Slave Sisters

(29) Slave Sisters

25th February, 1805

“Why are yer so happy?” We were still in the kitchen. Tayla had just finished mopping the mess; she had left to put the mop back in the cupboard.

Jane’s small white teeth beamed as she continued to grin. “I think I know why Virginia is angry.”

Tayla scoffed, “’Cause she wanna eat?” I shrugged; although Virginia had never admitted it, she was the only person to regularly approach Tayla and me for snacks and white wine sometime after dinner.

“Do you know that she sometimes visits Victor’s bedchamber early in the morning?” I stopped.

How . . . ?

“N-no,” I said slowly, somehow gasping at the same time. My hand moved to the back of my neck, worriedly rubbing it. “Is dat allowed?”

“I do not know,” she admitted. “Should I ask aunt Judith?”

“No – not fer now,” Tayla advised. I sighed, glad that she was the one to tell Jane this. She did not look as concerned as myself, and so I tried to mirror her blank expression. Tayla quickly glanced at me, but thankfully was still more focused on Jane. “She must already kno’ ‘bout it.”

“What if they are . . . ?” I trailed off and looked at Tayla, whose eyes narrowed. Immediately I scolded myself for thinking such thoughts; I was certain that the closest form of contact Victor had allowed between he and Virginia were a kiss on his cheek – possibly about four times since they had met, but nothing more. Jane stared at us both, confused.

“They are soon to be married,” Tayla reminded me, with little emotion, “if Victor wants to do that . . . Virginia must allow it.” I blocked out her words, reluctant to believe this.

Virginia could not be as desperate to have Victor; why would she risk damaging her character in such a way? I was unsure of whether it were acceptable in America for women to do such things.

I remembered back to the previous night; Victor would not touch Virginia in the same way that he had touched me. From what I had observed, Victor always tried to avoid her attempts at becoming physically closer with him. Regardless, I had not grasped the courage needed to ask him what they did whenever the two were together – talk? If so, why did she keep trying for him?

I turned back to Jane, my concern now replaced with coldness. “How do yer kno’ dis?”

“Whenever I wake up early, I sometimes hear doors opening and closing . . . today I went to Victor’s bedchamber, and she was there.”

“Was she wearin’ her dress?” She nodded. “W-wha’ was she doin’?”

Jane explained that Virginia had been standing next to Victor’s bed; the woman had seemed curious, but also in awe, as she watched him peacefully sleep with his back to her. He had been repeatedly murmuring a word, that was difficult to comprehend, even after Jane entered.

“Wha’ was her reaction?” Tayla asked out of interest.

“At first she was surprised,” Jane noted, “but then angry; she wanted me to leave straightaway.”

“Did yer?” I questioned. With a mischievous smile she replied with a no.

Jane’s reluctance had then caused for Virginia’s whispers to develop into soft shouts; when Jane continued to remain in her spot, Virginia chose to stride over to her – at this Victor awoke.

“He looked really happy to see me,” Jane commented, still surprised, “and then promised to spend the morning with me.”

“He didn’t even say anythin’ to Virginia?” I stammered. No wonder she had been so easily irritated this morning.

“Well . . . he sort of did,” Jane eventually added, afterwards playing with her fingers.

Virginia had tried to remind him about their plans to attend church together; in reply Victor mumbled something, before drifting back to sleep.

By now Tayla and I were glancing at each other again, attempting to suppress our laughs – Virginia deserved it. Jane, also noticing this, quietly giggled and placed a tight hand over her mouth.

“See?” I smiled. “Victor does care fer yer.” I tried to imagine him dreaming about Jane; maybe that was why he had been so glad.

Jane shrugged, “Maybe only now.” By now her smile had faded, replaced with a look of solemnity. It reminded me of how she had looked the night we had spent together.

“Don’t fink like dat,” I encouraged, “it’s not good.” I greatly missed Jane for who she once was; the one that did not overly question people’s actions.

Tayla walked over to Jane; kneeling down to the girl’s level, she held onto Jane’s hands and placed a piece of candy in each. Jane’s mouth formed into a wide circle as she ate one of the marshmallows. I joined them, raking my fingers through Jane’s loosely held pigtail.

“Can you style hair well?” Jane questioned. She glanced at my own, mostly covered by my dull blue ‘kerchief.

I considered saying yes, before I was interrupted. “She can’t,” Tayla mused. Whereas I preferred to style my hair into a small ball, Tayla’s hair was somehow longer than mine; she wore it in a ponytail with her ‘kerchief, the strands reaching mid-way down her neck.

Jane, who now beamed, observed Tayla’s own hair. After asking for permission she reached over to pat her head as if it were an animal. Tayla lightly growled, causing Jane to release another giggle. Pleased, I stood back up and went to the countertop.

The two were not as familiar with each other as they seemed to be now; for some reason Tayla had not been given the opportunity to speak to Jane as much as I had. This had to be because of her sensibility; unlike myself, she did not like to sacrifice her sleep for others.

I noticed how Tayla and Jane talked to each other as if they had been friends for a long time – seemingly much longer than Jane and I. Would Tayla see her as a sister? She used to constantly beg Grandma for a little brother – for having a sibling was fun, she had reasoned. I laughed at the memory.

Upstairs a door opened, and then footsteps were heard. I calmly arranged a row of brown eggs closer to me, convinced that it was only Victor. Lighter footsteps followed his path, and then stopped. At first the people did not say anything.

After a few moments Victor spoke, followed by Virginia’s frantic words. I clutched a brown egg in my palm, trying my best to understand their murmurs. Further silence came, and then someone loudly stumbled. Before I knew it the bathroom door was slammed shut.

~

I truly apologise for the long wait and hope that you enjoyed reading this! Comment and vote ^.^ I have to admit that I planned to upload this chapter a long time ago, although due to major writers block on the upcoming chapter I was unsure of whether I should.