Master Gallagher

Called it a warning

"I-i.."

"I d-don't know what to do." I told my mother, she rubbed gentle circles on my back and even after that.. I still could not stop crying. Everything was falling apart. I cried more because I had absolutely no one. My mother did not count, this was the bed, I had made and I had to lie on it.

"Mama?" I finally raised my head. She waited for me talk.. "Did you even love father?"

"Honestly..." She looked as if she was in deep thought for some seconds. "Even I, do not know."

I simply nodded.

"Do you love Elliot?" She asked.

I only felt bitterness. "I could never!" I spat.

"I still cannot take that he verily treated you the way he did."

"My life would have never been this way... if you had not accepted that I take the housekeeping job."

I needed someone to blame, I needed that to comfort myself with lies.

My mother did not seem triggered by what I had said. "Just remove it."

"What?!"

"You regret it so I suppose you don't have to go through with this. Worse, that Elliot and William are in no way supporting you."

"William wants this child!" I quickly defended.

"Do you?"

I sighed heavily.

"...I do..."

"You have to realize that once this child is here, there is no going back." She paused. "This baby won't be something you can just make disappear. There will be a lot of conundrums around here, you have to be ready to answer questions and face the consequences. Dare, I say... Lady Tracy will not be very welcoming."

"You don't have to remind me.." I sighed.

"I have to because you need to know that raising a child is no child's play."

"Mother please.."

"You're doing this for William." She said and I knew it was true even though, I would never ever accept it. I kept quiet and still. "You're still hoping that this will bring you together, I'm afraid it won't. William will never be yours to keep whether you give him a child or not. Let that sink in. You have let your dreaming get to far, go apologize to Elliot and—"

"No!"

"Nashe—"

"No, I won't. You have the worst advises. William r***d me and you told me to serve him instead. This is all your fault. I did not accept to work in that house but you did solemnly on my behalf."

"Grow up!" My mother spat. This made me cry... I did not understand why even the smallest of things ticked me off.

"You're either having this child or not having this child. Do not put your blame on me, I did nothing wrong by wishing my daughter a better life."

"A better life? Really mother, you knew exactly what would have been happening the minute I sat foot in that house!"

"Better than working in the field. You have not once in your life experienced the harsh life. It was all because of me and constantly protecting you from it all and you're being very ungrateful."

"I am grateful..." I sighed. "I just do not want to sleep with men for better living conditions... it's just not something I would—"

This made my mother sardonically laugh. She clapped her hands once before chuckling down. "I'm afraid that's exactly what you have been doing. It's quite hypocritical of you to judge your own mother when that is exactly the same thing you have been up to."

"No!" I grumpily mumbled.

"You have a lot of growing up to do missy! You're not a child anymore and I will not be taking anymore judgement from my daughter of all people because you're very very ungrateful! I have had people badmouth me all around the plantations calling me all sorts of names; I never once cared but for you to tell me that every single sacrifice I have ever made for you is invalid because of how I managed to receive it."

I huffed.

There was awkward silence.

"I did not mean to offend you.." I finally said.

"What did you mean to do then?"

"I apologize."

"Mhm.."

"I know you love him... and it's going to your head. I will not comfort you with lies unfortunately..."

"What do you want me to do then?"

"That's your decision."

Before I could speak, we were interrupted from basking in the sun.

"Lady Martha is requesting of you before you leave." The house butler said immediately turning to go.

"You better hurry then!"

"I'm afraid..."

"She is a nice person, trust me. She might loathe the thought of me but I know she won't ever harm anything that was close to Frederick's heart." My mother replied cooly seeming not to care much.

"Nothing makes sense around here. You with her husband and her with father. This makes my head hurt." I said standing up quickly wiping my tears away and making myself presentable before I went on to see her.

"There's a difference. I do not and never will like her husband, love is out of question. I hate him but doing what I did made things a tad bit better for me around here. Your father and Martha really loved each other. No, they never did anything sexual.. Fredrick was my best friend. He would have told me. They just shared glances from afar and had little conversations that would have him smiling all day."

"Oh..." I replied, speechless.

"Go on now, her son might be an i***t but she can knock some sense into him." This made me laugh... a little. "He is the smartest man, I know actually; he only makes bad decisions when it comes to me."

"That's how you can always tell if someone is in love with you. They cannot think straight, they think with their feelings, desires and selfishness to have you with them forever. It comes off as conceited evilness but... it's a shade of hidden love." She explained.

"Uh.. I guess."

"You know exactly what I mean. Come give me a hug before you go then... you can not still be upset with your mama!!"

I didn't hesitate, I loved her with all my heart and she meant everything to me. Everything she had ever done was best for me. My mother, an absolutely gem.

—

Anxious.

I felt really anxious as I entered the beautiful decorated room with various paintings. Mainly about nature and so on. I had never been in this room before but that is where the butler had led me. Lady Martha sat there with a canvas and some paint brushes. She seemed concentrated on her work.

"Lady Martha, the girl.." the butler announced. It annoyed me because he felt at a higher stature. Yes, he was white but he was still a butler and that didn't not make him any better than us. Butler was actually in fact a better word for servant.

"Panashe..." Lady Martha expressed joyfully. She wore a beautiful Victorian bustle corset dress. I had always liked them but it wasn't something people like me would be caught wearing. Her blonde hair was styled to perfection, she looked like a realistic version of a Queen. "I'm so happy to see you. I hope all is well.." she pulled me into a hug, I was s-surprised..

"Hector, hand me a new pair of gloves, would you?"

"Ofcourse Lady Martha." The butler said dismissing himself, he gave me a nasty look before nodding away.

"I have been painting since sunrise, I lost track of time dear. I heard you were here, I thought I'd check up on you and the child." She said washing her hands in a porcelain basin. She then dried her hands with a posh towel. In all honesty she intimidated me... not even lady Tracy acted this way. Rumors around the commune stated that she was the fifth cousin of the French royal family. Yes, she had an accent but it was not as thick anymore. She had become accustomed to the English.

"Uh thank you, Lady Martha. I'm well thanks." I replied.

The butler immediately came in with purple gloves that matched Lady Martha's elegant corset dress. I didn't understand how someone... so beautiful would marry that old heinous devil Master Joshua. Sure the Gallagher were the top rich English man in the land and slave trade but it still befuddled me. She was practically royal even her mannerisms.

"Should I run your bath, Lady Martha?" The butler asked.

"No no, that will be all Hector."

"I have to remind you that... you have tea with Lady Chamberlain, she wrote to you a few days back."

"Hector please, it can wait. Excuse us please.."

Hector didn't seem pleased, he threw me a death glare before walking out. Closing the door right behind him. Something about Hector did not sit well with me.

"I understand William has to leave with his father for a few months." She said. "Come sit dear?" She patted on the lavish leather brown Victorian couch. Even the wood around it looked properly shined, if I looked close enough... I could see my face. It made me wonder why William choose to live a normal life with Lady Tracy while his parents lived like royals. His house was big but not this lavish. Perhaps... he had enough of the extravagant lifestyle growing up.

I looked at the dress that I was wearing. It wasn't exactly clean. I did not wish to make a mess off her couch. More-so I felt out of place everything was sparkling clean.

"Come on.." she persuaded.

"I'd rather stand, Lady Martha."

"Don't be silly!" She said with a smile.

"Are you eating well? I could request of Hector to have the kitchen servants make us something? Preferably healthy for the baby."

"No no... I'm fine." I panicked because all I could think of was the etiquette of eating. I would not feel comfortable, I did not even know the different types of forks. I preferred to eat hastily. She intimidated me so much, It made me overthink everything.

"Well alright then... I want you to know that I'm here for you. Yes, William will be gone but that means Joshua as well. Everyone will be delighted to have a breath of fresh air especially the workers."

I nodded not knowing what to say. Should I tell her I loathe her husband or should I pretend to be respectful of him... rather I not say anything. After I told William I wished him death and Elliot the truth.

"Thank you." I simply said.

"You can be open with me, no need to be reserved dear. I was once young too."

"What if William is not here in time for the birth?" I asked fiddling with my fingers.

"Of course he will be here. He plans on delivering the baby himself. As we speak, he is helping the Frances Durham's wife deliver their second child."

I only nodded.

"I don't think I should keep this child. I do not want to ruin his marriage especially for Liam. I do not want any trouble for me or my mother.."

"I see that it worries you a lot."

I nodded.

"It's your decision but personally I'm excited for this child. It will be hard but I promise to be there even when my son makes rush decisions." She paused. "He, really loves you. It's sad that circumstances don't allow."

She quickly added onto it.

"I understand it's hard to be able to forgive and love someone who has manhandled you and r***d you before. Joshua is no saint either... but I'm here for my kids sake. Helpless and miserable, yes but I want to be able to give you and William what I couldn't have with Fredrick."

I didn't say anything.

"He will come back, even earlier than you expect. Just don't let him leave for Australia without straightening things out. Don't let him go with a heavy heart. Once he is off, letters are hard to get across. You need need to talk to him before he leaves... that's all I'm asking. If you're going to abort? Let him know that there will be no child when he returns. If you won't? Just let him know how you feel. Make him understand. He is miserable... I have never seen him this tormented."

Suddenly Hector came in.

"Master Joshua requests of you to join him for lunch at the second wing dining hall."

"Very well, Hector. Mind you, learn to knock!"

"Ofcourse Lady Martha, my apologies."

"I better leave, again thank you." I told her. I hurried to the door before she could hug me. Hector was giving me a deadly eye. As I walked down the hallway, the butler followed behind me.

"We haven't had this much drama in so long. You're in for a treat if you think Princess will defend you from Master Joshua." He said with a chuckle. "If I were you, I'd better hurry and hang myself."

With that Hector walked off in a different direction. Shivers ran down my spine. How much of everything did he know?

—

Any predictions?