Murder At Brick House: Chapter Seven - Spies
The Legend of Amelia
Murder At Brick House: The Legend of Amelia is a work of historical fiction 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, South Carolina.
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 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.
“Why are you really here, Aaron?” His brother, Seth, was not happy with his sudden appearance.
Whenever he would show up at the farm, he stayed out in a room in the barn and his comings and goings were at odd times, almost always at night. He was always so secretive.
The only reason Seth even let him stay was because he was family. And Aaron would always leave money when he left.
Aaron had had no desire to try to make it as a small-time farmer in the midst of the massive plantations on Edisto, where he, Seth, and three younger siblings had grown up. Soon after his 19th birthday he left home to pursue work on the shipping wharves in Charleston.
Their grandfather, Jacob Brown, had been given sixty acres as a reward for his service in the American War of Independence under Patriot Commander, Colonel Edward Lacey.
Even after adding an additional sixty acres, the Brown farm was not large enough to compete with the Sea Island cotton operations, so Jacob chose to focus on the smaller, but more profitable Carolina Bright Leaf tobacco market.
Located on the road to Pine Landing on the South Edisto River, just South of the Wescott Road, the main thoroughfare running the length of the island, the Browns had easy access for shipping the tobacco.
Robert had offered him the use of the room he kept in the Inn above the Post Office. That would have been a welcomed change from the barn, but when Aaron realized that he had been recognized by Mrs. Seabrook, he thought it best to stay in the background. And the farm was closer to Brick House anyway.
His knack for surveillance and sometimes more “unpleasant” services became known to Robert Lundgren as his reputation grew. He was willing to do less than reputable jobs for business leaders who did not want their names tarnished. For the right price, of course.
He had an idea about how to do this job for Robert without being seen. Seth’s sons, Stephen and Edward, were well connected with the young people on the island. They were good looking and fairly well-liked. Aaron knew that they were hard-working and minded their father’s “narrow way”, as he liked to call it. But, he also knew that they were at an age where the pull of a better life was strong.
So, as soon as he could get them alone, he said, “Boys, I need you to help me with something. I will pay you a couple of dollars each per week.”
That got their attention as money was always in short supply. “What do you want us to do?”, Edward asked.
“Nothing hard”, Aaron said. “The Fall social season is starting on the island, right? I know you enjoy seeing your friends from the plantations and participating in some of the competition. And, hopefully, meet some pretty young girl of marrying age. And, maybe move up a notch on the social ladder, right?”, he added.
They both grew a little flushed and grinned.
“While you are at these events, I want you to keep an eye on a certain young lady who is visiting from Charleston and let me know what she does and who she is associating with. Especially if she seems to spend more time with any young men in particular. Just observe. That’s all. Then let me known what you see.”
“Is this someone you’re sweet on, Uncle Aaron?” Stephen asked with a slight smile.
With a mocking chuckle, Aaron said, “Don’t I wish. But, no, this is for someone who has employed me to keep an eye on things. This girl is his fiance´.”
“How will we know who she is?”, Edward asked.
“Well, you do know Martha Jenkins, right? The girl you need to keep an eye on is staying with her at Brick House for the Fall social season. Her name is Amelia Prioleau.”
Martha was one of the girls that Stephen constantly dreamed about. He was delighted that now he had a reason to be around her more.
“And there is no need to tell your father about this. He will just want some of what I’m paying you to help with farm expenses", Aaron added.
He knew this was a lie. The truth was that Seth would have refused to let the boys engage in anything Aaron asked them to do.
After they talked about it, the boys agreed. For two dollars a week for each of them, they didn’t ask any more questions. It was none of their business, they reasoned.
A few days after getting settled, Amelia and Martha received an invitation from Mary Ann Seabrook for lunch the following day. She would send a smaller boat used to navigate the nearby creeks to pick them up.
Even though the steamboat landing was part of the larger Seabrook estate, there was a small dock closer to the house where Mrs. Seabrook greeted them.
“I hope you are getting settled in and finding Edisto life agreeable”, she said to Amelia.
“Yes ma’am, I am. I know James Island is considered a Sea Island, but it’s too close to the city. Edisto is a different world. Remote, yet such a thriving community. Just what I needed.”
“Well, dear, you haven’t seen anything yet. Next week begins the Fall social season. It’s unlike anything you have ever seen. Definitely no like those stuffy balls in the city. Now, why don’t we go for a carriage ride and I will show you around the plantation.”
As they drove, Martha asked, “Mrs. Seabrook, what did you mean when you said you had suspicions about the man who engaged me in conversation?”
“That’s one of the reasons I invited you girls today”, Mary Ann said. “We’ll talk more when we get back to the house for our lunch.”
When the ladies had settled at the table on the corner of the wide veranda overlooking Steamboat Creek, enjoying the breeze through the moss-draped live oaks, Mary Ann spoke.
“Amelia, I’m sure you recall that I told you I had met Robert when he accompanied your father to Edisto. What I did not tell you was my opinion of him”, Mrs. Seabrook said.
“Yes, I did notice you were rather reserved in your assessment of him”, Amelia said.
“Well, what I have to say now is part observation and part intuition. I have been around a long time, dear, and have seen and heard many things in my life. The Good Lord has given me a unique ability to judge the character of people. My husband would set store by my observations of potential business associates or dealings. I am seldom wrong.”
Amelia did not have to wonder where this was going for long. She waited for Mrs. Seabrook to continue.
“It was on that same business trip with your father that I also saw your fiance´with the man that was asking Martha questions about you on the Steamboat. Your back was turned to him when we first met, but when he noticed that I saw him staring at us, he quickly turned aside. That is one of the reasons I wanted to take a stroll around the deck. To see how he would respond.”
“Yes, I thought it was strange that as soon as you left, he began talking to me”, Martha said. “I noticed he kept looking into the cabin windows while he was talking. He must have seen you coming back around because just before you got back, he abruptly left. It was strange”, Martha said.
Mrs. Seabrook continued, “I don’t know how else to say it, but I do not have a good feeling of either man. Why would a so-called ‘respectable’ man be associating with the likes of that man on the boat?”
“Maybe you just saw them in a brief greeting or something”, Amelia said, not knowing what the circumstances were.
“It was more than a passing greeting.”, Mrs. Seabrook said. “I was in my carriage coming out of the avenue to Seabrook onto the Wescott Rd. Robert and this man were standing across the road under the trees, so engrossed in conversation that they didn’t notice me. Your father was nowhere in sight.
“Robert was very animated as he was speaking. This other man looked up briefly as we turned out into the road, but didn’t pay us much mind. But, I did get a full look at his face, which I have not forgotten. It was the same man.”
Amelia thought back to her vague remembrance of seeing him somewhere in Charleston. She thought back to Robert telling her that his business was none of her concern. She thought back to their argument and Robert’s anger when she told him she was going to stay with Martha for the Fall social season.
Mrs. Seabrook continued, “I am not one to hold back about something I don’t have a good feeling about, my dear. There is something about this that is not right. That man was not on the steamer at the same time as you by coincidence. I’m sure of it.”
This confirmed her own nagging feeling. She also remembered Martha had confided her misgivings as well.
“Do you know who he is?”, Amelia asked. “Is he spying on me for Robert?”
“Well, dear, I am not sure who he is, but my guess is that Robert sent him. He probably has family here on Edisto. He must be staying somewhere. I don’t see any other explanation for what I have observed. And, at the risk of belaboring the point, my intuition is seldom wrong.
“Now, the question is, how will he being doing that, since he knows we know who he is, by face at least. My guess is that he will employ others to do his work and report back to him.”
Amelia was dumbfounded that Robert would stoop to such measures. She had never given him any reason to mistrust her.
Again, she thought about Robert’s reaction when she told him her plans to come to Edisto for the Fall. Was he simply jealous that she would meet someone else? Was he afraid of losing the opportunity to take over her father’s business? Maybe it was both. It did seem that one was tied to the other.
It was all starting to make more sense. She would have to be careful as she had no clue who this man would employ to spy on her.
It scared her.
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Good read as always. Interesting depth on ‘Aaron’.