Carolina Queen pt. 2 

		While George was getting used to his slaves, he was also
meeting his neighbors.  Every Sunday, George went to church. 
Sunday was a day of rest on the plantation, even for the slaves.
George was not especially pious, but given the uncertainties of
life, he thought it was best to hedge his bets. 
	All the other plantation owners knew John Ashcroft, and most of
them liked him.  When George came to the church, the sympathized
with him and paid their respects, as gentlemen should.   Even
though the men came to the church, the women stayed home.  Church
was as much for socializing, politics, and gossip as it was for
worship.  The tavern was across the green from the church, so the
men went there after saying their prayers. 
	One prominent planter introduced himself as Tom DeLay.  He
seemed especially moved by John's death.  
	"I hoped we could have met under better circumstances, Ashcroft.
  My daughter was engaged to be your sister-in-law."
	"I am shocked to hear that.  My brother was already married."  
George said, with genuine surprise.
	"We had heard that his wife, Martha, died last year."
	"That is impossible.   I saw her just before I left London."
	When he heard that, DeLay began fuming,  "That bastard Ashcroft
deceived my daughter.  She is ruined.  I demand satisfaction." 
With that DeLay slapped George with his glove, as if to challenge
him to a duel.
	George realized that DeLay had been drinking.   He picked up the
glove and returned it.  He said, "I'm sorry about your daughter,
but I can't help you.  I am not going to risk my safety over a
promise I didn't make or a matter I know nothing about."  
	"Your family honor is at stake, Ashcroft," one of the other
planters said.
	"My family honor is not at stake at all.  I am here on my
sister-in-law's behalf.  John's will left Ashcroft Hill to her
and her son.  I am here to decide what to do with it."
	"You'd better be telling us the truth, Ashcroft," another
planter said. 
	"You will find out the truth when I probate the will."  George
replied.
	But before he left, DeLay asked Ashcroft, "Are you married in
England, sir?"
	"No, I am not, in England or anywhere."  Ashcroft replied.
	When they went to probate court, every one realized that George
was telling the truth and that John had a wife in England.  This
especially bothered DeLay, and his daughter Katherine.
DeLay believed that women had only one role in the universe,
having babies.  However, Katherine was taught by her mother to
think other wise.  DeLay had congratulated himself for marrying a
genuine titled Lady,  even though she was the daughter of an
impovershed Scottish Laird.  This was only a few years after
their defeat at the battle of Cullodden,  which reduced the
condition of many Scots.   Lady Mary brought Katherine up with an
education.  Now, none of the planters would have her because both
she and they thought she was too good for them.  This was a
source of continual friction between between father and daughter.
 Katherine agreed to marry John Ashcroft just to get away from
her father.  Tom was frequently fondling and groping her. 
Although it had never gone beyond that, Katherine was afraid it
was only a matter of time.
	In the meanwhile, while waiting for probate, George decided to
visit other business associates in North America.  He planned to
visit Williamsburg, Annapolis, Philadelphia, and New York to make
and renew acquaintances.   He wrote ahead to people he knew
asking for suitable accomidations for himself, and male servant,
Rumsfeld, and a female servant, Sara. 
Usually, he had sufficient privacy for him and Sara to maintain
their passion. The only embarrassing time was an overnight stay
at an inn in New Brunswick, where the three of them had to share
a room, but Rumsfeld slept on the floor.
	During the trip, the three became friendly, although no one
forgot their place.  Sara was surprised to see a large number of
free blacks in New York, and especially in Philadelphia.  
However, in those days, slavery was still permited in New York
and other Northern colonies, so taking Sara northdid not
guarentee her freedom.
	She asked Rumsfeld, "Mr. Rumsfeld, you are Jewish, are you
not?"
	"Yes, Sara."
	"And your people were slaves to pharaoh in Egypt?"
	"Yes, we were."
	"And God freed your people with a might arm?"
	"Yes, He did, praise the Lord."
	"Do you think God will ever do the same for us?"
	"I hope so, but it's not for me to say, Sara."
	"Why not?"
	"I am Mr. Ashcroft's servant and you are his slave."
	Sara realized that even a white non slave was not totally free,
if he did not have money.   She vowed to be nice to Rumsfeld 
from then on. 
					******************

	They returned a month later.   After the will was probated,  and
after the incident with Phoebe, George was surprised by a visit
from DeLay.  Katherine had accompanied him.
	"I'd like you to meet my daughter, Ashcroft.  This is the woman
your brother had wronged."  
	"Again, I am sorry for what my brother did to you, but there is
nothing I can do about it."
	DeLay said, "Yes, there is.  You can marry her.  Look at her.  
Her tits are full and her belly is eager to bring forth sons." 
	Katherine winced as her father grabbed her breasts.  
	George said, "Do you want me to marry you, Katherine? I just met
you.  I know you are Katherine, but I am not named Petruchio,
this not Padua, and I have not come to wive it wealthily here." 
	When Katherine heard the allusion to The Taming of the Shrew,
she perked up.
	"I am named for that Katherine.  And my mother's family was
MacDuff,"   she said.
	"Are you a shrew?"  he asked.
	"Some men think so."  She said.
	De Lay said, "Look at her, going on with her learning.   What do
you say, Ashcroft?"
	"I will pay court to her on Sunday, with your permission, sir."
George replied, with a tone of pretended formality.
	"One more thing, Ashcroft.  Why did you never marry?  I think a
man of your age and position would yearn for a wife."
	"My business requires me to travel.   I am away from London at
least half the year.  I enjoy taking my pleasures.  I even have
feminine pleasures here."  With that he pointed at Sara. "I don't
think it would be fair to a wife to have a husband who is not
home or who would place her at risk for disease or death."
	"Nonsense, Ashcroft.  A wife doesn't care where you get
additional pleasure, as long as you don't jeopardize her status.
 Think about it."
	With that, they left. 
	A few years earlier, Katherine might have thought that George
was right not to marry.  But now, she was so desperate to leave
her father, she might take him on the spot.  She certainly could
not turn down George after agreeing to marry his brother.  
George appeared more worldly and intelligent than his older
brother, although not quite as handsome. 
	George asked Sara, "She does not look like a ruined woman.  
What happened when John courted her?  How did he convince her
that Martha had died?"
	Sara replied, "Many of us did not believe she was dead, because
John did not go into mourning.  I think when she wrote that she
would no longer return to South Carolina, John thought she had
abandoned him as if she had died.  As to him courting mistress
Katherine, he must have promised something.  They became very
intimate, but they never used the bed in this house.  I have no
idea if she is still a virgin or not."
	George was interested enough in Katherine to put on his best wig
when he went to visit.  He did not care what a woman's prior
experience was, as long as she was not a slut,  which Katherine
was not.   He had never courted seriously because he was never in
one place long enough to do so.  She was the gentle first lady of
breeding to spike his interest in years.  She was obviosly
pretty, intelligent, and well educated. He felt he could rescue
her from a life in plantation fields of South Carolina.
Katherine's interest in Shakespeare clearly intrigued him,
because the bard was one of his hobbies.  He could carry the
plays while traveling as a source of entertainment. 
	When he arrived at her house, he found her accompanied by her
father and brother.  Her father was ready to offer a dowry that
day, but George thought he was being hasty.  Katherine was
playing on the pianoforte.   George was the first person in years
to admire her talent.  
	"A man and a woman should have time together before they decide
to marry.  Come walk with me, Katherine."
	When they were walking on the plantation road, George asked,
"Did you believe my brother that his first wife had died?"
	"Yes.  But I was a fool to.  He kept saying he could not bring
me to England, which is where I wanted to go.   Now I understand
why."
	"Then why did you accept his proposal?"
	"Men around here are not interested in a woman like me.   I
could not longer live with my  father.   His proposal was the
best offer I had. "
	"Why? You are pretty and smart, and you play the piano
excellently.   I would think men would love to be with you."
	"You do not understand South Carolina.  I don't want to talk
about my father, but I am lucky to remain a virgin this long."
	"So my brother did not ruin you then."
	"I took some intimacies with him, but no more than any
betrothed.  I wanted to do what he wanted and make him happy.  My
father was just talking to make you feel guilty."
	"Did you love my brother?"
	"He was the best thing that happened to me until you came along,
but no, I did not love him."  
	George was reassured about Katherine and his brother.   He
started talking about England and Shakespeare.  
	"Have ever seen a Shakespeare play done live?"
	"Some of my friends and I have tried to do them,   and we  have
seen some efforts in Charles Town, but these were not what you
would see in London.  That is why I want to go there."
	"In London, there are 17 theaters, with productions every night
during the season."
	"It must be wonderful."
	When they returned to the house, George said to DeLay, "I
respectfully request the honor of courting your daughter again. 
I assure you that my intentions toward her are honorable."
	"Of course you may, but I don't care if they are honorable or
not."
	George went to visit Katherine every Sunday.  She had already
told her father she would marry him if he promised to take to
England.  She was actually starting to fall in love with him.
	So it was no surprise when shortly after Christmas, George got
down on one knee and asked Katherine to be his bride.  
	In discussions of the dowry,  DeLay offered part of his
plantation to be attached to Ashcroft Hill, provided that George
take Katherine to England to visit.
	"I intend to take her to England permanently, sir.   She
deserves better than what she can get in South Carolina. 
Besides, my business misses me.  I make more money in London with
Ashcroft and Sons than I would make on a plantation. "
	"Are you that Ashcroft?  We do a lot of shipping through that
firm."
	"Actually, I am one of the sons.  I plan to sell Ashcroft Hill
if I can find a suitable buyer."
	"If you sell Ashcroft Hill to me, that would keep it in the
family and we could work it into the marriage contract and
dowry."
	Katherine was thrilled to learn that her new husband was taking
her to London to live.
	It took a while to resolve the final terms of the contract. 
Basically, George would sell Ashcroft Hill, including the slaves
and the live stock,  to be combined with part of DeLay'
plantation. The joint plantation made DeLay one of wealthiest men
in that part of South Carolina.  From the joint property, DeLay
would give Martha and her son 20,000 pounds  payable over 10
years and Katherine 200  pounds a year for the rest of her life
as  a dowry.  Every thing extra DeLay could keep.  Chaney was
appointed the administrator of the properties.   
	While they were setting up the wedding, Katherine and George
spent time together.  They went riding though the woods.   By
April, the weather was very pleasant.   
	Their rides took them to a secret glen that Katherine knew as a
girl.  They tied their horses and Katherine spread a blanket on
the meadow floor.  She had brought meat and wine as a country
lunch.  After they ate and drank,  Katherine lay on her back,
staring up at the trees.
	"You are very beautiful today, " George said.   He leaned down
to kiss her.  Soon he as on top of her body, as she embraced him.
 He fondled her body through her dress.
	She said, "Wait.  I love you, but I wish you could take me,  but
I want to wait until we are married.  Many of Shakespeare's
heroines, like Hero, from Much Ado About Nothing, Hermia from
Midsummer-Night's Dream and Juliet herself thought it was
important to wait."
	"I understand,"  George said, slightly disappointed.
	"I still want to please you.  Do you want me to touch your
member?"
	"You would do that?"
	"I did it for your brother, just to please him, and so he would
not take advantage of me in places such as this."
	George lowered his hose, exposing his penis.  Katherine took it
in her hand.  She always wondered how something so small could
cause so much pleasure and pain.  But as it grew in her hands,
she realized how.  She leaned over to study it, marveling at its
sudden power.  He was even bigger than John's.  She had felt
John's prick, but she had never studied it in daylight.
	"Kiss it, my dear.  Love it as you love me."  George
instructed.
	"If it would make you happy?"
	"It would.  Very much."
	She bent down to kiss it.  She then gripped in her hand and
played with it. 	
	"How does that feel?"  She asked.
	"Wonderful.   Don't stop."
	George had closed his eyes to absorb the pleasure that his
fiancee was giving him.  She worked his prick as she would work a
loaf of bread.   Her efforts were rewarded by her lover's moans.
She knew she was making him feel good, which made her feel good
as a woman.  She gave  it extra effort. But still she was
surprised when gushes of semen spurt out of him, covering her
hand and face.  She giggled as she tried to wipe it off.  George
just took her in his arms and said, "Thank you."
	A small wedding  was held in the parish Anglican  church,
attended by just her family, Chaney, Rumsfeld and Powell.  It was
followed by a large  dinner for all the planters in the area. 
George and Katherine were going to spend a week at Ashcroft Hill
before they sailed for England.
	Before they left the dinner, DeLay came over to them carrying
the final bill of sale.
	"Excuse me, Ashcroft, but this lists 84 slaves.  I thought there
were 85."
	"That does not include Sara.  She is pregnant with my baby, and
I am giving her her freedom.  I will not have my child born into
slavery.    However, there is a wench named Pheobe that you might
enjoy.  "
	DeLay  and Chaney again agreed that George did not have the
personality to be a slave owner in South Carolina. 
	George and Katherine arrived at Ashcroft Hall after the dinner.
 Sara greeted them.
	"Congratulations, Mrs. Ashcroft, on your wedding."
	"Congratulations, to you, too, Sara for getting your freedom."
	"Thank you, Mrs. Ashcroft.  You are getting a special man, both
in bed and out.   I should know because I've had plenty."
	"I feel a bit funny taking your place in his bed."
	"You are his wife.  That is where you belong.  I was just his
slave.  Don't worry about me.  I have the two things I wanted
more than anything else.  My baby and my freedom. "
	Katherine was accompanied by her personal maid, an old fat black
woman named Elsie.  Taking Elsie to England would mean giving her
her freedom, also, but since poor women didn't have any rights,
anyway, it wouldn't matter. 
	Katherine changed into her night dress.  George also was wearing
a night shirt.  They stood in front of the bed, embracing
passionately.  This was the night that Katherine wished for and
feared her entire adult life.  She had seen her father and
brother openly have sex with their slaves.   Some slaves seemed
to love it, and others seemed in pain. 
	"I want be a good wife to you, George, but you will  have to
help me.  I want you to have all the pleasures of the marriage
bed.  Tell me what to do, and I will do it. "  She said quietly.
	"I want you, but I will do nothing to hurt you, my love. " 
George replied, trying to reassure her.  Although George had had
sex with hundreds of women, he had never had a willling virgin. 
	George said, "Take off your  night dress.  I want to see you."
	She shyly removed her dress, revealing her naked body.  She
instinctive covered her genitals with her hand.   
	He said, "I think I  have married the prettiest woman in South
Carolina."
	George pull off his night shirt,  lay on the bed, and pulled
Katherine down next to him.  
	"Kiss me, Kate."  
	He kissed her on the face, while he placed his hands on her bare
breasts.
	"How do you feel?" He asked.
	"Wonderful,"  she replied.
	George kissed her breasts, and then moved down her stomach to
kiss her legs.  When he put a finger on her pussy, she almost
jumped.  
	"I'm not used to that feeling,"   she said.
	"Do you like it?"
	"Yes."  
	He continued to fondle her pussy, making her more excited.  Her
breathing came faster, as she started to moan.  George noticed
that her pussy became wet with excitement.  
	Suddenly she uttered a screech.
	"What are doing to me?  My body is on fire." 
	"Do you want me to stop?"
	"No.  The feeling is wonderful.  Oh my God."  A quick orgasm
pulsed through her body, leaving her breathless.
	After she came down, she asked, "It that it? I am I still a
virgin?"
	"Yes, but we have all night."
	"It is my turn to play with your member?"
	"Yes.  Do it the way you did in the meadow."
	She took his prick in both hands.   Within seconds, it was long
and hard.  She continued to rub it, making him feel wonderful.
	"Am I doing to you what you did to me?"  She asked.
	"Yes, you are doing great.   But now you have to stop.   'Lay on
MacDuff/ And damn be he who cries, hold, enough.'"
	"Why?"
	" I want you."
	"Yes, George. Make me your wife!"
	Without replying George climbed on top of her, positioning his
prick at the entrance to her slit.   She did not know how such a
large penis could enter such a small hole.  He pushed it in
slowly.  She felt a pinch as he eased in.
	"Oooh.  That stings a bit."  She said.
	"Do you want me to stop?"
	"No.  The pain went away, but the pleasure is still there."
	"Let me do the work.  You just focus on the pleasure."
	George started to move with her.  Katherine felt him deep
inside. She trusted him completely.   She felt totally possessed
by her husband, as if they shared the same body.  As he moved
inside, she abandoned herself to the feeling.  All thoughts left
her head.  Only the feeling remained.  George was pounding into
her, trying to raise her up even higher.  It was too high to
last.  Her whole body convulsed in orgasmic pleasure.   George
continued to thrust inside her until he could not take any more
either.   He spurt repeatedly, until they were both exhausted.
	"Wow.  What was that?  I never experienced any thing like that
in my life.  You sure know how to tame a shrew. "  She said.
	George replied, "Now you are a woman,  my wife, and my Carolina
Queen.  Let us hope this was the first of many such encounters."
	"I am glad I married you, George.  I love you."
	"I love you too.   I'm glad I married you."
	They embraced each other and fell asleep.  
	They spent the week exploring each other's body and giving each
other pleasure. 
	On the fourth night, Katherine said, "Do me the way you did
Sara."
	"Why?  There were times when I hurt her."
	"Because I am taking her place.  Your bed is mine by right, and
I want all the pleasures of it.  I want you to have all the
pleasures here, so you don't share yourself with someone else. I
will do what ever you say to please you,  even if it hurts."
	George decided to see whether she was serious.  
	"Give me your hands," he said.  He tied her naked to the bed.  
	"You can stop me at any time by saying 'God Save the King'.  Do
you understand?
	"Yes, husband."
	George started to kiss her.  But then the slapped her across her
breasts.  He pinched her pussy, eliciting cries of pain.  
	"What about the King?"  he asked.
	Katherine said nothing.  He climbed on top of her and positioned
his prick between her breasts.  He pressed them against it, and
moved between them.  
	"Take it in your mouth" he ordered.
	She opened her mouth and let him push it down her throat.  She
started to gag, but then realized she could take him by breathing
through her nose. He fucked her mouth, holding her head.  As he
got more excited, he realized that his orgasm was imminent.  As
he came in her mouth, he ordered, "Swallow it."  
	She did, even though it was hard to do.  
	When he finished, he asked, "What to think of the King, now?"
	She had a feeling of accomplishment, as if she had completed a
difficult task successfully.  She smiled and said, "Indeed, God
Save the King.  And God save my husband."
	Over the rest of the week, George had her try several positions,
including from behind, and with her legs over his head. Each was
tried more willingly than the next.  George realized that his
virgin wife was better then the vast majority of professional
whores that he had known.  The difference was that she loved him,
and would do anything for him.
	When it came time to leave, they boarded the Carolina Queen. 
The ship sailed to Philadelphia first.   Sara had met some other
free blacks, so she wanted to live there.  
	Rumsfeld said, "Master Ashcroft, I want to stay in Philadelphia
also, at least until Sara has her baby.  She will need a friend
in this big city."
	Ashcroft consented, since he would not need a servant aboard the
ship.  Rumsfeld hoped that Sara would be sufficiently grateful
for his efforts that she would let him enjoy her body.  He was
not disappointed.   Sara viewed the Jewish God as the God of
freedom.  Rumsfeld reminded her that Sarah was the wife of the
first Jew, Abraham.   They got married after she converted. 
	George moved  Katherine into his townhouse in London.     He
introduced her everywhere and took her to theater.  He even took
her to Scotland to meet her uncle.  As the niece of a Scottish
lord, she was a hit among his friends.  George's business
prospered for several years, until the  Americans decided that
they no longer needed the English. But by that time, George was
quite wealthy.	
	He had four children with Katherine, two of whom survived until
adulthood.  Their son eventually commanded a frigatte in the wars
against Napolian, and their daughter eventually married a member
of parliament.  Although George was not always loyal to her body,
he never cheated on her soul.