In Chapter 16, Abbie explains to Pheby that none of the jailers have white wives.
"No respectable man would marry his daughter off to the owner of a slave pen. Even though Marse is wealthy, high society southerners consider traders dishonorable. Call them pariahs of men." (Chap 16)
Later in that chapter, after she has weighed the reality of her situation, Pheby submits to the arrangement with the stipulation that Monroe is never sold away from her. “And you cannot take a wife. As long as I reside at this jail, your allegiance is to me.” (Chap 16) The implication is that he cannot take another wife because she is claiming (or rather accepting) that position. From that point on, she is Miss Pheby, the mistress of the jail and for all intents and purposes his de facto wife, though they are not formally married. Interracial marriage wasn’t legalized until 1967, after the U.S. Supreme Court case ruling in Loving vs. Virginia.
Later, he surprised Pheby with a photographer who takes their first family photograph (Marse, Pheby, Hester) and he introduces her to his other similarly situated jailer buddies: “May I present to you Pheby Dolores Brown, mistress of the Lapier jail and mother of my firstborn.” (Chap 20)
"No respectable man would marry his daughter off to the owner of a slave pen. Even though Marse is wealthy, high society southerners consider traders dishonorable. Call them pariahs of men." (Chap 16)
Later in that chapter, after she has weighed the reality of her situation, Pheby submits to the arrangement with the stipulation that Monroe is never sold away from her. “And you cannot take a wife. As long as I reside at this jail, your allegiance is to me.” (Chap 16) The implication is that he cannot take another wife because she is claiming (or rather accepting) that position. From that point on, she is Miss Pheby, the mistress of the jail and for all intents and purposes his de facto wife, though they are not formally married. Interracial marriage wasn’t legalized until 1967, after the U.S. Supreme Court case ruling in Loving vs. Virginia.
Later, he surprised Pheby with a photographer who takes their first family photograph (Marse, Pheby, Hester) and he introduces her to his other similarly situated jailer buddies: “May I present to you Pheby Dolores Brown, mistress of the Lapier jail and mother of my firstborn.” (Chap 20)
She’s his wife.