Rebecca entered from the bathing room wearing the light blue walking dress Charlie was so fond of. "Am I presentable for the masses?"
"Entirely, my dear. I believe I may have to take a walking stick just to keep the local bucks away from you."
She laughed as she ran a hand over his chest. "Much like the one I will need to keep the ladies away from you."
"Shall we, my dear?" The sooner we get this started, the sooner it will be finished, I hope.
"Of course. Oh, while we are out I would very much like to buy Reverend Williams a gift. He has been so kind and supportive. I would like to thank him."
"What would you like to get him, dear?"
"I think a new Bible. The one he has is old and worn. I noticed during services last Sunday that the pages were starting to come loose."
"Ah, a lovely gift. There is a very nice bookstore just around the corner from the haberdashery."
"Wonderful. Then I am at your leisure, dear husband. Please take me and show me your city."
They strolled up 14th Street to G Street and turned east toward the Capitol. While many of the streets were cobbled, some of the smaller cross streets were still dirt and mud. Fortunately, there were raised boardwalks all through the city to help ladies protect their long dresses. One block over, they found a lovely bookstore, with a large selection of religious works.
Rebecca spent quite a while trying to choose just the proper Bible for the good Reverend. All the while Charlie leaned against a wall and tried to look like he was paying attention.
Finally she settled on a beautiful leather bound volume, which the clerk informed her he could emboss with Reverend Williams’s initials. She presented the book to Charlie.
"What do you think of this one?"
"Hummm. Nice leather."
Rebecca looked around to make sure no one could hear her, but she needed to find out if Charlie was actually paying attention. "Charlie, I think we should go back to the hotel room and you should let me strip off all your clothes and have my way with you."
"Whatever you want, dear."
"Charles Redmond! I swear!" She turned on her heel and went back to the clerk. "This one will do nicely. Thank you."
Charlie looked around, a little bewildered. He had found a copy of Xenophon’s The Thousand and was enthralled by the new translation. Rebecca was standing at the counter and, by the look on her face, she was not happy. Perhaps the Bible she had chosen was more expensive than she had expected.
Finally, Rebecca returned to him and tugged on his shoulder. "Perhaps, my dear, we should go to a tack or leather shop, some place you might feel more appealing." As she said this she handed him the package, which he was expected to dutifully carry.
"No, dear, of course not. This is your shopping trip, so we will go where you want."
At this point she could not be mad at him any longer. She realized that he was a fish out of water, and that he was really trying. "All right, Charlie. Perhaps a bite of lunch somewhere?"
"Certainly. I think there is a little tea room over on 11th that you would like." Manfully, he escorted her out of the bookstore and two blocks down the street, carrying the rather heavy Bible under his arm. As they walked, he talked about how construction was progressing on new office buildings and especially on the Archives, which was being designed specifically to house the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.
"That big building for those two documents?"
Charlie laughed. "Those two documents and all of the ensuing paperwork that goes into running the country those documents created, my dear."
Rebecca blushed, realizing that she sounded like a simpleton. "I guess you can take the woman out of the country, but not the country out of the woman. That had to be one of the most idiotic questions that has ever passed my lips."
"No, darling, not at all. I think very few people ever think about how much paper has to be created and stored to run a country."
"You are very kind, Charlie," she chuckled as they continued down the street.
The rest of the day was spent going from store to store, acquiring all of those things Rebecca had done without for so many years as the war had inexorably narrowed her life to the basics of staying alive. It was heaven for her, hell for him, and rough on Charlie’s checkbook. Charlie stopped at his favorite wine shop and sent a very profuse thank you attached to a case of outstanding brandy to General Grant for the use of his train car. Without it, Charlie would have been hard pressed to transport all of Rebecca’s purchases home.
That evening, they attended a concert put on by the Marine Corps Band. On the carriage ride to the Marine Barracks east of the Capitol building, Charlie told her how the Band came into existence. The band was really a small orchestra. Called "The President’s Own," it was a Washington institution, providing music for the people of the city since John Adams first took up residence at the White House. During the war, they held a concert every Saturday evening and played in Lafayette Park, across from the White House, every Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evenings. It was a lovely evening.
Sunday was a quiet day. They rose and attended services at St. John’s church, diagonally across the park from the White House. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln quietly joined the congregation, taking their seat in Pew 54, as had every president since Mr. and Mrs. Monroe. The service was gentle, a plea for peace, with the text based on the prodigal son. Mrs. Lincoln politely greeted Rebecca and Charlie after the service, introducing them to her husband.
That evening was most entertaining. Mr. Jay Cooke, a well-known financier, was visiting from his home in Philadelphia and staying at the Willard. Charlie and Mr. Cook had run into one another earlier in the week, and Mr. Cooke invited Charlie and Rebecca to join him for dinner. He was a charming and gracious host and Rebecca enjoyed the evening enormously. After dinner, the gentlemen excused themselves briefly to discuss business. Charlie was very thoughtful that night. When Rebecca tried to pry some information out of him, he was not particularly forthcoming. "Thinking about the future, honey. Thinking about the future." Rebecca resolved to ferret it out of him in the not too far distant future.
But for now, they needed to pack and get at least some sleep. The train home left early the following morning.
Chapter 29
Sunday, February 5, 1865
Rebecca settled into bed, while Charlie finished in the bathing room. She let her mind wonder at the possibilities for the evening, knowing full well that Charlie would not turn away her attentions.
She rolled over and looked in the nightstand to find the box containing Lizzie's gift. She quickly took it from the drawer and tucked it away on her own side of the bed. The blonde had decided that perhaps tonight was the night when the tables would be turned. She would possibly place a foot in what had been Charlie's world, while inviting Charlie into her own.
She tapped her fingers against the covers as she stared at the door, where Charlie was still ensconced, doing God only knew what. "Charlie? Are you all right?"
"Yes, dear. I was just, um, brushing my teeth." Charlie had taken special care tonight, cleaning every nook and cranny of her body, brushing her hair till it gleamed. It was the last night of their honeymoon, and she wanted to make it memorable.
Rebecca watched as Charlie dropped her robe and got into bed. The blonde smiled and gave the evening an unexpected start when she opened her own arms, inviting Charlie there.
Charlie settled into her arms, a little awkward, a little surprised, but very pleased. Being held was something that Charlie had experienced very seldom since she was a small child.
"Comfortable?" she asked as she slowly traced her fingers over Charlie's arm.
Charlie burrowed her head into the hollow of Rebecca’s shoulder and purred like a big, happy cat. "Incredibly. This feels so good. I think I understand why you like it so much."