Read Online Rapture in His Arms by Lynette Vinet - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynette Vinet
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do with impressin’ the teacher,” she shot back and placed her hands on her hips. “I saw ye sittin’ so close to Mrs. Cameron this afternoon, all nice and snug. Well, I’ll tell ye somethin’—ye ain’t goin’ to impress the high and mighty Jillian Cameron. Ye’re nothin’ to her but spittle on the ground, and she’d as soon lift her skirt with her dainty hand to walk over ye. Ye could recite a book, word for word, and she’d not care. Ye’re a slave, only a slave in her eyes, not a fine gentleman like Mr. Edwin. And ye won’t ever be a gentleman. Lord, I’m a bloody fool for comin’ here!” Lizzie slammed the door behind her.
Donovan stood in the center of his small room, and the blood pounded in his brain. Lizzie’s right, he decided. He wasn’t a gentleman and would never be a gentleman, not in Jillian Cameron’s eyes. Why was he trying so hard to impress the woman? Because he’d experienced a surge of happiness when she’d praised him for correctly forming his letters. She’d been the only person ever to praise him for anything—other than Priscilla, who’d always praised his lovemaking skills. He wanted Jillian Cameron to praise him again; he needed her praise.
He cast a jaundiced eye upon the parchment in his hand, seeing Jillian’s elegant handwriting beside his thickly formed letters. He didn’t know why he should bother to learn how to read and write when he’d be a slave for the rest of his life. Edwin Cameron was training him to be the overseer, but Donovan knew he was still a slave and that Edwin, for all his kindness, would keep him one. What difference did learning make? he asked himself. But he yearned to acquire these skills. Now, he was being given the chance to prove himself. No matter that Jillian Cameron disliked him and thought she was better than him, Donovan needed to prove to himself that he was a man with a good mind and not just a sturdy body to work the fields or pleasure the master’s wife at night.
Going back to the small table, he sat on the chair and placed the parchment before him. Then he took the piece of coal and diligently formed the letters all over again.
CHAPTER FOUR
To Jillian’s great delight, Dorcas and little Benjamin arrived the next week for a visit. Escorting them was Dorcas’s husband, Tyler Addison. The group sat in the parlor, sipping tea and eating corn cakes, a favorite of Benjamin’s. When Benjamin had eaten his fill, he and Edwin went to sit on the long front porch to watch the boats that sailed past on the James. Dorcas looked out of the window at her son and Edwin. “My, but Benjamin has taken to Edwin. They’re quite inseparable lately,” she commented with a smile and began fanning herself. “I think Benjamin reminds Edwin of his own son at that age.”
Jillian had thought the very same thing. She was pleased but surprised by the friendship that had sprung up between Edwin and the child. Edwin had never seemed to care too much for children, but suddenly he possessed more than a passing interest in Benjamin and the ways of children in general. Sometimes Jillian caught him watching the servants’ children at play—a strange longing on his face; and just the other day she’d seen him standing by the river, throwing out a fishing pole with the cook’s six-year-old son. Evidently, Edwin missed Jacob much more than Jillian knew. Also, she was worried about Edwin. For the last few days his face had seemed pinched and drawn; his movements were slower, more halting. “They’ve become great friends,” Jillian agreed and picked up the teapot to refill Tyler’s cup. “Do you mind that Benjamin and Edwin are friends?” Jillian asked Tyler with a worried frown. “Please don’t be upset that Edwin spends so much time with your son.”
“I assure you that I’m not upset at all. Edwin must be lonely for Jacob. Benjamin fills a fatherly need in him.” Tyler smiled familiarly at Jillian and leaned against the back of the chair,
Donovan stood in the center of his small room, and the blood pounded in his brain. Lizzie’s right, he decided. He wasn’t a gentleman and would never be a gentleman, not in Jillian Cameron’s eyes. Why was he trying so hard to impress the woman? Because he’d experienced a surge of happiness when she’d praised him for correctly forming his letters. She’d been the only person ever to praise him for anything—other than Priscilla, who’d always praised his lovemaking skills. He wanted Jillian Cameron to praise him again; he needed her praise.
He cast a jaundiced eye upon the parchment in his hand, seeing Jillian’s elegant handwriting beside his thickly formed letters. He didn’t know why he should bother to learn how to read and write when he’d be a slave for the rest of his life. Edwin Cameron was training him to be the overseer, but Donovan knew he was still a slave and that Edwin, for all his kindness, would keep him one. What difference did learning make? he asked himself. But he yearned to acquire these skills. Now, he was being given the chance to prove himself. No matter that Jillian Cameron disliked him and thought she was better than him, Donovan needed to prove to himself that he was a man with a good mind and not just a sturdy body to work the fields or pleasure the master’s wife at night.
Going back to the small table, he sat on the chair and placed the parchment before him. Then he took the piece of coal and diligently formed the letters all over again.
CHAPTER FOUR
To Jillian’s great delight, Dorcas and little Benjamin arrived the next week for a visit. Escorting them was Dorcas’s husband, Tyler Addison. The group sat in the parlor, sipping tea and eating corn cakes, a favorite of Benjamin’s. When Benjamin had eaten his fill, he and Edwin went to sit on the long front porch to watch the boats that sailed past on the James. Dorcas looked out of the window at her son and Edwin. “My, but Benjamin has taken to Edwin. They’re quite inseparable lately,” she commented with a smile and began fanning herself. “I think Benjamin reminds Edwin of his own son at that age.”
Jillian had thought the very same thing. She was pleased but surprised by the friendship that had sprung up between Edwin and the child. Edwin had never seemed to care too much for children, but suddenly he possessed more than a passing interest in Benjamin and the ways of children in general. Sometimes Jillian caught him watching the servants’ children at play—a strange longing on his face; and just the other day she’d seen him standing by the river, throwing out a fishing pole with the cook’s six-year-old son. Evidently, Edwin missed Jacob much more than Jillian knew. Also, she was worried about Edwin. For the last few days his face had seemed pinched and drawn; his movements were slower, more halting. “They’ve become great friends,” Jillian agreed and picked up the teapot to refill Tyler’s cup. “Do you mind that Benjamin and Edwin are friends?” Jillian asked Tyler with a worried frown. “Please don’t be upset that Edwin spends so much time with your son.”
“I assure you that I’m not upset at all. Edwin must be lonely for Jacob. Benjamin fills a fatherly need in him.” Tyler smiled familiarly at Jillian and leaned against the back of the chair,
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