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Eden wanted to focus her attention on the sights of Kingston as they returned to the Jamaican Wind, but Raven made no attempt to provide either information or entertainment. Instead, he kept his thoughts to himself as though he were traveling alone rather than with a lovely young woman who was all too aware of him.
When she could bear no more of his stony silence, Eden moved closer and looped her arm through his. “Raven, there’s a vast difference between a question and an accusation so I wish you’d stop acting like I’ve committed some heinous crime. You and Alex were closer than most fathers and sons and I’m certain that even if he had lived long enough for us to have half a dozen sons he would still have wanted you to inherit his title. That you were his choice was spelled out quite clearly in his will. We needn’t discuss this issue ever again and I’d appreciate your ceasing to condemn me for bringing it up.”
Raven found it difficult to return Eden’s level gaze. He knew he was behaving badly, but it was far easier to cling to a stubborn silence than to speak and embellish the fanciful lie that Alex had begun the first time he had introduced him as his nephew. Despite his passion for the truth, Raven did not even consider admitting it about himself when he knew how disgusted Eden would be to discover she was married to a man Alex had rescued from the Kingston streets. That he could pass as a gentleman was no more than a trick of fate that had given him a handsome appearance, and Alex’s diligent tutoring.
“Alex often complained that I lack proper manners,” Raven reminded her. “But you mustn’t allow my faults to prevent you from speaking your mind. I would rather that we had ten bitter arguments each day than have us get along by skirting every issue of any importance.”
Raven’s features were still set in a sullen frown, but Eden considered his words encouraging even if his expression was not. “We didn’t have a single fight last week at the plantation. In fact, we got along better than I ever thought we could. I want that kind of happiness for us always.”
“So do I,” Raven was quick to agree, for he recalled the previous week as fondly as she did. The possibility of living a lie for the rest of his life made him horribly uncomfortable, but the prospect of losing Eden’s respect, and whatever small chance he had of winning her love, made telling the truth an impossible alternative.
When they arrived at his ship, Raven had work to do, and taking care to stay out of his way, Eden also remained on deck. The day was warm and the activity on the docks was lively enough to hold her interest but her thoughts strayed frequently to her husband. Raven could be so charming at times, and at others so withdrawn she feared he might be hiding some terrible secret. When he suddenly appeared at her side, she was relieved to find him wearing a smile. He was easily the most puzzling individual she had ever met, and yet when he was pleasant, she found him wonderfully appealing.
Her mood now far more relaxed, Eden made what she hoped Raven would find a considerate suggestion. “As soon as we get home, let’s begin making plans for your birthday. It was so easy to entertain my father and his men with your staff’s help, I’d like to plan a nice evening for your friends.”
Surprised that she wished to give a party, Raven rested his forearms on the rail as he explained why it was impractical. “Most of my friends are on board this ship and they don’t expect to be entertained in my home. Alex didn’t really mix with the owners of the neighboring plantations, so I’d not invite any of them. Besides, I think a birthday celebration might be considered highly inappropriate when we should still be in mourning.”
Eden had wanted
to please Raven, to do something especially for him that had nothing to do with Alex, but she understood his concerns. Grateful he had not sounded critical, she revised her idea aloud. “If we must, we’ll have a party all by ourselves then, but I want the day to be a special one for you. A man only turns twenty-seven once.”
“Don’t you think that ought to be enough?” Raven joked easily.
“Yes,” Eden agreed, enormously pleased his mood had turned good.
“You usually rest in the afternoon when we’re at home. I think that’s a habit you ought to continue here.”
Eden shook her head. “I’m not in the least bit tired.”
“Neither am I,” Raven confided as he took her arm. “But let’s go to my cabin anyway.”
Raven was again displaying the quicksilver nature that kept Eden constantly in a quandary in her attempts to understand him, but she hesitated no more than an instant before placing her hand over his in a silent gesture of consent. Earlier that afternoon his anger had unnerved her completely, but the affection he offered now was far too sweet to refuse.
The goods Raven had brought from England were swiftly sold, and although he had kept several bolts of silk and brocade for Eden to have made into new gowns, she surprised him by complaining she had too many clothes already. She kept the fabric at his insistence, but said she would save it until after the baby was born.
“I suppose Yadira is a wonderfully talented seamstress,” Eden remarked with the sarcasm that always crept into her voice when she mentioned the housekeeper.
“No, she considers sewing beneath her. There are several women on the plantation who are very talented, though. I’ll give you that tour I promised the day after we return home. You’ll meet them then. Perhaps you’d like to ask them to make some baby clothes.”
“Not until after the new year.”
Seemingly preoccupied, Eden turned away, leaving Raven to wonder if she might not also be worried about her babe’s health. If she had not realized the child she was carrying might share Alex’s heart defect, it would be cruel to point it out and frighten her. Then again, if she was agonizing over such a terrible possibility, it seemed equally cruel to allow her to do so alone. Unable to decide what was the wisest course, he stepped up behind her and kissed her nape tenderly. When she relaxed against him, he kept his fears for Alex’s babe to himself. It was merely one more secret of the many he dared not share.
After a week-long stay in Kingston, the Jamaican Wind carried Eden and Raven back to the plantation on the Rio Bueno, along with one hundred barrels of coal Raven had decided might prove useful should the Southern Knight again need their help. As soon as the coal was unloaded, Randy MacDermott took the helm, and the ship returned to Kingston, where it would remain for the winter. As promised, the next day Raven had Arabella, their cook, pack a picnic lunch, and once Eden was comfortably seated in the buggy, they began the long delayed tour.
The first of the sugar cane fields was not far from the house, and with Raven providing a running commentary, they proceeded along the road to the mill, where the cane was ground to extract the juice. Next they visited one of the boiling houses, where the juice was boiled with lime to reduce it to a thick syrup. Raven showed Eden how the brown sugar was crystallized out, leaving molasses.
“We ferment most of the molasses and distill it to make rum. It’s a highly profitable business, but it takes a great deal of labor.”
After leaving the curing house, where the hogshead barrels of rum were stored, they returned to the buggy. Raven clucked to the horses and the matched pair of bays got them under way again. While he had shown Eden how sugar cane was processed, there was something far more important he wanted her to understand.
“When the slaves were freed, they were forced to put in a three-year apprenticeship and had to work for their former owners for pay. After that, most fled the plantations, but William, Alex’s father, had always treated his slaves well and made a bargain with them. He divided the plantation to give each some land of his own to farm in exchange for a promise that they would spend part of their time working for him, but he paid them honest wages for that work. He set up a school so that all the children, plus anyone else who wanted to learn, could get an education. Most of his neighbors thought him a fool, or just plain despised him for supporting emancipation, but he was able to keep the plantation running without resorting to using indentured laborers.”
Raven paused for a moment, choosing his words with care. “The Africans had lost everything when they were brought here, their language, customs, and family ties as well. William felt responsible for their welfare and didn’t want them to lose everything again. He thought by keeping them here, he could make certain they had better lives than the poor souls who ran off to live in the hills. He helped them build houses, and provided medical care. None of his people disappointed him either. While most of the freed slaves had nothing but their freedom, the people here had that and their dignity as well.”
“Raven, please,” Eden interrupted. “I told you my family has never owned slaves. You needn’t feel you must justify William’s actions to me.”
“That’s not what I’m trying to do,” Raven countered impatiently. “I think William was right. Slavery was wrong, but to turn slaves free with no education, no place to go, and no means to support themselves was even more evil. He repaid his people several times over for the free labor they had given him as slaves. I never knew him, but Alex used to speak of him often and always with deep affection and admiration.”
