Arabella (35 page)

             
'I done birthed all my ole massa's childer,' she told Arabella.  'Nursed every one of them till they was big enough to run free and I reckons I knows a little 'bout easin' their troubles.'

             
'It was very clever of Mr Winston to find you and bring you here,' Arabella said the night James had been crying with his tooth.  'That stuff you gave me to rub in his gum helped him sleep and it tasted nice too.'

             
'I knows childer,' the old woman said and grinned at her.  'And the massa, he see me cryin' my eyes out that day, and he say to me, "ain't no need for you to go cryin' like that, mammy, 'cos I'm gonna buy you and look after you."  And if'n I can help his boy then I'se happy, Miss Bella. Massa a good man and I likes him.'

             
'I think he must be a nice man,' Arabella said.  'And I am glad he brought you here, because I wouldn't have known what to do for poor James.'

             
'If I'se right you gonna see for yourself pretty soon,' Torah told her and smiled.  'Massa Roberts he done tole his daughter that massa comin' home soon.'

             
Arabella nodded, but had an uneasy feeling deep down inside her.  Everything had been so pleasant these last two weeks that she was sure it had to change.  George Winston just couldn't be the paragon his servants believed.  Even in Paradise there had been a serpent and she was afraid that in her case it would turn out to be the master of Eden…

'Arabella!'  She heard someone call her name and turned, shading her eyes against the hot sunshine to look at the man walking towards her.  It was midday the sun beating down on the earth, the air sultry and uncomfortable, making her clothes stick to her.  For a moment she didn't recognise the man who had called to her, but as he got nearer she realised who he was.  'It is you – isn't it?  You look so different and yet I was sure it was when Maura was tellin' me about you just now.'

              'You're Nat – from the ship,' she said, her eyes going over him with appreciation.  He was wearing clean serviceable working breeches and a grey shirt, his dark hair cropped short, his eyes twinkling.  In his prison dirt she had known that he must have been handsome once, but now, recovered from the voyage, clearly fit and well fed, he was a fine figure of a man.  'You look well.'

             
'I feel well,' he told her.  'It was a hard fight to get here, Arabella.  I thought I might not make it for a while – but as you see I survived and I've landed on me feet.  Mr Winston bought my bond, but he's promised I'll work for wages as if I were free and that if I serve him well he'll help me to get on.'

             
'You said it was a land of promise and opportunity, Nat,' Arabella said.  'And it seems you were right.'

             
'Aye, I was.  You look blooming yourself, lass – are they treatin' you well?'

             
'Yes.  I've been very lucky.  I was picked to be a child's nurse on the ship and now I'm here.  Do you know what happened to Peg or any of the others?'

             
'Peg was bought along with several others,' Nat said.  'I don't know where she went other than in a boat with six of the other women.'

             
'I hope she finds a good place – but I doubt if there are many as good as this one.'

             
'We're both lucky to be here,' Nat said.  'Well, I'd best go and see to Mr Winston's horses.  That's what he pays me for and I don't want to lose my place.'

             
'Is he here?' Arabella's heart quickened.  'I was told it would be soon but I wasn't sure.'

             
'Aye, he's here – gone up to the new house to see what they've been up to I dare say.'  Nat grinned at her.  'He'll be lookin' for a wife when it's done I reckon.  There were plenty after him in Washington I can tell you.  Him being a titled gentleman.'

             
'Titled?'  Arabella suddenly felt breathless.  'I thought he was simply Mr George Winston?'

             
'Now where in the world did you get that from?'  Nat's eyes twinkled.  'His name ain't George – and Winston is only one of his names.  He's got a string of them.  He might choose to go as plain Mister out here, but he's a Marquis – a real blue blood if ever there was one. But he ain't like them I've seen afore I can tell you.  Right bastards most of them if you ask me – but this one is different.  Odd sense of humour sometimes, but decent when you get down to it.'

             
Arabella's mouth felt dry and somehow she knew.  She knew who Mr Winston was. She turned and walked away from Nat.  Surely it couldn't be true?  It was her imagination, her mind playing tricks on her – but somewhere deep down in her memory she recalled seeing a letter in Gervase's drawing room once when they stayed at his country house.  There had been a lot of titles at the heading and now she thought she recalled seeing Winston amongst them.

             
Why had it not occurred to her before?  But she had never dreamed that Gervase would be here in America.  Would he have followed her half way across the world?  No, of course not.  The man who had purchased this plantation had been planning to come here for many months – perhaps even years.

             
How could it be Gervase?  And yet the man who had bought her bond had known her name.  He had told his agent that he was to bring her back without fail.  Why should a stranger have done that?  It seemed highly unlikely.  That her new owner should ask for her by name had puzzled her from the beginning.  But if her owner was really Gervase…somehow it all fitted together.  Gervase had bought her from Mistress Elizabeth George.  And now he had bought her again.

             
She felt the sting of humiliation wash over her.  Why had he done it?  Was it so that he could mock her, flaunt his power over her – why?  Oh, if only it wasn't true!  She did not think she could bear it if Gervase owned her bond.

             
But what could she do?  She was tied to him for the term of seven years whether she liked it or not. She turned and went back to the house, her intention to walk down to the river forgotten.

             
Mrs Saunders tutted as Arabella walked into the house.  'So there you are, Arabella.  The master was here a few minutes ago asking to see his son and you not here to greet him.  I sent you to fetch me some eggs from the hen house not to stand talking all day.'

             
'I'm sorry if I was longer than necessary,' Arabella said.  'It was so hot and I thought I should like to walk for a while. Did – did Mr Winston see James.'

             
'Aye, that he did, and he's taken him out to see the horses.  He'll be back in an hour or so and you'd best be here then or I'll not vouch for you again.'

             
'I shall go up to the nursery now.  I have some sewing to do.'

             
Arabella ran up the short flight of stairs to the rooms beneath the eaves.  In the nursery itself one wall sloped sharply to the ceiling and she had to watch that she did not bang her head there.  She picked up her mending basket and began to work on the tiny shirt she was making for James, her mind working furiously.  Gervase had been here – would be here soon – if it was he, of course. But she had a growing conviction that it must be him.

             
Her heart was racing and she felt uneasy.  Why had Gervase bought her bond – and why had he never told her that he was planning to leave England to live in America?

             
She recalled the night they had quarrelled and parted.  He had told her there was something important he had to say and she had believed he was about to tell her their affair was over.  Could he have been about to tell her of his plans for a new life?  Had he been going to ask her to come out here with him?

             
She pricked her finger and cursed, sucking it so that the blood should not stain the fine linen she was working on, and then, suddenly she became aware of something and looked up.  Gervase was standing in the doorway watching her, an odd expression in his eyes.  She put down the needlework and stood up, feeling breathless.  She had known it had to be him, but now she was shocked and nervous.

             
She curtsied to him but in the manner of a lady to a gentleman, her head held high, her eyes proud.

             
'Good day, Mr Winston.  I trust you found James well and happy?'

             
'You do not seem surprised to see me, Arabella.  Do I take it you had guessed who Mr Winston was in reality?'

             
'Until this day I had no idea,' she replied.  'But when I was speaking to Nat a few minutes ago he said something that made me suspect it.'

             
'And you are still here?'  Gervase raised his brows mockingly.  'The old Arabella would have gone off in a temper I believe?'

             
'The Arabella you knew died some months ago, Mr Winston.'

             
'You know my name well enough, use it.'  His eyes narrowed in displeasure.  'What are these gowns you are wearing?  They are not what I ordered for you.  I brought all your belongings with me – why have you not been given them?'

             
'Perhaps your housekeeper did not think them fitting for a servant.'

             
'Do you imagine I brought you here to be my servant?'  Gervase glared at her, his anger as much with others as Arabella.  Clearly he had not made his intentions plain enough.  That would be rectified!

             
'What else, my lord?  You have bought me twice over now – why should you not use me as you wish?'

             
'As I wish?' He moved towards her, his eyes gleaming with what she knew was a mixture of anger and passion.  'You know how I would use you if I had my wish, Bella.  But you are free to choose.  Be my mistress if you will – or remain my servant if it soothes your pride.  You will do what pleases you as always.'

             
'As I please?'  Arabella gave a harsh laugh.  'You know that I am bound to you for seven years.  How can I leave here?'

             
'Would you leave if you were free?'

             
'Perhaps…' Her eyes flashed with temper.  'Why should I want to stay?  You must have planned this for months before you left England.  Why did you never mention it to me?  Oh, pray do not trouble yourself, Gervase.  I know the truth well enough.  I knew it that last night before you quarrelled with Harry Sylvester.  You had tired of me and meant to leave me.'

             
'Was that my intention? I thank you for telling me.'  A smile touched his mouth.  'Well, it is a cruel fate that brings us together once more is it not, my sweet?  Since I need a mother for my child and you need a home I dare say we may rub along well enough.'

             
'What are you saying?'

             
'Only this…' Gervase took two strides towards her, pulling her roughly into his arms and kissing her so hungrily that she was shocked by the fierceness of his passion.  'I find I still want you, Bella.  As you say, you are mine, and I shall have you in the end – in my bed, in my house, where I choose.'

             
'You said that I was free to choose…' she gasped pressing her fingers to her bruised lips.  She was trembling, shocked because he had lit a fire in her.

             
'I lied,' he said.  'You may have a time to consider your position, Bella, but I shall not wait too long.'

             
'Gervase…' She watched as he turned on his heel and left the room without a backward glance.  His kiss had left her shaken, aching for more.  She wondered why they must always quarrel.  Why could they not simply be kind and good to each other?  Both knew that an invisible bond, which had nothing to do with the one he had bought, bound them so tightly that neither could break it.  'Oh, Gervase, my love forgive me…'

'Forgive me, Mistress Tucker,' the housekeeper said, her hands folded before her.  Her expression was stony but she could not meet Arabella's eyes. 'I did not exactly understand his lordship's orders.  He told me to see that you had clothes befitting your station and I…'

             
Arabella had thought Maura's embarrassment over the gowns was because she had arrived on a prison ship with nothing, but now she guessed that the Irish girl had known they were not the gowns that had been intended for Arabella.

             
'You did not think that the silks and satins in the chests were meant for a woman who had come here in the belly of a prison ship?'  Arabella smiled.  'As it happens I agree with you, and I shall continue to wear the gowns you provided for me – at least for the moment.'

             
The other woman looked at her oddly.  'We never met but I knew that you were his mistress in England.  I was away at my sister's house looking after her during her last illness when he brought you to the country – but I knew your name, and I knew he cared for you.'