Bittersweet Endeavors (7 page)

S
he gathered the attention
and snickers
from the rest of the servants. 
It didn’t serve her well. 
It
uncovered
his full-blown anger.  His eyes closed, his nostrils flared, and he bit hard on his bottom lip. 
It wasn’t a
good sign at all, she realized too late. 
She noted he
attempted
to stay
calm
when
he vented his anger through clinched fists at his sides.  But
Myra
held little hope the anger would stay contained
if
the vein that pulsated within his neck
offered
any indication
to the
degree
of his
displeasure.

“Do you realize that it was
I
w
ho saved your ungrateful hide? 
If not for me, you
r
duties would
entail being on
your back
pleasuring one of those men who
c
a
me to auction.”

Such frank words unleashed gasps and surprised murmurs among the women in the kitchen.  A blush me
t his strong cheekbones and he
shook his head
with regret
.

“I apologize for my
bluntness
.
”
  H
e offered
his regret
to
ward
the wome
n who surrounded him and then
turned and glared
at Myra
. 
“I think it
shall
be
b
est if we continue this
conversation
outside.
”
He opened
the
door
and waited
for her
.

She
stepped back and edged herself behind the large walnut table that stood
at
the center of the room
. 
Again, h
e
waved
his
arm
and indicated that she should
follow
him outside
.
 
Frightened at the impending reprimand, she shook her head
and relayed
that
she
wouldn’t
follow him
.

“Now!” 
His tone
came
so har
sh
that
she flinched
.  His eyes narrowed
and left her
no room for
argument
.
Before
she
realized
her action, she
walked toward the door
.  Her stomach t
ied in knots at the rebuke she’
d
surely receive
once the door closed behind them
.

T
he door
shut and
he
looked
at her thoughtfully.  
He
wasn’t the
angry
,
young man who just mo
ments
before
looked as though he
welcome
d
the
chance
to strangle
her
.

“I don’t wish to be vulgar or harsh with you,
Myra
,” he
breathed
out
in resignation.  “
M
y father has given me the responsibility of seeing to the new servants
, you
included.  I don’t want to disappoint him.”

He paced in front of her.  The large footprints made in his wake wore the fresh, white snow into
a
muddy slush
beneath
his feet before he spoke again.
 
“Accepting you into service causes him distress.”

“That isn’t due to anything I’ve done,
s
ir.
I assure you. 
I’
ve not yet met
your father, and I don’t make
it
practice of distressing those I
’m not acquainted
.”

“And
to all
those you
are
acquainted
,” he said
exasperated
, “I’ll bet a month’s crop that you aggravate quite adeptly.”

She
pu
rsed her lips tightly together and wondered why
he
needled
her.  If he
knew
what she’
d
been through,
perhaps
he
w
ould
feel some compassion for her. 
Mayhap
even help her. 
Yet,
she didn’t trust easily so s
he
held her tongue.  What of her sister?  If
he
felt obliged
and reported her
parent
s
’
murder
s
,
Mary
was at
risk.
 
Sh
e
wouldn’t
gamble
on her life
. 
She
decided
she’d
stay at his mer
cy until she
arrange
d
passage
and
return
ed
to England
.  Then, she’
d
regain what her uncle
stole
, including her sister.
Until then
, she would
gather
strength and resources
and
defeat her father’s successor
when she had a better chance in succeeding
.

“If you can tell me
true
this time, I’d like to know the offense that resulted in your
voyage
to Jamestown.
  The trader said your papers were lost during
transit
, but
he
believe
d
you made way by the court’s rule.
”

“I’ve committed no crime.  I’ve come willingly into servitude to pay passage
. 
I have no family that bin
ds me to the mother
land
and wanted to take this endeavor for experience
.”

“At your tender age? Alone?” 

Seth eyed her wa
rily
and she knew her
lie
didn’t sound
believable
. 
She wasn’t
willing to tell him the
truth, so she
needed
to
craft
a
story
that
he
’d
deem
acceptable
. 
Myra wondered
what
offense
she could say that
she committed
, but t
he
thought of giving
him
the
satisfaction
of
her confessing
to
a criminal past
disturbed her
.

“I stole a fish from
the
market
and fed
my family.  My family had no means of support and it was the only way they’d not starve
.” 
She hoped shamming a story
with a
familial purpose
might suit
her best.
 

“For your
family
?”
He
lifted
his brow and
looked at her with suspicion.  “Yet a s
parse
moment ago, you
stated you
hav
e no
family.” 
He glared at her.  “I’
ll tell you forthwith, we
shan’t have
your thievery—or falsehoods
—
here.  Is that understood?” 
He directed
his finger at her
and
angered lines crinkled
his
forehead.  “If the urge comes about to do so, I
’
ll personally see to it that I remove the offending appendage from your
body
, albeit
hand or tongue.
”

“And surely find pleasu
re in the task,” she mumbled.  “
No need to fret
, I’ll not be stealing anything of yours or
o
f your family
.  Your chattels are safe
around me
, Seth
.
”

“You’ll address me appropriately
. 
You
shall
show
me respect
by using my proper family name of
Preston.”

“
Aye
,” she bit out.  She wanted to
state
that no one
had
informed her of
such
sur
name until
that moment
, but she kept
silent
. 
Under the circumstances, o
bedience serve
d
her best.  “Are we finished,
Mister Preston?
”
She asked the question
politely,
and even
humbl
ed
herself
by lowering
her eyes
downward
.

“Much better.  You may make a worthy servant yet.” 

She wanted to throttle him.

He
slowly backed away but still faced her
, and
Myra
swore
a whimsical smile play
ed
on his lips
before he turned around
.  She
wasn’t
quite
sure how she should take
his
expression, but she
wondered if he found pleasure in provoking her.

“Sir,” she called after him. 
“
If I may be so bold to
inquire
;
why
did y
ou purchase my bond
today at auction?” 

He didn’t reply.

“
Tis obvious you dislike me
,
”
she called out after him.
  Although he continued
walking
away, she persisted,
determined to hear hi
s reply. 
“Why save me from the likes as which you earlier described?”  As he
had
stated, many of the men at the sale could
’ve
taken advantage of her servitude
and
use
d
her for lust-filled pleasures.  For that
reprieve, she
was
forever grateful.  He may badger her, but he’
d
not gain
a
personal benefit with her newly acquired, lowly station. 
Although arrogant,
Seth
represented
himself as an
honorable man
, yet time would tell if he prove
d
it true
.

His footsteps
slowed
and
finally
stopped.  He didn’t turn around
, but the
broad expanse of his shoulders lowered slightly.  A hea
vy sigh released.  “I never stated that
I dislike you,
Myra
.” 

Deliberate, assured steps in his gait
demonstrated
hi
s
confidence
as he walked away from her
.
H
is thick, muscular thighs and forearms gave testimony
to
his physical strength.  She watched after him until he
reached the workers
, and soon he disappeared
among the men who labored in the
grand,
nearly erected Preston family
home
.