Napoleon's Gift (28 page)

Nicholas had
moments to appear or he would have to do this without him. 

No sooner had he
contemplated the words, Nicholas rolled up in his carriage. He jumped to the ground before the carriage could roll to a complete stop.

         “Were ye
anxious old chap? I vowed I would be here.” Nicholas grinned.   William looked at his younger brother then.

He was about to ruin his life, all because
William had asked him to.

Nicholas was two years his junior, but William knew he would give up his life for him if need be.

   Another carriage immediately rolled up and Samantha jumped from it yelling his name.

         “Manley! Manley ye do not
have to do this. Father has repaired this! I shall wed Farthenton at weeks end. Ye cannot do this!” She cried as she ran to him.

 
William looked down at his sibling.  She had grown into such a woman right before his eyes, and at the age of sixteen, this face would cause many a head to turn.  

He
recalled how she had come to give him that ridiculous nickname. She had been somewhere around five at the time, and he had taken his first shooting lesson with their father. She wanted to tell him how manly he was now, but it had come out as Manley. He smiled down on her now.

         “
I must Samantha, now depart to the carriage and proceed home.” He kissed her forehead, then turned on his heel to approach Lord Grimly.

         “
You will both count off ten paces, turn and fire. The one who has remained standing will be the victor.” Cummins stated, then moved back.

Nicholas
ensured the pistols, then administered one to William.

         “Manley please, do
not do this!”Samantha pleased, the tears flowing freely now.

         “
Travel home Samantha. Now!” William shouted, Newly took hold of Samantha, but she jerked away from him.

        “Ye may begin counting gentleman.”
Cummins stated, then hurried from between the two of them.

  As he
marked off the seconds in his head, William deliberated on the preceding twenty-one years of his life. Since the death of his mother, nothing seemed to truly matter to him, besides Nicholas and Samantha.

He pivoted on his left heel, raised the gun and fired. The bullet
struck Grimly in the chest, and Grimbly’s bullet grazed William’s temple. He went down, but as he did, he heard Samantha’s screams.

         “He’s dead! Grimbly
is dead!” Sinclair shouted, the blackness surrounded William, clouding everything else out. He attempted to center on the voices he heard, but the blackness was gathering quickly.

        “Do
not die Manley! Don’t ye dare die!” He heard Samantha yelling at him, but for the life of him, he could not appear to open his eyes to converge on her face.

Chapter One.

1805 St. Croix…

  
“So, what will you accomplish while I am on holiday in France Abseil?”

Julia asked, and I frowned as I contemplated it.

   “Most certainly shrivel up and die.” I wailed with a frown.

   “Oh you will not, anyway I have a plan.”
Julia grinned, and I laughed

   “
Which is?” I asked with a hopeful look.

   “I
am attempting to request of father if I can transport you with me. I have already designed the entire scheme. It will not involve any extra currency on his part, so he should be well with it.” We both laughed at that. 

Mr. Stevens was such a skinflint, and everyone on the island knew it.

   “When are you planning to ask him?” I asked, and Julia sighed, then frowned slightly.

   “Tonite at supper.”

   “Do you honestly believe he’ll allow it?” I asked, very doubtful.

   “I do
not perceive why not. He does not; all is taken care of. With the monies gram sent me, and what Aunt Ellie sent for the passage we sufficient. You will travel with me, so you do not require any papers. Aunt Ellie telegraphed and granted her permission.”

    “When did you
solicit your aunt?” I asked surprised.

    “Last month when she sent me the letter. When father told
me, I would be departing alone with Lady Braithwaite and her atrocious twins; I knew if I had to travel alone all the way to France with the lot of them, I would jump overboard!” At this, Julia made a face and we both laughed.

    “
Nevertheless, do you truly believe he’ll say yes? I would sincerely wither if I have to remain here for the entire summer without you.” I moaned, and she embraced me.

  Despite the differences in color, we had been best friends for twenty-one years.

It was Julia’s twenty-first birthday, which warranted this trip to France.

  I am mulato, but Julia
has always treated me as her equal since we both learned to speak and walk. She declared that when she observed me, she distinguished her best friend in the entire world, and color had not one thing to do with it. I could read and write as well as Julia, because Julia made her governess Deborah teach me as well. When Deborah protested saying coloreds had no rights to learning, Julia threatened to have her father get rid of Deborah if she did not.

      “Nana is ringing for supper, so you
tarry in the kitchens with her, and I’ll come fetch you when the deed is done.”

      “
My word, I’m so anxious, I’d almost certainly just spill something anyway. On the other hand I shall be a mess of nerves until you return?” I said laughing, and Julia kissed my cheek.

        “You’ll do just
fine; now I shall see you in a while.” Julia grinned as she left me in her room.

 
Julia and I were both the same age; however, I knew there would be no ceremony for my twenty-first birthday. I was colored, and to whites it was just another day. I went in search of mother then.

I needed something sweet to eat, and I knew my mother had made a whole mess of something for supper.

One

Hour Later…

       “But father it
shall not cost you one extra cent!” Julia wailed.

       “And please
inform me as to how that shall be? I have already shelled out a months pay, which certainly could have used to pay my foreman. The dresses you ordered for this little trip of yours have nearly broken me. Absolutely not Julia.”

       “Please daddy, just
take note. I promise it will not cost you one extra pound note.”

       “You may proceed.” Her father replied placing his fork on his plate looking very doubtful.

***

After what seemed like hours to me, Julia entered the kitchen with a somber face. I put down the cherry tart I was just about to bite.

       “He
had said no. Did he not?” I asked with a sigh, then grabbed for the tart once again.

      “Well he just…

       “Do not inform me, I know. I am colored, and who the devil would pay for me to go on holiday.”

      “Abbey…”

      “No Julie it is quite alright I comprehend.” I responded as I blinked back the tears now.

       “Silly, he
informed me that you may go!”  Julie yelled laughing, and we both began to dance around the kitchen.

Nana just shook her head smiling.

Her baby, on holiday who’d a thought.

When our excited shouts subsided, Julia looked at me.

      “Oh, my god, we must pack. We leave the day after the morrow!”

      “Pack, what the devil do I have to pack, Ima slave remember.” I replied and we both laugh
ed again.

In all
actuality, I was not though.

Julia made her father set m
y mother and I free when I was twelve years old. Mr. Stevens protested so loudly, I just new the neighbors down the road heard him. He said no at first, but then Julia went on a hunger movement, and would not eat or bathe, even after he tanned her hide. Finally, fearing she would starve to death, Mr. Stevens agreed, and I have been free ever since. I smiled down on her as she took my hand and dragged me towards her bedroom.

      “Well come on then, you can help me pack.”

Julia said and I laughed as she dragged me up the stairs.

We would truly have so much
sport.

London

England…

Ten years had been a long time.

However, it is what an aristocrat would acquire for out and out murder. Had it not been for the pleas of his sister to the magistrate, William might have gotten more years. Nevertheless, at the same time, most people who were sent to NewGate did not last a year, let alone ten.

William looked up at the mansion, then sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time. 

Gone were his childhood fantasies, he was now a man.

    The ten years had
appropriated a toll on him; nevertheless, what motivated him was the contemplation of his sister and brother. As he walked into the parlor his sister looked up, gasped, then threw herself into his arms.

He laughed.

       “Nicky!” She yelled, and his brother appeared. He embraced them both, then kissed the top of his sister’s head as she began to sob.

     “Let me just look at the both of ye.” He laughed blinking rapidly, as he drew back from them.

     “My have ye grown to be a beautiful young woman. Just like mother, I might add. “He grinned, and Samantha hugged him again.

It was striking how much she looked like their mother, red hair, green eyes and all.

     “And ye are quite the man Nicky.” He grinned; his brother blushed, then grinned as he embraced him again.

     “And look at ye old man. Would ye like to freshen up a bit?”

     “No, I am returning to my town house. Thank God for Benders, he has kept my finances in order these last ten years.”

William looked up as his father walked into the room, then reached for his bag.

He had not aged well.

William thought frowning at his father. Magnus Crantham was completely silver
-headed now. The lines on his face were a bit more pronounced, and he looked ancient and bitter.

William chuckled to himself.

Although he had the money, and the title, the
Ton
still did not respect him, from what William learned from Benders. His father was in the same position he had been in ten years ago, and William actually felt pity for his father as he looked at him.

     “Why are ye here?” His father frowned.

William grinned.

     “Do
not become anxious father, I was just departing.” He retorted, then turned for the door.

     “Manley wait.” Samantha cried, and he looked at her smiling.

Even after ten years, she still called him that.

     “It
is fine Sam, ye may visit me as much as ye fancy.” He said kissing the top of her head again, and she looked up giving him a watery smile. William hugged his brother, shoved him playfully, then turned for the door again.

     “I
shall inform ye now, that I have cut ye off. Ye will get nothing.” His father called, and William paused.

He was not the same boy who
had left there ten years ago. He closed his eyes to gather control of his temper.

     “It is of no
concern to me father; I desire nothing from ye anyway. To me, ye expired ten years previously. Not to mention, it is my mother’s money, ye had nothing.” He stated quietly, and his father gasped.

     “It will all go to Nicholas!” He shouted after him, and William walked on shaking his head.

He would never change.

William
thought sadly.

Bradbury

Square…

As William walked the square, he knew he was not the same person who had walked these same streets ten years ago. He felt restless, and discerned that he desired something novel. He glimpsed the sign that said America, then frowned.

What did he
truly have here?

Nicky and Sam were
mature now; Samantha married, and Nicholas soon to be as well from what he had taken notice of. They were both living decent lives; so truly, there was no reason for him to settle here.