Chapter 43 – Mother Annie
Jade didn’t always attend the Sunday prayers. Sometimes she liked to pamper herself, snuggling under her blanket, enjoying the cozy warmth, and letting her mind go blank for a while. However, if she wanted to learn about the situation in the village and whatever was happening around her, the Sunday prayers were the best place to hear the latest news – gossip, really. She tried very hard not to pry into other people’s lives, which left her with mixed feelings whenever she sat quietly among the nosy neighbours and listened.
Still, the gatherings had their advantages. She had come to recognise many of the village folk, occasionally ran into the parents of her students, and even received a few secondhand donations after making small talk with the farm ladies.
Before Father Rochester’s request, Jade had intended to skip all the winter Sunday prayers – the cold had not been kind to someone who had once lived near the equator. But the Joy Sung ceremony was held after the prayers, so she could only drag herself out of bed early in the morning, wash her face in the biting cold after struggling to leave her warm blanket and room, and helped the Brothers and Sisters heat the main hall and set up the altar.
The white lilies made by her students sat quietly on a wooden tray to the side, waiting to be presented to the newborns.
“These lilies are marvelous, Miss Jade,” Brother Kennent said warmly as he stood beside the tray. “It is difficult to believe they were once scraps discarded by others.”
“I believe not many people are capable of turning waste into craft, Brother,” Sister Bella said, giving Jade a nod before continuing. “It is a rare skill indeed. We have seen many attempt to make use of scraps, but none have repurposed them into such beautiful creations!”
“I just do whatever I can and offer whatever I know,” Jade replied with a shy smile. “And actually, I only remember the basics. It was the students who improved the techniques and made these flowers look so nice.”
Brother Kennent and Sister Bella assumed Jade was merely being humble, but she was telling the truth.
Just like the embroidery she was currently working on – where only a little progress had been made so far – in her previous life, she had simply stumbled across various craft videos: how to make artificial flowers, how to fold origami, and all sorts of other random things, such as hoof trimming, horsehair shaving, dog bathing, carpet cleaning, glass making, watercolour painting… They had just been soothing videos to watch, small bits of knowledge to pass the time. She had never expected that one day she would actually learn – and even master – one of those skills.
She taught the students whatever she could recall from those videos. At most, she had expected them to produce simple level-1 or level-2 crafts that could be sold for a penny or two. To her surprise, the talented ones among them managed to adjust and improve the basic techniques she taught, producing what she considered level-5 work. Clearly they were marching toward level-10 and would become masters within years.
That was definitely something Jade dared not claim as her own contribution.
The success had led to several new projects.The lily project focused on artificial flowers, and the trinket project on accessories. Together with the original iron oven project, the ongoing winter chips project, the needle project – which was still struggling – and the greeting card project, there were now six projects in total. If everything went well, the school would no longer need to worry about future funds for the students’ necessities.
O Light who oversees everything, if you truly exist, please bless these projects and let these poor students thrive. Sitting among the praying residents in the main hall, Jade bowed her head and offered the silent prayer.
Some people left after the Sunday service, but others remained to witness the Joy Sung ceremony for the newborns. Watching the parents receive the white lilies with delight, Jade felt pleased. The flowers would definitely be well received in the affordable range of the artificial flowers market.
People began leaving one after another once the ceremony ended. Jade noticed a few parents gathering around Father Rochester, asking for suggestions for their children’s name.
Father Rochester took out a small booklet from beneath the Lumen Codex, which he carried with him for the ceremony.
“Now,” he said, “last year we had quite a few little Johns and Johnnys in our parish. Would you prefer something different this time, or will John do?”
“I would like something unique, Father – at least something that won’t have several children appearing out of nowhere when I shout the name, but not something too elaborate either,” one of the parents said, his brows furrowed with concern.
Jade raised her brows when she overheard this. It was exactly the problem she faced during her after-school tuition classes.
In her own class, although there were repeated names, the students had come up with nicknames to tell one another apart. However, the tuition class – joined by Mr. Anderson’s students – had brought in even more repeated names, and they had yet to settle on any nickname solutions. This often led to confusion whenever she tried to call someone.
Father Rochester flipped through the Lumen Codex, trying to come up with a few new suggestions. It would likely take some time, and Jade decided she might as well leave for the bakehouse, do some baking, and give Josh a little guidance before retreating to the classroom to supervise the tuition class – yes, the students still came for tuition even on Sundays when school was closed. After all, they had nothing much to do at home, and the school was warmer than their houses.
But before she could slip away, her gaze crossed with that of another nun.
A nun who was not exactly friendly toward her.
Jade subtly took a deep breath, stepped forward, and offered the old nun a polite smile. “Good morning, Mother Annie.”
“Good morning, Miss Jade.” Mother Annie looked her up and down before giving a small nod, her expression carrying a hint of disdain. “I am glad to see you in better health than before. However, your accent and command of the language remain far from acceptable for a teacher.”
Unlike Father Rochester – who gave the impression of a kindly elder at first glance – Mother Annie looked very much like the typical villainous stepmother. She was tall and slender, with sharp eyes and lips pressed into a thin line that seemed permanently angled in disapproval. Jade privately preferred to describe the expression as a grumpy cat face – at least that sounded cuter and a little friendlier.
Mother Annie had disapproved of Jade serving as the teacher of the ragged school since the very beginning.
Although Jade disliked Mother Annie’s attitude, the woman was still an elder deserving of respect… and she was not wrong about Jade being an imperfect fit for the position. So Jade simply maintained her polite smile. “Yes, I’m aware of that. I will probably end my service as a teacher next June or July, if you would like to know.”
Mother Annie’s brows drew together. “It would not be wise to resign from your post only to remain idle, Miss Jade.”
“Of course I won’t be idle, Mother,” Jade explained. “I might find work in a bakery or a restaurant. I believe my pastry skills can earn me a place somewhere, so I won’t starve.”
The old nun looked even less approving. “You have an apprentice to care for, Miss Jade. I heard of your vow, you swore to take the boy as your half-son. I do not think it wise to bring your half-son into such an uncertain life.”
“Time will tell, Mother.” Jade took another deep breath, resisting the urge to blurt out something impulsive, and replied calmly, “In the worst case, I can still come to you and Father Rochester, right?”
Mother Annie glared at her and considered the answer for a moment before giving a small huff. “Very well, adventurous maiden.”
The old nun turned and approached Father Rochester, who had just finished naming the babies. They likely had some administrative matters to discuss.
Jade let out a quiet breath and quickly left the hall.
Mother Annie did not live in the domus. She lived several streets away, where she oversaw the Sister’s House and the Children’s House – in other words, a women’s refuge and an orphanage.
It was a quieter place that drew far less attention. Unlike the domus, where people frequently came seeking help, the Sister’s House and the Children’s House were as still as stagnant water. No one simply knocked on their door; anyone wishing to visit had to first go through Father Rochester.
The Sister’s House sheltered many desperate women – from poor widows to unmarried mothers, from the elderly to the young and disabled. They were women who stood at the very bottom of society, so worn down by life that all they dared ask for was a little peace, and the hope that no one would come to disturb it.
Life was difficult for those women. Mother Annie stood as their guardian, protecting them from harassment and violence with her thin shoulders. Jade could more or less understand why the old nun always carried such a frightening expression that made her seem unfriendly. It was one way to ward off those with ill intentions – mostly wifeless, disreputable men who hoped to acquire an easy wife.
That was also why, even though Mother Annie’s words often irritated her, Jade remained polite and kept her distance. In a way, Jade herself had nearly fallen under Mother Annie’s protection. When she had first been rescued from the river a few months ago, she had no identity and looked thoroughly defeated. If she had not accepted the offer to become a teacher, she might have ended up at the Sister’s House as well.
She probably thinks I’d be better off staying under her protection. It would be nice if she wasn’t so much like a grumpy cat, Jade mused over the thought as she continued struggling with the coloured threads in her hands. Whatever, it’s not like I’ll see her anytime soon. She rarely comes to the domus anyway.
And then, that very same afternoon, she ran into the old nun who supposedly “rarely” visited the domus.
Holding back the urge to slap her overly confident self from a few hours earlier, Jade forced a polite smile. “Good afternoon, Mother Annie. You’re looking for me?”
Mother Annie, still wearing her familiar grumpy-cat expression, said flatly “Though I would rather not agree, Father Rochester believes that you, Miss Jade, would be a suitable person to assist in this situation.”
She gestured toward the two ladies who had been sitting across Father Rochester’s desk but now stood as Jade entered the study.
“Mrs. Whitcombe, Miss Clara, this is Miss Jade Lysmere, one of the teachers who resides under the domus’s care.”
Then she turned to Jade. “Miss Jade, this is Mrs. Whitcombe and her daughter, Miss Clara Whitcombe. They will also reside under the domus’s care starting today.”
Jade and the two ladies exchanged greetings. However, compared with their effortless composure, Jade’s posture and words came across slightly clumsy. She had only learned a little etiquette from Ashborne’s governess for a short time, and the rules of polite society were far too complicated for her to fully grasp, especially since she did not belong to that social circle.
Okay… so two proper ladies are going to stay in the domus, Jade blinked in confusion. What does that have to do with me?
“Miss Jade,” Father Rochester said gently, silencing Mother Annie with a brief glance before turning to Jade with a warm smile. “Mrs. Whitcombe and Miss Clara would like to contribute during their stay in the domus, and I could think of no one more suitable than you to assist them with the task.”
Jade immediately understood.
Just like her own arrangement – exchanging her stay in the domus for her service as a teacher – the mother and daughter also wished to contribute in return for their lodging. Since Father Rochester had not mentioned cash donations in exchange for stay, nor suggested they become teachers themselves, Jade suspected there might be some social or cultural consideration she had yet to grasp. After all, both ladies clearly did not belong to the poor or working class; they were likely from a more respectable background.
So she made a tentative suggestion. “Um… how’s your needlework? Or drawings? The students in tuition class could use someone to oversee their needlework and drawings.”
Mrs. Whitcombe exchanged a glance with her daughter. Miss Clara nodded with a small smile.
The widow then inclined her head. “It would be our honour to guide the children in needlework. My daughter is particularly skilled at embroidery. As for drawing, we are hardly accomplished, but I suppose we could offer some advice if necessary.”
After a short discussion, Jade was dismissed. Father Rochester and Mother Annie led the two ladies toward their rooms, likely explaining how the domus operated along the way.
Jade was still processing Father Rochester’s earlier words when they parted at the doorway.
“Mother Annie is particularly concerned about Mrs. Whitcombe and Miss Clara. They have come a long way and can only live on the modest interest from their bank savings until Miss Clara finds a suitor and marries into a new household. As for Mrs. Whitcombe, her future remains uncertain. It is possible she may eventually enter the Sister’s House if circumstances turn against her.”
Father Rochester’s quiet voice seemed to echo again in Jade’s mind. “Therefore, Mother Annie will likely visit them often. I know you have your opinions about her, but please be patient.”
… I don’t really have opinions about Mother Annie. Jade pressed a hand to her face. But I think Mother Annie has a lot of opinions about me.
She silently mourned the peaceful winter she had hoped to enjoy after finally diverting Mr. Rich Sponsor’s attention.