An Old Fashioned Southern Romance Novel by Annalise Arrington Page B

was that if you came to stay in the Big House, you were going to work. And there was plenty of work to be done. Surprisingly, Vidalia got into the work she was doing and completed many of her chores happily and without much fuss. Hattie honored her commitment and prepared yummy treats for her. But, by the time dinner rolled around, Vidalia was just too tired to eat.
    “I shall go and sit on the porch,” she told Hattie. “Afterwards, I shall retire for the evening.”
    Vidalia went outside and sat on the porch swing in darkness that yielded only to a sliver of moonlight. She looked up at the clear, dark sky and wondered what she was doing in a place where it did not rain every day.
    “I thought you were gone,” an unfamiliar voice called out.
    “I just got here,” she responded, not knowing to whom she was talking.
    “So, The Big Smoke was not everything you thought it would be and now you are back,” the voice continued the dialogue.
    “The Big Rain is more like it and yes, I have returned. Who wants to know about it?” Vidalia called out.
    “Don’t play coy with me, Anna. You are downtrodden and your dreams are shattered. Old Warren is here to pick up the pieces. Despite everything, we are still friends.”
    Vidalia soon realized it was Warrenton, whom she had not seen since she was a young girl. She had the biggest crush on him, but he was always too old for her. She was pleasantly surprised to find that he was still right next door. She now knew that he thought she was Annabella and wasn’t sure if she wanted him to come over and find out otherwise or stay over there and intrigue him with her quips. Soon, Warrenton would decide for her. After a few minutes of silence, she heard footsteps on the porch. She looked up at an impressive silhouette of a man. Just as the slight moonlight struck his forehead, he stopped abruptly.
    “You are not Annabella,” he told her, starring mesmerized.
    “You don’t say?” Vidalia retorted.
    “Who are you?” Warrenton wanted to know.
    “You mean to tell me you don’t remember me, Warrenton. Why, I could never forget you. I had the biggest crush on you growing up. But, I was too young to date. Besides, you always had eyes for Annabella.”
    “Little Vidalia? Is that you?”
    “I’m not so little anymore. I am a grown woman,” she informed him.
    “Why yes, you most certainly are,” he told her, never breaking eye contact. “You have the most striking brown eyes and hair. Wherever did you get such unusual features?”
    “My great grandmother on my father’s side was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian. She was a princess. He father was the chief of his tribe. So you see, that makes me royalty.”
    “I shall practice my curtsy, dear princess. In the meantime, what are you doing here?”
    Vidalia went on to tell Warrenton about her adventures in The Emerald City. He seemed intrigued and listened intently like no man ever had. He never took his eyes off Vidalia’s face and was smitten with her young, supple beauty. Warrenton had his share of women, but Vidalia was like none other. She was bright-eyed and unspoiled by the disappointments of life. She was not terribly privileged, but she did not want for anything. Unlike Annabella, he thought, she was not an entitled brat who thought the whole world should revolve around her and her virtue. Vidalia seemed easy-going and fun-loving. She did not seem to be a loose girl like Caroline, but she was not afraid to express herself. Warrenton felt comfortable sitting with her and talking for hours. But, after a while, he wondered why she was not being summoned inside the house.
    “Where is Hattie? It seems she would want to keep an eye on a pretty little peach like yourself.”
    “She went home to spend time with her daughter before the girl goes off to college,” Vidalia told him.
    “Ah, yes. Little Dominique. Seems like only yesterday that brilliant little bird was embarrassing me with her advanced knowledge of science.