A few days later Virginia suggested to Billy that they bring some of the items down from the attic. "I'd like to get those muskets and bayonets out of the house. I'd also like to go over the china and silverware and see just what we have," she said.
"All right. Those crates might be heavy though. Do you think maybe we could ask Mr. Ogilvy to help us bring them down?" he asked.
She recalled the way he had seemed so eager to know about what was in the attic and for some reason she had reservations about letting him up there and about knowing where the doorway was.
"I think we can manage on our own without bothering Mr. Ogilvy. If need be we can just bring things down in smaller batches. I'm going to change my dress and then we'll get started?" She began to go upstairs when she turned and said, "And by the way, I've been thinking about those muskets and you're right. We should keep a few of them and you can teach me how to shoot one. I'm actually getting rather excited about it," she announced with a smile.
It took most of the day but by the end of it, they had the crates of muskets, bayonets, china and silverware downstairs. Virginia laid out the silverware and began checking for any damage that the tarnishing may have done. Billy looked over the muskets checking for any damage and selecting a few to keep. He was nearing the bottom of the crate when he noticed several small pouches hidden among the guns. He scooped them up and noticed that it felt like they held small stones. They're too big to be shot pellets he thought as he walked over to the billiards table. He put the covers over the holes and undid the drawstring, spilling the contents onto the green felt. Pale shiny orbs rolled over the table top. He slowly picked one up and rolled it between his fingers. It was a pearl!
He scooped up a small handful and ran to the kitchen. He burst through the door as Virginia was holding up a large serving spoon checking for damage.
"Ginny, Ginny, look what I found!" he said holding out his hand.
She walked over to him and stared into his outstretched palm. She picked up one of the pearls and rolled it between her fingers. "It's a pearl!" she exclaimed. "Where did you find these?" she asked staring at the shimmery ball.
"In a pouch hidden amongst the muskets. There's lots more, I spilled them out on the billiards table. Come look. There's more pouches too, but I haven't opened them yet." He turned and ran back to the library.
When Virginia walked in the door Billy was leaning over the table gathering up and counting the pearls. "There are fifty here," he announced. He funneled them back into the pouch before picking up one of the others. "Do you want to open this one?" he asked holding the bag out to Virginia.
"Isn't it more of the same?" she asked. "You can open it."
He undid the drawstring and tipped the bag over the table. Pearls spilled out again, bigger ones this time. Virginia gasped as they rolled about the table top. "They must have been pirates," she whispered. She picked one up and inspected it in the candlelight. "They're exquisite," she murmured. "Open the other bags."
There were three other pouches and pearls spilled out of all of them. There were over three hundred pearls rolling about on the table.
Suddenly remembering that the house and its contents were Virginia's and her's alone, Billy asked "What are you going to do with them?"
"I'm not sure, what do you think we should do?" she said gathering them together.
"It's your decision. They're yours, not mine."
Looking over at him, standing by the window with his hands jammed into his pockets, she was reminded that even though she considered everything to be theirs, it was indeed hers. "How about this, I'd like to have a necklace made of these and you can have whatever is left over to do with as you like. I'll need about two hundred, so there will be around a hundred left." Smiling she said, "Enough for a single strand necklace. Perhaps Elizabeth might like to have some pearls."
"Oh, I don't think she would accept such an extravagant gift," he said.
"Well, you could save them until such a time comes that she would accept them."
Billy just smiled and stared down at his feet, knowing that the only way she would ever accept such a gift would be if they were married.
"Why don't we go into town tomorrow with these and take them to the goldsmith and see if we have enough for two necklaces? I'm quite sure we do," she said, scooping them up and spilling them back into the pouches.
Watching her, he said "I wonder if there are more bags of jewels hidden up there? Just tucked away in trunks and crates?"
"Well I didn't find any in with the china and silverware. If you go searching through that crate of bayonets though, be careful. They're probably still very sharp," she warned, tying the pouch closed.
"I'll go out to the barn and get some heavy work gloves," he said.
He laid the last of the bayonets on the floor and looked into the empty crate. He hadn't come across any pouches of jewels. He sighed and began placing the bayonets back into the crate. When he had finished he joined Virginia in the kitchen. He was pulling off his gloves as he walked in the door.
She looked up at him. "Any luck treasure hunting among the bayonets?" she asked.
"No, that's all that was in that crate," he replied. "How did you do? Anything broken or ruined?"
Smiling she said, "No, everything is fine. The silverware does need a good polishing though. That will keep me busy for a couple of days. We can stop at the mercantile tomorrow for some polish."
It was several days later and Doris was paying Virginia a visit. As Doris loved to know everyone else's business, the conversation turned to Billy and Elizabeth's romance.
"They make such a cute couple. Both so blonde and blue eyed. Is Billy officially courting her?" she asked.
"I believe so. He's quite smitten and I believe she is too. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a wedding sometime in the new year," Virginia said happily.
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if there's more than one," Doris said suggestively.
"What do you mean?"
"In case you haven't noticed, Thomas is also quite smitten with you," she replied with a twinkle in her eye.
Virginia blushed and looked away. "I didn't realized he felt that way," she said demurely.
"Oh my, yes. He talks about you constantly. Quite frankly, my dear, if I hear your praises sung one more time I'm just going to scream!" she said laughing.
"I had no idea. I felt quite sure that he was beginning to grow fond of me, but not to such a degree!" she said obviously surprised by Doris' comment.
"So, how do you feel about him?" she asked bluntly.
"Well, I think he's a fine man, and I do like him and would like to continue seeing him. I still don't know him very well, though," she admitted.
"Yes, Thomas can be a hard man to get to know," Doris stated a bit dramatically. "But you must give him a chance. Like you he hasn't been very lucky where love is concerned."
"Has he even been serious about anyone?" she asked, intrigued.
"Yes, there was a woman quite a few years ago, but she died in a tragic house fire. And then there was another one, she seemed such a lovely girl, but she ran off up north with a fur trapper of all things. Thomas was crushed. I think he really loved that girl. After that he seemed to give up on love, until you came along. I think he now may be willing to give Cupid another chance," she said brightening.
I wonder if I should give Cupid another chance myself, she thought. Both Charles and Drake had broken her heart. Thomas and myself have each had our hearts broken twice. Perhaps third times the charm for us both. "Well, I hope I don't disappoint him," she said nervously, pushing the thoughts of Drake away.
They continued chatting happily about Virginia's plans for the house and the upcoming Christmas season for the remainder of the afternoon until it was time for Doris to go.
