Cape of trouble

Intertwined lives

This house my father is living in was occupied by previous governor's, it is in actuality a mansion of many rooms.

There was enough room in the servants quarters for a few hundred workers.

I personally never liked the idea of humans needed to work without payment but as I was not in a position to change the ways things are done, I have to go along with the everyday running of this household.

I was a abolitionist as it was my opinion that all forms of slavery should end. I could naturally not air my opinions if I was to stay here in this house for any lenght of time.

My first shock came when I found out the real reason my father wanted me here, it was to be a governess for his stepchildren.

Yes, it is true. He has stepchildren, three infact. At first I thought they were obnoxious and rude, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was in fact wrong about them.

There is two boys and one girl. These children were uncouth and unruly I was told by sercants who could not handle them, they were said to be wild and had no discipline whatsoever.

At the time I started looking after them and teaching them I had no idea I would come to love them.

They reminded me of myself when I was their age, I think it was Emily's courage and Damiens laughter that made me smile. I was soon to learn not to show out my affections for them openly as their mother is a jealous person who wanted to inflict them on me hopefully thinking her children would hate me as she did.

Her children wanted affection and my attention. I was shocked when they confided their feelings of abandonment to me.

This was just adding insult to injury as far as I was concerned back then when I had no idea how this new country would affect the way I perceived everything around me.

Why would my father do this to me? I was quite puzzled. My father was naturally a busy man who did not have time for family and household chores. He was the governor after all.

I was sumoned to his study or office as he used this room for all his business transactions.

I was seeing this as a business transaction after all he expected me to work for him.

I was shocked when he said "You will do this favor for my wife while you wait for your new husband to arrive. This was naturally the last straw as far as I was concerned.

What new husband? I was confused as I have not had a husband...

"This man is supposed to arrive in a few months time ,ok. In the meantime you can keep yourself useful and help out with these chores." he said all this while handing out a list of chores he wanted me to do in addition to the governess "job" he expected me to do.

I was shocked when he said "Why are you looking shocked and displeased ,your new 'Mother' is making room for you in this household and I personally expect you to behave with respect and do as you are told,".

I asked about being paid as I expected to get a wage. When my father told me I should be grateful to be allowed to stay here I shouted "So you expect me to be a slave in your household!"

My fathers reaction was to slap me in the face and then storm out of the room.

I had not expected that to happen. My face was sore where his large hand had landed on my face.

I was feeling angry, yet I had no choice but to do as I was told to do. Sadly I will not be free to return to England as I had expected to be able to do. Sadly I had placed too much trust in my father.

I had not expected him to do these deceptive moves on me. I was not the important person in my father's life. My new stepmother was a strategist , she was very good at manipulating everyone around her.

I now knew my father was a strategist as well, he used my love and trust against me.

From the start of my new life here I was demoted to service of my new stepmother. I was shocked when the children were introduced to me.

Emily was the eldest. She was twelve years old, then came Damien he was nine years, lastly came baby Amy she was two years old.

Emily had my admiration from the start as she was very protective and loving towards her sister. I felt an immediate bond towards her. I studied at Oxford university in England, not anything great but a meer teaching deploma. I had not finished the course but my father would not have known that as he did not worry too much about me and what I had been up to. I now wished that I had finished my degree of teaching as I could have been a great governess that would have been a lot of freedom for me in England. I was so very much excited coming here yet now I am appalled at being treated in this fashion.

I now realise I could have even been happy staying here instead of actually being confronted by the nightmarish truth of a husband in my future.

I have never been left alone with any man and this prospect of being forced to be alone with my so called new husband was something I never relished. I might be a prude or a puritan but I did not relish the thought of someone touching me.

My new friend is surprisingly the cook. I decided to help her with my signatory dishes as I had learned ti make beautifull pies and other delicate afternoon tea cakes.

The children enjoyed the cakes,I just wish my father enjoyed them as well.