by Mary Wood
‘Because I want to destroy Frederick. Don’t you? He has lorded it over us for years. He’s even taken actions in business that have been detrimental to us. He holds a grudge against you, for what you did to him on his wedding night. And he has made you suffer for that. Look at that deal we set up with the government to supply all the uniforms for the forces. Frederick took that from under our nose, using his friendship with the Queen.’
It hadn’t happened quite like that, as Marcia knew. Frederick had already secured the order and, not knowing this, Marcia had persuaded Bellinger to butter up the influential Major Stanstal, thinking that he could swing the deal their way. After much money had been wasted and much time spent, they had learned that Frederick had won the order. Marcia immediately convinced Bellinger that he had done so in an underhand way. She had got away with it, and it was now useful fuel to stoke Bellinger’s hatred and have him wanting to exact revenge on Frederick. Just in case, she added, ‘And didn’t he steal the love of your life? Look how he moved in that disgusting way, offering for Katrina’s hand before the body of his brother was even cold! You had no chance to act. You’d seen that such a match between a lord and the daughter of a self-made man had been accepted in society, because of our mother’s standing, and saw a chance when Katrina’s betrothed was killed, but Frederick stole your thunder. No one expected that!’
Her ploy worked. Bellinger’s protests turned into a passionate desire for revenge. ‘You’re right, the mighty Earl needs to be brought low. And by us. What is your plan, my clever wife?’
Marcia had an order for the events she planned, though none of it would benefit Bellinger, but he had the right contacts. And she needed him implicated. ‘Another fire. We have to destroy all that the witch has – and her with it.’
‘You mean: murder! God, Marcia, no. That’s going too far. Destroying her factory will be enough.’
‘It won’t. She has money. She can rise up from the loss. Frederick will go to her aid. He will land on his feet again.’
‘But then we will have your father’s favour. I don’t understand why anyone has to die. I will agree to the fire, but it must be done at night, when the building is empty. My man can make it look like an accident, as he did before. It was an easy job setting fire to some rubbish in the area we needed to destroy.’
This wasn’t working out how Marcia had planned. Bellinger had logic on his side, whilst she was driven by intense desire. ‘We want Frederick destroyed – not getting all he has ever wanted!’
‘But in a way, he will be destroyed. He won’t be accepted in society ever again, and that will hurt him.’
‘It won’t. Not any more. He has already decided none of that matters. If he can have that witch, whom he calls “his dear Ruth”, he says his world will be complete.’
‘I see. In that case, you’re right. I don’t like it, but then she is no more than a whore – and we will treat her as such.’
Marcia could see, by the glint in his eye, that Simon relished the prospect of being part of the witch’s downfall. She knew what he meant by treating the witch like one of his whores, and the thought excited her. ‘Do what you think fit, but make sure it works. I want her dead, and her business destroyed!’
The vehemence with which this came out shocked Marcia. God, what have I become? But then she knew that whatever she wanted in life was hers for the taking if, and only if, she plotted for it. And she wanted Frederick, and always had done.
38
Ruth & Frederick, Simon & Marcia
The Consequences of Thwarted Love
Ruth stood holding onto the back of her sofa. Could she dare to hope?
Frederick smiled a small, encouraging smile. ‘Please, Ruth?’
Her name sounded different on his lips. Musical. But what he was proposing wasn’t clear.
‘We could go away together. My mother understands. She has known for a long time about you, and has given me her blessing to spend the rest of my life in happiness. My dear Katrina knew, too. Not that I didn’t love her – I did, very much – but she knew that my heart lay with you, and always has. She wasn’t unhappy. We were very happy together, and I will grieve her loss forever. But I want to be with you. I need you, my darling Ruth.’
He stepped nearer to her, his expression one of a man in turmoil. It was only weeks since he’d buried the woman he said he loved very much, so could he really know that he wanted to be with her? Did he mean marriage? He hadn’t mentioned the word. Maybe she wasn’t worthy of that status.
‘Say something, Ruth. I – I don’t know what you are feeling. Have I overstepped the mark? Or mistaken how you feel? If you would have me, I would love your son as my own. And I would see that Amy has all the help she needs to carry on without you. I have a man who has worked with me for a long time and knows everything there is to know about running a mill. He is young, but he has been working in Arkwright’s mill since he was a boy of thirteen. I took him under my wing, and he is loyal to me. I know he would be willing to step into your shoes.’
‘You have everything sorted then? Me life is to be taken over, it seems.’ It wasn’t what Ruth wanted to say. She wanted to go into his arms and hold him close. She wanted to tell him: yes, she’d go to the end of the earth with him; but were these the terms she wanted? He wasn’t offering her marriage, she knew that now. He wanted her to go away with him, as his mistress.
‘No, I haven’t everything sorted, Ruth. I’m sorry if I sounded that way. Oh God, I’m making a mess of this. Forgive me. I—’ His body seemed to fold before her eyes. Without even knowing how she made it to him, she was by his side holding him, her heart aching with her love for him. He’d been through so much.
‘Sit down, me love.’ Her endearment undid him. Tears flowed from his eyes. ‘Eeh, naw – naw, don’t. I do love you, and always have. It’s just the terms you seem to be putting to me. I’m not for being your mistress, Frederick.’ It seemed strange, calling him that. ‘I knaw that’s how I lived with Josh, but we had no choice. I were hunted and couldn’t bring attention to meself in the legal world. But now I’m free. And if I go to a man, it will be as his wife.’
There were a few moments when all that could be heard were Frederick’s sobs. Ruth held him close. It was all too soon. Is he clutching at owt that might relieve his pain, by coming to me? Have I pushed him too far?
As his sobs lessened, he took out his handkerchief and wiped his face. ‘Forgive me, I . . .’ He looked up at her, his beautiful dark eyes holding so much love. ‘Will you marry me, Ruth?’
Happiness engulfed her. All her worries surrounding Seth and Lettie left her, as he pulled her down onto his knee. His kiss made her whole. Nothing could mar the complete and utter joy that she felt.
But her happiness was short-lived. The door opening and the sound of Lettie screaming wrenched her from her blissful state. Frederick’s lips left hers and his arm lifted her to a sitting position as, joined in shock, they stared at Lettie.
‘There’s a fire!’ Lettie bent over in a fit of coughing. ‘A – a fire! The . . . the factory!’
‘What? Naw. Our factory? Oh God, naw. Amy! Amy’s still there!’
In one movement Frederick stood both himself and Ruth up, holding her shaking body to him. She stared at Lettie.
‘There’s smoke – and the sky is red above where your factory is. A lad knocked on the door and shouted that the factory is on fire, and that his dad’s in there. Oh, Ruth . . . Ruth.’
Lettie’s fit of coughing was pitiful to hear, but Ruth could devote no attention to her. ‘Get me crutch, Frederick: we have to go. Amy’s in the factory; she had four men working late to complete an order that was urgent. She – she said she’d stay till it was done. Oh God, not me Amy. Naw . . . naw!’
‘Calm down, darling – we’ll help nothing by panicking. I’m sure Amy will be fine, she has . . . Look, my carriage is around the back of the house.’ Turning to Lettie, he asked her to help Ruth with her coat and hat. ‘I’ll go and summon
my man. We’ll go to the factory, Ruth; just hold yourself together, darling. We’ll get Amy, I know we will, she – she’s not alone, so don’t worry.’
Ruth stared at the closed door, wanting to believe him, but her heart pounded fear around her body and she couldn’t think what he meant, by Amy not being alone.
Getting to the front door with Lettie’s help, Ruth was surprised by the sharp rapping of the knocker. Lettie opened the door, only to be shoved aside by Lord Bellinger.
Shock seized Ruth, and she couldn’t speak. Her mind wouldn’t give her any reason for him being here. His expression held contempt, and his voice mocked, ‘Huh, going somewhere, are we? Well, you’re too late – your factory is razed to the ground. Ha! The witch is ruined by fire.’ His laughter sounded hideous, but Ruth could only stare at him. ‘Well, now, my little whore, you are brought low to the position you should be in, and I’m going to bring you lower.’ The slap he gave her knocked Ruth back against the wall, and her crutch fell to the floor. Bellinger raised his fist, but before he could land the punch he aimed at her, Lettie bent down, grabbed her crutch and hit him a blow that caught his shoulder.
‘You bitch!’ Grabbing the crutch, Lord Bellinger shoved it hard into Lettie’s chest. Her body staggered and her face turned deathly pale. Her body sank to the floor. ‘Naw! Lettie – Lettie . . .’
Lord Bellinger’s painful grip on her arm stopped Ruth from going to Lettie. ‘Leave her – you’re coming with me.’
Excruciating pain zinged through Ruth’s head as he grasped her hair and dragged her along the hall. Kicking the sitting-room door open, he shoved her inside. She landed on the floor and her breath left her body, leaving her unable to protest. Every bone of her trembled as she stared up into the evil face of Lord Bellinger. His movements showed her the horror of his intentions. He was unbuckling his belt. ‘Naw . . . naw. Don’t—’
The lash he meant to give her never landed. Frederick caught his arm and twisted it behind his back. ‘What the blazes are you doing, Bellinger? You bastard!’ Shoving Bellinger hard against the wall, Frederick brought up his knee and rammed it into Bellinger’s groin. His wail told of his agony as he slid down to the floor. His face held shock as he looked up at Frederick’s face. ‘You . . . b – bastard. It – it’s all true then? You are having an affair with that . . . that witch!’
Frederick grabbed Bellinger’s collar. ‘No, it isn’t true – not that it is any of your business. Why are you here, Bellinger? What on earth possessed you to attack my future wife? God, you were going to whip her – why? What has she ever done to you?’
‘She’s scum, she’s bewitched you. Marry her! God, Frederick, have you lost your mind?’
‘No, but you seem to have lost yours. You’ll go to prison for this.’ Frederick went to grab Lord Bellinger by the collar, but, recovered now, Bellinger kicked out. Frederick lost his balance and fell backwards. Seizing the opportunity, Bellinger rose and ran from the room.
Ruth crawled over to Frederick. Reaching for her, he pulled her to him. ‘I’m sorry, so sorry, I brought this down on you.’
‘Naw, it weren’t your doing. Oh, Frederick, what he said about the fire made me think he had something to do with it. But why? Why would he want to hurt me?’
‘I don’t know, but I can guess who’s really to blame. Are you all right?’
‘It’s not myself I’m worried about, it’s Lettie and . . . Oh, Frederick, me Amy – me sister. What if . . . ?’
Raising himself and lifting Ruth up, he sat her on the sofa. ‘I’ll check on Lettie, wait here.’
When he returned with Lettie in his arms, Ruth’s fear increased. Lettie’s face had a blue tinge, and moans of agony came from her. Frederick laid her next to Ruth, putting her head in Ruth’s lap. ‘Lettie. Eeh, Lettie, me little lass, where does it hurt?’
Lettie moaned again.
Frederick spoke. ‘She seems in a lot of pain. Is this normal for her condition?’
‘Naw. Not like this, she’s usually weak and short of breath, and her bones ache, but . . . Oh, Frederick, that Lord Bellinger shoved me crutch into her. Oh God!’
‘I wouldn’t put it past him. Have you anyone you can send for a doctor? Someone who can get there fast. Only I have to go to the fire – I must find Amy.’
‘Martha’s in the kitchen. She looks after us. She can go next door and ask them to fetch the doctor. They’re lovely folk; a bit offhand with us when we first moved here, but when they got to knaw us, we gained their respect.’
Within seconds Frederick was back in the room, with a mortified Martha following him. ‘Eeh, Ruth, lass, I’m sorry. When I left you with the Earl, I went into the kitchen and fell asleep, I didn’t hear a thing . . . Eeh, me Ruth, what happened?’
‘Never mind that now, Martha; go round next door as fast as you can and ask them to fetch a doctor. Tell them it’s urgent.’
As Martha left the room, Frederick bent and kissed Ruth’s forehead. The touch of his lips trembled through her. On the one hand, she was experiencing extreme happiness, but on the other, her heart bled with anguish.
‘I’ll be back as soon as I can, darling. Everything will be all right, I promise.’
Ruth nodded, but as she looked down into Lettie’s beloved face she knew, with a sinking heart, that she wasn’t long for this world. She wanted to hold Lettie and tell her everything would be reet. ‘Lettie, lass. Eeh, me Lettie, how has it come to this?’
Lettie stirred. Her eyes opened. ‘He – he k – kicked me.’
Tears ran down Ruth’s face. She didn’t have to ask who. To the Bellingers of this world, folk like her and Lettie were scum. ‘The doctor’s coming, Lettie. He’ll make you better. We’ll get you booked into that sanatorium he spoke of last time he came. And then, if they can get you well enough, we’ll see about the rest of his plan to take you to Switzerland. They say the air there works wonders for them with the TB in their lungs.’
Lettie’s eyes stared back at Ruth. They held a glimmer of hope. A small smile played around her lips. ‘If anyone can m – make it happen that I get bet – better, you can, Ruth. You c – can do owt you put your mind to.’
In the hope that Ruth knew she had given Lettie, she herself felt only despair, as saving Lettie was something Ruth knew she couldn’t do.
The door bursting open, and Amy standing there, shocked these feelings from her and replaced them with joy. ‘Amy, lass – Amy! Where did you come from?’
Amy’s coal-black lips widened in a smile, then quivered. A tear traced a path through the black smut that caked her face, leaving one clean pink trail.
‘Eeh, our Ruth, it’s all gone. All of it . . .’
‘Don’t take on, me lass. It’s alreet. You’re here and that’s all that matters. Eeh, me lass, I thought I’d lost you.’
Amy hurried over to Ruth and flung her arms around her neck. Putting an arm around Amy, Ruth could feel the trembling of her body and this set all her emotions in turmoil. Her beloved sister was safe, but what did they have to face where Lettie was concerned? As for the factory, at this moment it meant nothing to her. As long as . . . ‘Amy, lass, did everyone get out?’
‘Aye, they did. Eeh, Ruth, it were bad . . . bad.’ Seeing Lettie at that moment, Amy lifted her head from Ruth’s shoulder. ‘Lettie! Eeh, Lettie, what’s to do?’ Amy looked from Lettie to Ruth, and her face now held fear of a different kind – fear for the friend she loved dearly.
‘We’ve sent for the doctor. Don’t worry. A lot has happened here. The Earl was here – he went to fetch you.’
‘I knaw. We met him up the road. He turned back, so he should be here in a mo. Ruth, there’s someone I want you to meet.’ Going to the door, Amy called, ‘Come on in, Larry, and meet me sister. This is Larry, our Ruth. He – he’s me friend. I – I didn’t tell you of him; he, well, the Earl introduced us a while back, before . . .’
Ruth couldn’t take this in. Frederick had introduced them? When? Why? Her mind went back to what Frederick had sai
d earlier: that he had someone who could help Amy. My God, I didn’t even knaw as Amy had seen the Earl lately.
Frederick came in at that moment. ‘This is the young man I mentioned. I – I took the liberty of asking Amy to let him work beside her, when you weren’t around. I’m sorry, I didn’t want you to find out like this. It had nothing to do with you and me, at the time. Katrina was still alive when I heard that you were struggling to cope. I spoke to Amy. It was my idea that she should train Larry, but should keep my plan to transfer him to your employment a secret for now. I thought you might thwart it, but once you saw how efficient Larry was, you might be more inclined to hand over some of your responsibilities to him.’
‘I kept it secret from you, as I wanted to see if I got on with Larry. I – I, well, I agreed with the Earl that you were doing too much,’ Amy confessed.
Ruth was astounded. She hadn’t dreamed her sister would go behind her back like this.
‘I’m sorry, Ruth. It all seemed a good idea. And, well, once it began, it was fun and . . . well, me and Larry, we—’
‘We fell in love.’
This from the young man – and Larry taking Amy’s hand while giving her an adoring look – more than confirmed his words. But the joy Ruth should have experienced at this was marred by the feeling of having been deceived. She looked over at Frederick and knew, by his expression of deep love for her, that although some of his actions were not what she wanted of him, everything he did stemmed from that love. All these years he must have been keeping a close eye on her. The thought warmed her, but the knowledge that his information probably came from Haydon further hurt her, as she had looked on Haydon as her friend while, unbeknown to her, he was just doing his job.
None of it sat well with her. She liked openness and honesty, and this way of going about things was dishonest and left her unsure of anything – not even of her beloved Earl, no matter what his motives.
‘Ruth, don’t look at me like that. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. My love for you drove me to try and protect you.’