"Ruin and Redemption"

A Glimpse into the Lives of Derrick's Parents

“My darling, won’t you come to bed now? It’s been a long day, and there’s nothing I would rather do than spend the last hours of it in bed with my wife.” Henri LePoint stated, pulling off his long coat, and placing it carefully on the chair back.

Madame LePoint sat doing needlework at her sewing desk. She looked up at her husband... So he planned to stay in tonight; That was good. Nevertheless, she did not feel obligated to stop her needlework immediately and tend to him. She wanted to at least finish a few more rows, so that her work in progress had a more recognizable shape. She didn’t care to leave any loose ends, either. She liked to leave things neat.

Her husband gave her a few minutes to finish, then came behind her and began kissing her neck. “Henri!” She was not ready for this yet; There were still stitches left to put in, rows to finish, threads to be tied.

“Alright, my dear. I will wait in bed and read if you wish,” Monsiuer LaPoint sighed.

“Yes, just let me finish these rows. It will not be more than fifteen minutes,” Marguerite hoped the time limit would placate him long enough for her to finish her work/

She continued bending over her work with utmost concentration. Sometimes, she almost wished he would go to Henriette, the slave who was his Mistress. Tonight she was glad of his company, or his presence in the room at least, but she would prefer he read and leave her to several more hours of needlework. She truly was reluctant to give up her quiet pursuit and tend to him.

As she worked, she thought of Lizzie and her son, Derrick. She had concealed the truth of Lizzie's parentage from him long ago, preferring to see Lizzie as a pretty, charming and educated young lady, just as Lizzie's father had presented her to everyone. Now, her lack of legitimate grandchildren and the stares of strangers at her daughter-in-law confirmed Lizzie as a barren mulatto, as well as a highly educated lady.

Margeurite felt sympathy for the younger woman now, and a certain kinship. Lizzie had to deal with Derrick’s mistress, Scarlett, just as she had to deal with Henriette...And she had lost her piano, and had her property lost and sold without her consent, just as she herself had. Well, her piano still sat downstairs, dusty and unplayed, at least. Somehow, she could not quite bring herself to play it, not after what had happened that day long ago, yet still achingly close, with her slave Francoise. She had not played since the day Henri had come in, interrupting her and Francoise in the middle of a piano lesson. Henri had seen their easy laughter, as Francoise leaned over her to plunk a note, in the midst of teaching her his favorite song, a French folk song from the 1700's. Francoise had been sold soon after, and Henri’s wife scarcely went into the room with the piano if she could help it. Tears still sprang to her eyes every time she looked at it.

Marguerite continued to think of Lizzie. It was a pity that Lizzie could not bear children in. The light skinned children could be raised as their own, and any dark skinned ones would make fine house slaves, though knowing Lizzie, she wondered if the girl would allow that. Perhaps it was best she were barren; There was already too much talk of her strange daughter-in-law, although she had to admit there was as much praise for her charm and grace, as there were inquiries into her ancestry and charges of her infidelity, which Marguerite gave little credence to.  If her daughter-in-law had been with anyone besides her son lately, she would know about it, and she would be sure to vindicate her son in whatever way was necessary. Lizzie had been a little reckless with her son and the other boys when she had been young, even courting her own slave and a sharecropper , Josiah Walsh, who lived within her riding range. But so far, the rumors had proved baseless.Margeurite envied Lizzie almost in her lack of propriety in riding across the county on her own; She was too much of a lady herself to attempt it. At least she had her needlepoint; She had completed a tapestry several years ago which adorned their dining hall, and was quite proud of the workmanship she had shown. It was based on a Medieval Theme and featured a unicorn standing erect on his hind legs, while knights surrounded him. It was something, at least, to show her life counted.. As was her beautiful garden of roses, wisteria and other carefully tended flowers.

Well, it was time for bed, if she wished to satisfy her husband and lie in his arms before taking her evening rest. Margeurite carefully tied off her stitches, so that nothing was loose, and put her work carefully away, where none would disturb it. She took out her silver handled brush, removed her hairpins, and began brushing out her silvery blond hair. She was lucky to still have the strands of gold mixed in with the silver. She heard her husband sigh with pleasure as he watched her, transfixed. She called for Cicely, who removed her dress and outer undergarments for her. She nodded to Cicely then, in dismissal, and went to sit on the bed in her lace trimmed bloomers and camisole. Her husband, Henri, reached around to her, and pulled her into his strong embrace, passionately kissing her lips…She woke early the next morning, putting on her own underwear, so as not to disturb her sleeping husband by calling the houseslave. She was already half way dressed when Cicely made her way in, earning her a disapproving glance, which faded to a look of tolerant approval. The sturdy girl did try, and Cicely had managed to resist Monsiuer LaPoint's advances so far, which Margeurite could only admire the girl for, despite her jealousy. But should Cicely give in Margeurite would not allow Cicely to stay in the house for long. She could not tolerate infidelity under her own roof, no matter who might be to blame. 

Saying a quick prayer, Marguerite gave in to her husband's desires, hoping he would be tired and sleep soundly through the night beside her. She always slept better when her husband joined her, rather than rising afterwards to roam the quarters for his mistress or another handy slave.