MULATTO (Iyila) (Editing)

chapter thirty five ~

"Miss, if ya don mind__ ha wonda wah ya's ain't told ya brother Gabriel__ 'bout yo fada's no good plan ter marry ya to dat cruel Mr. Longworth?" Collete's negro calmly said after she had finished arranging her hair but Collete said nothing. Rather she fixed her eyes on the mirror to inspect Sarah's job, the usual was what she saw-excellence. But Colette was shocked by the negroe's concern, yet she hid it with a smugged smile.

Without a word and her head held high, she rose up from the dresser and moved to her closet to get her gloves. That had been her plan the first day Gabriel set foot at the mansion, but her mother's plea had discouraged her. Susan had said it was far too dangerous and could be disasturous if Gabriel were to confront their father. Most times during their morning riding through the meadows she felt tempted to push it all out.

And in the company of Gabriel and Anne, the pain at that time seemed unbearable as she always thought of the remarkable gentleman she had seen at Longworth's plantation. Once they had met at the market and the noble man had been very polite and decent to her. She had almost not recognised him since he was properly dressed and not wearing the rags that she had seen him with on their first encounter.

Collete wished she could have same with Luke, but her father had promised to make life unbearable for her if she dared thwart his plan. She sighed and wore her hat, then picked up her fan.

"I am very greatful for your concern Sarah, but I do not wish to talk about this. My brother must not know and neither should you tell this to any of your watery mouth negros, understood?" She harshly demanded. The negro speedily nodded with a slight bow. Collete sighed, she knew she had to stop thinking of Luke. He was just an overseer, with no promising future. One piece of her jewery could finance his monthly budget. She couldn't fight her father for that.

"Now, get me my umbrella, we must go down, my brother and his fiance-" she snorted and with sarcasm added, "-which unfortunately is Anne-Maria, the most beautiful, elegant, poised, and obviously pretentious lassie. A spurious fellow a__a__a "

She groaned frustratedly "What does he see in her?" she said, turning to Sarah. The negro only shrugged.

"It is a pity that they all are blinded by what they see," Collete said and sighed again. "But she knows I know her. All the same we cannot keep them waiting. I believe they must be waiting for us, let us go Sarah," she said and walked to the mirror. Anne could be beautiful, but she believed that she had her charms. Snorting again, she took one last look and marched out, her negro trailing behind her.

She went out to see Anne and Gabriel clinging to each other. They were adding to her frustration and she knew Anne was at it to spite her. She cleared her throat to disrupt their parade. They were suprised to see her.

"Incredible, Collete, a lovely dress you are wearing," Gabriel said in a chuckle. Collete smiled and quickly took in Anne's attire. That evening, Anne was no match for her and she saw the anger on Anne's face.

Collete laughed. "Thank you," she coyly replied. That evening she had planned to ignore Anne and all her tactics, just to spite her. In retaliation, Anne quickly kissed Gabriel on the cheek and grabbed his arm. Collete only laughed. "Shall we?" Gabriel quickly announced. "Oh we shall," the two friends said together. Gabriel's cheerful laugh and accompanied them out.

~~~

Mama Brown and Tari were seated outside the shelter when Iyila arrived. She had to brace herself as she saw Tari cheerfully running towards her. The next minute the excited child's frame was already pressed to hers and giggling unstoppably.

"Hav' missed ya fo long. Ha though' ya won' never come ter visit us again," the child joyfully reported. "Me too," Iyila replied and embraced her again. Being so busy and occupied with Gabriel's needs she could barely come out to say hello to them. "Ya bring anythings for me?" Tari eagerly asked scanning Iyila from head to toe.