Lynette Vinet - Emerald Trilogy 02 (11 page)

She smiled impishly.
“With pleasure.”

They laughed, locked in each other’s arms, then went upstairs, oblivious to the servant who watched them and slithered from her position behind the door outside the drawing room. She held her dust rag in mid-air, flummoxed by the sight of him. But it was him! She had to lean against the door jamb for support. Her heart hammered so hard in her chest she thought it would explode in a thousand pieces.

He hadn’t changed much, only turned silver-haired. He was still the man she had lain with all those years ago, still the man she had loved. As cruel fate would have it, he had ended up with Dera. Peg McConnell clenched her teeth. Life wasn’t fair! She should be the one beside him now. Instead, here she stood, old and wrinkled before her time, a servant in his son’s home.

She wondered if she still loved Quint. But no, she couldn’t love a man who had betrayed her as if she were a common trollop. And that was exactly what she had become after he lost interest in her. However, he owed her something for old times’ sake, and for Beth, the child she had born in shame. Quint Flannery would pay for her suffering, and pay dearly!

“Peg!” Cook bellowed from the hallway. “Hurry up with the polishing and come help me with the baking.”

“Aye, I’m coming,” she said, withdrawing from her reverie. “I’ve got lots to do…”

Beth walked slowly along the road which led to Athlone, knowing that if she didn’t hurry, she’d never get there before dark since it was now well after midday. She had wanted to start earlier but her duties had prevented it. However, Miss Allison had allowed her two days holiday for Christmas when Beth had told her that a friend who had once worked for Lady Fairfax was ill and needed her help. Well, that was partly true. She did know Salley Dugan, a former kitchen girl at the manor, who had married a shopkeeper in Athlone. But she hadn’t seen or heard from Salley in over a year and had no intention of seeing her. Her journey to Athlone was shameful to her and with each step she took, her fear and guilt increased.

Around her right thigh she had tied a kerchief filled with the few gold coins that she had managed to save over the years. She didn’t have much, and she hoped it would be enough to pay for the job. Suddenly she hid her face in her hands, nearly stumbling. “Holy Father, please don’t condemn me to the fires of Hell,” she prayed silently.

She heard the rumble of a cart behind her, and turning around, she groaned audibly. Patrick! It seemed no matter where she lately went, he was there always watching her. Well she’d just shoo him on his way. At the moment she couldn’t deal with his prying.

He halted the cart alongside her and grinned, his white teeth flashing in his handsome face.
“Where you heading.
Beth?” he asked.

“I’m off to Athlone to visit my friend Salley Dugan.”

“Salley, is it? Aye, I remember the lass. Come, jump on and sit beside me. I’ll be giving you a ride.”

She shook her head. “Nay, I told you where I’m headed.”

He extended a huge hand in her direction. “So am I. I have supplies to buy in Athlone. There’s no need for you to walk when I can take you there. Come along, Beth.” Patrick had unknowingly embroiled her in a trap of her own making. She couldn’t refuse him now that he knew where she was going and it would look peculiar if she wanted to walk the distance. She realized that her feet did hurt and her head ached, besides the fact that she felt sick to her stomach and was cold. She grabbed his hand and pulled herself into the cart, sitting next to him. His pleasure at having her near was obvious in his dazzling smile, and she wondered how he’d react if he knew she was going to Athlone to rid herself of her unborn baby.

Beth clutched a fold of her cloak in fear, hoping there would be no pain. She really had no idea what would happen once she found the address she had memorized from a piece of paper given to her by a downstairs maid at the manor. She had asked the woman in a roundabout way if she knew of anyone who helped girls in trouble, since Beth had a “friend” who was in the family way. Beth didn’t know if the woman doubted her story, but at least she’d not say anything—Beth had repaid her by giving her a pretty shawl that Miss Allison had given her last Christmas.

“You’re always so quiet these days, Beth.” Patrick’s voice brought her back to the present and she shrugged.

“You’re giving me a ride, not engaging me in conversation.”

Patrick grinned, his hair gleaming in the sunlight. “I see you’re picking up the gentry’s way of speaking.”

“And what is wrong with that?”

“Nothing.
I’m glad you’re improving yourself. You’re real smart. I never told you but I’m proud you’ve got such a fine position at the manor.”

She cocked her head to one side, examining him. Patrick always kept her off guard, surprising her. She’d never understand him. They rode for a while in silence until he fidgeted, his brows drawing together in an expression of distaste. “How is Sir Howard?”

She stiffened at the question and shifted her eyes to the
donkey’s
back as it shuffled along. “I don’t want to talk about him. I don’t know how he is.”

“You haven’t been seeing him?”

“My business is not your concern, Patrick, and I’d be grateful if you’d not mention him to me again!”

He jiggled the reins, urging the animal along. “I only hope your good sense has returned,” was all he replied. He said nothing else for the rest of the way until they arrived in Athlone. “Tell me Salley’s address and I’ll leave you there,” he suggested.

Her curls bobbed, she shook her head so hard. “I’ll get there by myself, thank you,”

“Beth, you’ve never been in Athlone before. You’ll be getting yourself lost.”

Patrick’s concern suddenly infuriated her. She shouted at him, “I don’t need you to look after me! I’m not a child! Be gone with you and go about your own business!” Beth scampered out of the cart,
then
ran off like a frightened fox, turning onto a side street. After she had caught her breath, she asked a passerby if he could assist her, and was directed a few streets away into an unsavory section of town where tiny, unkempt houses huddled together. Searching for the proper house, she was accosted by a drunken man who tried to grab her, but she hurried past him.

When she found the address, she was surprised to see that it wasn’t as terrible as she feared. Of all the houses on the road, this one was the prettiest and well-tended. A dressmaker’s sign hung in the window. Its wholesome appearance gave her the hope that her ordeal wouldn’t be so horrible.

Beth’s knock was answered by a red-haired woman who smiled sweetly. “What can I do for you, my dear?”

She had no voice, barely managing to stammer, “My—my friend—Kitty O’Shea sent me … she said you might help me.”

The woman poked her head out the door and looked around, then rested her gaze on Beth. “Aye, I know her. Come inside.”

Beth followed her into a clean and tidy blue parlor, and her uneasiness began to melt away. “This is such a pretty room,” she said.

“Aye, my business pays well.”

“I’ve always liked to sew, too, but I didn’t know it paid so well,” Beth said.

“You are a young one,” the woman said and laughed.

“I’m five and twenty, ma’am!” Beth took offense, feeling that the woman was making fun of her,

“Are you now?”
A hardness
filled the woman’s eyes. “Then you’re old enough not to have gotten yourself in this trouble.” She beckoned Beth to follow her. “Come on. You’re not my concern. I just hope you can pay for my services.”

“Aye, that I can,” Beth said and pulled up her skirt to untie the kerchief. “I’ve got some gold pieces here.”

The woman grabbed the small bundle, counted the money and pocketed it. “It will do,” she said. “Now come in the back room and we’ll take care of your problem.”

The back room was small and crowded with dressmaker forms, threads and needles, and pictures of the latest frocks from Paris. Against a far wall was a small cot. The woman waved Beth over to it and told her to remove her clothes. “I hope you have a place to stay afterwards,” she told her, “You’ll need to rest a bit.”

“I planned to take a room at the inn,” said Beth. She hadn’t told the woman she had an extra gold piece hidden in her shoe to pay for the room.

“That’s wise, because you won’t feel much like traveling.”

“Is it—painful?” Beth whispered.

The woman shrugged.
“Can’t say.
Never had the experience myself.
“ She
turned her back and rooted through a drawer while Beth slowly began to take off her cloak and dress.

What am I doing here?
she
silently asked herself. Her hands trembled and she doubted she’d ever be able to undo the back buttons, but at last they opened and she pulled off the gown and waited in her chemise. She suddenly realized she didn’t even know the woman’s name, and she didn’t want to. Standing beside the cot Beth watched as the woman pulled the longest needle Beth had ever seen out of the drawer. Was she going to sew now, of all times?

The woman advanced toward her, holding the needle aloft. “What you waiting for, girl, an invitation? Lie down and spread your legs. I ain’t got all day.”

Beth’s mouth dried up, and her heart knocked inside her chest. “What—what’s that for?” she asked, terrified that she knew the answer.

“My, but you’re a stupid one! This gets rid of your little bastard. Now quit your yapping so I can get started. I want to eat my supper soon.”

The abomination of the situation overwhelmed Beth. This was worse than she had originally feared! No, she couldn’t allow this creature to kill her baby and perhaps herself in the process. She’d heard horrible tales of women who died from botched abortions or who were never the same if they lived,

Beth backed away. “I’ve changed my mind,” she cried, frantic to be gone.

“Tsk, girl!
There’s nothing to it.”

“Nay!
I want my money back! “

The woman’s eyes stung Beth with their venom. “I’m sorry, but you paid me to do a job, and I need the money. Remember, you came to me.”

Beth’s hands shook as she picked up her clothes and clutched them close to her chest, hiding her semi-nakedness. “I want my money,” she said again, “or I’ll go for the constable!”

“Don’t be such a dumb little bunny,” the woman hissed at her. “The law will put you away as well as me.” Then she changed her tactics, seeing that Beth was adamant. “It won’t hurt. You’ll see. In a few days you’ll be thanking me for getting rid of your burden. Having a baby alone isn’t much fun, especially not for a pretty thing like
yourself
. So, come now, let’s get on with it.”

The woman sprang towards her but Beth dashed for the door, where her exit was halted by a man who seemed to appear out of nowhere. She hadn’t known there was anyone else in the house. She gazed in terror at the ugliest face she had ever seen. The man was
young,
his skin a mass of deep pock marks, and his hair was a blinding shade of reddish-orange. “You got a bit of trouble here, mum?” he said to the woman.

“Pick up the blasted girl and place her on the bed. Supper’s waiting.”

“No!” Beth screamed as the man grabbed her and hauled her from the spot. She kicked and clawed him in vain as he held her tight against him.

“This one’s a real wildcat. Can I have some fun before you do it?”

“You’ve got a dirty mind, Johnny,” the woman rebuked him.

“Let me go!” Beth screamed. “You can keep the money!”

“Silly little piece of baggage you are,” the woman muttered. “I can’t let you go now. You’d tell the constable, and he’d put me away for sure. But if I get rid of your brat, you can’t say a thing—you’ll be as guilty as me. Lay her down and hold her, Johnny,” she instructed her son.

“Let me tie her and gag her so I can watch when you do it,” he begged. “Or better yet, mum, let me have her before.”

“Stop it or I’ll slap your ugly face. She’s a paying customer.”

Johnny threw Beth on the cot, covering her with his scrawny body. Her screams were deafening, her own body writhing to break free.

“I can’t work like this. Her caterwauling is driving me crazy! Aye, son, tie her up and shut her up.”

With pleasure, he reached for the rope and tied Beth to the bedpost, then stuck a rag in her mouth. Before his mother was aware of his intentions, he struck his mother on the side of the head with his fist. He watched as she slipped to the floor in a heap, unconscious. “Sorry, mum,” he muttered and turned his attention to Beth who cowered on the bed in terror. “Don’t be so fearful. I
ain’t
no
different than the bloke who got you in this situation,” he said with a dreadful leer.

Beth wished she could disappear. This was worse than any nightmare she’d ever dreamed.

It grew worse when Johnny threw himself on top of her and felt her breasts, her hips, through the thin chemise. Then his hand moved up her thigh and rested between her legs. “You’re the most beautiful girl I ever seen, and I’ll be nice to you if you promise not to scream when I take the rag out. I want to kiss you, girl. Do you promise not to scream?” he asked.

She’d have promised anything at that moment, but she knew she would scream, that she’d scream so loud and so long to bring down the house. Perhaps someone would hear her and help her. She nodded her acquiescence, and convinced that she would be quiet, he removed the gag, totally unprepared for Beth’s primal howl. He held his ears at the noise, but then a scowl deepened the crevices on his face. “You lying bitch!” he yelled. “Now I’ll finish you!”

Swiftly he removed his pants and parted her legs. She trembled so fiercely the cot shook and still she continued to scream and kick out at her attacker. There was no one to help her, and though she fought, she was growing hoarse and tired. For the first time in her life, she wished for death. She closed her eyes when Johnny again threw himself on top of her in a savage assault but opened them when she heard a hard, smacking sound and the man’s dead weight nearly crushed her.

Patrick stood above her, yanking Johnny’s unconscious form from her and kicking him to one side of the room like a large piece of rubbish. “Beth, my God, what have these monsters done to you?” he cried and unbound her wrists.

Never had she been so glad to see anyone in her life, but she was so frightened she barely realized that she was clinging to him, sobbing like a terrified child. “Take me away from here!” she pleaded when the woman began to moan from her prone position on the floor.