Fleurette Riley is fifteen years old at the start 
of her entries.  She lives on a plantation called 
Kirkwood in southeastern South Carolina.  Her father's 
name in Sean Riley, and he is a third generation Irish
cotton planter.  Her mother's name is Anne-Marie Vacot 
Riley, and she is from a Creole family in New Orleans, 
Louisiana.  

Fleurette has an older sister, aged 26, named Sarette 
Riley White, and Sarette is married to Mark White.  
They have one son, Lucas, who is two years old at the 
time of Fleurette's first entry.  

Fleurette has a brother named Hall Riley,and he is 23. 
She has another older brother named Camden, and he
is 18. Fleurette has a younger sister named Gabrielle, 
aged 13; and twin younger sisters named Madeleine and 
Natalie, aged 11. 

Fleurette is 5'3" tall, she has blonde hair and blue 
eyes.  She is petite and pretty, and she is her Papa's 
favorite child.  She is spoiled rotten, but she isn't 
mean; she's simply demanding.  Fleurette's best friend 
is her black maid Jessie.  Jessie is actually Fleurette's
half-sister, although Fleurette doesn't know it.  
Fleurette's Mama does, though, and that's why Jessie is 
allowed to sleep in Fleurette's room, wear nice clothes, 
and Jessie was tutored right along with Fleurette. 

For appearances' sake, Jessie is Fleurette's maid; she 
does Fleurette's hair, brings Fleurette her hot chocolate, 
and helps her with her clothes.  Of course, Fleurette also 
has to help Jessie with her clothes too, and Jessie drinks 
more hot chocolate than she brings.  Jessie doesn't speak 
with an educated voice to most people, because Fleurette's
father doesn't know that he is also Jessie's father. He 
thinks Jessie is just another slave that happened to be his 
daughter's best friend. 

I have given so much background information about Jessie 
because she will play a major role in Fleurette's life. 
Keep in mind that only Jessie, Anne-Marie, and Hall know 
who Jessie really is, as Jessie's mother died in childbirth.
I hope you enjoy Fleurette and Jessie's story!