Master Gallagher

Called me pretty

Lady Tracy asked for my measurements the other day. I honestly did not pay much attention to it. Now, here I was wearing the most beautiful dress, I had ever had in my whole entire existence. It must have cost a lot of money and Lady Tracy did not work for free. I thought she was using me as a mannequin until she told me that it was entirely mine for a date.

"I did not know I had a date?"

"Elliot paid me his weeks pay. He said he wanted to do something nice for you. He also asked for a day off on your behalf."

No one has ever done anything so nice and considerate for me.

The fact that Elliot had sacrificed his week's pay just so I could stand here wearing such a elegant dress.. it baffled me. He loves me, I should love him back. I really want to try and return the love he gives me. I want to get to know him more.. basically I want to give this all a try.

"You look really pretty." Mary said genuinely, it made me feel actually pretty. I did not feel that way all the time in fact rarely. It had been a week and a half since my last encounter with Master William. I somewhat saw the distance he was giving me as a blessing in disguise. Mary told lady Tracy that the basement door needed a lock.. she somehow convinced her to put one. I was happy and relieved. I had some sort of privacy and no one could just budge in. Every night before I slept, I wanted to unlock the door just in case he came but most of the time... I left it locked because it was a good boundary.

"I'm so proud of myself." Lady Tracy said in awe, obviously talking about her dress.

"You cannot wear that in front of my husband. I wouldn't want him having any thoughts. The devil works in so many ways." She added and I nodded.

"Insecure much Tracy?" Mary scoffed.

"Her breasts are all out front and her bottom is too big. Any man would be having lustrous thoughts. I won't let my husband be a victim. This is me being nice... even making her a dress."

"You made the dress, she did not ask for that design?" Mary argued. I was used to wearing long sleeved dresses, something like this made me feel differently.. almost naked. My chest was too out in the open but I really liked the dress.

"It's the latest fashion trend of course. I had to make it look like that."

"Thank you, Lady Tracy." I muttered.

"You're welcome, now Elliot should be here by now. Have fun alright but not too much fun."

Mary rolled her eyes.

"Have a great time, don't ever let anyone make you feel like you don't deserve to be happy or to feel beautiful because you deserve it and so much more."

"Thank you Mary!"

She then smirked. "But seriously don't wear this in front of William... it really won't end well."

"I will remove it as soon as I return." I replied.

"Alright.. enjoy!"

-

That day, Elliot took me to a picnic. It was nice and easy going. I thought he was very thoughtful. He kissed me.. it was just alright. I wanted to give this a try. I wanted to give it my all, I was very lucky that he was so nice and understanding. He listened when I talked, he constantly complimented me, he looked at me with so much adoration.

"My parents are still alive and well.. very good friends with the Cunningham's." He told me while we sat watching the sunset. I really liked this atmosphere, it was quiet and no one was around here.

"The Cunningham's sounds nice."

"They really are, they even pay us. They have done so much for us. They treat their workers as workers not as slaves."

I really envied him. I did not receive any sort of p*****t. Infact the Gallagher's giving me food and a roof over my head was thought to be enough p*****t. Back at the slave commune where my mother worked, they were paid with food and crops. Maybe they would be given a ten pounds of sweet potatoes or potatoes or maize meal. We worked for food.

"I suppose it isn't like that with the Gallagher's?" He questioned, I simply nodded.

"You're very quiet and reserved. I want you to know you can be open with me about anything. I'm not your Masters, you do not have to hold your tongue."

He was so kind.

"I really appreciate that and I love this dress. Thank you! No one has ever done anything this nice for me."

"I plan on treating you like my queen." He replied. It was getting cold, he gave me his woolen cardigan to hang onto to. He walked me back home, leaving me on the gate.

"I wanted to give you this.." He took out a golden ring, it looked worn out but still shined. "Panashe, please accept my proposal and be my wife? Nothing would make me happier."

"Yes, Elliot. I will marry you." I said without a second thought. He immediately put the ring on my finger. It looked nice. "It was my mother's, she asked me to give it to you. She can't wait to meet you. Please visit whenever you can."

"I don't have a day off but I will be sure to ask Lady Tracy." I told him with a broad smile before hugging him. He kissed me on the cheek and wished me good bye. He said he would miss me, I said I would miss him too. I looked at the ring as I went inside the Gallagher mansion. I felt good... somewhat happy. I did not feel like this all the time.

When I entered the living room, Liam immediately ran to hug me. "I thought you left.. because of what I said. I'm so so sorry Nase." I hugged him back.

"It's okay Liam."

"I love you." He clinged onto me with no intention of letting go.

"I love you too Liam."

"Please don't ever leave.. I was so scared." He added. I smiled and ruffled his blonde hair, he merely gave me a toothy smile.

"Liam and I had a lesson today." Mary suddenly added onto the conversation.

"Really?" I asked, my smile was full blown. People could tell that I seemed very happy. I was happy, a nice gentleman had just proposed to me. I knew not many slaves received a ring with a proposal. I was one of the lucky ones.

"Yes, pinched his ears for a bit. Disciplined him." She added.

"Mary!" I whined, concerned if she had hurt Liam.

"He tried to call me a n***o and I pinched his ears and had a talk with him about it. Nothing more.." She chuckled. "I will not be told by a five year old that I'm an animal. Liam what did I teach you?"

"If a black person is a gorilla, white person is also a gorilla, a white gorilla." Liam replied. I felt so proud of him.

"Better go change before William returns. Tracy went to buy some new material for her dressmaking.."

"Oh alright."

"I need all the details later." Mary added making me blush. I was just so happy, I liked Elliot much more. He treated me how I should be treated.

I made my way into the basement. It was always dark be it, during the day or at night. So I always needed to switch the light on. When I did I literally almost had a heart attack.

"You look nice. How was your date? Surely busy distributing and showing off what is only meant to be mine."

The smile that had been on my face was literally wiped off. He was sitting on my bed waiting for me.