Karen Michelle Nutt Read online

  Arianna had the impression the plantation went on for miles with its landscaped terraces, shadowy gardens and ponds. Cypress trees lined the forest behind them like a wall of defense.

  The plantation was self-sufficient. They made their own tools and pottery. They had a weaver, cooper, carpenter and blacksmith. They harvested cotton and indigo, but the plantation’s main crop was rice. Seeing the men and woman working in the fields, she recalled the conversation she had earlier with Maeve about slaves. Did they own all the workers?

  Arianna shielded her eyes, watching the workers in the fields. “Everyone looks hot and tired. Shouldn’t they take a break?” When he didn’t answer her, she turned to meet Keldon’s hard stare. “Why do you look at me that way?”

  “Ye speak in riddles.”

  “I speak in riddles. You should be sitting where I’m sitting.”

  A guttural order drew her attention to a man with light hair and thick sideburns. He sat upon his horse, yelling at the workers.

  “Who is that?” Arianna asked.

  “The overseer, Rafferty.”

  She didn’t like him. Belligerent demands flew from his mouth. She’d had enough when she witnessed Rafferty bringing his riding crop down on a man, knocking him to his knees. She didn’t think as she clicked her tongue and set her mount into motion. She rode over to Rafferty ready to give him a piece of her mind. She jumped down from her horse. With her fists clenched at her sides, she didn’t think of her own safety as she put herself between the overseer and the helpless man on the ground.

  "Don’t you dare hit this man again," she spat.

  Rafferty turned three shades of red looking like he was on the verge of exploding. "Get out of my way or you’ll be feelin’ the crop on you!” He raised the weapon above his head, the intent made clear as he brought it down.

  Arianna yelped and covered her face, but the blow never came. She lowered her arms and found Keldon gripping Rafferty’s arm.

  "Ye werena goin' to whip my wife, were ye, Rafferty?"

  Rafferty cowered beneath the glaring green eyes. "No of course not, Mr. Buchanan?"

  Keldon shoved the man’s hand away.

  "You must have seen,” Rafferty stammered and pointed to Arianna. “She was interferin' with my disiplinin'."

  "Disciplining!” Arianna glared at Rafferty wagging her finger. "You were beating the man for no apparent reason."

  Rafferty pursed his lips together and glowered at her.

  "We doonae want to interfere,” Keldon addressed the overseer. “However, ye have been told once before that an undue beatin’ isnae productive and I willnae tolerate them. Is that understood?"

  "I understand, but mark my words, if you don't keep these darkies under control, they'll up and kill everyone up at your big, fancy house."

  "That is yer opinion. Mine is quite different, and since I am the head of the household, ye will abide by my rules. Do we understand one another?"

  "Perfectly.” The man spat on the ground before he turned his horse around and rode away in the opposite direction.

  Arianna breathed a sigh of relief and turned toward the man who was still sprawled on the ground. "Are you all right?” She offered her hand to him, but the man cowered, lifting his arm as if he expected her to strike him. She let her hand fall away.

  "Yas'm, Miss Annabelle.” He slowly rose to his feet.

  Arianna could see he wasn’t all right. His shirtsleeve turned a shade of red where the crop sliced through to his skin. She tried to go to him again, but he quickly backed away. She didn't move, but glanced around her. No one would meet her gaze. Feeling uncomfortable and definitely unwanted, she retreated back to her mount where Keldon waited to help her back into her seat.

  They’d ridden a small distance before Arianna spoke. "I only wanted to help, but they were afraid of me.” She looked at Keldon, wanting to see his expression. “Why? I was only concerned.”

  "That's what troubled them," Keldon answered.

  "I don't understand."

  His eyes darkened as he held her gaze. "Ye’ve never cared before. Ye've beaten the slaves for far less reasons than Rafferty has."

  Arianna pulled on her horse’s reins, bringing the animal to an abrupt halt. When Keldon realized she’d fallen behind, he stopped and turned around in his seat. "Is somethin’ amiss?"

  "Yes,” Arianna calmly replied though she wanted to scream. “Everything’s amiss. You've told me things about myself I can't believe. I feel like you’re talking about another a person, a person frankly I wouldn't wish to know.” Arianna mournfully sighed. "I'm a stranger in my own life. I'm scared to learn anymore about who I am. Did I ever do anything nice?” She met his gaze, begging him to say something encouraging about her personality.

  “We should head back to the house.”

  His response didn’t relieve her fear. Selfish, bitter, cruel … and these were her best qualities. No wonder Keldon looked at her with such malevolence. What horrible deeds had she bestowed upon him?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  After riding, Keldon deposited her back at the house as if he couldn’t wait to end their time together. Leighton showed up soon after and they both left, heading for the boat. Arianna wondered if Leighton was a business partner or an annoying pest interfering with her marriage.

  I sound jealous. She thought. Well, she was. I’m married, but Keldon keeps me at arms length. Weren’t marriages based on love and trust? Obviously, their marriage wasn’t of the conventional nature. They didn’t even share the same bedroom. She may have forgotten many things, but she was certain a married couple slept together.

  She tried to imagine Keldon’s strong hands on her, his mouth kissing her…making love to her. Heat burned her cheeks. Love? The man didn't even like her. She shook her head. She had more things to worry about than wondering why her husband didn’t sleep with her, but those damn words kept haunting her: He will love you.

  She harrumphed. “He’s probably a lousy kisser,” she mumbled wallowing in her misery as she walked down the unfamiliar halls.

  Her steps took her to the drawing room and to the harpsichord. She pulled out the bench and sat down. Keldon insisted she never played. “What do I care what he thinks?” She closed her eyes and placed her hands on the keys. The melody came alive before she even thought of it, the slow soothing piece she’d played earlier. The melody meant something to her. She wished she knew why.

  When she finished, she opened her eyes with a sigh. “If I don’t know how to play, how did I manage that?” Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a little girl peering around the corner of the doorframe. “Hello,” she called to her.

  The girl came fully into the room, but not too close as if she didn’t want to be far from her exit of escape. Her lashes swooped down hiding her light brown eyes. "I's sorry Miss Annabelle fer disturbin' you. The music wuz so purdy. I never heard you play before."

  "Don't be sorry. I'm glad you’re here.” Arianna didn’t want her to leave and hoped she could convince her to stay.

  "You are?” The little girl’s mouth nearly dropped to the floor.

  Arianna nodded and moved over on the bench. "Come sit by me.”

  The little girl hesitated.

  Arianna tried a different approach. "I can't remember a lot of things. Can you tell me your name?"

  "Yas'm. I be called Sally Mae."

  "Well, Sally Mae would you like to learn how to play?” She pointed to the harpsichord.

  “Yas’m.” Sally Mae bobbed her head up and down.

  Arianna patted the space next to her. "Come sit here and I'll show you.”

  Arianna taught her a simple tune she remembered. It was funny how she could remember things like that but nothing of her life.

  After a few minutes, Sally Mae had mastered the little ditty. At first, Arianna wasn't sure what the piece was called. Then the name popped into her head. "Chopsticks.” Sally Mae looked up questionably at Arianna. She repeated with a smile, "What you’re playing is c
alled chopsticks. I think there’s another more official name for it, but this one will do. Anyway, you play what you just learned, while I play the other part that goes with it. Sally Mae carefully concentrated to hit each key, while Arianna worked her magic. There were a few mistakes but over all, it didn’t sound half -bad.

  "Whut's goin' on here?”

  Startled, Sally Mae slammed her hand down on the keys like a gavel. The effect was just as severe. Sally Mae slid from her seat. "Sorry Maeve. Miss Annabelle wuz showin' me how to play."

  "You leaves Miss Arianna alone. Do you hear me?"

  Arianna intervened. "I asked her to join me."

  Maeve’s shoulder relaxed. "Still, she has things to take care of.” She motioned for Sally Mae to move. The little girl reluctantly made her way to the door. She stopped and looked back to Arianna. "Thank you, Miss... Arianna."

  "You are very welcome, Sally Mae.” The little girl smiled and left humming the little ditty.

  "You have a kind heart, Miss Arianna. But you must be careful. Not many white folks would like you bein' so friendly with my kind."

  "What do you mean your kind? We were having fun. Surely there is no harm in teaching the child to play.”

  Maeve eyes softened. "Where you come from things must shore be different.” Before Arianna could question her, she had changed the subject. "We need to get you ready fer tonight’s gatherin’."

  "Gathering?"

  "Yas'm. It be a small get together, but I want ter fix you up real purdy."

  "Should I know these people?” Arianna felt queasy all of a sudden.

  "Some, I'd say. You don’t have ter worry none.” Maeve told Arianna, seeming to understand her reservation.

  "I can’t do this, Maeve."

  "You kin. Mista Keldon will help you."

  She followed Maeve upstairs to her room. "Did Keldon and I marry for love?"

  The woman actually chuckled. "You’s not married ter Mista Keldon."

  "But I thought—"

  "Annabelle be married ter Mista Keldon. You’ve gone and took her place."

  "You keep saying that. How did I take her place?"

  "Don't knows dat, but I hope you's stayin'. As far as everyone knows, you be Misses Buchanan ‘cause you look jest like her. But you be a sweet girl. Mista Keldon will fall in love with you. Not ter worry."

  Arianna was more confused than ever. Why did everyone think she was Annabelle Buchanan if she wasn't, and how did Maeve know the truth? "I don't think I like Keldon," she confessed.

  Maeve shook her head a smile touching her lips. "I’m shore you will change your mind. He's a gud man dat Mista Keldon. The ladies shore do think he’s purdy."

  Arianna harrumphed. “Maybe the ladies would like to have him then.”

  Maeve chuckled again. “Ah don’t gets yourself all works up fer nothin’. Mista Keldon and you belong together.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Maeve helped Arianna dress. She slipped on the white soft silk under dress and a powder blue crape robe over it. Maeve fussed with her hair, pulling part of it up in the back, and curling the remaining around her face so that it showed off her delicate features.

  Arianna put on the white kid shoes then ran her hand down her dress to straighten it, feeling uncomfortable with the attire. "I feel like I'm dressed up for a play.” She looked at Maeve.

  "You look real purdy," Maeve said as she placed a necklace around her neck to finish her outfit.

  "I really look okay?"

  "Breathtaking,” a deep-timbered voice answered her. Arianna turned to see Keldon standing in the doorway, dressed in his finery. Her pulse kicked up a beat. He had pulled his thick dark hair back and tied at the base of his neck. His shirt was white with a high collar and he wore tan breeches with white knit stockings that covered his well-shaped calves. To finish the attire, he wore a blue double-breasted jacket with bronze buttons.

  "Madam, are ye ready?”

  “Hmm?” Her eyes fluttered a moment before she met his disarming smile. Heat flared in her cheeks and she knew an unwelcome blush crept across her face. Damn her fair skin for betraying her. She’d been ogling him and if the amusement in his eyes was any indication, he was well aware of it. "Yes, I… well, yes, I think so."

  He approached her then and tucked her arm under his. The impulse must have surprised him for he hesitated and looked down at her as if he expected her to pull away.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  His gaze touched her features as if he wasn’t sure. He shook his head and smiled. “Come, our guests will be arrivin’ soon.”

  Keldon stated each of the guests’ names as they entered. Now if she could just keep all of them straight in her head.

  Bernard and Elizabeth Prescott arrived first. Bernard carried at least twenty extra pounds in his gut. He wore his thinning hair slicked back and his bulbous nose stood out like a clump of clay. He had a habit of sneaking a drink from a flask he had hidden in his coat. Elizabeth stood two inches taller than her husband and she wore her rich brown hair tightly wound into a bun. She looked down her straight nose at everyone and fluttered her eyes when irritated. The Prescott's were a perfect match—pompous, condescending, and if they lifted their noses any higher, rain would pour into their nostrils and drown the both of them.

  Nicholas Sherborn arrived next, tall, slightly built with aristocrat features of a privilege born Englishman. When he smiled, charming dimples dented both sides of his cheeks. His alluring charms gave her the impression he left many women’s hearts weeping.

  Vincent Aubrey, she had already met earlier in the day. His amber colored eyes sparkled with mischief. His cultured voice betrayed he once lived in France. Arianna liked Vincent’s easy demeanor and he seemed to enjoy her company as he told her of his sister, Chantal and her husband living in New Orleans. He may be one person she hadn’t hurt in her questionable past.

  Doc Hathaway and his wife Martha joined them also. Martha brought her servant, Grace with her. She claimed she needed Grace to help her freshen up before dinner. Arianna did her best not to roll her eyes. Truly couldn’t the woman powder her own nose? Grace stayed with the other servants while they dined.

  Leighton McRae, Arianna finally learned from Maeve, was a long time friend of the family and had resided with the Buchanans since Keldon was a boy. He arrived last. Arianna wondered what he’d been doing.

  She knew Leighton didn’t like her or trust her. He made it obvious by the way he watched her every move. She mentally added him to her list of people she must have wronged.

  As the night progressed, Keldon suggested they should relax in the drawing room. Arianna stayed behind hoping to escape the tedious mingling. Maeve wouldn’t let her and pushed her out of the dining room. Pushy servant.

  She sighed and was resigned to endure the rest of the evening, but sniffles alerted her that someone was crying. She halted her steps. She followed the sound around the corner where she witnessed Doc Hathaway hugging Grace.

  “Oh.”

  They both turned, coming apart. Grace gasped. Her dark eyes widened and she covered her mouth, stifling a cry.

  “Go now, Grace,” Doc Hathaway told her.

  She scampered away like a frightened rabbit.

  “Talk about uncomfortable,” Arianna mumbled. “I didn’t mean to—”

  “You won’t say anything to Martha, will you?” Doc Hathaway licked his lips. “I keep your secret and you keep mine.”

  “Your affair with Grace is the secret I’m keeping?”

  “Affair,” he huffed as if offended. “You know Grace is my daughter.”

  “Oh, I… oh.” Arianna’s eyebrows furrowed.

  “You truly don’t remember, do you? I thought…”

  “You thought I was faking.”

  He cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Mrs. Buchanan. Please don’t tell Martha. She’ll send Grace away. I won’t be able to protect her then.”

  “She’s your wife’s slave.”

/>   “You know there isn’t any other way. While she’s the house servant, I can ensure her safety and a much easier life than if she was a field slave.”

  Arianna didn’t know what to say.

  “You will keep my secret,” he insisted she give her word.

  Doc Hathaway feared she wouldn’t and that revelation didn’t sit well with her. She placed her hand on his arm. “Doc Hathaway, your secret is safe with me. I would never put Grace at risk.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Now, about my secret your safe keeping for me, would you—”

  Doc Hathaway stiffened.

  “What is it?”

  “Annabelle.” Keldon’s voiced boomed.

  Arianna jumped. “Must you yell?” She turned to glare at him.

  “The guests are waitin’.” He waved his hand down the hall.

  Arianna sighed and looked at Doc Hathaway. “Will you be joining us?”

  “Yes… Yes, of course.”

  Arianna could feel Keldon’s heated gaze. She wished he hadn’t showed up when he did. She wanted to know what her secret was and why she forced Doc Hathaway to keep it. She had a sinking feeling it couldn’t be good.

  With everyone seated, Samuel poured drinks for the guests. Samuel, who preferred to walk around barefoot most of the time, was dressed formally tonight.

  The talk turned to politics and Arianna tried not to yawn. She downed her second glass of wine.

  "Have you heard how the war has progressed of late?” Vincent Aubrey gave the opening to the evening’s conversation.

  "General Ross' force marched on Washington is what I heard.” Bernard Prescott nodded his head.

  Arianna sat up straight. She knew this. She read about it somewhere.

  "In retaliation to the burning of York," Nicholas Sherborn added.

  “Where was our Army?” Elizabeth Prescott joined in.

  Vincent addressed Elizabeth. "Madame Prescott, our army took it upon themselves to flee.”

  "Oh my. Yes, I remember reading about this,” Arianna spoke up.