Rachel looked Jessica up and down as she served Louis his meal. She had been able to tell Louis was different somehow. As soon as she had stepped from the carriage, in fact. His reaction to her touching his hair after Jessica had left the drawing room had been hurtful.

The convict was dressed in a plain white blouse, skirt, and apron. Rachel noticed she had her hair down and was not wearing a mop hat, like most servants. The girl was very pretty, Rachel decided. She shifted her gaze to Louis. He had leaned back in his chair and was watching the servant intently. Rachel didn't like the smoldering look in his eyes. She knew now why Louis had reacted the way he had. He wanted the wench, and knowing Louis the way she did, she suspected he'd probably already had her in his bed. Rachel's mind turned over. She thought; this is why he has not been to see me for some time. Rachel sucked in her breath and sat straighter in her chair. She was not having this. She knew the girl would mean nothing to Louis, after all what else would she have to offer him but her body. Whereas she, Rachel, had connections, education, and wealth.

Surely not, Millie thought. Surely he could not be interested in Jessica that way.

The way he was with her.

The way he touched her.

She would do anything for him.

Anything to have him touch only her.

Rachel smiled and decided she was being stupid. There was nothing to fear from this convict girl. After all, didn't most masters bed their servants? She would put the girl in her place at the first opportunity.

Jessica finished serving their meals. She collected the empty bowls and was about to leave the room when Rachel spoke to her in a sickly sweet voice. "Jessica would you please lay out my night clothes?"

"Yes, Madam," Jessica said as she bent at the knees to resemble a curtsy. She turned to leave the room.

"And Jessica," Rachel called. "I shall ring for you when I need help to undress." She smiled smugly. Looked at Louis and put her hand on his as she added, "That is if I don't get offered the services of someone else." She turned her face back to Jessica, just to make sure her message had been understood.

Jessica looked blankly at Rachel, nodded, bent at the knees once more and left the room. When she managed to close the door behind her she let out the breath she had been holding. Her head was a swirl with confused emotion. She felt sure the lady was goading her for some reason, but was not sure why. She looked toward the ceiling. God please make these two days go quickly, she prayed. Jessica shook her head. Why would God do her any favours? He hadn't thus far.

She was in the kitchen helping with the washing up when the bell from the guestroom rang. Jessica wiped her hands on her apron and sighed. Obviously the lady hadn't been offered help from other sources to undress. This thought lightened Jessica's mood a little. She untied her apron and looked over at Mary. "Well this will be the beginning of her demands I suppose?"

Mary gave her a look of sympathy. "Just control that temper of yours. The Master won't take kindly to ye offending his mistress. And ye do everything she tells you." Mary yanked her head forward to impress what she had said.

Jessica nodded and gave Mary a wry smile. "I'll try, Mary. I'll try."

She knocked on the door and waited until she was told to come in. Rachel had let her hair down and was sitting at the dressing table slowing brushing it. Jessica looked at how it shined in the candlelight. It wasn't as long or as thick as her own but the colour was rich and glossy. It hung perfectly straight and ended evenly at Rachel's shoulder blades.

"Good, you're finally here," Rachel hissed.

Jessica clamped her teeth. She understood Mary's feelings toward this woman. "I'm sorry if I have taken too long. I will be hastier next time," said Jessica as she curtsied.

"You cannot have him!" Millie hissed the words at Jessica.

"I! Do not want him," Jessica spat back.

"I love him," Millie implored.

"I do not!" Jessica insisted.

Rachel stood up abruptly and threw the brush onto the dressing table. "Make sure you are!" She swept her hair over her shoulder. "Undo my dress," she demanded as she turned her back to Jessica.

Jessica fumbled with the hooks. Her stomach churned with anxiety as she tried to hurry.

Rachel became irritated. The girl was taking too long. "Hurry up. I am tired and wish to go to sleep!"

"Yes, Madam."

Rachel didn't thank her when Jessica finished undoing the hooks. She huffed in irritation as she waited for Jessica to unlace her corset. "What is wrong with you? Lazy I suspect. I've never known a servant as slow as you." Rachel shimmied out of her clothes and shuffled into her nightdress. She sat down at the dressing table and picked up the brush. "Now brush my hair and you better do a good job!"

Jessica obliged but inside she boiled. Master Louis didn't speak to her like this woman did. Not even when he'd been in a temper. She remembered Mary's advice and tried to calm herself while she brushed the lady's hair.

"Jessica," Rachel said tersely. "I noticed you did not have your hair pinned up or your mop hat on when you served the evening meal." She looked at Jessica through the mirror's reflection.

"Yes Madam." Jessica looked back at her. "Master Louis likes me to..." She was going to continue when Rachel cut her off.

"You will pin your hair up and wear your hat in future. I do not like hair in my meal as there was tonight," she continued. "I am sure Master Louis will agree with me once I have spoken to him." Rachel shook her head. "It is the height of ill manners. I cannot understand why he has put up with your insolence thus far. I can see he needs a woman to look after his household affairs." As she spoke she turned her head suddenly. Her hair caught in the brush bristles.

Jessica hurried to untangle the strands. It only served to make the matter worse as the lady stood to face her.

Rachel's eyes narrowed and in a vengeful voice said, "How dare you assault me!"

"I am sorry, Madam. I didn't mean for it to happen. You turned your head." Jessica was shocked. Couldn't the woman see it was an accident?

Rachel's eyes and voice filled with hatred. She pulled the brush from her hair and with it a bunch of strands. Looking at the brush she said, "My God. Look what you have done. It's because I have reprimanded you. I shall have Louis send you back to the female factory for this."

"It was an accident, Madam." Jessica's voice quivered in shock and disbelief that this woman could think it was anything else. Fear crept into her awareness. What if the Master believed Mrs. Templeton and sent her back to the factory?

"I'll show you what an accident it was," Rachel screeched as she lifted the brush above her head and brought it down fast, striking Jessica across the face.

Jessica staggered backwards with the force of the blow. Her eyes blurred. She held onto the dressing table for support. The pain shot through her skull. In the distance she could hear Mrs. Templeton ordering her from the room. Jessica clutched her hand to her face and stumbled to the door. Once in the hallway her tears streamed down her face. She made her way blindly to the kitchen.

Mary was still working. She rushed forward when she realised Jessica was crying. "What has happened?" Mary asked. She put her arm around Jessica's shoulders and led her to the carver chair. Once Jessica was seated, Mary wiped the tears from her eyes. "What has happened?" she asked once again.

Jessica took her hand from her face and turned her cheek to show Mary. "She hit me, Mary," Jessica sobbed. "She hit me with her hair brush!" Jessica was still in shock at what had just occurred.

"Why?" Mary whispered in disbelief. "Did ye loose ye temper Jessica?"

"No!" Jessica raised her voice, and then softly added, "No, Mary though I could have. I was brushing her hair. She reprimanded me for not wearing my hat and having my hair down when serving the meal. Mary you know I only do that because the master has said that is what he wants me to do." Jessica wiped away more tears which had rolled down her cheeks. "She said she would speak to Master Louis about it and he would agree to what she had to say." Jessica paused once more. "She turned her head quickly while I was brushing her hair. The brush knotted in the strands. I tried to get it out but she wouldn't let me and then yanked it out herself. She pulled out her hair with the brush." Jessica sobbed but continued. "She said I had assaulted her and that she would tell Master Louis to send me back to the female factory. Then she hit me with the brush and told me to leave."

Mary patted Jessica on the back but didn't say anything.

"Oh, Mary what should I do? I'm sure he will believe what she has to say. Do you think he will send me back? I couldn't go back there Mary!" Jessica covered her face with her hands.

"No, Jessica." Mary put her arms around her. "I don't think the master will send ye back, but he may believe ye pulled her hair out on purpose. Ye does have a temper. Master knows that. Whether he believes ye would actually attack someone." Mary shrugged. "Ye could tell him what happened yeself perhaps."

Jessica shook her head as she dried her face. "I have no right to approach him. Besides, I am just a servant. She is his lover. He would never jeopardize what he has with her."

"That depends," said Mary thoughtfully.

"Depends on what?" Jessica looked at Mary questionably.

"Ye really don't know too much about men do ye, Jessica?" Mary said as she smiled and touched Jessica gently on the face.

"What are you saying to me, Mary? Jessica grew more confused. Do you think the master will believe me over Mrs. Templeton?"

Mary smiled once more. "Like I say that depends." She stood up and walked across the room to wet a cloth so she could wipe Jessica's face.

Jessica followed her. "It depends on what, Mary?"

"Ye silly girl, Jessica," Mary tittered as she turned to face her. "It depends on who he cares about the most. Only time will tell."

Jessica's mouth dropped open. Her heart pounded. "I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, Mary?" She was more muddled than ever.

"Ye notice nothing do ye, Jessica." Mary chuckled. "Alice and I see the way the Master looks at ye. Why do ye think he wants your hair down when ye serves him?" Mary shrugged her shoulders and laughed some more at the look on Jessica's face.

"Looks at me?" Jessica murmured, dumbfounded.

"Yeah he looks at ye with the look of a man who wants something but doesn't know how to get it."

Jessica opened her eyes wide. "You mean he wants to bed me, Mary?"

"Mayhap." Mary lifted her shoulders and tilted her head. "But only time will tell what he really wants. I know for certain by the way he looks at ye, he would never send you away." She continued, "He will probably reprimand ye, but wait and see, then if needs be ye can explain yeself. What do ya think, Jess? Just wait and see."

Jessica nodded, speechless. She was stunned by the whole situation. What Mary had just told her left her feeling numb. "Yes..." she murmured. "I think you're right. I'll wait and see what happens." She fiddled with her fingers and then looked up at Mary. "I think I'll go to bed if you don't mind."

Mary patted Jessica's shoulder. "Yeah, I think ye should. I can finish up here. Don't ye worry about it until it needs to be worried about," she said as she gave Jessica a reassuring smile.

Copyright © 2019 Donna Fieldhouse. All rights reserved.

Who thinks Louis will send Jessica back to the Female Workhouse?

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