Briars

At Seventeen Morgana Heirs' Exotic Dark Beauty Inherited From Her Handsome Father Morgan Contrasts With Her Twenty Year Old Sister Sarah'S Blonde Prettiness And Pale Coloring A Token From Their Red Haired Mother Lillian. Morgana'S Fiery And Outspoken Nature Also Attributable To Her Father Conflicts With Sarah'S Genteel Behavior Admired By All Who Know Them. Having Taken Control Of Every Aspect Of Her Life Beginning At The Very Hour Of Her Traumatic Birth Morgana Defiantly Exhibits Independence In An Era When Such Behavior Is Unseemly In A Woman Of Breeding. Spoiled By Her Father 'Gana Is An Enigma To Her Stable And Generous Mother Lillian Who Despite Herself Leans Towards Her First Daughter Affectionately Dubbed Sweet Sarah. Unaffected Morgana Entrusts Her Constant Companion Willow Mulatto Servant Girl And Daughter Of Household Retainers Henry And Rachel With Her Confidences. Having Been Born Only Hours Apart Morgana And Willow Share A Kinship Contradictory To Expectations During The Era In Which They Live.Sarah'S Betrothed Jonathan Baker From Greenleaf Next Door Along With The Heirs Sisters' Older Brother Drew Are Away Serving In The Confederate Army. Drew'S Dedicated Wife Laura Lee Mother Of His Twins Lives With His Family At Briars. Wil The Younger Heirs Brother A Gangling Red Haired Fifteen Year Old Against His Father'S Authority And His Mother'S Fear For His Well-Being Desperately Wishes To Join In The Battle Before The War Is Over. Patriarch Morgan Heirs' Sudden Death Two Days Before Atlanta'S Fall Leaves The Household Stunned. When Victory By Sherman'S Union Army Over Confederate General Hood Brings About The Capture And Subsequent Burning Of Atlanta The Heirs Family Is Unable To Evacuate To A Safer Locale As They Must Remain Behind Awaiting Drew'S Leave From The Confederate Army For Morgan'S Burial. Meanwhile Morgan'S Body Lies In Cold Storage In The Heirs' Nearby Root Cellar Cave. With Atlanta In Flames On November 15 1864