Goddess Born (4 page)

I watched the young man—Henry—walk toward the desk. It was now or never. “Excuse me, Captain,” I said. “I’ll pay twelve pounds for the lad.”

Completely caught off guard, both Captain Harlow and Mr. Fletcher turned to gape at me. Only a second before I had been invisible, now I was the very center of attention. To make matters worse, Ben clasped my arm and leaned closer to me.

“What are you doing?” he hissed.

“I’ll tell you later,” I hissed back while attempting to keep a pleasant smile on my face. As a servant, there was only so much Ben could do, and I felt him reluctantly let go of my arm. However, he didn’t move an inch from my side, and I was guaranteed a thorough questioning later.
Fine with me
, I thought,
just let me finish here first
.

“Miss Kilbrid, this is highly irregular,” Captain Harlow said once he found his tongue. “Your father would never approve of your conducting such business.”

“If you haven’t forgotten, Captain, my father is dead. As is my cousin, after taking passage on your ship.” This was certainly cruel, but I needed some leverage.

“Yes, yes, of course I haven’t forgotten,” he said, his calm composure faltering. “Are you really in need of another servant?”

“Captain Harlow, this is a matter between us,” Mr. Fletcher interrupted. He reached inside his coat for a large purse and started pulling out coins. “I see there is no other choice than to pay the twelve pounds.”

“I’ll pay thirteen pounds,” I said.

“Thirteen pounds!” Mr. Fletcher cried. “I demand you stop these negotiations at once and take my money. Obviously this girl has little idea how business works between men.”

Henry stood no more than an arm’s length away, and though I refused to look at him while speaking to the captain, I felt his gaze firmly locked on my face. “Without my father and cousin I find myself in need of additional help. Ben has already taken up a great deal of extra responsibility, but with the growing season upon us, he needs to spend more time tending to the wheat. Didn’t you say this man could write and figure?”

“Yes, he can. Henry received a very good education before his indenture.”

“Then are we agreed on thirteen pounds?”

“Fourteen pounds!” Mr. Fletcher countered. “And that is my final offer!”

For most of the conversation I had purposefully focused on the captain, but following this outburst, I turned my attention to Mr. Fletcher. Consumed by rage, the man had temporarily lost his senses and now openly stared at Henry in a way that could only be described as carnal. It lasted hardly a moment before the sneer was yanked back into place. But there was no erasing what we had all seen, nor the strong impression that the job at the brickyard would have more to it than just tending the ovens.

“I accept your thirteen pounds, Miss Kilbrid,” Captain Harlow said, extending a hand in my direction. We shook to seal the deal.

“This is unacceptable!” Mr. Fletcher yelled, spraying both the captain and me with spittle. “I offered you more! How could you shake with this girl?”

“Henry will be of more use at Brighmor Hall than in a brickyard. Good day to you, sir.” While the captain spoke he gave a nod to the armed men behind him.

“I demand justice! There are witnesses here who will testify of your behavior.”

“Were there witnesses when that lad stumbled into the oven?” Captain Harlow asked, his voice hard as flint. “Kindly be off before there is need to have you removed.”

Two burly sailors moved in our direction. “This is not over, Captain,” Mr. Fletcher warned. “And as for you, young lady, I will get what is mine.” He spun on his heel and stormed away.

Nobody spoke again until Mr. Fletcher disappeared from view.

“Never liked that man,” Captain Harlow said, not really speaking to any one in particular. “Bad business, what happened to that last boy I sold him, but the bailiff assured me this morning there was nothing anyone could prove.” He shook his head slowly, scowling in the direction Mr. Fletcher had gone.

“Excuse me, Captain, is there anything else you need from me?” I was ready to have this business done and be on my way.

“Just the thirteen pounds,” he said, reaching for a sheet of parchment.

Oh
,
bugger!
In my haste, I had left the inn without a single farthing. “Would you mind if Ben returned with it later? I seem to have forgotten to bring any money.”

“Not to worry. I’ll have your cousin’s trunk delivered to your residence. My man can pick up the money then. Where are you staying?”

“At the Meredith House, but only for tonight. We’ll be leaving for Hopewell in the morning.”

“I will send it this afternoon,” he said, handing me the sheet of parchment. “This contract is good for seven years. Now, let me introduce your new servant, Mr. Henry Alan.”

For the first time since walking away from the crate, I allowed myself to really look at Henry. “Hello, Mr. Alan,” I said, trying my very best to sound business-like. Unfortunately I had very limited experience at this sort of thing as most of my previous transactions had involved dresses and such. “I hope you will be happy at Brighmor Hall,” I added for good measure.

“Thank you, Miss Kilbrid,” Henry said, returning my greeting with a slight nod. His perfect English accent conflicted somewhat with his unkempt appearance, and I wondered if anyone in Hopewell would notice that my Irish cousin didn’t sound much like an Irishman. Aside from this minor flaw, I found his voice to be very pleasant.

“Happy at Brighmor?” the captain repeated back with good humor. “Fate was smiling on you when he sent Miss Kilbrid to the docks this morning. Rather than seven years under that blackguard Mr. Fletcher, you get to spend your time on one of the finest farms in Pennsylvania.” Here his expression turned steely and his voice picked up that flinty hardness. “Mr. Jonathan Kilbrid was a dear friend of mine. I will take it as a personal insult if you cause his daughter harm in any way.” The captain stared at Henry for another moment, then turned his attention back to me. “If he gives you any trouble, Miss Kilbrid, just send him back and I’ll see he’s properly punished. We’ll be docked in Philadelphia for the next two weeks to finish business and make some minor repairs to
The Berkshire
. After that time, you may contact my agent here in town. He will see things are taken care of in my absence.”

“Your concern is most appreciated, but I’m sure Mr. Alan will be a good servant.”

“He had better be,” the captain said as a last warning. “May you have a safe journey home tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Captain.” I gave a small curtsy and turned to leave, convinced my true intentions were about to be discovered. Ben left my side to talk with Henry, and I started off in the direction of the inn. Focusing on a familiar point near the road, I began to negotiate my way through the crowd when someone knocked into my shoulder and threw me off balance. Stumbling back, I put my hands out to break the fall, only to be saved at the last second.

“Ye best watch yer step.” A man pulled me to my feet. I’d started to thank him when he squeezed my waist, bringing me close enough to smell his rotten breath. “It can be dangerous out here fer a lady.”

“Release me, please.” I tried to push away. His face broke into a wicked grin, and I knew if evil spirits walked the earth, I had just found one.

“Aye, ma’am,” he said, letting me go. In mock deference he tipped his three-cornered hat to reveal the fiercest red hair I had ever seen. “Dirk Fletcher sends his regards.” Then he stepped away and melted into the crowd.

I stood frozen in place, my heart pounding like a marching drum, when Ben arrived at my side. “Are you hurt?” he asked. “You left so quickly, it was all I could do to catch up once I got things settled with Henry.” He looked around, but there was no sign of my aggressor.

My shock abated at the sound of Ben’s voice. Turning to him, I forced a weak smile. “Nothing more than a bruised shoulder.”

Ben’s patience had been tried enough by my impulsive bidding on an indentured and I didn’t want to tax him further by retelling the whole encounter with that hideous man. Besides, if he knew the man worked for Mr. Fletcher, he might insist on making an official complaint to the sheriff, and then all my plans would be ruined.

“I saw him creeping around like he was up to no good while you were speaking with the captain. If I’d known you were going to run off soon as my back was turned, I would’ve kept a better eye on him. I sure don’t know what’s gotten into you today.” Ben looked genuinely worried, but rather than questioning me further, he took my arm and led the way to the inn.

His self-restraint was admirable, though I knew it wouldn’t last much longer, probably only until we got to our rooms where he could speak his mind in private. Guessing his intentions, I cut him off at the last corner. “Get Henry cleaned up and into some new clothes,” I said. “When you’re done, bring him to my room.”

Ben frowned, clearly displeased by these orders, but I left before he could say another word.

* * *

I slipped in through the front door and went straight upstairs to my room, praying all the way that I wouldn’t run into Mrs. Bradford. The last thing I needed was an overprotective chaperone breathing down my neck, trying to make up for being left behind earlier this morning. Once safely inside, I bolted the door, then dropped my hat and gloves on the table. I walked over to the mirror and stared long and hard at my reflection. In light of everything, I was somewhat surprised to see my face staring back. I certainly didn’t feel like the same girl who had rushed out less than two hours ago.

Maybe it would have been more prudent to have graciously accepted my fate, but by choosing to go down this other road I had learned something valuable: irrespective of the circumstances or odds, I refused to just lie down and let life take me where it may. To discover I possessed such strength in the face of certain defeat was empowering. Regrettably, I had also found something else that proved more than a little disconcerting.

It wasn’t that I opposed buying indentured servants. More than thirty years ago, Ben had arrived in Philadelphia the same way. He’d been just seventeen, without shoes on his feet or money enough to buy even a small loaf of bread. At the time, my father had been busy building his reputation as a merchant. Finding himself in need of a personal servant, he purchased Ben’s contract. The agreed length of service was five years, but when this time passed, Ben remained with his master despite many offers to set him up in his own trade. Since Ben, my father had purchased the contracts of at least two dozen more indentures. Many of those servants had gone on to be small farmers or tradesmen, though more than a few chose to stay and work for my father once their contracts expired. His most recent purchases were the contracts of Mary Finney and Alice Reed, after two chambermaids left to be married within a month of the other. Only a year into their contracts, Mary and Alice had grown hopelessly devoted to my family and intended to stay at Brighmor for their remaining days, or until proper suitors came along.

While the idea of indentures didn’t trouble me, my specific reason for buying Henry did. Not for a minute did I think he would willingly participate in my scheme if not bound by contract and threatened by the potential of a far worse situation. To save my own skin, I planned to manipulate another human being, just because I had the power to do so. This very decision made me a despicable creature—no better that Mr. Fletcher or Nathan Crowley.

Unable to tolerate the sight of my own face any longer, I stepped away from the mirror and started pacing the floor.
Am I really as bad as all that
? Certainly my offer was better than seven years of backbreaking labor in a brickyard under so cruel a master. Not to mention any additional duties Mr. Fletcher had in mind when purchasing such an attractive young man. And what about the other boy who allegedly stumbled into the oven? Could Henry have met a similar fate? Taking the whole picture into account, maybe I hadn’t acted the villain after all, but had in fact performed a great kindness.

With this new perspective, I stepped back in front of the mirror to check my appearance. According to the mantel clock I had been back in the room for well over an hour. Assuming that new clothing hadn’t proven too much of a hassle and allowing enough time for a proper bath and shave, I guessed Ben and Henry would be back to the inn within forty minutes. This gave me enough time to ring for tea and improve my own disheveled looks.

At the armoire, I studied the selection of gowns in search of something more dignified than the cotton frock from this morning. Nothing jumped out at once, but after a moment’s consideration, I decided on a dark blue silk for the sole reason that the color perfectly matched my eyes. Changing dresses was no small feat, and I had just sat down to fix my hair when the maid brought up the tea. She stayed long enough to help with the finishing touches before I sent her away, not wanting her anywhere near when Henry arrived. Hopefully Ben would be discreet, and Mrs. Bradford would be spared any undue scandal on my account.

To pass the remaining minutes, I sat down with a book of poetry. Generally an avid admirer of Anne Bradstreet, today the verses slipped away entirely unnoticed. Releasing a sigh, I put the book down and started pacing the room again only to find myself back in front of the mirror. I had slipped on a pair of pearl earrings and was pinching some color into my cheeks when Ben knocked on the door.

“Please, come in,” I called, thankful I hadn’t turned the lock again after the maid left.

As the two men walked into the room, my mouth fell open. The scruffy indenture from the docks was gone, and a breathtaking gentleman now stood in his stead—bathed and cleanly shaven, his light brown hair was neatly tied back with a black ribbon. They’d had good luck finding suitable clothing, and he wore a dark tan wool coat over a maroon waistcoat and a white linen shirt. Breeches of the same tan stopped right below the knee, giving way to white stockings and black shoes with large metal buckles. He offered a pleasant sight from head to toe, and I stared at him as though in a trance.