Lousiana, 1820
Setting: Louisiana, 1820
Word count: 420
Green eyes met blue across the dinner table. Unspoken words were exchanged, a mutual understanding. Tonight was the night. Charlotte was unhappy in her marriage. Alexandria was nothing more than house help, but the younger girl made the elder happy. Their love was forbidden on many levels, but neither cared.
The clatter of a glass breaking on the ground caused all in the room to jump. All eyes fell on Celeste who instantly bent to pick up the plate she had dropped.
“You insolent child!” A hand met the side of her hand before Charlotte could even make a move to stop her husband. The blonde remained silent and frozen as she watched the scene unfold before her.
Charlotte folded her napkin as Alexandria fled the room holding back tears. She made no excuse as she stepped from the room after the girl. Alexandria was the illegitimate child of a slave owner and one of his slave mistresses. Charlotte had gone with her husband to the slave auctions and something about the girl called to her. She’d convinced her husband she would be a good addition to their growing staff. It hadn’t been much longer that the two started an affair forbidden on all levels.
“Alexa…” She whispered, stepping towards the younger woman. She brushed her hair from her face, frowning at the blossoming bruise around her eye. “I...I’m sorry.” She whispered softly, pressing her lips to the bruise. She wrapped her arms around the shaking girl, holding her close.
Charlotte’s husband was no fool. He may not know the extent of their relationship, but he knew Charlotte showed Alexandria extra attention as compared to the others. Alexandria always wore the best of the house slaves, dressed in Charlotte’s old dresses, always with her hair brushed and set in an intricate set of braids that Charlotte would do every morning. And this was why, the blonde stepped away.
“Midnight.” She whispered, blue eyes flickering over the brunette’s face.
Charlotte had packed everything earlier in the day, hiding the luggage away from her husband. Alexandria was light skinned enough, Charlotte hoped they could flee freely. If not she had the girl’s papers stashed as well.
Charlotte tapped a hand over her heart before stepping out of the room and heading back to the dining room. She claimed she was tired and retreated to her room.
It was in wee hours of the night that Charlotte and Alexandria, Wanheda and Heda, would flee and live out the rest of their lives together.