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Obedience
The next morning at breakfast, Cordia’s mother wanted to know if everything was okay between herself and Carey. Though it seemed like a prime opportunity to completely enlighten her mother, Cordia did not do so. She simply replied that nothing had changed between herself and Lt. Adams; their relationship was just as it had always been. Jane took this as good news and finished the meal with a smile on her face.
As soon as the post office had opened that morning, Cordia had been there, letter in hand, ready to inform Will of everything that had transpired. “Good morning, Mr. Wheeler. How are you this morning?”
The older man smiled at her, his spectacles sliding down his nose. “Just fine now, my dear. Long as this sun don’t burn me alive!”
It was intolerably hot outside again already, and Cordia completely understood the sentiment. “Yes, I am certainly looking forward to some nice fall weather! Mr. Wheeler, I need to get th
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October 1863The fireplace blazed away as Cordia sat in the straight-backed chair in her bedroom, her mother brushing out her long plaits of hair, just as she had done when she was a small child. The dressing mannequin across the room was an ominous presence, dressed as it was in the now nearly finished wedding dress. It had been almost two months since she had sent word to Will asking him for his consent to let her disclose their relationship so that she could terminate her engagement to Carey, and yet she had heard nothing. Every day, she stopped by the post office, hopeful that Mr. Wheeler would have some news for her, but each time, he shrugged, reluctantly. Cordia was curious to know whether or not Julia had heard from her brother, but she had been so ill recently, Cordia had scarcely been allowed to visit. The one time she had stopped by a few weeks ago, she hesitated to mention him because Julia was already struggling to breathe, and she didn’t want to u
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Fortunately, Cordia did not have to search further for find her alleged fiancé. “Cordia!” Carey exclaimed smiling that wicked smile of his as he pulled open the door. “Whatever brings you here this time of day?”She didn’t bother to come inside. Even as he spoke, she was pulling the ring off of her finger. “How dare you?” she exclaimed, throwing the small circle of gold at him and hitting him squarely in the chest. “You are the most despicable person I have ever met, and please listen carefully when I tell you I never want to lay eyes on you again. Ever!”He looked puzzled, watching the ring bounce off and roll across the porch. “Now, Cordia, whatever has gotten into your little mind now?” he asked, belittling her.Cordia could not keep the tears from trailing down her cheeks. The anger and devastation were welling up in her now, and she didn’t know if she could even find the words to
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