The Fancy (13 page)

accused the gentry of subjecting them to by charging

high taxes, by claiming ownership of the Lion’s share

of the land and then, charging them high rent to dwel

there. Talk from some that he’d stood in the midst of

listening in on, gave him ample warning that the last

thing he should ever do, was state that he was in

possession of thousands of acres of land, with 13

estate managers, hundreds of market booths and

thousands of tenant farmers – some – paying rent

and tax to him.

If that were not enough, his deceased father

had also left him in possession of a thriving

ironworks and coalmines in England and in

Scotland; where anyone could find back in his history

Irish and Scottish slaves who worked those mines.

He’d kept so much from the people he’d settled

in with, but he would take a chance and risk it al if it

meant him being able to hold on to Suga.

It was time they knew the truth, that back in

England, he was addressed as, Earl of WhistHirst,

no longer Viscount of WhistHirst, now that his father,

the Marquis of WhistHirst, had passed – thus al that

he had, went to his first born son.

WhistHirst’s Earl - Quinton Thaddeus Caine

The deed of disclosure was easy enough to

manifest, it only required him sending an official

missive to his estates back in England, which would

bear his name, his title, and his seal.

Within, a request that he be attended to by the

list of servants named, along with a list of things they

were to bring and do, and lastly, they were to depart

post haste. Of course he knew that it would not be

received on the other side any sooner than a month,

no later than three – but it was sent. He would have

to hold his own until their arrival.

Word got around, as he knew it would.

To quel his anxiety, while waiting for them to

make their move, he stepped up Suga’s lessons,

intensifying them. Teaching her the very common

everyday words that she often used or heard;

making her write them and then every time the word

was said or the item used, such as wood for their

fire, the kettle, spoon, tea, coffee, cup, plate, door,

floor, stairs, bed - he would ask, “What letters come

to picture in your mind? What word, do you see,

when you see Moose? Write it – write as close as

you can to what you see.” He had her carry a book

around and every time she saw a word in the book

that also existed around them, she was to point it

out. It became a game that brought laughter to him,

to watch her, racing about the house, touching things

she saw as a word in the book.

Often they dressed warm and walked the

woods, doing the same; Moose romping around

them; Quinton listening, Suga reading. Another

game they played while out had her finding anything

she wanted, laying her hand on it for him to spel it

out for her and in turn, requiring her to repeat the

spel ing back to him.

If she had a book in hand, he treasured the

moments she came to him, pointing to a word she

could not figure, for him to help her sound it out, then

tel her it’s meaning fol owed by insisting she use the

word every chance she had.

Quinton could not believe her progress; her

mind was like a sponge; her eagerness, her aptitude

only confirmed what he already knew about her,

about the people she'd come from; intel igence –

speed – adaption was the very core of their makeup

– Suga confirmed this and more.

She was enjoying the slow opening of new

doors, through clear and clean windows, to seeing a

whole new world just from learning to read words that

other people had put together to tel a story, or

record events. It was like traveling on adventures,

making great discoveries without ever leaving their

home. Untold delight was hers to know, that she too

could write words, sentences, and start to slowly

chronicle – she never imagined there was such an

exquisite diversion. The more words she learned,

the more she wanted to learn. She wanted to read a

book, an entire book.

Now, at the break of dawn, she was up and

eager from the bed that Quinton had made for her;

built by Erwin in the room downstairs, off the hal

from the kitchen. Because of what he knew,

surrounding their living arrangements, he did al he

could not to touch her in an inappropriate manner,

which meant, giving her a room of her own. It secretly

saddened him that she was so happy in her new

room at the same time, it gave him joy; she caused

many complex feelings within him.

Out of bed, Suga rushed about doing chores,

chores surrounding taking care of Quinton; taking

care of Moose; taking care of their home.

As soon as al was done, she wanted to read,

she wanted to write – she thirsted for it as if addicted

to learning.

Quinton had never known he could feel such

pride.

And so, their evenings were spent with her, on

a stool positioned before the fire, with him sitting in

his favorite chair, smoking a pipe and Moose at her

feet. There she would read to him. Her excitement

was a vision he longed to see growing with each day

that passed. He found himself always holding back

from embracing her, touching her, he longed for it

more and more but could not risk al for one moment

that would lose him everything, her.

Consequently, he noticed, as she did, like an

unspoken awareness between them, fewer knocks

were happening at the door for urgent matters;

Quinton figured it could be due to the fact that there

simply hadn’t been anything happening they’d been

needed for, but stil – it seemed to be right after he’d

sent his missive. He knew that it was not because of

Suga going along, al those who had been treated,

benefited from her input; no, it was due to his

gamble; and also due to the fact that, Suga – was

living with him – a bachelor.

It was 18 days before they final y received a

knock at the door; a cool early morning; Quinton

answered it to find a young man waiting for him, “Sir

– this is for you.” He handed him a ‘writ of Summons’

a piece of folded paper; Quinton unfolded it within it

simply stated.

-You have been summoned to appear before

a panel of your peers by request of the court – due

to a complaint of blatant fornication. You are

summoned to appear this day, at the hour of noon

at the town hall. This summons includes your

servant girl, Suga – who must also appear.-

After reading it, he nodded to the young man,

backed into his home and closed the door, turning to

see Suga, staring wide eyed at him.

Her heart was beating so violently she felt light

headed from the fright of it. "I's time – they gone take

me t'day." She stated as a matter of fact.

me t'day." She stated as a matter of fact.

He almost corrected her speech, but couldn't

bring himself to do it; there was no guarantee

because he too was unsure of the outcome. He

knew what he would need to do, but he needed to

tread careful y or lose al . He hadn't shared his plan

for that reason, his gamble made him guilty of

playing with their lives. He based it on his knowledge

of people, their thinking – he also knew their disdain

of what he represented, now that they knew his true

identity. What he hoped most of al , was that things

did not get carried away.

"Suga, today you are to dress – in a proper

gown – and I want you to come with me; I want you to

trust me, wil you?"

Rooted to the spot as if frozen by her fear, she

searched his eyes, wondering where would she

wake and find herself tomorrow. With little choice in

the matter, she turned and made her way to the room

he’d helped set up for her; her bedroom, where she

combed her hair, washed herself and dressed. In

addition to the built in bed, it was also furnished with

a bench against the wal , a mirror; a wash basin

stand, with a pitcher, a shelf where she kept her

comb, head scarves and wash cloths; also on one

wal were pegs for her bonnet, cape and scarf. Her

accumulating clothing and stockings - were folded

and stacked neatly in the chest he'd given her; lastly,

on the floor were three pairs of shoes and her

moccasins.

Standing in the middle of the floor, she

wondered if it was time to pack.

Unwil ing to carry on thinking that way, she

fol owed his direction and dressed in the best that

she had. Not wishing to keep him waiting, she

hurried out, meeting him before the barn and

climbed into the carriage.

Neither of them spoke as he drove down the

center of the vil age towards the town hal , various

ones along the way, stopped to look at them. A lone

male stood leering and yel ed out, “Ge’aw back

t’England ya’bloody cur!” He spat on the ground, “An

take that wit’ya’ to the king, ya' bleeder!” obviously

the man couldn't resist damning him, the monarchy

and anyone he thought from the elite class, that he

felt bled them until they were dry.

Suga dare not look his way, but to say that she

was being eaten alive by terror was putting it lightly.

Accepting what they may have to face, Quinton

armed himself with two pistols, a dagger and a

rapier beneath the seat. Keeping his eyes forward

and ignoring the man, he quietly attempted to soothe

Suga, “Know this – I am prepared to harm any who

might be so bold as to try me.”

“You jus' one man, please, jus’ give me up.”

She murmured with her heart beating heavily.

“Not – without a fight. Remember, you made

me give my word, I vowed, until the day, that I die.”

He returned passionately.

"Look like gone be today." She mumbled low.

Quinton could not help the nervous chuckle at

her words, "Hmmm, could be – it is certain that their

hatred is directed at me - not you."

“Why?” She asked in her soft spoken manner.

“I have much to tel you, but I cannot do so now

– now, we must carry on. If you should have a mind

towards an aid for us, I bid you pray, for right now, it

is certainly needed.”

Pul ing her cape in close around her, Suga

bowed her bonneted head and began doing just that

as they rol ed on.

To their benefit, that one man’s anger was the

only outburst they were subjected to; others within

the town were torn, confused, trying to understand

what a blue-blood was doing among them,

administering to them as a doctor.

When they pul ed in front of the town hal ,

situated across from the church, Suga looked up to

see her first
real
patient leaving the hal . El en

Murray, her husband and their infant; the one she’d

helped deliver. They made eye contact with one

another; El en nodded her head and smiled as if

giving her some hope.

She needed that hope.

Erwin and Quinton had certainly grown closer

since her visit with him there; it would appear, they

might be the only ones in the smal vil age that didn't

resent him. Quinton came around and handed her

down, as more of those they'd treated came out of

the hal ; some looking away from them, others

remorseful. It was obvious; they'd been cal ed in to

speak about what they knew of them. He could only

wonder at what had been stated. Taking several

deep breaths, they made their way into the square,

stone built, colonial style building. With hesitation

Suga fel behind Quinton, her head down.

He took several calming breaths to get his

mind, thoughts and act in order – he could not fail in

this, he simply mustn’t – they entered, and made

their way to the front of the hal . Sitting at the front

before them, were five of the leading men of their

community; of al men to be sitting in judgment of

him, there he was, Henry J. Bancmen. Quinton would

have liked to say he was surprised, but he was not,

of course he would be sitting in a judgment seat, this

man who stil bartered and traded slaves in the