Chapter 3: Rain or shine

Aretha

The car stops, I don't know how long we've been driving. But it feels like we've reached our destination. I pray that this life will be a little better than the last one. I think I'm entitled to a little happiness, don't you? The driver, opens the trunk and I get out in front of me is a plane, I think it's what he calls a jet. She gets in and I follow. Once inside, she sits down and says:

- Take her to the other side, I don't want to see her here.

I take the seat furthest away from her. We take off, I have to fasten my seatbelt and wait. After hours, we finally land. I think we've changed pay. I was in England. And now, where am I? We get out of the plane and like the first time, I get into the trunk and off we go.

I have no mother, and no idea about my father. My mother was a prostitute, I lived half my life in a brothel, until she died. I didn't know she was also a madam. After her death, the authorities sought out my closest relatives so that I could be close to my family. If they knew.

I wish I had been in an orphanage. I'm sure I would have been happier there. Since I was ten years old, I've been living with my aunt, a mild conversationalist, and her two daughters, one older than me and the other younger. Since I joined this family, I've become the handywoman! I've done as much as I could.

We open the trunk and I get out. I look around and see that I'm in a beautiful house. It's dark and I can't see well around me.

- Follow me, woodcock.

I walk behind her, she's so tall! And so elegant, but above all she's so beautiful!

We reach his living room. A man is sitting there. He's so imposing! He raises his head and I look at his face, a face

of an angel! But with eyes like ice. He looks me up and down, then asks:

- What's this?

- Darling, it's your new toy!

- What for? I don't need you to get me a wife! She looks more like a mouse that's fallen in the water! She's horrible to look at. Plus, she must smell terrible.

- Don't worry. I'll clean her up good. You know we need a surrogate. She'll be perfect, and what's more, she's a virgin. Can you imagine taking her wildly!

- For the moment, I can't imagine it.

Get her out of my sight!

- Where do you want it?

- You're the one who sent him, find him a dormitory and a job to do!

- Well darling, but, you know you'll have to get to work soon.

- Get out of my sight!

- Follow me, woodcock!

I follow her to a part of the house, I have a feeling that this little one is for the servants. I can see that the paintwork here leaves something to be desired.

- Carmine, Carmine, come here, we have a new employee.

- I'm here, ma'am.

A fat woman comes running.

- You find him a room in the servants' quarters and assign him a job.

- Yes, ma'am.

- Where's the lady who used to look after our room?

- She ran away, Madame.

- And what were you waiting for to tell me?

- I'm sorry, ma'am.

- Then assign him this task.

- Yes, ma'am.

She set off but, halfway along the road, she stopped and said to him:

- Every evening, give her a rose bath. She's also our surrogate mother.

- Er... OK ma'am!

She's leaving.

Carmine looks at me and smiles, she seems nice!

- My little one, what's your name?

- My name is Aretha.

- Welcome, my darling. Come on, I'll show you your room.

- Okay, thank you very much.

She takes him to one of the bedrooms. She opens the door and lets me in.

I enter the room, and it's just like the one I left behind. So, there's not too much difference?

- My little one, you've just arrived, if I have any advice to give you, it's to do your job well and not to upset the lady or the gentleman. They're very quick-tempered.

- Okay, thank you very much. Can I ask you a question?

- Of course, what's it all about?

- The one I have to replace, why did she leave?

She leans over to talk in my ear:

- It's Monsieur and especially his brother, both of whom slept with her when the mood took them while she was engaged. And they didn't care that she was with someone. She'd had enough, so she ran away. But she'll regret it when they catch her!

- Will they catch him?

- Of course, no one leaves this town without Monsieur's permission! She calls the shots!