Emily Berkley’s Life As a Gentry Women                

 My window shades open widely as Ester, my household maid wakes me up politely. Ester is my brilliant housemaid. She used to be enslaved but I rescued her from a landowner in exchange for her work in my house. She was, and still today is extremely grateful.

“Good morning Emily, how was your sleep?” She pronounces in a sweet and believable tone.

I gather up the tiredness in my sleepy body and begin to say something like, “It was just perfect Ester.” She takes my silky, lace patterned covers off me and by accident, knocks over my dark navy lantern on my bed side table.

“Ms Emily! I’m so very sorry!” She picks it up as if it was a newborn child that has fallen. I can tell in her eyes that she feels horrible. She knows that lamp is expensive. I feel pity towards her.

I get up from bed and say, “No mistakes are meant on purpose. Therefore, It’s alright.” She smiles back at me, feeling thankful and offers me cinnamon oatmeal with a piece of toasted bread on the side for breakfast. I’m starving so of course I agree to that.

I walk over to my changing area and a surprise was waiting for me. It was a large looking box with a red ribbon tied up perfectly on top. I looked closely to find a tag on it. ‘From Father, happy early birthday Emily,” It was gorgeous handwriting, and the ink from the quill was just the right amount. I call Ester over and she opens it up for me. I dont know how to un-tie objects. I gradually say “thank you,”. Ester unfolds the perfect paper on top and out pops a corset! Under the corset was a huge lavender gown, and an undergarment. I was so happy that I blurted out,

“Ester, call Joseph, I need to share the new gown with him!” Tears began rushing down my face like a waterfall, and I frown in extreme sadness. I remember that Joseph is gone. My sweet, sweet husband Joseph has left me. He went to the new world with many work partners, and has been gone for almost a month. He promised me he would come back, but I begin to wonder if he really will. I love him dearly and still cannot imagine a life without him. My father gave dowry in exchange for a marriage with him, but I wouldn’t change that for the world. I’m just happy that I am not married to somebody else that doesn’t feel the same way about me. Ester hands me a handkerchief and I freshen up in front of my mirror. Even though I can’t get Joseph out of my head, I know I have to move on with my day. And that I shall be grateful for all that I have. I sit down and take five minutes to pray next to my bed, like every morning.

The gown that father gave to me is very important now. It’s really not just a birthday gift, it’s also a going away present for the large gathering that our family is having in England. My sister and I are twins which is rare, but it makes us feel closer. Both of us are parting away, and are going to the new world soon, to see each of our husbands. Kate probably also got the same lavender gown I just got, but maybe in a different color. We always get matching outfits to show that we are rare.

I put a blue soft gown on and began down our wood stairs. All the staff politely said “good morning,” to me. When my feet hit hit the floor, I put on a wool coat. My two door men Alden, and Smith opened my big, brown, wooden doors for me. I stepped out and quickly asked Smith if a carriage was coming to pick me up. I could hear the “nae,” of two horses trotting down our big, open, circled driveway and before I knew it, I was off to a meeting about the ship to the New World.

My emotions were cluttered. I knew how much I was stressed out about Joseph. Maybe it was my corset that was too tight but I felt like I couldn’t breath, for I, Emily Bennett was becoming an adventurous women. I would’ve never thought that I would go on an adventure. Women shouldn’t go on adventures is what years before me has taught myself. Was I doing the right thing? Am I following the rules? Well, the only way to find these answers are to ask Joseph. He’s always right. That’s why I need him in my life, because without him, I wouldn’t be who I am today.