Madame Marie d'Vine
One
Madame Marie d'Vine
Madame Marie’s only ambition was to help people. She grew up in the stores she now owns on properties of land, and never wanted to leave it. The d’Vine’s was the only heir to a slave master she never knew, and when her mother died too, she claimed the land they left her, and she kept. She owned a tavern, and grill below, kept the rooms upstairs as a hotel, for women who did not mind attending to the needs of men. Women paid a share of stay, and the rest of the money, theirs.
They came and went at will, and Madame Marie cared for anyone on her property. Her place a maximum upkeep, and somewhere people called home, may have hidden, others stayed until they made enough money to move on, and men usually needed to use their stay for a night. A man’s horses watered, and their carriages addressed. They ate, drank, rarely stayed, and set off from such an establishment that stayed clean, and traveling men often left with a sack of delicious food.
Depending on what man is willing to pay from the bar and grill, also kept business alive, Marie fed hungry mouths without money and did well for the helpless. Madeleine Marie, Ma’rie’s mother was Creole, her father, French Canadian. She inherited properties from her parents. Marie oversaw the croppers, and all the help by herself, while her parents ran business during those times of settlement. Marie’s parent’s had little family time but were grateful for a roof ahead.
She was an only child, and they sowed potatoes, blue, black berries, and oranges that would go to people in need, just as her great grandpa in Tampa West. They donated food all her life, and now her land was so rich she did not mind trespassers, nor the d’ Vine is ever wanted for anything. Marie inherited property in Tampa as well. She was a happy woman who continued her parent’s traditions, never married, or had any children of her own.
Marie did not know Belle’s mother. A handkerchief left with her left the name Belle stitched, so it became Belle’s first name, and Marie’s first name, Belle’s last. Madame Marie gave Belle a good life, everything she needed and wanted, but the long sandy brown haired, blue-gray eyed fair skinned beauty grew rebellious with utter promiscuity on her mind, and Ma’rie had not realized how she spoiled Belle who at fifteen years old caused conflict and rebellion.
Mentioning Belle beautiful, was something that would blush any young girl, but not Belle. She raved in compliments, waited for her breasts to grow, and became ungrateful to Ma’rie’s advice. Belle, and her friends were old enough to walk from school together, and would sneak around Marie’s establishments, admiring all the pearls, perfume, dresses, and trinkets women of sale wore. The extravagance was another reason the women were in no hurry to leave Madame’s.
Trinkets and exchanges looked like gifts, but women sold themselves for them. What did Belle need everything of a woman when she was only a child? There was too much to see in the adult world of business than Ma’rie cared for her exposed to. Belle wanted to be like the women she saw, without knowing someone’s truth, and then learned of money exchanges for time upstairs and admired the way women called on by clients of men, day, and night.
Of the handsome, sweet-smelling, good-looking men Belle liked, the women blushed, fanned their perfume, and giggled for. Men liked the service at Madame d’ Vines, and Belle never thought the women sad. She fancied red rouge, Marie forbade her, even pink, and she looked forward to the day she would wear the fanciest frocks. Belle looked at all the Guerlain perfumes men brought the women from France and longed to sachet in fishnet and lace stockings.
Victorian boot heels, and burgundy red velvet bodices with frills and satin lace Belle would try. She had a grand education but refused to further herself. She did not want to be anything mundane wondered what it was like tickling men with feathers. Belle loved called pretty, and imagined her with John’s who frequented, and watched her grow into a young woman. Belle’s Ma’rie did not approve of Belle running to the ranch. It was too for such a young girl to see, and most certainly behind Madame’s back. Ma’rie objected to Belle’s spying activities. The ranch house and its business, none of hers.
Ma’rie forbade Belle even delivering mail from the house. Ma’rie knew the wiles of their world, having collaborated with her mother who worked her fingers to the bone cleaning, pressing clothes, linen, and cooking for people, and like her mother knew, there was always someone who would try to swell a young girls mind, on the sly, people did the same thing to Ma’rie behind her parents back, especially after her father died. Men cooed.
Belle parading her cheap thoughts and grown-up clothes wore Ma’rie down. It broke her heart to see how eager Belle was to leave after the harsh words she said. Ma’rie put too much pride into Belle, even if she did fine in that private school of Mr. Gentry. Ma’rie had her heart set on Belle having a respectful position in life. Money Ma’rie would give Belle, at sixteen years of age gave Belle a mind full of different ideas and thought to have Belle married before it became too late.
Ma’rie set her eyes on more serious young men in town for her daughter in hopes to suppress her wiles. Ma’rie knew dignified families who are well-educated from established backgrounds, sustainable income, business, properties, and respectable homes she raised Belle to be with a part of. Belle running with that Leoli Montague, started scarring her reputation. They were too outspoken. Ma’rie caught them wearing harlots’ outfits prancing in gypsy folly.
How she thought Ma’rie would not notice her wearing unsent gifts? Marie figured Belle out and forbade her. Befriending that, Leoli was not a clever idea for any girl. That family had a bad history, had been in jail, or were on their way. Ma’rie wished she hadn’t flipped.
“You could get caught up with those boys, or worse. You could get pregnant, Chile’.” Ma’rie loved Belle and just wanted to let her know about things, but Belle was defiant.
She insulted Ma’rie with outburst, before grabbing the duffle bag she packed. Belle wanted to be grown-up. It hurt.
“How do you know I am not already pregnant?” Belle was harsh, and Ma’rie knew she was not pregnant, she was defiant.
“Well, if that were so, I would want you to come to me. We can talk about it, and I can help but going that far, is not a clever idea,” Ma’rie said. She could not believe her ears of Belle’s inclination.
Ma’rie wanted Belle to stay after the thought of her losing her virginity. She felt broken Belle tore into her about the issue for a belligerent, and unknown reason. Marie knew they needed to talk, and asked that they do, but Belle felt that on the other side, the grass would be greener. The other side of town was muddy, where all hell broke loose and where Belle ran away with Leoli, (Lee-0-lie) who was promiscuous. She had two bad brothers and they did whatever they wanted.
Leoli’s family practiced voodoo, with witchcraft in the world of adults. Belle soon meets a man, and in all his faults, was not convinced she’d stop working for every Tom who dicked her.
