Everlasting Light - A Civil War Romance Novella by Andrea Boeshaar

informed her that he was the youngest of his brothers, all just a little more than a year apart. His mother had died when they were young, and his two older brothers had been in and out of various scrapes, although they appeared to be showing signs of settling down. But of the three Wheeler boys, Alaina gathered that Michael was the most loyal to his father. In fact, it sounded to her as if Michael was the one who held his family together.
    “I have every confidence that you’ll do what’s right.” She smiled.
    An expression hinting of chagrin crossed his face. He stood. “Shall we get some air?”
    “I’d like that. Thank you.”
    Michael helped her to her feet. “That’s a lovely dress,” he said, escorting her through the opened double doors and out to the verandah.
    “Thank you. Jennifer Marie had it made for me—for my upcoming eighteenth birthday. Wasn’t that just the sweetest thing for her to do?”
    “It was. She can be very thoughtful.” Michael glanced over his shoulder before backing up against the wrought-iron rail. “I see she’s found another diversion.”
    “Seems you’re off the hook.” She and Michael shared a smile. “Oh, now, that wasn’t nice of me to say, was it? Jennifer Marie has only been gracious and kind to me, and I had no cause to speak of her in that dim light.”
    “I’ll take it to my grave, Alaina.” Michael leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I swear.”
    Her face flushed as she gripped the railing and stared out over the black expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Jennifer Marie’s warning about Michael having designs on her rang in her mind. Was she encouraging his attentions by standing beside him out on the verandah? But there were others around. It wasn’t as if they were alone and unchaperoned.
    “It’s a nice night,” Michael remarked.
    “A bit chilly.”
    “Just look at all those stars …”
    Glancing up at the sky, Alaina recalled how Papa liked to create all sorts of stories about angels riding through the galaxies.
    Michael turned and his coat sleeve brushed against her satin-clad arm. “You’re quite fetching in the moonlight. Braeden’s a lucky man.”
    She opened her mouth to question his motives, but suddenly an enthusiastic melody accompanied by hardy applause captured her attention. Michael listened a moment then dropped his head back and laughed. “A reel. Come on.” His hand folded over hers and he led her toward the door.
    Alaina jerked back. “Michael, I—”
    “It’s harmless. Here, watch for a minute.”
    He stood behind her, his palms resting on her shoulders, while Alaina watched a couple skip up a row paneled with ladies on one side and men on the other. When they reached the end, the couple locked elbows and swung around one way then the other before making their way behind the group and standing at the beginning of the line. The women stepped forward and curtseyed. Then the men stepped forward and bowed. The next couple proceeded in the same manner, but when they reached the end, they did a different jig before returning to the beginning of the queue.
    “See, it’s easy.”
    Michael’s warm breath sent a shiver down her spine. What sort of shiver, Alaina couldn’t be sure. Delight? Warning?
    “When a couple reaches the end of the line, they do a dance step of their choosing. Let’s join in.”
    Alaina still had reservations, but before she knew it he had pulled her into the middle of the ballroom, and they were melded into the clapping, chanting throng.
    “Alaina!” Jennifer Marie called, sporting rosy cheeks, “Isn’t this fun?”
    She wasn’t sure, although she couldn’t withdraw from the queue now without making a scene.
    Alaina followed the other ladies and stepped forward and curtseyed. Directly across from her, Michael stepped forward and bowed. He gave her a rascally wink.
    Finally it was her turn with Michael. Arm in arm, they promenaded up the middle of the row of humanity and at the end, he pulled her