Respectable Trade Read online

  They became a new kind of family, an invention all of their own: an African family that mostly spoke English, a black family clothed in cotton and heavy serge, a community with two men but headed unquestionably by the women. And—less comfortably—a family that snatched at a little space and a little time and could be torn apart and sold away from each other at any moment.

  They never forgot that they were slaves and that their happiness and security depended completely on the slender thread of their owner’s whim. In the evening, when they sat around the kitchen table, the boys and girls painstakingly reading or the girls sewing while the boys played jacks, the adults would talk softly about what they could do to secure their freedom, how they could gain their liberty and stay together.

  Dr. Hadley came and said that Frances was suffering from an inflammation of the lungs brought on by the chill. He prescribed rest and warmth. Mehuru waited outside the house and held the horse to create an opportunity to speak to him.

  “She’s not desperately ill,” Hadley said cheerfully. “But she’s not strong. She’s one of these delicate, highly strung women. She cannot bear much anxiety and anger, and there are weak hearts in her family. Her mother died when her heart failed, and Mrs. Cole has that pale, dark-eyed look. She needs a calm life. She should be living in the country. She has delicate lungs, and the air here is poison.”

  “Would she be well in the country?” Mehuru asked. He had a sudden vision of Frances seated at her leisure on the terrace of a little farmhouse in the hot, reliable sunshine of his home. He imagined a parasol of silk shading her from the sun and her skin flushed with heat and health.

  “She’d be better,” Hadley said. “Will we see you on Tuesday night? We are hoping for news of the abolition debate. Wilberforce will speak on Monday night to the house. Caesar has promised to send us a messenger.”

  “I would not miss it for anything,” Mehuru declared. He glanced at the windows of the house. “But I had better go now.”

  Hadley pressed a coin into his hand. Mehuru instantly recoiled. “I don’t want this!”

  “For holding my horse,” Hadley said patiently. “I would give it to anyone who held my horse for me.”

  Pride and necessity fought across Mehuru’s face. “Very well,” he agreed unwillingly. “I thank you.”

  Stuart gave him a quick, boyish grin. “Well, I thank you for taking it. I thought you were about to throw it back at me.”

  Mehuru smiled reluctantly. “I am not used to being in service,” he said. “I do not wish to become used to it either.”

  “Have you had a chance to read those pamphlets?” Dr. Hadley asked, climbing into the driving seat.

  Mehuru released the horse and stood back. “I have read them. And I am reading them aloud to my friends. We talk in the kitchen at night.”

  “Excellent,” Hadley said. “The more who understand, the better! These are times of great change, and you and I can play our part.”

  Mehuru nodded. “I am a radical,” he observed, experimenting with a new word.

  Stuart shot a nervous look up and down the street. “Well, for pity’s sake keep it to yourself,” he warned. “Or you will be a dead radical and I will be blacklisted among the Bristol merchants.”

  Mehuru grinned. “Being black is not such a bad thing.”

  “And when you start punning in English, you have learned too much,” Stuart said. He waved his whip. “Good day!”

  Scott House.

  9th May 1789

  Dear Niece,

  I Enclose the lease for Sir Charles’s Signature. It is a handsome Property, and I have sold it to him at a Fair price. You will note that I have Not sold him the Mineral rights to the land. He did not Ask for these, and I would rather they Remained in my Keeping. You will Oblige Me if you do not draw his attention to this slight Omission.

  In reply to Josiah’s question about the Agitation for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, I am assured that Wilberforce has only Pitt’s support and Few others’. But Outside the House there is a Rising mood of Radicalism in the Country which can only Dismay all men of True patriotism.

  As I Understand it—and this News is for you and Josiah Alone—the plan is to Affect to go along with Wilberforce and to Adjourn the debate, Forever. I am assured that No Slave Trader need fear for his Income during the life of this Parliament. Liverpool, Bristol, and the London merchants are Pouring money into the pockets of their Placemen to Stall the Debate, and there can be No Doubt that the Abolitionists are A Small minority in the Commons. In the House of Lords of course, There are None, and Never Will be. Every Lord and most gentlemen have Some part of their Fortune invested in slavery, be it Sugar, Rum, Cotton, or Tobacco—or Even Shipping, Canals, and House Building—all of Which Depend on general Prosperity.

  There is a Powerful Unity among the Workingmen and the Free Negroes in London. They see their Cause as One and the Same. Our Interest, as Employers of the One and Owners of the Other, must be to Separate them. If we can Persuade white Workingmen that Negroes are an Inferior Animal, then we will Sever this Inconvenient unity. For the meantime—do not Fear. Negroes and Workingmen will always have one thing in common: They Lack All power. They have neither Money nor the Ear of the country nor a Vote to change their Masters. We are Secure.

  I have a very Pretty investment in Mind at the moment, and if your Holdings for Sir Charles could Advance one thousand pounds, I could buy him a share. Let me know by Return of post. It is a proposed Colliery in Kent.

  Family news is that Lady Scott is expecting Another child, and she is Confident that this time she will bear me an Heir. You can imagine how Dearly I hope that she is right. She will Remain in her Lodgings at the Sea until Autumn, and then I shall Expect her to stay Quietly at Whiteleaze until my Son is born.

  As to your question about your Acquaintance who finds herself attracted to A Nobleman. I will speak frankly to You, my dear. I do not like these mixed marriages between the Ranks of Society. A Lady cannot be Satisfied with a man who is in every way, except Financial, her Inferior. She is bound to meet a man of her own Rank whose company she Prefers. However, she has Married into a class which does not tolerate Freedom in these matters, and an Indiscretion would be fatal. A Lady has to put Aside her own Inclinations and remain Faithful to her husband. Any other Choice is Disaster for her and for her Family. Her Dishonor Shames all—Family and friends. I heartily Pity the woman who finds herself in this Plight, but there is no way Open to her. She has made her Choice, and she has to endure it. Please make this Clear to Your Friend. She has No Choice. She must Forget the gentleman she loves and follow her Duty and her Marriage Vows. She has No other Choice.

  I am Very, Very sorry my dear.

  I look forward to receiving your Speedy Reply about the Business matters. I remain your Loving uncle,

  Scott.

  Frances slipped the letter into the drawer of the little writing table that was balanced on the covers of her bed. She felt too exhausted to reply at once, and his advice confirmed what she already knew. She had allowed herself to dream, for a moment only, that he might have written telling her that if a person is lucky enough to find a love that transforms the world around her, then nothing should stand in her way. She smiled wearily. Her uncle was hardly likely to advise her to defy the conventions, and her own life had taught her nothing but caution and fear.

  ALL DAY TUESDAY, MEHURU haunted Josiah’s study, hoping for news of the abolition debate. Josiah also was restless. For half of the morning, he waited for news from London, and then he could bear it no longer and went out to prowl around the quayside.

  All along the quays, there were knots of men discussing the situation. All sorts of rumors were starting: Wilberforce had been shouted down and left the House of Commons in tears. No! Not at all! Wilberforce had been acclaimed and had wept with joy. The trade was to be banned outright, as of tomorrow. Josiah and the other men, buoyed up by hope and then flung into despair, spent an uneasy and unhappy day.

&nbs