Murder At Brick House: Chapter Five - Strange Encounter On The Pilot Boy
The Legend of Amelia
Murder At Brick House: The Legend of Amelia is based on a well-known South Carolina Lowcountry ghost story about a young girl who was shot and killed on what was to be her wedding day (August 13) at Brick House Plantation, Edisto Island, SC.
Although there has never been any verification that this story is true, varying accounts have been published over the years. As with most ghost stories, there is, no doubt, some element of truth.
This Serial novel is a fictional account that explores what Amelia’s life might have been like in the context of the Antebellum South. Some historical places and names are real.
Brick House Plantation is held in a family trust and has been continuously owned by the Jenkins family (of which I am a part) since the early 1800s.
Aaron Brown couldn't believe his luck.
Even though his subject was far above his station, he was being paid to keep his eyes on a beautiful girl. He waited to board the Pilot Boy until he was sure where Amelia would be seated.
Positioning himself along the railing, he was close enough to partially see Amelia and her traveling companion and hear their conversation, but far enough to appear as just another passenger enjoying the scenery.
He knew that surveillance would be tricky once they reached Edisto as Brick House was isolated on Russell Creek, more than a mile from the main travel road across the island. He had no real business there, so he would have to figure out some way to overcome that issue.
The mild, sunny late August day could not have been more perfect. Martha took control of everything from purchasing their tickets and checking their trunks to finding seats at the front of the open balcony above the main deck for the best views along the way.
Amelia was thankful for Martha's familiarity with traveling on the Pilot Boy. Although she, herself, had sailed on her father's seventy-foot harbor sloop, the Lowcountry Lady, hundreds of times since she was a little girl, she had never set foot on a steamer.
Martha introduced Amelia to a neighbor who happened to be traveling back to Edisto as well.
“Mrs. Seabrook, this is my friend, Amelia Prioleau, from Charleston. We were roomates at Madam Talvande’s School. Her father is Anthony Prioleau who owns Palmetto Shipping. I'm sure the Captain and your sons have done much business with him over the years. Amelia will be staying with us this Fall.”
Mary Ann Mikell Seabrook was the widow of Captain William Seabrook and the Matriarch of Seabrook Plantation, just down the creek from Brick House. The estate property included the steamboat landing, for which Captain Seabrook had negotiated a trade for a major share in the steamer operations.
“Amelia, dear”, Mary Ann reached for her hand. “I've actually heard much about you. When your father visits Edisto, we usually commandeer him for a meal at some point. He loves to talk about his family. Especially you. I must say, you are every bit as beautiful as he has claimed.”
Amelia blushed at the compliment. She laughed as she said, “Thank you, ma'am. Seeing as I'm his only child, I don't have much competition.”
“So what brings you out to our little paradise?”
“Well, I do miss my dearest friend here”, pointing the Martha. “The way she describes the beauty and sereneness of Edisto, I thought it might be the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and sort out all my feelings and emotions about the changes that will be happening in my life very soon.”
“Yes, I have heard. Your father introduced your fiancé, who came with him on his last trip out here. He is certainly handsome. I'm sure Anthony is also pleased to have someone to help with his growing business”, Mary Ann said.
What she didn't say was that she had actually seen him before with the hard-looking man who was standing against the railing not ten feet away, staring at them.
Amelia noticed that Mrs. Seabrook was reserved in her assessment of Robert, not even mentioning his name, and was actually looking beyond her when she spoke.
Aaron quickly turned his head when he realized that Mrs. Seabrook was staring straight at him. Had she noticed his intensity as he tried to hear their conversation? He would have to be more careful. Robert would not be happy if his cover was blown before he even got to Edisto.
“Why don't we go for a stroll, my dear”, Mrs. Seabrook stood and took Amelia by the hand.. “Martha, will you save our seats while I show Amelia around?”
“Yes ma’am”.
Martha knew that not a lot escaped Mrs. Seabrook's sharp eye. If she wanted to talk with Amelia alone, there was a reason. Did she sense Amelia's reservations about marrying Robert the same as she had?
Aaron realized his dilemma as Mary Ann steered Amelia toward the starboard balcony, away from where he was standing. He thought it best if he just stayed where he was and wait for them to take their seats again. Maybe he could strike up a conversation with her traveling companion while she was alone.
“Tell me more about this man you plan to marry. I did not learn a lot when we met him. Just that he was from up North and had come South for a better opportunity to establish a brokerage business”, Mary Ann said.
Amelia was surprised by Mary Ann's directness, yet felt strangely drawn by the tenderness in her voice and readiness to listen.
Her words came spilling out.
“To tell you the truth, I don't know much more about him than you do”, Amelia replied. “Other than saying his family had immigrated from Sweden when he was nine, he has never talked about them. He says it's too painful, but he has never said why.
“You've probably noticed he walks with a slight limp, which he said was from an injury sustained in an accident in New York. He's never really explained how that happened, either.
“And he doesn't talk about his work, especially his business trips. Other than the times he has traveled with Papa, I don't know anything about what he does, where he goes, or who he does business with. I don't think Papa does either. I’m not even sure where his office is. I assume it’s close to the waterfront.
“We met three years ago, when he began showing up in Papa's office to offer his brokerage services. He was quite charming. Of course, at sixteen, I was taken with his roguish good looks.
“He sought Papa’s permission to court me and recently asked me to marry him. Our engagement was announced the same day as my graduation party from Talvande’s Finishing School.
“Robert has always been polite, but that’s just it. He too polite, but without much actual affection.
Mama seems to be smitten with him. And Papa has not been shy about considering Robert as a business partner. It doesn’t appear that they have the same reservations that I do.
But, something is not right. Charming my parents, marrying me, secretive business trip - It’s like it's all an act to achieve a goal . I am afraid that goal is to take over Papa's business. I just seem to be a part of that strategy.
“As our relationship grew, Robert has been adamant about keeping his business trips to himself. He says I should not be concerned. But, I don't see how that can be in a marriage. The way he says it appears more about shielding himself rather than concern for me.
“I know God has said that when a man and a woman are married, they become as one person. How can we be one, if he keep part of himself private? How can I be a help to him if I don't even know what he is doing?
“And just last week, he grew extremely angry when I told him I was coming to stay with Martha for the Fall. I had never seen him like that before.”
“The more I get to know what little I can about him, the less peace I have about it. But, I know Papa is desperate for someone to take the reins of Palmetto Shipping when he decides to step down. I don’t want to disappoint him.”
She could not believe she had just spilled all that out to someone she had met not an hour before. “Oh, Mrs. Seabrook, I am so sorry. It was like all that was walled up behind a dam and you opened up the spillway.”
“Listen, my dear”, Mary Ann replied. “At my age, I've seen it all. Some people, no doubt, think of me as an old busybody, but I've learned over the years that observing the behavior and actions of others comes in quite handy sometimes and saves us a lot of grief. My husband had learned to rely on my intuition. He never made a business or family decision without asking for my input.
“You are a wise young lady to take this time to reflect on your future. And remember, dear, Brick House is just a mile or so up the creek past the Steamboat landing. You are always welcome. And, in just two weeks, we will be hosting the first island social of the season. You will find that island life is quite different from the very formal affairs in the city.”
“Martha has told me a little about the island socials”, Amelia said. “Especially in the Fall after the crops have been harvested.”
“You will love it”, Mary Ann replied. “These socials are all day affairs with much food, horse-racing, shooting competition, games for every age, dances, and plenty of time for young people to mingle. The beginnings of many a marriage has developed at these events.”
The slight smile and twinkle in Mary Ann’s eyes was not lost on Amelia. She wondered what changes the next couple of months would bring.
At the end of the balcony towards the backside of the boat, Mary Ann said, “Let's slip through the cabin and head back up the other side.”
While they could admire the Island side of the river, her main objective was to walk up close to the man she was sure had been eavesdropping on them. Except he wasn't there. Had he followed them around the other side or gone down to the main deck?
Amelia noticed that Mary Ann walked a little more briskly. When they came to the where the balcony wrapped around the front of the passenger cabin, Martha was standing. She looked shaken.
“Are you alright, Martha”, Mrs Seabrook asked?
“Yes, now I am”, she said. “But, as soon as you and Amelia left for your stroll, a man who had been standing at the railing there”, pointing just beyond them, “came over and began talking as if we had known each other for years. Then, strangely, just before you walked up, he abruptly stopped and walked around the other side. It was as if he was waiting for me to be alone. I have never seen this man before today. It scared me.”
“Well, I have seen him before”, Mrs. Seabrook said. “What did he say?”
“At first he made pleasantries, you know, 'Beautiful day to travel'. That sort of thing. Then he began asking more personal questions about who my family was and where we lived., what social events we went to. I did not like the way he looked at me.
“Then he asked if 'my friend', no doubt meaning Amelia, lived on Edisto as well. I told him that she was just visiting for a while. He also asked who you were, Mrs. Seabrook. When I asked him what business it was of his, he laughed and said he was just curious. It gave me shivers.”
“And you said he left abruptly just before we came back”, Amelia asked?
“Yes. It was strange. He kept looking into the cabin windows as we were talking, like he was expecting something . Suddenly, his tone changed and he said, 'Have a nice day, Miss’ and walked around the right side.”
“Who is he, I wonder”, Amelia asked?
“I have my suspicions”, Mrs. Seabrook added, but offered nothing more.
The rest of the trip through the waterways of the Stono, Wadmalaw, and North Edisto Rivers was delightful. Amelia and Martha leaned against the railing, enjoying the breeze, and watched the dolphins swim alongside.
There was no sign of Aaron Brown.
As they entered Steamboat Creek, the captain gave a blast on the whistle to alert the dock crew of their eminent arrival.
“Mrs. Seabrook, I truly enjoyed our stroll and chat. I will look forward to seeing you again soon. Oh, you mentioned something about having a suspicion about that man.”
“Well, my dear, it has been my pleasure to finally meet the apple of your father’s eye”, Mrs. Seabrook said.
As their trunks were loaded into the carriages, Mary Ann said, “After you are settled in, you and Martha will have to come visit me. It makes me feel like a schoolgirl again when I am with you young people”, she laughed. “I will tell you more about my suspicions then.”
“Sometimes, the Pilot Boy will also steam a little further up the creek and offload cargo at the Brick House dock”, Martha said. “But I guess not today.”
As their carriage headed down the lane, Martha looked back and saw the man that had been so forward with her. “That's him”, she said.
Amelia looked at the rough looking man slowly walking down the gangway. She wondered why he waited so long after everyone else had disembarked. She thought to herself that he looked familiar, but it may be that she had him mixed up with someone else she had noticed around the docks near her father's office.
Her excitement rose as they traveled down the long lane that connected the steamboat dock to the main road. She was finally going to Brick House, of which Martha had told her so much.
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Intriguing and well written! I enjoyed it very much.
A pleasure to read. I wonder how it will turn out.