Once We Were (25 page)

“
Well, I don't like it,” Lavinia persisted. “You'd heed my advice and take it down. Even my servant, who is not educated in fine arts, finds the thing repulsive. Isn't that right, Miss Hathaway?” She turned around, but no one stood there. Gianni chuckled. “It has scared her off, no? Come. Let me show you something else which may please you.”

*
              *              *

Ioan appeared in the kitchen again. Mrs. Dillsworth finished the last of the dishes as he paced the windows. “A storm is rolling in from sea,” he said. “I saw it while I was out this afternoon. Has Miss Hathaway not yet returned?”

“
No, sir, no sign of her.”

“
She's usually in by seven,” Ioan said. “Miss Appleby said she slipped away without permission at the gallery. Do you suppose she's left us for good?”

“
Miss Hathaway loves this house, sir,” Mrs. Dillsworth answered. “I don't see any reason for her to run off unless she were very upset.”

Ioan stood quietly for moments. Mrs. Dillsworth saw the guilt in his eyes. “Sir?”

“Inform me immediately when she returns,” he instructed, and left the kitchen. Ioan waited all night. He laid in bed a while talking to Miss Appleby until she fell sound asleep. He didn't leave her room. He slipped quietly off her bed and sat on the floor. He rested his back against the wall which joined Miss Hathaway's room. The thunder rumbled outside and the raindrops kissed the window pane. Ioan sat a candlestick next to him and found his place in Bertrand Russel's
The Problems of Philosophy.
Sleep would have to wait until Miss Hathaway safely returned.

An hour passed when he glanced at his pocket watch. Then two. Just an hour before midnight. He thought he should go look for her when suddenly the door opened quietly on the other side. He listened as she snuck into the room. Her step was so light. He guessed she put her things away and slipped into her night dress for bed. Then the room fell silent.

Ioan closed his book. “Miss Hathaway, are you there?” he whispered. Cora sat on the floor with her back against the wall. She was directly opposite him. She prayed he go back to bed. Ioan waited. “Miss Hathaway, please speak to me. Are you alright?”

“
I'm fine, sir.”

“
Are you aware of the hour? How selfish of you to run off and leave all of us anxious. It was very wicked indeed.”

“
It won't happen again, sir.”

“
That's all? You're not going to explain yourself?”

“
I got lost, sir. It won't happen again.”

“
See to it that it doesn't. What were we to do without you here? The whole house could've caught fire, but did you consider that?”

“
I'm sorry, sir. Is that all? I'm very tired.”

“
Due to your absence, I haven’t had my says worth to you today and you'll hear me now,” he insisted. “Call it what you like, Miss Hathaway. There is an honest reason why you stayed away all day. I shouldn't have done what I did.”

“
I forgive you, sir, but talking won't make it right. I respect Miss Appleby and her happiness. I won't let you do this to her.” Ioan sighed and rested his head against the wall. “Answer me this,” he said. “Why does it feel like I've known you my entire life?” Cora's heart tore apart. “That's impossible,” she whispered finally.

“
I know,” Ioan grinned. “It's absolute lunacy. Why am I happy about it?”

“
Because you're a lunatic, sir.”

“
Do you believe in past lives?” he asked.

“
No, sir. Utter nonsense.”

“
Of course,” he agreed. “Yet, I think I must have had one once, and that I loved you very deeply. I only wish I could prove it.” Cora didn't speak. He touched the wall tenderly, trying to feel her warmth through it. Cora closed her eyes and allowed her fingers to dance over his. She swore she could feel him. “Nos da, Mr. Saier,” she whispered, and walked away.

“
Nos da,” he answered, but he was alone.

Chapter 22

What came next was a moment which questioned her faith forever. Cora knew she was a wicked girl before. Perhaps she deserved what happened to her. Yet, Mrs. Dillsworth was the very seed of goodness, which shaded everyone in a paradise. Her homemade brews and warm meals made you forget the world and think of nothing but your tummy. What came next wasn't fair, and Cora regretted most that she wasn't there.

Mr. Saier went out early to sea. He sailed out the harbor before Lavinia woke to find him missing. Cora expected it. Tomorrow he'd give his name to Miss Appleby. The man needed these last moments to himself. Miss Appleby thought otherwise. “A man need stay with his wife until the wedding day!” she cried. “So she may confide in him all her joy and insanity!” Cora wished he hadn't left. Miss Appleby was mental.

“
I'm sure he never did this to her! What man does this to his wife? Am I not worthy? Am I not good enough for him? What purpose does he have at sea when he's getting married? Miss Hathaway, my smelling salts! Now, Miss Hathaway!”

“
She's scarfed all those down,” Cora told Mrs. Dillsworth. “Empty.”

“
Go get her some more before she digs her nails in the wallpaper,” Mrs. Dillsworth cried. “Mr. Knightly just replaced it all. Go on. I'll keep her locked up until you return. Please make it quick.”

No sooner had Cora left, that the fateful thing happened. Mrs. Dillsworth turned on the stairs to answer the screams of her deranged mistress. She didn't have time to mind where her foot fell on the stair. Lavinia's heart leaped listening to it all. She stumbled from her room and found Mrs. Dillsworth lying helpless on the tile below.

“Kitty!” Lavinia screamed. “Are you hurt?” Mrs. Dillsworth laid still as the grave. Lavinia tried to heave her to her feet, but Mrs. Dillsworth sobbed in pain.

“
What's happened?” Lavinia asked frantically. “Can you walk?”

“
I can't feel much of my legs. I think I've shattered something,” Mrs. Dillsworth panted.

“
Here's a chair, Kitty. I'll pull you over. When Mr. Saier returns, we'll send for the doctor,” Lavinia assured her. She pulled the old woman against her chest as she dragged her toward the chair. She gasped when her cream dress stained red. “Kitty, where is all this coming from?” She traced the blood trail back to the sharp marble corner of the bottom stair. She dropped Mrs. Dillsworth again, petrified by the sight of it. Nothing prepared her for this.

“
What do I do?” she cried. “What do you need, Kitty? Tell me what to do!”

“
There's nothing we can do for it now, miss,” Mrs. Dillsworth whispered. “Let's sit here and rest a while. I'm sure Mr. Saier will return shortly and all will be well. I'll be up and running tonight with an exceptional blueberry pie in the oven. Just you wait, my dear.”

Lavinia nodded frantically. “Yes, yes, of course,” she wailed, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Don't you worry about me. This old bat can take a beating after all these years. I've done much worse.”

“
Can I make you more comfortable?” Lavinia asked.

“
Yes, will you please inform my husband, George, of the hospital I will stay in? He'll get awfully worried if I don't call tonight. He stays in Concord, Massachusetts.”

“
Have you any children to visit you?” Lavinia asked.

“
No, ma'am. My Ava died before she could walk,” Mrs. Dillsworth said. “But she's always with me, as the sweet Lord is. I have nothing to fear tonight.”

“
Is there anyone else you'd like me to call?”

“
No, miss. Mr. Saier is the last person I would call family. I've no one else.”

“
I'll get you some tea. It should sooth the pain,” Lavinia offered, hurrying for the kitchen.

“
Wait, miss,” Mrs. Dillsworth clenched Lavinia's sleeve. Lavinia shuddered at how cold her hands were.

“
There's something else I'd like you to see to for me. It is very dear to my heart.”

“
Of course. Anything, ma'am,” Lavinia sobbed. “Anything to make you comfortable, Kitty.”

“
Take care of Miss Hathaway.”

“
Miss Hathaway is good to us. She will be treated with the utmost care and affection,” Lavinia assured her.

“
You don't understand.” Mrs. Dillsworth struggled to stay awake. “She's everything to this house. Do not hate or blame her for what's happened. Do treasure and love her, for she is our own Mrs. Saier come back to us.”

Lavinia stared at her. Certainly the old woman was slipping into a world beyond. “Can you see Mrs. Saier?” Lavinia played along. “Is she beckoning you into the afterlife?”

“She doesn't want to be found out. I went to great lengths to hide her face, but I can no longer protect her. She is Mrs. Cora Saier, whom we thought dead a year ago. I pity you, miss. I know it will be hard for you to accept, but I also know your heart. By telling you this, I know you will protect her for she is your dear friend. Promise me you'll take care of her. She was a good mistress to me. I only wish that you return the gratitude.”

“
You're telling me Cora Saier is alive?” Lavinia questioned.

“
Miss Hathaway is my mistress,” Mrs. Dillsworth managed to get out. “Please...please care for her as I warmly as I have.”

“
I will,” Lavinia replied. “I assure you, ma'am, she will be treated as she deserves.”

Mrs. Dillsworth smiled with great effort. “You are most gracious, miss. Now, I will take that tea, if you don't mind.”

“Of course,” Lavinia answered. She left her there on the floor and did not hurry back. She stood staring out to sea as her world crumbled. When she finally found the strength to return, Mrs. Dillsworth had fallen asleep with her head against the staircase. The blood had stopped rushing. The woman was dead.

*
              *              *

To say she thought of murder was an understatement. Kitty's body was removed from the house. Lavinia appreciated the coroner's swift, clean work. He left it as if Kitty Dillsworth never existed. That's how Lavinia wanted it. Murder wasn't enough for Cora Saier. Lavinia didn't entirely practice what she'd say to her, only what she would do. Cora came in with the smelling salts, but by that time, no method would tame Lavinia's madness. The house echoed with it. Cora must have sensed it, for she stopped short in the hall.

“
Miss Appleby?” she called. “Mrs. Dillsworth?”

“
You don't belong here, girl,” Lavinia appeared in the hall. “This is my house now.”

Cora couldn't move. There was such a diabolical darkness in Lavinia's eyes that froze her in place. “Miss Appleby, you're not well,” she said.

“You're such a fine servant. So kind. So obedient. So meek,” Lavinia said. “Who'd have suspected the selfish, sinister lie beneath the surface? How long would you have kept it up, Cora Harlow? Until we could do nothing but trust you? Until you stole back all your fine things? Until you invited him back into your bed?”

“
I don't know what you're talking about,” Cora answered.

“
Of course you know what I'm talking about!” Lavinia shrieked. “This is my house! These are my things! He is mine and I will send you back to Hell before I give him up!”

“
Where is Mrs. Dillsworth?”

“
She can't help you where she is now,” Lavinia hissed. “No one's here to protect you, little Cora.”

“
There's been a misunderstanding,” Cora said. “If you will let me explain-”

“
Remove your spectacles,” Lavinia persisted. “I said take them off!” Cora gingerly slid them off her nose. Lavinia ripped the red curls away. Cora's hair fell in a soft river over her shoulder. All doubt removed, the rage subsided into desperation. “This can't be happening,” Lavinia wailed, trying to keep up with her pounding heart. “You can't be alive. Tomorrow is my wedding day. This isn't fair. I'd do anything for him. But any hope of him loving me now...” She turned away in tears.

Cora didn't know whether to run or comfort her. “He can still love you,” Cora told her. “I did not come for your husband. I'm here for the bastard who killed me. I've become quite the expert of him. I know what art he's stolen and put in his gallery. I know what restaurant he frequents. I know where he sleeps. I know on Sundays he wastes himself in whiskey and forgets to lock the door behind him. I know exactly how I will take my revenge. Excuse me from your house and I will return to Hell myself. You won't know me again.” 

“You're not going anywhere,” Lavinia swore. The rage darkened her eyes again. “I'll see to it you never set foot outside this house. As long as you're here, I can assure myself you'll never go near my husband.”

“
You  mean to keep me prisoner?” Cora questioned.

“
Yes,” Lavinia convinced herself. “I mean precisely that.”

“
You're a few sandwiches short of a picnic,” Cora answered. “I'll pack my things.”

“
Didn't you hear me, Cora?” Lavinia cried. “I am your mistress now, and I say you will not leave this house.” Ioan's pistol trembled in her hands.

“
Put it down, Lavinia.”

“
I will shoot.”

“
Are you going to kill me then?”

“
I don't know!” Lavinia cried.

“
It's no use. I'm already dead,” Cora said. “I've nothing to loose. You can only hurt yourself. Let's settle this as ladies.”

“
I can't let you live,” Lavinia sobbed. “You will take everything I've worked so hard for.”

“
I don't want it! All I ask is that you see reason and get a hold of yourself,” Cora demanded. “You can get rid of me without sacrificing your conscience. All I have to do is turn and walk out the door.”

“
He'll come looking for you. I know it,” Lavinia swore. “You'll take everything when he does. I have to make sure he doesn't.”

“
Lavinia, please, don't throw your life away like this.”

“
Shut up!” Lavinia ordered. “I want to pull this trigger, but I must stop myself and think of my reputation. Don't make me change my mind.” She looked around desperately. Ioan had not returned from sea, but it was only a matter of time. Time pressured her for a decision. She seized Cora's arm, pushing her along with the pistol. “Go. Do exactly as I say. Do not stop until I tell you. Move!”