Spirited Away by Maggie Plummer

Author:Maggie Plummer [Plummer, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781478140269
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2012-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

September 1654

Birdie, already big with Kazoola's child, slowed the cart to a bumpy crawl through deep puddles. The sun was finally out after three days of hard rain. It seemed to cook the muddy lane, filling the sweet-scented air with clouds of steam. The two young women rolled along, the skirts of their white shifts drenched from rubbing against the tall cane that crowded alongside the path. They had almost reached the field when Birdie pointed down the terraced hill toward the sea. Along the coast road, Master's elegant white carriage careened, his team of silver-speckled horses gleaming in the midday sun.

Through one carriage window, Freddy spotted Millicent's blond curls bouncing wildly. She fervently hoped never to set eyes on those curls again. Smiling to herself, Freddy thought of the thick pad of stationary and three bottles of ink she'd swiped during the girl's last lesson. Tonight she would write more letters. Freddy shaded her eyes and took another look at the carriage. Next to Millicent sat Mrs. Pratt, dressed in her finest costume to accompany the girl to England and boarding school. The ruffle of the housekeeper's white lace cap nodded up and down in the breeze. Freddy was looking forward to Mrs. Pratt's extended absence.

The planter rode his black horse alongside Millicent's window, his sharp features shadowed by a wide-brimmed hat with a purple feather that matched his waistcoat. After seeing his daughter to the ship, he planned to ride to Christ Church Parish, Mrs. Pratt had said. An estate there had suffered a landslide that buried half of its slave huts. All of the island's planters were being called upon to help. Freddy studied Master's erect frame and again smiled to herself, savoring the sublime paradox of her situation. Imagine his reaction, should he ever discover how happy he had made her and Kofi by throwing them together like breeder cattle.

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