Chapter 81: Tessa: Tuesday

The morning inbound ferry brings the return of Madame Rebecca. Elise has gone to join the White cats handling the new arrivals’ luggage, even though the pair I’ve assigned could manage on their own. Madame Rebecca and Elise enjoy a special relationship that seems to be a cross between the intimate relationship Madame Nicole and Olivia enjoy, and the more business oriented one I have with Madame Faye.

We are now seeing the usual drop off in the number of arrivals that always occurs once summer is over. This year the decline has been a few weeks later than in previous years, but the trend is unmistakeable. Madame Nicole is already planning the closure of some of the dormitories and suites until Christmas. That will reduce the amount of daily servicing required, which eases any problems in matching duties and people on the White cat rosters. The smaller number of White cats on the island makes it harder to cover for random hiring by mistresses, although there are fewer mistresses here to exercise that privilege.

“I bet you’ll be glad to hand back control of the White cat rosters to Rebecca,” says Madame Nicole as I wait patiently for Madame Rebecca to appear.

“Yes, Madame. Managing them in her absence has been a big challenge of me. Perhaps I can take it easy for a short while.”

“Hmm. I wouldn’t get too comfortable. Brooke is scheduled to take three weeks leave from the end of this week, and Grace doesn’t return for another week. There’ll be work around the office that’ll keep you out of mischief.”

“Yes, Madame,” I sigh.

“But cheer up,” laughs Madame Nicole. “I’m sure Rebecca will allow you a couple of days off duty before Brooke departs.”

Staff leave is divided into two types. Short off-duty breaks of a day or two are taken while remaining on the island. Longer breaks, of two or more weeks duration, are taken whenever Madame Chloe can juggle the staffing to manage. Now that the peak season is ending, more staff are able to take the longer breaks that their contracts provide.

Madame Rebecca is ready to resume work shortly after lunch. As I expected, she promptly goes through the current White cat rosters with me and queries some of my allocation decisions. She seems satisfied with my work, even commending me for my method of covering for sudden absences due to hiring requests.

“Why is Melissa not on the roster?” asks Madame Rebecca. “There’s far too much work needed in the gardens to allow her to swan off.”

“She’s on an eight-day hire to Madame Bernice until Friday, Madame. It’s apparently something Madame April arranged with Madame Bernice. Effectively Melissa is Madame Bernice’s Chattel slave in all but name. She gets two hours a day of free time, but she’s otherwise in Madame Bernice’s thrall. I don’t think Melissa is ‘swanning off’ as you put it. In fact, I’m concerned at the treatment she’s endured at Madame Bernice’s command.”

“And what have Chloe, Nicole and Helen done about that?” fumes Madame Rebecca.

“I’m not privy to what they’ve said to either Madame April or Madame Bernice, Madame. I know Madame Chloe was angry at first, and that Olivia had to treat Melissa after she was beaten.”

“Right. Thank you for telling me. I’ll follow up with the staff mistresses. I would like you to intercept Melissa next time she has time off and see if she needs help. She may be more willing to divulge her true feelings to a sister slave than to one of the mistresses. Ah! Sorry, I can’t get used to calling everyone a black, blue, pink or whatever cat. I much prefer the proper caste names.”