The Lady Yves

Chapter 3

As Lord Barley walked the gardens with his girls on either side of him, he couldn't help but be proud of them, as they held their dresses higher from the ground to avoid dirtying them.

"Papa," Angenette said, brushing a black lock from her face, her tan face that looked just like her father's looking up at him. "Mama says its about time that you found me a suitor."

Lord Barley looked at her as Freedom laughed by his side, her untamed hair sticking out in all directions because she had constantly been running her hand all over it, eventually locking it in the most unattractive way possible.

"How old are you again?" he asked his beautiful daughter.

"Papa, I'm 15."

Freedom came over to her sister's side and put an arm around her shoulders. "Lord Yves always says that a woman's most sexiest asset is her knowledge. Maybe you should focus on that first...don't you want to be richer than Lord Yves? Look at that lady...Lady Yves' best friend...what do they call her?"

"Eleanor? Lady Eleanor?"

"Look at how much she has done for herself without a man in her life! She has everything and her husband...he barely had anything to his name...he was just a commoner but look at how happy they are. She waited before getting married and now...she has that estate of hers. Her husband is rich because of her. Don't you want to be like that?"

Angenette cringed. "I dont want to marry a commoner."

Freedom playfully pushed her. "That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that the missus was happy when she became rich on her own but she became happier after she married. Can you imagine all that happiness? You will only get one happiness of having a husband instead of getting two happinesses like that Eleanor lady."

Lord Barley grinned. "Uh-huh. What she said."

"Were you attracted to mama because she had knowledge?" Angenette asked.

He nodded. "The sexiest woman alive. She can think for herself and she...she's perfect."

Freedom looked at him. "I want someone to talk about me like that. Don't you, Angie?"

Angenette nodded and then ran forward. "Catch me if you can!"

Freedom chased her and once she caught her, she realised that they had left their father behind. They sat down in the grass and Angenette lay her head on her lap.

"Can you do my hair like yours?" she asked, playing with the hem of her dress.

Freedom laughed. "Your hair is just too soft and straight to do this. I can braid it however but your mama will not like that. She says it is unladylike."

"Mama doesn't like a lot of things. So...when are you finding a suitor? You've been cooped in this compound for so long that I'm sure you have forgotten what the outside looks like. Marta is going to a negro party tonight. Don't you want to go?"

"Mama wouldn't allow-"

"No one has to know. Look..." Angie looked at her. "Marta says it will be good for you to mingle with your own people. I am not blind to the fact that you're black and I am as white as can be. Frankly, I think you should go and have fun with people like you and I don't mean that in a way to make you feel any less. Marta says it will be fun."

Freedom stared at her sister. "You planned this with Marta? Why didn't she just talk to me-"

"Because you are too good for your own good. So...do you want to go?"

"Yes. I haven't been outside for a long time now. So how are we going to sneak me out without Mama and Lord and Lady Yves noticing?"

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