Eugenia's Embrace

by Cassie Edwards

"Yes. Why? Did you find work there?"

  "That very day. I worked there until Frederick brought me here."

  A frown crossed Dawn's face as she tilted the teacup to her lips. She took a slight sip, then placed it back on the saucer. "That's another reason why I had to see you. Today," Dawn said quietly, looking toward the double doors that led from the library. "Am I free to talk?"

  Eugenia rose and looked out into the hallway, not seeing or hearing Clarissa. Frederick had either left earlier in the morning, or was playing one of his disappearing acts. Something grabbed at Eugenia's heart. Surely Frederick wouldn't discover Drew. She went ahead and shut the doors, knowing that this was the first time that she had ever taken such liberties. She had to wonder what Clarissa would think of this when she discovered that she had done so. But she didn't care. This was her home, while she was still a part of it. Her thoughts went to Drew once again, imagining him up in the tower room, waiting. But she also had Dawn to consider now. It was quite evident that she was ailing.

  "Please continue, Dawn," she said, settling back down on the cushion.

  "You don't know what kind of freak you're living with?" Dawn asked. "Hasn't Frederick Heinmarch demanded much from you that has sickened you inside?"

  Eugenia could feel her pulse quickening. She swallowed hard. "What do you mean, Dawn?"

  "I know all about him, Eugenia," Dawn answered. "He used to frequent the Old Homestead Parlour while Madam Valerie was still alive. Do you remember my telling you about the character who liked to be urinated on while another girl fondled his sex organs?"

  Eugenia could feel the blood draining from her face. Yes. She remembered. But, no. It couldn't have been Frederick. "Please don't tell me that it was Frederick," she mumbled, almost spilling her tea.

  "Exactly," Dawn said, setting her saucer and cup on a table beside her. She leaned forward. "He hasn't tried any of that kooky stuff with you, honey?"

  "No. He hasn't even approached me sexually."

  Dawn's eyes widened. "He hasn't?" she said, looking puzzled. "I heard that Frederick Heinmarch was keeping a girl who was supplying him with all his manly needs. I wasn't sure. I hadn't seen him around. When I became madam of my house, I refused to let him come inside. I had thought he had probably started frequenting some of the cribs. They would do such kinky things as he wanted. But then when I heard about this young, red-haired girl, and what he was making her do to be able to live with him, I thought I should check thinking it might be you, knowing you were homeless when you arrived in town—and remembering the brightness of your red hair. Isn't any of this town's gossip true?"

  Eugenia felt as though she was going to be ill. She sat her saucer and teacup down and stood up close to the warmth of the fire, clutching her arms, shivering. "I can't believe Frederick would be capable of spreading such rumors," she said, in almost a whisper. "And I can't believe he would be capable of doing such twisted things. It's all too sick."

  Dawn went to Eugenia and touched her delicately on the arm. "But it is true, my sweet," she said. "Maybe not the part about him spreading the tale personally. Tales can get started by themselves. By stable hands, cooks, maids. But Frederick Heinmarch is capable of needing kinky sex. When I thought of him doing this to you, if it was you living here, I grew fighting angry inside. I just wanted to set you free from such vileness."

  "But you said that you needed me because you were ill," Eugenia said, covering Dawn's hand with her own. "Please tell me about it." She just had to change the subject from Frederick, and what she might have to fear from him in the future if she didn't get away from this house of "crazies" as Kiyomasu had called it. Had that only been the day before? It seemed so long ago to her.

  "My health has been going steadily downhill since I had a terrible chest cold," Dawn said, moving away from Eugenia, stooping down in front of the fire, rubbing her hands together. "My lungs. They ache all the time. I'm not sure why."

  "Have you been to a doctor?"

  "No. I've never believed in doctors. I just stay on pretty heavy doses of morphine now to get by each day. The pain is never-ending."

  Eugenia's heart ached, hearing such news. "I'm so sorry, Dawn," she murmured. "But you should get to a doctor. It's foolish of you to not go. Maybe he could do something."

  Tears began to roll down Dawn's cheeks, making a path through the powder and rouge. "Truly, my main reason for not going is because I'm afraid. I'm too young to think of dying. And I'm afraid he might tell me that's what's happening to me."

  Eugenia sank down onto a cushion once again, cupping her chin in her hands. Life could surely be filled with heartache. All one had to do was turn around to find it knocking at their heart. "What do you want of me?" she asked.

  "I want you to return to the Old Homestead Parlour with me," Dawn said, sitting down on a cushion beside Eugenia, grasping onto Eugenia's hands. "I could teach you all I know. You could run the business for me. Especially on the days when I feel so bad. I don't trust anyone else. Even though we only met for a brief moment that one day, I knew then what kind of person you were. I've never met anyone else like you while in Cripple Creek. Won't you please return with me?"

  The thought of Drew waiting in the tower room entered Eugenia's mind once again. She did not know what his decision would be about her. Would he take her, or would he not? But still, even if not, could she actually be a part of such a place as Dawn's establishment? Always, when she thought of it, and Madam Valerie, she would feel something encompass her similar to what probably felt like dying. It grabbed at her insides, twisting them.

  She turned her gaze to meet Dawn's. The blue eyes were pleading, hazing over with the wetness of more tears. "I don't think I would be the right person for the job," she said, brushing some curls from around Dawn's eyes. "I can only remember my one night there. It sets my blood cold remembering how I was abused."

  "But don't you see, Eugenia? Madam Valerie is no longer alive. Only myself and my girls are part of my house. You would be safe. You could live there, untouched. Just run the place like it was your own. And, if I did die it could be yours. To keep. I would see to it. I would have a lawyer make this so."

  "I just don't know," Eugenia said, her eyes going to the window, seeing some activity around the stable. She rose and watched as Clarissa entered the stable, then exited again in a huff. She had to wonder what the reason was. But no matter. She had troubles of her own right now. Should she tell Dawn about Drew? No, she knew that she shouldn't. It would be too long a tale to disclose. And she knew that Clarissa had a way of bursting into a room unannounced.

  "Will you consider it? Think about it seriously?" Dawn asked, suddenly coughing in short, raspy hacks.

  Eugenia turned and faced her, seeing how red Dawn's face had become while coughing. She also noticed Dawn's hands covering the area where her lungs lay beneath. Eugenia ached inside for her. It could be her own sister. Possibly dying. What should she do?

  "And you must remember Frederick Heinmarch, Eugenia. If he hasn't pushed himself upon you, he will. Believe me. He will. Once he's used you for whatever purposes he's brought you here."

  Knowing that fear was etched all over her face, Eugenia turned from Dawn once again, feeling the trembling in her knees. She hadn't ever thought Frederick could be capable of such twisted ways.

  He seemed so refined, only living for his music, and possibly his opium that she and Drew had seen in one of the tower rooms.

  "I will think about it," she said quietly, putting her hands to her cheeks, then her mouth, trying to hide the trembling that was also in her lips. It all seemed to be ending for her, her life of grandeur, with her dresses of silk and satin. Yet, if she lived with Dawn she would also have those kinds of dresses. She swung around, smiling. "Yes. I will think about it," she repeated. But she first had to see what Drew's plans were for her. He would always come first. With him, she would need no dresses of silk and satin. His hands and mouth would be a welcome replacement.

  Dawn arose and placed her
black velveteen cape back around her shoulders. "I'm glad, Eugenia," she said. "Think hard. I could give you a life of leisure you never dreamed possible. It could all be yours. You wouldn't have to account to anyone for anything you did. You would be your own person. I would only be there, observing, a good friend."

  Walking toward the closed double doors, opening them, Eugenia stood aside to let Dawn leave the library. "I'll get in touch with you soon," she whispered, looking around her, making sure Clarissa wasn't in hearing range.

  "Please do," Dawn whispered back.

  Eugenia began to kiss Dawn on the cheek, but Dawn withdrew, shaking her head. "I'm afraid you might catch my illness if you give me the faintest tap of your lips. I hope you understand."

  That thought hadn't occurred to Eugenia. Maybe what Dawn had could be contagious. But for now, she wouldn't worry about it. She had plans to make. And the most important on her list of priorities sat waiting above her. "Please take care of yourself," she said, then watched as Dawn entered her carriage. She waved to her, then started to go up the spiral staircase, taking two steps at a time.

  "In a hurry?" Clarissa shouted from behind her, standing at the foot of the stairs.

  Eugenia swung around and looked at her, seeing something in her face, her eyes.

  "What?" she mumbled.

  "What's the hurry, Eugenia?" Clarissa snapped, moving up the staircase until she was by Eugenia's side. "No lady takes steps two at a time. Is there something that you're anxious to do? Or possibly see?"

  Eugenia's eyes shot upward toward the door that led to the tower rooms. No! It couldn't be possible that Clarissa had found Drew. Her heart pounded rapidly. She needed to run up the steps, to discover that he was all right. But she had to appear composed, as though she had no idea what Clarissa was talking about. She let her skirt fall freely around her ankles and stood firmly, her one hand grasped on the railing of the staircase so tightly the knuckles had grown white.

  "I thought you were so ill," Clarissa continued, mockingly. "No ill person can hurry so fast. Come, follow me," she ordered.

  "Where to?" Eugenia said meekly, following, wondering. Her heart seemed to fall to her toes when Clarissa turned at the top of the stairs and headed in the direction of the stairs that led to the towers.

  "Where are you taking me?" Eugenia asked, knowing her voice faltered.

  "You'll see," Clarissa snapped. "You just follow me. Do you understand?"

  Without answering, Eugenia followed behind Clarissa. And when Clarissa's fingers wrapped around the doorknob that led up into the tower rooms, Eugenia felt as though she might faint on the spot. She only hoped that Drew would hear them coming. Oh, if only Clarissa hadn't already found him. Her feet felt as though they had cement weighing them down as she took one step after another. She shivered inwardly as Clarissa began the long walk down the dark hallway.

  "Where are you taking me?" Eugenia pleaded again, wrapping her arms around herself, now shivering outwardly, from the chill, and from the fear of what lay before her.

  "Do you need ask?" Clarissa answered, hurrying to the door behind which Eugenia and Drew had experienced such pleasures the previous evening. Was it only last night? Eugenia thought to herself. It now seemed years away. She stiffened as Clarissa threw the door open.

  "Enter," Clarissa ordered, stepping aside to let Eugenia inch her way forward.

  Eugenia looked quickly around the room. Drew wasn't there. Then she looked at some small objects lying in the middle of the floor, knowing that they had been placed there purposely by Clarissa.

  "You do recognize the watch and the combs, don't you, Eugenia?" Clarissa snapped, crossing her arms in front of her.

  Eugenia gulped hard. "Yes, ma'am, I do," she mumbled. While Eugenia had been talking with Dawn Clarissa had been snooping and had found the watch and combs. But what about everything else in this room? Drew, the blanket, the wine bottle, the basket that had held their picnic lunch, all of this was gone. Why had the combs been the only things left behind?

  "So you thought you could get away with harboring a criminal in our house, did you?" Clarissa hissed further, going to the objects on the floor, picking them up. "You didn't think I saw how funny you acted a while ago? In your room? When you shut your vanity drawer? I knew you had to be hiding something in there."

  "So you had to make a snoop out of yourself also, to add to all the rest of the things you already are."

  "Now you watch your tongue, Eugenia," Clarissa said darkly. "When Frederick finds out what's happened here, your life won't be worth a thing to him. Sure, he'll have some fun with you first. Then he'll do away with you. Just like he's done before."

  "Like he's done before?" Eugenia gasped, putting her hands to her cheeks. "Do you mean I'm not the first?"

  Clarissa threw her head back and laughed. "You, the first? No. There have been a long line of girls. Frederick only hoped that each one of you would be the right one to make to perfection, so he could show you off, make you a star. But you were wrong. From the start. I knew it."

  "But how did you think to come up here? Today? To discover my combs?"

  "Your damn boyfriend stole one of Frederick's finest horses. And saddle to boot. The stable boy alerted me to this. When Frederick hears of this, he will go and find the son of a bitch and make him pay for it. And dearly."

  "Do you mean that Drew was already gone when you… ?"

  Clarissa laughed once again. "So he has a name, does he?" she hissed. "Yes, he wasn't here when I decided to take a look. What's the matter? Did he run out on you?"

  Feelings of deep humiliation were flowing through Eugenia once again, thinking that Drew had done it once again. He had taken her, used her, then left her. She would never learn, where men were concerned. Especially Drew. He had such magical ways about him; she was mesmerized while around him. And what was worse, even after he would treat her so poorly she couldn't stop thinking about him and how much she loved him. But what was important now was the fact that he had fled to safety. His life was all she could consider now. Not her feelings.

  "So what if a horse was gone?" Eugenia said stubbornly. "What made you think I had anything to do with it?"

  "Dearie, this watch," Clarissa said, placing it before Eugenia's eyes. "It's all over town about the watch trick this criminal used. The sheriff had shown it to Frederick, and Frederick had described it to me. That's how I knew. When I found out the horse was gone, I put two and two together and went searching for more clues. That's when I found your combs. Up here. In this room."

  A small ray of hope shone in Eugenia's eyes. Drew had known how much those combs meant to her, that her Papa had made them. He thought enough of her to leave them for her to find, not guessing for one moment that they would have been found by someone else first.

  "So now what?" Eugenia mumbled.

  "I told you. Frederick will use you. Have his fun. Then he will do away with you."

  "What do you mean? 'Do away' with me?"

  Clarissa thrust the watch and combs into Eugenia's trembling fingers. "Now just what do you think that means?"

  "Do you mean… kill me?"

  "You're not so dumb after all."

  "But why?"

  "When Frederick brought you here, he thought you were an innocent kid. A virgin. But now? Even associating with a common criminal? You're too soiled for what Frederick wanted you for."

  "I just don't understand," Eugenia whined.

  "He wanted a girl with the face of an innocent angel to present to the public. Not a used whore."

  Eugenia laughed loudly. "Then the laugh's on the two of you," she said.

  "What do you mean?" Clarissa hissed.

  "My first night away from my Papa's homestead, I was seduced by Drew Jamieson. The first night I spent in Cripple Creek I spent it in the Old Homestead Parlour. I was drugged and taken sexually by both a man and a woman."

  "You're making this all up."

  "All your precious time has been wasted on me," Eugenia said
further, then pounced forward, knowing that she could make an effort to escape. Clarissa was smaller than she. Surely she could fight her way out of this. But she stopped when she felt a stiff piece of metal being thrust into her side.

  "Get back," Clarissa hissed, pointing a small pistol toward Eugenia. "Don't try anything else, or I'll have to use this on you."

  "My God," Eugenia moaned. "How could you be so cruel? And how do you think you and Frederick will get away with this?"

  "We have before. We will again. The mountains can hide many a body. Yours will just be feed for the bobcats. The sooner the better as far as I'm concerned. But Frederick will have to be the one who decides this. Now move on out of this room."

  "Where are you taking me?"

  "In the room down the hall. Move."

  Eugenia moved ahead of Clarissa, her eyes moving desperately around her, but she knew that she was trapped. She had no way of escape. Not while a gun was being held on her. A door to a room that she and Drew hadn't entered the previous evening opened, revealing shackles at the end of chains hanging from the side walls. "You don't mean… You're not…" Eugenia gasped.

  "Yes. Move on over there," Clarissa ordered.

  Eugenia did as told and watched for a chance to break free as Clarissa began fumbling with one of the shackles. But Clarissa held the gun poised in front of her too securely for Eugenia to do anything but what she was told.

  "Put your hands through these," Clarissa ordered.

  Eugenia placed her combs and Drew's watch on the floor before her, then did what was demanded of her. She grew sick inside as she heard the snap of the lock on each, already feeling the blood rushing from her fingers, having to hold her hands stretched upward above her. All she could think about now was what Dawn had told her about Frederick, and Drew running out on her, leaving her in such a mess. She watched through a teary mist as Clarissa left the room, leaving her alone with only the grayness of the day as a companion as the dim light entered through the one window of the room. As in the room where she and Drew had made love, this room was colorless; the walls a clear, unpainted plaster, and the floors of faded-out boards. Everything was so quiet. The snow on the road and ground seemed always to make it that way, muffling all sounds. But she was in a room away from the front of the house and would know when Frederick returned. She would hear the carriage being taken to the stables. She hated to think of what the night would bring for her. First Frederick pleasuring himself with her in any way he pleased. Then maybe even death.