[Measure of Devotion 01.0 - 03.0] Box Set

by Caethes Faron

  Jason introduced them to the unfamiliar butler as Mr. Wadsworth and associate, and they were led into the parlor to wait. There was no mistaking Mr. Monroe when he entered. Time had softened the sharp angles of his face. Gray hairs had turned white, and light brown had turned gray. The long nose and bushy eyebrows were just as off-putting as they had been to Kale as a boy. The cold blue eyes and mouth that habitually twisted into a sneer soured Kale’s stomach. Salty acid crept up Kale’s throat. His heart raced, urging him to run or fight, to do anything other than stand where he was.

  In an instant, he was no longer in a parlor in Shalae County. He was outside a slave hut, trying to catch a garter snake with his brother while his mother yelled at them to let it be. Then he was being pulled to a wagon, having just been sold, his brother clinging to his legs as Kale tried to stay strong. Thomas made leaving so difficult. Mama had stood back, crying silent tears. She hadn’t wanted to make it any harder on Kale than it already was. She’d already said her goodbyes. Thomas was too young to notice or care. It took a lash of the whip for him to finally release Kale. Riding in the back of that wagon, Kale had closed his heart. He couldn’t afford to feel when there was only pain. He couldn’t let the pain and fear of the unknown interfere with his ability to do his work and survive. That had been the last lesson his mother had taught him.

  Kale didn’t know how long he was submerged in the memory. Jason must have noticed because he strode forward to shake Mr. Monroe’s hand. The slight breeze of his movement felt cool on Kale’s skin, and he realized it was because a film of sweat covered him. Jason’s voice as he introduced himself grounded Kale, and he was able to speak.

  “We’re interested in some slaves you owned…” Kale’s voice trailed off. He didn’t know what to call the man in front of him. The only address he had used for him was master, and that was certainly out of the question. Affording him even the respect of mister disgusted Kale.

  Jason picked up the conversation while Kale was still trying to figure it out. “I owned a slave who was related to them, and I liked his look and features, so I was wanting to get another of the same. Since the slave was bred at your estate, I hope to find the slave’s mother or brother.” Hearing Jason talk about his family like they were livestock made Kale’s insides churn, and he was grateful Jason was the one doing the talking. Kale didn’t have the stomach for it. “The mother’s name is Adele, and the boy’s is Thomas.”

  Kale caught the precise moment that the names registered in Monroe’s head. His eyes flashed to Kale. “You. You’re the slave.” A weight dragged Kale’s head down, but he struggled against it. Never again would he lower himself before this man. Kale’s skin prickled under Monroe’s glare. He felt like a slave again, scrutinized purely for his market value.

  “You must be mistaken.” Jason’s attempt was futile. Monroe’s eyes pierced Kale’s. Kale steeled himself, staring back with as much venom as he could muster. The first fourteen years of his life had been spent as the property of this man, but Kale had never once stared into his blue eyes.

  “No, I’m not. You were my slave, weren’t you, boy?”

  Kale wasn’t about to lie. He couldn’t. “Yes, I was, Monroe.” Kale sneered, all hesitance gone. “I’m a free citizen of Naiara now.”

  Monroe’s face twisted in contempt. “There’s no way I’m helping an uppity slave with anything. You’d better get out of my house before I show you what happens to slave filth who act like they’re free.”

  The fear was irrational, but that didn’t make it any less real. Monroe didn’t have any power over him. In fact, Kale had more power than Monroe, since he was under the protection of the prime minister of Naiara.

  Off to the side, Kale saw heat rise in Jason’s face. This wasn’t the embarrassed blush Kale so often provoked in him. Jason was on the verge of exploding, which would do nothing for their cause. Kale had risen above, not only his previous station in life, but even above his old master. Nothing riled men like Monroe more than knowing he hadn’t been able to get a rise out of the person he terrorized. Kale had the upper hand. “I’m sorry for wasting your time then, Mr. Monroe. Thank you for visiting with us. Jason, it’s time for us to leave.” He sounded more high-class than he ever had in his life.

  Jason stood there, not willing to relinquish his anger. Kale walked to the door, trusting that Jason would follow. “I’ll have you know we’re two of the richest men in both Arine and Naiara.” Kale couldn’t help the little smile that tugged at his lips. Bless Jason. As if Monroe cared who they were. When he felt Jason’s presence behind him, he proceeded out the door without even a glance backward.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Who the fuck does that man think he is?” Jason had a mind to jump out of the car, moving or not, and go punch that disgusting man in the face. “Calling you filth. That’s rich. And speaking of rich, what gives a man who can’t even manage his own financial affairs the nerve to stand up to us? Must be pretty embarrassing having your former slave waltz in with more money than the gods.”

  “We don’t have quite that much, and it’s not mine. I just lucked into it.”

  “Lucked into it? You were the one who arranged the whole damn thing. You have more claim to the Arlington Steel empire than any man alive. I’m going to telephone Martin first thing, and we’re going to find out about every bit of debt that man has. We’re going to buy out all of his creditors, and then we’re going to call every loan he has due. No way does a man like that have his business in order. He’s going to show you what happens to a slave who acts like a free man? I’ll show him what happens when a piece of cheap trash insults his betters.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Jason saw Kale holding back a smile. “You think this is funny? We’ll see how funny it is when I buy the bank that holds his mortgage.”

  Kale burst out laughing. “Really? And what we would do with a bank? Use it as our own personal tool for revenge? Besides, his family’s probably owned that land for generations.”

  “Why not? Sounds good to me. His stupidity is likely hereditary. I bet they’ve had to mortgage their place just to pay the bills.” Jason crossed his arms across his chest and leaned back in his seat. He wanted to hit something, release his rage on an object, preferably Monroe’s funny looking head.

  “You really know how to cheer me up. Here I am laughing mere minutes after finding out I’ll probably never see my family again.”

  Jason unfolded his arms and reached for Kale’s hand. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being ridiculous, but he insulted you, Kale. You, the most amazing man I’ve ever met, and he dares to talk down to you? You’re a bigger man than I am.”

  “I’ve had more practice holding my temper. Truth is, I pity him. The man’s lost everything, living with his family, and here I am living a life that most free people can’t even dream of.”

  “You pity him?”

  “Yeah, don’t you? I loathe that man, but he’s not going to help me find my family, and if he still owned them, he wouldn’t have been able to resist telling me, so I really have no further use for him.” Kale shrugged. “I really had held out hope he hadn’t sold them. I knew it wasn’t likely. Mama and Thomas weren’t particularly useful to him personally. I know he’s horrible, but he wasn’t cruel, and I hoped—I needed—him to still own them.”

  That’s the best Kale could hope for, that his family was owned by someone who wasn’t cruel. Jason worried about the blow to their pride while Kale hoped his family hadn’t been sold to someone crueler than Monroe. And it wasn’t even probable that they’d been sold together. “We’ll find them, Kale. I swear.”

  “I know. I trust you.”

  “And after we do, can I please at least fantasize about destroying that little slug?”

  Kale laughed some more. “Yes. I’ll even get you some salt and show you how normal boys relieve their slug-destroying urges.”

  It was good to see Kale laughing. Jason wished it could last, but he knew it was just a momentary res
pite, a release of tension that prevented Kale from falling apart. “What do you want to do? We can stay in town or go back to the ranch.”

  “Let’s stay in town. It’s likely that anything we find will just lead us right back here. Unless you want to go back. I know you need to spend time with your father.”

  Kale’s tone was deceptively nonchalant to anyone who didn’t know him as well as Jason did. Kale was a master at bottling up his own needs, especially in favor of Jason’s. “There’s nowhere I need to be other than here. Rushing is big enough that they should have a decent hotel.”

  The first hotel Kale pulled up to did not meet Jason’s definition of “decent,” which included having a telephone, and neither did the second. The third, however, not only had a telephone on the main floor for guests, but a restaurant as well.

  After they were checked in, they took a look at their room, and Jason dropped off his bag. All it contained were two books, some snacks, their bank book, and travel documents. Another set of clothes hadn’t been necessary when he’d thought they would just be driving home the next day. “We’ll have to go shopping for a change of clothes.”

  “No need. I can wear the same thing tomorrow.” Kale despised shopping.

  “It’s something to do, and it gives us an excuse to talk to some of the locals, to see if we can find out anything else. I’ll call Martin before we leave and let him know about the new developments so he can investigate. We can’t just go around town asking about Monroe”—Jason couldn’t keep the venom out of his voice as he uttered that vile name—“and where he might have sold his slaves. All that’s going to do is draw suspicion. We’re in his territory. Two gentleman shopping and making small talk with the locals is nothing out of the ordinary. With your people skills, we should be able to find out a good bit.”

  “Fine. I forget how good you can be at this sort of thing.”

  A half hour later, they walked down the street their hotel was on, in search of a clothier the concierge had recommended. Jason had spoken to Martin and let Demetri know they would spend the night in Rushing. The day was beginning to cool, and it felt good to burn off energy stretching his legs.

  A tiny bell tinkled over the door when they entered the shop. A medium-sized man with spectacles greeted them. “What can I help you fine gentlemen with today?”

  “We were looking for a couple of suits, one each. The train lost our bags, and we are without clothes until the whole mess is sorted. We need something we can take tonight.”

  “I can certainly help you with that. My name’s Edward Pillston, and I’m the proprietor here.” Edward shook both their hands before focusing back on Jason. “We have some options that could work very nicely and will require minimal adjustments. Let me show you. Did you have anything specific in mind?”

  “Something nice, but not too fancy. We’re here on business and will be in meetings most of the day. Price is of no concern.” Jason fingered a suit coat, testing the fabric.

  “I see. Well, I think something like this might just do the trick for you, sir.” Edward showed them a full three-piece suit with matching cravat and cufflinks.

  “Yes, that appears to fit the bill.”

  “And for your companion, might I suggest this?” Edward assembled another suit, this one with a cut that would emphasize Kale’s broad shoulders. Jason pictured Kale filling out the fabric nicely.

  “What do you think, Kale?”

  “It’ll do, but I’d prefer a tie to the cravat. I don’t need to look like a stuffed cock strutting around.”

  Jason smiled. It was nearly impossible to get Kale into a cravat, which was a shame because Jason loved them on him. “We’ll take them.”

  “Excellent. In the back there, we have dressing rooms. If you’d like to try them on, I can measure the adjustments that need to be made and have them ready for you shortly.”

  Edward snapped his fingers, and a tall young man equipped with a measuring tape and a pincushion around his wrist appeared. It was apparent from his bowed head that he was a slave. “Luis, take these suits into the dressing rooms for these gentleman. They want to take them tonight, so you’ll need to do the adjustments.”

  “Yes, Master.” Luis picked up the suits. “If you would follow me, sirs, it’s right this way.”

  Kale looked stunning in the suit. It accentuated his trim waist and broad shoulders without making his chest or arms appear too bulky. Luis pinned the pant legs while Edward observed.

  “You have quite a capable slave here. He’s a credit to you.” Jason wondered if Kale’s words were for the slave or for Edward. Probably a little of both.

  “Thank you. He performs his work well, and not just the mundane things. He can sew anything. I merely design the patterns and hand them off to him. In fact, he’s even created a few patterns that I was able to tweak into decent designs. I can only say that I’m happy I own him. My competitors would love to steal him from me.”

  Kale’s easy smile gave no hint of the day’s ordeal. “I can imagine. It’s hard to come across quality slaves. Do you mind me asking where you acquired this one?”

  “Not at all. He came from Lyman’s.”

  “I’m not familiar with the name.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you’re not from around here. Lyman’s is a brokerage specializing in slaves with specific skills. I wish I could take credit for Luis’s ability, but I’m afraid I can’t. He came to me fully trained. It was worth the extra cost to not have to spend the time teaching him.”

  Luis continued to work as if he weren’t being spoken about. Jason remembered when Kale had been like that. Jason still had trouble acting as though slaves were less than other people when Kale was such stunning proof to the contrary. Luis would have done well on his own with his talent. Instead, he was stuck working for a man who barely acknowledged him. Another life wasted.

  “Yes, time is often worth more than money. I’m in search of a valet myself. I doubt I need such a thoroughly trained slave as this Lyman’s could provide. Are there any auction houses you can recommend? I always feel I get a better deal when I have several options to bid on.” It was impossible to tell from the way Kale spoke—his voice sure and smooth—that he had ever been a slave, or that he spoke on a subject that revolted him.

  “Certainly. You might want to give Harrison’s a try. They hold weekly auctions. If you’re going to be in town long enough or don’t mind traveling back, you’d do well to wait for Rogers and Son’s monthly auction. Either option is good.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be sure to look into it.”

  Once Kale was done, it was Jason’s turn. He didn’t think he looked particularly good in the suit, but Kale’s appraising gaze said otherwise. Gods, he was lucky to have found Kale.

  “If you gentleman would like to shop elsewhere on the avenue for a while, I should have these ready for you shortly.”

  Yes, he would have them ready, not his slave who would do the actual work. Jason knew he really didn’t have room to talk when his own business used slaves, but it irked him. Having slaves working at the mills bothered him, but he and Kale had discussed it many times. Kale was adamant that if he started using free men instead, the slaves he currently used would be headed for worse fates. Maybe it was time to at least re-evaluate working conditions.

  “We’ll see you soon then.” Jason tipped his head to Edward and then to Luis, not caring about the odd look Edward gave him.

  Outside, there were plenty of shops, and they had no problem filling the time until their clothes were ready. They were able to gather the names of two other slave dealers operating in the county. Purchases in hand, they headed back to the hotel.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Dinner had been pleasant enough. Kale found it strange to think that the last time he had eaten was before the confrontation with Monroe. The food helped to steady his fraying nerves. In all the years of bondage as a slave, he had never been under so much stress. As a slave, his worries had been for himself. Hav
ing his family depending on him to find them was an entirely different situation. The knowledge that there was practically no way for them to know he was free or even to hope that he would find them gave him no comfort. It was his responsibility, and it weighed heavy on his shoulders.

  Kale watched Jason as they undressed for bed. He was fortunate to have an ally in Jason. Jason’s mind constantly looked for more information. That was how he had expanded the Arlington Steel empire. Jason had always believed in the power of knowledge. It was why he’d insisted they stay for drinks in the lounge after dinner, even though Kale was tired and wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed and dull the memory of the day with sleep. It was in the lounge that they had discovered what Kale had suspected: the Monroes were an old family in the area, but one whose power had greatly diminished in recent years.

  Once undressed, Kale slid between the sheets, leaving Jason to put away their new clothes. The bed did not offer the respite Kale had hoped for. Shame plagued him, twisting in his gut until he wished the bed would devour him, remove him from sight. It wasn’t the way Monroe had treated him, but the fact that he had failed that hurt so much. By this time, Kale had expected to know where his family was, when in reality he wasn’t really any closer. His shame was self-imposed, but that didn’t make it any easier to bear.

  Jason’s weight shifted the bed beside him. Just like last night, he moved to hold Kale. The touch of Jason’s skin burned. The undeserved warmth and comfort acted as a white hot poker to his shame. This time when Kale pulled away, Jason held firm. It was a strange feeling from a man who practiced little dominance in bed.

  “I don’t need to have sex with you, Kale. We don’t need to do anything, but I do need you to know that I’m here for you, that I won’t let anything bad happen. I need you to know I love you. I understand you can’t make love right now, not when you’re feeling this way, but you are loved, and I’m going to show you. Just let me hold you.”