Free Master Of Paradise by Virginia Henley Page A

and alone was a tall, slim black girl. The look she gave him repelled rather than attracted. She stood high-headed, cloaked in dignity.
    "How much for a female?" Nicholas unexpectedly asked the trader.
    "Seven or eight hundred. If she's carryin' a sucker, sometimes a thousand."
    "I'll give you five hundred for that one over there. Take it or leave it."
    The slave trader hearing the hard finality in his voice, reluctantly agreed, and they returned to the office for her bill of sale.
    Nicholas turned to Samuel. "Get the girl, we'll take her with us."
     
    They walked to the little house on Tradd Street. All the way Nicholas chided himself for the money that would have been better spent on mules and equipment, but it was something he had just had to do. After debasing his soul with the business of buying and selling human flesh, he had to have a token salving of his conscience.
    He went into the parlor and sat at the desk. He noticed by the bill of sale that the girl's name was Solange. He drew out a blank sheet of paper and dipped the pen in the inkpot.
    "I'm going to free you, Solange."
    She looked at him blankly.
    He worded the paper carefully, clearly, so that it could not be misinterpreted. He dated and signed it and handed it to her with a flourish. When she did not offer to take it from him he repeated, "This paper means you are free, Solange.
    "Free for what?" she asked softly.
    "Free to do whatever you wish, to go where you wish. You can never be bought and sold again. I paid cash money for you and now I'm freeing you."
    "Why yo' do this fo' me?"
    He looked at her bleakly. "I'm doing it for myself, Solange, not for you."
    "Where will ah go? Where will ah live?" she asked miserably.
    For the first time Nicholas realized she was not thrilled with the prospect of being free. He tried to encourage her. "Freedom is the most precious thing on earth, Solange. You will be able to work and earn your own money."
    She looked at him with a mute plea in her eyes. "Can ah work fo' yo', Masta Nick?"
    Lord God, what do I do now? he wondered. "Yes, Solange, you may work for me," he said with resignation. "You can look after the house and cook our meals while we are here. We are going upriver day after tomorrow, but it will be nice to have a place to come home to."
     
    Nicholas had just drifted off to sleep after midnight, when all of a sudden he opened his eyes. He didn't know what had awakened him. He reached for his pistol and sat up in one swift movement. Then as his eyes became accustomed to the glow from the trimmed wick of the lamp, he knew. Solange stood just inside his bedroom door, totally naked. Her skin shone dark ebony and her limbs were long and sinuous. He stared as the silent moments stretched out. He found his voice. "You don't have to do this Solange."
    She did not answer him.
    "I freed you so you would not have to submit to a master ever again. I am not your master. You are a free woman."
    She ran her tongue over her lips, then slowly she began to stroke her breasts with circular movements that lifted and thrust them forward.
    His mouth went very dry as he watched her, hypnotized. Her hands slid down the contours of her body as if she were making love to herself. Then she opened her legs and slipped long, dark fingers into her body. She arched her back and thrust her thighs toward him.
    "Jesus," he said under his breath, as he became aroused in spite of himself. He lifted the covers back in a silent invitation. "Let me do that." He groaned and hoped his soul would not be damned for what he was about to do.
     
    The morning brought him to DuBose at the bank and the mortgage on his newly acquired lands was arranged.
    "Peacock, I'm especially delighted to see you today. Did I ever mention Lady Margot Stafford to you? No perhaps not, but I most certainly mentioned you to her. A true English lady in every sense of the word, and a most charming and amusing hostess. She is something of a social phenomenon, probably because