The following morning, Marjory personally asked me what I would like for breakfast in the most standoffish manner. It made me wonder why she seemed so set on being cold towards me. I had no right to be bothered truly, because I wasn't really the lady of this house. But I felt entitled to it, because I was here now and I would be here for short while, but she didn't know the truth about my presence in this house.
I now sat on the table not caring that Lionel was not present. I began to eat and after two bites of my freshly fried pancakes, Marjory who shadowed me spoke.
"Would you not like to wait for Mr. Lionel?"
I was actually quite offended by the audacity she had, but I didn't have it me to react to her disrespect.
"Mr. Lionel," I said mirroring what she called him, "will be here when he can be, until then is it okay with you Marjory that I eat up? I am really famished."
My words came out softly to avoid any sort of misunderstanding. Her eyes rolled, literally. It made my chest churn in anger. What was wrong with her?
Not longer than five minutes later, Lionel strolled through the room taking the seat he took last night.
"Good morning wife!" He said with a wry smile.
He seemed excited so early in the morning. I had assumed it was because of his little performance last night. He had freaked me out, and he knew it.
I had chased him away and by the time I was getting him away from me, and out of my room, I had forgotten I was naked. I mean I got him in a towel as soon as we got the room, but I had not even realized that I stayed as I was.
"You're gorgeous by the way." He had said to me right before he stepped out.
The memories of last night dawned on me now. I was looking directly at him from the other end of the table. I had deliberately sat there and not next to the seat he had me on the night before. Marjory seemed elated with my choice. She seemed to want me away from him rather than with him. It was strange.
"Good morning darling. How did you sleep? I tried not to wake you when I got up." I followed suit making up a lie as Marjory stood there listening.
"I always have a beautiful night with you by my side mi amor. And I appreciate your quiet as you got ready, but I noticed right after you walked through the door." His voice was soft. It made me look at him and admire those features he carried around with him. He was a site for sore eyes.
Breakfast was slow, we carried on with our small talk until Lionel dismissed Marjory. I guess he too found it strange that she just stood there, watching, listening.
"I can show you around the town. Or you would like to do that alone?" Lionel asked me after a few hours.
His latter comment was right though, I would have preferred to be alone with someone to show me around that was not him.
"Can I go with Josey?" I asked him hoping his answer would be yes.
"I would have to ask Marjory for her, she usually has plenty chores around the house." He responded not really sounding like he had authority.
"You said I could have a comfortable stay here? And that you would get me what I needed?" I questioned almost irritated by his previous response.
"I know….I just.." He stopped in his tracks, then went on, "You know what, I will have Josey go with you. Sound good?"
"Sound's perfect!"
When finally Josey and I got into town, she tried her best to show me what was what and where I could get everything I would or may need in the near future.
Honestly, I did not need the tour, the town was pretty easy to know and its map was also something easy to master. It definitely not the reason why I had Josey come with me, I just needed someone who was more friendly.
"Is Marjory tough on you?" I asked her in an attempt to make conversation. I knew what I was doing. But she didn't.
"Not really Miss. I mean, all she ever does is make sure that I do my job right, and I appreciate that of her." She said with a smile on her face. A genuine smile.
"How are you related to her?" I continued.
"Well she and my late mother were sisters. Sisters that never got along though, but I guess that trend didn't fall on me when my mama died. I had nowhere to go."
"I am sorry about your mom." I sympathized.
"Does Marjory have children?"
"One, yes. A daughter." Josey said plainly.
"Name?" I tried to pry more.
"May is her name."
"I guess she has her own life… You know, like she doesn't work at the house like her parents." I said to Josey trying to capture more of her attention.
"Well she did, up until a few months ago when she had to stop suddenly." Josey answered innocently.
"Why did she stop?" I asked again.
It was then that Josey came to some sort of realization, like she had been speaking on a forbidden topic and needed to find a way out of answering.
"Ma'am I am not to speak of May at any time. I mean no disrespect though. I just cannot be caught having spoken about her." She spoke politely and also apologetically.
There it was, the story behind the meanness of Marjory. I mean I didn't know it well enough now, but I would soon. At least I had something to keep my busy while I was here.
At dinner, I told Lionel about my afternoon and how delighted I was to have gone with Josey. This time, Marjory was not present in the dining room so it made it very easy for me to speak with him as I pleased.
It was too soon to tell, but I may have started opening up to him. It was enough for me that I could hold conversation with him as I was doing now.
"So you like Josey?" He asked smiling with amusement.
"Very much so. I wish I could take her everywhere with me. She is a joy." I replied speaking highly of Josey. The closer she was to me, the better.
"She is a nice girl. But don't get carried away Mrs. Campbell, she has much to tend to withing these walls." He warned.
"Such a rich man and you can't get another young lady to tend to those chores?" I said sarcastically.
"If giving you Josey would make you a happy wife, I will do it. You know what they say, 'happy wife happy life'. I will just have to run it passed Marj." He smiled.
I chuckled a little.
"Why though?" I asked him.
"Why what, mi amor?" I hated when he called me that. It made me melt inside.
"Why do you need her permission for people who work for you." I placed emphasis on the 'you'.
"Because I put her in charge of my household! Do you have a problem with it?" he sounded offended that I asked. It made me realize more that there was something going on.
"A household that is 'yours' Lionel, what you say, should go without having to ask for permission."
"That is up to me darling. So now, drop it."
"Whatever you say Mr. Campbell." I replied.
"Great!" He seemed relieved, not knowing I was about to drop the next bomb.
"Who is May Lionel?" I asked quietly looking him in the eyes.
His face dropped.