Her mother remained prim and proper, going about her household duties in the most precise, and impersonal, manner. It was the same manner that she adopted in her dealings with her husband, and Jade. No matter how hard Jade tried to gain her mother’s approval, she never achieved more than the indifferent nod of the head if she did something worthy, and was always chastised at length for even the most trivial offence.
Jade gravitated more and more toward her father and Yee-Ling, who were far more generous in their affections and welcomed her presence. They were the ones who played with her, and showed their delight when Jade was able to produce a painting or bake an apple pie for their supper.
She also began to notice the way in which Father regarded her mother. Knowing it was useless to try to argue with her, he agreed with Ann’s wishes on almost all occasions. Like Jade, he sought to break down the barriers between them, but without success. As a result of the intolerable situation, he began to seek solace in drink.
Jade noticed that he often came home late, and then spent a great deal of time working in his study, with papers spread across the desk before him, and a large glass of liquid near at hand — a glass that was rarely empty.
Having raised Jade through her early childhood, Yee-Ling continued to be the person who had the closest links to Jade, with her father a close second. With the position of wet-nurse no longer required, she remained in the household, helping the cook and the maid in her spare time and while Jade was at school, but on her return, in the early afternoon, Yee-Ling was the one who helped her with her homework, and would feed and wash her, ready for bed. If Jade was to visit friends, Yee-Ling accompanied her, and brought her home afterwards.
When her father arrived home, if it was early enough, he would sometimes spend some time with Jade, helping her with her studies, nodding with approval at Jade’s accomplishments. She had proved to be a natural student, absorbing information like a sponge. Jade loved to stand before her father, and Yee-Ling, reading from her books, and demonstrating her abilities to conquer even the most complex spellings.
It was while she was reading to the two of them that she noticed something unusual. Her father and Yee-Ling were sitting side by side on her bed, as she read to them from her latest book. Both were giving her their full attention, when they noticed that their thighs had come into contact. Each sprang aside, and Yee-Ling blushed deeply.
‘Please excuse me,’ said Yee-Ling, as she rose and left the room.
Jade wondered what had caused such a strange reaction to such a simple event, but promptly forgot about it as she continued to read to her father. However, her father did not appear to be listening.
It was not the last time that she noticed Yee-Ling blush while in the presence of her father. Jade became aware that her father’s eyes often followed Yee-Ling as she moved about the room.
Several weeks later, a fierce storm lashed the house.
Jade awoke, and lay listening to the thunder rolling across the sky. She was not afraid of storms any more. After all, she was now at school, and a young lady, however, the thought of Yee-Ling’s warm embrace, and soft, gentle singing, was enticing. Climbing from bed, she went to Yee-Ling’s room, and whispered, ‘Yee-Ling, may I sleep with you?’
‘Of course you can, little one,’ she responded as she opened her arms to the young girl.
Snuggling close, Jade felt warm and safe, as Yee-Ling began to sing. Just then, the door opened, and her father stood in the doorway. Dressed in a dressing gown, he had been about to go to bed when he thought to look in on his daughter. He swayed slightly, and Jade could see that he had been drinking.
‘I was just checking on Jade, and found her room empty.’
‘She is here with me, Mr John. Safe and well.’
‘Good. Good. But it is best if she were in her own bed. She’s getting to be too old to be creeping to your bed for comfort.
Please take her back to her room, and then return here. I wish to talk to you.’
‘Of course, Mr John,’ replied Yee-Ling, as she arose and took Jade by the hand. She led Jade back to her bedroom, and tucked her in, with a kiss on the forehead.
Jade asked, ‘What does Daddy want to talk to you about? Have I done anything wrong?’
‘No, little one, you have done nothing wrong. I’m sure it is nothing.’
Not convinced, Jade was worried. Perhaps Daddy was cross with Yee-Ling for letting Jade sleep in her bed. Worried, Jade climbed back out of bed a few minutes later and quietly opened her bedroom door. Silently, she made her way to Yee-Ling’s door, and opened it a crack so that she could look in.
Jade’s heart pounded loudly with excitement. She did not know what to expect. Perhaps her father was going to beat Yee-Ling for some error, and, if so, Jade was determined to try to stop him.
As Jade looked in, she saw Yee-Ling standing before her father, head bowed, as John Taylor spoke to her.
‘I wanted to thank you for all the help you’ve been in raising Jade. You’ve done a wonderful job,’ he said as he laid a hand on Yee-Ling’s shoulder. ‘However, my wife has decided that Jade should attend her school, in England. Ann wants her to receive a proper English education.’
Jade’s breath caught in her throat. Her mother wanted to send her away? No! Never! They couldn’t allow it to happen.
Yee-Ling gasped. ‘Oh, Mr John. No! I could not bear to be parted from my Jade.’
‘I’m afraid it must be done. I’ll be devastated to lose her as well, but it’s for her own good.’
Yee-Ling looked up at Father. Tears coursed down her cheeks, and a look of utter dread was on her face. John Taylor touched her cheek, brushing away a tear. ‘Please don’t cry. It will be just as bad for me. Jade is the only thing around here that makes life worth living.’ He stepped closer to her, and placed his arms around her, hugging her to him.
‘What will we do without her?’ moaned Yee-Ling. ‘She is my child!’
‘I know how much she means to you. It has taken me all evening to get up the nerve to come and tell you. Please don’t cry.’
‘I must cry. I am losing yet another child.’
Jade stood at the door. She too was crying. She wanted to rush into the room and hold her friend and father, but was afraid to do so.
John Taylor gently pushed Yee-Ling away from him and regarded her tearful face. The anguish written on it was evident. It was just how he, too, was feeling. He bent toward her and began to wipe away the tears. Yee-Ling responded by turning her face, and kissing his gentle hands. Unable to stop himself, John leaned down to Yee-Ling and covered her cheeks and then her eyes and forehead with kisses, trying to comfort her, and to find comfort for his own sorrow.
With a sigh, Yee-Ling leaned her face back, so that his kisses now found her mouth, where they lingered.
The kisses of comfort now transformed to ones of ardour, and were returned by Yee-Ling, as her hands pressed against the silk of his dressing gown. His hands responded, cupping her face, as he drew her into a deep embrace, before sliding down her front to encircle the taut nipples beneath her thin nightgown.
Yee-Ling reached up to his hand, taking it from her breast, she kissed it, and pulled away from him, leading him by the hand, toward the bed. She pushed him backward onto the bed, and reached down to untie his dressing gown, pushing it apart, and untying the pyjama bottom beneath.
Standing back, she raised her silk nightdress and climbed onto the bed, lowering herself onto John Taylor. They both gave a groan of pleasure as their bodies merged.
Jade stood mesmerised