Daughters of Harwood House Trilogy : Three Romances Tell the Saga of Sisters Sold into Indentured Service (9781630586140)

by Crawford, Dianna; Laity, Sally

  5. Rose had settled nicely into her circumstances when she was faced with a new challenge—an orphaned baby to care for. Soon after that, her owner died. It’s said that God doesn’t give people more than they can handle. What are your feelings about that statement?

  6. Which character in Rose’s Pledge did you most closely identify with? Why?

  7. When the circumstances of your life seem to contradict God’s promise to work all things together for good, are you able to keep trusting Him, or do you tend to lose heart? Are you still able to worship God?

  8. What characteristics that Rose possessed attracted Nate? How do you feel about the “unequal yoke” the Bible talks about in 2 Corinthians 6:14?

  9. Nate had known the gospel from his childhood but wandered away from it. What things opened his eyes to his need to renew his faith?

  10. Rose and Nate found their happy ending. Do you believe God has a happy ending in store for you? On what do you base that conviction?

  MARIAH’S QUEST

  DAUGHTERS OF HARWOOD HOUSE

  Book Two

  DEDICATION

  For their infinite patience, encouragement, and tireless support during the writing of this story, we lovingly dedicate this book to our families. May the Lord’s richest blessings be always upon them.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous assistance provided by:

  Elaine McHale

  Fairfax Regional Library

  Fairfax, VA

  Her help in gathering necessary period data and maps and in sharing her knowledge of various settings and prominent figures who played a part in colonial America’s fascinating history was most sincerely appreciated.

  Special thanks to:

  Delia Latham

  Robin Tomlinson

  Their excellent help in critiquing the manuscript along the way, proofreading, and adding polish was truly valuable. May God bless them both.

  Chapter 1

  Baltimore, Maryland, 1753

  Gentlemen! As I promised, I’ve saved the choicest for last.”

  Zachariah Durning, captain of the Seaford Lady, resembled an overstuffed goose in his ill-fitting dress uniform and powdered wig as he addressed the crowd of buyers on the Baltimore dock. His gold buttons threatened to pop when he puffed out his chest.

  Mariah Harwood’s heart pounded with excitement…and a mixture of dread and anxiety. She and her two sisters were about to be auctioned off as if they were no more than horses or cattle. But to whom?

  For the past seven weeks aboard the huge ocean vessel, Mariah had held fast to the dream that some rich and stunningly handsome colonist would sweep her up in his arms and take her on a great adventure. Yet, standing on display before this assemblage of tradesmen like a flag on a flagpole, she knew she’d most likely be purchased by some uncouth man and end up scrubbing floors in a mean wife’s kitchen for the next four years. Four crucial years. By the time she served out her indenturement, she’d be an old maid with rough, red hands.

  She could not let that happen. She would not. After all, bearing a strong resemblance to her late mother, had she not always been considered the beauty of the family with her violet-blue eyes and black curls? And had she not turned down all of three marriage proposals in the recent past? She grimaced. If only she’d known then of the dire financial straits that would so unexpectedly befall her family and shatter all hopes of snaring a wealthy suitor.

  “These three young lasses have been schooled in all the social graces, as well as the art of fine cooking,” Captain Durning hollered for all to hear. “They can also read and do sums. Any one of ’em would make an ideal lady’s companion or children’s governess.”

  “Put up the one in blue,” a fat man with bushy side-whiskers hollered. A gap in his waistcoat revealed a missing button, and the fingernails on his pudgy hands were chipped and dirty. “I’ll bid on her.”

  Mariah gazed down at the fancy taffeta gown she’d donned that morning and swallowed. I’m the one wearing blue! What a stupid, romantic fool she’d been to deliberately sell herself into servitude for the inane reason that her chances of making a profitable match here in the colonies were likely to be far better than they’d been back home in England.

  The captain reached down and hauled Mariah up onto the auctioneer’s platform. “I’ll expect a starting bid of no less than twenty-five pounds for this one.”

  Her heart in her throat, Mariah scanned the crowd sweltering beneath the June sunshine. Surely there must be a few, far more pleasing bidders than the sloppy old man who’d spoken up, men of higher quality—and hopefully far more attractive to the eye.

  “Captain Durning!” she heard her older sister, Rose, challenge in her no-nonsense tone. “You agreed to sell us as a family.” Determination glinted in the expressive, azure eyes she leveled on the commander of the ship, her fists planted on her slender hips.

  Hope sprang anew inside Mariah. As forthright as Rose was in that sensible, nut-brown gown, she’d put an end to this travesty. Surely she would. She’d always done her utmost to look after the family to the best of her ability, putting their welfare far above her own.

  But Durning didn’t even bother to acknowledge honey-haired Rose. “What do I hear for the first bid?”

  “I’ll give ye twenty pounds.” The paunchy onlooker raised a finger high. “Not a pence more.”

  Gritting her teeth, Mariah resumed her desperate search for a more promising individual.

  “Twenty-one,” came a voice at the back of the gathering.

  Mariah turned her attention in the direction of that rich voice and caught a glimpse of a younger gentleman astride a long-legged bay. Her pulse skipped a beat. There he was! Just like in her dreams. Tanned and raven haired, and attired in a loose shirt and fitted breeches tucked into tall boots, he locked his dark eyes with hers. Entranced and enthralled by the fine figure he made atop his mount, Mariah willed him to outbid any others. Please…please…

  “Twenty-two,” she heard on the fringes of her consciousness as she continued to stare at the man she prayed would rescue her.

  His mouth quirked into a half grin. “Twenty-three.”

  Trying to contain her hopeful smile, Mariah nibbled her lip.

  “Mister Durning!” Rose interrupted more sternly. “I shall be forced to call the authorities if you do not honor the agreement you made with our father.” A frown marred her otherwise feminine features but somehow only added to a beauty that radiated from within.

  Mariah felt her smile wilt at the edges. Would the young gentleman part with enough funds for her and her sisters? The starting bid asked for her alone was far more than the captain had paid their father for all three of them.

  “We have no written contract, wench,” Durning spat, his florid complexion darkening as he glared down at Rose. “I’ll thank ye to keep yer mouth shut.”

  “And I’ll thank you to honor your word as a gentleman, sir.” Rose had never been one to give up easily.

  Mariah glanced again at the handsome rider at the rear of the crowd. He’d pushed his tricornered hat back, exposing features so stunningly perfect as to have been fashioned by an accomplished sculptor. His grin widened as his gaze remained focused on her alone. Her smile regained its strength. Perhaps there was hope, after all.

  Nevertheless, the confrontation between the captain and her older sister continued. “What we have, shrew, is yer name on a legal document that says I have the right to sell the three of ye to whomever I please.” Durning puffed out his bulging chest again. “And if ye don’t keep quiet, I’ll have ye locked in the hold of me ship until I complete the rest of me business.”

  “Not before I summon the port authorities.” Rose whirled around, her expression rife with purpose.

  The last thing Mariah wanted was to be parted from her sisters…but she could ill afford to lose her ardent bidder, either.

  “Good sirs.” The captain nodded to some men in the front. “Lay hold o
f this baggage and hold her whilst I fetch my men.”

  The insufferable cur actually intends to lock poor Rose in the hold? Mariah felt her own anger coming to the fore. The man’s insensitivity was not to be borne.

  One of the onlookers laughed as he and another fellow grabbed Rose’s arms. “Don’t fret, Cap’n. We’ll see the lass stays put.”

  Trying to wrench free, but to no avail, Rose turned her fury on the two ruffians. “And I’ll see you and your manhandling cohorts brought up before the magistrate.”

  Outraged at the injustice of seeing her sister being treated so roughly and held against her will, Mariah started forward to aid her, but the captain caught her arm and held her fast.

  Their youngest sister, Lily, flaxen-haired and delicately formed, edged next to Rose and tugged on her ruffled half sleeve. “Please, Rose. Don’t say anything more. They’ll take you away.” At a tender fourteen, Lily was too young and innocent to lose the sister who had mothered her since she was three years of age. Shy by nature, a flush on her fair cheeks matched the pale pink of her gown and accented the sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her pert nose.

  Rose’s taut body slumped in defeat as the fight left her.

  Mariah swung her attention back to her dream man and sighed her gratitude. He was still there, beholding her.

  “I’ll bid thirty pounds on the beauty in the blue frock.” He tipped his head slightly in her direction.

  Thirty pounds! No one had to tell Mariah that was an exorbitant amount to pay for four years of service.

  “Thirty-one,” came another voice on the opposite side of the crowd.

  With every fiber of her being, she willed her hero to bid more.

  His grin widening with confidence, the young man hooked his leg over the pommel of his saddle, a sure sign he was prepared to stay as long as it took to win the bid. “Forty.”

  A murmur swept the crowd.

  Such a high bid! And all for her. Truly he was her knight of the realm.

  A long pause ensued. When no further bid was forthcoming, the captain gave a decisive nod. “Sold! To the gentleman on the fine stallion.”

  The handsome rider gave a triumphant laugh and nudged his mount forward, weaving through the crowd until he reached the platform. He reached out to Mariah.

  With a nervous giggle, she moved to the edge and allowed him to pull her and her voluminous skirts onto the bay steed. His arms encircled her, and the scent of his bay rum cologne blended with the smell from the baking houses that provided bread and rolls to seagoing vessels. The man smelled every bit as good as he looked.

  But leave it to Rose to ruin the moment. Marching right up to the two of them, she snatched a handful of Mariah’s blue taffeta hem. “Come down from there this instant.”

  “Miss Harwood does have a point.” Captain Durning nodded.

  Mariah’s breath caught. Surely he hadn’t changed his mind about the sale.

  “Ye’ll not be taking that lass anywhere until there’s hard cash in me hand and ye put yer signature on the indenturement.” With a smug look, Durning turned to Rose. “Everything proper and legal.”

  Her lips in a grim line as she glared at the captain, Rose yanked on Mariah’s skirt again.

  Mariah had no recourse but to offer her new owner an apologetic smile and permit him to lower her to the ground, which he did, but ever so slowly. He then dismounted and came to stand beside her, enveloping her hand in his. Mariah sensed from the dedication in his expression that he would have paid whatever amount of money it took to purchase her. It was a heady notion.

  Then a rather unsettling and unwelcome thought intruded, bringing her back to earth. This powerfully built man, however handsome and charming he appeared, did happen to be a total stranger. Why had he bought her? What exactly were his plans for her? For all she knew, he could be an abuser of women. Or worse!

  As she tried to absorb the fact that she had no idea why a complete stranger would offer good money to purchase her papers, she felt Rose latch on to her arm and tug her away to stand between her and Lily. Now that her hand was no longer tucked inside her new owner’s, Mariah missed the comforting warmth his grasp had provided.

  She glanced over her shoulder to find him standing directly behind her. His dark brown eyes gazed down on her with a sympathetic smile. This man was not someone to be feared. Surely he had stepped wondrously, magically right out of her dearest dreams. She allowed herself a moment to admire his manly features.

  So caught up was she in the moment, she scarcely noticed when her baby sister Lily was put on the block for sale and stood with head bowed, trying to be invisible. Nor did she feel concern that Rose was again acting like a mother hen and causing a humiliating fuss, arguing with Captain Durning. As the two events made their way into her consciousness, however, Mariah decided to use them to her advantage. With Rose otherwise occupied, she turned once more toward her gentleman. She certainly didn’t want him to entertain second thoughts about the exorbitant bid he’d made. But the captain’s voice drew her back to the moment.

  “Sold to the fine gentleman in the front.”

  Mariah searched the crowd to find the individual who’d bought Lily.

  Appearing to be in his late twenties, and attired in coarse, homespun clothing, the man was no gentleman of wealth. With dark brown hair and eyes of soft blue, he did have a kind face, though, and a tall, lean build similar to their own father’s. More important, Rose seemed pleased, and so did Lily. At least a modicum of the younger girl’s trepidation seemed to have eased.

  “Hie thyself up here, wench.” A sour scowl accompanied the captain’s command, and Rose’s smile lost its luster as the two ruffians who’d stayed her earlier bumped past Mariah and hoisted Rose onto the platform with boisterous laughter.

  With all her older sister’s discordant protests, Mariah knew Rose had made a spectacle of herself. This became even more evident when guffaws and a round of applause resounded from several quarters. How mortifying!

  She checked to see her owner’s reaction but saw that he was preoccupied with toying with the wispy plume of her bonnet.

  He came alongside her, now that Rose no longer hovered, and took her hand in his with a gentlemanly bow. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Colin. Colin Barclay, of Barclay’s Bay Plantation.”

  Mariah smiled and gave a sweeping curtsy. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Mariah Harwood, daughter of the finest goldsmith and jeweler in Bath, at your service.” As the irony of her statement dawned on her, she flashed a wry grin. “Quite literally, it would seem.”

  “And I yours.” Colin accented his grand gesture by lifting her hand and brushing it softly with his lips.

  Remembering Rose, Mariah shot a guilty glance up at her.

  Her older sister had other worries at the moment. She stood rigidly beside the captain as he raised his voice again.

  “Now, if ye want a full day’s labor for yer money, this spinster here’s the one yer lookin’ fer. The female’s five and twenty. In her prime. She’s run an entire household since she was thirteen. Raised her four siblings, including two brothers, and ye’ve seen how the lasses here turned out.” The reprobate cocked a self-satisfied brow.

  Rose looked utterly devastated. Mariah’s heart went out to her. In reality, Rose had been far more to her and the rest of the family than Captain Durning had expounded. The very selling of herself into servitude had been a desperate measure she’d taken upon herself to save their father from debtor’s prison. She had intended only to sell herself, but Mariah and Lily had volunteered to accompany her for their own personal reasons, no matter how altruistic they’d considered themselves. Young Lily hadn’t wanted to be parted from the only mother she could remember. And as for herself, well…Mariah turned another admiring look back at her handsome new owner.

  “The wench’s sisters may have virtues enough,” someone yelled, “but this one’s got the tongue of a fishwife!”

  Laughter at poor Rose’s expense a
gain rang out. These unfeeling men were making cruel sport of her…even if the last remark did happen to be funny. Mariah couldn’t squelch the smile that twitched her lips.

  And Rose saw it.

  Chagrined, Mariah quickly covered her mouth with her free hand as warmth climbed her cheeks.

  Durning quieted the crowd with a raised arm and continued. “The woman’s only actin’ the way of any mother hen worth its feathers. She’s tryin’ to keep her little chicks tucked beneath her wings. Of the three of ’em, she’s by far the most experienced worker.”

  Mariah was glad that the captain, the real deceiver, finally defended Rose.

  The haggling started up in earnest but was interspersed with paltry comments. Someone said her hands looked soft; another said she and her sisters’ clothes looked too fine. “Mayhap the lasses are more used to givin’ orders than takin’ ’em,” one finally suggested. Mariah rolled her eyes.

  By this time, even Durning himself appeared weary of the process. He hiked his pretentious bulk up and scowled at the speaker. “ ’Tis true, the Harwood sisters come from excellent stock on t’other side of the water. To see any of ’em put to work as simple scrubwomen would be a pure waste. This one in particular is accomplished at preparin’ tasty foods. She can put every spice ever brought to the British Isles to proper use.”

  That remark accelerated the bidding to such a pace Mariah couldn’t discern the source of each offer as they rose a pound at a time to nineteen.

  Then from the rear came a piercing high voice. “Did ye say the lass is a good cook?”

  “Aye.”

  “I’ll gi’ ye fifty pound fer her.”

  “Sold!”

  Astounded murmurings swept through the gathering, and Mariah swung to see who’d offered such an unheard-of price without so much as a second’s hesitation. Her mouth dropped open in shock.