The Cursed Ground by T. R. Simon

Author:T. R. Simon [Simon, T. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9963-5
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2018-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

The next day was long. I spent from sunup till late afternoon in the washhouse. The humidity kept my back from drying, and the open sores wept through the bandages and the back of my shift.

My first respite came when Rebecca stuck her head in to say that Master George wanted me to serve at the dinner table. She caught sight of the back of my shift. “I’ll fix you up before you go,” she said. “Won’t give him the satisfaction.”

It was the first time seeing Prisca since our strange meeting the night before. Clearing the plates, I glimpsed an uneasy watchfulness on Master George’s face. The moment I reached his plate, he addressed his son.

“Timothy, you told me a troubling story last night. I would like you to repeat it now.”

Timothy flushed, but his eyes were bright.

He looked across the table at Prisca and announced, “Prisca wants Jude to marry her. She wants him to marry her so she can leave Westin and take Lucia with her. I heard her say so. She asked Jude to marry her!”

Miss Caroline put down her spoon and gaped at Prisca. “Is this true? Did you offer yourself in marriage? To young Jude?”

Prisca stared at Timothy, her eyes blazing. “The child has no idea what he’s saying!”

Timothy bridled at the insult. “I’m no child — I’m fourteen! I know what I heard!”

“I believe the boy,” Master George returned quietly. “Prisca, why would you do such a shameful thing?”

Prisca stared at George and uttered not one word.

“Prisca, dearest . . .” Miss Caroline cajoled, but there was also impatience in her tone. “Why?”

Prisca turned on her. “You wept for my father. You implored me to see you as my mother, yet you would do this thing that you know will break my heart. You take from me the only person who links me to my home. Are these the actions of a mother?”

Miss Caroline clicked her tongue. “I told your father that your attachment to the girl was unhealthy. She is a slave. A slave exists to work and be useful. She is most useful to us now in terms of the value she can bring. It is a value she should have brought three years ago, but I let my feelings for your father, and, yes, you, overshadow my good sense.” Here she paused, caught her breath, and dabbed tears from her eyes. “Now you scold me for my kindness.”

“Mother Caroline, there is more about this that concerns me.” Every eye turned back to Master George. “Do you think Prisca does this alone, or do you think she makes plans with Lucia?”

Now I knew why George had wanted me to serve. I stepped back when his gaze fell on me.

“The two girls come from an island of slave revolt, where the natural order is reversed: slaves are the rulers through terror. So I am compelled to wonder, is it Prisca who acts so inexcusably on her own, or is it the slave girl

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