Saraphine

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Saraphine stood frozen in place. She stared at the damage Thomas had done. Shattered shards of Ellen's beloved possessions littered the polished wood floor.

The ink well on the desk had been tipped over and the black substance was soaking into several of Ellen's nicest dresses.

"What the hell happened?" Daniel was suddenly beside her as Saraphine attempted to move the dresses and save them from further damage.

"I walked in and Thomas was destroying everything," Saraphine sobbed—fear bubbling out of her like water from a spring. "He's telling Missus it was me... she'll never believe me when I say it wasn't"

Daniel shoved his hand through his shaggy hair and glanced around the room. "That son of a cow sucking mule..."

"My things!" Ellen's shrill exclamation reverberated through the study. "You've destroyed my things!"

Saraphine opened her mouth to speak but before a single word could escape, Ellen shrieked, leapt forward and tackled Saraphine to the ground. Saraphine cried out with shock and pain as Ellen clawed at her and ripped at her hair.

"Get off of her!" Daniel roared.

Saraphine didn't dare fight back. She would be in enough trouble without adding to it. Saraphine had no choice but to curl up and take the abuse. Just as Saraphine became convinced that Ellen might kill her, the other girl was ripped away.

Saraphine opened her eyes to see Missus holding a seething Ellen tight against her. "Ellen Marie Levenworth! You are to never lower yourself so such a lever that you are brawling with slaves!"

"But mama!" Ellen implored. "Look what she did!"

Missus' gaze traveled slowly across the room while Thomas grinned a proud black-toothed grin. "Saraphine?" Missus snapped. "What is the meaning of this?"

Saraphine was trembling as she lay on the floor with blood on her lip. "It wasn't me, Missus. Please believe me. I left to fetch the men and when I came back...."

"She's lying mama!" Thomas interrupted. "That negro slave is lying. I caught her red-handed destroying Ellen's things. She was even laughing while she did it."

"Why you little..." Daniel started forward but stopped when Mr. Levenworth entered the room.

"Who destroyed my property?" the man demanded.

"It was me," Daniel lied before anyone else could speak. "Just like it was me that stained that little brat's teeth."

"No, it wasn't...." Daniel cut Saraphine off with a sharp glance. She slowly got to her feet as Daniel walked to stand before his uncle. He squared his shoulders. "I did it because the damn brat girl has too much and needs to learn about having less."

A muscle ticked in Mr. Levenworth's jaw as he looked his nephew in the eye. Thomas seemed surprised but was keeping his mouth closed. Saraphine knew he would be just as happy to see Daniel in trouble as he had been to see her in trouble.

"If you made this mess, why did Saraphine seem ready to blame Thomas and why did Thomas say it was her?" Missus inquired.

Daniel shrugged. "I threatened Saraphine and told her to blame someone else. Thomas blamed Saraphine cuz the little mouse is scared of me."