The Rebel's Pleasure

Chapter 1

"How beautiful it is tonight with the full moon, reflected in the river," Kate Cameron murmured, trailing her fingers in the water alongside the canoe as it drifted with the current not far from the shore of the Potomac.
" Yes,it is lovely as long as one stays up here away from the city," Noel Philips agreed,dipping a paddle into the stream just enough to keep the craft on a steady course." Farther down, the water is full of garbage . The scum who live there dump it into the river."
Kate sighed inwardly, wishing he hadn't brought that up. Noel's open contempt for the population of the nations capital disturbed her. "Just for tonight, can we pretend that it's all as pristine as when it was created?" she asked, smiling wistfully in an effort to beguile him into a lighter , brighter mood.
Noel's full lips curved upward, and his even white teeth flashed in the semidarkness as he grinned. "Remember, that's really true on our plantations back in Virginia. If your uncle Joe would resign as senator and give up his ridiculous efforts to keep the South bound to the corrupt Union, you could  quit playing hostess and secretary to him here in Washington and go home. Then it might be easier to convince you that you were meant to rule over a great plantation among people who appreciate your grace and culture ."
Kate's gaze dropped to the fingers making ripples in the tepid water. How like Noel it was to couple a compliment with an attack on her uncle
"My father felt the same way Uncle Joe does, Noel."
"Your father was a retired soldier. Your uncle is a politician."
"You're a soldier yourself, Noel." She had hoped to avoid this kind of conversations , but it seemed impossible. Everywhere one went nowadays, the same argument was taking place. The atmosphere in Washington had become so strained that some soirees and balls were held exclusively for Union sympathizers and others only for secessionists. People who had been friends for years now passed one another on the street without speaking, and hotels and saloons had taken on the protective color-shared the same sentiments. "And as you know , my father was a Marine, not a soldier."
Noel shrugged. "What I'm saying is that he was a military man and for that reason remained loyal to an ungrateful government that quickly forgot his sacrifice and the wound he received at Chapultepec that ruined his life."
Kate sighed again. This was getting them nowhere. Renewing her resolve not to argue with Noel, she playfully flicked her wet fingers at him and changed he subject. "Come now,sir you've not told me what fortuitous circumstances brought you to  Washington."
He ducked the sprinkles of water and retaliated by threatening her with a splash from the tip of a raised oar, laughing as she instinctively turned her head away. "It was not luck, my dear girl, but orders."
"Orders? Really ?"
He nodded. "Yes. Buchanan asked Winfield Scott to transfer his headquarters to the capital so he can hide behind the ample figure of the national hero."
Kate felt a thrill of awe at the mention of Winfield Scott. Her father's voice had always taken on a tone of near reverence when he spoke of the valiant general who had served his country so well during the War of 1812 and the Mexican confrontation.
"Then you'll be stationed here for a while and we can see each other often?"she asked, not quite sure how she felt about that.
There was no question that Noel was physically attractive. His thick, wavy blond hair was brushed back from his handsome face except for one rebellious lock that dipped low on his forehead toward the twin wings of his eyebrows. Long lashed, slightly hooded lids gave his startlingly azure blue eyes a sleepy, smoldering look, and his straight nose, sensual lips, and cleft chin completed a pleasing visage. Of medium height and build, he was nevertheless well proportioned, with a broad chest that tapered down to a trim waist, narrow hips, and well-shaped legs. There was not one attribute a lady could find less than appealing. His smile was engaging, his manners were polished, and his natural charm increased his considerable eligibility to the point that his mother worried that some thoroughly unsuitable female would entrap him before Kate made up her mind to take the fateful step into matrimony that would unite the two most prominent landowning families in Virginia.
" As often as possible," he answered with an ardor that made Kate uneasy. "I intend to spend every waking hour I can escape from duty wooing you."
Kate laughed to hide her nervousness and spoke without thinking. "Well, that should keep you out of trouble."
Instantly a frown darkened Noel's brow. "If by 'trouble' you mean secessionist politics, my dear, forget it. That is one area where even you cannot sway me."
"What about your general? How will he feel about that?"
"General Scott is a Virginian," he said as though saying the old war hero was a descendant of the gods. "He has been wise enough to appoint only Southerners used to high Army post commands. I'm sure he will do his duty to his state when the time comes."
What about his duty to the Constitution? Kate wondered. She couldn't believe the man her father had described in such glowing terms would desert his country if it came to rebellion.
"Of course, General Scott will want to meet you," Noel was going on as the canoe drifted in toward shore under willow trees overhanging the grassy bank.
"Why on earth would he want to meet me?" Kate asked in genuine surprise.
"Well, because you are a beautiful woman, for one thing," Noel answered.

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