The Flame and the Flower
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Flame and the Flower, first published in April 1972, is the first of Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's novels. It is the love story of Heather Simmons and Captain Brandon Birmingham and their journey from London, across the Atlantic, and finally to Harthaven, the Birmingham's Carolina plantation.
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Plot summary
- "For the flame will surely come,
- And burn, and blacken, and lay bare the hill.
- But with the first sweet breath of spring
- The shy and lovely flower will again show
- Its face among the charred ruins.
- It yields to the searing heat,
- But with its persistent beauty
- Far surpasses and finally tames the flame."
1799
It has been two years since Heather Simmons' father, Richard, has died and she is forced to live as a maid to her cruel Aunt Fanny and Uncle John, on their poor farm in the English countryside. Fanny was always jealous of her brother-in-law for his wealth, and even more so of the beautiful Brenna, who died giving birth to Heather. Her jealousy and hatred lead her to be abusive to both John and Heather. In late June, William Court, Fanny's younger brother, arrives and gives Heather the opportunity to work at Lady Cabot's finishing school in London, and agrees to provide Heather with a dowry.
In London, William, a couturier, takes Heather to his shop and introduces her to his assistant, Mr. Thomas Hint. He then takes her upstairs to his apartments and gives her a gown to wear during dinner. Before they retire he enters Heather's room and locks the door; in return for his generosities, William wants to bed Heather. When she refuses, he attacks her, and during the scuffle she stabs him with a paring knife, killing him. She flees, shocked by her murder of Fanny's brother.
She runs and soon finds herself on the London dockside, where two men, George and Dickie, escort her to The Fleetwood. Thinking they are with the authorities she complies, and on board the ship, she meets Captain Brandon Birmingham, a Yankee shipping magnate. Brandon believes Heather to be the prostitute he sent his men to find and he is elated at the beauty of his prize, but also confused that someone like Heather must sell herself. Amidst the confusion, Brandon makes love to her, but she, however, feels ravaged. The next day, Brandon is able to piece together parts of the truth, and asks Heather to become his mistress in order for her to escape her life on the street. She becomes enraged and they fight, and he decides to hold her on board his ship. When he leaves to attend to business, she finds a flintlock and is able to escape by threatening George. She gets a coach ride back to the farm, and there she lies to her aunt and uncle about her return.
Over the next couple weeks, Heather has nightmares and visions about the tragedies that befell her in London, and starts to experience sickness. On a cool October night, while she is bathing, Fanny notices a slight swelling on Heather's stomach, and realizes she is with child. Heather is forced to tell her about what happened in London, omitting only William's murder. Her aunt and uncle contact the Lord and Lady Hampton, old friends of Richard. Lord Hampton, a magistrate promises to bring honor to Heather, and arrives at the farm with Brandon. Brandon promises to support Heather and the child, and when Fanny abuses Heather in front of everyone, both Lord Hampton and Brandon come to her rescue.
Lord Hampton blackmails Brandon into proposing marriage to Heather, and shortly thereafter they exchange vows in a London cathedral, both the bride and groom hating each other and resenting the situation. They spend their wedding night at the Hampton's estate, closely watched, and the next day Heather bids farewell to the Hamptons as she and Brandon head to The Fleetwood.
While Brandon is busy working, he sends Heather to a nearby Inn, where they later spend the night, and awaken to find two men wishing to take Heather. Brandon scares them off with the two pistols he had hidden, but despite his earlier kindness he is quick to hurt Heather with his words.
Over the next few weeks Brandon and Heather's relationship swayed from kindness to hatred. Brandon purchases gowns for Heather, and she mends a torn shirt of his, however in a matter of seconds they reverted back to arguing with each other.
When The Fleetwood is ready to leave London, they board, and Heather bids farewell to her home. Brandon commands Heather to remain in their cabin at all times during the voyage, unless escorted by himself, fearing for her safety. The ship soon enters stormy, freezing weather, leaving Brandon chilled and very temperamental when he returns to the cabin at night.
One morning, while the two are having breakfast near the heater, the only source of warmth in the room, Heather absentmindedly asked for cream with her coffee, to which Brandon snapped that there are no cows in the middle of the Atlantic. They argue, and when he returns that night, she refuses to sleep in the same bed as him, preferring the cushioned window seat. Due to the damp and the cold she is unable to fall asleep until very late, and awakens the next morning with a fever. She becomes delirious, and Brandon cares for her while she is sick. Six days later her fever breaks and the couple share a tender moment, trying desperately to deny the passion between them.
A week before Christmas, they arrived in America to be greeted by Jeff, Brandon's light-hearted brother, and Louisa Wells, Brandon's jealous former betrothed. When Louisa discovered the marriage, she goes into a rage but then invited the three Birminghams to her estate, Oakley for tea. Louisa spent what little time she had, to put Heather down, going so far as to let Heather know that she had been lovers with Brandon before he left for London. Jeff is quick to put Louisa in her place, having never liked the woman. They soon leave and head to Harthaven where Heather, expecting no more than cottage, is astounded by the lavish estate and grand mansion. She is introduced to Hatti, the head housekeeper at Harthaven since before Brandon was born, and while preparing for a bath, spots Brandon trying to ride a rebellious Stallion.
Later Brandon shows her the nursery and the adjoining room where his mother would sleep when her sons were sick. Not wanting to force Heather into his bed, he gives her the choice of which room she would like to sleep in. Heather, however, misunderstands, and believes that he wants nothing to do with her, and fears that he will take up with Louisa, so she accepts the separate room.
Brandon, angry over his own stupidity regarding the sleeping arrangements, becomes temperamental with everyone. Jeff however acts a buffer between the husband and wife, doting on his sister-in-law, whom he immediately shares a close bond. Jeff later informs Brandon of the debt Louisa has accumulated as the "soon-to-be Mrs. Birmingham" and that Brandon will be expected to pay the creditors off. He also calls on Brandon about his attitude toward Heather, telling him to get over his conceit. The next day, a salesman comes to the door and offers several hardwares and goods to Heather and Hatti. When Heather spots the dark green velvet fabric, just the color of Brandon's eyes, she barters her gown from William Court, to obtain the velvet, wishing to make a Christmas present for Brandon.
The three Birminghams attend church on Sunday, and afterwards Heather is introduced to the preacher, as well as many jealous girls and their mothers, including Sybil Scott. When Brandon is visiting with several men, Heather meets the old Abegail Clark, a feisty, straight-forward, yet very kind widow.
On a cold and rainy Christmas Day, Heather presents her gift to Brandon, a robe made of the emerald velvet with the Birmingham family crest embroidered on it. He gives her an emerald and diamond brooch. While dining, he discovers that she bartered her gown, and grows angry with her, for he always has money for her to use, and she had left the gown with him in exchange for money when she escaped him in June. Realizing his error and especially on Christmas he begs her forgiveness, and they have a happy holiday together.
Shortly after, Brandon leaves for New York to sell The Fleetwood. There he employs Mr. Webster, a father of ten who is struggling to make ends meet. When Brandon returns home, he, Jeff, Heather, and all of the staff at Harthaven clean up an old house near Brandon's mill, for the Websters.
The winter passes and Heather goes into labor at the end of March. When Brandon gives her a fresh nightgown, she refuses to wear it since it is pink, and she wants to give birth to a boy. Brandon confused hands her a blue nightgown, and very nervous himself is kicked out of the room by Hatti, who insists he go get drunk with Jeff. Heather gives birth to a boy, whom they name Beau.
Heather, who switched bedrooms with Brandon during the birth, decides that she will not leave his bedroom, she wants to share a bed with her husband, but insecurities and pride prevent Brandon from reclaiming his bed. Throughout the spring, Louisa continues to passively attack Heather, but Brandon always comes to her rescue. The Birminghams decide to start off the warm weather celebrations with a ball.
Just before, Brandon decides to woo Heather with a horse, taking her out horseback riding. When they take a rest, the intensity and closeness of the moment overtake them and they kiss but are interrupted by an oncoming storm, and must head back. Brandon becomes guilty and disappointed when he learns that Heather severely bruised her posterior while horseback riding.
The night of the ball, Heather dons a very revealing gown, and catches the eyes of all the men present making Brandon jealous, who didn't want her to wear the dress in the first place. After an argument, Brandon states that he has waited to long to consummate their marriage and that he must have her tonight. He leaves the room, as she throws and ashtray at him. They both think back on their feelings, starting to realize that this is what they want, and they profess their love, and share a bed for the first time as husband and wife.
When Sybil is found murdered the next day, her mother blames Brandon, but Heather provides his alibi. Over the summer while at the Webster's, Heather is chased by a shrouded man who only retreats when he hears Brandon calling out to her.
Brandon takes Heather to Theater, and she loves it, but at the intermission Louisa, who is wearing a replica of the Heather's gown from William Court, wishes to introduce Heather to her couturier, only to be Thomas Hint, who gives Heather an evil smile. The next day, while Brandon is out, Mr. Hint arrives at Harthaven and wishes to blackmail Heather, and tells her he was the one who murdered William Court, but that no one can prove it. Heather complies, and when Mr. Hint arrives back at his office, Brandon is there to ask some questions and buy the original gown back, which Mr. Hint discovered from the salesman.
The end of the summer arrives, and Louisa comes to visit Heather and Brandon several times throughout, agreeing to sell her property, the only reason Brandon was engaged to her to begin with. In her last visit she tells Brandon she learned that he found Heather on the streets and accuses her of prostitution. She "forgives" Brandon for his dalliance with Heather and says that they can send her back to London, and that Louisa will raise Beau at Harthaven with Brandon. Brandon becomes enraged and threatens Louisa.
The next day Louisa's body is discovered, raped and strangled. Brandon had received a note from her about Heather, and went to Oakley, her estate. He is seen leaving in a fit by one of her servants who informs the Sheriff. Brandon is arrested that night, and Heather knows in her heart that he is innocent and that Mr. Hint is behind the murder.
As a thunderstorm approaches, Heather sets out to investigate Oakley and there comes across Mr. Hint who strips her of her clothes and wishes to rape her, while confessing to everything else. Heather manages to escape upstairs and he searches for her with a pair of pistols. Heather feels a man grasp her and turns to see her husband, who was let go from jail. The confrontation continues and Brandon is shot in the arm, while Thomas Hint is beaten. Mr. Hint flees choosing Brandon's stallion, and when lightning strikes the stallion bucks Mr. Hint to the ground where a tree limb then collapses on him, killing him immediately.
Heather treats Brandon's wound, and they spend the night at Oakley, then return the next day to Harthaven, back to Beau, Jeff, and Hatti. There they continue to live their lives, happy and content in their love for each other.
Characters in The Flame and the Flower
Heather Simmons (later Birmingham): A young English girl, with Irish ancestry, she is almost 18 at the start of the novel. She is incomparably beautiful with her black hair, creamy complexion, and sapphire eyes. She is meek and kind, at times lacking self-confidence, but can also be fiery and full of spunk. The only daughter of her parents, her mother Brenna died in child birth, leaving Heather to be cared for by her father. Her wealthy father soon became addicted to gambling, and when he died 16 years later, he left Heather with little inheritance. All Heather's belongings were sold to pay off debts and what was left was taken by her Aunt Fanny, who was quick to adopt the girl.
Brandon Birmingham: The handsome captain, often compared to Satan with his black hair and beard and smoldering green eyes, has built a shipping business between America and Britain. He is assertive, competitive, and possesses a terrible temper, but underneath his hard exterior he is compassionate and caring. His parents moved from England before he was born and established the lush plantation, Harthaven, in Charleston. After their deaths, Brandon inherited the plantation, where he lives when not sailing.
- Fanny Simmons
- John Simmons
- William Court
- Thomas Hint
- George
- Dickie
- Lord Hampton
- Lady Hampton
- Louisa Wells
- Jeff Birmingham
- The younger brother of Brandon Birmingham.
- Hattie
- Abegail Clark
- Sybil Scott
- Jeremiah Webster
- Leah Webster
Beau Birmingham: the son of Brandon and Heather Simmons Birmingham.
Sequels to The Flame and the Flower
- The Kiss, an anthology from Three Weddings and a Kiss, 1995
- Beyond the Kiss, an anthology from Married at Midnight, 1996
- A Season Beyond a Kiss, 2000
- The Elusive Flame, 1998
See also
