Chapter 4
Henry smiled at Angelina as she lifted her body over his to take his mouth. "Mmmmm, I should pay you for that one." She kissed him one more time before rolling out of bed to grab her robe.
Henry laughed and gathered his own clothing, he didn't normally pay for blood or for passion, but this was one place he knew he would be visiting again. "I may have to stop and see you again, if that is acceptable?" Henry asked.
"Of course, I am here every night at the piano. Now I have to hurry up and get back downstairs, I am sure that someone is missing the music by now." Angelina took him by the hand and led him toward the door. "But you be sure to come on back, honey; any time you want."
With that the door closed behind him and Henry went to the stable to retrieve his horse. He rode back to Monmouth House slowly, relishing the taste of her sweet blood that lingered in his mouth.
He was greeted at the stable by Cuffey, who was quite excited to see the beautiful Arabian. Cuffey took the reins to lead the horse to the stable and Henry went inside. He found Thomas and Celeste waiting for his return.
Celeste spoke first, "Is there anything you need, sir?"
"Not at this time, I will be turning in for the day. Tomorrow, Thomas, you will be meeting first thing with the stable manager, Mr. Welton and his evening manager, Robert. You will also be meeting with Mr. Kitman's tailor in the morning." Thomas nodded and Henry continued. "I will leave an envelope on the table with complete instructions for Mr. Welton and for the tailor. I have decided to purchase a carriage and a team of horses. If I decide to leave I will need a way to bring you along and traveling by carriage is more comfortable. The instructions for the carriage are in the envelope, along with enough money to pay for the carriage and the tailor. Mr. Welton will know that neither of you are to purchase the horses in my name. I want to be sure that I am getting the best. Have any horses that you consider acceptable held in the stable for me to examine. I trust you, but I don't know this Welton."
"Celeste, I have given Mr. Kitman strict instructions that you are not to leave the rooms unescorted and that Thomas should be available to escort you at your whim. You are allowed to go walking anywhere on the grounds with Thomas, but never by yourself." Henry stared her deep in the eyes and they began to darken. "Do you understand me, Celeste, you are never to leave the room without Thomas at your side, and this is for your protection."
Celeste wasn't sure what she saw, but she was suddenly struck with the notion that Master Henry was very protective and wanted Thomas with her anytime she left. She was pleased with that, "Yes, sir. I will send for Thomas." She said with barely a conscious effort on her part.
"Then I have no need of you this evening, I am going to turn in and I suggest that you do the same. Tomorrow will be a busy day for you." Henry turned on his heel and strode to his private room and firmly shut and bolted the door.
"I don't know, Celeste? I am not sure about our situation?" Thomas led her to their private room. "He seems kind enough, but I wonder what he is up to?"
"You are suspicious of everyone and everything. Nothing anyone does is good enough for you. Master Henry seems like a kind gentleman with enough money that we can live in some comfort for a change. He promised that if we did our jobs and kept quiet that he would keep us safe."
"He promised he would keep you safe, Celeste. That is the only reason I struck a bargain with the man. There is something about him that I don't trust and I am not sure why." Thomas ran his hand over his forehead and through his short, black hair. "We have been sworn to silence, but silence about what? I'm not sure I like the way he looks at you and I don't want you hurt again."
"He has done nothing but kiss my hand, and you were there to see it. It was the mark of a gentleman.
"I guess you're right. I just don't want you to suffer again. You trust too easily, you always have." Thomas turned her to him and gave her a gentle hug.
"Well, I was raised to trust and you were raised to fear." Celeste shook her head. "It never occurred to me that one day my father would die and it would send both of us into those horrible places. I just have to believe this isn't going to be another nightmare. For now, we are together and that is all that matters."
Thomas settled himself on the small bed after Celeste had climbed in to the wall side. He helped her to tuck the covers around herself and then he snuggled his back up against her. Celeste pressed herself to him and she sighed, "This is nice, to feel safe again like this." Her words fell on deaf ears and she laughed to herself, Thomas had already begun to snore.
Morning came early, too early, and Celeste pressed her hands against Thomas' back to wake him up. They washed and dressed and once in the parlor rang the bell for the upstairs housemaid. Breakfast arrived with the tailor, who was carrying yards of cloth and a large trunk of ready-made items.
"It is my understanding that Mr. Fitzroy is need of a tailor this morning." The man was fidgety, edgy and refused to make eye contact with either of them. Celeste walked to the table and handed him the envelope.
"Master Henry asked us to give you this. He said that you would follow the instructions written inside."
The tailor opened the envelope and hurriedly read the note, he huffed and snorted and read the note again. "According to this, I am to provide you with outfits of clothing. Thomas," He looked the big man up and down with distain, "You will need to have two suits for acting as a footman, two suits of everyday clothing and coveralls for working in the stable and two pairs of boots." The tailors shoulders and chest puffed out and he danced about like a sparrow in a puddle. "And for the woman, I am to provide you with a full trousseau including a fine riding costume and hat with a dark veil?" The tailor pulled the money out of the envelope and suddenly his huffing and disbelief came to an end. He opened his trunk and pulled out his tape measurer and paper.
After his fitting, Thomas hurried out to the stables to meet with Mr. Welton and Robert about his Master's horse. He inhaled deeply the smell of fresh hay and horses and the well-made leather saddles. The stable was large, far larger than he was used to and the attached carriage house had room for several wagons and carriages.
"Mr. Welton, sir?" Thomas called out softly in the half-lit stable and he saw a tall, lean man step out of the last stable. Thomas moved towards him.
"You must be Thomas, Mr. Fitzroy's groom." Mr. Welton offered his hand and Thomas took it. "This is Robert, the night manager." Thomas shook Robert's hand with more confidence, he was not used to shaking hands with a white man, but it felt good to know that Mr. Kitman's manager seemed kind.
"Mr. Fitzroy asked that I come speak with you about purchasing a carriage and a team to pull it."
"Yes, we have arranged for a carriage to be delivered, if it suits Mr. Fitzroy's needs we will be happy to make space in the carriage house. I also have a horse broker in town that has several fine horses for sale."
"Thank you, Mr. Welton." Thomas nodded. "Now if you will just show me Asima's stall and tack I will get to work."
Thomas spent the morning cleaning and polishing his Master's saddle and the rest of his tack. It gleamed in the hazy light of the stable. Asima was brushed from head to tail and her hooves were cleaned and polished. He cleaned away all of the dirty hay and replaced it with fresh. She was truly a beautiful animal and the work was no chore to Thomas. He stood up from the rake and setting it aside he stretched out his back muscles.
"Thomas, the carriage is here." Mr. Welton called out and the two of them went out into the bright sunlight to inspect it.
It was a brand new carriage and just about the finest that Thomas had ever seen. The seat for the driver sat high above the tongue and was not just a hard wood seat, but it had a thick cushion on both the seat that the back. The carriage was all black with fine gold paint lines around the windows and doors. Thomas walked around the carriage and admired the craftsmanship that it took to build it. The inside was spacious and the seats were covered in rich black velvet.
"The carriage will do nicely, I believe that Mr. Fitzroy will approve." Thomas said to Mr. Welton. "I have rarely seen a finer one."
"I would agree with you Thomas, the horses are also for sale, they are a perfect set of 3 year old Percheron's broken to drive and so gentle that a lady can handle them.
Thomas approached the horses with some caution. They were velvety black, tall and broad, at least 17 hands high. "I would like to see how they drive." Thomas said to the driver and he lifted himself up to the high seat. Thomas set out at a walk and slowly increased their speed as they moved down the long drive. The horses were like liquid mercury as their muscles rippled under the harnesses and the sunlight caused their hair to glisten. The returned to the stables and Thomas looked them inspected them from teeth to hooves to tail. "I believe that Mr. Fitzroy will find these horses acceptable. However, I won't be able to give you an answer until he is available."
The horses were pastured for the evening and given fresh water and clean hay. The only thing for Thomas to do now was to wait until Mister Henry was up and about. Thomas slipped out of his stable coveralls and boots, cleaned up at the pump and went inside to take Celeste for an afternoon walk.
Thomas stepped inside their rooms and stopped in awe at the vision before him. Celeste was wearing a green silk dress with yellow trim. The bodice fit absolutely perfect against her small frame with a double row of buttons to the fichu lace at her collar. "You look beautiful, Celeste, just like I remember you as a child."
"The tailor Mr. Kitman sent was quite surprised, I think he assumes that Mr. Henry likes his slaves for more than housekeeping." Celeste blushed. She felt absolutely beautiful for the first time in a very long time. "Have you come to take me walking, sir."
Thomas offered his arm, "If you will permit me, ma'am. It would be my honor."
