I needed money for the coach trip to Virginia.

A glint came into my mind as I thought of stealing from the pastor.

Betty saw it. ‘Don’t think of such a thing. It will be worse for you.’

‘I have to earn money. Maybe at Ingersoll’s; do you think they would want cakes? Let’s go there now, Betty, and have a cider and ask him.’

‘Now?’

‘Let’s go now.’

Betty followed me reluctantly. As we approached the inn, we saw lanterns, hanging idly outside. Entering Ingersoll’s Inn, we heard the noise of raucous laughing from the rougher men, their beards wet from cider. The better class looked at them in disdain. Here all came to eat, drink cider, chat, and laugh and exchange gossip. It was warm inside and wholesome odours wrapped around us. I opened the palm of my hand and saw that I had just enough money for two ciders. I asked for two ciders and looked as innocent as I could and asked Ingersoll if he would like us to bake cakes for him.

He looked interested.

‘Small or big?’

‘Big.’

‘What kinds of cake?’

‘Fruit, lemon, orange.’

‘We can do that. How many do you want and how often?’

‘Bake me two big cakes.’

‘How much will you give us for them?’

‘I’ll let you know when I taste them,’ he said with a wink.

The next morning, while my uncle was on pastoral visits, we started cooking in Tituba’s kitchen. I took out all the ingredients.

‘I did not know you knew how to cook cakes.’

‘I cooked everything when I was a six year old. I’ll rely on you to get the oven going.’

John Indian came in with wood and a fire was soon going.

‘What are you baking, Miss?’

‘Mind your own business, John.’

‘We are baking cakes,’ said Betty.

‘Good, Miss Betty.’

A smell of warm food floated though the kitchen as the cakes cane out.

‘They are fine. Let them cool and we will take them off shortly,’ I said.

We wrapped the cakes up in fresh clean cloths. Betty took one and I, the other. We marched proudly to Ingersoll’s with smiles on our faces and put the cakes on the bench in front of Ingersoll.

‘You were quick; now let’s see. They smell good; they look good. Let me and my good wife have a taste.’ He brought his wife in and cut a thin slice from each cake; they tasted both and their faces beamed.

‘I think you can bake us a big cake every two days.’

‘And what, good sir, will you give us?’

‘Two shillings for two cakes — maybe more. We’ll see.’

‘Thank you. You will have another cake in two days.’

When I returned to the parsonage I worked out how long we would have to bake cakes before I had the fare for the coach to Virginia. I thought it would be about six more weeks. I said it out aloud. Betty became agitated.

‘I don’t want you to go.’

‘I have to. I don’t know how I am going to last the six weeks.’

The cakes were a favourite at Ingersoll’s. In a month, l had the money. I gave what was over to Betty.

I had written a letter two weeks earlier and given it to the coachman. I now penned another letter telling them the exact date I proposed to leave. I found my old bag and started to pack, putting what clothes I had, my Bible, some food and writing paper and pen and the dress with shoes and stockings. I knew the coach stopped at Ingersoll’s at ten o’clock. I kissed a sobbing Betty who walked over to Ingersoll’s to wait with me. I didn’t say goodbye to my uncle but I did say goodbye to John Indian and gave him a hug. He had kept my secret about meeting Robert. I climbed into the coach, glad to flee from this dammed village. Betty waved to me till she was just a dot.

It was a long ride and the coach was full so I couldn’t stretch my legs out. People were returning to Virginia and they spoke in a funny way; it was slower and it sounded like a drawl. I nodded off to sleep when I awoke with a jerk to see a mountain range before me. It took my breath away. It was a spine; so long.

‘That’s the Blue Ridge mountains, Miss. We can’t cross them so we have to veer left for a long way till the mountains become tame hills. If they didn’t become so, we would have to catch a boat.’

I was amazed. We did veer for a very long time before we started to climb the hills and then …

I caught my breath. At the top of the hill, I looked down on dense forest; further down there was a pea-green swamp, with curving lines and I saw four long pieces of land-like fingers guarding the bay from the massive ocean. The water rushed with fury. Excitement choked me. I was now far, far away.

For the second time in my life I stared in awe at the house. I was told we were in Richmond County. This house was much larger than Robert’s town house. I decided I had to look demure. They were waiting for me. A black man took my shabby case and led me in while the coach left.

‘Wait here, plis.’

The lady of the house came in. She looked me over.

‘Mistress, I can work hard and can do many tasks.’

‘Then I will introduce you to Cook.’ The cook was black. It was like being back with Tituba. I wanted to ask if she knew where Tituba was but I didn’t dare; I had to forget Salem and all that had happened there. I didn’t mind the kitchen and the black cook who told the mistress that I was a good helper. The mistress smiled. A maid showed me to a tiny room. It had a window, though, that looked out onto the gardens. I felt a wave of freedom wash over me. I wouldn’t stay in the kitchen for long. I wanted a position in the house.

I met the other servants at meal time. The food was good, although served roughly. I wouldn’t starve here. I laughed. The servants wanted to know all about me. Should I tell them that I was an orphan and had gone from place to place? I described the scenery I saw coming from the north and they loved listening to me. They told me there was going to be a ball in three months and that special dishes would be cooked for the occasion. Pigeon pie and fine goods brought in from England would be served. If only I could go to that ball and wear my dress. I would work at it.

I wrote to Betty about my journey and how different the land was here. I told her of the yellow pines, the white oaks, chestnut and walnut trees with wide branches. I told her about the big house and how I was cooking. I told her how large Virginia was and how its wealth came from tobacco and instead of towns there were plantations.

There was no answer.