sort of thing."

"That is an easy answer." And it truly was. At least, what little she could reveal. "I want to build a better America."

Samuel smiled and rubbed her hand. "An admirable dream, and one I share. But my biggest dream is to fall in love and marry my best friend."

Lisette blushed again as she thought of them marrying. "A dream I share as well."

"It seems we are quite inline when it comes to our hopes and dreams. Perhaps we will find much more that we have in common."

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With no space at their rented house, the ladies had to rent out a ballroom downtown. They were now the hosts of a ball in the Lincolns' honour as the Secretary of State and his wife. Many government officials and military members, both commanders and foot soldiers, were in attendance.

When the Lincolns arrived, they beelined for their hosts. "What a wonderful turnout." Lincoln told Sybille and Tess.

"Thank you, Mr. President." Tess said before talking to the First Lady. "It is lovely to see you again, Mrs. Lincoln."

"It truly is. How have you both been?"

"Well." Sybille answered. "Only busy with the planning."

"Of course, I know first-hand how difficult these are to put on."

"Very." The First Lady chuckled with Sybille.

"Perhaps we should mingle, Mary." Lincoln suggested to his wife.