Bluebeard's Pearl
"It's him!" he hissed at me and my two sisters. Immediately we knew who our father meant, and I hurried to set another place at the table for our unexpected guest.
Father didn't need to remind us to be cordial to the man at our door, the man townsfolk derisively called Bluebeard. Of course, they never dared to insult him to his face. No, they only whispered behind his back, spreading rumors and speculating about what had happened to his previous wives. The two women had vanished without a trace, and it was only natural for people to suspect foul play.
"What do you think he wants, Pearl?" my oldest sister, Harriet, whispered. I only shook my head. Bluebeard owned the land my father farmed, and each year, Father paid him rent after our crops were harvested. Bluebeard's rent was reasonable, far lower than the exploitative amounts many other landowners charged, and yet Father struggled to make ends meet. Lately, he'd been grumbling about having three grown daughters who were still unmarried. He'd begun throwing the word "useless" around when he referred to us, especially when he'd been drinking.
"Come in, come in!" Father now said to Bluebeard, his voice ringing with feigned enthusiasm.
My other sister, Georgina, drew herself up to her full height as she stood next to me with her hands clasped behind her back. She was twenty-one, just a year younger than Harriet and two years older than I. As I glanced up at her, I noticed she wasn't smiling as Bluebeard stepped into our small clapboard house. Instead, she glowered at the man, as if her sour expression could drive him away.
I tried to make up for her rudeness by smiling brightly. "Good evening, sir," I said to Bluebeard as he removed his hat.
The man was dressed in a fine suit, and as I studied him, I guessed he was a little younger than Father, perhaps forty years old. His hair and beard were raven-black, and just like the feathers of that bird, they took on a faint hue of deepest indigo in the sunlight. Thus the reason for the nickname Bluebeard. His features were sharp and angular, and his fair complexion was a contrast to my tanned skin, and that of my sisters and father. We spent a good part of the day outdoors, tending to chores.
While Harriet trembled with nervousness and Georgina continued to scowl, Bluebeard stepped toward me and held out his hand. "Please, call me William," he said with a warm smile.
I grasped his hand and instantly noticed the absence of his right ring finger. Some people in town claimed that one of his wives had hacked off that finger in an attempt to escape him before she was murdered, but I didn't believe that ridiculous rumor.
"I'm Pearl," I said. William rented out parcels of land to numerous tenant farmers, and I figured he couldn't be bothered to remember the names of all the family members.
"I know who you are, Pearl," he told me.
His eyes were such a deep blue, they appeared black in the low light of our front room. As William regarded me, his gaze was intent but kind, and I thought I could discern a hint of sorrow in his eyes as well. A wave of compassion for him welled up inside me.
"I hope you'll join us for supper," Father spoke up, running his palm over his hair in an attempt to tame his unruly curls. "Harriet's made beef stew."
I expected William to decline, as he was a wealthy man who likely wouldn't find our humble meal appetizing. Yet he surprised me by accepting Father's invitation, and as we made our way to the kitchen, just off the front room, I noticed that William didn't seem much interested in our house. I couldn't help but feel relieved that he paid no mind to the threadbare curtains or worn-out furnishings.
I had seen the outside of William's grand house numerous times, usually when I accompanied my father to pay the yearly rent. While my father, always obsequious, spoke to William, I had glanced around in awe of such a beautiful place. Beyond the house with its balcony and wraparound porch, green hills rolled into the distance, as far as the eye could see. All that land belonged to William, and much more besides that. He didn't need to farm, for he was independently wealthy, having inherited a fortune from his grandfather.
Now as William took a seat at our table, I was struck by the way he treated me and my family as equals. He didn't look down upon us, though we were poor, and he didn't seem to judge my father for drinking away what little money he did manage to make from farming.
The five of us ate dinner in near silence, though William did compliment Harriet on her cooking. I struggled for something to say and could think of no appropriate topic of conversation. My father kept glancing at William in trepidation, as if he feared our landlord was here to cast us off his property.
William seemed to sense our unease, for he gave us another reassuring smile. "I apologize for coming here uninvited," he said to Father, "but I was hoping to have a word with you."
Father's eyes widened, and I thought I heard him swallow hard. Even I had grown nervous by this point. "Of course!" Father said, then waved his hands at me and my sisters as though to shoo us away. "Leave us, girls. Give us some privacy."
We lingered only long enough to clear the table before we headed outside, far enough from the house so that we couldn't be heard through the open windows.
"What on earth is he doing here?" Georgina muttered. "Do you think he's going to evict us?"
I frowned and shook my head. "I don't think so. He's being far too nice for that. And besides, what kind of monster would sit down to eat with a family and then kick them out of their home?"
"Have you heard what he did to his two wives?" Harriet whispered, looking back at our house with a terrified expression, as though she expected William to come charging out at us.
"I've heard rumors," I replied. "Nothing more than that. Remember, the authorities investigated those disappearances, and they found no evidence of wrongdoing."
Georgia snorted with derision. "Pearl, do you honestly believe both women just happened to run off? And even if they did, what does that say about Bluebeard? He must be a total brute!"
I didn't reply, for I knew my sisters had a point. It was well known that William's first wife had always acted strangely, or a bit touched in the head, as the townspeople liked to say, but if she'd run away while in the grip of madness, that still didn't explain the second wife's disappearance.
I also knew that his reason for visiting our house this evening probably didn't bode well for our family. Still, it seemed cruel to judge a man who had always been fair to us, and whose eyes were haunted by grief. Harriet and Georgina might not have noticed William's sadness, but I certainly did.
An agonizing silence fell over me and my sisters as we waited. Though little more than fifteen minutes could have passed, it felt like an eternity before Father and William stepped out of the house, shaking hands and smiling as though they were old friends.
I felt my knees weaken with relief that we weren't about to lose our home. Glancing at my sisters, I saw the tension drain from their faces, and I grabbed Harriet's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Father walked William to his car, and we hurried over to say goodbye to our guest. Even Georgina smiled at him when William took her hand and wished her a good evening.
Finally he turned to me, and my eyes widened slightly when he clasped my hand in both of his. His skin was warm but not clammy. I figured he would quickly release my hand, as my palm had to have been sweaty from nervousness. Yet he held onto me, his smile tender and more intimate than would be expected from a stranger.
"It was a pleasure to see you again, Pearl," William told me in a low voice, his eyes never leaving mine. "I do hope we meet again very soon."
Flustered, I looked to my father for some kind of clue as to how to respond, but he only stared at the ground. "Of course, William," I finally managed to say with a smile. "I'd like that very much."
As soon as William's car had disappeared down the dirt road, Georgina turned to Father, hands on her hips. "Why did he come here?" she asked, not bothering to hide her suspicion.
Father cleared his throat and shuffled his feet. "Let's go inside, girls. We need to have a talk."
Worry descended upon me again, feeling like a wild animal clawing at the inside of my chest. In silence, my sisters and I followed Father into the house. We didn't even have a chance to sit down before he turned to face us.
"The man wants to marry one of you," Father announced.
I cupped a hand over my mouth, trying to muffle a cry of surprise. Of all the reasons William might have visited, I never would have suspected that one!
My sisters released anguished shrieks and clung to each other, as if they feared being dragged away that instant.
"I will not marry that man!" Harriet wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'll join a convent first."
"You're not Catholic," Georgina scoffed. Her lips trembled with the effort to hold back her own tears.
"I'll convert!" Harriet insisted.
Georgina glared at Father. "I'll be damned if I marry that man. If you try to make me, I'll run away!"
Father rolled his eyes. "Some threat that is. And you two can quit your theatrics. It's not you he's interested in. It's Pearl."
I froze, unable to speak. My mind raced with what felt like a million questions. Finally I managed to ask what seemed the most important one: "Why?"
Father gave me a rare smile. "He's obviously taken a liking to you, girl. You're a pretty thing, and at nineteen, you're certainly old enough to be married."
"You can't do it, Pearl!" Georgina said through her teeth. "That man is dangerous." She turned on our Father once more. "When you were becoming such great friends with Bluebeard this evening, did you think to ask him what happened to his previous wives?"
Father looked wounded as he released a heavy sigh. "You girls know they both ran off," he said. "That first one went crazy, and the second one?" He shrugged. "Well, maybe she was a good-for-nothing like your own mother. I don't need to remind you that she ran off, too."
Harriet and Georgina recoiled from his words, as though he'd slapped them. We never talked about our mother, and hearing Father mention her now only added to my sisters' distress.
I took a step forward. "Is that the reason William gave for wanting to marry me?" I asked Father. "He's taken a liking to me, and thinks I'm pretty?"
Father scratched his chin. "Well, he phrased it more eloquently than that. He said something about you being a beautiful young woman, and he would be honored to have you as his wife. He mentioned his loneliness, and said he longs for a loving companion."
I could only shake my head as I wondered what a man like William saw in me. I was actually rather plain, with long, fine brown hair and light brown eyes. While my sisters had willowy frames, I was shorter and had a buxom figure. I had already resigned myself to remaining unmarried, as I was no great beauty and didn't come from a wealthy family.
Before I could ask any more questions, Father pressed on. "Pearl, if you agree to marry William, he'll give me this house, and this land, outright, along with a hundred more acres. There will be no more paying rent; everything will be ours to keep."
"So you want to exchange Pearl for some land, like she's chattel?" Georgina shouted. "How dare you even suggest such a thing!"
"I've heard enough out of you!" Father bellowed at her, loud enough to make me jump. Then he retrieved his flask from a nearby table and helped himself to several long swallows of liquor. After he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, Father glanced at me and said, "I'm not saying you have to marry him, Pearl. Of course I'm not saying that."
No, he wasn't saying that outright, I told myself. But I knew that if he kept drinking and began to neglect the land even more, he could lose everything. We could all lose everything.
"I'll do it," I said, the words spilling from my lips in a rush before I had a chance to change my mind. Georgina and Harriet began protesting, but I only held up a hand to silence them. "Contact William and make the necessary arrangements," I told Father.
Then I turned away from my family and hurried to the kitchen so they wouldn't see my fear, and the doubt I already had about my decision.
* * *
A few weeks later, William and I were married by the justice of the peace in a simple ceremony. I didn't desire a grand wedding of any kind, and I figured a man marrying his third wife wasn't interested in one, either.
I wore my mother's old wedding dress, though Harriet had to let out the waist a little for it to fit me properly. Father served as my witness while my sisters looked on, appearing so sorrowful that they may as well have been attending a funeral. I forced a smile for their benefit as I stood by William's side, and they kept their promise to me that they wouldn't break down crying during the proceedings.
An older woman with flaming red hair was William's witness. I had never seen her before, and though William introduced her as Selene, he didn't elaborate on his relationship with her. I noticed that he acted rather formal toward her, almost deferential.
As William and I recited our vows, my gaze drifted over to Selene, and she gave me a sly grin. I quickly looked away, suppressing a shiver.
My hand was visibly trembling when I offered it to William so he could slip the wedding ring on my finger. It was no diamond, I discovered, but a blood-red ruby, and its enormous size made Harriet gasp when she saw it. It fit me perfectly.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I slid the gold band onto William's left ring finger. "Good thing I still have this one," he murmured, making an obvious reference to his missing right finger. I snapped my head up to look at him with wide eyes, and I noticed a playful smile dancing at his lips. In spite of myself, I felt the tension drain from my shoulders. I told myself I was marrying a good man, a man who sensed my anxiousness and wanted to put me at ease.
When the justice of the peace announced, "You may kiss the bride," I closed my eyes even before William had lifted my simple veil. Tilting my head upward, I offered my mouth to him, and all my anxiety returned, for this would be my first real kiss.
I felt his lips, so soft and warm, and the tickle of his beard. The kiss was chaste, but I readily yielded to it. As we pulled apart, I opened my eyes and saw a heat in his stare that made my breath catch in my throat.
After the ceremony, William invited everyone to his house for a celebratory feast, but my father declined, and I knew it was because he feared how my sisters might act. They had held up well until this point, but I could easily see they were fighting back tears as the time to say goodbye drew near.
Selene also gave her regrets for not being able to attend, but before she left, she took my hand and guided it to William's. "May the Fates bless this union," the woman said, and as she spoke, her eyes never left my husband's. "May you find happiness this time."
* * *
I spent the rest of the day in a dream-like state, feeling strangely disconnected from everything around me. Again and again I told myself I was now a wife, but the words didn't seem to register in my mind.
William and I made the short trip back to his house, and he carried in the suitcase which held my few belongings. Once we were inside, I stared in wonder at the high ceilings, the winding staircase and the rich furnishings.
"Welcome to your new home, Pearl," William said as he took my hand.
I looked up at him as if in a daze. "This is a beautiful house, but I imagine I'll be busy day and night taking care of it!"
My husband smiled affectionately and stroked my cheek. "You won't have to lift a finger, my dear," he said. "There are servants for that."
As if on cue, numerous servants appeared, and my eyes grew wide. I realized I was uncomfortable at the thought of someone else waiting on me, when I'd always done everything for myself.
William introduced me to the servants, and in my frazzled state, I struggled to commit each of their names to memory. They addressed me as "ma'am," which only increased my discomfort.
As William promised, a feast had been prepared, with roast duck and flowing wine, and a beautiful wedding cake. As I gazed upon the cake, unexpected tears filled my eyes, for I'd never imagined that this day, with all its splendor, would happen for me.
My husband immediately sensed the emotions threatening to overwhelm me, for he excused the servants and poured me a glass of wine. I took several sips without hesitation.
"I know this is a great deal of change for you, Pearl," William said gently. "Why don't we have a nice, relaxing meal together, without a lot of fuss?"
I smiled, unable to hide my relief. "I would love that."
As I sat down at the table, my husband took on the role of serving me. I felt too nervous to eat, but I wanted to make the effort. Someone had put so much work into preparing this meal, and it would be ungrateful of me not to at least try to enjoy it.
Once we were both seated, William's eyes locked with mine, and his smile made something stir deep within me. "I must say, Pearl, you make a ravishing bride."
I blushed at his compliment, unable to hide my own smile. "And you are certainly a very handsome groom, William," I replied, and his smile widened.
As we dined, I was careful not to drink too much wine, though I enjoyed the way it relaxed me. I didn't feel nearly as nervous and out of my element after I'd had an entire glass, and William was quick to pour me another.
The servants didn't interrupt our meal, not even to ask if everything was to our liking. I was happy to finally spend some time alone with my new husband. As he picked up a knife and cut the first slice of our wedding cake, I clapped my hands together in delight.
"It's almost too beautiful to eat!" I exclaimed.
"Almost," William said with a wink, "but not quite." He placed the cake plate before me, then brought a forkful of the cake to my lips. Gazing up at him, I opened my mouth, and his stare was riveted on my face as he fed me.
"Mmm," I moaned. The cake was so moist, it practically melted on my tongue.
William set the fork aside, then gathered up some icing on his index finger. I didn't understand at first, but when he brought his finger to my mouth, I realized what he wanted of me.
Nervously, tentatively, I took his finger between my lips, then sucked and licked the icing from it. I heard his sharp intake of breath, followed by a faint sigh.
In my innocence, I didn't fully comprehend the significance of this act, but his pleasured reaction, and the way his dark blue eyes were fixed on mine, made a dull, needy ache begin between my thighs.
Even when William withdrew from me and set about enjoying his own piece of cake, my heart thumped hard in my chest, and I struggled to slow my quick breaths.
After our meal, he gave me a tour of the house, and when we reached a closed door off one of the downstairs hallways, William withdrew a key from his pocket. "Some doors in this house are kept locked, as I don't like the servants prying into my personal affairs," William said. He unlocked the door and opened it to reveal a neatly kept office, with a mahogany desk gleaming in the fading daylight coming through the windows.
I quickly nodded, and after William had closed and relocked the door, we ventured upstairs. I noticed that no servants accompanied us, and I assumed they were busy cleaning up now that William and I were finished eating.r"
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