Arabella (33 page)

             
She wondered what would happen to Peg and the highwayman.  Would they find content in this new life or merely another form of servitude?

             
Hearing the tread of boots outside the cabin, Arabella stiffened.  The door opened and John Baxter came in.  She knew at once that things had not gone to plan, for he could hardly bear to look at her.

             
'Susan asked me to tell you,' he said.  'She is too upset.'

             
'You were outbid for my bond?'  Arabella stood up, feeling the ice spread through her veins.  Susan had been so certain it was all arranged, but she had been afraid this might happen. She laid the child in his cot and turned to her former employer.  'That is what you've come to tell me, isn't it?'

             
'I am very sorry,' he said.  'But I believe it will not be as bad as you might fear, Bella.  You have been bought by a gentleman to care for his son.  I think his wife is very young and needs a good servant.'

             
'I see…' Arabella felt the sting of tears.  It might have been worse, and yet she would hate parting from little Johnny.  'I must thank you for your kindness to me, sir.  May I say goodbye to Mrs Baxter?'

             
'She cannot face you,' he replied.  'It would cause her too much distress.  I must ask you to forgive her.'

             
'Yes, I understand.  I hope that you will find a suitable replacement.'

             
'I have bought another young woman,' he replied.  'She is not you, Bella, but we shall teach her to do the things you did so well.'

             
Arabella swallowed hard, fighting her disappointment. 'Must I go up now?'

             
'Yes, I think so.'  He hesitated and then reached out to take her hand, holding it for a moment.  'May God be with you, Bella.  I shall pray for you.'

             
'And I for you and your family, sir.'

             
Arabella walked from the cabin, her head high.  She was very close to breaking down but pride would not let her.  She had known from the beginning that this could happen, but she had hoped it might be averted when Susan Baxter took to her.  Obviously, her husband had not been prepared to pay the price asked for her bond.

             
She felt the sting of humiliation as she went out on deck.  She hesitated, wondering what to do, and then a man dressed in clothes of a sober habit and dark hue came towards her.

             
'You are Mistress Arabella Tucker?'

             
'Yes.'  Arabella raised her head proudly.  'Are you the owner of my bond?'

             
'Nay, merely his agent,' the man replied.  'I am to take you to his plantation.'

             
'Plantation?'

             
'It's what you would call an estate in England,' the man told her.  'My employer is a wealthy man newly come to the colonies.  He bought the plantation from its former owner and is commissioning a new house there.  The builders have been working on it for months.  It will be a grand place so they say.'

             
'I believe I am to have the care of his son?'

             
'Aye, so I've been told,' the man replied.  'You can call me Roberts if you like – or Matthew.'  He glanced round.  'Have you nothing to take with you – no bag?'

             
'Nothing but what I am wearing,' Arabella replied.

             
'Well, I dare say they'll find you something to wear at the inn.  We're to stay there tonight and begin our journey on the morrow.'

             
'You will take me to this plantation?'

             
'You will ride on the wagon with my daughter,' he said.  'She's a good girl but not capable of taking care of a babe alone.  She'll be your helper when you get to the plantation.  Her name is Flores.'

             
'Your daughter?'  Some of Arabella's fear melted as she saw the smile of affection in his eyes as he nodded.  'She came with you to fetch me?'

             
'It was the master's orders; he particularly stressed that she should accompany me.  It's a longish journey and he wanted to make sure you arrived safely I dare say. Perhaps he thought I might be tempted, mistress, but I've happy memories of my wife and no desire to stray from the path of decency.'  His eyes twinkled as he looked at Arabella.  'You'll find him a generous master, though he has a temper on him.'

             
'And his wife?'

             
'Hasn't got one as far as I know.'

             
'I was told…' Arabella bit her lip as she broke off.  Perhaps he would think her impertinent.

             
'There was a young lady with him for a while I understand,' Matthew Roberts said.  'When he first arrived in the colony – but she came out to be married, to a ship's captain I think.  No, I believe the master is a widower.  We none of us know much as yet, but he will tell us in his own good time I dare say.'

             
'What does he call himself?' Arabella asked but before he could reply Susan Baxter came rushing up to her.

             
'I couldn't let you go without saying goodbye,' she said.  'And I thought you might like this.  It is a gown I seldom wear, Bella.  You may need to alter it a little, but I think it will fit you.'

             
It was a pretty gown of a pale blue muslin, and hardly worn.  Emotion stung Arabella's throat as she thanked her and for a moment they embraced.

             
'I wish so much that you could have remained with us,' Susan told her tearfully.  'But it was not to be.  I am so sorry, Bella.'

             
'It is not your fault.  My bond was sold to the highest bidder.'

             
'Yes…' Susan looked uncertain, as if she wanted to say more but dared not.  'Yes, I fear it was so, Bella.'

             
'We should be leaving, Mistress Tucker,' Matthew Roberts reminded her.  'I'm sorry to rush you but I have several things to do before we leave in the morning.'

             
'Goodbye, Susan,' Arabella said.  'I shall think of you.'

             
'And I of you, Bella.'

             
Arabella turned away, raising her head.  The tears were very close but she would not let them fall.  She must face the future whatever it held for her.  And so far she had not been ill-treated. Indeed, she rather liked the man who had been sent to fetch her. He seemed honest and easy going, and if he were in charge of the plantation, life might be pleasant enough.

             
She wondered about the man who had bought her bond.  Why had he chosen her from so many?  She had hoped that by hiding in Susan's cabin until the bidding had finished that she would be safe and that John Baxter would buy her bond easily.  Indeed, Susan had thought it a certainty; her uncle had given his word that they would have the final bid – so what had gone wrong?

             
There was no point in worrying about something that could not be changed.  Arabella accepted the hand offered her by Matthew Roberts as she climbed into the little boat that was taking them to the shore.  She could see that there were several fine houses now and remembered that some of the colonists were wealthy men.

             
Her new owner must be wealthy if he was building a fine new house on his plantation.  She could only hope that he was a gentleman in the true sense of the word and that all he wanted from her was that she assume the care of his child.

'You are very pretty,' Flores Roberts said as she greeted Arabella. She gave a little giggle.  'I thought you must be pretty or Mr Winston would not have told Papa that he must be sure to bring you back with him.'

              'Mr Winston – do you know his first name by chance?'

             
'I think it is George but I'm not sure of that bit.  I've seen his initials on his writing box but my father just calls him sir.'

             
'Are you certain that you heard right?'  Arabella was puzzled.  She did not know anyone called Winston and wondered how the gentleman had known she was on board that particular prison ship.  'Are you sure he did not tell your father to buy a presentable young woman for the care of his son?'

             
Flores shook her head and laughed.  She was pretty herself, about fifteen years of age with curly dark hair and mischievous brown eyes.

             
'They did not know I was listening,' she said.  'Papa would be cross if he knew I had listened at the door, but it is the way to find out what you want to know.'

             
'Yes, of course it is,' Arabella replied for she had done it herself as a young girl.  'But it would be frowned upon if you were discovered, Flores.  Perhaps you ought not to make a habit of it.'

             
'Life would be so dull if one did only what one ought,' Flores said with a pout.  'Anyway, I know what I heard – and you were mentioned by name.'

             
Arabella felt cold at the nape of her neck.  If she had been asked for by name then Mr Winston must know her.  He had perhaps been at her trial and heard her condemned – and yet Matthew Roberts had told her the house had been commissioned months earlier.  How could a man who had been in England at the time of her trial have started to build a house here months before?

             
It was a mystery, though as she realised a little time later, he could have been on a visit to England for some reason.  She shuddered at the thought of anyone making a voyage of that duration for any reason other than necessity, though of course it must be very much better as a paying passenger than as a prisoner.

             
It had been much easier for her once she became Susan Baxter's servant.  Caring for the child had been a pleasure rather than a duty, and she had enjoyed making her mistress comfortable and happy.  She knew that she had been very fortunate to be chosen by the Baxters and felt guilty sometimes when she remembered that Peg and the others were still in the hold.

             
She had managed to send more food to Peg, for the sailor who had bought her ring with clothes and the promise of food had been keen to keep his side of the bargain, perhaps because he feared she might complain to her mistress if he did not.

             
She had not looked for Peg when she went on deck that last time; it would not have helped the other woman to see how much better Arabella had fared.  She could only hope that she had found a good master.

             
She thought she had caught a glimpse of Nat in one of the other boats headed for the shore but was not certain.  She hoped that he too would be fortunate enough to find a place where he could earn his freedom sooner than the term of his bond.  He had seemed so full of hope for the future and it was his optimism that had helped Arabella to think of the future without giving way to despair.  Perhaps in this new land she would find a way to make a better life for herself.

             
'Well,' she said, smiling at Flores.  'I suppose it must remain a mystery until we reach the plantation and meet Mr Winston.'

             
'Oh no, you won't meet him – at least not at once,' Flores told her.  'He was here with us until after your bond was secured, and then he left on a business trip to Washington.  It may be some weeks before he returns.'

             
'I see…' Arabella felt disappointed.  She would have liked to know the identity of her mysterious new owner, but it seemed she must wait.  'Then where is the child?'

             
'He is upstairs in our chamber,' Flores told her with a smile.  'Little James is so beautiful, Arabella.  I adore him already.  Isadora has been looking after him until this morning, but she went with her husband when their ship left for the West Indies.'

             
'May I see him please?'

             
'Yes, of course.  I am glad you have come.  He is a very good little boy but I am nervous of looking after him.'

             
Arabella's heart was racing as she followed the other girl up the stairs of the inn to the chamber where her employer's son lay sleeping.  When they went in she was surprised to see an elderly black woman sitting by the cot.  Arabella had heard tell of people with skin like polished ebony, but until this moment she had never seen one.  The woman was waving a straw fan over the child to keep away the flies and the heat.

             
'This is Torah,' Flores said and the old woman gave them a toothless smile.  'She belongs to the plantation and Mr Winston asked that she help with James until you arrived.'