To Have and To Hold Read Online Free PDF Page B

the kitchen.
    Aunt Thora pointed to the trays. “You’ll have to make two trips. Couldn’t fit everything on one tray.”
    â€œWould you please bring the second tray? That way I can begin to serve without allowing the coffee to get cold.” Audrey didn’t want to beg, but she truly hoped the older woman would relent.
    Thora curled her lip. “I s’pose, but I’m not serving your visitor.”
    Audrey sighed with relief. “Just carry the tray into the parlor and set it on the table, and then you can go and take your afternoon nap.” She pecked the woman on her cheek. “Thank you.”
    â€œ Humph. So long as you remember that I’m doin’ this for you and not for that Yankee.”
    With a grin, Audrey picked up the larger tray. The thought that Aunt Thora would do anything for a Yankee would never cross Audrey’s mind, but she let the comment go unanswered. Any deeper discussion of the war or relations between the North and South would only delay Audrey’s return to the parlor.
    â€œHere we are. I hope you like caramel cake, Mr. Morley.” Audrey placed the tray on a table to one side of the sitting area.
    â€œI don’t believe I’ve ever tasted caramel cake, but I’m always pleased to try a new dessert.” He did his best to smile when Aunt Thora plunked her tray on the table.
    â€œHow could a man live to be your age and never eat caramel cake? I never heard the like!” Thora turned on her heel and stomped out of the room. “Yankees!”
    Audrey’s father shook his head. “Thora’s a good woman, but she’s still unwilling to accept the outcome of the war. She continues to harbor a strong dislike for Northerners.”
    Mr. Morley chuckled. “After our encounter out front, I assumed we wouldn’t become immediate friends.” He tasted a bite of the cake. “This is excellent. Perhaps you could send the recipe to Mattie. I’m sure the children would enjoy it.”
    â€œI’ll send it the next time I write.” Audrey poured coffee into his cup. “You mentioned investing in Jekyl Island. I’m excited to hear you’ll be spending part of the year nearby.”
    â€œI haven’t thrown in with the men involved in the proposal. I spoke with several of them when I was last in Chicago—Marshall Field and Wirt Dexter both encouraged me to seek membership, but a few days later I was contacted by Thaddeus Baker, an investor from Syracuse who was visiting in Pittsburgh. He, too, had been asked to join the investors forming the club on Jekyl Island, but his wife wasn’t in favor.” Mr. Morley tipped his head to the side and glanced at my father. “You know how women can be when it comes to hunting and fishing and less than opulent living conditions. Most don’t find it appealing. Mrs. Baker thought wives would be much more interested in spending their winters where the accommodations were more luxurious than those being planned for, where there were more options for entertainment, and where individual accommodations would be available at the outset. As I expected, my wife agreed with Mrs. Baker’s assessment.”
    Audrey’s earlier excitement plummeted. So she wouldn’t have an opportunity to visit with Mattie after all. Still, Audrey didn’t understand why her former employer had traveled to Georgia if he didn’t intend to join the group. “Did you hope to change Mrs. Morley’s decision after visiting?”
    â€œNot at all. As it turns out, I’ve helped to gather another group of men, and we have formed our own organization. An excellent group of investors—and after one concession, I was even able to convince Thaddeus Baker to join us. Our group has made almost as much progress as the Jekyl group. However, we have managed to keep our activities less public—by choice, of course. We have a few details that need to be