Princess Ces'alena (19 page)

“Damn you - she is a slave! She should act like one! She’s here to serve our-…”

“She’s a human being and not required to do anything of the sort.” Manny defended angrily. Morris and Charles both stood shocked.

“Then what exactly is it she is supposed to be doing?” Morris demanded to know.

“Anything she damn well pleases! She makes her contribution here just as the others. But she’s not under any obligation to watch me make the ultimate sacrifice. Let the other’s serve the guest.”

“Damn you Manny! That is exactly why she is the way she is! She’s a goddamn slave-…”

“Only because we’ve enslaved them all! In her homeland…she would not be a slave! Leave her alone! I’m here to find a wife, leave me to it, that I may get it done!” Again, both men stood looking at him in disbelief. “And don’t
you
say a word - not one word!” He warned Charles, angry that he even had to carry through with this farce. Charles threw his hands up. “Not a word.”

Just then the crowd gushed in surprise; and all turned facing one direction forming a half circle. “Now what is going on.” Morris muttered aloud leading the way to the opening with Charles and Manny following. To their surprise Ferrus and Mike were in the center doing a dance in complete unison, with Mike mimicking some seemingly difficult steps. Then both separated, as Ferrus challenged Mike’s skill in a dance off. He’d do a few fancy steps to the music, and then stop, eyeing Mike to copy them, which he did to Manny’s shock. Ferrus did this three more times, adding more difficult steps, feigning frustration as each time Mike copied them until he was dancing circles around him.

The crowd roared with laughter at the display. It was Mike’s turn to do a fancy step that he’d been practicing very hard on; Ferrus pretended to try it once, twice, and faltered the last time, waving it off not to try again. Laughter again followed as they strolled around each other, one eyeing the other up and down about to wrap it up. One copying the other, they tapped back in unison, skipping a tap to kick high in front, and then backwards, when both stopped to look at the other to see if ready. A nod, then salute was the start of a rapidly quick tap, spinning between sets of ten, and for the grand finale, they skipped a step going backwards as far as the platform would allow, stopped and started spinning forward tapping as they did in smooth rhythm to stop at the end of the stage throwing their right foot and hand forward with a stomp as their left hand swung over head, both yelling, “Yeah!”

The crowd burst into loud approval and applause; the loudest coming from Manny. Lena, who watched from the sidelines clapped proudly as well, while Kayleen held her stomach from laughter feeling as his mother did. Morris stood with his head bowed in shame at the spectacle his son was making of himself openly praising the boy. The musicians went back to playing their planned arrangement and the guest spread back over the dance floor.

Some complimenting Manny on the fine entertainment as he walked past them to his son; those who did, unaware that the child was his bastard son by his slave, assuming the child was born by natural means…that is, a white wife who obviously passed. It was not so unheard of after all. Not all shared in the loop of gossip, even so, there were others who knew otherwise, and it wasn’t long before the murmurs of fact began.

Mike and Ferrus stepped down from the platform as Mike made a direct dash to his mother, still breathing hard from his performance. “Mama, did you see me, did you see? I did it…everything Ferrus taught me I remembered. It was so easy mama…and fun!” He exclaimed excitedly, wiping sweat from his brow. Lena had knelt before him, gazing at him with loved filled, proud eyes. “I saw you baby, you were the best I’ve ever seen.” She hugged him following the praise just as Manny came up behind him.

“That makes two of us. However did you learn all that so fast!?” Manny asked. Mike looked up behind him and felt a joy wash over him that made him glow; his father had witnessed it and was proud too. He knew Morris wouldn’t approve, but Ferrus had said not to worry about him. “Come on; give over… what’s your secret?” Manny furthered ruffling his son’s hair. Grinning Mike admitted, “Well, Johnnypoe is always dancing and so is Samuel, they always showing me stuff too. So I been doing it a while. But Ferrus did all that.” He explained, slowly coming down from his high. Manny felt the urge to embrace his son, but knew the shock it would cause before those that knew the truth. He’d stirred enough talk for one night, there was no sense in adding more to it.

Lena felt tears welling up in her eyes; didn’t he realize that they were a family? How could he go through with it? Regardless of what the world around them said…in her eyes, he was all she would ever want…and to be this close to him, with their son…shook her emotionally. She had to get away from him.

“It’s late now…time for you to get ready for bed.” She stood fighting to keep eye contact from Manny.

“Ohhh, already? I ain’t a bit tired, it’s still early.” Shepherding her son away, she turned her back to Manny. “Well, you haven’t had much to eat today…we’ll go to the mansion, grab you a snack and a sweet. After you eat…then…”

Manny stood watching them leave him, the words she spoke trailed with the distance and the background noise from the music and guests.

“You got guests to see to, and a wife to find! You won’t find her this way.” Morris reminded him from behind…growing angrier with his actions towards the slave and the bastard. Manny’s heart was troubled… everything in him warned him not to go through with it. He should be with them, by Lena’s side with their son between them. But he was for the moment, caught with no way out. He turned ignoring his father’s presence heading back for the platform and guests.

Mrs. Gordon and Mrs. Hastings were standing nearby with their ears stretched to the limit. Experienced in the arts of eavesdropping as they were, they knew where to be when all the action took place.

Having heard the little exchanges between slave, bastard and owner, their glances to each other confirmed what they’d heard. It was an unspoken understanding that they would meet in eager anticipation to mill over the facts gathered; Mrs. Gordon was the first to open, asking...“Did you hear that? Now you’ve heard it with your own ears…with this crowd, it’ll be all over the county in no time.”

“What a shame. I never would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.” She returned fluttering her fan as if the experience had upset her. Mrs. Gordon tilted over again covering her mouth as she spoke into her friend’s ear. “What do you think of the boy?”

“Light colored eyes, loose light colored hair. He’s been offered quite the price for her, many times; won’t sell. She was right there with the boy.”

“My God…I thought it was his mammie.”

“Aye, one and the same, I am certain, she birthed the child. To think he actually used his backyard sin to entertain their important guests.” Mrs. Gordon pointed out. Mrs. Hastings was nervous…after all, she’d brought her daughter and her niece to this gathering. “I have to find my girls…I think its best we leave this place.” The look Mrs. Gordon gave her was filled with smug sympathies.

Manny could not hear their topic of conversation, but he could just imagine who it was about. Feeling an evil bug arise, he decided to enlighten them a bit more and approached them with a smile, making them stammer in surprise. “Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Hastings, I hope you’re enjoying yourselves, and everything meets with your approval?!” He then winked at Mrs. Gordon - whose eyes widened in shock.

“Ah echmm…everything is quite grand I assure you Mr. Webster.” Mrs. Gordon answered after clearing her throat. “Ah yes, we find it…very entertaining…to say the least. And the boy is sooo, so talented; an overseer’s child?” Mrs. Hastings asked slyly then gave her friend a knowing glance.

“No ma’am…the little bastard’s mine…”

“ACH!” They both gasped out, Mrs. Hastings fan, doubled its speed.

“…-by my wench Lena. The dancing and talent, well…I think it comes from her side. Ah well, may you enjoy the rest of your evening ladies. Now if you will excuse me, I have other guests to attend.” Walking away, he felt a strong hand roughly grasp his upper arm pulling him to the side of the platform. Yanking his arm free, he turned to see his father’s reddened face, and swallowed with a deep sigh.

“Have you -
lost
your mind?! What are you trying to do to us?! Have you forgotten the reason for this party?! How dare you stand there and admit what you just did to those old gossiping biddies.” He bit out the words angrily, standing almost nose to nose with Manny.

“Let me tell you something ol’man. Half of the people here are only here to find something to gossip about. You don’t think they know who he belongs to? One would have to be blind not to see who fathered the boy.”

“And that’s just the reason I wanted you to sell’im!”

“I have one final word on that, any man - who dares to take my son…sell my son - I swear to God … he’s a
dead
man.”

“You threatening me boy?”

“I love my son, and will protect him…with the same fierceness you once loved me and wished to protect me…that is all I have to say.”

“Echmm.” Charles cut in to get their attention. “Gentlemen, I think this is called a scene which is now being viewed.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Morris retorted with a flippant wave of his hand not wanting to hear anymore himself. The three positioned themselves in a more complimentary fashion. “Just don’t you forget we both agreed to certain terms, and I plan on holding you to it, so…no more displays like that or-…”

“Like what?!” Manny shot aggravated.

“Praising the boy the way you did for all to see. You agreed to keep him a secret, that’s what I mean for you to do. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes - loud and clear!” Manny conceded irritably and then brightened a little adding. “But even you must admit…he was good, just as natural as if he was born to dance.”

“Course he is, he no better than the heathens surrounding us. I hear over there in Africa where they come from… that’s all they do, stay up all night jumping up and down dancing like the wild animals they were before we-…”

“Lena is not African, she’s from an Island.”

“Where Africans were dropped off, or escaped off the ships to. It’s in her, she just got a few other things mixed in…but African still the same; ungrateful lot they are; ‘til we come along, not a one was civilized…now because of us-…”

“They’re beaten and enslaved, treated like animals – all dignity stripped from them.”

“We did them a favor!” Morris defended hotly.

“Well don’t do me any!” Manny returned looking the other way, smiling and nodding at a few guests…pretending their conversation a pleasant one. Charles leaned against the banister chuckling because he couldn’t believe the two.

“Not until you pay with the one you owe me.” Morris reminded him as he also nodded at someone smiling. It was then two young women approached them, “Excuse me gentlemen.” All three looked down recognizing the first, Mildred Hastings. “Mr. Webster, Manny, I’d like to introduce my cousin, Katherine Janette Sanders…Katherine…this is Mr. Morris Webster, and his son, Maynard Webster…and umm, -(she gulped her eyes going dreamy when it came to Charles)- Mr. Charles Wilson.” The effect his presence had on her was immediate. She’d always had a strong liking for Charles, ever since they were children, where they would chance to see each other at gatherings held around the county. Of course, he didn’t notice her so much as she could always find him in a crowd. She dreamed of growing up and becoming his wife someday…there was no man she could ever love as she loved him. Problem was, he never seemed to notice her, or the way she felt about him. Often his inadvertent rejection left her heart broken and in periods of misery. But she would never give up hope and would not, until he was no longer available.

“Ms Sanders, how very nice to meet you.” Morris nodded, taking her hand to kiss it, exhibiting the charm he’d always had when needed.

“Good evening Mr. Webster.” She greeted with a slight bow of the head. Her eyes cut demurely to Manny with her hand up; he took it and touched his lips to her glove with a nod. “Ms Sanders…the pleasure is all mine.” Katherine smiled, much appreciative of what she saw, and with a nod she simpered “Mr. Webster.”
‘How very nice.’
She thought, but it was reflected in her eyes.

“Echm echm.” Charles wasn’t about to be ignored, after all…he was a lady’s man, and the better looking of the two of them; although this had never been a problem for Manny, because what he lacked in looks, he made up for in animal magnetism. No one had ever accused him of being a fop or dandy…and that category suited him over the two latter.

“Does this introduction include me?” He asked shining his dazzling smile. Feeling her gut twist, Mildred humbly stepped back. Katherine turned to him next. “Is that an English accent I detect?” He asked as she handed him her hand. Smiling she answered, “Yes, it is.”

“Well I must say…you are surely a vision of loveliness.” He added, unaware of the pain flowing as Mildred pretended to be unaffected; Manny noticed and stepped in. “I’m glad you think so Charles…now if you will excuse us…I was about to ask Ms Sanders if she would grant me the pleasure of a dance…” Smiling, he turned to her, “… will you, Ms Sanders?” She almost visibly sighed in relief to be taken away by him. “Yes, I would be glad to Mr. Webster, if you will excuse me?”