Bob hadn't thought through how he was going to introduce Jane to his daughter. Leaving it to the last moment, in hope of it sorting itself out, wasn't the kind of strategy he would use in business. In personal relations it was the usual strategy.
They virtually introduced themselves, briefly, and Jane disappeared to the kitchen to prepare a snack for their guest. Bob went through to the kitchen and announced he was off to the airport. Jane was mortified, not knowing how she stood.
'Master?' she worriedly said.
'It's all right, I've told her you're the housekeeper. She'll look after you, don't worry,' he said.
He gave her a hug, and before she could make a fuss he quickly left. Bob had no idea how they were going to get on, and neither did she.
Jane was apprehensive as she entered the lounge, with a sandwich and coffee.
'Hi, Jane. That looks good, thanks. Come and sit with me, and tell me how things are,' she said, with a big disarming smile.
'Yes, ma'am,' Jane quietly spoke.
At least the girl didn't comment on the automatic response. It was a habit form the time she served Margaret. How was she to address her masters daughter? What had he told her?
'Dad isn't very good at dealing with real people, just engineers and machines,' she laughed.
Jane was quiet, just nodding her head in agreement.
Filling in a gap between bites, she asked. 'So what are you two really? You're not just a housekeeper are you,' she chided Jane.
'Your father said I am, so I am, Miss McKenzie,' Jane responded.
'Call me Lizzie. I noticed the way you looked at him when I arrived,' she said, sounding amused. 'Don't worry, I'm not a jealous daughter, angry with you for taking my mother's place,' she seriously spoke, for a change. 'He's a widower and you're a widow, so why not,' she smiled, and patted Jane's hand.
'Your nice and quiet. Not like me,' she said. 'Come on, spill the beans, give me some gossip, shock me,' Elizabeth led her on.
'I don't know what to say, Lizzie,' Jane said, looking downcast.
'Cheer up, it might be better than you think,' Elizabeth said. 'You do sleep with him, or is he past it,' she teased.
'No, he isn't past it,' Jane revealed, wishing she hadn't. Defence of her master brought forth an admission too quickly to prevent.
'So you do have a thing going,' Elizabeth gently mocked her.
Jane couldn't deny it. She just sat there looking trapped.
'Dad told me to look after you. Do you drink or have some dire habits? Do I have to guess what's wrong?' she asked.
'No. I don't drink. It's, err, difficult to explain. I'm not sure he would want you to know,' she blurted out.
'Now that's interesting. What naughty secret are you hiding?' she persisted.
Elizabeth was pleasant and talkative, and gently pushed until Jane eventually broke.
'I'm your father's slave,' Jane stated, hoping that the girl was too shaken to pursue the matter.
'I don't believe it! How can that be, it's illegal isn't it?' Elizabeth countered.
'I am a slave, ma'am. I belong to your father,' she said, looking serious and defiant.
'How do you mean, he owns you?' she asked.
At first she thought the woman was putting her on, though she looked so sincere. Elizabeth was fascinated to hear what she had to say.
'He bought me in an auction, ma'am,' Jane stated, wanting to shock her into silence.
Elizabeth was agog. She'd been working in the middle east, and heard mutterings of slaves being sold, yet surely not in this country, and in her family home. This was something else! She wasn't sure what to think.
'You could just leave couldn't you. He's not keeping you a prisoner, obviously,' Elizabeth pointed out. At the same time she was feeling protective of her father.
'I've nowhere to go. He's been so protective, and kind, I don't want to leave,' she smiled, just a little bit.
'How come you were in an auction?' Elizabeth asked, with the feeling this was all going to be a long winded joke.
Jane couldn't tell her everything, or explain all the sordid details. It was still a bit of a mystery to her. How she got into this abject state wasn't something she wanted to think about too closely, or she might find a major fault running through her personality.
'I owed money. It seemed a quick way to pay off the debts. I didn't realise it was going to turn out like this. I'm not complaining. It's a good way to live. I guess it wouldn't suit you,' Jane pointed out.
'I don't know, what's it like?' she asked.
'Freedom, in some ways. My master makes all the decisions for me. I don't have to struggle with money, a job, where to go, or what to do. I just obey my master, and leave everything to him,' Jane said.
'Ethical decisions, what about those?' she asked.
'I don't need to question myself, or anyone else. If my master wants me to do something, I do it,' she said.
'You make it sound easy, even attractive, leaving everything to someone else. No worries, not problems. I see what you mean about being free,' Elizabeth said.
'That's right, that's how it is. It's unique,' Jane smiled.
'It's certainly not like being a Buddhist, or any school of philosophy I've heard of. I guess it's like asking what it's like being an ancient Egyptian. You have to be there to know,' Elizabeth proposed.
'I guess so,' Jane agreed.
'The same goes for the master, you can't know without being one,' Elizabeth said.
'You are. Your father put you in charge, to look after me. You're my master, or rather, my mistress,' Jane said.
She was warming to this young woman, as her mannerisms were a reminder of her father. She sometimes sounded like him too. She wasn't about to tell her that. As it might be objectionable, like Jane being told she was like her mother.
