Princess Ces'alena (75 page)

“Thomas, I’m going to start off by saying that I know you’re an abolitionist. I have no problem with that, in fact - I find it a worthy cause. However, our problem as you know - stems from our common interest. I’m not a sharing man - neither do I give what is mine freely.”

“Ceś alena.” Thomas said her name to be matter of fact.

“Smart man – is it any wonder you teach.” Manny quipped sarcastically. “Of course, Ceś alena! What gave you the right to pursue her, knowing she was mine?”

“Surely you jest? You were gone! Never leave a woman like that unattended; you may be able to corral your stallions and mares without worry. But she is not a piece of livestock without heart or mind, she is a human being - not to own and ride at will - but to love and cherish.” Thomas shot at him. “Knowing -
that
- gave me the right!”

“How dare you sit there so smug - judging me! No man - loves her more than I! Cherishes her - more than I!” Manny declared.

“Then marry her! Oh wait - you cannot – you are already married! Even if you weren’t - you still could not! So what does that make her to you?” Thomas forged boldly on. Ignoring Manny’s reddening face. “Ceś alena is not your wife! You do not belong in her bed - yet that is where I found you, after you cleverly slithered in and forced her-…”

“There was no force involved!” Manny growled out angrily.

“She told you,
“No!”
Several times…but you would not accept no!”

“Is that what she told you?!” Manny demanded, his temples throbbing.

“In so many words…yes. But the truth of it is, massa gotta have his nigga fix, you ownin’ha like ya’do — why’sa - wha’s no ta’ you-…”

“You bleeding bastard!!” Manny shouted snatching his towering frame from his chair to lean over his desk at Thomas, who jumped to his feet as well, ready to defend himself. “Lena has never been, nor ever will be a nigga fix for me!”

“She is not your wife!! But you’ve made her your whore!!-…” Manny rushed around the desk, Jordan and Leon, who had been listening outside the door, having foreseen this outcome rushed in to intercept him from attacking Thomas, holding him back.

“Do not hold him back - let him go!” Thomas braved with fists high; and went on to yell, “I wanted to marry her! Not keep her as you have!”

“Over - my - dead - body!” Manny bit out slowly, the veins in his neck were standing out as he struggled back from Jordan and Leon. “I want you off of my land! I want you off of this plantation never to return!” He walked back to his desk picking up several items placing them down as he gave Thomas his orders. “This is a paper fully stating your freedom! Here’s another giving you freedom to travel! This one will enable you to take long distance transportation!-…”

“I have them!” Thomas informed him heatedly.

“Do not interrupt me again! Or it will take more than the two men standing there to stop me!” He warned, Thomas stood at ready but didn’t push it. “As I was saying, it will give you means to travel…and far! Know this, it is not for your abolition assignment. If you are caught, I will not be involved! Here is your pay for the work done - and done well! Here is a years wage-…”

“I do not want your money – I am no beggar!” Thomas sneered eyeing the hefty purse filled with gold coins weighing down his freedom papers.

“The horse you’ve been using is yours to take!” Manny went on ignoring his comment. “The clothes, everything - take them all and be gone from here! Today!!”

Thomas stood staring contemptuously at him, as Leon and Jordan stood by just incase further need to intercept should arise. He went to reach for the stack laying there when Manny’s hand covered it.

“Stay away - from Ceś alena! Do not let me catch you near
her
, or this plantation again!” Manny stated firmly, then stood away so that he could collect the documents and pay. Thomas gathered the papers then said calmly in reply.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be back.” Shaking his head with his eyes set on Manny’s he added, “For once in your life, you should have forced yourself to make a selfless decision. It would have been a real favor to her, a true show of love, to let her go. With all of your wealth, social standing, land and ships…you can offer her nothing. What you give her will only bring her surface happiness. But no joy will she know. She was not reared to be a man’s mistress. And with you, she can be nothing more. I don’t know if you are aware of it or not, she is ashamed of her life for you. Yet, her love, her loyalty to you, forces her to conform, she is willing to sacrifice all and be less than what she is. You are choking her soul… just thought you should know.”

Manny showed no reaction to his true statement, other than the reaction that was hidden from them; his heart hammering uncomfortably in his chest for every word spoken.

Thomas stepped towards the door, stopping there he looked back at Manny. He wasn’t a fool. There was no reason for this man to give him anything, he simply didn’t have to. Especially considering the situation existing between them; and with that thought, the facts were driven home.

One being, although grudgingly, he respected the man. Because he could be, and would be cunning, and manipulative in one instance, while having a vein of absolute fairness in another. He wanted to do what was right - but he was fighting for the woman he loved. For that, Thomas knew beyond doubt, were he in his shoes, he would do no less. The final fact was, had it not been for the woman between them, he could imagine liking Maynard Webster.

During the time there, when Manny was absent, he’d learned a lot about him. With his return, Thomas learned even more. Between those two people, he knew he did not belong. He accepted that as he stood reflecting back, and before he parted, he gave one last comment.

“Find her son. Find him…and, thank you.” He lifted his hand to indicate the items given him.

“He is
my
son, I have every intention of doing so.” Manny returned.

“I hope so…I really do.” He departed from the room. Manny stood a moment more, thinking over the things Thomas said to him.

‘
God almighty, help me. He’s right…she deserves better
- so much better. I’m begging you - please help me make her my wife…please.’
Manny prayed silently.

“We ready when you are.” Jordan spoke reminding Manny of the trip they were taking. He nodded, “Yes…let is be underway.”

* * *

Six Weeks Later:

“I don’t know why…I don’t know how. But he has forgiven her. I know it.” Katherine explained, feeling lost and hopeless.

“How do you know? Are you sure?” Mildred asked, showing compassion for her cousin. She felt so responsible for her unhappiness, after all - she had taken her up to him to introduce the two. Granted, Katherine had urged her to do so, but neither of them figured it would turn out as it did.

“He doesn’t sleep in his room anymore. I know that. When morning comes, he is there first thing, Morris, the overseers, Jordan…all gathered in the dining room eating breakfast. But, he doesn’t sleep there. Not in the mansion.”

“The entire time of their absence, she did not come to the kitchen to prepare meals. Morris said they went for supplies, that we were needing things and they made this trip every two years or so. But, Thomas is also gone.”

“Thomas?”

“He was won by Morris when Manny was away. He did the books, and well - I thought for certain, he would fall for Lena, and she would go with him. But he is just - gone.” Katherine picked up her tea cup sipping as she and Mildred sat out on the veranda of their almost completed home.

“My God Mildred, what else could it mean!? What hold has she on him? How does she do it? Even after baring the child of another, he still goes back to her.” Katherine complained.

“One thing is for certain Katherine, if he has forgiven her and is back in her bed, you are giving him the freedom carry on. You cannot keep staying with my parents, and coming here for long periods of time. You are giving him the ideal arrangement.”

“I know that! Don’t you think I know that!" Katherine yelled frustrated. "But there is nothing there for me! Nothing at all! That is not my home! And I am not welcome there! He is just polite to me. A few times — he has come to me, as if he wanted to talk about something, but then…he will stop. He is building up for something, to ask something of me, I know that he is.”

“For what?” Mildred asked.

Katherine looked down into her teacup shaking her head as if to say she didn’t know. But there was a gut fear, that would ask to divorce her.

“Please Katherine, take my words as they are meant, and nothing more, know that you are always welcome here. But right now, you should be home with your husband, not sleeping in that room you occupy, but in his room, move back into his. If you are in bed with him, he cannot slip out of it then.”

“You are so wrong! We haven’t slept together since - since - that first Christmas, when I came to be with child. He has not touched me since; and shows no desire to.” She drifted in thought, and went on to explain again, “I have tried everything. I have tried not to argue with him. I have tried giving him room to breathe. I have offered myself to him, many times…only for him to push me away. It is apparent that he will forgive her, her indiscretion. But he will not, forgive me mine, I do not -…”

“Katherine, let us be honest hear, you sold his son.” Mildred reminded her accusingly. “The bed that you have made for yourself, is one that you must bear.”

Katherine looked up stunned, “His son? He was born of a Negro slave! He could hardly be considered his son! I mean…it happens all the time. Why can’t he be like the others?! Why didn’t he just get rid of him from the very beginning?! And her as well?!”

“I’m sorry Katherine, I cannot agree with such ill thinking. They are human-beings. As we feel pain, so must they.” Mildred was finally speaking up, expressing the things on her mind. She and Charles would never own slaves. Paid servants yes, but not slaves.

She remembered when they were all so very young, and Josephine O’Brien was such a rebel speaking out against slavery and all that was connected to it. She had often sat hearing her, but was always distracted by Charles’s presence, not really listening. At that time, she had never given it thought but since all of the uprisings from slaves, turning and murdering their masters… that was a strong indication that there was something wrong, they were fighting for their lives.

She glanced up at her cousin, Katherine had gone quiet, tight lipped, resentful of her words. She didn’t care. She never wanted to be in such danger; afraid of falling asleep at night for being overtaken by a revolt. So far, her family had been lucky. Her father did not treat his slaves badly, but then…he didn’t own that many. The Webster’s and the O’Brien’s held the highest count in the area. Both heads had enough sense to know, that if they were to avoid such a thing taking place within their plantations, the slaves had to be treated in a way satisfactory to all. It was thinking like Katherine’s, believing they were without feelings of human emotions, that caused the system to fail.

Finally she spoke, “I cannot believe you said such a thing! Calling that bastard his son.”

“Let us not speak of things bound to bring us contention. All I know is this, sitting here isn’t going to help. Why don’t you let Giles take you home? It is late, but just the right time of night for a wife to confront her husband, don’t you think?”

Katherine sighed peering down into her cup, then up at Mildred. “Obviously, feelings toward my welcome here have altered, send for Giles.”

“Katherine…” Mildred sighed, not wishing her to be hurt.

“Say no more, I will go.”

* * *

Charles sat on the sofa in his almost bare living-room holding his wife before him as they snuggled cozily, while she discussed various ways of decorating.

“What’s the matter Charles? You look so lost in thought? Am I boring you that badly?” She asked pouting. He smiled gently leaning forward to plant a kiss to her brow as she turned to him. “I’m sorry, there is a lot on my mind.” He answered quietly.

“Such as?” She asked. He brushed the hair back from her brow, tracing them as he admired them. “Your cousin Katherine. She should have stayed in Europe with her mother and never returned.”

“Why would you say such a thing? She is trying to fight for her marriage.”

“She is fighting a losing battle. Manny should have never married her.”

Mildred stared a moment, and said finally. “You know something don’t you?” He nodded affirmatively. “What?” She asked. He shook his head, “I cannot divulge it sweetheart. To do so goes against the confidentiality I have with my client.”

“Your client…Manny?” She probed.

“Yes.”

“I see.” She chewed on her bottom lip fighting the attack of curiosity that assailed her. Charles chuckled offering, “Here let me do that.”

“Charles! No! Oh please tell me! I won’t tell a soul! Please trust that I won’t.”

“I can’t Mil’.”

“You know I would never tell a soul! I would never divulge information that only you would be privy to. Were it to get out, your clients would know it was due to you telling someone, and that would ruin you. I would never do anything to ruin you! I love you. But this is concerning my cousin, and I must know! I’ve been talking to her, trying to convince her to save her marriage! If doing so is futile, please let me know, so that I leave off from it.” She pleaded.