Ripper, My Love

by Glynis Smy

  ‘Did James Lockwood and family attend?’ Her father asked.

  ‘They did indeed.’ Kitty said. ‘Mrs Lockwood’s outfit turned out well, Sarah. She looked very handsome. Hannah attracted an eye or two.’

  ‘Did you dance with James, Kitty?’ Sarah enquired.

  ‘There were many dances, Sarah. Evelyn ensured my card was full to bursting with partners. Some danced on my toes rather than the floor.’ Kitty giggled and hoped she had covered her tracks enough to satisfy.

  ‘It sounds wonderful, Kitty. Let us hope your business benefits from the attention.’ William said.

  ‘Agreed’. Kitty and Sarah said at the same time.

  ‘Ha. Great minds.’ William laughed. ‘You will be too high and mighty for us slum dwellers one of these days, Kitty. Mixing with the rich folk, the Mayor of London no less.’

  ‘Stop your teasing, William Harper. You know your daughter better than that. Now, do you want supper again at mine tonight? Beef and potato pie is all I am serving, but you are more than welcome. Patrick is a work, so the company will be welcome. You included, Kitty.’

  ‘Thank you, Sarah, but I have some work to catch up on. And after a late night, I am treating myself to an early one. More pie for you, Father.’

  Secretly, Kitty enjoyed the fact that Sarah and William had become companions. When their children were busy with their own lives, it was comforting to know neither was alone.

  ‘My stomach is growling with the very thought. Come along, Sarah, it is time to enjoy your baking.’

  Kitty saw them to the gate, and made a promise she would visit for supper later in the week.

  ‘Take care of yourselves.’ She kissed them both goodbye and waved them away.

  After a light meal, she tidied her baskets and counter. She became so engrossed in the task, she moved onto other jobs. She cleared the fabric shelves and wiped them down. Exhausted she finished her chores, satisfied with a job well done.

  Hot water sat in a large pot on the stove. Kitty was more than ready for washing away the day’s grime from her body. She removed her clothes and enjoyed the simple wash down. Earlier, when her evening meal had finished cooking, she had placed a towel in the oven, alongside her nightgown. They were warm and cosy. She picked up her clothing, and laid it across the back of a chair ready for the next day. She prepared the small fire for the morning. Her routine never changed. If she was organised in the mornings, her days progressed smoothly. Kitty sipped her tea, as the glow from the fire warmed the room. The peace of the kitchen always gave her pleasure. She picked up the book Pride and Prejudice, she had been enjoying during the evenings alone. It was time to sit for an hour by her fire upstairs, and then retire to bed. She blew out the large candle on her table, and picked up a smaller one, that was on a small ledge by the back door. She lit it, and turned towards the stairs.

  She felt a push in the small of her back. The energy behind it, made her stagger into the table, the candle dropped to the ground. She caught her hip on the corner edge. Disorientated and still off balance, she grabbed the back of a chair and it toppled to the ground. To save herself she flung out an arm and as she did so, her attacker grabbed it. Whoever it was dragged her with her arm behind her back. She tried digging her heels into the floor, but her feet could not get any grip.

  ‘What do you want? I have no money here. Please, you're hurting me.’

  Kitty could hear her voice. It was strained. She was winded by the table edge. Every time she tried to get her breath the attacker dragged her further across the room. She tried to twist around to see who it was. The tugging at her arm continued. Her feet were sore as they scraped against the tiled floor.

  ‘Stop. Please.’

  Her voice was no more than a whimper now. Her attacker was a male; she could feel the unshaven stubble as he rubbed his cheek against hers. The smell of alcohol was overpowering. Revulsion and fear caused her stomach to churn. Still she had not seen his face.

  ‘Do not hurt me, please do not hurt me.’ Kitty pleaded.

  She could taste the salt in her tears, as they touched her lips. She had not realised she was crying.

  ‘Why are you doing this?’

  The intruder said nothing. He continued to pull and push her around the kitchen. Pots clanged to the floor, when she tried to grab at them. She snatched at a knife on the draining board, but missed and two china plates smashed onto the tiles. Nothing stopped the man; he dragged her around like a rag doll. Kitty could feel a piece of china scrape across her shin, and screamed out. Her wrists ached, her shoulders felt as if they had been pulled from their sockets and her head pounded. Anger took over. She was furious with herself for allowing him to get the better of her.

  She pulled one arm down so hard that he lost his grip. She reached out to the table leg for support and pulled herself to her feet. This gave her more strength against him and she pulled free her other hand. When he moved in to grab her again, she leant back and supported her buttocks on the table ledge. With one swift movement of her right leg, she kicked out at him. She knew she had hurt him; he groaned loudly and lunged forward. She punched out as best she could, he groaned again. He managed to grab the top of her arm and pinched her flesh; she screamed.

  ‘Shut it bitch.’

  His voice, I know his voice. I know this man. Arthur, it is Arthur.

  Still hitting out as best she could, she called out his name.

  ‘Arthur.’

  The man tightened his grip.

  ‘Arthur, I know it is you. What are you doing? Stop it. Stop it please you are hurting me.’

  Kitty sobbed, it was all too much. The fight was going out of her. She was frightened and confused.

  If I stop fighting, maybe he will let me go.

  She willed him in her mind to release her, but his grip stayed firm. She tried to kick out again, but now he had hold of her hair. He pulled her face close to his. His breath was foul.

  ‘Hurting you? Hurting you? You have no idea of what it feels like to be hurt. I asked you to be my wife, but you laughed in my face.’

  ‘I di...’

  ‘Shut your mouth, whore. I would have given you everything, waited for you to be ready, but no. No, you have to give yourself to him, that peasant farmer. I will have the last word; he will never have you again. By the time I am finished with you, no man will ever want you.’ Arthur spat out the words. His voice held an unusual venomous tone. Again, Kitty struggled.

  He pushed her against the wall. Her head made contact with the stone and she screamed for help, but knew it was in vain. No one would hear her. The walls were thick and at time of the evening the street was usually empty. His body leant heavily against hers; he pushed his groin into her and rubbed his genital area up and down against her thigh. Bile reached her mouth and she was tempted to spit it at him, but knew she would place herself in more danger.

  He stared into her eyes. She tried to plead with him, by opening them wider, to express her fear. However, the tears that fell did nothing to make him stop. He squeezed his into slits of spite.

  ‘You think you are good enough to mix with the mayor and his cronies. Good enough to flaunt yourself at every male in the room. Oh yes I was there, I could see you. I have been watching you for a long time. I even saw your rose garden activities. You make me laugh. You are a low class whore. No different from the dead bitch, you called your friend. I saw you walking in the garden with farmer boy. Yes, do not look so surprised, I was there. Not as top brass like you, no. I was working; writing about the latest trends. I even wrote about you and your handiwork. I was doing all that while you draped yourself over another man.’

  ‘It, it was n...’

  When she tried to speak, he thrust his head forward and pushed his lips onto hers. She struggled to move her head to the side, but without success. He bit into her bottom lip, and continued to push into her. With one movement, he pulled her hair and body down to the floor, he yanked her head backwards, and she fell onto her knees. He pushed her
onto her back and straddled her. His left arm was across her neck, and she could feel him reach down to her thighs. She froze, then he stopped for a moment, he was moving but no longer touching her. His vice like grip remained, but his other hand was free. He pulled up her nightgown. She tried to wriggle free, and kick out but to no avail. He was too strong. She arched her back in the hope of pushing him off.

  ‘That is my girl, get ready for me.’ His laugh had spiteful undertones. This was not the Arthur she was used to, she also realised she was about to experience the other side of sex, the cruel side.

  When he entered her it was with such a force, she screamed out in pain. This appeared to excite him more. Her back and mouth were sore, as he thrust and bit harder and harder. The words he used were offensive and his actions were vile. Kitty felt the room spin, she could fight no more, and gave into the blackness and nausea that had been building up inside. She passed out.

  ***

  Kitty was confused; when she tried to open her eyes they felt heavy. She could see nothing. She tried to sit up but experienced a wave of nausea. She lay back down, and curled her legs underneath her body. Her thighs felt wet and her body ached. Again she attempted to sit upright, this time she allowed the fogginess to disperse. She took a moment or two to absorb what had happened to her. She called out. Her voice was dry, and sounded raspy.

  ‘Arthur, Arthur are you still there?’

  Silence.

  She sniffed. Fire. The place was on fire. Kitty tried to stand, but could not raise the energy. The smell of burning intensified. She tried to get her bearings. She remembered Arthur had dragged her into the shop and with the heat she was experiencing she knew it was ablaze. Frantically she felt about, and gained a sense of where she was in the room. She realised she carried injuries with each movement she made. She crawled her way through, choking on smoke. Her body ached and the pain where Arthur had entered her was immense, but she could not waste time on tears.

  Find the door, Kitty. Find the door.

  Smoke caught in the back of her throat, she coughed and inhaled more. The temptation to turn around and attempt to put out the fire was driven away by her need to survive.

  Please God, forgive me my sins. Let me live.

  Each time she sent up a silent prayer she found renewed energy, and crawled a few feet more. A noise ahead of her gave her hope. She called out.

  ‘Arthur. Help me.’

  There was no response. Her head hit what she thought was the leg of a chair. It helped her find her bearings in the room. She was half way there. Another noise told her that Arthur was opening the back door.

  ‘Arthur. Please.’

  A loud crackling sound rang around the room. A fierce heat entered the kitchen and fumes choked her. The fire had found new life.

  With what energy Kitty had left, she wriggled snake like across the floor. Cool air guided her and eventually she felt for the back step but her energy failed her and she succumbed to the comfort of blackness.

  ***

  Arthur panicked. Kitty had gone limp beneath him. He was spent and released of all urges and emotions. Drinking all afternoon and early evening had given him courage. It had increased his anger towards Kitty and James, and the result of all pent up aggression, flowed from between the legs of the girl he loved. He rolled off of her body and pulled down her nightgown. There was blood on her face from where he had bitten her lip. Shame swept over him. He had to get away before she came around. She looked so lifeless, but he had seen her chest rise, so he knew she was still alive.

  He smelled the smoke while he fumbled with his clothing. Flames licked around the doorframe. A candle had been knocked over during their struggle and fallen onto ribbons and fabrics. It was out of control and so was he; the risk of being caught frightened him. A sensation that had never happened before tonight.

  Arthur saw his chance. He would escape and then raise the alarm. Kitty would be rescued, and he could slip away.

  Do I want her rescued? She knows who attacked her.

  He ran his hand through his hair. Confusion and desperation set in. He could not afford for her to survive. The flames drew in closer.

  Arthur made his way through the room. The smoke was thick, and he could not make out whereabouts he was in the room. He looked back at Kitty. She would hinder him should he try and carry her out.

  He was her friend, and he had failed to protect her. Instead he had become her abuser, and nearly her murderer. He was her enemy now; she would never see him again. He would never be able to make amends for what he had done. He had destroyed their friendship. William would not let him get away with his vile act. He would see Arthur was punished, and it would be no less than what he deserved. And if James ever found out, Arthur knew what he was capable of and a shiver ran through his body. Yet still he could not move. He stared down at his injured friend. The woman he loved. The woman he had violated.

  Kitty murmured.

  She was coming around. Arthur was torn, he wanted to help her, but could not face up to what he had done to her. He was a coward, he would not cope in prison, and that is where he would end up if he were caught.

  He eventually escaped from the building. He needed a place to hide, for a few coins he knew several women who would take him in. He would have to wait it out, and face the consequences of his actions. He would never see Kitty again.

  ***

  ‘You are safe now, lass.’ Kitty recognised Patrick’s voice whispering in her ear. She had a strange sensation of floating.

  He coughed and from the heat surrounding them she knew they were still close to the building. She struggled to speak.

  ‘Ar...’

  ‘Shh, keep still while I get you away from the yard. The whole place is afire. We thought we had lost you. What I would have done if we had, I dread to think.’ Patrick pulled her closer into him and his pace quickened.

  Kitty could hear shouting, crackling, and what she assumed was water hitting fire. Loud hissing noises and shouts to stand back rang around the street. She heard Sarah’s voice.

  ‘Thank the Lord. Patrick has found her. She’s here William, Kitty’s safe.’ She held Kitty’s hand.

  ‘Lay her in the dray, Patrick. Gently, she looks injured; so frail. Open your eyes little one. Show me you are safe.’ Sarah’s anxious tones gave Kitty the energy to squeeze her hand.

  ‘William, she is here. William? Has anyone seen her father?’

  Sarah let go of Kitty’s hand.

  ‘Patrick, go and find William. Where is he?’

  ‘The last I saw of him, he and me brothers were going to the front with water buckets.’ Patrick laid Kitty down. ‘I will go and fetch him. Stay here with Kitty. She was nigh on death’s door when I found her. My heart broke, ma.’

  ‘She will be fine. Go there’s a good lad. Fetch William.’

  Chapter 29

  Strength and Courage

  The room was in silence. Her throat and eyes were sore. She gave a slight cough to clear her throat. The action hurt her head.

  Slowly Kitty moved her arms and legs, and squealed when one leg brushed against her clothing.

  ‘Hello Kitty. Come on. Open your eyes. You are safe now. It is my bedroom.’

  She heard Sarah’s encouraging croons.

  The fire. Arthur.

  Slowly the horrific events came back to her, and she cried out.

  ‘That is right, cry it out little one. Sarah’s here.’

  Kitty struggled to open her eyes, her lids felt heavy. A cool cloth lay on her brow and she reached up her hand to touch it. Sarah moved it back under the bedclothes.

  ‘Leave it in place. Good girl. It is there to bring down the bruises.’

  Kitty was too weak to argue.

  She heard Sarah rise in response to a knock at the door.

  ‘She’s awake, but has not opened her eyes yet.’

  ‘Have you told her?’ Kitty recognised Patrick’s voice and groaned.

  ‘Shh, no I have not. Come she i
s making noises. Speak with her yourself.’ Kitty could hear them approach her bed.

  ‘Ar-help-no-fire’ she struggle and thrashed with frustration. She had no sense of time.

  Arthur. You must find Arthur. Papa I need you. Patrick I am trying to tell you, listen to me. It was Arthur.

  ‘Lay still pretty one. Lie still.’ Patrick spoke in soothing tones. ‘Oh, Ma look at those bruises. Her eyes are so swollen. She must have stumbled around so much.’

  ‘She has bruises where there should be none, son. I know. I washed her. This child has been attacked. Defiled too by my reckoning.’

  ‘By the gods, no. Attacked? Kitty? By who? What animal would attack her? Ma, are you sure?’

  Kitty let out a squeal, and banged against the bed to get their attention. She ran her tongue over her lips.

  ‘Water.’ Said Patrick, ‘I think she is thirsty.’

  Sarah lifted Kitty’s head and put a cup to her mouth. The water was cool and refreshing. She sipped slowly.

  ‘That is the girl, drink.’

  ‘Patrick, did you speak with Reverend Smithson?’

  Kitty heard Patrick cough. ‘Yes. Day after tomorrow.’

  She banged the bedclothes again. Sarah touched her hand. ‘I will bathe your eyes now. It will help the swelling. Relax, Kitty.’

  Relax? How can I relax? Why can you not hear me?

  ‘I will leave you to it, Ma. Devlin and me are going to the hospital. We are going on shift straight after. I will call in when we get back.’

  Kitty heard the door click shut and sighed. For some strange reason, with Patrick in the room she had felt safe.

  Come back Patrick. I am frightened. I need you my friend.

  Sarah placed cool cloths over each of Kitty’s eyes.

  ‘He loves you, does my Patrick. You should have seen his face when he carried you to us. It was then, I knew, you are precious to him. Whoever beat those bruises onto your body certainly did not consider you at all. When you are ready, you must speak the truth over what has happened. I have washed over every inch of your body, I know what I have seen is not going to give me good news.’