God, no matter what he does or says now, I have to thank him. He has always been your faithful servant, and I have never thanked him properly. Not enough, oh God, never enough.
"I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you dressed me. I have been ill, and you have visited me. I have been in prison, and you have come to me,“ he quoted. "Do you know this place?
She slid around nervously and saw that he was smiling. "I know you," he said. "You love the feeling of silk on your skin. You enjoy being served.“ His look was full of pleasurable spitefulness. "I watched you jump around with the men who came to you. You played with them and they were crazy about you. But no one could ever reach you.“
„But. Michael.“ She saw the anger flash in his dark eyes. Strangely enough, she was no longer afraid. The mere thought of Michael gave her courage. But she knew it wouldn't last. Not once Duke really got started. He was not like Magowan. He would not lose his temper, and he would not kill her.
The next morning she had come over to him to invite him to dinner. "There's roast venison," she said, "and apple pie from mamma.“ She wore a yellow dress that emphasized the gentle curves of her body. When she noticed his looks, she blushed. "Well?“ she said.
There is one more way out, came the black voice. Tell him the worst thing you've ever done. Tell him about your father. This will turn him away from you and defeat the pain in you.
And she decided to tell him everything. If Michael knew everything, it would be done and over. The truth would drive such a wedge between them that she would be safe from him forever.
Angel looked at Ferguson. He blushed. She rubbed over her arms to ward off the cold. Why didn't they leave? She didn't care who they were, where they came from and what they had done. The one whose name was Percy took her silence as an encouragement to continue talking, and let out about his family – father, mother, two sisters and three younger brothers – whom he had left behind in Pennsylvania. "I wrote to tell you how good it is here. They plan to come over and bring Ferguson's people right away.“
The same as him, I suppose. "And has this Hosea instilled in her decency and virtue? Did she kiss his feet with gratitude because he saved her soul?“
"No. She continued with the fornication.“
He sat down, hands folded between his knees, and stared at the flames for a long time without saying anything. "I think I can feel a lot for you now.“
She looked up in surprise. "What do you mean?“
It took over an hour for him to come back. His hair was wet. Had he bathed in the ice-cold stream? Her conscience stirred. He wandered restlessly back and forth across the room. She kept combing her fingers through her hair, but she saw every movement of him. He opened the chest and closed it again; as he passed her, he dropped a brush into her lap. She took them, looked up at him and began to brush her hair. Her throat felt tight.
She got up in surprise, went to the door and looked after him. He actually left. Now he had disappeared among the trees. Frowning, she closed the door, undressed and got into the tub. The warm water was delightful, but she could not enjoy it. In any case, she had to be done before he came back. He had put a towel over the wicker chair, and she dried herself with it and wrapped it around her head. She quickly got dressed again, then sat down in front of the fire and took off the towel. Her hair was all knotted; she was trying to untangle it.