Chapter 10
Nerissa returned to work after four days.
I offered paid leave.
She declined.
Her choice.
Piers came with her once because school closed early.
He froze when he saw the ballroom.
That hurt.
The same head table.
Same chairs.
No Jessamine.
He grabbed Nerissa’s hand.
“Mommy.”
“I know.”
She crouched.
“We can go.”
He looked toward me.
Then:
“No.”
Interesting.
He wanted to stay.
Not brave performance.
Curiosity.
He walked toward the chair where he had sat on her lap after I intervened.
Touched the armrest.
Then asked:
“Can Mom sit?”
“Yes.”
Nerissa smiled faintly.
They sat.
No audience.
No ringed hand.
No threat.
Piers put his palm against Nerissa’s cheek.
My body tightened automatically.
Then he whispered:
“Sorry.”
She immediately held his wrist gently.
“No.”
He looked confused.
“You don’t apologize for that night.”
“But my hand.”
“Jessamine used your hand.”
Piers started crying.
Nerissa pulled him close.
I looked away.
Some moments do not need witnesses.
Later she came to me.
“Sir.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for keeping my job.”
I shook my head.
“You didn’t owe me gratitude for not allowing someone else to misuse it.”
She considered that.
Then:
“Still.”
Fair.
I also changed household authority.
No guest or fiancée could fire staff.
No family member could alter employment, housing, schooling support, or schedules as personal punishment.
Formal managers handled it.
Boring.
Necessary.
May you like
Jessamine had exploited ambiguity.
I removed it.
