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Chelsea Handler Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (epub
Brit Brinson [Dia of the Dead Dia of the Dead (epub)
Cody Goodfellow [Radiant Dawn Radiant Dawn (epub)
Cate Tiernan [Immortal Belove Immortal Beloved (epub)
C J Busby [Deep Amber 01] Deep Amber (retail) (epub)
Carl Ashmore [Time Hunters 01 The Time Hunters (epub)
Drew Hayes [Super Powereds 02 Super Powereds Year 2 (epub) i
Beth Harbison [Shoe Addict 02 Secrets of a Shoe Addict (epub)
Cara Lynn Shultz [Dark World The Dark World (retail) (epub)
Carrie Bebris [Darcy Mysterie Pride

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.It was then he discovered that the manager had mismanaged the property and had absconded with much of the profits.He had to sell off most of the slaves and servants and start afresh, running the plantation with a minimal amount of labor until it began to prosper again and he was able to increase his slaveholding and now had two overseers to help him.To diversify his investments he had invested in a ship with two other planters and he had recently started distilling rum.William came in a few minutes later, followed by the mistress and the two girls.Deborah was surprised to see the women at breakfast so early.They were dressed in fancy clothes so she assumed they were going out.Looking up as the women came in, Thomas absently noted that they were dressed attractively for the day but they paled in comparison to Deborah, with her beautiful olive skin and exotic looks.“I will let the cook know that you’re ready for breakfast,” offered Deborah heading out to the kitchen and giving William a wide berth.His eyes followed her as she left the room.“I hope you haven’t forgotten that we had planned to go into Town today,” Elizabeth said to her husband taking her place at the table.“We will take Cassie and Jethro.”“This is not the best time to take staff into town.You know that we’re in the midst of harvest.You should take Deborah instead.It’s her birthday.”“It is? Then the last thing she would want to be doing on her birthday is traipsing all through Town carrying parcels for us,” said the mistress dismissively as Deborah returned carrying three plates on a tray.“I didn’t know it was your birthday,” said William lazily, looking her up and down.She quickly looked at the master who must have mentioned it to them but he was eating his breakfast.“Happy birthday, Deborah,” said the girls.“We’ll get you something in town.”“Thank you.” She noticed that the mistress seemed to begrudge offering her even a birthday greeting and had started on her breakfast without comment.“How old are you now?”William asked, as if he didn’t know that she was a year younger than Rachel.“Sixteen,” she answered shortly.“You’re all grown up.” He smiled in a satisfied sort of way, which made her skin crawl.His father gave him a hard look which he ignored.William didn’t care how he looked at him; nothing would stop him from sampling the delectable slave girl who was now serving him.Chapter 2July 1694Deborah was surprised to see that only the ladies of the house were at dinner.She and Cassie were instructed to put the dishes on the table so that they could serve themselves and informed that the master had gone to Town on business and was spending the night there.She assumed that William had gone with him and she was relieved that she would have peace tonight from his prying eyes.Returning from the kitchen with a light step, carrying a platter of baked chicken and one of cassava cakes, she set them on the table with the other dishes and turned to go.“Enjoy the meal, mistress,” she offered generously."Thank you Deborah.William is not feeling well this evening.Make one of your teas for headache and take it and his dinner to his room for him," Elizabeth instructed her.Deborah often used plants that she grew or that were bought in Town to treat minor illnesses.She’d never had to treat William for any illness.He was never sick.It was clearly a way to get her alone.Didn’t his mother realize that? Perhaps she knew what he planned and didn’t care; after all William always got what he wanted and he wanted her.He was obviously tired of playing with her and was ready to taste “the dessert”, as he had said at dinner a few weeks ago."I can take it, mistress," offered Cassie.She knew that William had his eyes on Deborah and wanted to protect her.She had experienced what it was to lose her innocence, having been violated by another master when she was just fifteen.“No.He asked specifically for Deborah,” Elizabeth stated and that was that.She didn’t expect any further discussion.“Yes, ma’am,” agreed Cassie casting a sympathetic glance at Deborah.Deborah’s silence and the narrowing of her eyes, spoke loudly of her rebellion at the idea.Returning to the kitchen on leaden feet she asked the sweating cook to prepare a tray for William while she got the leaves to make the tea.She knew that he didn’t really have a headache but she would play along.She looked around for her mother, and was relieved to see that she was not there; she was probably still ironing the clothes that had been washed that day.At least she would be spared the anguish of knowing where she was going.Heart beating like one of the drums that were now forbidden to the slaves, she took the tray and made her way up the stairs to his room which was at the far end of the hall.Balancing it in one hand, she knocked and heard him command her to come in.Her hand shook on the knob as she opened the door.She hated herself for that show of weakness.“Deborah, what took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you.” He certainly didn’t look sick to her as he sat up in his four poster bed with his bare feet crossed at the ankles, wearing a robe.“Bring the tray over here and close the door behind you.” She hesitated a few seconds as she deliberated on whether or not to obey him.Calculating the distance between the bed and the door she knew that if she took the tray she couldn’t get away before he got to her.“I’m waiting,” he added, “and I don’t like to wait.”Her breathing rapidly increased as panic began to overtake her.She knew that unless some miracle happened he would have her and there was nothing she could do to stop him.Moving like molasses she inched toward the bedside table, keeping him in her sight through the corner of her eye and holding the tray in front of her protectively as if it could be any defense against him.She put down the tray and turned quickly towards the door.She was halfway across the room and to freedom when she felt, more than saw, the movement as William sprang from the bed and caught her around her waist, dragging her back against him with her head against his shoulder.She stiffened up like a corpse as she felt his arousal.“You didn’t really think I would let you go, did you?” he taunted softly.He pulled the handkerchief off her head and her long plait cascaded over the front of one shoulder to her bosom.“Undo it!” He commanded.She hesitated and his hand tightened warningly around her waist until she complied with shaking hands.Pushing the soft waves aside, he kissed her neck and slipped his hand into the neckline of her dress.She trembled in fright and could hear her teeth start to chatter.“Beautiful,” he praised.“And mine to do with as I please.”“P…please, William.” She hated herself for begging.“Let me go.”“That’s Master William to you.Let you go?” he scoffed.“Why would I do that when I’ve waited for this for weeks?” He laughed as he carried her over to the bed and dropped her onto it.Some distant part of her mind briefly noticed the softness of the mattress that contrasted with the hard pallet that she slept on.She immediately tried to scramble off the other side but he caught her by one foot and dragged her back.As she struggled to break free he held her with one hand and pulled back the other to strike her.Deborah twisted her head away to protect her face as she braced herself for the blow, but it never came.Instead he tossed her back on the bed and threw himself on top of her, covering her mouth with his hand to silence her as she opened her mouth to scream.She pushed at his shoulders and tried to buck him off but he was much stronger than she was [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]