A surprise visit…
Marta turned the spinning session over to one of the other women and led Francos to a small room across the patio. Women around the area stopped and stared. Several were almost nude and seemed to be doing exercises. Others were working in raised garden beds or supervising children. Francos did a fast count. “Where did all these women come from, Marta? We don’t have that many children, do we?”
“Do you think that we only have our family here, Francos? We foster many girls and send some of ours to live with others to learn. I have welcomed many from the city. They need safety. We can house many more than our own here. Not that we don’t have a high birth rate among the younger members of the staff. Now, I know that Smoot girl is probably the reason for this. What have you heard? Please, sit down.”
Francos looked around the small room. There were shelves with bundles of papers, a communication unit, and the usual clutter he recognized from his own work room. “This is your office? What do you need with an office? What do I have a harem steward for if you are trying to run things?”
“Fran, sit down. I have tried for years to give you hints and you chose to ignore them. Sit down and I will explain.” She rang a small bell on her desk and told the young woman who came to bring a tea tray. “Again, the Smoot girl who married into Leon caused this, did she not?”
“You are aware of Dore’s incident?” Francos was alarmed. “Were the servants eavesdropping?”
“Yes, this is my office as senior wife. And, no, there was no eavesdropping. I heard from Dore’s mother. We have a network to swap information and run our exchanges of goods. Did you think that all we did here was eat sweets and be waited on? Use the intelligence I know you have, Francos Morales. How do you think I keep the cost of the harem down?” Marta accepted the tea tray from the young woman and dumped extra sweetener in her husband’s cup, just like he enjoyed.
“Word has been spread and some are alarmed. Edwina said her son’s first wife punished the girl for going to Dore. Edwina was not happy about that. The older women have suspected this was coming. It is needed, Fran. It is needed. As for the steward, Juan is my link to the wider world. Without his help, I could not function. We cannot make all we need, so we trade with the other harems and the families. It is necessary.”
“I had no idea.” He realized she had read his emotional reaction regarding the servants. It was true—she had psy powers. “I attributed the costs to not very many people, or Serept choosing a good steward.
“Dore came to me about the incident. Also, the head of the Smoot family was an investigator for the fire and made a point of women having power. His idea was dismissed, but his analysis of the fire made more sense than of the formal investigators. I attributed his point of view to his time in Utopia.”
Fran accepted the mug of tea from Marta and again calmed himself. “There have been hints of this from others. I just did not think they would be in my own house. Since Marianne died, I have not visited often.”
“I have noticed.” She tilted her head and smiled at him. “I have missed you, Fran.”
Francos was shocked at his body’s reaction. She was his first wife and mother of his first two sons. She was never a great beauty but had been a wonderful companion in his youth. Her perception of his emotion explained so much of the past. Perhaps he had paid enough for his anger?
“Well, yes, it has been a long time,” Francos found himself blushing and sensed her quiet laughter. “If we recognize this change in our people, it will disrupt our society. I agree that we need change, but I need to understand what has happened. I am ignorant. I will need help from you, Marta, and from the other women if they are willing.”
“Fran, one of the things I learned about you was your love of your people. Your father taught you that. I hoped it would be carried on to our sons. From what I am hearing, Marianne’s son may follow in your footsteps and this young woman you are considering for him may help.”
Francos laughed nervously. “Marta, do I have any secrets from you?”
“Not many, Fran. We women in the harems know much more than our men realize, but if we can end this stupid custom of the seclusion, I will be very happy, as will many other women. But be ready for those who do not want to be freed. Many women love being kept like this.”
“There has to be a way to make these changes without completely overturning our society.” Francos recalled long conversations with Marta when they were younger. He would discuss something he had planned, thinking she was just listening, not understanding, only to have her make a comment that helped him see what the problem was so clearly. “Marta, I have been a fool. Will you forgive me?”
“May I count on you for dinner?”
“It has been a long time, Marta. Yes, I will join you for dinner. But please be careful with my grandfather’s book.”
Marta shook her head. “I have been reading it to the girls for many years, and you never noticed.”
***
Megal saw only one place set for first meal. “Serept, where is my father this morning?”
“Ser Francos dined with Sera Marta and did not return to his rooms last night.” Serept’s usual neutral face was all smiles that morning.
“Oh, that is unusual?”
“Your father has stayed away from his harem since your mother’s death, Ser Megal. I did not think it healthy, but it was his penance for her death. Things will be easier now, I believe.”
“I had no idea,” Megal looked down nervously and addressed his first meal without any more comment. Serept smiled and smothered his laughter.
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