Family Reunion (30 page)

"Ohhh no you don't! We will kill two birds with one stone. We will shop in preparation for our trip to Makia, make travel arrangements, and Rollo can leave us in town to find Rory. So come along, we have much to do. Up from that table-..."

"Sandra, I… I don't think it's a good idea. That man, Clarence Winston." Lena started, reminding her of his visit. Sandra grabbed her by the hand and began pulling her from the chair. "...I don't want to hear it, we're going and that's that!” She rang the servant bell. “Now up with you.” Not willing to back down one bit on her determination. Two of the serving ladies entered the kitchen, “Betsy - Valerie! I'm going to need your help. Lena and I are going out, and I want her to look her very, very best." She called as she practically dragged Lena from the kitchen.

"Sandra-a-a!" Lena balked and whimpered, but Sandra ignored her as she pulled her to the stairs. "We are not going to be made to feel afraid to go about our duties. You have been hiding away long enough Lena. It's time for you to come out of hiding, I have a feeling today holds only wonderful things for you. Let's not keep it waiting. I think first we will have breakfast out, at our restaurant." She informed Lena, holding onto her arm and leading her up the stairs.

"Then after breakfast, we shall visit the millinery-..."

"I have plenty of hats and scarves, Sandra."

"...-then you’ll have more. After that we will go to the..."

Lena cut her off already knowing what was next. "And I have plenty of shoes!" Sandra nodded in agreement as they rounded the top of the stairs.

"...-and you shall have more. After that, it is a trip to
‘Seasons In Fashion’ for a fitting."

"Sandra Sinclair!" Lena stopped in the hall not far from her bedroom door. "Do you realize how many gowns I have?! Many I have not even worn! From day dresses to riding attire to evening wear to ball gowns! What horse have I ridden? What ball have I attended?"

Sandra smiled brightly with a cheerful nod and said. "...-and you shall have one more of each!"

Lena sighed as Betsy and Valerie arrived to open her door.

"Sandra, how many of them do I wear?"

"That will change sweety, today my dear friend ...I think you shall wear your peach ensemble – no – the sienna one, yes! I think in the bright beautiful sunshine, it will show off the unmatchable richness of your beautiful skin, and - since you have never worn it, today will be the perfect day to do so!" She ordered, ushering Lena into her room to sit her before her brass vanity. Lena had already bathed as she did habitually every morning.

"Sandra Sinclair – you are such an impossible person sometimes!"

Lena complained to Sandra's reflection in the mirror. Sandra only simpered joyfully as her hands firmly pressed Lena into place on the vanity stool, leaning down over her left shoulder, with a smile of determined cheer plastered to her pretty face as she reminded Lena.

"One would think you would know me enough by now, to realize once I'm on a roll, I won't stop until I crash." Lena's shoulders drooped in defeat as she knew that to be true. Sandra spun from her so happy she felt she could burst as she went to Lena's wardrobe and removed a gossamer and taffeta gown. Making sure she took out the matching gossamer scarf and gloves. Her kid slippers came out next. From there Sandra went to Lena's jewelry box and took out her short string of pearls that would hang somewhat loose from her slender neck. "I think you look your best in these pearls." Sandra said, walking to the vanity. Betsy had already taken the pins from Lena's hair and was brushing it out. "What do you think Betsy?"

"I think you right."

"Of course I am! You shall wear this, your favorite perfume. It is a wonderful day to smell wildflowers!" Lena sat silently letting Sandra have her way. There were too many things going through her mind to bother with arguing, she knew she would lose anyway.

"I shall now go downstairs and tell Rollo to prepare the open carriage; it is much too wonderful a day to be closed inside the coach." With a parting nod she left Lena in Betsy’s and Valerie's capable hands.

Wide eyed and full of curiosity, Betsy just had to ask.

"Me an' Val was wonderin' what Sheldon say is true. Ah' ya'
really a princess from a Island?" Lena looked up at Betsy's awe struck expression and with a nod she admitted it was true. A huge smile of pride lit up Betsy's round dark face, as she turned to Val with a,
'told you so.'
nod.

"Wel'cor blimey! I ain't eva' met'ah real princess s'close, not eva'!" Val gushed in her heavy, cockney accent. "In Inglen' we'all bow b'fore th'King…make me won'ta bow it do!" Val stated, scooping Lena's gown up from the bed, heading for the door, at her exit Betsy gave her two cents worth about her not doing it. "Em hm, she didn't though did she, 'cause they thank only them got royalty in they blood!"

Lena groaned rolling her eyes, "Betsy, I am glad she didn't, let's not get carried away with this."

''Hmph! I'on see why not, if it was one of them, you best believe you be bowing!" With that said she went back to arranging Lena's hair, who sat trying to figure out what to do about her son,
'How in the world am I to get my son to go with me?'
The last thing on her mind was the type of racial pride Betsy felt she should exhibit, being a princess. As long as she could remember, it had never mattered to her. Even back when she was on the Island recognized as one, she was unhappy with her life. No amount of pampering erased the fact that she was still being controlled by what was expected of her. Many would be hard pressed to believe that she hadn't actually experienced freedom until she came to be in Manny's hands. The luxuries, clothes and jewels meant nothing; they all came at a price, and a high one. All she ever wanted out of life was to be free. As a young girl of eight to thirteen, she had dressed secretively as a peasant girl and with her older brother Catamon, she would sneak off from the palace to play wild and free along the white beaches of her Island. She loved the beach, playing, spinning, laughing and getting dirty without the scolding tongue of her stepmother; and her father's concubines telling her that she must remember to walk, talk and behave as her status dictated; oh how she would rebel.

Her best times were spent when she was with her father alone when he would love her as just his daughter, playing with her in a way that always brought a disapproving raise of a brow from Austeao when she caught them. Reminding him not to complain when the princess did not act as a princess should before the servants, peasants and concubines.

"You ready?!" Sandra popped in her doorway asking. Betsy was closing the back of Lena’s dress as she nodded. "I'm ready, but I fail to see what going out will possibly accomplish for me this day."

"One can never tell Lena…one can never tell. Come along now, the carriage is waiting."

Stepping out of the front door Lena had to admit it, a beautiful day
lay before her. The air smelled of soil and rain from the previous night’s moderate shower and the sun was shining bright and yellow. As if in agreement with Sandra, the birds joyfully swooped in and out above the trees, singing and calling to one another for the new day. A cool breeze blew over Lena's skin giving the most soothing caress. Down in the open carriage, Sandra sat smiling at the world, waiting for her one true friend. Feeling that no matter what the future held for her with Georgia Mason, it could do nothing to dampen the glory she felt for this new start.

"Come along Ceś alena!" Sandra called up to Lena, preferring the long version of her name now that she knew it. Lena stood at the top of the stone steps absorbing all of nature's beauty bursting around her and she couldn't help feeling that maybe Sandra had been right; it was a day to enjoy.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." She called. With everything around her dazzling and brilliant she knew she should feel invigorated, but still her heart remained heavy.

"Ceś alena! You're not smiling…before this day is over, I intend to have you laughing and bursting with joy, for now, I am willing, to settle for a smile, even a little one." With a sigh Lena glided down the wide stone steps to the two seater carriage. "Smile Ceś alena!" Sandra ordered.

Lena complied to satisfy her companion, making a funny cross-eyed face. Sandra chuckled, "Well it's a start." Ready for the day, she smiled looking forward to her investigation. Lena surveyed her friend’s pretty smiling face, she was just an inch taller, her skin a smooth alabaster white, flawed only by small faded nicks at the corner of her mouth, at the edge of her eye, and one high on her cheek bone. Her hair was a luxurious rich brown, with very few deeply buried grey strands. It was not as thick as it had been in her youth but abundant enough. With eyes twinkling and ever changing hazel to blue, the latter color the result of her gay mood, she brought Lena a modicum of joy as well. She was younger than Lena, thirty-five but the difference in their ages could hardly be determined with the eye.

"You look mighty fine Miss Lena, mighty fine." Rollo mentioned, after climbing into his seat before them.

"Doesn't she Rollo…I agree with you whole heartedly!" Sandra declared dramatically.

"Oh please, let us not over do it." Lena chastened but her smile softened her gripe.

"For now, I suppose I shall be content with getting you out of the house, so I will concede." Sandra chuckled looking ahead, unable to tone down her grin.

Rollo flicked the reins
and the carriage was off, down the circling drive, reaching the large gate they exited on their way to town. Some distance from the mansion three horsemen rode out from the surrounding woods that enclosed the Sinclair mansion. Riding at a distance, they kept their quarry well in sight.

* * *

"This is it. Let us pray that she can give you something that will lead us to Lena." Manny began in the midst of his family as Leon made himself ready to visit Dustinhurst in order to speak to Francis. Mike, Hope and Joe stood in attendance, each anxious in their own way. They all came together on the Princess to discuss the questions he would ask as they ate breakfast. Each had found it difficult to sleep the previous night, and were up first thing to start the day. The previous night Hope and Joe had filled Josey in on everything that was happening. She was as excited as they were at the prospect of finding Lena. Her time was now limited because she was spending her days at Lady Primrose’s school for young girls, where she’d succeeded in enrolling Cesalia. Synchronizing their time pieces, everyone had something to keep them busy while waiting for Leon's return. Manny, Mike and Joe would be down at the docks, overseeing the loading of the Windcutter, the Crest Horizon and the Sea Wolf for their trip and trade abroad. Hope would be at the new building directing the finishing touches and hanging portraits throughout; when that was done, there was plenty of paper work that needed seeing to in booking deliveries. Promptly at 11:30, they would come together for lunch at Carmine's to hear what Leon had learned from Francis.

* * *

Rory rose with the dawn, bathed, ate and left, deciding not to attend school. He couldn't continue on ignoring the things he knew and felt. He would confront Manny and he would admit the truth about himself and his mother. More than anything, he began to miss being among the Webster's. He also felt he couldn’t go on with the rift that existed between him and his mother. He sorely needed to speak with Manny and prayed to find an understanding ear. He needed someone strong and important, -(in his eyes)- to back him up, to say that it was alright and that it didn't matter that his mother was a Negro, and that he was half Negro. He felt Mr. Webster was that someone, if he wasn't, Rory didn't know what he would do.

He arrived at the Princess to be told by Maria that
everyone had left early to work, loading ships that would be leaving that day. Next, he set out to find Manny somewhere on the docks. It was close to ten before he ran across him, bellowing orders from the Windcutter, as one crate after another was being hoisted upon the ship to be placed in the cargo hold below.

The sound of men straining was heavy in the air from heave hoeing in their efforts to carefully lower the crates in the nets. Mike and Joe had their backs into it, helping to keep the burden levered and steady as it was lowered straight down into the cargo hold. Their muscles rippled and strained from helping their crewmen. The two had never worked so hard in their lives. Despite the cool morning, sweat poured from their bodies as yet another crate was swung over.

Several times Joe wondered what in the world he was doing, exerting himself in that type of labor, after all, he had a law degree and was supposedly the attorney of the business. No matter, Manny called the shots. He felt the best way to build a relationship with men, gaining their loyalty and respect, was to work by their sides. Strain with them, sweat with them, work with them, and they would always look upon their employer with admiration. In exchange, the employer experienced first hand what it meant to do the jobs his workers did, and so could best represent them.

With every ship Mike helped load and unload, the mystery of his father's size was over. The width of his shoulders, massive biceps, hands as rough and hard as hides, his body fit and ready to take on whatever came his way was all due to the hard toil. Both could just imagine the soreness they would experience by the evening. However, a smile of optimism came across Joe's face thinking about the nice hot soak his wife would no doubt sooth him with and the soft, gentle hands that would relax him into heavenly bliss.