Read Online The Fancy by Mercedes Keyes, Lawrence James - Free Book Online

a dry one. “Them
    britches too...”
    “I know – I know!” He blasted – stil glaring at
    her, trying to figure her out and final y after pul ing the
    shirt down over his head, then going to his pants,
    saying as he did so, “You know what you are? Wild!
    My God – as wild as they come! I for one have never
    heard of a fancy being such a way! I thought they
    were wel mannered, taught etiquette, as graceful
    and delicate as ah – ah – ah – wel – a lady! Not –
    slinging rats about! Not hunting and skinning and
    hanging game from trees! Not to mention – climbing
    them – your arse bare! My God – my God!” He
    shook his head, passing her his sodden breeches,
    dripping stockings and taking dry ones of each in
    return. The whole time, she stood listening, eyes big,
    not muttering a word in her defense. “I'l have you
    know, I've been to Africa, have witnessed the most
    fierce of hunters – oh yes I have! Have heard stories
    of Indians and their hunting skil s – but not once in al
    that time, had I heard or seen the likes of anything
    like you!”
    “You ain't gone give me away is you?” She
    asked, worriedly.
    He stood to his ful height staring at her as if
    she'd lost her mind, in that instant, he knew,
    regardless of how he’d found her, he could never
    entertain the idea of giving her away.
    “Don't be absurd - you are mine – and – mine
    to keep.” He blushed then, but meant every word.
    She smiled.
    “Ah, so there it is. Wel don't smile so soon, I
    see what it is you need, I am going to have to mold
    you, shape you, make you into the lady you should
    be. When I am done, running about the woods in the
    al -together wil be the last idea to enter your mind for
    I wil be fil ing it with too many other things! To start, I
    wil have to see about more clothing for you, I cannot
    expect you to conduct yourself as a lady while
    dressing you as a common servant, you are not.
    There is, nothing at al , common about you.”
    She looked to the floor, her heart fil ed with
    gladness.
    Gently, his fingers appeared below her chin,
    lifting her face – urging her to look into his eyes.
    “I – I feared for you today – in a way – I cannot
    possibly convey. I do not care – to experience such
    feelings again. What must I do, to keep you from
    your ventures? How can I possibly make you
    understand, such actions endanger you – thus,
    frighten me?”
    “Got's to do my bit; no livestock, no meat – got
    to keep you fed right, keep you strong, so you ain't
    sick. The dark take you, what I'm gone do? Where
    I'm gone be? Don't wanna be nowhere, but here, wit
    you.” She spoke up, looking into his eyes.
    “You say such things, yet – you avoid my bed,
    why?”
    “If – if you – real y want me there, I come – if
    you want me to.”
    “But you don't want to, do you? I can see it that
    you don't – do I not stir you at al ? What is it that you
    see in me, that I repel you so? My white skin?”
    “What others of my kind have done to you and
    your kind? What can I possibly do, that you don't fear
    me? Detest me?”
    “Wha's – detest?” Her eyes squinted as she
    tried to understand. Quinton stood thinking about it –
    to give her a meaning she would ful y understand, as
    it came to him, he sighed, “The feeling you felt, when
    it came to him, he sighed, “The feeling you felt, when
    in that ship and the rats bothered you, how you felt
    about them.” He explained patiently.
    Her eyes grew even more round, “Nooo, that
    ain't how I feel 'bout you. I feel – I feel...” She
    swal owed deep, took a deep breath and tried to
    explain, “...when you talk t'me, I hear yo' voice, my
    heart can't be stil , it beat so hard, 'cause you fil me
    with, joy – I feel so glad to be yours – I feel so good –
    you talk to me, you take care'o'me, so – I got t'take
    care'o'you too.”
    He stepped closer to her, both hands at her
    soft cheeks, “Then why, won't you come to me?”
    At first she shrugged