by Emma Hornby
‘You might be a fake and a fraudster but I ain’t.’ Her knees shook yet she stood her ground. ‘I know your game, aye. You don’t love the mistress as you claim, not a bit, do you?’
His hand shot out and she winced; however, the expected blow never came. His long fingers were cold and clammy as he stroked her cheek, making her skin crawl. ‘Aha, but she adores me. And that, young flea-bitten rat, is what matters.’
Sickened to the core by his smug smile, she retorted, ‘She’d not were she to learn the dirty truth, what you’ve a taste for—’
‘Alas, proving your wild claim would be akin to wading through thick mud: difficult and very, very messy. You don’t honestly imagine for a moment, do you, that Josephine would believe you?’ He laughed low in his throat. ‘If you were to so much as breathe such an accusation, I’d ensure you were cast from here so fast, your feet wouldn’t skim the ground.’
Would the lady call her a liar? Knowing she couldn’t answer that with absolute certainty brought frustrated tears to her throat. He’d won and he knew it. For now. She lowered her head.
‘Hm. I thought as much. Now, get out of my sight.’
Grabbing Mack’s hand, Pip hurried for the kitchen.
‘What’s wrong?’ Simon asked the instant they joined him at the table. Holding back her emotion, Pip gave him a quick account.
His jaw trembled with rage. ‘Bastard.’
‘I hate him, hate him. If only Mr Philip were here. He’d believe me, I know it. He’d tell me the truth behind this whole queer set-up.’
‘Huh! You reckon?’
Somehow, she did. There was no hesitation this time. ‘Aye, I do.’
‘I’m going to sort this once and for all,’ the lad whispered after a long pause.
‘Sort what? How?’
‘You’ll see. Stay here.’
Before she could question him further, he rose. Shrugging on his jacket, he headed out through the back door.
After some minutes, her curiosity got the better of her and she followed. She scanned the garden but Simon was nowhere to be seen. Wrapping her arms around herself against the cold, she skirted the bushes and made her way to the street.
Pip saw him right away, hovering by the steps of a nearby residence. Frowning, she remained where she was, hidden from view at the side of Bracken House, and continued to watch.
When the opening and closing of her own front door shattered the stillness, she jumped. Alexander sauntered down the steps and turned right – to where, up ahead, Simon stood waiting. For what? Where was the lad’s mind at? she fretted, biting her lip. She hesitated a moment longer then, seeing Alexander halt at something Simon said, stole in their direction.
‘… And aye, I’ve had a bloody bellyful of you and I’m warning yer now for the last time,’ Pip heard as she neared, catching the end of Simon’s speech. ‘Leave us and the rest of the household be or you’ll regret it.’
‘Is that so?’ Alexander clamped a hand to Simon’s arm which, with one cruel twist, he forced up his back. The lad flinched in pain as he was dragged into the secluded street corner’s shadows. ‘I’m willing to let your threat slide,’ he hissed. ‘In return, I have a proposition of my own that you’d do well to accept.’
‘Leave go of him.’
The man glanced over his shoulder at Pip, smirked, and returned his attention to Simon. ‘You can thank your friend, here, for this: flaunting the boy in front of me, getting my blood all aflame … I’ve been unable to get him from my thoughts since.’
Mack. Flaunting him? Why the deluded, disgusting … ‘You make me sick,’ she rasped.
‘You scuppered me once; there shan’t be a repeat of that, I can assure you,’ he continued to Simon as though he hadn’t heard her. ‘I want the boy. A mere hour will suffice. I trust you don’t deem that unreasonable? It isn’t asking too much, hm?’
Simon puckered his lips to spit in his tormentor’s eye, but realising what he meant to do, Alexander grabbed his chin, killing the attempt. He brought Simon’s face inches away from his, scrutinised him then shook his head. ‘No, you’re a little too old for my liking,’ he murmured, as though actually contemplating it. ‘It must be the other one. It will be the other one. I mean to have him eventually, regardless: once you come to live with Josephine and me after the wedding, he will be readily available at all times whether you cooperate or otherwise. In fact, I’ll simply dispose of the two of you … Yes, yes. Then he’ll be mine entirely.’
‘And if I say nay?’
Pip’s brow creased. What did Simon mean, if? If didn’t come into it!
‘Well, then the girl here will do nicely instead.’
Simon’s face fell – Alexander smiled slowly.
‘Ah. She’s your favourite, I see. What, you had hoped you’d be the first to break her in, is that it?’
Simon’s eyes widened with black rage but he remained silent.
‘Accept my demands and you still can. How does that sound?’
Trying to shut out the man’s hideous words, Pip watched Simon’s expression drop even further; she couldn’t believe he was swallowing all this! ‘He’s lying, lad. He told me but minutes since how he’s not gorra taste for lasses—’
‘Well?’ Alexander’s interjection sliced the air like the cracking of a whip.
‘All right. Tha can have the lad.’
Simon’s words struck Pip like a kick to the guts. ‘What!’
‘You don’t hurt him, mind. And I want paying.’
‘Deal.’
‘Lad—!’
‘Sunday, when the house is away at church. You’ll not be disturbed. I’ll have him waiting.’
Sinister lust filled the man’s eyes. He nodded once. Straightening his tall hat, he struck the ground with his cane and strode away.
Pip could barely get her words past her lips: ‘What in God’s name …? How could you? Why?’
Slowly, slowly, Simon’s face took on an expression she’d seen only once before – the night Caroline had forced his hand with her threats. A dark smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. ‘One down. One to go.’
Chapter 26
AGAIN, PIP PUT a hand to her mouth as another spoonful of porridge threatened to make its escape. Admitting defeat, she pushed her bowl away.
‘All right, lass?’ Cook eyed her worriedly. ‘You’ve barely scraped the surface, there. Not too salty for you, is it?’
‘Nay, it’s lovely, honest. I’m just not that hungry this morning.’
Cook nodded, satisfied, and as she passed Pip’s chair, stroked her hair with a brief but tender touch.
Despite the mounting anxiety churning her insides into ribbons, Pip couldn’t contain a smile. With each passing day, the woman she’d now come around to viewing as a grandmother was accepting her, too, for who she was. It was difficult, would be so for a while to come, Pip knew, but thankfully they were making steady progress. It was all they could do.
Simon entered and she had to stop herself from running to him lest others became suspicious.
‘Did you see the master, then, lad? He weren’t too busy to hear thee?’ Cook asked him.
‘Aye, I saw him. He were all for my suggestions.’ He smiled, then turned to Pip, adding, ‘I had some ideas to put to him about the garden, wanted to get his permission, like.’
‘Oh. Right. That’s good,’ she said as evenly as she could, though her mind spun with confusion.
She could tell when he was lying, and knew he was doing so now. He’d needed an excuse to leave the kitchen and enter the house proper, that was it; for what? Scheming, sneaking around … It was like it had been with Caroline, all over again. But, as then, what choice had they?
When he was seated beside her, she said through the side of her mouth, ‘Lad, please. I must know—’
‘I told thee, I’ll be the one to sort this and me alone. The fewer details you know, the less chance there’ll be of you slipping up and him cottoning on that summat’s afoot.’
&n
bsp; ‘I understand that, but—’ However, there was no shaking him:
‘Just do as I said and all will work out.’ He picked up his spoon and began to eat, indicating that the conversation was over, and she had no choice but to accept it.
That she could have actually harboured the idea of Simon agreeing to hand over their Mack to that man, even for a second … Her cheeks flushed with shame. She should have guessed he was planning something; he’d not see an ounce of hurt come to that lad, never, never. But what had he in store for Alexander? One down, one to go, he’d said.
Whatever he was up to, it seemed Simon meant to be rid of him for good. She didn’t know whether to be excited or terrified. What if something went wrong – and it could, couldn’t it? Look how matters had panned out the last time they took an enemy on. God above, what will the outcome of this day be? she asked herself, as she had continually since wakening. Again, no answer was forthcoming. All she, any of them, could do was wait and see.
At the appointed hour, Simon gave Pip a look deep with meaning. Though no one would have guessed he had any other agenda when he followed it up with: ‘We’ll make our way to the nursery, now, Pip. You an’ all, Bread, come on. Everyone will be away to church in a few minutes.’
Pip was surprised the servants couldn’t hear her heartbeat as she nodded and followed the lads to the door – it was thumping as hard as a drum. The green baize door closed at their backs and she pulled Simon to a halt. ‘What’s to happen?’
‘I told thee. I managed to arrange for us to sit and keep Miss Lucy company so’s we could get out of going to church with the rest. That way, we’ll be here when that Sutton-Shaw one arrives—’
‘I know all that; I didn’t mean what’s to happen right now this minute, and you know it. After they’re away to church, what then?’
‘How many more times? You don’t need to know, for I’ve got this. Trust me. Please?’
She released a shaky sigh. ‘It’ll work, whatever it is, won’t it? You’ll be careful, lad?’
‘Aye, yes.’ He took a deep breath then squared his shoulders. ‘Come on.’
As expected, not long afterwards, the sound of the front door shutting drifted up to where they sat playing a card game with Lucy. Pip and Simon simultaneously stiffened. The latter slipped from where he sat at the bottom of the bed.
‘Budd?’
Reading a book by the fire, the nursemaid glanced up. ‘Everything all right?’
Simon nodded. ‘Me and Pip and the lad here, we’ll just nip to the kitchen and fetch back some refreshments. There’s them little cakes left what Cook baked yesterday …’ he added temptingly to Lucy as she made to protest at them leaving her. Eyes lighting up, the girl nodded, placated, and he turned back to the woman. ‘You want owt, Budd? A sup of tea? Summat else?’
‘Tea would be lovely, thank you. Although you may as well leave the boy here with Miss Lucy. She’ll soon grow bored on her own; he can keep her occupied until you return.’
Simon’s face fell. He opened and closed his mouth but was at a loss to think up an excuse. Pip saved the moment: ‘Nay, we’ll need him to help us carry everything. There’s the pot, and cups and saucers and whatnot. Then there’s the tray, and we’ll need to collect a blanket or some such to lay over Lucy’s legs so as not to dirty the nice clean bedspread—’
‘Yes, all right. I see your point.’
Pip swallowed her relief. ‘We’ll not be long, ’onest.’
Outside, she turned to Simon. They shook their heads in thankfulness that they had managed to pull that off. It had been a close call for a moment, there. Without Mack, the plan would be ruined.
‘Come on. Let’s get this over with.’ Swinging around, Simon led the way downstairs.
Pip thought he’d continue for the last flight to the ground floor, so frowned in puzzlement when instead he halted on the landing and motioned to Josephine’s door.
‘You and Bread wait in there.’
‘For what?’
‘Trust me. Now, when that divil arrives, I’ll escort him up then make my excuses and leave.’
‘Leave? What d’you mean? You can’t leave me and Mack alone with him—!’
‘Please, Pip. Just do as I say. Keep him talking for as long as you can, right? Owt you can think of to distract him a while, to drag the time out, do it. You understand?’
She didn’t, not a bit of it, but nodded.
‘Remember.’ His quiet tone was serious. ‘Whatever happens, no matter what, do not leave him alone with the lad. Not for a single second. Right?’
Frightened tears stung her eyes. ‘Right,’ she whispered.
‘It’ll all be over soon. Now, go on.’
Taking Mack’s hand, she led him to the room. Once inside, she closed the door and, looking around the empty space, chewed her thumb, unsure what to do, her nerves shot with worry of the unknown.
‘Why we here, Pip? I want to go back to Miss Lucy.’
‘Soon, lad.’ She pointed across distractedly. ‘Sit down on the chaise longue, there.’
‘But I want to go, want to get back to our game—’
‘Please, lad, just do as you’re told!’ she snapped, regretting her sharpness instantly when his bottom lip wobbled. ‘Eeh, I’m sorry, I am. Please, sit down for just a minute. This’ll not take long.’
He crossed the room and perched on the edge of the seat, and she’d just begun pacing the floor when the door opened and there he was. Impeccably groomed, dressed in the most expensive attire money could buy, as always, he cut the perfect image of a true gentleman. How deceiving appearances could be … She juddered to a stop.
‘Leave us,’ he told her coldly, eyes fixed firmly on the boy. ‘Your friend is waiting for you upstairs.’
Her voice came out in a squeak. ‘Upstairs?’
‘That’s what I said, isn’t it? And you and he had better make sure that Lucy and the hag stay put. One wrong move and I will finish the pair of you without hesitation. Now go. I shall let myself out once I’m done.’
Her mind raced; she fumbled around inside it for something to say, anything. ‘Done with what?’ It was the first thing that came out. Instantly, she regretted it. Alexander’s lips bunched in a leering smile.
‘Oh, come. You’re surely not as green as all that? Slum monkeys like you know all there is to before your age has barely hit double figures.’ He tossed his hat and cane on to a chair and removed his frock coat. Then he reached up to undo the buttons of his waistcoat.
Bile was rising in her throat; she groped desperately for something to stall him. All the while, her eyes flicked continually to the door. Simon, where are you? Help us, please.
‘Listen, do you hear that?’ Alexander cupped a hand to his ear.
Hope burst through Pip’s chest – had he caught a noise from the landing? Was Simon back? ‘Hear what?’ she whispered.
‘His sweet young flesh is calling me, calling me: “Alexander. Alexander.”’
Her heart sank. God above, no …
Breaths now coming in short gasps, he almost tore the waistcoat from his body. He held out a hand. ‘Boy, come here. I must, I must …’
Smiling in bemusement, Mack rose.
‘You. Leave. Now.’ Alexander gripped Pip’s shoulder and threw her in the direction of the door.
By now, tears were streaming down her cheeks. ‘But, but—’
‘I won’t tell you again. Out!’
‘You’ll not get away with this! I’ll tell, I will!’
‘And who do you suppose would believe you? Just take your idle threats and get—’
‘Me.’
That one word, delivered by the familiar voice, had the power to render them both immobile. It ricocheted through the room, shattering the air into a million pieces. They turned to the dressing-room door in astonishment.
Albert Goldthorpe stepped out. His eyes raged sheer fire. ‘Me,’ he repeated, voice like steel. ‘I believe her.’
‘And me.’ Countenance
matching the master’s completely, Cook appeared next, to stand beside him.
Alexander, mouth stretched in a perfect O, could do nothing but gaze from one to the other in utter disbelief. Then another figure emerged and he sagged.
They had been hidden in the dressing room the whole time. They had heard everything. Oh, Simon. You clever, clever lad!
Halting in front of the man she meant to marry, Josephine locked her ravaged eyes with his. ‘And me.’
‘Darling, all of you, what you heard …’ Alexander attempted a disarming laugh but it jerked from him in a series of odd squeaks. ‘It’s not, not what you think—’
‘Aye, it is.’ Simon threw the main door open wide. In his hand, he dangled a small pouch. ‘This here brass you handed over as payment is proof aplenty.’
Alexander hadn’t time to bluster a denial – suddenly, over Simon’s shoulder and taking the room by surprise, Philip appeared.
He took in the scene at a sweeping glance and stepped inside. ‘What the boy here has just informed me upon my timely return … It’s true?’
‘Every word,’ Josephine affirmed with a croak. ‘Simon went to see Father earlier, told him the manner of things. Thus, Father informed Mabel, and the two of them came to break the news to me which, naturally, I didn’t at first believe … God in heaven, who would? I had to witness the truth for myself. Alexander believed us to be at church. We heard it all, everything.’ She was trembling violently. ‘I, I cannot, cannot believe … I, I …’
‘Oh, cease your stuttering, you weak mess.’ Alexander’s simpering stance had gone. No amount of smooth talk would work this time, and he knew it. Now, his true colours finally surfaced. ‘You really are the most pathetic creature I’ve ever had the misfortune of knowing. You disgust me, do you know that? The unchaperoned meetings we were permitted following our betrothal … the holding of hands and chaste kisses I was forced to endure …’ He shuddered. ‘It sickened me to my core.’
‘What?’ yelled Philip.
‘You low-down dog – my daughter is worth ten of you!’ the master added on a roar, purple with outrage. ‘What the hell has this been about, then? Why ask for her hand in the first place?’