Whether or not I wished Mary to gain acquaintance with the wild one, I was ultimately granted little choice. Rebecca was assigned to the kitchens the next day and I was to be her shadow.

    "You must watch that one carefully, Alice" Rin warned, pulling me aside before we began the workday. "I trust you can handle her?"

    "Yes, Madam," I answered easily. It was the only proper answer I might give, but I could not help but worry. Rebecca had made it clear in her comments in the bathhouse that she was still eager to rebel, that she wished to intentionally harm her unborn child. If she were to do so under my watch I knew I could be held culpable.

    In the back of my mind I could almost hear Dreda's curse from so many years ago. She'd predicted I might one day have enough power to be forced into morally grey actions. Would betraying Rebecca be one such sacrifice I'd have to make for my own safety and that of my daughter?

    Rebecca said little as she was shown around the facilities, displaying an outer facade of absolute obedience. I was not fooled. I knew her true mind and held little trust for her but I wasn't about to bring misfortune on the woman without proof that she was doing anything more than adapting to the best of her ability. I owed her the chance to prove herself able to serve. I myself held resentment for my lot in life. That alone wasn't enough to condemn Rebecca. Still, when Mary came to lunch that day I was dismayed to see her eyes immediately searching out the wild one.

    I'd know Rebecca's exoticism would attract the child, though I'd hoped I might be able to mitigate her enthusiasm to know the new member of our flock. Any association with Rebecca was dangerous after all. I did not wish for Mary to be involved until I could be certain I knew how much threat there might truly be. But in my child's eyes, I saw how difficult it would be to distract her from running headlong into trouble.

Before Mary could bound to the new woman with her childish enthusiasm I went to greet her directly, fussing over the buttons of her coat to buy myself time.

    "Is she here, Mama?" Mary asked, squirming from the jacket. "Miss Aveline said she saw her in the house earlier. That her hair looks like fire. That she has green eyes and."

    "Enough gossip, Mary,' I admonished, cutting off her excited babble. "Indeed we have a new member to the kitchen team and you will meet her in due time but first you will wash your hands and help me set our plates as you know is your job."

    "Yes, Mama," Mary answered obediently, but I could see her excitement was undiminished. I was only grateful that Rebecca was in the larder and out of sight with Carol, a seasoned member of my team, counting the number of jars of preserves we had made the day before.

    As we ate, Mary was noticeably distracted, though she gave report on her morning when promoted.

    "This afternoon you will learn how to make your grandmother's prized roast chicken," I told Mary. A simple dish to be sure, but it is often the most simple of recipes that are hardest to master."

    Mary nodded, though I could see her eyes still scanning the room for a glimpse of the fiery red hair.

    "Miss Alice."

    I turned to the larder and saw Carol and Rebecca emerge. Beside me, Mary's eyes grew wide.

    "We are all finished," Carol said. The girl was sixteen, but rather short. The wild woman towered behind her, red hair spilling down her shoulders, uncontained in spite of the cloth wrapped around her head to keep away the dust.

    "Mama," Mary whispered far too loudly as she tugged at my sleeve. "Is that her?"

    I took the paper Carol handed me without answering Mary's question, inspecting her marks on the page that indicated their count. Of course my true focus as on Rebecca. I could see her from the corner of my eye, staring at Mary, and me, and then attention back again to Mary. I felt my stomach churn with discomfort though I could not quite understand why.

    "Excellent," I said folding the paper and putting it in the pocket of my skirts. "I will add your tally to my records. Now then, Rebecca, I suppose you should meet the youngest member of our kitchen team."

    Mary stepped forward eagerly and I placed a hand on her shoulder to hold her back.

    "This is my daughter, Mary. Mary, this is Rebecca."

    Rebecca's gaze sharpened more intensely on my child now, but Mary was oblivious, too excited to notice the heightened focus on her small form.

    "Is it true you are from the wild lands?" Mary asked.

    "Manors," I scolded. "You must first properly introduce yourself, Mary. It is not appropriate to bombard a perfect stranger with questions to satisfy your own curiosity."

    "She is your own child?" Rebecca asked, her gaze still fixated on Mary. "They allowed you to keep her?"

    I felt a chill run through me at her question, her clear desire (hunger) as she gazed upon my precious girl. This woman. This new threat. She too was carrying a baby. What might she do to usurp my place if she found I was the only one who had been permitted the luxury of maintaining my own kin.

    "Alice is my mother," Mary answered with her childish naiveté, not seeing the danger I felt encroaching.

    "Indeed," I said, putting a protective arm around Mary's shoulder and holding her close.

    Rebecca's gaze turned to me now, no doubt hearing the edge in my tone. Her eyes met mine and I held her gaze with as much strength as I could muster. This was my kitchen. I had worked hard to earn my place. Lost so much and then gained it back. I did not appreciate her heightened curiosity in Mary and needed her to understand it.

    "I did come from a free human settlement once upon a time," Rebecca said, facing Mary again and answering her question.

    "And now she is one of our flock," I said, interrupting her before she might share any more of her past. I was certain now that I would have no choice but to keep Mary away from this woman. No good could come of them spending time together. Already my daughter's spirit was too rebellious and free in its fantasies.

    As I suspected she would, Rebecca seemed well aware of my message. Her head lowered as she nodded her acceptance of my words. She was indeed one of us now. Not special or charmed for her wild birth.

    "Carol, why don't you take Rebecca with you upstairs. Our Master's study needs dusting and this would be an excellent chance for our new friend to learn her way around the main house."

    "Yes, Miss Alice," Carol answered. She looked distinctly uncomfortable with our tense conversation and eager to leave my presence. There were few who dared get close to me and I knew well that my attention was rarely welcome from the others who served under my command, even if it meant praise. All on the estate knew that standing out was risky. The rewards could be great if approval reigned down, but positions of power carried with them great risk and that risk extended to any who grew too close...

    I kept my arm around Mary until the two women were through the door and out of sight.

    "You must be careful around that one," I said, crouching down to meet my daughter face to face. "Do not share too much with her and listen carefully to her words for ay sign she might still maintain her more wild habits."

    "Yes, Mama," Mary answered dutifully. "But isn't it wonderful that Miss, Rebecca has known freedom? Imagine the things she has seen. All the things she must have been able to do." I only frowned in response.

    "There is no freedom for humans," I answered sternly. "That woman has lost everything she ever had because was never her's to begin with. She is human just like us. She has always belonged to the sibla, like all others of our kind. Do you understand? The best a human can hope for is the love of her masters. You have that, Mary. We are so very lucky to be together and safe. Do not throw all of our good fortune for silly fantasies of freedom."

    My daughter nodded but I could see her true mind. She was still enthralled by Rebecca, draw to her red hair and wild nature like moths to the flame of a candle on a summer's eve. The light that shone so bright but would immolate any who drew too close. Mary would not burn if I had anything to do with it. I still held power in the Dulane house and no ambitious human would take that from me or my child.

A/N

Thoughts on this part of the story? Alice is pretty paranoid atm. Is it warranted? Dulane's estate functions through massive distrust. All the humans are taught to distrust every other human. Constant fight for survival despite survival being so painful & lacking in true reward😔