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Esther Mae lay boiled rags on Elijah’s cut foot when it caught the germ. Come sunup, I will see what medicinal remedies can be garnered from the house without notice. Keep her cool with springwater until then. Go on now, before Twitch’s hounds catch wind of you.”
    Marcus nodded and then vanished into the darkness of the upper field. I gathered my nightdress and tiptoed through the dewy yard toward the house. Sensing eyes upon me, I looked up at my bedroom window. My silk dressings twirled peacefully in the breeze of the half-opened window. I breathed a sigh of relief as I stepped back into the seclusion of the kitchen and slipped quietly through the house. What would happen if Aunt Augusta discovered Marcus and me? I put the thought out of my mind and took solace in the refuge of my room. I lifted the pitcher of my chamber set and filled my basin. Staring into the looking glass as I bathed, I no longer saw a child quaking beneath the iron fist of a heartless caretaker. Nor did I see a woman of grace and confidence. What, exactly, was I? Choosing a calico cotton dress from my wardrobe, I put it on with the hope of leading all to believe that my morning would be spent picking wild raspberries. After tucking and smoothing my dress into perfect disguise, I sat silently on my bed, waiting for daybreak. Sunrise would find me dressed and ready to throw fate to the winds.

Chapter 5
    I n keeping with the daily routine of the house, I listened at my door until I heard Aunt Augusta descend the stairs. She always awoke early and sat at the tremendous oak table that formed the center of the chandeliered dining room overlooking the mist-draped river far below, a view much like the one gracing Aunt Augusta’s bedroom directly above us. I could not imagine a more glorious greeting than the one offered through those windows as the sun painted the eastern sky pink and orange. The colorful display, coupled with the crackling of wood in the stone fireplace in the wall adjacent to the servants’ entrance to the kitchen, made for a warm and alluring room. Even Aunt Augusta mellowed in its ambience as she sipped her tea each morning.
    In order not to appear eager, I stepped nonchalantly from the stairs and turned down the hallway streaked with beams of sunlight. I eased into the room and was startled to see Colt at the far end of the table.
    He simply nodded at me as he forked the last hearty slice of griddle cake from his plate. I sat across from him and wondered what had brought him to Hillcrest so early. He often took care of various necessities for Aunt Augusta. In fact, as he had grown into manhood, she had come to rely on him for a great many things. And although it was not unusual for them to be found talking privately as she asked questions or gave him instructions, he was not inclined to appear before morning chores were completed. A flutter of anxiety had me fearing that perhaps pangs of guilt and disloyalty had brought him to her table at the crow of the rooster. But I wore my concerned face as discreetly as I did my carefully chosen dress.
    “Good morning, Colt. What brings you here with the mourning doves?”
    Colt took his last sip of tea and placed the empty cup on the table. “Augusta is leaving for Cumberland Gap tomorrow.”
    “I have asked Colton to oversee my interests in my absence. I shall be gone no longer than two weeks. I’ll expect you to behave in accordance with our discussion last night.”
    “Of course, Aunt Augusta,” I answered while diverting my eyes from Colt.
    “If you’ll excuse me, ladies,” Colt said as he rose to his feet. “Some prime hogs broke free of a pen last night. Willy Jack took a passel of field slaves out looking for them. I must check on the status of their search.”
    “Why isn’t Twitchell overseeing the slaves?” Aunt Augusta asked impatiently.
    Colt glanced at me as he spoke. “Twitch packed up his hounds and set off on a slave hunt before daybreak.” Seeing my face drain