The Color Of The Soul (The Penbrook Diaries) Read Online Free PDF Page B

enraged him and I feared for a moment he might
strike me. Thankfully, he did not.
    He
has decided that we should tell folks she is an orphan child we’ve taken in. I
despise the deception, but if I do not comply, Henry will insist she serve us
as a slave.
    The
past few months have caused a wedge between us. I only pray our move north will
remind him of the lessons he learned about human equality before we were wed.
That he is willing to make the move is a beginning.
    Praise be to God.

 
 
    Missouri,
ten years later

 
    “I’ve completed my lessons, Miss Maddy.”
    Madeline glanced up from her needlework
and smiled at fourteen-year-old Cat. “Already?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    The child worked so hard to please. She
far surpassed Camilla in lessons such as reading and writing. And, as even
Henry had to agree, Cat had a head for numbers.
    “You’ve done very well, my dear. Come
with me. I have a gift for you.” Madeline set aside her sewing and stood.
    Camilla looked up from her place at the
table, where she had been doing her best to ignore her lessons. “Have you a
gift for me, too, Mother?”
    Madeline hated to reward her daughter’s
laziness, but she found it difficult to refuse the lovely blue eyes staring at
her, wide with pleading.
    “Of course I have,” she replied with an
indulgent smile. “You may come along as well.”
    The girls followed her to her bedroom,
where Madeline removed a package for each from the bureau drawer.
    Camilla squealed. “Oh, Mother, how
lovely! A satchel--exactly like yours.”
    “Yes.” Madeline smiled at the girl’s
enthusiasm. “And tablets so that you can keep account of your thoughts.”
    Camilla flung herself into Madeline’s
arms and rewarded her with an array of kisses. “Thank you, Mama. Thank you,
thank you, thank you.”
    Madeline laughed. “I trust you find the gift pleasing as
well, Cat?”
    Cat’s eyes widened, then pooled as she
cradled the tablets to her chest. Swallowing hard, she nodded.
    Madeline gently set Camilla aside and reached
for Cat. “May I have a hug from you as well?”
    Camilla huffed and stomped on the
hardwood floor.
    Cat darted a gaze at her and then back to
Madeline. “Must I?”
    Taken aback, Madeline frowned. “Why, no.
But may I ask what has brought about this sudden aversion? You’ve been hugging
me all these years. Are you suddenly too grown up?” She kept her tone
deliberately light to disguise her hurt.
    “No,” Cat replied hesitantly, but still
did not come forward. “It isn’t proper behavior.”
    “Why, Cat.” Madeline could not disguise
her utter shock. “What an absurd thing for you to suggest.”
    “Oh, Mother, you know it’s true. My
goodness, have you ever seen one of Gram’s slaves up and give her a hug?”
Camilla jutted her chin and gave a sniff. “I shudder to think what would
happen.”
    Madeline’s heart wrenched as Cat’s cheeks
reddened and she lowered her gaze to the tips of her shoes. “Camilla Penbrook,
I don’t know where you get such ideas. While it is true that your grandparents
indulge in the institution of slavery, we do not. Cat is every bit as free as
you are in this household and as dear to me as if she were my own child. I
insist you apologize to her.”
    Camilla’s eyes sparked defiance and, for
a moment, Madeline thought she might refuse. Thankfully, she obeyed. Though not
without a heavy sigh. “Sorry.”
    “Now, go finish your lessons.”
    Madeline turned back to Cat as Camilla
flounced off to do as she had been instructed. “What about that hug?”
    A smile instantly covered the lovely,
angelic face and she rushed into Madeline’s arms. “Thank you, Miss Maddy,” she
whispered.
    Madeline pressed a kiss to the top of her
chestnut curls. “You’re welcome, my dear. I hope you will find that writing
down your thoughts helps you sort through life’s setbacks and joys, just as I
have discovered for myself.”
    They returned to the front room, Madeline
to her sewing and