Marita, shuffled idly through the letters. She smiled at the bi-monthly correspondance from her father's sister, Aunt Valentine LaFontaine. Her aunt seemed a million miles away in New Orleans, where she had gone to raise her daughter Monique with her husband's family.  Monique's family was part of the free black elite of New Orleans. She was a " pearl of the first water", her complexion was fair, smooth and soft, her hair fell in auburn ringlets down her back and she had been taught extensively in the social graces, she had gone to finishing school in Paris and spoke 4 languages.
 
Marita chuckled to herself as she  read about the continuous exploit of her rebellious cousin.  Aunt Valentine had been quoted as saying " That child is wasting her best years, riding astride, of all things through the Louisiana country side." Monique was intelligent, outspoken, and held on to life with both hands.  Horrible things!!! as far as her mother was concerned. Keeping up appearances were important,  and the Lafontaine's didn't want others to think Monique was wanton, of all things.
 
At the end of the tirade her aunt called a letter there was a P.S. "I'll be sending Monique on the 4:00 train into Lexington on May 5th, please, Marita, convince her to settle down before she's "on the shelf" and unable to find a suitable husband with her wild ways."
 
Marita called to her father from her desk in her bedroom. "Pa, Monique is coming to Lexington in a week."
 
"Your cousin Monique..?", Isaac said from the doorway. "... On a horse farm in Kentucky, this I've got to see.."
 
Marita glanced down at the plain skirt and blouse and looked up horrified. " Pa, I've no clothes that are suitable for her visit.." She self-consciencely patted her beautiful hair.."my hair is a wreck and our home is too small to accommodate her."

Isaac smiled as his daughter began to pace the room in thought.

"Maybe,  Alice can help me...Oh my I haven't seen Monique since we were children...she done so many things and been so many places......"
 
"Marita," Isaac said smiling reassuringly to his daughter, "you are also an accomplished beautiful woman. Monique will find you a joy, I'm sure."
 
"Hope so..."muttered Marita

"Where are you racing off to?" Isaac said as Marita wrapped her shawl over her shoulders

" To see Alice.." she said as she quickly pecked her father on the cheek.
 
In the Logan's study Marita admitted her worries of looking childish and foolish in front of Monique. Alice moved from the settee across from Marita to sit next to her best friend. " Marita, You are the most mature woman I know.  You're responsible and kind and you can any outwit any shallow social butterfly, I know you can."
 
"What about my clothes and hair?", Marita asked "I could never earn enough money in the next week to shop appropriately for her visit."
 
"Come upstairs, my friend. I believe I can help you with that. Remember our old games of dress up?" said Alice, taking Marita's hand. As the girls ran hand in hand up the steps of the Logan home they nearly crashed into Sean and Jeremy.
 
"Sorry.." said Alice as they raced up the steps and firmly shut the door to Alice's bedroom.
 
"What are they up to?" asked Sean.
 
"Looks like it's something that's only funny on the planet of "Woman." responded Jeremy.
 
"I have a feeling a plan is being conspired...." said Sean with a smirk.
 

"Thank you", they both said in unison as Isaac pulled away from the door step.
 
Sean stared intently at the back of the carriage as it drove away.  "It's not right..." he said

"What?" , asked Jeremy
"Marita and Alice, going to the train looking that way. It's in the middle of the afternoon and their going to a train station, not a ball. They'll attract the wrong kind of attention in town. You don't know what kind of people are lurking around a train station"
 
"Alice looked the same as always, Sean, It was Marita that looked different, and she was only as formal as Alice was. They both looked beautiful." said Jeremy
 
"What?" stormed Sean.
 
'What... they looked beautiful,....That's it, isn't it?.... you've never seen Marita look so beautiful and you're jealous!!"
 
"What, jealous of you?  I don't think so!" he snorted

"Not just of me, Sean, me and any other man that might look twice at Marita" responded Jeremy as he trotted down the steps towards the barn. Jeremy turned, " You comin' ?" he called
 
"Yeah.." said Sean, his eyes never leaving the road where he had seen the most beautiful woman in his life.
 

That evening, after supper, Monique turned to Marita " Cousin, let's go meet these Logan boys of yours. They sound absolutely charming..".

"Of course, Pa, please excuse us." said Marita.  With that Monique turned to pick up her shawl and the two were off.
 
Later, Alice observed Monique and whispered to Marita, "I see what you mean, her smile is infectious, look at Clay and Jeremy."  The two youngest boys were wrapped up in an intriguing story of New Orleans, it's night life and the people. Even Lexy was enthralled.  Only Sean, was distant, leaning a strong arm on the fire place and comtemplating the flames like a riddle. He turned abruptly and walked out of the parlor onto the porch.
 
Marita, leaned against the door frame, and watched the man she would love her whole life.
 
"Sean, what's wrong?" she asked. Placing a gentle hand on his broad shoulder.
 
"I realized I've been acting like a jealous fool all day.." He answered, as he placed his forearms on the porch railing.
 
"What?.. What are you jealous of ?", she asked totally confused.
 
"Look at you, Marita, ...I've never seen a more desirable woman in my life. I didn't even want you going into town for a fear of attracting another man's attention.."
 
Marita placed a gloved hand on Sean's jaw and ran a finger down over his chin. She forced him to look her in the eye.  "Sean I dressed like this to feel as beautiful and as much of a lady as my cousin Monique.  This was all because of my own lack of confidence." she explained," As we came down the drive, Monique explained how she was going to adore visiting me because she can be as comfortable as she wants, she gets to ride thouroughbreds, which she loves, and play outdoors with Lexy.  She doesn't have to be this stifled, little child like she does in New Orleans.  She was as jealous of my life as I was of hers. Tommorrow I'll look the same as I do everyday and Monique will be borrowing my clothes.....It's funny what you don't have always seems more interesting than what you do have."
 
Sean smiled slowly at his own realization..."Marita, ..." he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her firmly towards his chest, " If you think your not as beautiful as your cousin then I'm not doing my job..." With that he placed soft gently kisses on her full mouth and began to slowly suckle on her bottom lip.  Marita melted into Sean as she had always done, fitting perfectly her body to his. She ran her hands down his back and up over his shoulders. When he deepened the kiss even further his hands trailed down to her hips, cupping her her gently and kneaded....
 
"What's this" he said, smiling and patting her bottom.
 
"It's a bustle, " she giggled
 
"I like you without one, better." he said "This thing keeps me from getting closer to you."
 
Marita gazed at him with that "just been thoroughly kissed"  look and responded, " Tomorrow, Sean, tomorrow.... ." with that Marita glided into the house with Sean in tow. Everyone, glaced at the coupleknowingly and Ned gave a discreet "uh hem".  The room crackled with the sexual tension Sean emminated.  The unspoken relationship between Sean and Marita was obvious and Ned approved of them together, they were good for each other. Yet, he would never mention it to Sean unless Sean spoke of it first. They were going to have some hard roads to travel being together, but Ned knew if any couple could make it, they could.
 
The next morning Marita was ecsorting Monique through the garden that she had grown, when Monique spotted Sean riding on horse back toward the house. "My,my,my.  Isn't he a handsome devil," she said twirling her parasol.

" He's all right...." said Marita with a knowing smile.

"Don't worry,honey, he's all yours and then some.." Monique replied

"What do you mean." Marita said trying to sound innocent
 
Monique laughed at this.."my dear," she said, "Sean Logan has looked at you these past couple of days with the eyes of a lover, husband, and friend."
 
"Is it that obvious?" Marita asked quietly.

"To me, Yes, just be prepared for the trials that lay ahead. " Monique said." Now, don't you have horses here I should riding?"
 
To be continued...                     PART TWO