Free Uncaged by Alisha Paige Page A

minds.
                  “Is he related?”
                  “Aye, he is.”
                  “An uncle perhaps?”
                  Rose shook her head. “No, ma’am. He’s the captain’s son.”
                  “A son?” Wren had no idea she had a sibling.
                  Rose nodded and whispered in Wren’s ear. “He was born on the wrong side of the blanket. The captain only found out about him five years ago. He had his will rewritten when Mister Sheldon came into the picture.”
                  Wren turned to look at her maid in horror. “Who told you this?” she spat, keeping her voice low.
                  “Rumors have been swirling, ma’am. Some of the other servants heard the details whilst serving the solicitors and Mister Sheldon in the library this morn. I suspect most of it i s true. Betsy caught wind of most of the talk and she’s honest as they come.”
                  “And he’s as white as they come,” Wren replied.
                  “And he’s coming this way,” Bruce warned.
                  Wren’s spine stiffened when the stranger took her hand and kissed the back of it. “You must be Wren, my half-sister.”
                  Wren plastered a smile on her face and curtsied. “Mister Sheldon, this is Mister Remington.”
                  The two men shook hands.
                  “Forgive me sir, but I’d never even heard of your existence,” Wren said sweetly.
                  Sheldon laughed out loud. “Strange indeed, miss. I’ve known of our father for the past five years and I’d never heard of you either.” Wren seethed inside while Sheldon went on. “You see, I was the result of a torrid affair some years past. My mother informed me of my true heritage when I turned five and twenty. I met the captain at that time. We’ve corresponded through letters. We’ve taken holiday together twice.”
                  “How lovely,” Wren replied, feigning niceties.
                  “Yes, well, there is much to do here now and I’ll be taking over his fleet of ships. I’ve always fancied myself a seafarer.”
                  “How wonderful for you.”
                  “Yes, and what are your plans, miss?”
                  “My plans?”
                  Sheldon nodded. “Aye. You have no family left. The captain told me about your mother. Do you plan on following her?”
                  “Following her? Whatever do you mean, sir? She was sold back into the wicked hands of slavery!”
                  “Exactly what I said. Isn’t it your every waking desire to find her and reunite with your kind?”
                  Wren turned beet red. Her eyes flashed with anger. Her nails dug into the fists at her sides. “My kind?” she spat.
                  Sheldon surveyed her with hooded eyes, looking down upon her as if she were a meddlesome fly. A fly he could easily crush. “Yes, your kind. You quadroons, half breeds if you will.”
                  “Well, I’ve never been so in-”
                  Bruce guided her away from the ill mannered man. “Come, darling. Mister Sheldon is hardly worth the effort.”
                  Sheldon grunted, eyeing Bruce with new disdain. “Don’t tell me a man of your quality is fucking a blackamoor!”
                  A deep hush fell over the parlor. All eyes were on the three nearest the captain. Bruce pushed Wren behind him.
                  “Hold you tongue, Sheldon or I’ll rip it out of your fucking throat!”
                  Sheldon took a step back. Bruce was at least two heads ta ller and much wider in stature. “Get out of my goddamn house, Remington and take