#To pledge yourself to stick with someone and to find comfort in being bound to them in life
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I steal a few breaths from the world for a minute,
and then Iâll be nothing foreverâ
and all of my memories and all of the things I have seen
will be gone, with my eyes, with my body, with me.
But me and my husband! Weâre doing better!
itâs always been just him and me! together!
so I bet all I have on that furrowed brow!
and! at least in this lifetime! weâre sticking together!
#I wonder if Mitski herself understands the beauty and truth at the heart of this#I remember reading what she said about the songâ#That itâs from the perspective of a married woman no longer in love whoâs determined to stick it out#And she talked about thatâŚas if it wasnât necessarily a positive thing?#But she didnât really give further context on the relationship#But I really think this is what marriage is and what it means (in one way at least)#To pledge yourself to stick with someone and to find comfort in being bound to them in life#Regardless of whether the butterflies#or the transcendence!#of being in love is felt at the moment#I know itâs what Iâve witnessed in my best friendâs relationship and God has used it for so much good in their lives#Makes me think of how the Wimseys talk about marriage in Busmanâs Honeymoon#Peter refers to it as âthe bondâ#A thing separate from themselves even as it is formed by the two of them#A relationship is a thing#You know?#Or like when C. S. Lewis is trying to explain/imagine how the Holy Spirit proceeds from the love of the Father and the Son#And he talks about how the âspiritâ of a group or a family is kind of its own thing#(I think thatâs an accurate description and I think itâs in Mere Christianity?)#Anyway#i find this song so lovely and comforting in its sadness even#So yeah#marriage#lyrical analysis#also what on earth is this first verse#Iâm obsessed
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Songbird of Jamestown Ch.8 (Samuel Castell x fem! Reader)
Fandom: Jamestown ITV Series
Summary: You are among the English maids in 1619-1620 who have agreed to board ship for the new world in Jamestown, with the intention to marry the men there. You have chosen to find a husband and life of your own and pay back the company, than be pre bought and bound to a random stranger. Life is difficult and you and your friends struggle, but there is a certain recorder whoâs willing to help. Heâs kind-hearted and handsome ...and has already been pledged to another. You want to be with him...at what risk?
Chapter One //Chapter Two // Chapter Three // Chapter Four //   Chapter Five// Chapter Six//  Chapter Seven
Word Count: 7KÂ
Warnings: attempts at accuracy that arenât always on point, swearing, drinking, marriage, religion, a bit of bullying, angst that becomes fluff, and steamy parts but nothing explicit.
A/N: Here we are! The wedding chapter woohoo! I hope you all enjoy it!
âLove alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.â- Sonnet 116
âWe may not be in England anymore, but have a Boleyn in our colony,â you heard him smirk.
The tavern tonight was supposed to be full of people. You shouldnât have picked out that voice. Of the two dirty-faced men with dark beards leaning close over their beers. Yet as soon as you helped Verity finish another drinking song, you did hear it. As clear as thunder.
Some customers came by to press coins into your hands for the song or wish you luck for your upcoming nuptials. Those seemed deaf. You kept glancing back, wondering what you could even say.
ââŚMiss Woodbyrgâs fiancĂŠeâŚâ
ââŚher maid, even! Weâll be counting the days until Y/Nâs head gets lobbed offâŚâ the shorter one hissed.
âPoor Miss Woodbyrg, one cannot understand her griefâŚâ the taller one acknowledged with a shake of his shaggy head.
âImagine giving someone like her up!â
âA beauty if there ever was one! And Castell tosses her aside for her former maid! Why would the madman do that?â
âWell, why do you thinkâŚone large reason whyâŚwho knows what Y/N had between her legs that carried him awayâŚâ he joked lasciviously with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
âLook at her, singing away for tips here like some beggar.â
No, you wanted to interrupt, Verity allowed your singing since her throat is sore. But you dared not and could only nod in silent thanks as a teenage boy pressed a gold coin into your apron pocket.
âThatâs the woman Castell chose over Jocelyn. A dirty pub singer over a lady. Y/Nâs probably after his money. And he just wants a whore he doesnât have to pay.â
Bits of tears stung your eyes, you bit back your tongue. You turned away to the side to stare at a wall. Making a scene would not solve anything. They would think even worse of you.
âI thought the man was balless,â he chuckled âreading fairy stories and fawning over babes like a damn woman.â
âMaybe not! Now whatâs beneath her dress is all he can think about! She mustâve brought the man out of him!â the man gossiped, gesturing towards you.
The words simmered in your brain so much you hardly noticed an old planter hobbling towards you. His beard was streaked grey and his balding head wrinkled.
âWhy, that drinking song Iâve barely heard! Do ye happen to knowâŚâ
There were strong footsteps and a broad figure from behind cut in front of you.
âDo not bother the lady, sir!â he said
Nathan Baileyâs dark head cut in front of yours as he walked in front of you and you hid behind him. Samuel had paid him to help guard you at least until the wedding. It was a blessing and a curse. The new bride replacing an old one and needing a soldier accompanying her everywhere probably raised a few eyebrows, you wondered. But he did his job, never asked why, and was a decent young man.
âOh! I meant nothinâ wrong! I was just moved!â the old man pleaded.
âI was just lost in thought, Nathan! Heâs been perfectly respectful!â you cut in.
He turned to you with a huff.
âAlright, but if I see you or any man getting handsy with her, youâll have âem chopped up!â he spat.
You mouthed a thank you to Nathan. He returned to sit by you, nursing his water but always hawk-eyed. Processing what you overheard, the insults piercing your insides, you hardly noticed Verity walking up to you.
âWhy, Y/N--looks like you made enough coin to buy France! How about someâŚwhatâŚwhat is it?â
Her cheerful, freckled face darkened at you looking down at the floor.
âIâŚIâm justâŚI heard someâŚI canât tell you. Not nowâŚâ you said, glancing back at the soldier.
The tavern had plenty of men. And even if it was empty, Nathan was there. You were hardly alone even when you had to use a chamber pot or squat in the woods to relieve yourself. Not when you worked. Especially not when you ate. As badly as you wished to confide in VerityâŚthe soldier could overhear something.
âOh, Y/N, donât cryâŚâ she comforted, using a spare cloth to wipe your face.
âJustâŚsome people saidâŚbadâŚbad thingsâŚâ you managed to blubber out. You wished you could be strong, but it hurt.
She placed her hands on her hips.
âOh, pah! Damn them all. Youâre a good person, making money honestly, and you said youâre about to be married in two days! Whoâs the man?â
âYou donât know?â you gasped.
âIs he decent? If not, IâllâŚâ
âWell-youâŚyou havenât heardâŚanything?â you asked.
âNo, not even from youâŚand thereâs been too many weddings here I can hardly keep track!â she said with a shrug.
It was not a secret so why hide it?
Verity stood next to the soldier. Her husband was playing cards excitedly with a large group opposite away.
âDo you know the recorder? He made me an offer of marriage and I accepted.â
âHa! I knew-youâre far too pretty and far too sweet for any decent man here to turn his head away! But wasnât heâŚhe wasâŚâ?
âHe was previously betrothed to⌠someone else. They decided to end things. Her money was paid already, so there was no debt. So, he asked me to marry himâŚâ you said flatly. And technically, that was the truth.
She nodded in understanding. Perhaps even more than even you could say. Perhaps it was a fading in her eye. But she understood.
âLet me walk you home, dear, at leastâŚ.â She said, looping her am around yours. âI ainât scared of the bloody dark, I can walk back here backward without fear. But I canât have a bride fall on her face she has to keep pretty for the wedding.â
The soldier raised his eyebrow and looked at you.
âThatâŚthat would be niceâŚâ you answered.
The next morning, you fought not to nod your head off with Lady Yeardley. Sitting on her table reading as she listened was not too reviving an activity for the morning. You completed a reading of the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. She picked that chapter and had you read aloud the fourth through the eighth verses. Looking up, you thought she would ask you a question for discussion. But it wasnât a question, it was a phrase.
âWell, speaking of love- my dear...â she said kindly.
A smile broke on your lips. She took the brown bible from your hands.
âTodayâŚtodayâs my wedding day, â you finished despite yourself. You could hardly believe the words coming out of your lips.
She then took your palms and guided you to stand up with her.
âIâŚIâm so nervous, Lady Yeardley!â you confessed.
Was this even the right thing? You felt wrong. Perhaps not the altar was waiting at that church but the guilty nose of adultery. But you could not get the nasty comments of those men last night out of your head. What if they were right?
âIâve already been married twice and even then I was always nervous at my weddingâŚâ she recalled, taking the bible from your hands. And child! I know youâre afraid butâŚCastell is a good man, a kind man, you know that?â
You nodded.
âLady YeardleyâŚyou do not thinkâŚyou do not think Iâm a wicked, bad person, am I?â
âWhy, no, not at allâŚâ
âI always feel like I amâŚI feel like I am doing something wrongâŚâ
âYou consented to something sacred, Y/N, how could that ever be wrong?â
Now was the time.
âAnd I came here wanting a husband, a lord who could provide for me, take care of me. Someone who could protect me the way God protects us. And in turn, I would give him my respect and myâŚmy obedienceâŚâ you added hesitantly.
Her eyes beamed. Even if it wasnât entirely true, it wasnât entirely false. But most of all, it was everything you knew she would want you to say.
Two can play at that game, Woodbyrg.
âWell, of course, my dear! And youâve been blessed with the opportunity-there is nothing wrong with that! Quite the opposite in fact!â she cried.
You saw Nathan in the corner, ever diligent. He checked his fingernails for dirt, more interested in those than some silly female chatter.
âPerhapsâŚwe can pray todayâŚsince Iâm nervousâŚâ you suggested. Now that was entirely true.
âYesâŚâ
Both of you knelt to the ground. Lady Yeardley asked for a blessing for you and Samuel, as well as a note of thanks for both of you being here in the colony together. It was genuinely sweet of her. Your eyes were closed, but you smiled again.
As soon as an amen was voiced, you got up. It was the morning already. But one other matter was pressing on you too much
Saying your goodbyes just outside, you turned to Nathan and ordered âplease go with me to Samuelâs house, now.â
He trotted behind as you picked up your skirt and hurried there. He was puffing to keep up with your sudden speed.
âBut- Miss! Miss! Istnât it-you shouldnât!â he huffed out.
Knocing eagerly on the door of the short house, you spoke through.
âItâs me! Itâs Y/N!â
You heard a slight gasp and a panicked shuffling of feet and closing of doors. Mercy cracked the door, her lily white face face barely sticking out.
âWhy Miss Y/L/N! Why are you here? Before itâs time?â she asked chipperly.
âCanâŚcan I speak to him?â you asked.
âTodayâs the morning of the wedding! Youâve got a dress and everything to get ready!â she cried
âMercy, please! I just wish to speak to him! A little!â you begged.
âBut miss! Itâs bad luck for you to see each other before the wedding! You donât want that, do you!â
âI donât need to see himâŚjust speak with himâŚâ you reasoned.
She blinked her eyes, and then turned around. You saw Christopher peak his head in the space too out of curiosity.
âMercyâŚcould you cover my eyes and ChristopherâŚcover hisâŚthat way we can speak?â you asked.
They looked at each other then nodded. Mercy walked you inside and then sat you down. She placed her pale hands from her sides oer yours until all was black. You heard a few footsteps.
âY/NâŚwhat is the matter, darling? Is everything alright?â you heard Samuel ask. Thought the slight laugh in his voice was undeniable. âI havenât put the check in yetâŚso youâll have to wait a little while.â
âSamuel, if I am to do this, I have to know somethingâŚwhat am I to you?â
âWhy, why such doubts?â
âThere has beenâŚbeen talk on my characterâŚâ you blurted.
âWho has been speaking? Iâll deal with them if need be!â
âNo! I was worried if your intentions wereâŚif theyâre honestâŚbecause they said thatâŚI must have been some, some conquest to you. Am I? Please be honest!â
âOh, Y/N, I would fight those men if I could butâŚsweetheart, if I saw you as a conquest, would I consider marrying you? Would I consider using my own tobacco for you if I planned on abandoning you after?â
ââŚno, you wouldnâtâŚâ
âYouâre no prize. Y/N. Youâre my light, my friend, my joy, my beloved-you know me better than anyone and you care for me more than anyone Iâve ever met. And I know if I am at that church and I donât see you walk up to me later today⌠I donât know what Iâll even think. And now I feel scared youâŚyou wonât.â
You felt yourself sniffle âOh Samuel, Iâm so sorry! I was just hurt by gossip-can you forgive me?â
âThereâs nothing to forgiveâŚyou were hurt and unsure. And thereâs been many a poor maid beguiled in the past. You didnât want to end up becoming one.â
âI wish I could embrace you now.â You said, not caring who was there to hear it.
âWeâll have time for that after. Thereâs a check I need to give to the governor firstâŚand I have to be at the church after, would you like to join me?â You could hear the smile in his voice
âMore than anything else in the worldâŚI will see you later.â
âIâll see you later, Y/N.â
Mercy pulled your arm up and turned you around while your eyes were still closed. She walked you outside and closed the door. She trotted after you, but saw that the emotion welled up in you had let out. You let out a few tears and covered your hand with your mouth.
âMiss, thereâs already a lot to do for today- and thereâs something IâŚWhy, miss? What is it? Please donât cry!â
âMiss, thereâs already a lot to do for today- and thereâs something IâŚWhy, miss? What is it? Please donât cry!â
She took a handkerchief from her pocket, you noticed it was white with little strawberries sewn into the middle, You patted your eyes dry. Nathan stood by, quiet and watchful.
âMaster Castell will not want you to see you so upset! Especially not today of all days!â
âIâŚI donât think Iâm upsetâŚnot anymore. Iâm crying becauseâŚIâm happy. Iâm happy that I can be sure heâŚhe cares about me.â
âWhat have people been saying, miss?â
âIâŚIâll tell you later. I just have something to ask of youâŚwhat is it you were talking about?â
She took your arm, pulling you excitedly to the front of your house. Nathan stayed outside, always keeping a safe, polite distance but his pistol ever by his side.
As you walked inside, you were surprised to see Alice there with pink flowers in her hands.
âOh, Alice! Th-thank you!â you cheered, accepting the plants.
âIâve picked them this morning, so they were freshâŚâ she added proudly.
âThis is a precious gift, thank you!â
âWell, I have a giftâŚbut it is not this oneâŚâ she teased, her cheeks grew rosier from the happiness shining from her beautiful face.
âWhat do you mean?â you ask.
She smiled mischievously, âI know itâs not like me to take things without askingâŚbut you did so much for me, when we went on the ship andâŚand after and with everythingâŚI had to thank youâŚso I asked for Mercyâs help. Iâve kept the key you gave me.â
âAnd right glad I did, miss-and itâs most beautiful!â Mercy cut in.
âWhat is?â you asked.
She stepped aside and gestured to your bed.
When you looked on it, there was your dress. It was your nicest dress. When you packed it, you knew that if, no, when you were married at the colony you would wear it.
But it was different. There were decorative little flowers sewn into the skirt. A few tears and patches were fixed and smoothed out. There was a beautiful, shining material added to the skirt and bits of gold decorations that shone in the light. It did not look like just merely a nice dress for a Sunday church service. It looked like a gown a queen in a fairy tale might wear.
Covering a slight gasp, you embraced the two of them with another hundred thanks for their work.
Mercy tied up your stays and helped you put on a few more petticoats. Alice held it gently open for you to walk in. Once it was slipped over your body and buttoned, you noticed the skirt felt wider, as if you looked like you were floating. You slipped two lace gloves, the only luxury the company gave each woman aboard, Mercy nudged your arm.
âOh! Please! Please let me do your hair! Iâm so good with hair and Iâve had practice!â she begged with wide eyes.
âWhyâŚsureâŚyou can, Mercy! Iâm sure you do wonders!â you agreed, settling into the chair.
It had been long since England since any changes were made to your hair. Since first boarding the boat it had grown out some. Mercy was gentle as she tucked in strands, put pins in, and did her best to brush it through and present your hair in a way that was beautiful.
âAnd these!â she cheered, pulling a few flowers from her pockets and tucking them into the crown of your head securely.
Looking at your reflection in the window, they looked like little jewels. Alice folded her arms and admired it quietly.
âOne more right hereâŚI do hope you are not tender-headed, missâŚ.â
She fixed it in a way that flattered your face yet felt soft, free, and romantic. Aliceâs eyes went bright as you turned to face her.
âOhâŚoh heavensâŚyou look beautiful, Y/NâŚâ Alice said.
âI donât know if the whole world itself had such a bride!â Mercy declared, folding her arms behind her.
You were on the verge of your next hug when there was a knock on the door. Christopher walked in.
âLadiesâŚthe check has been delivered. In a few minutes, heâll be ready at the church.â He reminded.
âYes, but get you gone! You have to be there too!â Alice teased, shooing him away. She waved goodbyre as she left.
âIâll see you after, Y/NâŚâ
Your heart began to beat hard against your ribs. The time was approaching.
âMercyâŚMercyâŚthank you- you made this all happenâŚnot to mention all of that cooking!â you recalled.
âIâm only glad you could assist me!â she said.
âI couldnât let you do all of that by yourself!â
She smiled, sniffing up a few tears herself.
Outside, you heard up a few fiddles and instruments playing in the distance. You knew they always did at weddings. And here they were, almost like an approaching army but not bringing war but bringing joy and expecting not a battle, but the approach of a bride.
âYouâre most welcomeâŚMissâŚMistress Y/NâŚI bet the Master might swoon at the sight of youâŚâ
âIâm feeling dizzy myselfâŚâ you confessed.
Taking a deep breath, sudden fears clenched inside your stomach, images and bitter memories flashing in your mind. This was all too perfect. Any minute, something horrible might happen. Something would go wrong.
âOh miss! Donât be so troubled! Today is going to be the most heavenly day!â she cheered.
You nodded, returning the strawberry handkerchief to her.
âYes I willâŚIâll try to forget everythingâŚIâm justâŚnervous. I almost feel like Iâm going to die once I step inside that churchâŚâ you confided.
âWhy, you wonât die! But the master might die of unhappiness if you donât! You can clutch my hand as we walkâŚthat way you know that today is today!â
She handed you the pink flowers from Alice.
âAnd I might die of unhappiness if I donât make myself go tooâŚâ you reasoned.
Shaking it aside, trying to slow your breathing, you both walked out. You treaded through a bit of dirt, but you didnât mind. You kept your eyes forward. There was plenty of a crowd watching. Even if they were running errands about town, they watched. Your gown contrasting with the many drabber colors of ordinary day clothes as if you were a large butterfly. Some ladies even curtsied, and men took off their hats in reverence.
Finally, you saw the church. And a few figures outside the door.
Samuel was there, so was Christopher by his side, patting his back in brotherly congratulations. You felt as if your breathing would stop at the sight of Samuel. He looked incredibly dashing, his cape just over his shoulder, and never more like a prince than today.
When you walked up to the entrance, Mercy slipped out of your arm to go back into the crowd. You took a few soft steps to be by his side.
âYou look beautiful, Y/N,â he said quietly into your ear as the doors opened.
âThank youâŚyou as wellâŚâ
A few witnesses, Christopher and the Yeardley couple, walked in as everyone else waited outside. Reverend Whitacker stood at the altar. The church had been decorated with a few extra flowers than normal. But oblivious to any unsanctimonious joy, he stared at you both. He was a sour faced man with long gray hair and beady eyes, analyzing you both. And his solemn frown seemed a bit serious for a wedding. Had he heard the rumors in town concerning you? And believed them? You wanted to freeze. You kept walking up and reached the altar.
Whitaker began to read the first rites. Looking down, once your other hand let go of the flowers, you noticed it was shaking. This was all so happy. Too happy almost. But here you were, about to be married to the sweetest, dearest, best of men. You had braved separation from your family, a voyage on a ship, hard work, faced drudgery, heartbreak, and came close to death. It was all overwhelming, and the words and first prayers seemed numb to your ears. You found you were smiling a little, but you wanted to cry again.
You felt Samuel turn his head to see you. His eyes were a little bright and his mouth closed as if trying to keep himself from speaking or anything lest he should cry too. You felt his hand come close and take yours. You accepted it. He felt less tense, as did you.
Samuel leaned forward after a prayer to him.
âIf you would mind, ministerâŚI asked you about a passage from the book of Ruth earlierâŚcan it please be read here for the ceremony?â he asked.
âItâs not normal toâŚâ
âPease, just for this ceremony, I think it would be appropriate for todayâŚâ Samuel reasoned.
âIf itâs for this ceremony, I willâŚâ He nodded soberly, turning his head down to the bible and flipping the pages.
You turned to face Samuel. As the priest read, you could see him lightly mouthing the words to you. As if he was genuinely saying them to you.
âEntreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people will be my people, and thy God my God.â
A stray tear escaped you. But your smile widened.
Finally, you made vows to love and honor each other. Your voice became stronger with each promise âfrom this day, until death do us part.â
After a bit of communion with wine and bread, a final prayer was said. You began to breathe in a little deeper. You felt his hands were shaking as well. Both of you let out a deep breath as if you both were holding it in throughout.
âI now pronounce you, man and wife. You may kiss the bride.â
Samuel leaned forward and kissed you so quickly and deeply you almost got dizzy. Your hands reached up and froze, and then wrapped around, deepening it.
ItâsâŚitâs done! Itâs happened! I never knew it would happen. This day I never thought would ever come.
Once you walked out, almost in a trance, the crowds of people were outside. You wondered if they would jeer or throw mud at you for a second.
They applauded. Women in pretty dresses and their hair done in braided buns tossed flower petals from their baskets. Samuel took your hand and raised it up and men cheered for him. Alice even walked up and gave you a large hug.
âCongratulations, Mistress Castell,â she said.
More people, strangers even gave their good wishes. Nearby there was a small band of musicians playing fiddles, drums, flutes, fifes, and you gazed at them, smiling at the joy of the music and all that it brought you.
You felt Samuel gently put a hand on your shoulder as you listened, and then turned around and kissed you again, and you felt yourself smile into it.
âI never knew I could be this happyâŚâ you confessed.
âNeither IâŚbut I love you, my sweeting,â he said cupping your face.
You leaned into it, kissing part of the palm of his hand and grinning. A few flower petals went over you in a flurry and some got into his brown hair.
âYou didnât tell me you would wear flowers today!â you joked, following the wedding party as everyone began to walk.
âI guess I wished to match you!â he replied, he gently took a hand to touch the little flowers in your hair that was Mercyâs touch. In turn, you brushed a few petals off his shoulder and placed them on the top of his head teasingly.
Everyone went over to the tavern. Tables set aside; everyone went quiet once each person received a glass of ale. Governor Yeardley himself handed you and your new husband two each.
âEveryone!â he barked. The party stilled.
He beamed at you two. Glasses with ale were passed around to as many as who could get one.
âCastell is a good man, a man without whom our colony would be lost and dysfunctional. Every day, every event we see him scribbling away in the corner, making sure our history is secure. Y/N is an honest, God-fearing woman. Together are the ideal, perfect couple for our colony.â
âTo the health of the Castells and of Virginia!â he declared, drinking deep. The rest of you followed suit.
Mercy and a few of the women began to scramble in and out of the room carrying plates of food. Music picked up as everyone began to feast on the bounty saved for today. You enjoyed eating with Samuel publicly without a sense of shame.
âThat verse was beautiful, thank youâŚWhitaker isnât always a friendly manâŚâ you said.
He nodded and beamed, âIâve talked with him a bit beforeâŚand I thought with the conversation we had earlierâŚit felt right to have it in. Itâs from the Bible after all.â
People walked up to congratulate the two of you constantly. If you happened to be chewing on bread as someone babbled away, Samuel put a protective hand over you and thanked them for your sake so you could eat your food. Christopher was arriving as Samuel got up from his seat and embraced him happily, the two of them talking deeply with large smiles.
The same musicians began to play some tender ballads. You both enjoyed biting into your wedding cakes, the ones Mercy handed out, made with honey into it and frosted with powdered sugar. Samuel brought your hand to his lips and kissed it.
âIâd like to speak with Farlow and the governor, Iâll be backâŚâ
âIâd like to speak to the Sharrows, Iâll be back as wellâŚâ you said, both of you getting up from your chairs.
Once you had wandered, talking with the Sharrows, and a few more people here and there, you found yourself backing into a corner. It seemed as if almost all of the bloody colony had arrived and the air was stuffy with the crowd. It was fading to be the hours of dancing and people began to step away to form a dance floor in a messy oval in the wooden room. Silently, you felt yourself walk backwards. You felt the cool air of evening by your cheek as you got close to the door.
âCongratulations on your marriageâŚâ a voice as low and smooth as honey spoke to you.
âWhy thâŚâ
Head turning, your heart stopped at the sight of her.
âYes. Thank you.â You said to Jocelyn.
Your feet were stuck in place, and a word kept repeating in your head, âno no no no, no, noâŚ.â As hard as you tried to plaster a smile on your face, your food began to swirl in your stomach.
âMay I ask, what is Samuel doing tomorrow?â she questioned matter-of-factly. âWho is he speaking with?â
Her eyes looked down at your dress in surprise at the work and quality. For once, it was clear from your clothes that you were no longer below her station.
âHeâs going to just do his normal work of recording Assembly business. And thatâs it. Why should that matter to you?â you said.
âIt should. If you do not know what is happening in here, then youâre truly a dull woman. Youâve been married for an hour, you should know these things.â
You shrugged.
âI donât care to know them.â
âThatâs your folly. Give him a smile and be sweet, thatâs all you have to do to get a manâs attentionâŚit seemed that and spreading your legs to him worked in your favor, after all. Now you can use it to be useful.â She added with a glance in his direction.
âI have not spread my legs once to him!â you blurted quietly, glancing to make sure no one overheard. You had had enough.
âThatâs what everyone thinks now. Youâll have to-might as well be practical with it. But perhapsâŚyou arenât that good in bed. Well, when a wife canât satisfy her husbandâŚyou know what they say happens, itâs the nature of menâŚâ she said with a wicked smile.
A hundred curses were caught in your throat.
âIf thatâs all you have to say then I do not need my time wasted, thereâs guests Iâd like to talk to before the day is over,â You replied a little icily.
There was only so much you could do or say with people surrounding you.
âIf you are going to blindly let Farlow, Redwick, and Yeardley destroy everything, your time is being wasted,��� Jocelyn said.
She adjusted the hat on top of her head from tipping too far off.
âThey arenât much! And this isnât a day for politicsâŚitâs a day for feasting and my food is getting cold,â you dismissed, starting to walk away.
She swerved in front of you.
âItâs also about to be a wedding night and if you donât please him tonight with your pathetic body...â
âThank you for your kind sentiments,â you interrupted sarcastically. âNow I must leave, farewell.â
As you turned away, deciding it was best to be aggressive, you felt her grip your arm, pulling you in close with an immense strength that you were surprised Jocelyn had in her slender arms. Your stomach dropped and you bit back the urge to yell. Perhaps she was provoking you on purpose. Especially in public on your wedding day.
âI havenât forgotten. This will not make you any safer. Samuel gave the company the money so you could be his slut. Now no one cares what happens. youâre a dead bitch walking,â she hissed lowly so that only you could hear.
Fear gripped you. Your face dipped down, feeling warm. You could have sworn a head or two turned your way out of the peripheral of your eye.
You released a false laugh, your courage growing, and walked away from her.
âMiss Woodbyrg, what a funny joke!â
She looked stiff as a bust. Her soft, plump lips were growing tight.
âI mean it,â she voiced.
Biting away a frown, you heard the fiddles pick up a quick tune.
âYou must excuse me,â you said in an official voice as you could muster. âIâd like to have a dance with my husband.â
Fleeing as far from her as you could, you joined your husbands side on the other half of the room.
Seeing your face, his own turned dark.
âDarling, what is it?â he asked, placing a hand on your shoulder.
You shook your head, feeling one flower fall off a strand of your hair.
âItâsâŚitâs just IâmâŚIâm worriedâŚâ you confessed,
âCan you discuss this now?â
âNot with everyone around usâŚâ
âIt will be alright butâŚwould you like to dance-would it make you feel better?â
He gave you his open hand. You placed your own hand, blanketed by your lace gloves, in it.
âY-yes,â you agreed.
You got into lines and danced with the others finding him surprisingly talented. They were simple country dances that everyone knew so as many people could attend the wedding as possible. But you smiled with the movements, the switching of arms and touching of hands as you walked with him in a circle, skirts and the odd cloak floating like a birdâs wing. How couples could line up and run to the ends then run through the lines of people and still be together. Even if there was a mistake or a stepped toe, people smile and chuckled it off. Any worries were replaced with your muscles getting sore from the quick movement.
As the song ended, instead of a last gentlemanly bow as was tradition, you felt Samuel walk to you and place his arms around your body. In an instant, he lifted you up and you started laughing, placing your arms around his shoulders for security as he twirled you around, your skirt billowing. The others smiled at the sight.
âToday, I am the happiest of all men!â he chirruped to them, giving you a sloppy kiss on your cheek as you returned his embrace. It was comforting, enveloping even.
Though you felt yourself sight a little once he let go.
There were so many dances, you werenât aware your feet were hurting. Or that the sun long past dipped over the horizon.
Mercy picked up her apron and ran to you. In one hand she held a large cup of ale.
âOh, MissâŚ. Mistress! No- Mistress Y/L/N! No, not that! Mistress Castell!â she corrected herself.
"It's alright Mercy, I'm new to it myself!" She blinked away tears, rubbing it off with her eyes. Her chest huffed with crying.
"I'm so happy today! So happy! I'm so happy for both of you! How he smiled! I thought he would burst when we walked up to him! I remember how you comforted me-I was the first person you even spoke to here. But nowâŚnow you're my mistress after you've been my friend, and my last mistressâŚsheâŚsheâs so⌠andâŚ.and oh! I feel so much!" she cried, letting out pent up tears.
"Have peace Mercy! It's normal to cry! Everything's changing, but for the better this time! Just dance and enjoy yourself!" you cheered.
Returning the strawberry handkerchief, it was your turn to wipe off her sniffling face.
"I have to clean up all theâŚ"
"No, you don't! Just enjoy the party!" you insisted.
"But its ending! See! Everyone's walking out andâŚyou have toâŚto go home and I have to pick up the mess!" she refused.
Part of you jumped, already with a faint jittery shiver running down you.
"Let's justâŚfinish your drink, let's enjoy today while it lasts and not worry," you suggested.
She drank half of the ale in a large gulp.
"ButâŚyou might need some water, too," you added.
People filtered out with bright eyes from dancing and farewells on their lips.Â
Samuel walked up to you and linked his arm around yours. Suddenly aware of how close he felt, your breathing quickened. You felt flushed from all the people, excitement, and dancing.
He wished any slightly drunk guest's good night as you finally walked outside into the night. It felt crisp compared to the cramped dancing quarters and you shivered a little. Clutching his arm, you felt yourself become weak at the sight of what was now your door.
"Welcome home, Mistress Castell," he said as he opened it. "Can I carry you in? It's bad luck if you trip when you walk inside."
"Yes, you may."
He scooped you into his arms and carried you past the main room. Looking around, you saw more flowers were on the tables, chest, and desk than what was normal, into your shared room. You could have almost collapsed from the nerves and excitement.
The bed had been decorated with a few spare ribbons tied into bows. Just like people did for weddings back home. You even noticed that there were pink primroses on the chest next to the bed.
As he let you down, both of you stood near each other. His face looked as flushed as your and he placed his hands together in what seemed to beâŚtimidity it looked.
"Have youâŚhave you eaten well? People kept talking to us, I hope you aren't hungry from all of that," he asked.
"I'm stuffed, I can't take another biteâŚit was all good, though," you said, attempting to break the awkwardness.
"Have you had some water?"
"Yes."
"I haveâŚI have a little bit of wine I've been saving. I thought we could open it toâŚto celebrateâŚ" he offered.
"Yes, I would like that," you replied.
He hurried out, returning with the bottle and two green glasses. You sat on the edge of the bed and watched as he poured you both a glass. Sitting by your side, you clinked your glasses together in a toast, having your first sip.
"Your house looks wonderful with the flowers" you complimented.
"I did it for you. Well, Mercy did too. We both picked them. She laughed at me picking them."
"You've picked plenty of flowers before..." you gestured to the primroses.
"I thought you would like that touch. Even then I wanted somehow to show you how much I adore youâŚ"
Leaning forward, though wine was still on your breath, you took his hand and kissed it, leaving a small mark on it.
"I hope every day I can show how much I adore you as wellâŚ" you said.
He gave you another kiss, trailing over from your mouth to the crook of your neck. You gasped at the feeling. Your hands naturally went to hold onto his arms, but you felt his hands wander to the buttons on the back of your dress, teasing away at them much to your mixed nerves and thrill. But then as he pressed another kiss on a certain spot on your neck you had to let out a laugh.
"Mmph, what is it, Y/N?" he asked quietly.
You replied, "your beard tickles!"
Both of you laughed a little from the released tension.
"It's been itching me since morning," he confessed. Â
"I can't take it off, but I can help you with your cloak, can I?" you offered.
Sitting so you could reach it, you unhooked it and set it away.
He undid a few buttons of his doublet then paused.
"And let me help youâŚfirst with your hairâŚ" he said.
Nodding, you sat and felt his hands touch it, letting strands free. He took away the flowers, pins, the turns, and tucks. You realized he never saw you with your hair downâŚand felt the last part fall free. You looked at him, with your hair freely released and everything set aside. His eyes were sweet. He gently took a strand.
"You'll have to get used to it being down all the time, nowâŚ" you commented.
"I won't mind at allâŚwould you like to change out of your clothes?" he asked.
"Yes, I think it's time I did."
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"Yes, thank you." You had more to remove than he did.
His hand went to the back of your dress and you felt him unbutton it. Slowly, as if he was touching a piece of glass, he removed the dress, then helped you out of your petticoats, and slowly undid your stays, figuring out how to loosen them. The cups of wine were left on the chest, almost entirely drunk. You felt yourself feel warmer with each bit of skin that was slowly being revealed to him. Finally, you felt it loose enough to be taken over your head.
He looked down as you stood before him in your shift, and only your shift. His eyes softened.
"IâŚI know what you expect of me tonightâŚ" you confessed, jumping right to it.
"IâŚIâŚuh, yes. IâŚI don't expectâŚexpect anythingâŚ" he said, his ears going pink.
"Have youâŚdo you have any diseases? You can be honest with me," you pleaded.
"No, I don't," he answered, shaking his head.
He began to undo the buttons of his doublet and removed it, in his white shirt.
"Have you been with anyone?" you asked, placing your hands in your lap.
He froze. His blush increased to his whole face.
"Twice. You will be ashamed of meâŚ"
"You can tell me. Was it anyone here?" you asked.
"No. I was of age and wanted to prove to my brothers that I was a real man. I decided to try a prostitute in OxfordâŚI got too attached. I saved up to see her second time. I wrote her a few love letters and tried to visit her, and she laughed me away afterâŚI was young and foolish," he recalled.
"You just didn't knowâŚ" you commented thoughtfully.
He removed his shoes, stockings, and pants. Now he was also in his shift as you were.
"And you? I know they all boast of the purity of the maids to make wivesâŚbut we're alone now, Y/N. You can tell me. Have you been with anyone?" Samuel asked in turn.
You looked him in the eyes, your beloved, and told him honestly about what experience or lack of experience you have had. He was nonjudgmental and nodded in understanding. Jocelyn's words from earlier flashed in your mind.
"I just don't want toâŚto... to displease you," you said, looking down at your feet.
"You're my wife now, I made vows before God to protect and cherish you. I don't care about being pleased. I just want to tell you that you'll always be safe with me. And you shouldn't be forced to anything. We don't have to do anything tonight." He assured you.
He felt a slight rush of excitement as he went up to kiss you again, feeling butterflies in your body as he did. But you felt an aching further below. You pressed your lips further, tasting the wine. You began to lay down on the bed, feeling it shift with your new weight on it.
He turned his head up and asked "would youâŚwould you like to make love tonight? If you don't want to, IâŚ"
"Yes!" you cried.
"Yes?âŚare youâŚ"
"It's our wedding night! AndâŚI want you too muchâŚ" you replied bluntly, looking in his eyes. Perhaps it wasn't ladylike to admit it. He didn't seem to care. And it was the truth.
You took his hands and led them to your sides. He laid you down softly on top of you, but not his whole weight. You could even feel how badly he wanted you from under his shift.
"Well, if my wife insists, I'll obeyâŚ" he smirked.
Letting out another little laugh, you began to kiss him. Your hands began to touch him boldly, you felt his body from the shift-his back, his biceps, his waist, and you felt one of his hands get to your hair. You pressed each other's forehead against each other breathing in deep with the cold rush of each other's breath. Courage made you push him a little bit away. You placed your hands over the tie on the front of your shift that held it together, the last thing hiding your "pathetic" body. You unhooked the front of your shift. His pupils went large once you removed it over your shoulders and let it fall away.
He smiled at you, "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, Y/NâŚGod, you make my head spin."
As you laid back on the bed with a grin, your heart beating against your ribs so hard that you could hear it through your eardrums, you looked up at him you laid down and he placed one hand on the collar of his shift and joined you.
"Tell me you love me," you voiced nervously.
He took it off and laid on you, cupping your face again.
"I love youâŚthat's everything I can think of right now. I'd say some pretty verses I'd say to you now butâŚat the sight of you naked I forgot it entirelyâŚ"
"I appreciate the thought, my darling," you commented with a smile.
It was a night that was tender. Every physical urge you both suppressed around each other was released in a wave inside of you. Pleasure flooded every inch of you. You forgot the men at the tavern. You forgot the tears from earlier. You even forgot the woman you wanted to forget about most of all. You only knew his name. You cried out his name as a prayer many times that night. And he prayed yours.
Now completely, husband and wife, you both fell asleep in a tangle of each other's arms.
Taglist: @bluesfortheredjâ (sempai) @yourlocalmusicalprostituteâ @theworksgagaâ @itscaleâ @theoneandonlyeclecticepilepticâ @queenlover05â @rubystarflightâ @themficsilikeâ @namelesslosersâ @itsametaphorgwilâ @grigorleeâ@isitstraightvodka  @rhapsodyrecsâ @cxllianmurphyâ @princealfieâ
#colonial history#carrie writes#songbird#or songbirb#jamestown#jamestown itv#jamestown fanfiction#jamestown fanfic#samuel castell#samuel castell x you#samuel castell x y/n#samuel castell x reader#samuel castell x fem! reader#samuel castell x fem! y/n#samuel castell imagine#gwilym lee#alice kett#mercy myrtle#gwilym lee characters#gwilym lee fluff#fluff#comfort fic#fluff fic
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Songbird of Jamestown Chapter Five
Pairing: Samuel Castell x fem! Reader
Word Count: 6898
Summary: You are among the English maids in 1619-1620 who have agreed to board ship for the new world in Jamestown, with the intention to marry the men there. You have chosen to find a husband and life of your own and pay back the company, than be pre bought and bound to a random stranger. Life is difficult and you and your friends struggle, but there is a certain recorder whoâs willing to help. Heâs kind-hearted and handsome ...and has already been pledged to another.
A/N: this chapter is shorter than I intended (I have other WIPS and requests that need attending and after debate, the ending to this chapter felt better for the development of the next one), but here we are! A very dramatic chapter that was both fun and painful to write. I hope you like it and please comment or share if you do!
Warnings: swearing, mentions of sex, angst, drama, Jocelyn being Jocelyn, scenes of vomiting, sickness.
Taglist: @bluesfortheredjâ (sempai) @yourlocalmusicalprostituteâ @theworksgagaâ @itscaleâ @theoneandonlyeclecticepilepticâ @queenlover05â @rubystarflightâ @themficsilikeâ @namelesslosersâ @itsametaphorgwilâ
âCome, all you very merry London Girls,
That are disposed to Travel,
Here is a Voyage now at hand,
Will save your feet from gravel.
If you have shooes, you need not fear
For wearing out the Leather,
For why you shall on shipboard go,
Like Loving Rogues Together,Â
Some are already gone before,
The rest must after follow
Then come away and do not stay,
Your guide shall be Apollo!â
   - Lawrence Price, âThe Maidenâs of Londonâs Brave Adventuresâ, 1623.
âMiss Y/L/N âŚâ
You thought you heard his voice.Â
âOh Y/N, pleaseâŚwake up, be strong againâŚ.â
You wanted to just croak out his name. Your lips parted, and a sound came out. It wasnât his name. It was only a sound.
âMiss Y/L/N? Can you hear me? Take this!â
You could barely see him but a sudden taste that hit your tongue, full of bitterness. Then a drop of water that was brought to you. But no blots of color formed. No more signs of him. Only darkness.
Sometimes something like a nightmare came across your vision. You thought you saw something, but then it faded before it could devour you. Sometimes there were dreams, sometimes not.
Then another voice came up. It could have been an hour. It could have been a day. It wasnât his voice, but a voice. A soft, lilting voice.
âOh, dear Lord, please heal this lady. You know she is a dear, kind woman. No one has ever treated me as nicely here, other than my master and mistress of course. But she is a good friend. Your book even says a friend sticks closer than a brother. So, I must beg you, if it is in your will, to heal her from this dreaded and sudden illness. I would be most saddened if she were to die. You have placed me in her life, and unless You have planned so, please donât take her away from it. Give her health again and wake her up, Amen.â
The words were flooding outside you when you woke up. You were lying on your bed, Mercy was right next to you. Her pale face and little brown head looked blurry, but you saw her turn her head at once.
She gave a grin and placed a hand over her heart, leaning to you.
âOh, providence is kind! Miss Y/L/N!â she cried, getting up and then pausing. She knew you were too weak to embrace. She pulled herself back.
Your vision flooded back and you saw you were at home. You felt sticky and sweaty. Your bed was beneath you and you saw you only had your shift on.
âMâŚMercyâŚwhatâŚwhatâs happening?â you croaked.
Your throat felt dry from the lack of use.
âYou were found just outside, fainted!â she recalled.
âDid you find me?â you ask.
âOh, it was the Tavern Keeperâs wife, the red haired womanâŚshe was out walking in the dark to your home to see you, she said, when she heard your cries and came a runninâ. Found you right on the dirt, right out! She dragged you in here, ran, and fetched the doctor quick as she could, stayed up all night with you, she did!â she said, almost excitedly. Her eyes wide as if telling a story.
âVerityâŚoh, it was Verity! MercyâŚam I dyingâŚIf Iâm dying thereâs someoneâŚI need toâŚI need to speak toâŚâ you said.
You knew the one thing you didnât want to say had to be said to him if your time was running out.
âYouâre only sick. Thatâs what the doctor says. But you mightâŚI hope you wonâtâŚâ she said. Her eyes looked down and she frowned.
You reached out a hand and touched her cheek.
âOh, mistress Mercy, I heard your prayerâŚand Iâm so lucky to have you,â you comforted.
âIâve prayed every hour I couldâŚmy master was with the doctor when Verity was running, so he and my mistress even prayed with me for you in this room for an hour today. I think all of our prayers worked. It was my Master who even got you to your bed the other night, but he insisted on leaving outside when you got changed to your shift, âcause you know, you were asleep but it still wasnât polite, he said!â
You felt your lip bite and a small laugh escape.
âWhy, Miss Y/L/N, colors coming to your cheeks, even! Youâre getting healthy, I know it!â she cheered.
âHow long was I asleep?â you interrupt, a little embarrassed.
âAbout a day.â
Your head hurt and you were dizzy. You groaned from the pain and Mercy fetched a cool cloth from a bucket. You nodded as thanks.
âMercyâŚwhat did the doctor say about me? What do I have?â you ask.
Your memory was coming back. And you had a dreaded feeling you knew exactly what happened to you.
ButâŚit couldnât be, could it?
âHe says youâre only sick and thatâs that. He did get you to swallow some medicine and he says you need moreâŚwhichâŚoh dear! I forgot! Now youâre awake! I have to get him! Excuse me, mâam...â
She gave a curtsy and off she went like a squirrel to a tree. Your dizziness came in and out. You found your arms, while shaky, could pull yourself up. Your stomach felt like it had a stone in it. Even the sight of your food in the corner made it turn and you felt the threat of vomit rise in you.
A little later, a man entered with Mercy trailing behind him. He was of average height, with dark hair that curled yet was brushed back. His face had hints of scruff with a pale, square head and a sunny smile.
âHello, miss. Doctor Priestly at your service,â he greeted.
He even bobbed his head as if you were a lady. If it werenât for your weakness, you would have bobbed your head for a curtsy as well.
âSee, doctor! My prayers have worked! I did have faith enough!â Mercy cheered excitedly.
She grabbed your hand to help you get up to sitting on your bed upright.
âIt seems your faith and my medicine are a powerful team, Mercy. Go find your mistress and let her know at once that Miss Y/L/N is awake. Sheâll want to know how her servant is, sheâs been very fretful for two days for her.â
Mercy once again scooped her red skirt into her tiny hands and ran out the door. He pulled out a vial from his bag, poured some clear liquid onto a spoon, and fed it to you. It tasted disgusting as overcooked cabbage, but you made yourself swallow it. It was the same bitter aftertaste as the drink you were fed while slightly conscious.
âHere, two days of rest and this medicine and you will be fine,â he assured you.
What happened couldnât be true, it was too insane to be true. You shouldnât be in this predicament at all. Or were you? There was one way to find out.
âDoctor PriestlyâŚwhatâs wrong with me, what am I sick with?â
âIâve not told a soul about your condition⌠for Mercyâs sake.â
âMercy?â you asked. âWhatâs she have to do with it?â
âI remember when she arrived here. She was an orphan boarded from England sent here to work and make a life for herself. Poor thing had more than one master beat her senseless when she was small. I couldnât afford her, so Castell took pity on her and placed her under his wing for her protection. Heâs almost like her father in an odd way, but heâs still her employer. But that is her life, no family and only drudgery. â
He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and blinked a lot, coming back to the present.
âShe has a tender heart and it takes very little to vex her. I saw how fond she was of you, so I wanted to rest aside her fears. If I told Castell, he might tell her just to give her an answer. But you and your mistress at least deserve to know the truth.â
He pulled a chair from the table next to you and spoke in a low voice.
âYou had the symptoms of poisoning from the belladonna plant.â
âNoâŚbutâŚIâŚI just canâtâŚI was poisoned,â you said, finally accepting your dreaded suspicion.
âAnd I also noticed...I had kept some for medical and research reasons, and the vial was gone. So, whoever took it must have targeted you. They wanted to harm you. You had a water jug that was laced with it. Luckily, you only had a little bit. If you drank a larger dose or didnât take this medicine in time, you would have been dead.â
âSomeone stole your belladonna?â you ask.
Your eyebrows furrow and you look directly at him. Your hands fold neatly at your blanket.
âOh, I hope you forgive me, Miss Y/L/NâŚI should have watched it more carefully.â He begged, he turned his head down.
âItâsâŚalright, Dr. Priestly. I forgive you. It wasnât your fault it was stolenâ you say.
You move your hands in front to tell him to calm down and he smiles in response. Heâs not entirely unfortunate looking and you feel yourself smile back.
âHave some water, youâve been without food or drink for over a dayâ he suggested, getting a tin cup.
You drank it up greedily. Sighing and wiping off your mouth, you look back at him, softened.
âI would prefer to keep this low. Only your mistress and you. News of poisoning would bring fear, someone innocent might go to jail if accused falsely,â he explained.
You at once felt your stomach turn. The bile was coming back up.
âAâŚa jug, anything, Iâm going toâŚâ you mumbled.
He handed you a clay pot and you felt the disgusting feeling of vomit rise out of you and the repulsive smell of it. You put a hand over your mouth defensively as he put away the pot.
âYou are just weak, Miss Y/L/N. Just keeping drinking water and taking the medicine. You will be a little weak, but fine,â he assured.
Not long after there was a knock on the front door and Doctor Priestly sprung up and greeted with the largest smile you had seen on him yet.
You saw the pale blue cloak of Jocelyn walk before you and fold open the hood. Her golden curls were tied back with a ribbon just loosely. Your breathing got shallower and your nostrils flared remembering the day on the ship.
Sure, I canât let my hair down, but you can. Not a lady anymore, eh? You just proved that, you thought angrily.
âOh, Doctor Priestly, Oh, I am so glad. Poor girl! How is she?â she asked demurely.
âSheâs weak, but after one day of rest and taking this medicine, sheâll be bright and bonny as ever. I have to tell you JocelynâŚâ giving a glace at you, he led her just outside the door to speak with her explaining why you were sick.
Waiting for a while, you kept squeezing your own hands. You felt your heart beating in your ears. After a few minute, you saw Jocelyn open the door again, continuing the conversation.
âDoctor Priestly, may I nurse her, myself? I wish to make amends- it was my own jug and I lost watch of it!â she offered warmly.
There was a crinkle beneath the doctorâs eyes as she spoke and he leaned a little closer.
âWhat a tender heart you have, Iâll leave you with her. Bring me back if there is any sign of trouble. Here is the medicine, Iâll go on and make another, farewell!â he wished, handing her the bottle.
With a slight hop in his step, he left.
Jocelyn took a few minutes to be quiet. As she walked up you pulled yourself back, defensively. She held out the medicine poured out a spoonful, offering it to you.
You hesitated, staring. She could have done something with it too. But you accepted it and led the spoon with your hand to your mouth.
 After a few spoonfulâs, the concerned look on her face dropped looking down on you. She looked at the window, checking, and then returned. You tried to glare up with what strength you had.
âJocelyn. Who poisoned me?â you ask flatly. You folded your arms.
 âYou know what you did,â she spat out.
âNo, I donât!â
 âYou should have drank all of it.â
 âJocelyn, why? I have done everything for you! I have cleaned your clothes and room, fixed your gowns, made your breakfasts and even emptied your damned chamber pot! I have asked for nothing but my pay. You forced me to agree to do it in front of Lady Yeardley. And this is how you repay me? You try to kill me?â you questioned angrily.
She was quiet.
âIâll report you to the Governor. Right. Now.â you threaten. You swing your legs over and get on the floor.
You only took two steps on weak legs when she put a hand before you, and then caught you before you could fell. But as you were crumpled, she led you back to the bed. She bent down to look you in the eye.
âIt would be worthless to speak to him. Look at you and look at me. Iâve dined with him countless times. Heâs going to be the groomsman at my wedding. Who is he more likely to believe? A lying, thieving, whoring maid or a lady?â
 She got back up but folded her hands in front of you. Her eyes were low, her round, pale face still, and her pink lips tight.
 âJocelynâŚyou still havenât answered my question. Why did you do it?â you interrogated.
âBecause youâre destroying me. And youâre destroying this colony.â
âYouâre the one who almost killed me! What on earth did I do?â
âSince youâre a fool, let me tell you. Youâre a whore,â she accused. Her face was still but her low voice was biting.
âDo you meanâŚwithâŚwith your fiancĂŠe?â
There is fire in her eyes.
âAnytime I was with him, I promise you, nothing happened. He never said or did anything to me. Â Heâs a gentleman; he keeps his distance. He is doesnât love me, he loves you. Jocelyn be reasonable! Mercy says youâre the great beauty of the colony. How could he show any interest in anyone else with you as his intended!?â you begged.
âYour flattery means nothing to meâ she cursed bitterly.
From her cloak, she pulled out your copy of Ovidâs The Metamorphoses.
âIf you have not seduced him, explain this!â she accused.
 âHe asked and I just let him borro-â
 She slammed the book into your bed and turned to the very end, where there were a few extra blank pages. Or were. Words were scribbled all over them. You jumped and your legs stung from the force of the bookâs weight.
 A pink primrose exactly like the ones on your window was pressed into it.
âRead itâ Jocelyn demanded.
You felt your dizziness return and your stomach hurt again. You pushed it away. You were shaking your head. This had to be a dream, this had to be a dream.
âAnd know this, before you claim it false,â she added.
From her stays, she got out a folded page of paper which listed the business of the Governors meeting last week.
Glancing at what was written in the book and the record, it was exactly the same.
You pulled the book close to you and almost felt your hands and arms shake as you tried to keep it up, pulling to your face. You wanted to be sure every word you saw was real.
It read:
âMy darling, my little nightingale, Y/N Y/L/N,
With your consent, I must take a moment to confess to you the feelings I have been suppressing for some time. Please do not be afraid of me.
I love you. I adore you with every inch of my soul. I have never known any woman quite like you. I knew you were different from anyone else from that first day of your arrival, though I wasnât sure how. Then I knew. You were someone I could talk to. The more I looked at you, the more I couldnât help myself. You are one of the loveliest maidens I have ever seen. When I think of you in that flower field, how ardently I wanted to kiss you that moment, with the sun shining, the flowers around you, and your sweet smile. Iâve never felt such tenderness and wanting inside me before. I admire every bit of you, my dear friend. You are the kindest, sweetest soul I have ever met. And your courage exceeds that of many men I have known. I still remember the day you spoke with Mr. Sharrow on behalf of Miss Kett and I am still in awe such an action even happened.
I make every excuse just to walk by our colonies walls just to hear you, to see you walk by, just to glance at you. The way you shone when I taught you how to write words, shone with pure joy. Your laughter and singing! Your voice haunts me, haunts my dreams, and my day and I hear it at once with both ecstasy and torment, for I know such tender words, laughter, songs and that joy of your handâs devotion is a gift, a gift that cannot be for me, but the happiest and most fortunate of gentlemen you choose to wed. How I envy him and hate him, whoever he may be here! I am so ashamed to admit it, but it is truth.
I have given Jocelyn a promise. A promise I must keep, as being the purpose of her journey. Yet each time I think of the day we will be joined, inside I mourn so deeply. This is the reason why I delayed the wedding. I made a pitiful, unmanly excuse about business because you were always in my thoughts. I will never have the privilege of your courtship and time. I must be bound until death to another, upon an agreement of payment I have made long ago. Though I must complete my duty in humility and obedience, know that I wish every morning I awake that it was your beautiful face I saw.
Jocelyn does not deserve to have her heart broken and her future destroyed. Can you have it in your heart to pity me? To pity her, most of all. It is Jocelyn I must marry, no matter what I may feel about you How could I be so cruel to such a good, honest woman who came here for this one sole purpose?
I do not know if you even tolerate me. If you despise the air I breathe, then I swear I will never bother you again. But now, I ask you pray for me, pray for us.
But know that though such affections I possess can never be acted on, that if you are ever in dire need of assistance, I will help you. Even if you cannot have my hand, you have the protection of anything I have and my actions. If you are ever in need, or your husband, most fortunate of men, or your children even, I will find a way to help you.
For I and my heart shall always be dedicated to you. I love you so tenderly and know that you will always be my dearest and saddest love.
Written by him, who is your humblest of servants
SCâ
A shaky smile appeared on your face, though your stomach kept dropping throughout reading. A small laugh, stifled, came out of you, defiantly. Disorientation washed over you and it was as if your vision blurred for a moment.
âI must confess, Iâm almost impressed. Thereâs a power between our legs, and at least youâve learned to use it,â Jocelyn said.
Setting the book down, almost not daring to read it again, you stared into the open for a bit, but you heard Jocelyn continuing.
âYou cast a spell over him. And itâs began ever since he kept speaking with you. So, tell me, they call you the Songbird of Jamestown, yes?â
Blinking, you looked back at her, voicing a shaky âwh-what?â
She walked over and grabbed your face, pinching at the mouth. Her face got into yours and you could feel the hot breath come out of her.
âDid those musical little lips suck his cock and is that why he does everything you insist?â she hissed.
âH-H-How d-dare you speak suchâŚsuch lewd things!â you retorted, jerking away, nearly slapping her hand out.
You nursed the spot on your jaw tenderly. You turned away and saw the book. While Jocelyn was distracted you hid it under your blankets.
âJocelyn, heâs going to marry you, whatever he may think of me. Donât you see what itâs really saying? Heâs letting me go. Youâve won.â You reasoned.
âYou may think so. But now he hardly listens to me. He doesnât do anything I ask him to. No matter what I try. And itâs began since your little romp in the flowers. If you are here, you are a threat to me and my marriage.â She said.
âWhat are you asking him to do?â you ask.
You noticed how high your shoulders had gotten to your ears and forced them down.
She paused, folding her hands in front of her.
âYou donât understand, Y/N. Iâm going to lead him to greatness, for us. For the colony. Wouldnât you like things to change? Wouldnât things be better if Samuel was in charge? Not Farlow or Redwick or Massenger?â she interrogated.
âWhatâs wrong with Yeardley? And how do you plan on getting it, though? And IâŚI donât think you understand, people die playing these games. Do you want to die? Do want Samuel to die?â you ask.
âOh, Samuel.â She prodded. âNot Master Castell anymore? Thatâs a little more intimate, arenât we? Do you love him?â
You froze.
âI know youâre a terrible liar. And I know what they do to liars here when theyâre caught.â She added.
She kept her close distance but remained standing. Her eyes stared right into you, though your head dipped down low and you buried your face in your hands.
âDo. You. Love. him?â
Tears stained your eyes. That feeling, burning and bubbling in the depths of you was suddenly coming out. No matter how much you tried to deny it or ignore it for the greater good, for even your own safety, it was still singing, screaming in the back. Now it was getting louder, and louder.
âIâŚI think I do. IâŚI wish heâŚif only he was just a farmer, not the recorder, just so I could be with him!â you confessed.
Breathing in deep, you felt a weight had been freed from you. There was a silence, heavy with what she would say next.
âThen understand you are what is holding him back. Thatâs what love is. It holds us back. Iâm going to bring him to greatness. Iâm going to make him have things beyond even his own understanding. He could be a farmer. Or he could change everything and bring those men down and set things right here.â She explained, towering over you.
âBy controlling him? Making him do things he doesnât want to? Dangerous things?â you blurted.
âThatâs how men work. And this place is ruled by them. We have to control them if weâre going to survive here as women.â
âBut a harmless soul as his? Control Farlow, all you would like, Massanger, or Redwick, butâŚSamuel? He wants nothing of treachery, why make him treacherous?â
âThatâs your weakness. Youâre still clinging to love, thinking thatâs whatâs going to save you. I was like you once. I was proven wrong. Love doesnât save you. It destroys you. And the sooner you let it go, the better you will be. I hope youâve figured that out. Youâre leaving here.â She scolded.
âTo England? The company will send me back. They need to pay back the tobacco pounds on all of us.â
She then reached in her pocket and pulled out some letters.
âYou know of the communities right outside here? Iâve written to the men of Charles City. Any women who isnât immediately bound in marriage must go there. And there are at least three men over there are curious about you to be their wife.â
Not too far for the company but far enough you thought.
You barely glanced over it. It listed names, possessions, their house, and what they planted. One name, only one name. One name that would stand out. One name to stamp out Samuelâs. But none could. None of them had the name of the one you knew you wanted.
And who knew who these men actually were like? If you were lucky, they would be loving.
But at worst, you could be bound to another Henry Sharrow. You fought the urge to vomit again.
âTomorrow, you will gather your things. Leave this town. Pick one. Marry him. And stay there.â Jocelyn demanded.
âI wonât. I wonât do it,â you voiced.
Jocelyn walked up and hissed at you softly.
âIf you donât, you are dead.â
âYou couldnât do that.â
âI almost succeeded. I have resources, donât think I couldnât.â
Your breath left you and you released a small cry of fear, your limbs nearly froze.
With all the bitterness and anger you had forced silent inside your soul for weeks, you looked Jocelyn in the eye and spat out âbitch.â
It wasnât kind. It wasnât polite. It wasnât dignified. It was not even mature. But it felt good.
âNever heard that one before,â she remarked sarcastically.
You turned around and, though still shaking, you got up on your feet. Jocelyn didnât raise an eyebrow.
âGood day, Miss Y/L/N. And a blessing upon your marriage,â she finished with a smile.
You were determined not to be sent off without the last word. Now you had something. It wasnât safe to say it, but if you were blessed to never see Jocelyn again, you might as well say it when you had the chance.
Tugging nervously on your shift you said âthis isnât the first time youâve poisoned someone, Jocelyn.â
She froze and glared back at you, she took a few steps, threatening to charge at you like a predator.
âYou little, sneaking slut!â
âAnd how is being a sneaking slut any better than being a liar and a murderer?â you snapped.
Jocelyn froze in her track, but continued her fiery glare into your eyes.
âTell me, when a man makes a bet that he can take your virginity among his friends, takes it as they watch, and he wins, how much will you believe in love, then? How can you even trust menâs souls, then?â she croaked, now tears were barely going down her cheeks.
 âItâs not menâs souls, Jocelyn. Itâs what theyâve done. Youâve been hurt so you shut yourself off to keep yourself safe. And now that you have refused love, youâve even refused the love that makes you care for others. All you can do is hurt others.â
You swallowed, got up from your bed, stood up quickly while you had the strength, and interrupted before Jocelyn could interject.
 âYou cannot love, you canât love people or least of all yourself. Thatâs only because you have been betrayed. Youâve been hurt. But you could have used that pain to help others. Have you talked to Alice about what Henry did to her? Or Verity? You could have helped them. But you have let your pain make you harsh to underserving people. Good people. Samuel. Mercy, even, and sheâs a child with nothing!â
You took two steps closer to her.
âButâŚyou cannot help, truly, genuinely help. Only reward people you think you trust. Thatâs because all you know to do is hurt. For that, you will never know peace or contentment, and you have more than my disgust, you have my pity.â
  She marches up to you and grabs you by the hair, growling into your ear âleave by tomorrow, or youâre dead.â
 She then brushed any dirt or wrinkles off her dress, set her hat back up on her head, and walked out.
 Alone, you collapsed on the bed. You were done with being brave. You were done with being strong. You wanted to be weak. You let yourself sob and sob.
You look barely at the letters of these suitors you have never even heard of, asking you for your soul, body, mind, possessions, and even possible children to be owned by them until death take one of you.
âThe timeâs gonna come fer yer freedom and maidenhead whether ya ready fer it or not!â
Then you look at Samuelâs letter in your book, you press it to your heart, and let your cries continue and continue, gingerly touching the petals of the pink primrose and even noticing the fresh bunch at your window.
So itâŚit wasnât James at all! How could I be so stupid, Iâm an idiotâŚ
 Could Jocelyn really kill you? How? The possibilities kept running through your head.
You had no idea how much money she brought with her but maybe she could hire someone to do it.
Or she probably already planted one of her possessions in your home. If someone noticed it, they could accuse you of stealing, go to Jocelyn, whoâd give her testimony that you stole, give your truth and let it fall on deaf ears and then you would have to make the fatal walk outside the colony walls to the gallows.
She already fooled you into being poisoned. She could find a way to take and poison your food. Had she even poisoned the food you had when you werenât looking.
And you didnât know about how your physical strength could hold up. Â Jocelyn was slender and knew nothing of tasks requiring physical extremes. But that didnât mean if she got possession of a gun or knife she wouldnât be able to attack you.
Being at the wrong place at the wrong time could put you at risk. Perhaps she would drown you in the river if you went to do your laundry.
If she got that book and letter back, she could bring it to the court, make accusations of adultery, and get you hanged.
Finally, after a while, Christopher returned with Mercy trailing behind him.
âMercyâŚhow kind you areâŚand ChristopherâŚâ
âI asked my Master if I could make this broth for you, and he agreed. He has a kind heart, he does!â she chatted, handing you a cup.
You swallowed it gratefully, smiling at how for once your stomach did not reject it.
âHeâŚyes, he does,â you answered. âSpeaking of whichâŚwhereâŚwhere is he?â
âThereâs a large trial and many things he must record. He has a busy workday but sends his prayers to you. Now, take twice the dose, Miss. You will be a little weak today, but you should be fine. I insisted the church forgive your absences these next two days so you could recover. Youâll be strong by the day after tomorrow.â Doctor Priestly said.
He brought another batch of the medicine and handed it to you in a small vial with two spoons.
You swallowed the two spoonfulâs and kept it down best you could.
âI saw Mistress Woodbyrg come in after a while. Even when she chided me, I thought it a blessing, the bit time I was there.â Mercy reported, folding her hands in front of her.
You only stared onto your blanket, right down.
Oh, dear Mercy, you donât know the half of it and for your happiness I hope you never do!
âOh, you are so lucky to already be working for her. There is never a lovelier lady! Although, sheâs been quite troubled lately. Oh, she frowned so when I worked for her and it vexed me so much! But Iâve been praying every hour for her, when I couldâ Mercy chattered, she even folded her hands together and brought it up to her chin dreamily.
You were quiet for a moment. Mercy worshipped the ground Jocelyn walked on. She was someone perhaps the child wanted to be. But⌠should she have such a rosy view shattered? Jocelyn seemed to give her meaning and joy in her life. There was a fairy tale princess under her roof, no matter what that princess said or did.
âMercyâŚtell Master CastellâŚthank you, for allowing you to make this broth andâŚMercy, may I please have a bit of parchment, please? And something to write with? ThereâsâŚa quill and ink on the table.â
âHow come, Miss?â
âIâveâŚuhmâŚbeen practicing writing.â
âMy, what a good skill! How lucky you are to be learning it, how clever you must be ohâŚâ
There was a weight that you felt dragging you down, and the child took note.
âWhy, what is it, Miss Y/L/N?â
âIâŚI just need to try to write. I canât be idle even when sickâŚâ
âWhy, why yes indeed! As Psalms and Captain Smith do say, one must wake up and be industrious, itâs how we can praise the Lord himself. ButâŚI am so glad you are well.
Doctor Priestly stood by in the corner, smiling at the sweet words said and observing quietly. Mercy handed you the quill and ink and then knelt by your bedside.
âI really am. I never had many friends. Mere few. And a lot of them died. And my master is gentle butâŚwe canât be friends. He gives me me earnings and thatâs that. SoâŚIâm just so thankful,â she said softly.
âIâm thankful to be your friend too, Mercy.â
She looked up at the smiling doctor, who gestured for her to come, and she left accompanied by him.
You stared at the parchment and backed it against your book. Your brain was brimming with words. Words that would have explained everything. Most of all, why. But your hand only knew how to write a few.
You wanted to see him. You wanted to get out of your bed and crawl through the muddy streets to wherever he was and collapse onto him.
But anger overtook you. It was his own letter that probably confirmed Jocelynâs suspicions and put you in danger in the first place!
You wanted to even yell at him, to take that mud and throw it to smear his lovely face. To take that stick from that day by the river and beat him with it with all of your strength. All for the trouble this lovely letter put you through. If this was a plot and he was working with Jocelyn, then he had betrayed your trust and put you in great danger.
And if it wasnât. Jocelyn proved it was his handwriting, after all. Or at least, it was not a forgery. He could have lied through this letter from Jocelynâs or even someone elseâs doing to get you out of your discouragement of him being too deeply involved in the intrigue.
ButâŚyou brain interrupted as you lifted the quill, hands shakingâŚwhat if it was?
If it wasnât. If he meant every word of that letter, it meantâŚit meant that he really did see you. You. Humble little you. With ninety women that had just arrived, and he wanted! If nothing stood in his way, the gentlest, sweetest man in all of the colony, if not, even in all of Englandâs far kingdom or the world perhaps loved you.
But there was one thing in the way. And it was your life.
You wished desperately it was a letter with false intentions instead.
You dipped the quill into the ink as it sat gently on your bed and scribbled out seven words.
âGoodbye. I will miss you- Y/N Y/L/N.â
Not painless. But quick and to the point. It dried in a few minutes, the dark purple ink turning into the color of violets. The scrap was hidden in the book. You put it next to the pansy.
You barely slept that night and spent it packing or pacing.
Doctor Priestly arrived the next day with new medicine. But the doctor noticed the packed bag resting on the table.
âAre you alright, Y/N? Youâve lost so much of your color, even after the medicineâ he asked.
âIâmâŚIâm just sad. Iâm leaving. I havenât been married yet and the companyâs insisting I leave to fix that. I have a few marriages offers from Charles City. I have friends here, though. I will miss everyone,â you said.
You handed him the papers and letter from the men and the doctor nodded in understanding.
It wasnât a lie, but some details perhaps he could not be trusted with yet.
âIâve heard good things about you, Miss Y/L/N, our dear songbird. We will all miss you too,â he answered, giving you a last spoonful of medicine.
After he left, Mercy returned with one last cup of broth.
âI always insist a cup after will do good!â she chirruped.
âMercyâŚIâm going to leave today.â
âWhy?â
âToâŚto get married, please send this to your master.â You said, holding out the scrap.
âShouldnât I fetch âim, so you can tell him instead?â
âNo! I meanâŚdonât trouble him when he has so much work. I just wanted to say goodbye to him, forâŚfor helping me and Alice. He greeted me and was kind to me.â you explained quickly, though you felt yourself biting your lip.
Mercy nodded and left quietly, looking at the note with big, confused eyes. You saw a shininess that would bring on tears and she even put her hand over her mouth.
âOh, Mercy!â you exclaimed, a sudden wave hitting you.
You ran up and hugged her.
âOhâŚMissâŚMiss!â she cried, letting herself sob too.
You bit back your tears and whispered to her.
âListen to me, never let anyone treat you poorly. Donât be like me. Iâm a coward. Be brave. Fight back with all your strength andâŚplease promise me youâll do whatever it takes, be happy and safeâŚâ you instructed.
Mercy blinked, in more confusion, and then hugged back.
âIâŚI will missâ she blubbered. She let go and gave you a sad smile and then left.
Your bags only had what was essential to travel and then some. Your books, your clothes, and your lace gloves, the only luxury the company promised you. And the only luxury it delivered. You even got bits of food, who knew how long the journey would last, the quicker you would leave, the better.
And even if Jocelyn had poisoned them when you werenât looking, you decided it didnât matter anyway.
You dressed plainly. Looking at your reflection in the window, you did look like you lost your color. Your cheeks had hollowed some. Your eyes had darkened underneath. It was as if you were now a ghost of whoever you were when you entered this house.
Walking outside, you took the last of the wilted primroses and put it into your apron pocket.
You walked past the people going about. Past the church, past the tavern, past James beating into a new piece of metal with a loud CLANG, and past the smelly dogs and hogs running through the street freely and housewives adorned in aprons all looking for corn in the market that could be bought today, past the muddy areas you had to hop over, past the nice red doors where men in ruffs and fine cloaks discussed power with soft voices, and towards that opening and the ocean of green before it.
As you neared the entrance, you could make out a cart just near where the graves were marked. It almost seemed as if it planted among the crop of little wooden crosses. It was led by it seemed a brown horse and another man, he was tan, short, stout, and had dark hair and a dark beard with grey streaks. He wore a straw hat and seemed to be chewing on something. He stared out into the open of the green field and the trees just beyond. But he was smiling, and his eyes were beaming like stars.
Though Jocelyn covered your leave, he did not seem the type to be a hired assassin. It was the cart. Breathing in deeply, you took a few steps to get on that cart that would take you to your new life to forget all of this.
âMiss Y/L/NâŚâ
Your breath stopped and you paused. Continuing it, you decided you would not speak to him turned away. You turned your head and looked at him. The one voice you did not want to hear at this time. But you knew you had to. You couldnât just leave him with just a scrap of paper, as much as you had denied it.
Blinking away any more tears that may have popped up, you turned around to face him. At least one final time before your new life awaited.
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