Imported Love

Chapter Three

Where was the harm in letting Ethan teach me to read?

A knock on my bedroom door awoke me the next morning. I sat up and stretched, yawning for whoever it was to come in. Franny cracked the door and smiled at me. She opened the door further and stepped inside. A young black woman followed behind her. I leaned back against the headboard and surveyed the woman as they walked around my room, opening the drapes, pulling my dress from the armoire, and drawing a bath.

“Good morning honey,” Franny chimed. She pulled the comforter away from my body and tossed it off the other side of the bed. “The men have left for the day, so it’s just you, Lily, and I today. You can do whatever you wish, but we will be cleaning this place.”

“Can’t I help?” I asked, standing up.

“We would never expect you to help us Erica. Lily will help you dress and bathe,” Franny laughed. I frowned and followed Lily into the bathroom. She politely turned her back as I stripped out of my nightgown and slid into the warm water. I sighed as the water began to melt away my stress.

“I haven’t met you yet. Franny said your name is Lily?” I asked her. Lily turned back around and smiled at me. Her pearly white teeth shone brightly against her dark olive colored skin. She was a beautiful woman with pale green eyes and high cheekbones.

“Yes ma’am.” She answered. She handed me the soap and I began to scrub my skin, starting with my arms, shoulders, chest, torso, thighs, and ending with my feet. Lily helped me clean my hair, and dumped water over my head.

“Franny won’t let me help clean today.” I frowned, reclining back in the tub. I wasn’t ready to climb out of my escape just yet.

“It’s not your job ma’am.” Lily said.

“Erica, you can call me Erica.” I told her, closing my eyes and ducking under the water once again. When I surfaced Lily was holding a plush white towel in her hands. I took it as my hint that it was time to get out.

“Mr. Hastings told me that I mustn’t call you by your name.” Lily whispered. I frowned and stood up. She immediately jerked around, handing me the towel quickly. I took it and wrapped it around my body.

“Well I believe that as the future Mrs. Hastings I have some say in what my staff calls me don’t I? I want you to call me Erica, and stop treating me as if I’m better than you.” I ordered. Lily turned around, cautiously, and stared at me.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.” She apologized.

“Franny calls me Erica in front of Abel, he doesn’t seem to care then.” I said.

“Mr. Hastings respects Franny.” Lily whispered. I stared at her with wide eyes.

“Are you saying that he doesn’t respect you? Why not? Because you’re colored? I’d like to give him a piece of my mind. My best friend back home was colored. It didn’t matter what color you were, we all worked the same jobs and—“

“Erica, please don’t say anything to Mr. Hastings. I value this job, it’s the only way I can support myself and Adler.”

“Adler?” I asked. Lily just nodded and lead me back into the bedroom. She sat me down in front of the vanity and began to dry my hair with a towel.

“Can you please take these down to the washroom, Lily? I’ll finish helping Erica.” Franny said.

“Of course,” Lily replied. She handed the towel to Franny and gathered up my bedding. She left the room and Franny took over where she had left off.

“You’re hair is so beautiful,” Franny smiled. I stared at her reflection in the mirror. What Lily had said to me was still chewing at me. Abel wasn’t racist was he?