Chapter 8: Rules and Rebellion

Two days before leaving for D.C., the little maid who helped me couldn’t help but mutter as she saw me packing:

“Ma’am, you sold a batch of old things and bought a batch of new ones.”

“But I see, they’re not much different from before.”

“The style and material are all plain. Jason probably wouldn’t like them.”

She spoke bluntly, with no intent to insult me.

I lowered my eyes and said nothing, just carefully packing.

It doesn’t matter if they’re plain; they’re all things useful for trading.

In another day, I could leave.

While packing, an agent serving Jason came to say that Natalie had sent an old nanny to teach me rules before going to D.C., so I wouldn’t offend the high society crowd.

I had seen this old nanny before; she was Natalie’s childhood nurse.

She had a kind-looking face.

But only in front of others.

In front of me, the old nanny was stern, straight-backed, criticized me, then lectured about rules, and made me practice.

The bowl on my head fell again and again.

Finally, the old nanny realized I didn’t want to learn.

Her patience and minimal respect vanished. She glared and scolded:

“I’m also an acquaintance of Mrs. Reagan. If she were to teach you, she wouldn’t be as easy-going as I am.”

“I’ve only taught proper young ladies, never small-town girls.”

“You are a senator’s mistress. Whatever grievances you have, you must endure.”

Endure?

I endured two years of Jason’s indifference, endured being demoted from wife to mistress.

I have a choice; why should I endure?

I replied blandly, “I’m not yet in the residence, so I’m not his mistress. I’ll learn these rules later.”

“By then, I may not even be there.”

I left the old nanny speechless and angry.

Within half a day, all the agents and maids in my yard knew I was rebellious and had offended the senator’s old servant.

I remained unmoved.

Until Jason came to confront me angrily.

His face was dark, and he scolded, “Melissa, can’t you be sensible and stop causing trouble for me?”

I raised my head, not understanding what he meant, my face blank.

These days, I did whatever he said, never disobeyed.

What else was he dissatisfied with?

Natalie peeked from behind him, her eyes dewy, aggrieved:

“Melissa, Nanny Green is my childhood nurse and has served many years in my family. She will also teach me etiquette.”

“I just want you to make a good impression in front of the senator’s wife.”

“It’s not meant to make things hard for you.”

Natalie came forward, acting like a good sister, wanting to take my hand. I instinctively avoided her.

Her face showed hurt, and tears fell.

Jason’s anger flared, and he ordered:

“Someone, escort Natalie back.”

He soothed Natalie gently.

When no one was around, Jason suddenly stepped forward, grabbed my wrist, and asked angrily, “What did you mean by that?”

What?

“What do you mean, ‘by then you may not be there’?”

“If you don’t follow me, where can you go? We’ve been married…”

He stopped himself.

He was sure I had nowhere else to go, could only follow him. I lied: “That was just angry talk.”

He seemed relieved but still held my hand tightly, hurting me.

His voice was icy and full of disappointment:

“Melissa, you are of humble birth, not even qualified to be a maid.”

“I can give you the status of the senator’s mistress only after pleading with my mother and the senator’s family. Do you know how much I’ve protected you?”

I smiled stiffly, heartbroken.

He never asked if I was willing to be this ‘mistress.’

Jason let go, straightened his sleeve, his eyes devoid of warmth.

“Be obedient. After I marry Natalie in D.C., I’ll bring you into the house.”

“Don’t make trouble, or you won’t even be a mistress, only a maid.”

I lowered my eyes, my fingertips white, holding back the bitterness in my mouth, and replied hoarsely, “Understood.”

The words tasted like ashes, but I kept my face calm.