For Her Love by Paula Reed Read Free Book Online Page A

nesting in her house. She didn’t trust Matu any farther than she could spit her. If Edmund had had the slightest bit of good sense, he would have cut out her heart, not her tongue.
    Iolanthe exhaled slowly, closing her eyes and forcing her body to relax against the frame of the window. Someday. Someday Edmund would die. She was only forty-two, thirteen years younger than he. And women often lived longer, so long as they weren’t propagating like rabbits. It was God’s one kindness to her that she had not conceived in those first few years. Of course, she had done nothing to hide her disgust whenever Edmund had come sniffing to her bedchamber, so he had slowly come less and less often. Iolanthe would never have tolerated Grace at all but that having a daughter had finally ended his conjugal visits entirely. He left his wife alone now and rutted with slaves exclusively.
    She snorted in derision. The vile little pretender could marry or not, as she liked. If she married and produced offspring, Iolanthe would reveal the secret the very moment Edmund finally had the decency to die. Grace would be cast off by her husband, the children sold, and Welbourne would be Iolanthe’s. It would be hers to sell, and then she would sail across the ocean and never look back. Who needed God? If a woman wanted a scrap of contentment in this world, she had to make it for herself.
    She whirled abruptly. It was so bloody hot! She stripped off her heavy gown, shoes and stockings. In nothing but her fine lawn shift she stretched across the soft, comfortable bed. All of these regrets and dreams did her no good right now. Right now, she needed a balm for her rattled nerves. Staring up at the deep blue silk bed hangings, she conjured up the face of the writhing field hand, recalling his screams much as one might recall a passionate opera, a satisfied smile curving her lips. There was something so…so… stirring about it.
    That was why she could forgive Jacques. He rutted with slaves, too, but that was only because he couldn’t get what he wanted from white girls, and she understood. She knew the need to make others suffer, the need to be the one in complete control. She rather imagined that rape was, to him, like that moment of satisfaction that came when the ultimate lash was struck. When all defiance, all pleading, all hope vanished from a slave’s eyes and he was hers. It was as addictive as opium, as sweet as…
    She popped another almond in her mouth and savored the crystals that coated it.

Three
     
    Sitting across from Geoff at the double-kneehole desk in their Port Royal office, Giles couldn’t help but note that his friend’s eyes danced with mischief. He had just informed the Hamptons that he would be visiting Welbourne plantation for a couple of days, once Reliance’s hold was emptied and its contents sold. Now Faith’s face was the reflection of pure joy and Geoff was grinning slyly.
    “Now, do not look at me so,” Giles protested. “I’m only going to give the man the monies I collected for his goods.”
    “That’s only a day’s work,” Geoff replied.
    “Aye. ‘Tis interesting that you would choose to spend so much time with this one customer,” Faith joined in, leaning on her husband’s shoulder.
    “A customer with a fair daughter,” Geoff added.
    Faith made a face of mock chagrin. “Oh, Geoff, surely you are not accusing Giles of being more interested in the woman than the business relationship with her father.”
    “I? Never say it. I only mention the girl as an unimportant side note. Just as Giles did.”
    “I did but mention her,” Giles defended.
    “Aye,” Geoff said to Faith. “He did but mention her golden curls and green eyes.”
    “ Extraordinary green eyes,” she amended.
    “Deeply mysterious eyes,” Geoff agreed.
    “And her enigmatic smile. He did but mention that, as well.” Faith could barely suppress a giggle.
    “All right!” Giles shouted. “Mayhap I have blathered a bit.” He said