The Raging Hearts: The Coltrane Saga, Book 2 (36 page)

He bent and brushed his lips against hers, but she turned her face to the side. “Good night, my loving wife,” he laughed. “Sleep well.”

He left, closing the door.

It was over. For a little while, praise God, it was over.

Chapter Twenty-Three

When Dulcie opened the blue velvet drapes that morning, Kitty awakened to ask that her son be brought to her. Fed and bathed, he snuggled in her arms as she marveled once again over his precious cherub’s face. He soon fell asleep, and Dulcie returned him to his nursery, then helped Kitty dress.

Another servant brought in her breakfast tray. Kitty forced herself to eat the hoecakes, slathered in molasses and fresh-churned butter, but the slab of fried ham was too greasy for her still-weak stomach. After a second cup of tea, she lay back down on the bed Dulcie had freshly made. It was not long before Hugo arrived with the invitation list.

“I have no names to give you,” Kitty told him sharply. “I don’t care who Mr. McRae has invited.”

“But it is your wedding party.” Hugo looked annoyed. Kitty didn’t like him. There was something about him that she found distasteful. Perhaps it was his profound loyalty to his master.

She dismissed him quickly. “Plan the party the way you and Mr. McRae wish, Hugo. I don’t want to be bothered with any of it. I’m tired now, and I’d like to rest.”

He bowed slightly. “Whatever you wish, madam, but I should inform you that Mrs. Rivenbark will be here shortly after lunch to take fittings for your gown.”

“
What gown?
I have not requested any new clothes.”

“You are to be fitted for your ball gown, madam.” He sounded exasperated. Before Corey came along and tutored him, Hugo had been a cotton-patch slave. It galled her to see him take such a condescending attitude toward the Negroes around him.

Now she eyed him coolly and said, “All right. Have Mrs. Rivenbark come upstairs when she arrives. I suppose I am expected to be fashionably dressed for the occasion. Dear me, Hugo, what would I do without you to coach me?” she added sarcastically.

He frowned, gave his slight bow once again, and left the room with a tight, angry look on his face. Dulcie could not control her giggles. “Miss Kitty, you sure put him in his place. You got no idea how mean he is to the rest of us.”

“I can imagine, Dulcie. Life here doesn’t seem very pleasant for anyone. It doesn’t matter about me. I can cope. But I will not allow my child to suffer.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that baby. I looks after him real good, ma’am. He’s such a cute li’l fellow. I look after him like he was my own.”

“I would like his cradle to be brought in here so that I can care for him myself.”

Dulcie faced Kitty with a frightened expression. “Miss Kitty, Mistah McRae won’t allow that. He say I’m to tend to that young’un, ’cause you gonna have plenty to do.”

“Plenty to do?” Kitty echoed. “What does he mean?”

“Oh, I thinks he wants you to have lots of teas and parties and—”

“Well, we’ll see about that. I have no intentions of fluttering around serving tea to a lot of old biddies who secretly hate me. I want to spend as much time as possible with my son. He’s the only thing in this world that means anything to me. You bring in the cradle like I told you to, and all of his things. I am taking over his care. And when Mrs. Rivenbark leaves this afternoon, I would like you to send for Jacob. I haven’t seen him in a while and I want to talk to him.”

Dulcie stared down at her feet.

“Well?” Kitty asked impatiently. “What’s the matter now?”

Dulcie continued to bow her head as she mumbled, “Mistah McRae ain’t gonna allow no field niggers in this house, ma’am. Jacob’s come to the back door several times to ask about you, but Fanny, the cook, she would send for me, and I’d have to tell him he couldn’t come in. Last time, Hugo told him the next time he showed his face at that door, he’d run him off the place. Told him he better think about that, ’cause he wouldn’t have nowhere to go.”

“And you let him treat your uncle like that? And what about his grandsons?”

“Fanny, she look after them. Oh, I wanted to stand up and say something, but it’d just make things worse for everybody. Hugo can run those grandboys off with Jacob, and then what would Jacob do? Nobody wants to give an old man a job, Miss Kitty. Jacob knows that.”

“Then I’ll go into the fields and find him myself. And if you don’t bring John and his things into this room, I’ll do that myself, too. Honestly, Dulcie, I had hoped that you and I would become close, that I could trust you. After all, I asked you to slip one of my letters to Captain Coltrane out, didn’t I? I realize you’re frightened of Hugo and Mr. McRae, but I am mistress of this house now, and I should have some say-so.”

She stopped as she saw the look on Dulcie’s face. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and her shoulders were trembling. Slowly, realization spread through Kitty like liquid fire. “You never mailed my letter, did you?” she cried. “Dear God in heaven, Dulcie, I trusted you!”

The Negro girl continued to sob, and finally Kitty snapped in disgust, “Never mind. I had Jacob take letters directly into town. I know some messages were mailed. What pains me so is to realize
you
betrayed me. What did you do with the letter I gave you? You might as well tell me the truth now.”

“I…I gave it to Mistah McRae.” Her voice was a low, anguished moan. “And when he finds out I told you, he gonna beat the skin off my back, for sure. He gonna run me off this place. I ain’t gonna have no place to go.”

“You’ll find another job, Dulcie. You’re young, strong, efficient. I wish I could keep this confidential between us, but I intend to let Corey know that I have found out about his deception. Oh, damn him!” She leaped off the bed and began to pace up and down the room. “Damn him to hell! I learn more and more about how devious he can be.”

Dulcie continued to stand holding the chamber pot, the tears still flowing. With a sudden feeling of pity for the girl, who had done only what she had been told to do, Kitty put her arms around Dulcie’s shoulders. “You will find another job if Mr. McRae makes you leave, Dulcie, and you will be better off. Not everyone in this world is as mean as Corey McRae, thank God. I wish I could leave.”

She started to walk away, but Dulcie began to cry even harder, and Kitty whirled around, alarmed. “Whatever is the matter, Dulcie? I won’t let him beat you. And if Hugo tries, you run straight for me, do you hear?”

“It ain’t that,” the girl sobbed. “I can’t get no other job, missy, not working in no house. They’ll put me in the fields, and I can’t work in no fields, not when I’m gonna have a baby.”

“A baby?” Kitty gasped. “Whose baby?”

“Hugo!” She spat with contempt. “He got me this way when I first come here, and I lost the baby. I was glad. But he got me this way again, and I come to love little John so much that I wants a baby of my own, even if it is by Hugo. I don’t want to lose this ’un, but I will if I get run off from here and put in the fields to grub on my hands and knees in the dirt all day.” She hiccupped.

“A very touching scene.”

They both turned to see Corey standing in the open door between his room and Kitty’s. He can move as silently as a cat, Kitty thought, a chill moving up and down her spine.

He stepped closer. “Now, Dulcie, don’t you worry about a thing. One day Mrs. McRae will thank you for helping me to save her from herself. She is much better off married to me, as she will come to realize once she gets over her stubbornness.”

He slipped his arm about Kitty’s waist, and she stiffened as he kissed her cheek. “Good morning, my beautiful bride,” he whispered. She did not respond. He turned to Dulcie once again. “You will remain here, and I will see to it that your duties are lightened as the time for your confinement approaches. We don’t want to lose this baby. Goodness, no. If you learn to read and write and become efficient and educated enough to take over the duties of the house along with Hugo, I will see that he marries you.”

“I don’t want to marry him!” she screamed, then cringed as she realized her mistake in contradicting her master.

“Oh, Hugo isn’t all bad. He’s just trying to do the job I have asked him to do. Now, you run along and empty the chamber pot, then tell Fanny to prepare refreshments for this afternoon. The fitting will take awhile, I am sure.”

Dulcie started to leave, but he called out to her once again. She stopped walking but did not turn, keeping her head down fearfully as he said, “I also overheard my wife’s request about moving the baby in here. It will not be done. I don’t want that old fool Jacob coming in the house, either. Now get on with your work.” The snap in his voice sent her scurrying.

Kitty whirled on him furiously. “How dare you tell me I cannot move my son into my room with me? And Jacob is a very old, dear friend…” She was trembling with rage.

He gripped her shoulders and gave her a violent shake. “Now, you listen to me, woman, and you listen well. You are trying my patience.
I
run things in my house. Is it going to take a sound beating to put that in your mind? I will not tolerate these scenes, especially in front of my servants. That baby is not going to be moved in here because I have other plans for you besides tending to him. You are going to be a social leader, my dear. As for Jacob, I will not have my wife entertaining a field nigra in my house. Is that clear?”

He released her, and she stumbled dizzily, almost falling, but he caught her again, fingers digging into the soft flesh of her shoulders. “I have had about all I intend to take from that spitfire temper of yours, Kitty.”

She was coming out of her dazed state and she turned on him furiously. “How dare you talk to me this way, as though I were a slave? I will move my son in here, and I will see Jacob even if I have to go to the fields myself. And now that I know you kept Dulcie from mailing my letter, I think I hate you even more! If I can find a way, I will leave.”

His palm cracked across her face, sending her reeling backward. Losing her footing, she fell to the floor. Before she could make a move, he was there to yank her back up, entwining his fingers in her hair. Again he slapped her, this time knocking her across the bed. Then he was falling on top of her, pushing up her skirt, ripping at her undergarments. Twisting and moaning, Kitty fought him with every ounce of strength she could muster, but she was easily overpowered. She felt her legs being spread apart roughly, and then he was pummeling inside her, thrusting to and fro savagely, not caring that she cried out with the pain.

After one loud grunt he moved back, and then grinned down at her triumphantly. “Do you like that, my dear? Do you like being slapped around and then taken by force? Of course you do. And don’t worry about any bruises on that beautiful face. I’ll have Hugo bring in something right away. Now get yourself together. Mrs. Rivenbark will be here soon.”

“You bastard!” The words hissed across the silence of the room. “You filthy bastard! I hate you! And I will find a way to leave you.”

Never had she seen him so angry. He twisted back around to fall on top of her again. His fingers squeezed down on her throat until she felt herself slipping away into a deep void. “You try to leave me, ever, and I’ll kill that brat of yours. Do you hear me? I’ll kill him, and then I’ll ravish you until you’re worn out and useless and no man will ever want you. Don’t keep trying my patience, Kitty. I warn you.”

His voice came from far, far away, and just when she felt the hands of death reaching out for her, he released his hold. She coughed, choking in the sweet air. Corey stalked to his own room, slamming the door loudly after him.

Kitty was still lying there when Dulcie returned. “Oh, missy.” She dropped the chamber pot with a loud clatter as she rushed to the bedside. “That man done hurt you, ain’t he? I should of knowed when you made Hugo mad he’d run straight to tell him you was riled up, and then he’d be a’standing on the other side of that door a’listening. Oh, Lordy, Lordy,” she moaned over and over.

Kitty struggled to sit up, yanking down her skirts self-consciously. It was obvious that she had been raped by her own husband. “Just please get me some brandy, Dulcie,” she whispered miserably. “That will help me more than anything else right now.”

He would kill John, Kitty thought in terror once she was alone.
He’s insane.
He would do it.

Dulcie returned with the brandy, and Kitty downed the first glass quickly, then asked for another. “Miss Kitty, don’t make him mad no more, please. He…he’s got ways of making a woman suffer,” Dulcie whispered.

Kitty looked at her sharply. “What do you mean?”

“That other woman, that Stoner woman…when she stayed here, there was nights she screamed. And there were other women, and they screamed.” Dulcie lowered her voice, and Kitty had to strain to hear. “Mistah McRae’s got another room, on the top floor, and he don’t let none of us go in there. Nobody goes in there but him. He keeps it locked all the time. That’s where he took those other women. That’s where the screaming came from.”

Kitty chewed her lower lip worriedly. “Were those women all right later? I mean, the next morning?”

“We left trays outside their door. Sometimes we didn’t see ’em come or go, Miss Nancy, though, she looked all right, maybe a bit tired. Even Hugo has said he’d love to know what goes on in that room. Miss Nancy must not have minded too much, though, ’cause she sho did try to get the mastah to marry up with her.”