A Taste of Paradise by Connie Mason Page B

aboard the
Intrepid
and was to leave on the
South Wind
.”
    â€œThe
South Wind
has already sailed, has she not? Why didn’t the woman leave?”
    â€œShe hoped to secure a position as a governess,” Ludlow ventured.
    â€œThis is ridiculous,” Sophia spat. “I am Sophia Carlisle, my brother is Viscount Caldwell.”
    â€œCan you prove it?” Sir Oscar asked.
    â€œCan you prove I am not?” Sophia shot back.
    â€œIndeed I can, Selena. I have papers to prove that I bought you from Lord Tyler-Wilford’s heir.”
    â€œMy name is not Selena! I am Sophia Carlisle! You’re lying. Someone please summon the authorities.”
    â€œMiss Car . . . Selena, if Sir Oscar says you are his property, I see no reason to refute him,” Ludlow said.
    â€œCome along, Selena,” Sir Oscar commanded with a smirk. “It was naughty of you to take advantage of my absence by running away and pretending to be someone you’re not.”
    â€œMr. Ludlow, help me! Send for Captain Radcliff. He’ll tell you the truth.”
    â€œDon’t bother, Ludlow,” Sir Oscar advised. “I’m sure she fooled the captain just as she did you with her fancy speech and manners. She’s a sly little wench.”
    â€œOh, no, you are mistaken, sir. Mistress Carlisle is exactly who she says she is.”
    Sophia sent a grateful smile toward Kateena, the only one who dared to come to her aid.
    â€œShut up, girl; you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sir Oscar growled.
    â€œBut you haven’t seen her like I have,” Kateena argued. “Her skin—”
    Turning on Kateena, Sir Oscar backhanded her, sending her flying. “No one cares about your opinion, wench! Ludlow, control your slave.”
    â€œKateena, if you don’t keep out of this, you’ll find yourself without work,” Ludlow warned. “Kateena works for me for wages,” he explained to Sir Oscar. “She’s a free woman of color.”
    â€œI don’t care what she is. If she interferes with me or my property, I’ll bring charges against her.”
    Kateena picked herself up from the floor and approached Sophia. “What can I do for you, mistress?”
    The purpling bruise on Kateena’s face made it obvious that Kateena’s defense of Sophia would only lead to more violence, more injuries. Sophia wouldn’t allow it.
    â€œNothing, Kateena. I can take care of myself. Thank you for speaking up, but I fear that defending me will only bring harm to you.”
    Kateena shrank away, her distress palpable.
    Sir Oscar began pulling Sophia away from the inn. “Come along, Selena; my carriage awaits outside. If you behave, you’ll not be punished.”
    For all that Sophia dug in her heels, it did her little good. With a wave of his hand, Sir Oscar summoned the slaves waiting beside his carriage to help wrestle her into the conveyance.
    â€œNo, please, I’m an Englishwoman! Sir Oscar is lying. I don’t belong to him. Don’t let him take me away.”
    Her plea was met with stony silence. Her struggles were subdued, and the carriage rattled off down the street, on the way to hell. Or so Sophia assumed, for anywhere Sir Oscar lived had to be hell.
    Somehow, some way, she had to get word to Chris. Surely he wouldn’t allow this travesty, would he?
    Please, God, don’t let Chris abandon me
.
    Chris finished his business at Headquarters House and was ready to return home to Sunset Hill. Mundo, driving the wagon with the newly purchased supplies, had already departed. As Chris wheeled his horse along Duke Street, the devil inside him made him turn toward the King’s Arms. Despite his resolve to wash his hands of Sophia, he wanted to make sure she had boarded the
South Wind
as planned, and that her stay in Kingston had been uneventful.
    Chris dismounted in front of the King’s Arms and walked inside. He was taken