Chapter 9

Suki was the black servant of an unusual man in the village. He had married the ugliest woman I know. Not her fault, she had the pox which scarred her, and before that, as a child she had been burned in a fire. So she has pockmarks on burn scars on her face. She is pleasant enough to talk to. She came, I think with money; she is godly, and Michael treats her well. His family had a servant when they arrived in this New World (possibly she was then a slave, I did not ask, but she is now a servant); they all then promptly died except for him and Suki. She is black as night, with a more pronounced rear and large breasts. A delightful view even in the reserved style of dress in the town. It seems that Jane was also damaged by the fire that burnt her face and cannot bear children. She told Maeve that she had been examined, I do not know what that meant. Maeve and Mistress Wilton looked at her and I later heard that her ‘outer parts’ had been burned and scarred (along with much of her body), but she had regular monthly cycles still. A plan began to form in the mind of all three of us; separately at first, but we found ourselves agreeing in time.

One aspect of the village that deserves to be mentioned is how Suki is regarded. She is in no way treated as lesser than others. I have seen that in many places, and even here the natives are regarded as heathen monsters, but Suki is greeted by all with no question. Even Reverend Wilton has no reservations on that score. I mention this to show both that I try and find good in people where I can, and to demonstrate that even the more uncompromising, bigotted, misanthropic, humourless person may have some small good points.

To return to the story: I think we all began to think that perhaps Jane could conceive if only she had the chance. Michael of course was as ignorantly impotent as the next man, so even if he lay with her, she would not bear a child. Jane suggested that Suki might be a surrogate; that her husband could bring her to pregnancy in place of herself; however we already know that is unlikely to work anyway. It transpired that Michael and Suki knew it would not since they had been combining in secret for over a year.

Commending Jane’s loving and generous nature, I suggested that she and Suki both attend together so the child could have two mothers. Once with us, we waited until dark and the three of us entered the bed together. If it was suggested that I chose the dark to avoid having to see her, you would not be far from the truth and for that I am sorry. In the dark I said I could not tell which was which; which obviously was not true for many, many reasons (smoothness of skin, firmness of buttocks, delightfulness of teats, I could go on), an untruth for which I hope to be forgiven. It may of interest to know how easily women believe that men are stupid; but both were content to believe this story.

So I spent an evening in bed with the two women. To my shame I was grateful not to see Jane’s face and body. I am, as my lovely wife has suggested, shallow and only able to see a pretty face. Since there were two; we agreed that they should visit three nights. On the first night I impregnated Jane first and then it was turn and turn about until I had achieved four shots. On the second night I started with Suki and on the third I genuinely tried not to know which came first and second. We laughed when it became apparent that I was drained to the bottom of the barrel after only two shots. I think Jane was pleased to have taken part on exhausting me so much.

The epilogue of that particular story is that both were presented with boys. Everyone commented on how they looked similar and similar to Michael too. Since he was not involved in their production, I would take that as proof that God is sympathetic and kind, not always stern and judgemental. Suki’s baby boy was slightly less pale than the norm, but only a little; not that that made any difference or would have done. Michael was delighted in having two strong, healthy babies to provide for. It also provided an interesting rejoinder to the theory that children inherit their traits from the parents, Jane was badly disfigured, but her child was not (both children loved both mothers with not judgment as to colour or looks; a lesson for us all I think).