Respectable Trade Read Free

said. The old women who had the responsibility for recording decisions of the council leaned forward to hear his words. “This is the decision of the council of the Yoruba kingdom and my command. Slave trading with white men of any nation shall cease at once. Kidnap of slaves within our borders is forbidden. There shall be no safe passage for white men or their agents when they are on slaving hunts. Other trade with the nations of white men such as gold, ivory, leather goods, brassware, and spices is allowed.”
    There was a murmur of approval, and the king seated himself again. “Now,” he said with an ironic smile, “we have the policy—all we have to do is to enforce it while black slavers hammer at our western borders and white men’s ships cruise up and down our coastline in the south.”
    Mehuru leaned forward and whispered to the high priest. The man nodded and rose to his feet. “The Obalawa Mehuru has made a suggestion,” he said. “That we of the priesthood should send out envoys to the country and the towns to explain to the people why it is that we are turning away from this profitable trade. Already some cities are making handsome fortunes in this business. We will have to persuade them that it is against their interests. It is not enough simply to make it illegal.”
    The king nodded. “The priests will do this,” he said. “And we will pass the orders down to the local councilors, from our council down to the smallest village.” He shot a little smile at Mehuru. “You can organize it,” he said.
    Mehuru bowed low and hid the look of triumph. He would travel to the far north of the Yoruba kingdom; he would speak in the border towns and convince people that slaving was to be banned. He would serve his country in a most important way, and if his mission was successful, he would make his name and his fortune.
    “I am honored,” he said respectfully.

C HAPTER
2

    Whiteleaze,
nr Bath,
Somerset.
    Thursday 25th September 1787
    Dear Mr. Cole,
    I am Honored and deeply conscious of the Compliment you pay me in your kind letter and your Proposal.
    I was indeed Surprised at the Abrupt termination of our interview before you had explained my Duties or introduced my Pupils; but now I understand.
    It gives me great Pleasure to accept your Offer. I will be your wife.
    My Uncle, Lord Scott, will Write to you under a separate cover. He tells me he will Visit Bristol shortly to give himself the Pleasure of your Acquaintance, and to Determine the Marriage Contract, and date of the ceremony.
    Please convey my Compliments to your Sister Miss Cole.
    Your obdt servant,
Frances Scott.
    Josiah tapped on the door of the parlor and entered. His sister was seated at the table, the company books spread beforeher. A small coal fire was unlit in the grate; the room was damp and chill. Her face was pale. Only the tip of her nose showed any color, reddened by a cold in the head. She was wearing a brown gown with a black jacket and little black mittens. She looked up, pen in hand, as he came in.
    “I have a reply from Miss Scott.”
    “She has assented?”
    “Yes. His lordship himself is coming to Bristol to draw up the marriage contract.”
    “I hope it serves its purpose,” Sarah Cole observed coldly. “It will cost a great deal of money to keep a wife such as her.”
    “She will have a dowry,” Josiah pointed out. “If nothing from her father, then her uncle, Lord Scott, is likely to dower her with something.”
    “She will need a larger house and a carriage and a lady’s maid.”
    Josiah nodded, refusing to argue.
    “Her tastes will be aristocratic,” Sarah said disapprovingly.
    “It is a venture,” Josiah replied with a small smile. “Like our others.”
    “In the trade we know the risks. Miss Scott is a new kind of goods altogether.”
    Josiah’s quick frown warned her that she had gone too far. As his older sister, responsible for him throughout their motherless childhoods, she still retained great