Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Chapter 50: The changes.

"...I'm exhausted...please Merri open the door..." Austin pleaded softly. He could hear Merrigold's muffled cries. It had been this way for the past hour. She would not speak or reply no matter how hard he tried. Only her bewailing could be heard from the other side. He could easily break in but he did not want to. Austin knew he would lose his temper soon enough but he did not want to hurt her. He was seemingly trying to handle this in a civil manner.

"...open...for...w-what reason..?" Merrigold hiccuped on her tears.

"Why are you crying?" Austin questioned. "You never cry, this is so unlike you. You're being a child right now. I don't understand this."

After hearing that, Merrigold wiped her nose. She...did not know why she was crying either. She had been through so much and this was the one time she'd cuddle herself to bed and cry. She felt sick, her stomach was churning with rage. She felt nauseous. She was feeling so much at the same time. Hurt, nausea, confusion, dizziness, headache from her bawling... it was all too much. It was all draining. Asking herself why was she crying? She could not answer either.

"I'm crying because you make me sick. You make me miserable. You just had to come and ruin my life, this is all your fault. I do not wish to see your face. Leave!" She yelled from the corner of her bed, hugging her pillow even then she felt even more emotional and the tears wouldn't stop.

"I'm here to talk... open up, we will talk this out." Austin said softly against the door.

"What is it with you? It was Harriet at first and now it's Hilda. Maybe I should change my name to Herrigold. Suppose then you will take me seriously..!" She yelled back viciously.

For a second, Austin laughed.

Herrigold.

"Stop making me love you more than I already do. I find your tantrums are adorable."

"Piss off before I call you some very offensive words!"

"What offensive words?"

"You called me a lousy hideous nigger well you're a lousy hideous hillbilly...!"

Austin smiled, his head against the door. He found it funny, it was cute.

"I can never take you seriously, you're cute."

"Piss off!"

"Right..."

"I hate you! I wish you never came into my life." Merrigold broke into tears. Austin gulped down, he could feel the hurt and meaningfulness in her voice. There was no banter, she meant it. She spat it with every molecule of rage in her body. It... irked him.

"Do you feel better?"

"You think this is a mockery? Stay away from me please..!"

"...I'm afraid I can't do that..."

"When will you return to Manchester?"

"Uhm yes... maybe in....uhm never!"

"This is why you disgust me. You're a filthy compulsive liar!"

"You want me to leave that badly, so you can hump that dumbfounded imbecile you call a lover." Austin could feel his anger rising, just at the exchange of words against the door. He knew everyone else in the house could hear their back and forth echoes but he could care any less. "I can not believe you were going to be intimate with that nitwit if I had not arrived. You're so shallow it scares me. Where is your self respect Merri?"

"You're one to speak about self respect when you literally shagged Hilda with me in the next room!" Again, her voice broke into tears. Merrigold hater being this emotional.

"If you trusted me you'd know I did not."

"Trust you? I'd rather dig a shallow grave and lay myself to rest!" Merri spat with outrage. She bit on her lip expecting his response.

"You're so dramatic goodness gracious Merri. Open this door!"

"So what?"

"...I want to see your face..." he added gruffly.

"You can blink your funny colored eyes at Hilda, smirk all you want but it won't work on me. Leave this lousy hideous nigger alone."

"...Merri..." Austin sighed.

She kept quiet, wiping her tears. She was tired of screaming and yelling. It was quiet but they could both hear each other breathing even with the division.

"I'm sorry..." he finally let out. "Truly! If I had known it would lead to this, maybe I'd have introduced you to Hilda and have you scrubbing the walls as it should be."

"...perfect! You can never say anything right. Your apologies and compliments are always always accompanied by slander and mockery..."

"I'm sorry Merrigold Jones. I'm truly beyond doubt authentically genuinely honorable sincerely and every other English word I can think of sorry!"

"That is not my lastname!" She hissed at him.

"But it is—"

"It was my parents owners last name not my last name..."

"Stop dwindling and hear my apology."

"Maybe I do not want to hear it."

"You're beginning to piss me off." He growled.

"Leave then."

"Who do you think you're Merrigold having me beg like a pathetic dog outside your door. May I remind you this is a kitchen pantry not a bedroom. Yes, they made it to your comfort but even then... you're not that special to give a proper bedroom. Stop acting like a little princess because you're really starting to tick me off."

Here he was, Merrigold thought.

"Insult me all you want." She mumbled.

"I might have had my way with you and you're convinced that you have a leash on me but that isn't the case. You've pushed me too far and I will not live like this."

"Okay." She mumbled.

"If this is how you want to play it then fine Merrigold, fine with me."

A shiver ran down her spine, what was he going to do?

"I want things to return to the way they were before we met. I'd like you to treat me normally and I'd do the same for the sake of peace. I'd like us to forget all this rubbish that has occurred between us. I'd like to forget it all." Merrigold replied.

"Is that all? Because I can definitely oblige to that."

It stung, it was as if he was aiming to hurt her.

"Yes!"

"Fine Merrigold." Austin chuckled with hurt but he would not display it. "I'd like a cup of coffee on my desk before dawn. All the book keeping be put up to date before supper and I'd like you to go count all the stock and report it to me before you sleep!"

"...I don't feel too good..."

"Well that's unfortunate girly, you better have that done otherwise I'm obliged to whip you and this time, I'm not making a banter. Things are about to change on this plantation. Tell your other niggers that all their payroll is cancelled thanks to Merrigold the hussy!"

"...what is the matter with you..." Merri quivered, yet again not being able to control her tears.

"I wish, I never met you either!" Austin replied. "But I'm glad we can return to our normal lives."

"...Austin, how could—"

"Master Austin, do not ever address me in that manner. All formalities to remain formal. I'm not your friend and I'll never be your friend get that through you thick headed skull."

"...I hate you..." she mumbled with muffled cries.

"I hate you just as much...! But I will be nice enough to even allow you to be with your imbecile lover infact. I will even host your wedding? Wouldn't you just love that. You're a slut Merrigold, a bloody tramp, a hussy with not boundaries and if you think for a second, that I will stop coming to shag you then you're mistaken. That will not change, you will serve me whether you like it or not. You need to start doing more work than just bookkeeping...!"

Merrigold broke into sorrowful tears.

"...now..." even though it hurt Austin he had to put this behind him. He had to be cold again. "Get yourself together, brace yourself for the many changes coming soon. Good day Merrigold." With that he walked away off to have a cigarette.

Listening in her corner, Faith felt upset. He had to bring the two bipolar imbeciles back together that way... she could have Thomas to herself. Faith hoped she was pregnant but so far nothing was showing. No symptoms what so ever. Maybe she was speaking too soon but she had to work fast. She prayed she was, otherwise she'd be forced to seduce Thomas again. Faith had to get pregnant one way or another.