Chapter Text
Growing up, I knew I was poor.
I didn't learn to read and write like rich people, only just the basics. I learned to be a good wife so someone would marry me and make my family rich.
To be a proper lady.
To wear dresses and to take care of the children. To cook and clean. My father taught me how to read and write. He taught me to sing, to grab a man's attention faster. He thought that I might not be beautiful, so singing was my best bet. But, I was still poor.
When I turned fifteen my father sold me to be a servant. I wasn't mad at him for it. He needed to pay for his medicine.
I was sold to the highest bidder, a man that never gave his name. I was shopping for that man with no name. When I was twenty that's when I met Mr. Jefferson. I was at the house for five years. I remember that day like it was yesterday.
I was wearing the brown dress that man gave me. I had a white ribbon in my long light brown hair. I was outside the farmers market. My ribbon flows out my hair and down the street. I try to run after it, though the large crowd. The sun shining in my eyes, bumming into men and women with nicer clothes than me. Then I run into a person, a man. "Oh! I'm so sorry sir." I say while rubbing my nose.
"It's fine Madam. Are you fine?" A tall man with dark curls and dark skin with a clean shaven face, asked me. His dark brown eyes sparkle as the sun shines on them. He has a soft concerned look on his face. I nod my head, forgetting about the ribbon. My hair brows in the wind, as does his short curls.
"What might be your name Madam?" This man asked while grabbing my hand, kissing it gently, then letting go. A blush creeps onto my cheeks as I heat up. My blue orbs scan his brown ones. Wondering what is going on.
"Um... my name is Theodosia Sally Williams. And your name sir?"
"My name is Thomas Jefferson. I'm a very wealthy man, Sally. I could give you all the riches a beautiful girl like you deserves." He says my middle name, making me heat up again with the sweet nothings. This had never happened before. He is wealthy too, that's interesting. How did he get that wealth? Did he work for it? Did he just get it? He thinks I'm beautiful? I deserve all the riches? I ask myself as my mind tries to get me out of my situation I have at work. Then it pops into my mind. My ribbon.
"Oh no. I forgot I lost my hair ribbon." I say with worry.
"Oh, you had a ribbon in your hair." Smirking he says that to me, with something new in his eyes. I don't know that emotion. He says under his breath, "I wonder what that looks like." I heat up more from that.
"I need to get it. Sorry sir. It was nice meeting you sir." Before I could leave he grabs my hand. "Wait."
"Huh? You need something sir?"
"Let me help you find it. If we can not then I'll walk you home."
I smile, "Thank you sir." We wandered around the market for an hour not finding it. We started to walk to his house, the man I worked for. Thomas told me about how he will be going to France soon and how he can speak french. I told Thomas that I've been a server since I was fifteen to pay for my father's medicine. He pitted me telling me that I should be mad, he sold me without my constant. But that's what happens when you're poor. We get to the steps of the house. "Thank you again for trying to help me find my ribbon."
"I will gladly find anything for you, Mon trésor." He spoke then kissed my hand again, walking away to god know where.
The next day, he showed up at the steps again. With a smile on his face as I opened the door. "Oh. Good morning Mr. Jefferson. Are you here to speak to the man of the house?"
"Yes. I would like to talk to him." I walk him to the office of the master.
"Master, Mr. Jefferson is here to speak to you." He just motions his hand telling me to let him in. I walk away to make some tea. I walk back to the door of the office. I overhear their conversation.
"You want to buy Theodosia?" Master yells at Mr. Jefferson. In shock, I stand there still, frozen to the wall, with the tray of tea in my hands.
"Yes. I want her to be in a better house then this. I will pay you double what you paid for her."
He wants to pay for me? Why? What will happen to me?
"What! Um... triple and you can take one other thing. That's it."
There's silence then some footsteps. Coming to the door, then it stops right at the door. I look up to see the man that will be my new Master. Jefferson.
He's head turned to me, a smile on his face. "I'll send one of my servants to pick her up later today, with the money too." He looks at the tea set that's in my hands. "I'll be taking your beautiful tea set too."
Later that day, a man with grey hair and dark eyes stands at the door with a purple and gold carriage behind him. "Are you Theodosia Williams?" This man asked with a raspy deep old voice.
"Yes, I'm Theodosia Williams. Are you Mr. Jefferson's servant that was sent for me?" He nodes his head yes. "One moment please." I run into the house, up the stairs, down a hall, turn right, last door in the hall, opening it. It has the tea set that he chose to take in paper and a luggage bag holding it together. I carry it out to the stairs. Going slow to not drop the heavy bag, giving it to the old man.
"Is this the tea set?" I nod my head in response. We walk to the carriage, him putting the bag down gently, opening the door. I get in with the help of the man, and I thank him. I feel like I'm rich! We rode to Mr. Jefferson's house, which felt like it took hours. I was just staring at the beautiful grass and the flowers blooming on the trees.
When we arrived, there were many people walking around in the giant house. The woman was wearing a light purple petticoat with a white apron. The men were wearing a white shirt with black trousers, and a purple tie. I stared in ahh while the old man walked into the crowd. A lady with her long dark hair in a ponytail walked up to me. "Who are you? Are you here to see Sir Jefferson?"
"No, no, no... um.. well yes? I'm the new servant that Mr. Jefferson bought this morning." She just raised her eyebrow.
Then a man, with a familiar voice yelled, like a child seeing a grandparent. "Sally's here!" I look around her to see Mr. Jefferson running to us. She moves, while he sweeps me off my feet, hugging me, spinning me around. While he's doing that he's yelling, "Mes trésors ici! Mes trésors ici! Mes trésors ici!" It feels like forever with him just holding me. I feel so happy. A smile comes across my face.
He puts me down as I see everyone is looking at me. He has a gorgeous big smile on his face, while still holding onto me. "You saw me this morning, Mr. Jefferson. But anyways, hello."
"Hi."
"Um.. can you please explain to us what's going on, Sir Jefferson." The girl from earlier asks. He clears his voice and let's go of me. But puts a hand on the small of my back. I look up to the left of me to look at his face, as he speaks.
"This is Theodosia Williams. She is our new servant. Give her a warm welcome and make her feel at home. Thank you."
Now, it's been almost six years since that moment. And Mr. Jefferson is coming home after being in France for five years.