Yellow Wife

Working in the big house is physically demanding and leaves Pheby with no time for herself. She sleeps in a small closet at the entrance of Delphina’s bedroom. When she manages to sneak away to her mother’s room, she sees Jacob Bell with her mother. Pheby reveals that her father is Jacob Bell and that he frequently spends time with Ruth in her room. Bell acts as the head of the family, praying with Pheby and Ruth at the dinner table.

Ruth urges Bell to intervene on Pheby’s behalf and send her North so she can be free. Bell shares that he has found a school in Massachusetts where Pheby can be educated. Ruth is determined that her daughter will have a better life than she does, a life of freedom. Once, after walking in on Bell and her mother having sex, Ruth told her daughter that everything she did was to secure her daughter’s freedom.

In the dark of night, Pheby meets up with Essex, an enslaved Black man who takes care of horses on the Bell Plantation. Essex gives Pheby a necklace with a wood carving of half a heart. Pheby repeats her mother’s warning to avoid pregnancy until she is free. Essex shares that he plans to run away from the plantation but only when he can take Pheby with him.

Every morning, Pheby must rise early before Delphina to dress her for the day. As she prepares Miss Delphina, Pheby tries to avoid touching Delphina’s skin. Pheby’s time is so busy that she only eats when another house servant can sneak her food. Pheby is exhausted and in pain from Delphina’s abuse and the hard nature of the work. Ruth reminds her daughter that she still has freedom in her mind and that no one can take that from her. Pheby learns that Jacob is making a trip without his wife. Instead, he is taking Ruth. When Delphina pushes back against his decision, Jacob shuts her down quickly.

While Ruth is gone, Pheby has even less time for herself or to meet with Essex. Jacob and Ruth are gone for two months when a letter arrives stating that they will be extending their visit. Delphina’s abuse of Pheby increases now that Jacob and Ruth are not there to monitor how she treats Pheby. As Delphina’s pregnancy progresses, she eats less and grows more demanding and moodier.

Pheby is finally able to find alone time with Essex, and she decides that she is ready to be physically intimate with him. However, he stops her before their kissing progresses. Essex shares that Delphina has been forcing him to have sex with her by threatening him. Pheby is hurt and shocked. She realizes that the baby Delphina is carrying could belong to Essex. Pheby tells Essex that if Delphina’s child is not white, she could accuse Essex of rape and have him killed. The two plan for Essex to escape.

Pheby is heavy with the weight of what Essex shared. She gives Essex a map she stole from a book at the big house so that he can find his way North. Essex urges Pheby to come with him. Pheby says she does not want to go. Jacob has promised her papers when she turns 18. Pheby and Essex have sexual intercourse, and Pheby associates the sensation with a feeling of freedom.