Read Online The Old Cape Teapot by Barbara Eppich Struna - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Barbara Eppich Struna
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demanded, “Do you understand me?”
At that, Tobey retreated and quietly left. He wondered if he could benefit from this encounter between the two men. Closing the door behind him, he stood in the hallway. What was Davis’s quest? After a quick knock on Davis’s door, he entered and found the two men still struggling. They separated immediately and straightened their waistcoats. “Excuse me, sir,” Tobey said, holding onto the latch of the door. “I need to ready your room for the night.”
Julian glared at the servant. Davis looked relieved.
“If you don’t mind, sir?” Tobey moved closer to them and began to turn down the bedcovers.
Julian headed for the door. As he passed the young black man, he ordered, “Tobey! Come to my house after you’re finished here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Later, as Tobey followed the road down to Julian’s house, he questioned the coming meeting between him and the overseer. He was prepared to defend himself if there was any confrontation other than the usual reprimand for the unexpected entrance to Davis’s room. He hoped there would be none.
Meanwhile, Julian encouraged his wife, Elizabeth, to retire early. He explained to her that he had business to take care of and needed his privacy. Julian took a position outside on a bench and leaned back against the side of his house. The moonrise lit the dark night. He could see Tobey’s approach.
“Mr. Julian, Sir?”
“Sit down, Tobey.” He took out his pipe and waited for the slave to sit next to him. “How long have you been under the Smith family?”
“Eight years…since I was ten.”
“You have learned your studies well and seem to have grown into a smart young man.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I have a proposition for you.” Julian glanced up at the moon and let out a long stream of smoke from between his lips. “Are you interested in improving your state of life?”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“I mean freedom. A new start.”
Tobey remained quiet, holding onto the word freedom in his head.
“Well?” Julian persisted.
“I don’t understand what you’re asking of me.”
Julian gave Tobey a knowing glance. “You were in the next room listening to my conversation…or you might say, persuasion, with Mr. Davis. Am I not right?”
“I meant no disrespect, sir.” Tobey’s posture was stiff next to Julian. He wanted to show he wasn’t afraid of the man who controlled him.
“You show gumption. That I like.”
Several seconds of silence passed before Julian spoke again.
“Mr. Davis and I knew each other a long time ago. Let’s say we were partners.”
Tobey stared straight ahead into the dusky night; his hands resting on top of his knees.
“I want you to sail to the Cape with Mr. Davis. You’ll be under his care and will assist him in finding items that belong to me, whereupon you’ll return with the found goods back to Antigua.” Julian hesitated and then added, “I’m only interested in the safety of my property.”
“How will this happen?”
“You’ll carry papers that will identify you as a servant of the Smith Plantation, and it will explain that you’re retrieving their possessions. When said items are delivered into my hands, I’ll have the power to release you from bondage and reward you with enough coin to start anew.”
Tobey stood now and faced Julian. “How do I know that you’ll keep your promise?”
Julian reached into his vest pocket and handed him two gold coins. “If you are capable and complete your task, you’ll have more of these. Trust me. You have my word.”
Tobey held the coins in his hand. He mulled Julian’s request over in his thoughts only for a short time and responded, “Yes, I’ll do it.” He was frightened but desperate for his freedom. “Did I understand you to say you care only for your property, and not for Davis?”
“That’s what I said.” Julian turned away from Tobey, entered his house and closed the door.
10
Present
At that, Tobey retreated and quietly left. He wondered if he could benefit from this encounter between the two men. Closing the door behind him, he stood in the hallway. What was Davis’s quest? After a quick knock on Davis’s door, he entered and found the two men still struggling. They separated immediately and straightened their waistcoats. “Excuse me, sir,” Tobey said, holding onto the latch of the door. “I need to ready your room for the night.”
Julian glared at the servant. Davis looked relieved.
“If you don’t mind, sir?” Tobey moved closer to them and began to turn down the bedcovers.
Julian headed for the door. As he passed the young black man, he ordered, “Tobey! Come to my house after you’re finished here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Later, as Tobey followed the road down to Julian’s house, he questioned the coming meeting between him and the overseer. He was prepared to defend himself if there was any confrontation other than the usual reprimand for the unexpected entrance to Davis’s room. He hoped there would be none.
Meanwhile, Julian encouraged his wife, Elizabeth, to retire early. He explained to her that he had business to take care of and needed his privacy. Julian took a position outside on a bench and leaned back against the side of his house. The moonrise lit the dark night. He could see Tobey’s approach.
“Mr. Julian, Sir?”
“Sit down, Tobey.” He took out his pipe and waited for the slave to sit next to him. “How long have you been under the Smith family?”
“Eight years…since I was ten.”
“You have learned your studies well and seem to have grown into a smart young man.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I have a proposition for you.” Julian glanced up at the moon and let out a long stream of smoke from between his lips. “Are you interested in improving your state of life?”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“I mean freedom. A new start.”
Tobey remained quiet, holding onto the word freedom in his head.
“Well?” Julian persisted.
“I don’t understand what you’re asking of me.”
Julian gave Tobey a knowing glance. “You were in the next room listening to my conversation…or you might say, persuasion, with Mr. Davis. Am I not right?”
“I meant no disrespect, sir.” Tobey’s posture was stiff next to Julian. He wanted to show he wasn’t afraid of the man who controlled him.
“You show gumption. That I like.”
Several seconds of silence passed before Julian spoke again.
“Mr. Davis and I knew each other a long time ago. Let’s say we were partners.”
Tobey stared straight ahead into the dusky night; his hands resting on top of his knees.
“I want you to sail to the Cape with Mr. Davis. You’ll be under his care and will assist him in finding items that belong to me, whereupon you’ll return with the found goods back to Antigua.” Julian hesitated and then added, “I’m only interested in the safety of my property.”
“How will this happen?”
“You’ll carry papers that will identify you as a servant of the Smith Plantation, and it will explain that you’re retrieving their possessions. When said items are delivered into my hands, I’ll have the power to release you from bondage and reward you with enough coin to start anew.”
Tobey stood now and faced Julian. “How do I know that you’ll keep your promise?”
Julian reached into his vest pocket and handed him two gold coins. “If you are capable and complete your task, you’ll have more of these. Trust me. You have my word.”
Tobey held the coins in his hand. He mulled Julian’s request over in his thoughts only for a short time and responded, “Yes, I’ll do it.” He was frightened but desperate for his freedom. “Did I understand you to say you care only for your property, and not for Davis?”
“That’s what I said.” Julian turned away from Tobey, entered his house and closed the door.
10
Present
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