“Such drivel,” his sister groused, as if she’d just been insulted.
Colin stopped in front of them. “Why do you say that, little sis?”
“Because I’m not some simpering ‘lovely lady.’ That’s why.”
Still having problems containing her smile, Mariah patted Amy’s shoulder. “Ah, but someday you’ll be the belle of the county. Wait and see.”
“Oh, pshaw!” She rolled her blue eyes. “I wish I was born a boy. I want to race horses like Colin. But nobody will let me ride anything but my stupid ol’ pony.”
Colin gave one of her braids a gentle tug. “I wouldn’t call Patches stupid. He was my very best friend when I was your age.”
“Hmph. And I bet they let you go out ridin’ all by yourself, even when you were a lad. But they won’t let me. I always have to wait around and wait around till somebody has time to go with me.”
Mariah glanced at Colin, wondering how he would respond to that. The child seemed to be quite a handful no matter where she was.
He didn’t bother to answer and changed the subject entirely. “So which horses are you going to introduce Mariah to?”
“All of them, of course.” She flipped a braid behind her spindly shoulder. “I’ll start with the ones in the paddocks, then show her the ones in the pastures.”
Nodding, his gaze lingered for a second on Mariah. “Well, if you don’t mind too much, I’d like to tag along. I promise to stay out of the way and let you do all the talking.”
The child cut him a shrewd glance. “Oh, all right—even though I know you’re only here so’s you can be with Miss Harwood where Mother can’t see the two of you.”
Mariah had to fake a cough to keep from laughing out loud. Amy hadn’t been fooled for a second.
Colin grunted, then gestured broadly, a grin lighting his eyes. “Well, now that we all know why we’re here, lead the way, mademoiselle. After you…”
As the child immediately set out for the paddocks, Colin moved next to Mariah and reached for her hand.
She sidestepped him and clasped her fingers behind her back. “What are you doing? You’ll get me sold out of here!” she hissed in a fierce whisper. “Your mother is probably watching us from a window this very second.”
He released a weary breath and relented, and they walked on in companionable silence.
Having been guided through the well-ordered stables and out to pastures framed by tidy, white fences that stretched on forever, Mariah was impressed by the magnificent animals and surroundings. Why, this horse farm would equal that of any earl or viscount back in England. People in Britain had no idea how very prosperous the colonies had become. If only this plantation could belong to her and Colin one day…. She glanced up and locked gazes with him. If only…
Colin gave a meaningful lift of his brow. “I do believe our trainer is in the tack room.” He turned to his sister. “Don’t you think our lady should meet him, Amy?”
The child’s expressive blue eyes sparkled with excitement. “And Ol’ Samuel, our groom. They’re lucky, Miss Harwood. They get to live out here by the horses.” She snatched Mariah’s hand. “This way.”
They ambled to the far end of the stables and stepped through an open doorway into a spacious room that smelled of leather. Rope, harnesses, and bridles draped its sidewalls, and in the middle, a series of wooden sawhorses held gleaming saddles ready to be plunked atop horses at a moment’s notice. At the end, a wiry, white man of medium build and a lanky Negro with frizzled white hair stood before a long workbench cutting leather strips.
“We’re here!” Amy’s proud announcement rang in the quiet.
The workers turned around, their tools still in their hands.
The slave’s snowy head dipped politely.
Mariah gave an answering nod.
“This here’s Miss Harwood, the bond slave I’ve been tellin’ you about,” Amy said.
Bond slave. Mariah seethed. The imp could have talked all day without uttering those words.
The other man lay aside his strange-looking knife and stepped forward, nodding a somber greeting. “How do you do, Miss Harwood. I’m Geoffrey Scott, the horse trainer.” A multitude of freckles stood out against his fair skin as his lips slid into a smile, putting her more at ease.
“I’m very pleased to meet you. Both of you.” Her gaze included the groom.
“Amy tells us you’ve come to turn our young girls into proper ladies.” Mr. Scott’s tone indicated a measure of disbelief as a teasing glint sparked in his green eyes.
Mariah laughed lightly and shot a glance to the child. “That is the goal.”
He studied her without wavering. “Then I trust they’ll be receiving spiritual instruction also. Along with Bible reading.” His stern gaze moved to Colin.
“Why, yes. They will.” Raising her chin a notch, Mariah attempted her own austere expression. “Grace and humility are vital attributes every individual must endeavor to seek.”
Colin cleared his throat and directed his attention to the trainer. “I understand Patches has been off his feed for the last few days.”
“What did you say?” Amy looked up at her brother, her eyes wide with worry. “Is he sick?”
Mariah wondered the same thing. Amy had proudly pointed out the adorable white Shetland pony with its large brown spots and commented on his gentle nature. He hadn’t seemed to be ailing.
“Oh, there’s probably nothing we need to be worried about.” Mr. Scott patted Amy’s blond head in assurance. “He might not be having a good day, is all.” Something about the man’s soothing tone confirmed Mariah’s suspicion that the suggestion of a sudden malady was a ploy.
“Even so, you will check him for any odd swellings or carbuncles, won’t you?” Colin asked.
The man cut another hard glare at him. “Aye. One can’t be too cautious.”
“Amy.” Colin tipped his head at his sister. “Why don’t you go with Geoff and help him. After all, Patches is your pony.”
She swung a glance between him and Mariah and back, then clamped her teeth tight. “Oh, all right. I’ll go check on Patches. For five minutes.”
“Ten,” Colin blurted.
“All right, but you’ll owe me a lot for ten.” Amy latched on to the trainer’s hand and tossed a smirk over her shoulder. “Come on, Mr. Scott. Those two want to be alone.” She rolled her eyes with the emphasis on the last word.
A chuckle rumbled from the redhead’s chest. “Ten minutes, you say.” Unhooking the chain of a pocket watch, he handed it to Amy. “I’ll let you keep track of the time, little lady.”
“Let’s stroll outside, away from the smell of the stables, shall we?” Colin tucked Mariah’s arm within the crook of his elbow and led her out the back entrance, out of sight from the house.
“As you wish, milord.” But once in the open air, Mariah let out a nervous giggle that bubbled into laughter.
Colin found it infectious. Despite his irritation at his sister and the trainer, he echoed her merriment.
Still laughing, she made a wide gesture with her free hand, and he realized that a number of slaves and their overseer stood a short distance away, staring at them. His humor died. Was there no place on this blasted plantation where someone wasn’t watching?
“I’m sorry, Mariah,” he said, growing serious as he turned her to face him. “I’ve been hopin’ for an opportunity to get you alone.”
“I know.” She took a handkerchief from her ruffled sleeve and dabbed at tears her laughter had caused. “Though ’tis very unwise, as you well know.”
He drew her farther away from the building, away from the unwelcome stares. “I must confess, I had no idea Mother would do everything in her power to keep me from you. The way she’s been guardin’ that house, one would think she’s on sentry duty.”
“Quite.” Mariah’s sad smile crimped his heart.
Leaning closer, he searched her face. “I’ve been remembering the time we spent together on the road from
Baltimore. It was rather enjoyable, and I’ve missed it. I’d hoped you had, as well.”
“Of course I have,” she murmured, gazing up at him with those gorgeous, alluring violet eyes. “I appreciated the way you pointed out various settlements and landmarks along the way. And I liked hearing about your family and your home. You were very kind to me.”
His heart throbbed double time.
“Nevertheless, you must understand that your mother made her position deadly clear. She will not abide any dalliance between us.” She averted her gaze. “Or participation in any other activities I’m too ashamed to mention. I am to remember my place.”
“I’m so sorry. Mother can be a touch blunt at times. She’s quite set in her ways.” He attempted to draw Mariah closer.
She shook her head and backed away, looking in both directions, then warded off any further advances with a hand. “Please, Colin, we must not.” Still gazing at him, her worried expression dissolved into one of tenderness. “But since we do have this short moment together—which is all that is allotted to us just now—I want you to know I think very, very highly of you. I do. But—”
“Say no more, my lady.” He paused. “I believe I’ve come up with an idea. A plan, really.” Yes, a perfect plan. Satisfied with its brilliance, he offered her a reassuring smile. “Just leave everything to me.” He gestured for her to follow as he turned and started toward the stables again. “So, tell me, how did our little snitch’s first music lesson go?”
Humor returned to Mariah’s beautiful face as they headed back inside to collect Amy. “You really don’t want to know.”
Chapter 9
During the next two days, Colin’s statement about having a plan kept Mariah wondering as she worked with his sisters on their school subjects and music lessons. She spent a good deal of time mulling over those mysterious words in her mind even as she demonstrated to the girls how to subtly draw attention while strolling about a room. She illustrated how to flirt with the eyes just enough to intrigue a man without being overly blatant, how to use the fan and parasol to spark interest, and how to accidentally allow a bit of ankle to show amid a flurry of skirts and petticoats. The two younger sisters quickly tired of that sort of playacting.
Victoria, however, was particularly eager to learn and did her best to mimic Mariah’s movements as gracefully as possible. “Is this the way?” she would ask. “Please show me once more.”
Mariah showered Tori’s efforts with profuse praise while the other girls were absorbed in laboring over their sums. “I’m sure you shall have no difficulty capturing Dennis Tucker’s affections…and we’ll be sure to invite him to join us as often as you wish.”
“Oh, I do hope he starts noticing me,” the fifteen-year-old breathed on a sigh. “After all, I’m not a child anymore.” She toyed with one of her honey-colored ringlets.
“That is true. However, your mother has set a lot of store by your marrying a prosperous merchant, you know.” Mariah softened the reminder with a smile. “She does feel she has your best interests at heart. She wants you to have a successful future.” Just as I wish for myself.
A dreamy glow filled Victoria’s azure eyes. “Mother has a whole list of wants, I’m sure. And so have I.” With a flutter of her long lashes, she snapped her parasol open and made a ladylike circuit of the room, bestowing condescending smiles and nods on her younger sisters as she passed.
Mariah couldn’t help but smile at Victoria’s determination.
A light tap sounded on the door, and Lizzie opened it and leaned her mobcapped head into the room, her smile bright against café au lait skin. “Tea is bein’ served on the veranda, missy.”
The words scarcely left the slave’s mouth before books and parasols slammed shut and the three young ladies flew out of the room to the top-stair landing, where they came to a sudden stop, hiked their chins, and paraded down the steps at a more sedate pace, with Mariah trailing after them. A smiling Victoria hopped over the final two steps in front of Heather, as if she somehow expected her charming Tuck to come calling.
As the little group emerged from the front entrance to join the rest of the family out on the veranda, Mariah reveled in the welcome breeze wafting up from the river. Today was by far the warmest since her arrival. The heat compelled her to remove all but one thin petticoat beneath her dimity gown adorned with multihued pastel flowers. Its short sleeves allowed the breeze to cool her arms.
Colin and his parents already occupied some of the wicker chairs surrounding the cloth-covered table as Amy dashed to a vacant seat beside her mother. The two older girls and Mariah bobbed into quick curtsies. If anything, Mariah decided, this family tended toward too much formality.
“Be seated, girls.” The mistress directed a cool smile at them. “The ice is melting in the limeade.”
Mariah immediately headed for the prudent seat on the sharp-eyed woman’s other side, noting the heavenly sight of moisture coursing down the glasses at each place setting in the heat of the day. Just as she was about to pull out the empty chair, Colin reached from close behind her and drew it back, then seated her. She did her best not to react to his nearness, even when his arm inadvertently brushed against hers, causing a delicious tingle.
“Do hurry up, everybody.” Amy ogled the platter of small sandwiches, tea cakes, and sugared raspberries, her blue eyes wide.
“Oh my.” Mariah turned to Mistress Barclay while Colin returned to his place across from her. “The drinks look especially delightful on such a warm afternoon.” Even more delightful, Mariah would be able to slip an unnoticed glance at Colin on occasion from this vantage point. Hopefully he would also be discreet.
Over the persistent drone of cicadas proclaiming the arrival of sultry weather, Mr. Barclay offered a brief blessing for the food. The second he finished, Amy’s hand snaked out and snatched a cucumber and watercress sandwich. The child always seemed quick and full of energy no matter the time or temperature.
Mariah’s preference lay in the frosty drink. Enjoying the feel of the cool, slippery glass as she raised it to her lips, she took a long sip, letting the refreshing ice chips brush her lips.
Beside her, the lady of the house, slightly flushed from the heat, in a gown of ecru linen, took a draught from her limeade, then blotted her lips on her napkin. Across from the mistress, Mr. Barclay and Colin fared a bit better in thin white shirts with the top buttons open. Mariah turned her attention to the older man. “Sir, may I ask how you managed to supply this glorious ice in such hot weather?”
Setting down his drink, he flashed a friendly smile. “There’s a nice little cove not far below the falls where the ice gets quite thick in the winter. We cut ice blocks there, wrap them in burlap, and cart them by wagon to our icehouse near the creek.”
“Falls? I didn’t know there was a waterfall nearby.”
Colin entered the conversation. “It’s not exactly nearby. It’s a fair ride from here, actually. And it’s not just a mere little fall but quite a spectacular series of cascades. Perhaps some day next week—after classes, of course—we could take a ride up to see them.”
The mistress stiffened, but Amy all but jumped out of her seat. “Me, too! I love the falls.”
“Of course, squirt. We wouldn’t dream of going there without you.” But her brother’s lackluster tone belied his cheerful words.
“Can we go tomorrow? Please?”
“No.” Her mother caught Amy’s chin and turned it toward her. “Tomorrow is the Sabbath. And as you know, the Reverend Mr. Hopkins and his family will be here for Sunday dinner. Hannah Grace will want to visit with you.”
“Oh, I forgot.” The child slumped back in her chair, then popped forward again. “Then how about—”
“No, not Monday, either,” Colin interjected. “I have to go into Alexandria to meet with Quince Sherwood about the horse race Saturday after next. Soon as I find out how many others will be competing, I must have the announcements printed up and pay a couple of lads to distribut
e them throughout the area. Once word gets around, folks from all over will show up with their picnic baskets and set up games for the children. And of course the tinkers will be there as well, hawking their so-called miracle remedies. Heaven forbid there should ever happen to be an affair where they fail to make the most of it.”
Victoria set her partially eaten sandwich on her plate. “Oh, Mother. I simply must have a new summer frock made, and a matching parasol.” She shot a merry glance at Mariah, obviously hoping to test her new attention-getting techniques on Tuck.
“You already have a selection of very nice gowns, dear,” her mother reminded her.
“But not in the latest fashion.” She looked at the mistress with a pleading expression. “I want a gown similar to Miss Harwood’s. The dimity is ever so pretty. I’d be the envy of every girl in attendance. Please?” She scrunched up her face for added measure.
Mistress Barclay perused Mariah’s frock as she nibbled a piece of tea cake in thought, her expression gradually losing its resolve. “Monday is not possible. I’ve invited the neighbor ladies for a light lunch that day, as you well know.”
“But Mama, any later and there won’t be time to have my dress properly made.”
Appreciating Victoria’s use of the more familial Mama in the same sentence with the word properly, Mariah realized the girl was no amateur at begging.
Her mother sighed, obviously growing weary of the topic. “Colin said he has quite a lot of business to take care of in Alexandria. Unless your father is able to go with you, you won’t have a chaperone. Eldon?” She swept a questioning look at her husband.
“I’m afraid not.” Mr. Barclay gave a slow shake of his head. “Cora, my love, Patterson and Clark will be here while their wives are lunching with you. We’ll be occupied in my study.”
She arched a brow. “Oh yes…you men and your private card games.”
“Then Miss Harwood could come with me,” Victoria quickly inserted. “In fact, I’d truly like her to come. She could assist me in selecting the perfect fabric and prettiest trims like the fashionable ladies in England are wearing.”
Daughters of Harwood House Trilogy : Three Romances Tell the Saga of Sisters Sold into Indentured Service (9781630586140) Page 39
