his death, Harlan Louden read the atmosphere of the island and the people. He saw how slavery was in a moribund state, and its death throes would cost many lives. On the day he made his decision, he called all the slaves together; mind you, that was two thousand men and women. Standing before them, he spoke out, offering them freedom. He told them they could leave the plantation and claim land for themselves, or they could stay and work for him. He would pay them a fair wage for a fair job.”
Elyse stared at Charles, almost able to hear her father’s voice issuing from his lips.
“More than half stayed. The rest left, but they all returned to work during harvesting season. And,” Charles said with a smile, “it seems that even with paying wages to the former slaves, we were making more profits, for they worked harder than before. When the slaves revolted, our people surrounded the plantation, stopping any slave who came for destruction. Devonairre survived and prospered because of your father’s foresight.”
Moved by Charles’s story, Elyse stayed silent for several minutes. “Thank you for sharing your memories with me,” she finally whispered to him.
“Your father was a great man, Elyse. What he did, he did for himself, for you, and for all the people for whom he was responsible.”
“I know,” she whispered.
It was true , Elyse thought as she stared out toward the mountains, still illuminated by the low glow of the moon. A sweeping, sharp breeze tugged at her and she shivered.
“Will I be as strong and fair as my father?” she asked the night air. She didn’t know the answer; she could only pray she would have the strength.
What she did know is, with Charles Denham’s help, she would make it. Charles had worked for her father for many years before she was born. He had been loyal to Harlan Louden during life and after his death.
It was an amazing story, Charles Denham and her father; it had been the basis for a scandal both here and in England. She remembered the way Aunt Elizabeth had ranted on at every chance she had, upon her father’s death, about allowing a convict to administer her brother’s estate in Jamaica. However, as hard as Elizabeth Sorrel had tried to break the will, it remained firmly in place.
“Thank the Lord,” Elyse whispered aloud. Charles had been more than her father’s employee; he had been a friend. Elyse felt with the certainty of her father’s trust that Charles Denham had run Devonairre just as Harlan would have, had he not died.
“I am safe here,” Elyse told herself, taking in a long, deep, sigh-like breath. She felt tiredness reaching out to her again, but this time it was a gentle feeling. As she was about to turn from the balcony, she caught a glimpse of a figure walking through the garden.
Her breath caught when she recognized the tall silhouette of Brace Denham. She watched, unseen by him, as his long, graceful steps carried him across the courtyard to the east wing, where he lived in one of the bachelor apartments. Just as he reached the entrance, she saw him pause. His shoulders straightened. He turned slowly.
Before she could step back, his face turned upwards and his eyes swept across her face. She stood, frozen in time, until she forced her legs to move her back from the balcony. Closing the glass doors, she returned to the security of her bedroom.
Chapter Seven
Elyse’s first week back in Jamaica sped by at an alarming rate. Upon waking on her first morning, she’d looked out the window at the new day, breathing deeply of the sweet air of her home. She’d made up her mind to put the past behind her, burying her shame, promising herself never to speak of those terrible years to anyone.
Each morning thereafter, she rose with the sun to gaze at the blue ocean. Birds flew everywhere, their cries heralding the day; the trees swayed in the same ocean breeze that carried to her scents of the tropical mornings.
After watching the day turn