Fate

chapter 11

Daniel's POV

I can't believe Bessie almost got into trouble because of me. I had to stand up for her when Judith was complaining.
Judith has always been a racist. Even with a lot of blacks working in the house she still can't mingle with them. I just hope she doesn't try to overwork Bessie or do stuffs to make her suffer.
Bessie always has her head bowed and always seems scared. Why is acting like that? If she's scared of here then she's free to go but she's enduring everything and is still here.

She must have a reason for continuing to work here. Although I hurt her,deep down I want to her to stay. I don't know what's wrong with me,anytime I get closer to her I can feel this peaceful, innocent aura around her that makes me feel calm on the inside.

I can't believe that in just two days of being  with someone I hurt so bad,I tend to get butterflies in my tummy whenever she's around. It sounds crazy,and feels crazy,but I kind of love the butterfly feelings.
Anytime I see her working, whether near or far,I can't stop myself from staring at her.
On two occasions I tried to get close to talk to her but I was always interrupted by either maids approaching, or my friends showing up,or Judith by her side,complaining of her chores not done well. Poor Bessie, she is always working, sometimes I find her dozing off whiles working. I must find a way to talk to her.
.
.
.
Bessie's POV
.
.
.
I

always get exhausted after working but I'm Not complaining because I know that I will get paid .
And as for Sir Daniel, I noticed that he always watches me from afar whenever I am working, and that makes me nervous and clumsy,so I make mistakes when I'm working.
It makes ma'am Judith always scold me ,but I am not really bothered about that.
Gradually my abdominal pain subsided as the days turned to weeks.

Now I know almost every room even though it has been a month since I started working here. I heard from Vera that Sir Daniel was to marry the Duke's daughter but she hasn't yet returned from her travels.
And their supposed marriage day has passed already. So Sir Daniel was betrothed to someone and he... No I won't think of it again. That night was torture but I have to move forward.

I would say it serves him right for not marrying her. Who would want to marry a rapist anyway. I don't have to care about his personal life so why am I even thinking like that. It doesn't make sense.
This morning, I was given an assignment to wash the table cloth. I was almost done drying them in the line outside when I felt a sharp pain in my head. I instantly got dizzy.

"Bessie, what is wrong?"

I heard a faint voice  but I knew the voice to be Vera's, because I heard the rushing of feet coming towards me.
When she got closer,she placed my hand in hers and gently took me to a nearby bench.
All this while,my heart was racing and I felt scared.

"Bessie what's wrong?"

Vera asked again.

"Nothing ma'am Vera just that my head hurts and I am having this kind of strange feeling in my chest. I feel like something has or is going to happen."

I answered with my head in my palm.

"Don't worry, I am sure it's nothing wrong."

Vera assured me.

"I pray so too ma'am."

"Uhm,hi."

I raised my head to see Sir Daniel in front of me.

"Good day Sir." Vera and I said in unison.

"What is wrong with you Bessie, I saw your head in your palms."

He asked.

"Well,she wasn't feeling a bit well so I made her sit for a while,please don't tell ma'am Judith."

Ma'am Vera spoke for me

"Don't worry about that."

Sir Daniel assured. I unconsciously turned my head to the left, only to see Joseph, my neighbour's seven-year-old son, waving wildly in my direction.
I rose,not caring that Sir Daniel and ma'am Vera were still conversing. I reached to the other side and I saw Joseph looking exhausted with his face streaked with dirt and sweat and..tears? What's going on? I immediately asked him,

"Joseph, what's wrong? Look how dirty you are. Did you run all the way from home? How is my mom? Is she fine? Does she have any message for me? Any news from Dad?"

The questions kept tumbling out of my mouth because I was anxious. Joseph's eyes were red and I got scared.

"M-ma'am Mary."

"Why,what's wrong with mama?

My mind was all over the place and I didn't want to assume the worst. Joseph's panting and suspense wasn't helping matters at all.

" ma'am Mary is not breathing. My Dad and the others are there trying to wake her up. Please come now."

He started to run away. For a while,the world stopped and I held my breath. Slowly but painfully, Joseph's words sank into my consciousness.
Did he just sat that my mom is- no! It is not true,it is a lie. Yes,it is a lie. Joseph is pulling my legs. He is a really good actor, getting himself to cry and look tired.
But something in me was urging me to go so without thinking, I started running as fast as my legs could carry me.

"Bessie, what's happening?"

"What is wrong?"

"Bessie ,wait up!"

"Bessie slow down,you might hurt yourself!"

Sir Daniel and ma'am Vera were calling and running after me but I cared less. I just want to see my mom and be relieved. I reached the neighborhood for blacks and run straight to my house. I saw a lot of familiar faces trooping in and out of my house,either with a long,sad face or with tears.
My heartbeat grew rapidly as I barged in the house and into the room,only to stop dead in my tracks.