Camellia (46 page)

“And the way Jensen loves you, Tamar.” Lily smiled and moved toward the fancy dress suspended from a wooden rod in one corner of the stateroom. The skirt consisted of three deep flounces, each edged with wide lace. A bodice of matching white silk was decorated with floral fasteners and had short, puffed sleeves. Across the bed pillows lay the lace veil that would drift behind Camellia as she floated down the aisle in front of her friends and family. “You’ll be a beautiful bride, dearest.”

Camellia’s expression mellowed, and a dreamy look replaced the concern in her eyes. “I’ve wanted to be married since I was a little girl.”

“I have to admit I once worried you might select a husband for the wrong reasons, but you resisted the temptation to choose status over substance.” Lily turned to the dressing table and reached to give her sister a hug. “Jonah Thornton is a fine Christian man. I know the two of you will keep God at the center of your lives, and He will bless your union.”

“Amen.” Tamar tweaked an errant curl into place.

Tears sparkled at the corners of Camellia’s eyes.

“Don’t you go crying and mess up that beautiful face.” Tamar shook a finger at Camellia’s reflection. “Tears aren’t what you want to remember about your wedding day.”

Camellia sniffed. “You’re right.”

“What’s going on in here?” Jasmine bounded into the room with the enthusiasm and energy of youth. “Are you crying, Camellia?”

Camellia shook her head and dabbed at her eyes with the lace handkerchief Tamar handed to her.

Lily smiled at both of them, but her words were directed toward her youngest sister. “You’ll understand better when it’s your turn to get married.”

“I’m not going to get married.” Jasmine turned up her nose. “I’m going to be an actress with my own show and loads of admirers.”

Tamar gasped, but Lily was not surprised. Her youngest sister had a talent for dramatic pronouncements. “That’s good. You’re too young to be thinking of marriage anyway.”

Jasmine flipped her hair over one shoulder, her exotic violet-hued eyes scornful. “I don’t care how old I am, I’ll never get married. I want to be free to follow my dreams.”

Lily exchanged a knowing glance with Camellia. Jasmine’s words mirrored the sentiments each of them had once expressed. Camellia had used the same reasoning when she wished to go to the finishing school in New Orleans, and Lily had used it when explaining to her relatives why she had bought her first riverboat. But both she and Camellia had been much older than Jasmine was now. “Let’s not worry about that. Today is Camellia’s special day. The whole town is coming to share in her joy.”

Chastened by the reminder, Jasmine nodded and lowered her nose. “You’re right.”

Lily’s stomach churned, and she spread a hand over it below the blue ribbon around her waist. A thrill shot through her. She was expecting again, she was sure of it. But as she’d told Jasmine, today was not the day to focus on anything except Camellia and Jonah’s happiness. Her announcement could wait. Even Blake didn’t know yet.

A knock on the door was followed by Blake’s voice. “Are you ladies ready? Everyone is here, and there’s a nervous young fellow pacing the deck above you.”

“We’ll be up in a few minutes.” Lily carefully took the wedding dress from its hanger, and she and Tamar lifted it over Camellia’s curls. “Tell Jonah not to worry.”

They heard his footsteps move away and breathed a collective sigh before turning to the next task—fastening the tiny pearl buttons on the back of the dress as well as the florets on the bodice.

Jasmine brought over a pair of white kid gloves and handed them to Camellia as Tamar and Lily secured the long veil in Camellia’s hair.

When they finished, Lily stepped back to admire the picture her sister made. “You are so beautiful, inside and out.”

Camellia took a deep breath, smiled, and nodded. “Thank you for letting me find my own way to happiness, Lily.”

Lily nodded, and she sent a prayer of thanksgiving to God for their blessings. She opened her arms and gathered both of her sisters close for a hug.

“Now, don’t you mess up Camellia’s dress.” Tamar’s admonition ended the hug. “Lily, you and Jasmine go on to the parlor. I’ll follow to make sure Camellia’s train is straight when she makes her grand entrance.”

Lily hesitated a moment, but then she felt Jasmine’s arm around her waist. It was time to let Camellia go start her own family. She pulled Jasmine closer as they made their way to the crowded main room.

More than one hundred chairs were arranged in neat rows, and nearly every seat was occupied. It seemed the whole town had decided to attend Camellia and Jonah’s wedding.

She and Jasmine took two chairs on the front row next to David and Blake, who was holding Noah. Grandmother was seated past them, with Aunt Dahlia and Uncle Phillip filling out the row.

Papa stood next to the podium, his smile as wide as the Mississippi. Jonah, standing next to him, still looked a little pale.

No wonder, given the fact that he’d only returned to Natchez from the war a month earlier. When Lily and the rest of the family tried to convince him to wait until he fully regained his health before marrying Camellia, he had replied that he had waited far too long already. He would marry his bride as soon as his parents arrived from New Orleans.

Lily leaned forward and looked to her left, sending a smile toward Mr. and Mrs. Thornton. Who would have thought that the friendship they had offered so many years ago would end in the union of their families? God, of course. It amazed Lily that she could be so blind to His purpose until she looked back in time. But seeing His guiding hand was a comfort she relied upon. No matter what circumstances or challenges they faced, He was always there.

Her thoughts were cut off as the buzz of conversation died down. She looked back to the entrance of the room and saw Camellia standing in the doorway, her skirts flowing around her like fluffy white clouds. Lily and the others stood and watched as she advanced, seeming to float forward like a cloud. When she reached the front of the room, Jonah stepped toward her, his adoration for Camellia plain to see.

He took her hands in his own, staring into her eyes as though she was the only person in the room. He repeated his vows as instructed, never looking away from her. When Papa pronounced them man and wife, Jonah swept back Camellia’s veil with one hand and captured her face with the other. His whole attitude was one of love and devotion. What a wonderful man Camellia had fallen in love with.

“I love you.” Blake whispered the words in her ear as he put an arm around Lily’s shoulders.

Looking up at her husband, Lily thanked God again for her blessings—for giving her a dream and helping her to follow it. “I love you, too.”

Lily’s heart seemed likely to burst from happiness as she returned her attention to Camellia and Jonah. They ended their first kiss as a married couple. Jonah tucked his bride’s hand under his arm, grinning at the audience as Papa introduced them.

Mr. and Mrs. Jonah Thornton began their new life … together.

Diane T. Ashley,
a “town girl” born and raised in Mississippi, has worked more than twenty years for the House of Representatives. She rediscovered a thirst for writing, was led to a class taught by Aaron McCarver, and became a founding member of the Bards of Faith.

Aaron McCarver
is a transplanted Mississippian who was raised in the mountains near Dunlap, Tennessee. He loves his jobs of teaching at Belhaven University and editing for Barbour Publishing. A member of ACFW, he is coauthor with Gilbert Morris of the bestselling series “The Spirit of Appalachia.” He now coauthors with Diane T. Ashley on several historical series.

1. This story is in large part Camellia’s spiritual journey. At first, she selfishly follows her own ambitions. But circumstances begin to point her toward her talents of nursing the sick and wounded. What abilities and attributes does she possess that lead her to discovering this gift? Do you think God puts certain things into us from our “creation” that help reveal his will for our lives? Camellia also changes in her outlook on her lifestyle. How do her newfound abilities play a part in her “awakening”?

2. Jonah’s convictions drive his actions throughout the story, leading him to go against most of his family and spy for the North. Was he right with the choices he made that turned him away from his parents? Are there times God would allow us to forsake our parents’ teachings? How should we handle these situations to be pleasing to God? Jonah struggles with moral issues that come up as a result of his spying. Is lying ever the right thing to do in situations like this? Check out stories of spies in the Bible, such as the story of Rahab hiding the spies (Joshua 2) and the incident of the woman hiding two friends of David who were going to warn him of Absalom’s plots (2 Samuel 17).

3. Blake’s spiritual journey is continued in this book, as he must deal with his father and the animosity he has felt for him. Was it right for Blake to wait as long as he did to approach his father? Often as adults, people come to realize that some actions of their parents they thought were bad were actually for their good. How did this apply to Blake’s situation? Do you feel that Blake’s father was solely responsible for their situation or did Blake have a part to play in it, too?

4. John Champion’s story was particularly fun for us to write in this book. We so enjoyed showing the complete redemption of this man. In this redemption, should he have been more straightforward in letting Blake know of his father’s accident and illness, or was he right in the way he did it? In helping Blake, should he have realized he needed to go to his parents as well? Do you think God sets up certain times for us to have necessary conversations with others, such as what John and Blake needed to do, or do you think we should take those opportunities as soon as they come, as God simply directs us to live at peace with others?

Determined to avoid a marriage of convenience, a Mississippi belle tries her hand at a riverboat venture. Will she find love while navigating danger?

Available wherever Christian books are sold.