For a long moment, the girl did nothing, clearly debating her options. I was sure she'd pick death. I also thought it would be the kinder option, but when her intended bent to take her arm, I saw a red stain on his shirt. It seemed her attack had actually hit.
And the girl must've seen it too, because she refused his hand, pushing herself to her feet, and snapped, "Iwillgive every abuse back to you that you try to give me. Take away my knitting needles - I'll find something else until you take it all away. Knives, forks, pans, and everything a woman uses can be a weapon, and if you so much as slap me, I will make it clear I am not scared to use them."
"Enough!" Mr. Saunders yelled. "Marry them before she has another fit!"
So Mr. Cassidy began the ceremony.
Fourteen
Callah
Somehow, I sat through the entire ordeal. Twice more, men lashed out at the women they were about to promise to care for. Once, a girl tried to run, but she didn't even make it a step before she was pulled back into place.
Before all of us, the words were said. Without shame, the punishment was given. What had previously been hidden behind closed doors was now on full display, and my stomach was twisting with dread.
The moment everything was over, Tobias stood. "Callah, I'm done. Take our plates back?"
"Yes, husband," I said, gathering up his. Then I turned to Sylis. "Are you finished, sir?"
"Yeah..." he said, sliding his empty plate toward me as if confused.
"That," Tobias told him as I walked away, "is the purpose of a wife."
I didn't hear more, but I didn't want to. I simply put our plates in the wash area, then made my way back, checking the girls again. They were now at the wedding table, being served their celebratory meal, and all of them had their eyes locked on their plates. Few were eating.
"Mrs. Warren?" someone said. I kept walking, trying to think of some way to make this right, but the woman tried a different way. "Callah?"
That caught my attention. Stopping in place, I turned to see Felicity, one of the widows I'd befriended recently. "I'm sorry," I told her. "I'm not used to my name yet."
"It's only been a week," she assured me. "It gets easier, but I was wondering if you could help me this evening?"
"I believe so," I said. "With what?"
"I have a fray that's giving me problems," she said. "Maybe you can help me when you do laundry?"
"Gladly," I assured her, knowing she wasn't talking about mending any of her clothes. "I should be starting that in half an hour."
"Then I'll make sure to be available then," she said with a smile.
So I hurried back to Tobias, not surprised to see Sylis still standing with him. Like he had on the way here, Tobias offered me his arm, Sylis moved to his other side, and the three of us left the dining hall. The men kept talking, acting as if I wasn't even there, but as we got closer to our room, Tobias sighed.
"We need to talk," he said.
"Who?" Sylis asked.
"All three of us," Tobias told him. "Now?"
"Uh..." I didn't want to interrupt, but I had to. "One of the widows asked if I could help her with a fray she can't mend. I need to do laundry, Tobias."
He ducked his head and murmured, clearly thinking. "Okay. You do that. Sylis, find a reason to come to my place soon."
"I can check on you in a few days," Sylis offered. "I'm reviewing the team, and I'll have to assess you as well."
"That works," Tobias said, pausing before our door. "And I might be in the lounge shortly."
"Then I'll head that way," Sylis said. "Mrs. Warren, it's a pleasure."
He turned, making no attempt to enter our suite. Tobias opened the door, letting me enter first, then sighed when he closed it behind us.
