time. If you perform your tasks well and efficiently, you will act as leaders for the next group of men I purchase. Are there any questions?”
The men were silent.
He strode back to his brother. “You have already met my brother, Master Joshua, on the Randolph . He is my factor and will be leaving for England with the ship.”
Moving to stand behind Constance and Sally, he placed one hand on Sally’s shoulder and rested his other on Constance’s waist. “This is your mistress, along with my sister, Miss Sally. Members of my family and household are to be treated with the utmost respect.”
Mistress. He may have agreed to an in-name-only marriage, but no one else would suspect it as such. For he had not hesitated in the introduction of her as his wife and even placed a possessive hand to her back. She kept her expression neutral.
He took several steps forward and spread his feet. “If it is escape you have in mind, let me assure you, I will track you down. The punishment for attempted escape in Virginia is thirty-nine lashes of the whip. Have no doubt that I will catch you and administer them. Personally.”
The men said nothing.
He relaxed his stance. “This morning you will worm and weed the fields. This afternoon, you will help as needed around the clearing with any light work Mistress O’Connor or my servant, Miss Mary, asks of you, but you will stop before the sun sets. You are all in need of rest and good food. I will see you have it before I expect you to put in a full day’s work. Any questions?”
There were none.
“Fabric with which to clothe you should be arriving in port in about two weeks. Until then, I fear you must make do with what you have.” He adjusted his hat. “Let us away to the creek where you can wash, then we will head to the fields.”
————
As promised, Drew worked the men throughout the rest of the morning, then had them do light chores around the cottage. Though they were hesitant to speak freely, he hoped a sense of camaraderie would soon form. After a sumptuous supper, they could barely move, so, disregarding the sun still perched in the sky, Drew allowed them to retire.
Lighting his pipe, he then helped Constance carry the dishes to the creek for their washing, early evening shadows trailing behind them as they walked. He carried the heavy pots filled with noggins, while she held a pile of trenchers.
“What’s that?” she asked, indicating a flowering tree covered with creamy globular blooms in a setting of huge glossy leaves.
“A magnolia.”
“Lovely. And there are so many of them.” She inhaled deeply. “Umm.” Setting down her load, she moved to the tree, breaking off a flower and pressing it to her nose.
The rich fragrant perfume of the magnolia drifted to him. He took a deep breath, then surveyed his land, trying to see it through her eyes. Thinking back to the two years he’d spent at Cambridge University, he recalled what few trees they’d had abroad. Here, there was enough wood to supply all of England and more.
“How did the men do?” she asked.
He hesitated a moment. “In the fields?”
“Yes.”
“Surprisingly well. They seem to have reconciled themselves to their stay here and give every indication of turning into fine workers. I don’t think any of them will run.”
“No?”
He smiled. “Well, they thought about it when I told them we would wash every day. Still, I don’t think any will try to escape. Josh has a great knack for discerning a person’s character. It appears his instinct didn’t fail him. The men he advised me to purchase were exactly what I needed.”
“That’s why he was on the transport ship?”
He studied her for a moment. “You saw him?”
She nodded. “He took pains to smuggle as much food and drink to Mary as he could.”
“Um. He did the same for our men. It has made their adjustment to me and the farm much easier.”
She fingered one of the creamy petals cupped in her palm. “Did he
The men were silent.
He strode back to his brother. “You have already met my brother, Master Joshua, on the Randolph . He is my factor and will be leaving for England with the ship.”
Moving to stand behind Constance and Sally, he placed one hand on Sally’s shoulder and rested his other on Constance’s waist. “This is your mistress, along with my sister, Miss Sally. Members of my family and household are to be treated with the utmost respect.”
Mistress. He may have agreed to an in-name-only marriage, but no one else would suspect it as such. For he had not hesitated in the introduction of her as his wife and even placed a possessive hand to her back. She kept her expression neutral.
He took several steps forward and spread his feet. “If it is escape you have in mind, let me assure you, I will track you down. The punishment for attempted escape in Virginia is thirty-nine lashes of the whip. Have no doubt that I will catch you and administer them. Personally.”
The men said nothing.
He relaxed his stance. “This morning you will worm and weed the fields. This afternoon, you will help as needed around the clearing with any light work Mistress O’Connor or my servant, Miss Mary, asks of you, but you will stop before the sun sets. You are all in need of rest and good food. I will see you have it before I expect you to put in a full day’s work. Any questions?”
There were none.
“Fabric with which to clothe you should be arriving in port in about two weeks. Until then, I fear you must make do with what you have.” He adjusted his hat. “Let us away to the creek where you can wash, then we will head to the fields.”
————
As promised, Drew worked the men throughout the rest of the morning, then had them do light chores around the cottage. Though they were hesitant to speak freely, he hoped a sense of camaraderie would soon form. After a sumptuous supper, they could barely move, so, disregarding the sun still perched in the sky, Drew allowed them to retire.
Lighting his pipe, he then helped Constance carry the dishes to the creek for their washing, early evening shadows trailing behind them as they walked. He carried the heavy pots filled with noggins, while she held a pile of trenchers.
“What’s that?” she asked, indicating a flowering tree covered with creamy globular blooms in a setting of huge glossy leaves.
“A magnolia.”
“Lovely. And there are so many of them.” She inhaled deeply. “Umm.” Setting down her load, she moved to the tree, breaking off a flower and pressing it to her nose.
The rich fragrant perfume of the magnolia drifted to him. He took a deep breath, then surveyed his land, trying to see it through her eyes. Thinking back to the two years he’d spent at Cambridge University, he recalled what few trees they’d had abroad. Here, there was enough wood to supply all of England and more.
“How did the men do?” she asked.
He hesitated a moment. “In the fields?”
“Yes.”
“Surprisingly well. They seem to have reconciled themselves to their stay here and give every indication of turning into fine workers. I don’t think any of them will run.”
“No?”
He smiled. “Well, they thought about it when I told them we would wash every day. Still, I don’t think any will try to escape. Josh has a great knack for discerning a person’s character. It appears his instinct didn’t fail him. The men he advised me to purchase were exactly what I needed.”
“That’s why he was on the transport ship?”
He studied her for a moment. “You saw him?”
She nodded. “He took pains to smuggle as much food and drink to Mary as he could.”
“Um. He did the same for our men. It has made their adjustment to me and the farm much easier.”
She fingered one of the creamy petals cupped in her palm. “Did he
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