Thankfully, Derrick seemed content to go slowly. He sat holding her hand, and stroking just the top of it for at least ten minutes. The sky was a little cloudy tonite, and it obscured the points of light which intrigued Lizzie. Derrick looked over at her from time to time, then back at the stars. It was difficult, but she tried to have a smile for him. It had never been a chore before; now, it seemed all she could manage to keep from pulling her hand away. What he was doing felt very pleasant, but she wasn’t so sure she wanted him to be the one doing it.
“You must be tired,” she heard him say.
“I’ve been up since early this morning,” Lizzie answered, grateful for the excuse.
“We could turn in early tonite if you like,” Derrick suggested.
She didn’t seem eager to have sex. If she really was a virgin, as she claimed to be, then that was understandable. Derrick wasn't so sure he was up to dealing with a virgin at this late hour. And he needed to be up early if he wanted to take a look at the papers before Lizzie arose in the morning.
Lizzie was relieved by the suggestion to go to bed early. It would be difficult to sleep with Derrick after the conversation they had recently concluded. She wasn’t sure she could make it through the without giving away how she really felt. Lizzie had thought marrying Derrick would improve her life, giving her more companionship and greater security, and she had resolved to enjoy sleeping with him. Now, she felt as if the window in her prison had been fastened shut, and Derrick was her jailer. She could just see a last little ray of light through a tiny chink. Hopefully, that little bit of light and hope would stay with her… she didn’t know how she would make it through the rest of her life with Derrick without it.
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Derrick lay in bed and napped fitfully, pretending to be fully asleep. Lizzie became still, and Derrick assumed she had fallen asleep. He listened to Lizzie's breathing for a full half hour to make sure; It was even and unhurried. When he was absolutely certain her sleep was sound, he took a chance and reached over her, grasping the key she had placed on the windowsill. Derrick sat up, trying not to disturb the covers, or bump into Lizzie on his way out of bed.
He needed to take a look at the papers; Maybe the will didn’t really say what Lizzie thought it did. Perhaps his lawyer could find a loophole and the Manumission Certificates could be invalidated. He had to get rid of the children somehow, or at least get them onto the plantation working. He had no intention of living out the next fifteen or more years with children in his house that were practically African. A man needed to keep his wife happy, and Derrick especially wanted Lizzie to be happy… but this was asking too much.
The key made some noise going in the lock. Lizzie rustled a bit, but she slept on. Derrick turned the key and pulled the drawer out a bit, where it got stuck. This was all he needed! The damn drawer was stuck, and he’d have to make noise trying to loosen it enough to get it out! He reached down and put his hands inside the partially open drawer. The certificates were right there on top--- at least he thought they were.
Derrick took the lantern and moved it closer to the drawer. He managed to get his hand inside, and pull two sheets out. He could see the signature on the bottom. The last name was clearly Henderson. The first name appeared to be Theodore. That was probably it; It must be Lizzie’s father. The other signature was his own lawyer! Darnit! His lawyer wouldn’t be able to take the job!
Well, he would just have to go back to bed and think about it in the morning. His hands were shaking and he was afraid of being up any longer; Lizzie might catch him, and then she would be very angry, he was sure. Then, something said, she would thank him later, if he could just figure out how to stop these papers from meaning anything. The thought entered his head that the papers could just burn up. He could just accidentally burn them when he was trying to read them. After all, he was curious. Why shouldn’t he read the papers? And why shouldn’t he hold the papers just like this, their edges almost touching the flame?
Lizzie was dreaming. In her dream, Lizzie saw a flame spreading into a fire, engulfing everything she held dear. Then, she felt as if someone were trying to shake her awake.
"What are you doing?” she asked..
Derrick was by her drawer, and something he was holding was on fire. He dropped the lamp. It fell to the floor, and caught the rug on fire, too. He was flailing about trying to stop the fire on the rug. Lizzie ran across the rug, catching her nightgown on fire. Lizzie grabbed the nightgown and used another part of it to smoter the flames, the back of her calves getting scorched before she was able to put it out.
“Cousin!” Lizzie screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping her hard of hearing cousin would wake up and help her. She had to get to the papers. She reached out to grab them and burned her hand. Ouch! She smacked the paper against the dresser. She needed water; The paper was already crinkling up at the top edge. The flowers! She broke the vase, and water spilled all over the papers and the dresser. Shards of glass cut into her already burnt fingers, and scattered across the floor. Lizzie couldn't help stepping on a few pieces as she ran towards the door. Derrick almost had the flame out which had engulfed her rug in flames, but he was still struggling.
“I hope you burn in Hell!” She heard herself shouting at her husband. She wasn’t proper to go into Thomas’ bedroom, but she was running there as fast as ever she had before.
“Thomas, I need your coat!”
“Lizzie?” What was she doing yelling outside his door at this hour?
“Let me in and give me your coat!”
Surprisingly, he opened the door, and gave her the coat. What presence of mind to not question her instructions! She slipped it on as she ran into the room and latched the door behind her.
“Did you get the fire out, Derrick?" Lizzie called when she heard her husband approach.
“Yes, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have been burning your things, but I can explain.”
“No, not now! Go back to the bedroom, and make sure you put some water on the rug, just in case. I don’t feel like talking to you now.”
“The flame is out. I made certain.”
“Douse the rug with water anyway, and anything else which might have gotten sparks on it…Take care of it now, Derrick! It’s my bedroom and my things!”
“ I will! I’m sorry.”
“Please, just go! Hurry! And get the broom and sweep up the glass, too.” Lizzie was reminded of the glass pieces in her feet. She sat down on Thomas' bed and picked them out as carefully as she could.
“Alright, I’ll see you later then, Elizabeth.”
Thank goodness, she had woken up early. Lizzie's dream had been telling her something, and she had listened to it this time! How many other opportunities she had missed! She resolved to listen again next time; It might not be logical, but it had worked; the certificates had survived! They might be a little smoky, but she could still read everything, except the top date, which was repeated on the bottom. But where was the third? Had it been burned?
“Derrick!” She was about to rush after him. There would be more glass to pick out of her feet later, and burns on her calves and fingers to attend to.
“Wait, let me come with you! Is this about the children, Lizzie?” Thomas asked, concerned.
“Yes, but, one of the certificates, he still has it!” Lizzie sputtered.
“Let’s both go. Can you put the certificates in the trunk by my bed?”
“Yes, the key is in that top drawer.”
The lid was flung open, and certificates stashed inside, and the trunk locked. The two then proceeded down the hall. The third certificate was still in the drawer waiting for them. Derrick had gone out.
They took the other certificate and stashed it in the trunk with the rest.
Then, Lizzie put the key in the guest room. She hid the key ring in the top of the closet, underneath a heavy box, and several layers of old clothing.
“Lizzie, let me take the children with me. I can find a good place for them,” Thomas assured her.
“But, they’re practically my children, Thomas! How can I just send them off to a place I’ve never even been to myself? Their mother is here and I’m supposed to teach them to read and write and raise them to be capable citizens,” Lizzie rejoined.
“Your father appraised me of his wishes. However, your marriage to Derrick places them at risk. The law is not on your side. It won’t take Derrick long to figure out where you’ve hidden the certificates."
“No, I can only hope and pray he doesn’t tear the house apart looking for them! I should never have married him. Still, I can’t renig on my obligation to them. I have to do my duty to Michael and raise them as best I can.”
“I think that what Michael would want primarily is for his children to be safe. I can easily take them with me when I go back to Philadelphia in a few weeks. They’ll have the opportunity to be educated there, as well.”
“ I have to ask Patsy what she thinks. And I need to consider the children’s mother.”
This was just what she needed! A talk with Scarlett! Lizzie sat down on the bed with her head in her hands, the bulky coat still covering her singed nightgown. Getting dressed seemed trivial right now.
“I wish I could help you, too, cousin. If you ever need a place to stay in Philadelphia, I can put you up. I know a good school that could use you, too, if you should decide to leave Derrick.”
“I can’t leave. This is my home, and my slaves. I know you don’t understand, but I need to be here to run this plantation. What will become of things if I leave it to Derrick?”
“I don’t know, cousin, but you can make a positive difference in the lives of some free black children in Philadelphia, if you choose. You don’t have to stay here and be a plantation owner.”
“I appreciate your offer...I hope someday I can at least visit.”
“You’ll be welcome... Perhaps you should get some rest; I’ll make sure the children are safe until Patsy gets here. Maybe they can stay with her in the kitchen part of the day tomorrow?”
“Yes, that would be fine.” Derrick wouldn't hurt the children would he? But she had not expected for him to set the certificates on fire, either. Thank goodness she had been alerted to what was happening in time to stop him!
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“I’m on my way tomorrow, Lizzie." The cousins were having breakfast in the kitchen. “I hate to leave with things the way they are, but I’m behind in my duties at the school. Lizzie, if you can bring yourself to do so, please send the children with me. I assure you, they will get the proper care and education all children deserve.”
“I’m sorry, Thomas. I do think its wise what you suggest, but the children’s mother, Scarlett wants to accompany them. I’ve been considering it carefully, and I just do not think it would be fair to go over her head and send the children without her. ... I don’t have the money right now to get a Freedom Certificate for the mother right now.”
“I’d be willing to speak to the children’s mother myself, if you’d let me. The sooner the children are safe, the better. The mother would certainly be welcome at a later date, if she chose.”
“You could try talking to Scarlett, I suppose. It’s probably a waste of time, and she’s not necessarily the most agreeable person to talk to--- I’m not saying that because she’s a slave... Then again, she has reason to hate me... I’ll give her the time off work this afternoon, if you want to make a case.”
“I would appreciate that very much, Lizzie. And I also wish you would reconsider going over her head this time. It should be apparent to you by now that your husband can’t stand the social consequences of having two Negro children being brought up in his household.”
“I know. I must do the best I can. My father left this place to me; I can’t let my husband dictate everything! It hasn’t even been six weeks since our marriage!”
“Just let me see the children’s mother. I'll do my best to explain things so she will see that a brief separation from her children is really the best long-term solution for them and for everyone else.”
“ I’ll miss them so much! But I'm sure you can give them as much of an education as I can."
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“Scarlett?” Thomas was immensely grateful for the rubber boots he wore, as there were several large mud puddles in the slave quarters. He hoped Scarlett would get the right impression of him. He now wished he had brought more common clothes with him. His manner of dress was more appropriate for the big city and Lizzie's wedding guests, than the slave quarters.
“You her cousin?” Apparently his relatedness to Lizzie was a disadvantage as well.
“Yes, I came for the wedding, but I’m not a plantation owner, Scarlett. Lizzie and I may be cousins, but we still have our differences.”
“You don’t look too different all dressed like that,” Scarlett rejoined skeptically.
"We all dress like this in Philadelphia,---white and free black, as well."
“Is that so? How do I know you don’t want to take my chil'ren 'way to be yo' slaves? Jus' 'cause Mr. Derrick don’t want dem ‘round here don't mean dey’s better off with you. Lizzie an' Patsy been lookin' after dem good ‘til you showed up and want to take dem off without dey mother... Lizzie and Patsy both ought to be able to handle Mr. Derrick.”
“Yes, Lizzie and Patsy have done well with the children. They would be at the right level for their ages if they were to come to school in Philadelphia with me. Scarlett, you would be welcome to make a living there, or come up to visit the children whenever you like. I’d be happy to provide you room and board at no charge for a few weeks each year, and I’m sure we could find you some employment, if you wanted to stay longer.”
“What kind of ‘ploymen’ would that be?”
“Well, probably cook or maid at first.”
“And that’s how I get this house to live in, ain't it? So you tellin’ me you want me to be some cook or maid, and then I’ll have a place to live? That sounds the same as here! When I get my freedom, I’m gonna do stuff like white people do. I’m gonna learn to ride horses like Miz Lizzie, and do big things. All I need is my freedom! I’m not int'rested in bein’ no maid!”
“I mean you no harm, Scarlett. You are bright, and the jobs I mention are only to start with. There would be others available once you complete your education.”
“What kind of education do I need? What does that mean anyway?”
“Well, for example you could take courses to be a teacher, or a nurse. And then there’s seamstress, but you would most likely need to apprentice for that.”
“Oh, well. Maybe that would be good to get… But I can’t come; I ain’t got my freedom yet. And I don’t want my children goin' off with a stranger. They already got a big house to live in, and they’re learnin’. An' they’ve got they mother right here if they need me. Lizzie promised me I’ll be free in a year. And I believe her. So maybe then we’ll come up to see you.”
“Scarlett, I’m not merely offering you and your children a chance to advance in the world. I know the situation here looks good for your children. Patsy and Lizzie are both strong capable women. The problem is Derrick. As Lizzie’s husband, he now has a legal right to everything she owns. And he carries a lot of weight with local people here. If he doesn’t want the children in the house, he will find a way sooner or later to get them out.”
“We’ll be there as soon as I get free. Mr. Derrick can wait 'til then. 'Sides he don't seem that bad to me.”
Had Lizzie not told her that he had tried to burn the Certificates of Freedom? Should he be the one to break the news? Or did she know, and like Lizzie, not want to believe that things could get worse?