In just a matter of 15 minutes Nora had managed to learn where everything in the kitchen was kept from the food in the pantry to the dishes in the cupboard. After spending nearly an hour with the other servants the meal was done. At any moment, Marshall told her, her new master would be waiting in the dining room for his meal.
"Come, Nora. Master Harris is waiting at the table, we must bring him the food," Marshall told her.
Carrying a bowl of steaming mashed potatoes and a pitcher of ice water, Nora followed him and another servant who was an older woman named Margaret through the doors of the kitchen into the dining room. It was rather large with a long rectangular table that must have been able to hold 12 people.
However, her master, who was seated at the head of the table, was the only one there. The slaves said good evening, placing food on the plate in front of him and then laid the bowls onto the table in case he wanted a second helping. As soon as Marshall and Margaret set them down, they turned on their heals back into the kitchen. Nervously Nora approached the table. "Potatoes?" she asked. He nodded at her, smiling, while softly drumming him knuckles on the table's surface. She scooped several spoonfuls onto his plate, set the bowl down and then poured him a tall glass of water. She was nearly ready to turn around and leave when he suddenly grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
"Why are you in a hurry to leave, Nora?" he asked, letting his arm slowly travel up her bare arm.
"I...I didn't want to bother you as you ate dinner, Master."
"You presence could never bother me," he answered with a sly smile on his face, letting go of her arm. "Why don't you sit down and have some dinner with me. I insist."
Hearing the tone of his voice, Nora perceived his last words to be an order rather than an invitation. She quickly placed the pitcher on the table and then sat down in the chair to his right.
"Why are you sitting so far away," he asked, sounding very amused. "Come closer, Nora. Right here." Nora felt butterflies stirring in her stomach as she noticed that he was patting his knee for her to sit on.
Nora slowly stood up and walked over to her master, feeling anticipation, though she tried to hide it as best she could. "I won't bite," he said when he noticed her hesitate. Nora nodded her head and then lowered herself into his lap. She felt so small against his larger frame. She immediately noticed how strong and powerful his body felt near her as she sat upon his firm thighs.
"Relax, darling," he murmured, while wrapping his right arm around her waist. He pulled her closer so that her back rested against his torso. "Have something to eat. You'll need some strength for later." Thinking that he was referring to housework she may have to do, Nora accepted the piece of fried chicken he held out for her.
Nora sat upon her master's lap, feeling out of place, but at the same time, not being able to help but relish in the taste of the food that she had helped prepare. She hadn't eaten all day, and in fact did feel a bit ravished. Also, though she knew it was wrong, she felt special that he would display this attention to her. Together, they ate from the same plate and drank from the same glass. Never had she seen this happen with the slaves in her old home. However, Master Thompson was never one to get close or touch the slaves, which was fine with Nora as she would have been sickened had it been his lap rather than Master Harris' that she sat upon.
When they both had their fill, Nora immediately stood up and reached for some dishes. "I shall take everything back into the kitchen now, Master."