Chapter Thirty-Seven

                                    

                                          
"Place those over there," Ayo said directing Bertie as they prepared her shared rooms with her husband. She looked around the room and felt a sense of nostalgia. Recalling their first night together. She had given him her virtue and thank the Goddess she chose wisely. 
                          
She turned to leave her room when she saw Sara in the hall speaking to another servant. She watched for a moment before sauntering down the hall to meet them. She wanted to hate Sara after she'd learned of her part in Jacqueline's plan but she felt pity instead. Still, she could not let the crime go unpunished and she'd asked Elijah not to turn Sara out of the house, but to let her punish Sara. Despite his desire to see Sara out of his sight, he agreed to let Ayo have her way.
                          
"Sara," Ayo called to her standing in the center of the hall in her favorite velvet blue day dress with bows lining the bodice. Her graceful neck lined with a string of pearls similarly styled earrings dangled from her ears. Her curls were neatly pinned up with ringlets framing her face just so. Despite a few bruises she looked no worse for the wear. 
                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
                          
"You! Why are you here?" Sara looked on, trembling in dismay. She had drawn all her seedy plans but they had not come to fruition. She knew seeing Ayo meant her cause was lost. Ayo was not dressed as a servant nor as a maid, she'd previously been. She was dressed in the same fashion as the ladies of the house. She had heard talk in town of a dark-skinned woman of wealth but the talk had been hushed, very few people knew who it was.  Standing before her, Ayo looked as grand as any lady of good breeding. Part of Sara was proud to see it. Another part of her hated Ayo for taking what she felt was rightfully hers.
                          
"I am newly become Lady St. John," Ayo let her lips curl into an impish grin. She waited till the meaning of her statement dawned on Sara. 
                          
"You became his wife?" Sara asked astonished by the revelation.
                          
"Yes, I did. Though, the process of getting there was not without its trials," She grinned, "Which I gather you are not unfamiliar with. There is much we need to discuss you and I. These are not matters for sensitive ears to hear. I bid you follow me," She said a very direct manner, turning around lifting her skirts, not even bothering to check if Sara indeed followed behind. She listened for the clicking of Sara's clogs as she confidently walked back to her rooms.
                          
When she arrived at their intended destination, Bertie was making her way out. "M'lady I still don't understand why we had to move all the furniture out of place, to the edge of the room. It seemed like it was perfectly suitable the way it was before." She opened her mouth to argue again but saw the look on her mistress' face and knew she'd have none of it. 
                          
"That will be all, Bertie, thank you," And with those words she was dismissed. "After you," Ayo said flatly, letting Sara enter the room ahead of her. She tapped the key in her pocket, ensuring she had it. She intended to lock the door once they were both inside. She was about to shut the door when she heard Elijah calling out to her.