Part 13 (1/2)
Our tension gave way to giggles, releasing the pressure of the last few days. We were aware of how different the outcome could have been if Livie had been caught away from the plantation. So we found extra pleasure in our blessed reunion. All the while, the thought of Marcus tugged at the back of my mind. I ached to tell Livie her brother was alive, and confide in her about our interaction in the cave. However, just as friends can disagree and make mistakes, friends can also protect. Therefore, I decided to abide by Marcus's wish of not telling her about his visit. I eased my guilt by praying twice as fervently for his safe and swift return. But Livie deserved more. I also wanted to give her hope to hang on to now that I knew Marcus was alive. I retrieved his neckerchief hidden in my wardrobe closet and pressed it gently in her hand.
”Where did you find this? I thought the river stole it from me.”
”I found it on the riverbank the night you swam off.”
Livie touched it to her face and breathed in the scent of her brother.
”He will come back, Liv. I believe with all my heart and soul that Marcus will return for you before summer has come and gone.” The half-truth pained me, but the smile my words brought to her face gave me peace.
Livie and I settled into our normal routine by evening. I joined Aunt Augusta for supper. As was my expectation, she did not comment on my scarcity over the last few days, nor did she seem to care. Her detachment was a stroke of good fortune with regard to Livie. Aunt Augusta did not give her a second glance when she came to collect the dishes.
”Colonel Richards arranged for his cousin to come for an extended visit for the remainder of the winter months. He arrived yesterday, and after a few days with the colonel, he will come to stay with us while he tutors you in the French language.”
I set my teacup down and huffed. ”I am no longer a child, Aunt Augusta. Perhaps you should consult with me before making arrangements on my behalf.”
”What has gotten into you Hannalore? I have indulged your independent streak of late, but I caution you not to push me too far.”
I pouted as a way of not giving in completely to her, but some battles were not worth fighting. At the very least, it would pa.s.s the hours until spring. The winter months were dreary and unending, so between the quilting and French lessons, hopefully the days that stretched toward spring would pa.s.s quickly.
I retired with Livie to my room. Not having slept the previous night, I looked forward to slipping on my nightgown and crawling under the covers. Livie busied herself with straightening and dusting the room. I told her not to bother, because it had been a long day for both of us. I sensed her stalling. I was pleasantly surprised when she got on her knees and pulled out the trundle bed.
”Can I sleep here with you tonight?”
”Of course, Livie.” I crawled down to sit next to her. ”I love when you stay with me, talking late into the night like sisters. Living in the cabin was your idea.”
”It's good fo' me to be amongst my own. The folk in the Run is family to me now, but with Fatima gone, the cabin is a mite lonesome. It be different when James is back.” Livie scrunched her face in bashful grin. ”James has been visitin' me in my cabin at night.”
”Livie!” I squealed, both embarra.s.sed and excited. ”How long has this been going on?”
”Started durin' Big Times. We been growin' close and feelin' special.”
”I knew it,” I giggled. ”I told Mar-” I choked and coughed to cover the slip of the tongue that almost had me speaking Marcus's name.
Livie patted me on the back and eyed me curiously. ”You all right?”
”Yes, yes, I am fine,” I said, clearing my throat. ”What I was trying to say was, I told myself you have been looking quite smitten with James.”
”He asked me to be his wife.” Livie's smile was broad and proud. ”I nearly scared the life out o' him when I showed up at the Henderson plantation. He said, 'Livetta, I don't know what's gonna come o' this, but the notion of losin' you makes my heart start hurtin' awful, so if we gets out o' this alive, I'm taking you fo' my wife if you want me fo' your husband.' He is gonna ask Ma.s.sa Reynolds fo' his say-so when he gets back.” Livie reached over and took my hands. ”And I is askin' fo' your say-so now. Can James and me jump the broom?”
”You do not need to ask for my permission,” I gushed. ”But you have my wholehearted blessing. I am so happy for you, Livie.” I gave her a hug and rested my head on her shoulder. We had truly become women, she and I, with the wants and desires of women. ”What is it like, Livie?”
”What?”
”Being with a man.”
Livie gasped at my forthright question, then covered her face with bashful hesitation. When she lowered her hands, her face gleamed with contentment. ”I thought it would be strange,” she sighed. ”From the time I was knee-high, it was a fearful thing the ma.s.sa could force onto you. But when lovin' is between you, it makes you feel alive and a part o' each other. Like you is givin' each other something of yo'self that no one else can have. Words 'tain't big enough to describe it. You won't rightly understand it till you feel the fire.” Livie yawned and leaned back against the bed as her exhaustion finally caught up with her.
I had hoped Livie's step into womanhood would bring some clarity to my own conflicting emotions. However, it only raised more questions. The joy in having her back at my side lifted my worries and inspired me to seek similar contentment for her.
Tomorrow, I will speak to Uncle Mooney about coupling James and Livie. Even if he makes me crawl on my knees and beg, I shall gladly do it for the sake of my friend's happiness.
Chapter 21.
”Out of the question,” Uncle Mooney grumbled, shoveling his b.u.t.tered grits into his mouth. ”I will not pair my prime buck with one of your stock. I have perfectly good breeders of my prime own.”
”Hear me out, Mooney, before you dig in your heels.” Aunt Augusta was cool and calculating in her presentation. I was surprised at her interest in Livie's desire to marry James, especially when she offered to accompany me and speak on my behalf in securing permission from Uncle Mooney. Now her motive was revealed. There was investment to be gained and negotiated. Both of them were greedy to the bone. However, having Aunt Augusta in my corner was definitely to my advantage, so I let her speak. My only concern was finding a way for James and Livie to be together.
”We all know you have attempted to couple James a number of times over the years, to no avail. You beat and punish him each time the coupling proves miserable and childless. I have never witnessed a slave go through the silly ritual of jumping over the broom as often as he has, only to end up undoing it with a backward jump after a year's time. Each failed attempt has left him a little less content and more of a loner. He is of odd stock, and if not for the profit he generates for you with his skills, you would have put him on the block long ago.” Augusta shook her head and laughed. ”The money you make from me alone on surcharges for his service makes him worth his keep.”
Uncle Mooney pushed away his empty plate and wiped his mouth with a napkin. ”So, what is your point, Augusta? You are not telling me anything I don't already know. In fact, I took great pleasure in denying James's request when he came to me upon his return to the plantation this afternoon. I may not have whipped the stubbornness out of him, but I as sure as h.e.l.l will not reward it. Besides, what is the gain for me in allowing such an arrangement?”
”The gain will be in James's productivity and loyalty,” she said, leaning forward to emphasize her words. ”You and I have always disagreed on this point, but I believe it is to our benefit to maintain a slave's physical and emotional well-being. Contented and devoted slaves give more of themselves than those who are beaten and deprived.”
Uncle Mooney waved his hand in disgust. ”That's the woman in you talking. Your profits would double if you were not throwing away good money on extra clothing and food rations twice a year.”
”Watch your tone, Mooney.” Aunt Augusta was undaunted by his attempt to dismiss her. ”We are family, as well as business partners, and this is a viable proposition. I believe you are the stubborn one in this scenario.”
A patronizing grin curdled his face. He crossed his legs and leaned an elbow on the table, successfully disengaging Aunt Augusta and angling his attention to where I sat watching the banter between them.
”Why am I wasting my time arguing points of view with your aunt? You are the one I should be negotiating with, my dear. The wench belongs to you; therefore, it is our discussion.”
He was smug and superior in his demeanor. I doubted he had an interest in what I had to say, but he enjoyed making me squirm for his approval. Denying me in the end would be his revenge for Fatima. I was not clever in the ways of business, so I simply spoke the truth.
”James and Livie love each other,” I said evenly. ”I want them to be happy.”
Uncle Mooney exploded in laughter, spewing spittle, peppered with grits, through the air. ”Augusta,” he snorted, ”how could a woman as intelligent and practical as you raise such a naive, foolish girl? She wants them to be happy. As if they feel love and attachment like you or I. Only the overactive imagination of a sheltered child would entertain such a notion.”
He pinched my cheek with placating amus.e.m.e.nt. I pushed his hand away, my reserve replaced with contempt. I wanted to grab him by his muttonchops and yank the smirk off his face, but instead I remained composed and focused on the business at hand. Although he presented himself as disinterested, Uncle Mooney's posturing told me it was not hopeless. Once his laughter subsided, he stroked his chin and eyed me sideways.
”Since this means a great deal to you, and as Augusta says we are family, I shall offer you a generous compromise.” He got up and walked to the window with his hands behind his back, seemingly mulling over a difficult decision. After a moment, he turned back to me, his arms folded in strategic defense.
”I shall grant the request for James and your wench to be paired as husband and wife on the condition that I retain rights and owners.h.i.+p of any offspring produced from the union.”
”Don't be absurd,” Aunt Augusta interjected, before the words barely left his lips. ”As the mother goes, so goes the child. That is the way of it, Mooney. Owners.h.i.+p of the mother includes any forthcoming children.”
”This is a business deal, Augusta,” he said, removing parchment and steel-nib pen from the top drawer of a desk in the corner. ”And these are my terms.”
”Never!” Aunt Augusta huffed as Uncle Mooney dipped his pen into the inkwell and began writing. ”You are strong-arming the child.” Aunt Augusta's face was taut with distress, unmasking a vulnerability in her I had never seen. My instincts were keen enough to know that Uncle Mooney's cooperation was a ruse. The same instincts told me not to be moved by Aunt Augusta's alarm, because her motivation was no different from Uncle Mooney's. What they did not know was that none of it mattered. I did not legally own Livie, so any agreement I struck, on paper or otherwise, would be worthless. Therefore, his attempt at cleverness amused me.
”I am not strong-arming anyone. She is a grown woman who is capable of making decisions on her own behalf. Isn't that right, Hannalore?”
Uncle Mooney's manipulation was so transparent it was laughable. Was it my youth and inexperience, or simply the fact that I was a woman leading him to believe I was foolish enough to be swayed by his antics? I looked over at Aunt Augusta, who shook her head, commanding me to decline. Uncle Mooney, on the other hand, continued to charm me with words as sweet as sugar cubes used to coax an anxious colt back into the fold. However, I was not taking the bait.
”No,” I stated firmly. ”This is not a business arrangement. I simply want permission for James to marry Livie.”