Chapter 73: Chapter 73

Chapter 71: The ship

"You can never trust these women." He took a breath intake, looking for the strength to tell his story. "She was pregnant with that white devil's child all along. She agreed to marry me still... wanting to pin their mistake onto me."

"Uncle Eli, I'm sorry you had to go through that." Thomas said listening attentively. He had been surprised when Elliot had asked to have a word with him. They were not close, they were not friends neither family but they resided together at commune. Thomas wondered what was his reason for abruptly coming forward to tell him his story personally. There had always been rumors of him being played for an imbecile, rumors of his supposed wife giving birth to a mulatto. Elliot has always been a quiet lad, Thomas was shocked at his visit.

"The child is supposedly six years old now. She is still with him..."

"How awful."

"I thought I ought to come give you advise after hearing the other men laugh at the news of Merrigold being impregnated by Master Austin."

Thomas let out a cynical laugh. "News sure do travel quickly!"

"Too quickly..." Elliot added.

There was awkward silence before Elliot spoke up. "...she is not coming back."

"Huh?"

"She is not coming back to you."

"Uncle Eli..." Thomas chuckled. "I understand you mean well and you think you're doing right by me but... Merrigold and I are different. I was upset upon hearing the news but now I've calmed down a little. I could only be thankful that I managed to save her."

Elliot looked a little annoyed.

"How is your situation different?"

"Merrigold and I have been lovers since childhood. Yourself and the lady had only known each other for a few days. I was the first man to ever be with Merrigold in any way and you on the other hand... she deceived you about her virginity. Merrigold and I—"

Elliot let out a sardonic laugh, Thomas smile dropped a little. Surprised that he found this very funny when he was in fact very serious. "What is so amusing Uncle Eli?"

"What are you implying Thomas? Please do not prove the men at the commune correct about you being a little slow."

"Excuse me?"

"They were laughing at you and I felt sympathetic. I told myself I'd come here and have a word with you but you're simply proving them to be correct in every manner."

Thomas felt offended. "How come?"

"Did you listen to yourself speak? You sound naive, I was once there too but I have to admit. I was never this naive..."

Thomas remained silent.

"Merrigold is not coming back to you. She will give birth and continue living like a princess in that house. Her being pregnant with his offspring is already your loss. Forget about her, there so many stunning girls there at the commune. Do not waste your life away..."

Thomas swallowed a lump of cold veracity that he had been avoiding gulping down his chest. Perhaps it was always easier to stay than to leave. It was always easier to forgive and continue than to forgive and move on from your comfort zone and what you're used to. He loved Merrigold so much every time he thought of the future, he saw her in it. Thomas could never imagine a life without her, it hurt to think about. His chest pounded with uncertainty. His eyes stung with watery substance brought up by the painful echo in his chest, a painful graze in gut.

"Merrigold isn't Panashe..." Thomas muttered.

"...you're ready to raise his child?"

Thomas remained silent.

"That is exactly what you're implying. I'm starting to think you enjoy all the misery that comes with ticking Master Austin off. You enjoy this little cat and mouse chase with him. You love this cycle of torment..."

"Everyone can laugh all they want but between Merrigold and I, we both love each other and nothing not even a child will break us apart. I've had enough time to think, I may have been upset at first but... I forgive her."

"...you're denser than a wall..."

"I appreciate your concern but I won't give up on Merri, not now. I've already been through so much for her. I can not give up now only because she is carrying his child, at which he molested her. It's not her fault..."

"Very well then, you seem to know what you're doing." Elliot tried to keep his laughter at bay. Thomas seemed very very serious, it amused Elliot. He could not wait to return to the commune to share with the other men that indeed they were correct, Thomas is the worst fool there is.

—

"Wake up Merrigold my Merri, the mother of my child." Austin sang in a chirpy tone. A housekeeper filled right behind him opening the curtains, the sun deemed into the room, giving it more fluorescent. Merrigold having been awake for the past three hours, she squinted her eyes then glared at him. She did not understand how he could be so happy about this when he had been the one so against the idea. She was afraid this was only for a little while and that he would change soon enough. Change for the worst and turn to treating her horridly.

"In conclusion you did this on purpose..."

"Pardon?"

"I'm starting to think you did this on purpose. Why are you so happy? Why why why why...!"

Austin frowned for a second before laying down the tray of her breakfast on her bedside since she was refusing to eat or leave the room. He looked around for a bit before his eyes returned to hers. He thought she her trying to hide her bump under the covers was adorable. His eyes traced, her collarbone down to her... stop... he told himself almost immediately. She blinked at him confused at his lack of response. He wished he could touch her, touch her bump.

"We should both be happy!" He finally replied.

She let out a scoff almost immediately.

"We made this child with love and—"

"YOU RAPED ME!"

A little befuddled and not wanting to lose his calmness. He replied softly. "I'd expect you to be smarter than that Merri. We both knew what we were doing in Manchester. William said you're nearly five months along. Quit being daffy and use those bookkeeping skills to count your impregnation period properly."

Speechless. "...you said you were careful!" She added accusingly.

"Because it was all up to me?" Austin asked her. "I was but it seems fate had other plans."

"See! you reek of arrogance, you did this purposely to spite me."

"To spite you? Not everything is about you Merrigold. I'd spite you with anything but a child."

With a huff, Merri looked the other way. She felt guilty, he was right.

"Please eat...!"

"Then what? Will you let me go?"

Austin was confused. "Let you go?"

"If... I give birth, am I allowed to leave..."

"Leave for what? Our child will need you."

"Your child because you and your mother refuse to help me get rid of it." Her voice broke amidst. "You know you could help me, you have the resources and y-your Doctor friend but you just do not want to. Perhaps you want to see me suffer, your punishment like your said."

"Please leave my mother out of this!"

"We do not have to go forward with this at all. You said you hated children? Even worse that you're having a child with a slave. This is wrong, it's not right. You're only awaiting to cause your family more shame. You're smarter than this... you know exactly what is going to come out of me. It's unacceptable...!"

Austin was quiet, he knew she was speaking out of hatred and anger but parts of it proved to be correct. Hesitant, he responded cooly. "What is going to come out of you? Enlighten me." Austin teased, Merrigold sneered at him.

"A mu—"

With a smirk, he cut her off. "A healthy child, that's all."

"You won, I'm suffering. Your punishment is unbearable, I give up. You win. Please—"

"This is not a game Merrigold, if it was then I suppose we both win."

"I will do anything please..."

"Enough of those sinful thoughts, we're not getting rid of anything or anyone."

"I'm not eating, you can not force me." Merrigold added sleeping on her right side, tugging at her fleece... she coded her eyes and let out a shaky breath. Feeling hopeless, she refused to cry not infront of him, she had done enough of that. Feeling puzzled at the thought that she was indeed going to go through with this. Ever since her finding out that she was expecting, she had no plans of ever going through with this. It was all startling, it scared her to death... she could not fathom the thought of not only birthing a mulatto but also the whispers and backlash she'd receive. The shame she'd feel, it would be a clear testimony to her fornicating ways. The resentment for her first pregnancy carried along. Knowing he had not left the room she whispered.

"You killed my first child, I don't see why you can not do the same with this mistake." The maid who had been put to look after Merrigold felt awkward in her corner. Austin was afraid Merri would try to hurt herself yet again.The maid found this conversation to be very uncomfortable. She pretended to busy herself as she watched their back and forth.

Austin then walked around to the other side of the bed she was facing. Slightly kneeling to reach eye level. He replied. "I'm truly sorry, you did not deserve that. My apologies, it was never my intention to hurt you. Regardless I'm aware that won't change anything but I am sorry."

Merrigold had not expected him to apologize, it did not move her either. She looked away from his intoxicating grey eyes. She refused to feel anything, she would never make that mistake again.

"Our child does not deserve the same fate."

"...please leave..."

"We're still having a civil discussion."

"If you're not giving me any solutions to correct this slip up then please leave."

"...you want our child gone that badly?" Austin asked a little hurt. He tried to reach for her hand but she quickly moved away. Tucking herself with the fleece.

"Of all people..." Merri smiled with maliciousness behind it. "Of all people, it just had to be you."

"Well then I suppose if you wanted a different outcome then you should have considered—"

"Am I disturbing something?" Merri's brother interrupted. Clearing his throat, Austin stood up. Merrigold felt awkward because of his untimely arrival, to anyone who would have seen them staring at each other would have assumed they were serenading each other with sweet affirmations of the heart when it was quite the opposite.

"Not at all." Austin sidled in his stance. James was not fond of Austin and he made it very clear. The eye of anathema that he displayed, was enough to have Austin wanting to leave the room after their last encounter.

—

Somewhere up north.

"Sir, I swear."

"Be quiet!"

"I do have owners, they're the Cunningham's."

The Caucasian man ignored her as he scribbled down on his note book. She had been yelling and screaming ever since they had captured her off the side of a busy railway route. The other slaves who were in the same cage, watched as she continued to beg. They knew it was of no use. They had accepted their fate but Faith hadn't. She soon realized the harshness of the real world after spending days tied up and cramped with many other slaves in a cargo ship. Given very little to drink, very little to eat, whiplashes for making the littlest of noises.... they stayed in the dark, with little air supply, they did not know where they were headed. She wished she'd never left her home. For a second she was willing to take any punishment that she would have received.  They had no mercy for her pregnancy, no mercy for any of her demands. She felt herself going farther and farther from home, she wondered if she'd ever be able to return. Faith was only regretful of her decisions in the past year. Watching people die from exhaustion, malnutrition and thirst... scared her. The white men would simply throw their helpless dead bodies in the ocean and continue with their day. Perhaps this would be her ending.