Eudes —As the outstanding chef at Georgina’s, he brings the customers in for the food. He is quite an independent thinker; he’s a free black man who, like Georgina, doesn’t blab everything he knows.
Deborah —The most expensive of the delicious offerings at Georgina’s thanks to her beauty and her self-possession. She can drive a man crazy. She’s a runaway slave, as are many of the girls. The white girls also ran away. Spared slavery, they were not spared brutality, unwanted sexual congress, or poverty. All of which binds the girls to Georgina, who treats them decently—plus they make good money.
THE ANIMALS
Mrs. Murphy —Harry’s tiger cat who knows she has more brains than her human. She used to try to keep Harry out of trouble. She gave up, knowing all she can do is extricate her human once she’s in another mess.
Pewter —A fat gray cat who believes the world began when she entered it. What a diva. But the Queen of All She Surveys does come through in a pinch, although you’ll never hear the end of it.
Tee Tucker —Bred by Susan Tucker, this is one tough, resourceful corgi: She knows she has to protect Harry, work with the levelheaded Mrs. Murphy, and endure Pewter.
Owen —Tucker’s brother. They adore being with each other. For Tucker it’s a relief to sometimes be away from the cats.
Shortro —A young Saddlebred ridden as a hunter.
Tomahawk —Harry’s old Thoroughbred hunter who hotly resents being thought old.
Pirate —An Irish wolfhound puppy who loves everyone but is confused by Pewter, who does not.
THE EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY ANIMALS
Piglet —A brave, smart corgi who went through the war and imprisonment with Captain Charles West. He loves living in Virginia with the other animals and people.
Serenissima —Francisco Selisse’s fabulous blooded mare whom he sent to Catherine to be bred to her stallion, Reynaldo.
Reynaldo —An up-and-comer with terrific conformation, but hot. Catherine and Jeddie can handle him.
Crown Prince —A younger half brother to Reynaldo. Both are out of Queen Esther, and fortunately, Crown Prince has her temperament.
King David —One of the driving horses. He’s heavier built than Reynaldo and Crown Prince. Solomon is King David’s brother. They are a flashy matched pair.
Castor and Pollux —Two Percherons who do heavy-duty work. They are such good boys.
Sweet Potato —A saucy pony teaching Tulli to ride.
Black Knight —Yancy Grant’s fast Thoroughbred.
1
December 23, 2016
Friday
“Can’t complain. Business has been good.” Anne de Vault, the owner, glanced up as more customers entered the store as if to prove her point.
The store, finally settled in its new location, boasted good floor display space as well as wall bookcases. Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, Harry’s two cats, and Tucker, the corgi, inspected the books closest to the floor.
“No books on catnip,” Pewter, the gray cat, complained.
“Who would write about catnip?” the dog wondered.
“An herbalist,” Pewter replied. “Humans drink catnip tea. It’s a waste of good dried leaves but they do drink it. Catnip is meant to be chewed, inhaled, and then rolled in.” This was pronounced with authority.
Harry watched as customers picked up books, put some down, kept others. There was no accounting for taste.
“Even the post office parking lot is full. I was lucky. Just as I pulled in here a big SUV, big as in big as the state of Illinois, pulled out. Before I start browsing, did my order for Susan come in?”
“ Capability Brown. In,” Anne replied.
“Susan is getting as serious about gardening as she is about golf. Saw the book written by the Duchess of Rutland. Thought she’d like it.” Harry commented on one of her best friend’s deepening interest in gardening, and who better to write about it than an Englishwoman?
The English excelled at gardening. Rich, poor, in-between, they had the touch.
“The book is enormous. Lots of photographs, drawings.” Anne placed it on the counter.
“Give me a minute to cruise. I need to find some other gifts and nothing is better than a book.”
The door opened again.
Anne called out, “Lisa, your books are in.”
Lisa Roudabush, mid-thirties, medium height, was the director of the Albemarle County office of Nature First, a statewide environmental nonprofit. The headquarters was in Richmond but small offices were in every town with a university since the young were environmentally conscious.
Raynell Archer, Lisa’s assistant, began to turn the card cylinder looking for clever cards. They had walked into the store together, both lingering.
“Harry.” Lisa smiled. “Come to the office after you buy your books and I buy mine. Gary Gardner is almost finished and it’s a terrific design.”
Raynell, now looking at books displayed artfully on a table, added, “Harry, the walls run diagonally.”
“Do they?” Harry was curious.
“Well, I need to go to his office to pick a few last plans, approve more drawings, but we are nearly finished.” Lisa would be glad when the remodeling was over.
“He’s doing a workshed for me. It’s a gift from my husband. Isn’t Gary fun to work with?”
“He is.” Lisa looked out the large front windows, one of the best features of the store. “Are we ever going to see the sun again?”
“Spring,” Anne called from the counter. “And it’s supposed to start snowing again tomorrow and on Christmas. A white Christmas.”
“I tell myself winter can be beautiful but I never quite believe it.” Lisa walked to the counter where Anne had piled up her ordered books.