Beyond the Cliffs of Kerry (21 page)

The colonel offered Darcy his arm, and they started down the stairs toward the gangplank. Darcy saw Crackstone with a duffle bag on his back coming up onto deck. She excused herself for a moment and approached him with her hand outstretched.

"Mr. Crackstone, I wanted to say good-bye and thank you for all of your kindnesses."

"Best of luck to you, McBride," he said with a broad smile, "I want you to know that I've decided to pay an extended visit to Mrs. Crackstone and the little ones."

"I think that Mrs. Crackstone is a very lucky woman,” she said smiling.

 
She returned to Colonel Lawrence's side. When they stepped off the ship, Darcy's head began to spin, and her knees buckled. Colonel Lawrence steadied her and laughed. "You must get your land legs back."

He guided her through the noisy streets of
Providence
, and Darcy's senses were bombarded with the hustle and bustle of the thriving port town. The streets were crowded with merchants and sailors. Men were loading huge barrels of rum and molasses onto carts, and putting timber onto ships bound for
England
. Shops lined the streets and vendors hawked their wares. They passed a platform where a crowd gathered and
Lawrence
told Darcy a slave auction was about to begin. He said that
Providence
was one of the largest slave ports in the Colonies. Darcy’s stomach churned to think Dominique may be sold here. She searched the crowds for her but without success.

The fresh air and sunshine gradually renewed Darcy's strength. It was hard to believe that only a few hours ago she was in the filthy hold of the ship, and now she walked through the streets of
Providence
on the arm of a gentleman.
Yes, he is a British officer, but this is the New World, not
Ireland
.

As they approached a two-story tavern, Darcy looked up at the sign swinging overhead and said deliberately, "Welles' Oyster House."

Colonel Lawrence looked startled. "You read?"

Darcy said with a shrug, "And write."

The tavern was dark and filled with smoke, there was a bar lined with fresh oysters and clams where a bartender in a white apron dished up delicacies. Darcy had never seen so many fine clothes. The establishment was filled with people drinking and laughing, and Colonel Lawrence took her to a table in back where it was quieter. Darcy had never dined in a tavern before, and she watched him closely, mimicking his manners. The colonel did not seem to notice. He was too busy studying her physical attributes. His eyes traveled from her dark hair, over her face and shoulders and down to her round breasts.

The owner fussed over their table like a mother hen, disappointed when Darcy declined the oysters. Even with the coaxing of Colonel Lawrence, she refused the stuffed quahogs. They reminded her too much of the old days scouring the beaches of Kerry for food. She decided that the mutton pie was a better choice instead. Pushing a mug of ale over to her, Colonel Lawrence started the conversation. "Now to business, is the indentured service to pay for ship's passage?" he asked.

"No, I'm a convict," she said, jerking her chin in the air.

His eyes narrowed. He wasn‘t sure he liked this new information. "A convict, what was your crime?"

"Smuggling goods to the French," she replied.

"It seems a light sentence for such a crime. You are very lucky."

"Oh, I'm
very
lucky," she said sarcastically.

He shook his head. "I have heard of this occurring on the west coast of
Ireland
. Was that your home?"

"It was.”

He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. "The west coast is exceedingly poor. How, then, did you learn to read?"

"We smuggled a Jesuit priest into our town. He taught me to read and write."

The Colonel chuckled and took a pull off of his ale. In spite of her rebellious nature, he found Darcy extremely engaging. He did not want to be saddled with a professional courtesan or an adventuress though, so he asked, "Have you been a housekeeper for a gentleman before?"

Darcy knew what he meant. "I may be a convict, Colonel Lawrence, but I'm not a whore," she stated.

Lawrence
smiled slowly. He was satisfied, and as the evening passed, he found his interests in her heighten. They discussed many things over dinner. He found her intelligent as well as physically desirable. He told her that he would be in
Providence
only a short time before taking command of a fort in upper Massachusetts Colony.

"Should I purchase your service, you would be venturing into a very dangerous area. It is unsettled and extremely rugged. I don't need a woman who will be a burden to me."

Darcy lifted her pewter mug, took a drink of ale and said, "Colonel Lawrence, I assure you I have survived more privation than you can ever know, and you'll find that I am far from a shrinking violet although I guard my independence jealously."

"I would not call being an indentured servant,
independence
." he argued.

"True, I do not have my physical independence, but there is no man who will ever own me."

Colonel Lawrence raised his eyebrows at her cheeky response. He enjoyed her saucy attitude, and he decided that he must have her. He stood up, took her hand from the table and lifted her from her seat saying, "Come, we have papers to sign."

They returned to the ship, and a most delighted Captain Bingley produced the papers for Colonel Lawrence to inspect. Darcy was curious about the terms of the servitude, and she leaned over
Lawrence
's back to read the document. She scanned it and was about to look away when she saw the day's date inscribed on the bottom of the page. The line read, "The city of
Providence
, April 20
^th
, 1757."

She shook her head and chuckled. This was indeed the final insult. Today was her birthday.

Chapter 17

 
Darcy stretched on her luxurious bed in the temporary quarters of Colonel Nathan Lawrence. She was not expected downstairs until nine, and she had plenty of time to drink in her new surroundings. Modest quarters had been provided for Colonel Lawrence on
Benefit Street
in
Providence
, but to Darcy they might as well have been
Versailles
. She ran her hand over the cream duvet that covered her bed and reached up to touch the curtains which hung in thick folds at all four posters. The highly polished hardwood floor felt cool to her bare feet as she stood up to look out the second-story window.

 
She watched as people passed by and marveled at how richly they seemed to be dressed. Men wore topcoats with knee britches, crisp tri-corn hats and often their hair was pulled back in a single pigtail. The women too looked elegant in gowns rich in detail, and Darcy saw one woman with powdered hair piled high, riding in a sedan chair.

She marveled at the homes lining
Benefit Street
. They were all very straight, proper and neatly presented. Each two-story home had more windows than Darcy had ever seen, and even though the shuttered facades were flat, they were attractive. All the structures were constructed of wood, which Darcy could see was plentiful and painted in light cheerful colors.
Providence
was a very modern place indeed.

She hoped that her arrangement with Colonel Lawrence would go well. Darcy did not relish the thought of having to give herself to a man, but at least she found him appealing and wealthy. She opened a small oak writing desk and found several sheets of paper and a quill. The thought occurred to her that a home such as this must have many books. She heard the rich chimes of a clock downstairs and knew that it must be time to meet Colonel Lawrence.

"Do you have any clothing beyond what you are wearing now?" he asked, as she entered the drawing room.

"I have nothing more."

"We shall have you fitted for several gowns immediately, Miss McBride," and he rose from his desk, walked to a china cabinet and poured two glasses of claret. He handed her a glass and smiled. Colonel Lawrence was a man used to being in charge, and Darcy would be no exception. He showed her to a richly patterned wingback chair by the fire and stood by the mantle, sipping his claret, looking at her.

"Our arrangement will be as follows," he instructed. "You will have your complete freedom here. I do not have the time or the inclination to be your jailer. The penalty for jumping your servitude is severe, and believe me, you would be found. Your good looks work against you in that regard."

Darcy listened, but she was not intimidated; she had no intention of running away.

Colonel Lawrence continued. "I enjoy dining out, so there will be few nights when the cook is here. Keep the house clean, my uniform in order, and if all goes well, we will journey to the Upper Massachusetts Colony where your duties will be even fewer." He paused and said, "I will ask you to my room when the mood suits me. You will always be compliant and accommodating. Is that clear?"

Darcy raised an eyebrow and said, "I understand fully."

His look softened, and reaching down, he pulled her out of the chair putting his arms around her. "You are an incredibly inviting woman," he murmured.

Darcy could feel her body respond immediately to his embrace. He was not only handsome, but he had the appeal of a man who is sure of himself, and he moved down, kissing her neck. Suddenly, she felt him sweep her up and carry her into his room across the hall. Laying her on the featherbed, he said, "From now on you belong to me," and he reached up and unfastened each of the four brocade bed curtains, enveloping them for the rest of the night.

*
    
*
    
*

Nathan Lawrence was as good as his word. The following morning Darcy was fitted for several dresses, which were suitable for everyday wear, and he instructed the dressmaker to sew only one evening gown, no more.
Lawrence
knew
Providence
society would tolerate a mistress, but they could not abide an Irish mistress. He thought it was a shame to have to hide her beauty, so he decided to escort her to more casual functions.

The two sincerely enjoyed keeping company. Every evening about nine, they ventured out to dine and stroll through the streets of
Providence
. They would stop and listen to street musicians or watch jugglers, and it was here that Darcy enjoyed her first Punch-and-Judy show. The evenings were slow and leisurely, ending always the same way, on Nathan's feather bed.

Most days
Lawrence
conducted business away from the home, so after Darcy had completed her housekeeping, she was free to explore the library. Ironically, this was the most freedom she had ever possessed. In
Ireland
she had to answer to Liam and for a brief time Bran, but Colonel Lawrence demanded little of her.

Darcy found him to be an experienced and competent lover. She believed that his age enhanced his proficiency, and she marveled at the vigorous physique he possessed for a man of his years. He introduced her to new avenues of lovemaking and seemed to enjoy awakening new sensations in her.

Darcy was an eager and willing student, but, as she was gaining skills in passion, she was losing her innocence.

Slowly the role of being exploited as property took its toll on her. Her outlook began to change, and she walled off places where she might be weak and vulnerable, especially her heart. She became cynical about men and believed that they wanted two things out of women: sex and work. Sadly she came to scoff at those who sought true love.