---

Havenwood                                      

Chapter One 

Marlene jumped startled, her heart fluttering rapidly.   She quickly grasped the slender balcony railing and stared down at the tall man who had suddenly appeared from under the gnarled branches of the stately oak below.
    "Ooh!" she cried, her large green eyes luminous in the moonlight. "You frightened me!"
     "Excuse me Miss, I am terribly sorry.  I wasn't expecting anyone to be out this late at night," came the soothing baritone reply, "and," he continued as he lit his cheroot, "I thought you were a mirage in the moonlight."
   As the wift of smoke pleasantly assailed her nostirls, Marlene's voice floated down in a tinkling southern lilt, "Your flattery is most gallant sir, but I fear I must withdraw. After all," she paused, looking at him mischievously, " a proper lady doesn't find herself alone after dark with a stranger." Gathering her billowing skirts, she turned to go.

    "Wait!" he called up after her. "Won't you tell me your name?"
    "Marlene, " she replied softly, then quickly disappeared behind the double balcony doors.  Having successfully, retreated into the safe arms of Havenwood mansion, Marlene could not help but peep through the heavy velvet curtains to see if the handsome stranger was still outside.  She turned guiltily when her mammy's big voice boomed out behind her. 
      "Um, um, um! Missy Marlene, you come away from that window now. You hear girl?  Master say you don't be making those big eyes at the gentlemen or he gonna send you to that there ladies' school again."
     Marlene grimaced at her mammy's admonishments, but immediately regained her impish grin. "Oh, now, Mattie, you wouldn't do that to me, you wouldn't help my papa send me away again, besides, Mattie, that man out there is ever so handsome."
     Mattie was not mollified.  "Um, um, um, girl! I knows who that there man is and he's got a bad reputation, yes he does, and I ain't a gonna help you meet him, no, I ain't.  So you just get that idea right out of your spoiled little head. You hear me now, girl?"  Mattie stopped for a breath, her bosom heaving as she ranted on. "Now, let me tell you we slaves know everything that we needs to know on this here plantation and many other plantations, too, " she added pridefully. "But I ain't a gonna help you with that man.  He means trouble. Now you go and see your daddy now. He wants to see you in the study.
     "Okay, Mattie, "Marlene said agreeably and hugged Mattie affectionately before she flounced out of the room and down the hall.  Passing the picture gallery, she paused a moment to look at the portrait of her parents, and wondered as she had many times before, if her father would ever smile or stand as straight as he did in that magnificent almost life size picture.  Wistfully, she studied her mother seated lovingly near him.  She clasped her fingers together and fervently prayed, "Oh, mother, I miss you, and Papa misses you, too.  Please come home." But the smiling face stayed smiling, leaving Marlene feeling empty and alone.  As always, she remembered  the last time she had seen her mother. It was a year ago on July 7, 1856, when her mama had kissed her goodbye.
 
 

Warning this book has some R rated content.
 

To Order this book click here Havenwood
 
 
 

Teresa King is the mother of 3 sons, and a writer in Washington State. The characters in this book are purely fictional. The Historical Characters used in Havenwood are referred to  keep the books and the character of the times. Not, fact. 

Email - Teresa King

  
For more ebooks -- Click Here