The Kitchen House

Martha and Jamie develop a deep bond; she accepts him as her own child, presumably because he looks exactly like his father, Marshall. Jamie, missing Belle, accepts Martha’s maternal affections. Lavinia remains submissive:

“By now I fully understood the position I was in as Marshall’s wife. I had discovered what my family had known all along: Pretense of ignorance could serve me well. I learned not to react, nor to give my opinion but, with a smile or a nod, suggest agreement with all of Marshall’s plans” (266).

Lavinia finds out she’s pregnant, and Marshall is suddenly sweet to her. However, he also stops coming to her room at night for sex; this coincides with Beattie’s absence from the big house. Later, it’s discovered that Marshall started raping Beattie when Lavinia got pregnant. Fanny gets married, and Lavinia hides in the woods to watch the wedding. Ida, a field slave, comes over, and Lavinia discovers that Marshall is Jamie’s father. She then sees Marshall go into Beattie’s house, and it’s clear to her that they’re going to have sex.