Bride Fire by Elizabeth Chadwick

Author:Elizabeth Chadwick [Chadwick, Elizabeth]
Format: epub
Publisher: ePub Bud (www.epubbud.com)
Published: 2013-03-30T04:00:00+00:00

said,

“Off my land.”

“Your sister—“

“My sister is not holding the gun. I am.” He pointed it at Ondine’s chest, and the leader jerked his head to the two followers. In seconds their horses’ hooves were drumming on the river road. Alex shoved the pistol into the waistband of his trousers and drew a knife to slash Joseph’s bonds. “You’ve undermined my authority,” cried Eloise as soon as they reached the hall and took off their cloaks. “Surely you don’t mean to allow secret meetings where they’ll plot against us and—“ “Don’t be ridiculous, Eloise,” said Alex brusquely. “We’re not going to have a slave rebellion at Devil’s Wood.”

“If it weren’t for Ondine, they’d all have run away.”

“As close as you keep them caged, it’s a wonder they haven’t,” Alex muttered. He had entered the drawing room to pour himself a brandy. “I don’t want the likes of Ondine laying a hand on my people.”

“I own half,” snapped Eloise, “and everyone uses him.”

“Eloise,” said Cassandra quietly, “you don’t want them attending services on the few occasions when you have any, and I take it that you haven’t offered them the use of the church building on Sunday when you’re not using it. When are they supposed to worship?”

Eloise flushed. “Not in secret night meetings. It’s dangerous. And causes illness. Mr. Pettigrew at Dower Grove told me that he never got a decent day’s work out of hands who’d been holding noisy, all-night prayer meetings.”

Cassandra drew a calming breath. “The constitution guarantees freedom of religion.”

“It’s a nice thought, sweetheart,” said Alex from the chair where he sprawled, snifter in hand, “but not one that would hold up in court.” “I don’t see why not,” retorted Cassandra. Here she tried to be reasonable with Eloise, and did he back her up?

“They’re not citizens,” he pointed out.

“Just like a man,” she snapped. “Giving me some coldhearted legal mumbo jumbo. They’re souls. Just ask Bishop Andress if you don’t believe me. He insisted that everyone—not just whites—attend his service, and if you and Eloise intend to deny people on this plantation freedom of worship, I don’t. I’ll hold services myself. In the church.”

Having made her pronouncement, Cassandra flounced toward the hall.

“You’re not wearing petticoats!” Eloise called after her, scandalized. Cassandra was both furious and worried. Now that she’d committed herself to holding a worship service, she had to wonder just how she’d go about it. She hadn’t even taught Sunday school at home. Kindly Bishop Andress might be horrified to hear that a woman, unordained and unprepared, was preaching in his diocese. And what would her prospective congregation think? Those thoughts got her out of her dress and up the three steps to her bed, where she snuggled under the quilts. Alex followed her after several minutes and pulled her comfortably into the circle of his arms. “I’ve never made love to a lady preacher,” he whispered. “If I promise to come to your service, will you let me try it out?”

“Making love?” she asked, turning to him and circling her arms tightly around his waist.

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