Rebecca's presence continued to keep me on edge in spite of her outward showing of obedience. Though her stomach remained flat, I knew what grew inside. An infant of wild bloodline was valuable. I could not help but think of the wild one that had resided on the estate when I was a child.   

    Might Dulane decide to grant Rebecca the chance to keep her child in hopes of avoiding her attempted escape? If so, what would that mean for Mary...Rebecca was at least eight years younger than me. If I were to be sent away and she and her offspring were to take my place, she might perceive my daughter as a threat! Watching the woman at her chores as the days passed, seeing how the other's quickly warmed to her, intrigued by her exoticism, I became all the more paranoid.

    Worse, Rebecca was a promising cook. Though Rin remained watchful and insisted that I do so as well, even our overseer seemed pleased with the wild one's work. Her successes only served to heighten my concerns.

    In my mind, I held the memory of Rebecca's words when she was at her most vulnerable. She had run before. She had threatened to end the life of her unborn child. These were undeniable facts I could use against her if the need arose but still, I was unwilling to strike when she had done nothing directly to cause any harm. I decided I had no choice but to watch and wait, going about my own tasks as if nothing had changed, even allowing myself to become less restrictive of Mary's access to our newest flock member. If Rebecca were to survive after I was gone, I would be to Mary's benefit to be in her good graces after all.

    It was a little over a month after Rebecca's arrival that Mary asked me a strange question. We had just come to the bathhouse and I was helping her to the shower when I saw her cast a look at Rebecca, towel wrapped around her form and heading back to the dorms.

    "Did you know Miss Rebecca is pregnant?" she asked. "Even though we can't see it yet, there is a baby growing. "

    My guard was immediately up.

    "And how do you know that, my little Mary?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.

    "She told us so," Mary answered. "Mistress Aveline and me. She said the baby will have bright red hair just like she has. Aveline said that she can't wait to see another human with red hair."

    My stomach churned uncomfortably. Was Rebecca hoping to win the heart of Dulane's daughter before her child was even born? It was Mary who was meant to be the Dulane family's precious pet, not some half-wild creature. She was Mariana's namesake! But it was Mary's next question that sent true chills along my skin.

    "Do you think Miss Rebecca will be able to keep her daughter? That our Master will let them stay together like he let us?"

    "I think that is very unlikely," I said, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt. "Master Dulane has never allowed that privilege to any but your grandmother and myself."

    It was all too clear now. Rebecca was indeed angling for my position. Mary was oblivious but I was not. Worse, I now realized she had more access to my child than I'd suspected. I felt my heart beating unsteadily in my chest.

    Mary frowned at my answer, her naive sympathy blinding her to the danger, not understanding that Dulane would likely only allow one human to keep her offspring so close. That Rebecca and her future child could so easily usurp our position...

    "That's so sad," she said. "Miss Rebecca said that if she can't keep her baby, she doesn't want to have her at all."

    Mary's words cut through my fears as I focused on her intently.

    "She said that?" I asked. Mary didn't understand the implication of the wild one's words but I did. If what my daughter said was true, Rebecca had threatened the unborn child she carried. She'd implied she would hold the infant hostage in order to get her way and keep the baby with her.

    Marry nodded. "After Mistress Aveline was gone," she answered. "She told me how lucky I am to have my mama and that her daughter will have the same soon enough if all goes well. Do you think maybe our Master might have changed his mind? Maybe Miss Rebecca and her baby can be lucky too. "

    "Let's get you into the shower," I said, my mind racing with the new information my daughter had imparted. " It is never wise to speculate on our Master's thoughts. What Cedrick Dulane decides is law here and we have no power to change that."

    Mary nodded. "I know," she answered. "But we can still pray, can't we? Like Miss. Dreda taught me?"

    "There is nothing wrong with keeping hope," I replied, "But we must also take actions to help our dreams come true. Obedience to the Dulanes is any human's best chance of seeing their prayers answered. It is very kind of you to look out for our new flock member but be certain that you always look out for yourself as well, Mary. It is only in maintaining your position that you can help others. Does that make sense?"

    My daughter nodded again, her expression thoughtful as she worked to process my words, stepping into the shower while I went to my own stall. She had no idea that she had given me the means I would need to ensure Rebecca would never become a true threat to us.

--------------
    I arose early the next morning, hoping to beat all others to the main house and, more importantly, to Madam Rin. I knew I could not keep the words Mary had relayed a secret. To do so would be in violation of my duty to my Masters. Rin had asked me to keep close watch on the wild one and I had done so. Now I would have to make my report, no matter the consequences.

    As I went to see my daughter off to play with her with her sibla friend I was lucky to spot Rin conversing with Dulane's wife. I would have the chance to speak with her before she would come to the kitchens.

    "There she is," Mistress Dulane said as she caught sight of Mary, a smile on her face. "My daughter has been surly since yesterday, complaining that her pet cannot sleep with her at night. I explained that humans must live in their own space but I'm glad you have come a bit early. Aveline will be so pleased."

    My Mistress reached out and tussled Mary's hair affectionately and Rin too smiled down upon my daughter. I could not have devised a more perfect moment to seek her out. Clearly she was in good humor.

    "Mary is so glad she can please you and your daughter," I said, lowering my head in deference. "I know how much she loves her young Mistress."
   
My Master's smile only increased. Not for the first time I felt the strange discomfort as I remembered that same face watching my punishment happily so many years ago. I had her good graces now, but there was no telling how long that privilege would last. It strengthened my resolve all the more.

    I had no choice but to share what I now knew about Rebecca. If the woman was to take action against her future child and I were to have kept quiet, the blame would surely come back to me for not watching more closely.

    "Let's get you upstairs, Mary," Mistress Dulane said, ushering my daughter to the main stairs.
    "And we should get to the kitchen," Madam Rin commented.

    "Forgive me, Madam," I said as my Master's wife left us. "I'd hoped we might speak privately."
    Rin's smile faded as she stared down at me in confusion, no doubt seeing the solemnity in my own expression.

    "You have asked me to keep a close eye on our newest kitchen member and I believe I have information I should not keep to myself."

    "Of course," Rin answered, her familiar stern facade affixed to her face. "Come, Alice, tell me everything you know."

    Hand on my shoulder, Madam Rin led me to the downstairs parlor. She beckoned me to take a seat as she closed and locked the door. I perched on the edge of the couch, sitting as straight and confidently as I could, though my heart pounded in my chest as I prepared to betray the woman I'd hoped to protect.

    "Well?" Rin said, standing before me, her towering height all the more menacing. "What have you heard? I had hoped the wild woman was adjusting to her new role here."

    "As had I," I answered quickly. "She has great skills our Master surely values. I'd hoped she was as eager to serve, as she seemed. But now I'm not so sure."

    I stopped, my mouth dry, worried how Madam might react to my concerns. If she dismissed them she might judge me as petty. An animal just looking to make trouble.

    "Go on."

    It was too late to back out now.

    "There was a comment she made to Mary," I continued. "The wild woman is pregnant. In her words to my daughter, she implied that if she could not keep the baby by her side after its birth, she would take action to end the infant's life."

    Rin's eyes instantly narrowed, her lips flattening into a straight line.

    "Her first day here Rebecca spoke similar sentiments to me as well," I said, the words spilling from my lips, defending my choice to speak out. "She expressed a desire to lose the child and escape to death. She showed me her missing finger as well. I know she has tried to run before. I'd hoped her words that day were nothing more than exhausted gibberish. Words of desperation after her travels. I'd hoped that her obedience these past few weeks was a sign she had given up these rebellious thoughts. But after what she said to Mary...After approaching Mistress Aveline."

    "She approached your young mistress?" Rin interrupted, her mounting anger clear. I nodded.

    "Mary told me she was attempting to tempt our Master's daughter with promises of a red-headed baby human for her to play with."

    "She had no leave to speak with any of her Masters at all," Madam fumed.

    "Indeed I know this," I answered. "And I worry that it is a sign of her desperation. I know Rebecca and her child are highly valuable purchases my Master cannot afford to lose. I did not think I could remain silent any longer. Forgive me for not coming to you sooner. I had to be certain there was truly something to report and."

    Madam Rin held up a hand to stop me and I swallowed hard. A cold sweat had broken out across my body. I knew what I had done. I knew I was betraying Rebecca entirely. But I'd had no choice. Rin's reaction made that clear enough. If I had not spoken, any transgression from the red-haired woman would have fallen on me.

    "You have done well in coming to me, Alice," Rin said. "Go to your work. I will take care of everything."

    I nodded slowly, standing on shaky legs as reality filled me. Whatever happened to Rebecca now, I had caused it.

    "She is still adjusting," I said, turning back to Madam as I unlocked the door to leave. "Perhaps I misunderstood her words." I knew it was futile to try undoing what I had done, but if I could help mitigate the punishment Rebecca would face I knew I had to try.

    "You needn't concern yourself with this anymore," Madam Rin answered. "I told Cedrick that having a wild creature in his home and kitchens was dangerous. I can not have you distracted from your work in trying to keep such an animal under control. She should never have been allowed to work so near the Dulane family. Clearly, the human needs more supervision than we can provide."

    I didn't answer. There was no response to give after all. Rebecca's ambition and own words had condemned her to whatever consequences she faced and I would have to accept that.

———
   
Rin did not come to the kitchen's all morning and it fell to me to ensure all were working at their tasks. When she arrived at noon she asked for her lunch and I quickly complied, arranging a plate for her before I made one for my daughter who came down soon after. Rebecca did not join us.

    "Do you think something happened to her or the baby?" Mary whispered to me when she asked after the woman and I was forced to admit that the wild one had not been seen in the house all day.

    "Hush, Mary," I answered. "Go about your own business. I'm certain she is fine."
    I hated lying to my daughter, but I myself had no knowledge of what might have befallen Rebecca. It was useless to speculate.

The wild woman was not in the dorms that night either, prompting my daughter to again express her concern. At her insistence we prayed together, sending our hopes to the heavens that Rebecca was alright and no harm had come to her.

    As the words left my lips I knew that my prayers were as genuine as my child's. I'd been unable to eat since the morning, my stomach tied in knots with worries as I feared for the woman I had betrayed.

    "A new assignment," Rin informed us the next morning. Rebecca had been sent to the barn to work with the other animals.

    "The overseers there are better equipped to handle a human that might prove unruly."

    Mary was relieved to hear that the woman was not harmed, but my unhappy stomach would not settle. I knew the overseers in the barn carried far more tools on their belts. Electric prods to keep the cattle in line, whips for the horses. I knew too that they would not hesitate to use these implements on the humans in their purview as well, in spite of our more fragile skin. I could only hope that the baby in her womb would spare Rebecca from too much physical harm.

    It was only a week later that a new rumor about the wild one began to circulate amongst the flock. Whispers that Rebecca had made good on her threats, managing to escape the locked barn stall where she now resided and making an attempt to regain her freedom. She was lost for five days before they found her and dragged her back to the estate.

    Ultimately, the woman was lucky. Fearing the harm that might come to her unborn child they did not take her life or make an example with a public whipping. They did take her right foot.

    "One of the butchers handled the job," Rin told me, a smug smile on her face. "Clean cut left her with nothing but a stump of heel. That human will never run from her Masters again."

    I hoped the horror wasn't evident in my face as I watched the clear pleasure my overseer took in hearing the poor human's punishment.

    "It is lucky you uncovered the danger that creature posed before it was too late, Alice," Rin continued. "Imagine if she had tried to run while under my authority? You have protected me and all under my command. Do not think this will be forgotten. Your Master has been told of your loyalty and might even take this into consideration when planning in the future. No wild human can be as valuable as one that can truly be trusted, such as yourself."

    I forced myself to return Madam's smile. It seemed my actions had worked just as I'd hoped. The humans under me were protected from Rebecca's transgressions. I had affirmed my worth and potentially bought more time with my daughter. Still, as I took to my bed that night, I found sleep would not come.

    I thought of Rebecca, laying in her locked stall, disfigured, alone, forced to bring a new life to the world of our misery against her will. I knew that I had finally crossed a line I'd hoped to never have to traverse. I could only hope my new power would ensure I would never have to do so again.

——
A/N

And there it is. A line crossed. Did Alice have any other choice? Hard to say. We are reading from her pov of course and she was highly worried about Rebecca. Now a threat is removed. Mary & Alice's position more secure again...At what cost though 😔 Next chapter on Wed! This incident did mark a new phase of Alice's life on the Dulane estate. Next chapter starts another