There was never much human life offered her, other than substance. Blood. The way they progressed over time offered her nothing but the latest fashion trends and newest pieces of poetry. The way they smoked too much precious tobacco and drank too much alcohol disgusted her. She could enjoy a drink from time to time, to control her urge to sink her teeth into someone's neck, but never could she stand the smell of tobacco.

In order to stay with those forms of morals, at least, she set to breaking a heart of the sweetheart of Galveston, Texas.

His family owned a large plantation, equipped with a normal, healthy amount of slaves and a large family that ran the social life in Galveston. Their only son, Jasper Whitlock, was who she had her sights set for. She had only heard stories from the locals, but she was aware that the youngest children, the daughters, were in need of a governess, something Katherine hoped to apply for. Jasper, himself, was very involved in the social world - from attending all that was required of him, as well as managing the household while his father was away, serving in the War of American Cession.

Her carriage came to a halt outside of the Whitlock Plantation. For miles in every direction, Katherine could see the fields of sprouting crops. Yes, they were a member of the rising wealthy class. The Bennett witch opened the carriage door for her and took her hand as Katherine slowly descended the steps. "A parasol," Katherine ordered the witch once she was standing firmly on the walk. The sun was much too bright, and despite the hat resting atop Katherine's head, she still had to squint to see up towards the house. She did not want wrinkles for eternity.

"Miss Katherine," Emily said gracefully, a parasol presented above her head.

"Much better," Katherine admitted. She began to walk towards the home, a dark skinned man standing still, staring straight ahead as Katherine's heeled shoes clicked upon the gravel walk. Once she began to ascend the stairs to the large plantation, the man came alive, opening the front door with a flourish and giving her a polite bow.

At least the South had manners. Perhaps it'd be much better than Canada in the winter time.

"I am here to speak to your Master," Katherine stated firmly, "regarding the position of Governess for the young girls that live here."

"Yes, Miss-"

"Miss Pierce, if you please," Katherine stated politely, her eyes roaming the foyer. They were well off, of course. The walls smelt freshly of paint, meaning that it was just recently rebuilt, or perhaps remodeled. A few portraits upon the walls were old, done in the seventeenth, perhaps sixteenth century, of family members.

Blonde and blue eyed, they all were. The men, at least. The women varied greatly. Some wives were black haired, others were like wheat grass and golden. She approached a portrait, of a young woman holding arms with a soldier, the plaque on the frame reading 1846. Ah, the War of Texas Independence. So the family came from a long line of soldiers, then. On the painting before it, the twenties. And before that, the War of 1812, of an older couple who were obviously past their child bearing age.

She heard boots against the wooden floors and turned gracefully, Emily a step behind her and her head bowed in a respectful manner. The man approaching her was not in the portrait from 1846. In fact, he couldn't possibly have been. He was more likely born in that year than anything else.

"Miss Pierce," the man greeted her. Not even a man in his world. His golden locks were brushed cleanly, and his suit pinned in a proper manner. Just like his father before him, his eyes were a brilliant blue, like the sky which did not cease in its sunshine. "Forgive me for not expecting your arrival." She offered her gloved hand, which he took, and kissed it upon the knuckles as he bowed.

"You must forgive me first for not having sent a letter before I arrived. I had only just seen the advertisement, yesterday, and by then all of the posts were closed for the evening." She curtsied as she pulled her hand from his own. "Mister...?"

"Whitlock," the man said, clearing his throat. "Jasper Whitlock."

"Mister Whitlock," Katherine smiled, her tone flirtacious, but not overly so. In this time, it wasn't becoming to be flirtacious outwardly. Katherine gestured to the witch beside her. "This is my servant, Emily." Jasper tipped his head at the woman, though seemed to be slightly confused.

"Perhaps we should take this to the study," Jasper said suddenly, gesturing up the stairs in the grand foyer. Katherine nodded and began to follow, her hands folded in front of her. "Your accent, Miss Pierce... it's not from here."

"My family is from the territories," Katherine explained. "They hailed from Canada beforehand. Once the fire struck..." She trailed off, as though it was unbearable. "I felt that, with the way the war was moving, migrating south was safest."

"A southern supporter, then?" Jasper questioned, letting her fall into step beside him on the grand staircase. Emily hung back a few feet behind them, ready to assist if necessary, to whatever Katherine needed.

"How could I not be?" Katherine questioned, the smile on her lips playful. "I find the injustice that Lincoln has brought upon this land treacherous. An act of war all for the sake of money."

Jasper tipped his head, as if in agreement. "He knows that the north will no longer survive without our farms, and plantations. Greed's the biggest sin of them all, and lots of people die for it. That's what my mama says."

"She sounds like a very smart woman," Katherine agreed. And as they reached the second floor, an office was just across the short hall, and the doors were opened wide. As he gestured for her and Emily to enter, Katherine took in the small room. Bookshelves lined the walls, and there was a small table with a map of the south, tiny metal soldiers painted in red and blue showing where each army was resting.

"My father sends me messages on word he hears," Jasper spoke to her, his handsome grin melting into one of slight embarrassment. "The Union is advancing in Virginia, and the southern armies are advancing in Missouri. Not much has changed, I'm afraid."

"There is always hope," Katherine said politely before she glanced towards the large windows behind the mahogany desk. They were open, allowing the warm, gentle breeze to blow at the curtains and carry the scent of cotton into the room, as well as give Katherine Jasper's honey scent. It was divine.

"You said you're here for the governess position," Jasper spoke once all parties had taken their seats.

"Yes, I saw your ad in the paper. I'm fluent in both French and Spanish," Katherine answered. "As well as my great grandmother's, on my mother's side, native German. I know enough Latin to give them a well-rounded education, and having been raised by a governess myself, I know enough arithmatic, history, and geography to teach your daughters."

"Oh, Mary Elise and Adelaide are my sisters," Jasper said immediately. "They are nine and seven respectively, ma'am. I'm not much older, myself. Sixteen."

"Oh, forgive me," Katherine said coquettishly, "You look older. Perhaps your twenties."

"No harm," Jasper said, but his face was slightly flushed, as if pleased with her mistake. Interesting. Did he want to fight in the big, bad war? "You sound well qualified. Our governess before the war moved to be closer to her family, in Louisiana. We have been searching for just over a year now."

"That's simply terrible," Katherine murmured sympathetically. Jasper's blonde curls dropped into his face as he pulled open a drawer, pulling out a few pieces of parchment. "Who has been doing your studies in the mean time?"

"Our mama, but she has been called away to her sister's in the neighboring city for the next few weeks. I would be honored to have you on hand with the girls." Katherine gave a nod and Jasper stood, walking around the desk to show her a few pieces of parchment. "This is just your agreement to work, and a monthly stipend for you to do with as you wish. We'll provide you with lodging and food, naturally. If that is alright. I'm afraid I haven't asked where you were staying."

"At the inn, in town," Katherine said offhandedly. "There is no problem, if I were to move in here. A more solid education, I should think. Of course, I'll be teaching them to dance, as well, I take it? And the piano?"

"Yes, everything you'll need is in the drawing room on the first floor," Jasper admitted, stepping back and leaning on the front of the desk. Katherine browsed through the parchment paper he presented to her, full of things to be aware of, things that should be covered. They were very well organized, and professional. "My daddy always gets things in writing. A better way to keep things from getting muddled later on."

"He also sounds wise," Katherine said warmly, glancing up. "Will I get to meet the girls, or should I sign these first?"

"If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer if you'd sign first. They may be devils, but they sure are my sisters too."

Katherine gave a small laugh of amending, and when given a fountain pen, she signed her name in a flourish. Katherine Pierce. Stepping just outside the study, Jasper murmured to the servant that had stood at the door, waiting for any directions. "Fetch the girls. Tell them to look their best. And have some tea brought to us."

It took nearly five minutes for the girls to arrive, and though they looked presentable, Katherine could smell a faint odor of horse on them. They were fond of riding, then. The girls were equally as honey blonde as their brother, and their eyes were a swirling sea of blue. They stood in what looked like their Sunday best, with their hair tied back in matching ribbons. And Katherine stood, walking towards them, before she bent so that they were at the same level.

The grin on Katherine's face was thirsty, and the girls gave small smiles back. The elder woman took each of their hands and held them with her own tightly. "We will have much fun together, girls, I know it."