by P. J. Dean
“Adeline, I know what you meant. I am simply correcting you.” He folded the paper with a snap and drained his coffee cup. “Lelaheo, meet me outside in one half hour. We have a hectic morning. Kindred, is my bag properly replenished for the day’s rounds?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Thank you.” He leaned over and kissed a gurgling Lela on the head. Dr. Twain glanced at the overdressed guest at his table. “Adeline, explore the grounds all you want, Except, I’d don something more sensible. This is a working farm. Good day.” He rose and left.
Lelaheo nuzzled Kindred’s ear as she handed the baby to him.
“I must prepare to depart, love.” He got up, cradling Lela in one steady arm. “Do you not wish to assist me?”
“No.” Kindred locked eyes with Adeline and would not look away. She had unfinished business with this well-bred interloper.
“Kindred?”
“Yes?” she replied, finally breaking eye contact with the girl. “Go, Lelaheo. Give Lela to Gramma. Miss Penvenen and I have much to discuss.” He bent over and kissed her passionately, then he hoisted the baby on his shoulder and left.
“This is disgusting! You are married to me,” Adeline ran after him shouting. Lelaheo ignored her. Returning to the kitchen, she focused her rage on Kindred. “Having his half-breed bastards will not secure your place here. Populate the countryside. It serves no purpose. I have the legitimate document stating we are man and wife.”
Kindred pounded her fist on the table and toppled her chair as she stood up.
“And under what means did you obtain it? The ceremony may have been legal, but the circumstances were not.” She approached Adeline and hovered over her. “I know what you did, Adeline.”
“What I did?” Adeline swallowed audibly.
“Yes, you drugged him.”
“What nonsense are you spewing?”
“Please do not act coy. I loathe that luxury of the rich.”
“How did I drug him? How could I get that man to wed me if he had no interest?”
“You were desperate, Adeline, and saw opportunity. I am apprised of your sad history with men. You knew that if your aunt even thought another man was on your mind, she’d make sure you’d wed that one. No matter who he was. And pity the poor man, for he would become an immediate savior. But you had so carefully planned it would be an immediate savior with the promise of wealth.” Kindred’s diatribe drained her so, she had to sit again. She perused Adeline from head to toe. “Madam, I am one who has never cared one wit about what another female did or did not do with her privates, but these machinations have made you a whore of the highest caliber.”
Adeline tried to remain composed, but pulling at stray strands of hair signaled her uneasiness. “Your tale is quite … interesting, but it is just that. A tale.”
“My tale is the truth. I have sorted out your treachery. You will not have him! I am the mother of his child and we are pledged to each other.”
“The law is on my side, Kindred. Sentiment plays no role in legal matters. Cassian is my . You are his concubine. Remember that with each illegitimate breed you squeeze out. Now excuse me. I must eat something. I have my environs to inspect today.” She walked to the hearth and ladled an ample amount of porridge into a cream ware bowl.
“I need to keep up my strength for life in this hostile region.”
“Best you consume the entire pot, Miss Penvenen,” said Kindred as she headed out the kitchen door for the herb garden.
Chapter Twenty Five
Adeline curbed her exploration of the environs and stayed close to the main house of Twainhaven. The constant crack of musket fire was unsettling. London was her home, but she dare not return unless her husband was on her arm, or his money was in her
purse. Neither was possible at the moment, but she could wait. She had carved out a small space for herself. Through an unspoken understanding, she had claimed the parlor as her own during the day. It was sunny and offered refuge from all the battles going on around
her. She only mixed with the “family” at meal times.
Cassian came into the parlor with a colicky Lela on his shoulder. Adeline looked up from her needlepoint and frowned.
“You do realize that child is ill because all of you handle it too much.”
“Is that your medical or maternal observation?” Cassian kept rubbing Lela on the back.
“In my household, children would not be so indulged. I was not.” She jabbed her needle in and out of the landscape scene on the frame before her. “Let it be and it will heal on its own.”
“Adeline, my child is not an ‘it’. Secondly, you know nothing of what you speak. You would make a poor mother.”
“Am I ever to be a mother? Poor or otherwise.”
“Not to my offspring.”
She brushed aside his comment and returned to her needle and thread. “When will you be introducing me to the people of society here?”
“Introduce you?” He drew nearer. “People of society?” He threw his head back and roared with laughter. “And your aunt thought I was cheeky. Our union is a lie. No matter how many documents you possess.”
“So you say. I am tenacious. You do not know me, Cassian.”
“I know enough.” He turned to leave. Adeline grabbed his sleeve. She pushed away the needlepoint frame and stood in his path.
“No, you do not.” She stroked his cheek, then dropped her hand into the opening of his shirt. She massaged the smooth pectoral under her fingers. “Cassian, the morning you woke to find me wrapped around you, I saw that you wanted me. I felt it. Literally. Even if your mind denied it, your body was ready. Confess. Did you not want, just for one second, to sink yourself into this flesh? Were you not a tad curious? I am quite different than Kindred. Not just our hair, skin and eyes. I am sure we differ in our way of loving. I can introduce you to new pleasures. Satisfaction of which you have only dreamed. And I
am aware that you are not shy about exercising your appetites. I have heard you with her.” Before he could stop her, Adeline latched onto him and kissed him again. Lela mewled at being squeezed.
“I think not, Adeline,” Cassian said shakily, wiping his mouth. “Any response from me was purely a reflex. Totally natural.”
“If you say so.”
She stepped back, feeling triumphant at making a dent in his stoic manner. She knew from experience that his emotions bubbled just under the surface, but that he was slow to act. But when he did …
“Lelaheo, Father needs you in the surgery,” announced Kindred, who had been standing quietly on the threshold watching.
Ignoring Kindred, Adeline addressed Cassian. “I am here and my door is always unlocked.” She licked her lips as she passed Kindred on her way out. “Good morning,” she chirped, beaming from ear to ear.
****
Joshua was trimming overgrown bushes with a crew and hauling away debris in time before high winds from an approaching storm could wreak more havoc. In the midst of his task, he looked up to see a coach coming up the road.
“Go tell Father a coach is coming,” Joshua told a helper.
Minutes later, Doctor Twain emerged to stand on the front steps with Joshua, waiting and wondering. The coach turned into the courtyard and stopped. Without waiting for a liveryman to assist, a single passenger jumped out.
“Howdy, cousin. What beautiful land you have,” shouted Sebastian Oren Brainerd as he looked around.
****
“Bad t’ings come een t’rees.”
If Douglas had not put any credence in Rozina’s adage before, he set his clocks by it now. With the war, Lelaheo’s unexpected bride and now the arrival of his cousin, three bad things had come to call. He knew Sebastian and knew this unheralded visit was not for his household’s good. Wherever Sebastian tread, he left very large, messy footprints. Douglas hoped his cousin would walk softly here. His appearance had upset poor Rozina.
“Tell Doctah Twain uh wunt cook fo’ dat man. Uh wunt s
erve him.” Lelaheo and Kindred had carried Rozina into the kitchen, put her a stool, and sat her by the open kitchen door. “Dat buckruh duh him bet’ ta kill me and Kinny,” she panted. Rozina wiped the tears from her face with her apron.
“I’ll do all the cooking. Do not be scared, Gramma.” Kindred wrapped her arms around Rozina and hugged her tightly. “Please calm yourself.”
“Please do, ’Zina.” Lelaheo checked her pulse. “Your heart. I forbid you to tax yourself.”
“Uh ent scary’d. Stop dat!” She swatted at him and struggled to her feet.
“’Zina, please!”
“Luk uh said uh ent scay’d. Uh iz mad!” Rozina trembled with anger. Fear or anger. Neither was good for her heart.
“Gramma, I could give Mr. Brainerd a very large dose of a sedative and all our troubles would be over.” Kindred winked at her granny.
Rozina patted Kindred’s cheek. “You iz a good gal.”
“Let us leave this plotting of Mr. Brainerd’s demise until later, ladies. Kindred, help me get ’Zina to her room.”
“Uh ent po’ly.”
“I am the doctor here and I prescribe rest.” Lelaheo lifted Rozina into his arms and took her up the back staircase with Kindred leading the way.
Chapter Twenty Six
“Sebastian, what brings you to this region? And when will you be departing?” They were assembled for the evening meal, except for Rozina, and Lela, at a simply set table. They sat in the back courtyard in the shade of the canopy that the birch, maple and beech trees created. A light rain had fallen cooling the raw heat a tad. The shower had also coaxed the scents from the plants in the herb garden and the combined aroma perfumed the humid air.
Sebastian fanned himself with his sizeable planter‘s hat. “Why cousin, you speak of my departure when I have only just arrived.” He sipped his cool cider and rolled it around his mouth. “My that is good. Didn’t know how parched I was. That hit the spot.” He whipped out a handkerchief from his vest and mopped his neck and brow, then
repositioned his hat on his head. Relaxing in his chair, he added, “Let me brush the road off my boots before I have to be on it again. Besides, I have business here. I tracked three runaways to this region. I caught ’em afore they crossed over into Canada. Got ’em under lock and key on a barge two miles down river.”
Douglas drained his glass in one swallow.
“Sebastian, you are family, but I shall not endure any nonsense. Do not bring your plantation ways here. Understood?”
“I have no intention of committin’ nonsense. I shall conduct myself like the Southern gentleman I am. Unlike the Northern relation who visited me years ago and left with property,” he subtly reminded.
“That was a horse of a different color, Sebastian. They were in danger. Danger you had created.”
“They were mine to do with as I saw fit. Mine.” He spoke softly but menace was in his voice. “Do you understand that?”
“Douglas? The herb garden?” Nachman uttered in a cautious tone. “I’ll be over there with Joshua. Summon us when the meal is served.” Nachman excused himself.
Adeline emerged from the house, swathed in green silk and mountains of petticoats. Sebastian shot to his feet at the sight of this lady.
“Why, miss, who could you be? I do not recall seeing you upon my arrival. We have not been properly introduced.” He removed his hat again and bowed.
“It is Missus.” Adeline corrected him. His demeanor was rustic, but at least he was welcoming, she mused.
“Permit me.” Sebastian pulled out a chair for her. “Missus?” His attention shifted back to Douglas. “Cousin? You ole dog. You’ve finally relented and married?”
“No. No. No.”
“Sir,” Adeline interrupted. “I am Missus Harkness. Cassian’s wife. The other doctor in the house.”
“Pardon me. It is just that when I saw you, angel that you are, I assumed you were my cousin’s wife. Cassian? Cassian you say? That injun fella?” Sebastian scratched his head. “Well, I’ll be. In my neck of the woods, those kinds of people are only good for a coupla things and marryin’ ain’t one of ’em.” Sebastian winked and swigged more cider.
Douglas looked up. Kindred and Lelaheo carried trays of food and drink from the house.
“Nachman!” Douglas yelled. “Supper!”
The awkward configuration of diners found their places around the table. Kindred had managed to put together a cold supper of chicken, a mutton joint, biscuits, cheeses, some pickled side dishes and jellies. Cider and fruits in season rounded out the meal.
Lelaheo carved and Kindred put out crockery. She smiled to herself. If it were not so pathetic it would be amusing. No, in fact, it was amusing. Kindred had vowed not to serve Adeline, Rozina had vowed not to serve her ex-master. Preparing and serving food required ingenuity. Kindred envisioned buffet style for a long time.
“So this here is Kindred,” Sebastian said as he stuffed ham into his mouth with one hand and pulled at her skirt with the other as she passed. “You wouldn’t recall me. You is as pretty as your mama. You cook just like your grandmamma.” He chewed while he talked. “I have missed her cooking.” He looked toward the house. “Where is that ole gal?”
“My grand is not well,” replied Kindred. “Take your hand off me.”
“She been ill?” Sebastian tugged on her skirt again, this time palming the back of her thigh.
“Came on suddenly. The moment you appeared. I repeat take your hand off me.”
“That some mouth you got on you, gal. What you gonna do if I don’t let go?” He kept feeling her thigh and grinned.
“That’s enough, Sebastian,” said Douglas.
“Let her go,” said Lelaheo, who had stopped carving and stood still twirling the knife.
“She your business? Thought that one was your wife. You got a belligerent bunch, cousin.” Finding no smile on Lelaheo’s face, he let her go. “ I was just havin’ fun.” He knew his cousin was a man of science, but this human experiment was wrong. An abomination. When Joshua, Kindred and Lelaheo sat down to eat, Sebastian could not contain himself any longer.
“Douglas, you let the help sit at table with you?”
“They are not help.”
“Not help? Then what the hell are they?”
“Family.”
“Family?” Sebastian glanced around the table at the many hues. “You done lost your mind, cousin. Not a one of them looks like the people in them pictures you got hanging on the walls in that house. If that don’t beat all. It ain’t supposed to be like this. You makin’ these people think they equal. It’s wrong.” Sebastian slapped his hat on his
thigh. “I a blood relation and you ain’t never treated me or mine like that.”
“Because you have never warranted it!” Douglas slammed down his cup. “Why are you here, Sebastian? What do you want? Have you fallen on bad times?”
“Tobacco is fickle, cousin. Just like a woman. Ups, downs. We are square, but we ain’t nowhere near as well positioned as other planters.”
“Stop trying to live up to impossible expectations. Find a way of living that suits you.”
“Like the way you live, Douglas,” Sebastian said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Chapter Twenty Seven
“And that is how and why you are part of this abomination called a family? You fooled that injun into marryin’ ya?”
“Lower your voice please,” said Adeline. She admired this Southerner’s pluck. They had retired to the parlor. Adeline poured sherry after sherry for Sebastian. It was working the desired affect by loosening his tongue.
“You care him?”
“I need him.” Adeline was filled with humiliation at the sound of her own words and sighed. “He was, is, my only chance at respectability.”
“But here, missy? This is a hard land to work. You may get to be its mistress, but never its owner.”
“I have no intention of remaining in this cesspool of a British ou
tpost. I simply want my portion of it.” She patted her coif and fanned. “I want to return to England, be a doctor’s wife. Cassian would have a thriving practice. Those of means would come far and wide to be treated by him. Why, curiosity alone would draw them “So that red skin of his would be worth something finally.”
“I call it fulfilling his destiny.” Adeline cocked her head to one side and asked, “Sebastian? May I call you by your Christian name?”
“You may, angel.”
“You do flatter me.” She mustered her best concerned tone, seized his free hand and patted it. “Sebastian, you have an ax to grind with your cousin?”
“What makes you think that?”
“Your contempt for him was thinly veiled by your drollery.”
“Uh?”
She laughed and arranged her skirts about her. “You dislike him and your joking did not hide it. What occurred?”
“I do have a lil grudge.” He swigged more sherry and burped. “Almost a lifetime ago, Douglas was in my neck of the woods. A slave rebellion was in the works. Me and other planters squelched it. Douglas objected.”
“Objected because you squelched it? How did you do that?”
He cleared his throat and squirmed a bit. “We killed defiant slaves and tried to capture escaped ones.”
“I see.”
“Rozina was one. She fled with her granddaughter and another boy. Douglas found ’em and brought ’em here.” He shoved his arm out for emphasis and sloshed his drink. “Illegally!” “Best damn cook I eva had.”
“I see.”
“Theft. Cut and dried. Like my tobacco.” He guffawed at his own joke. “They were mine. Still are mine. Douglas owes me. Sanctimonious ass.”
The immediate satisfaction Adeline received from hearing that information made her purse her lips. “Kindred is your property?”
“Damn right! I hear she whelped a child. That’s mine too. Any child born to one of my slaves is mine. I’d take her and the young’un back if I could. I’d call it even. Got my eye on her. Y’all can keep ’Zina and Joshua. The girl is pretty. Young and fertile. You see, I have a wife like you. Blonde, fair. But I prefer the darker hues for my appetites.”