by Cathy Bryant
“Send for Peter straight away. I wish for him to go and fetch Mrs. Swyndhurst this instant!” spat Martha, angry that she had allowed such a thing to happen. After Esther had gone, Martha continued to mull over what had occurred. What will Mr. Swyndhurst say when he learns of this? Sarah is not yet strong enough to be out visiting. Such a thing might have an ill effect on her health. Knowing her as I do, I should not have been so irresponsible. I ought to have checked on her hours ago.
Just as Sarah was passing by the place where Matthew Raymond—hidden from view behind some shrubbery—was waiting for her to reemerge, he reached out and snatched the young woman. Covering her mouth to hide her cries, he dragged her down the road toward his house. She fought him the entire way, but she was just too small. No matter how much she thrashed about, she simply could not break free. To her utter dismay, she noticed that they were almost at his front door. As soon as they had entered, he carried her in the direction of his bedchamber. As they mounted the stairs, her heart was beating so fast, she thought it might fly out of her chest. Her mind raced with how she could get herself out of the horrifying situation, but by this point, she was completely exhausted from the struggle. Her legs were also shaking to such an extent that she wasn’t certain she could even stand if she tried.
“I have waited for you, little miss, for a very long time. You have never even glanced my way at church. And whenever you have passed by my home on your way to that blind woman’s house and I have called out to you, you scarcely answered a word. For quite some time now, I have attempted to gain your attention! Did you think that by leaving Cambridge you would be rid of me?”
Trembling from head to toe, Sarah answered in no more than a whisper, “I do not understand. Why have you brought me here?”
“Because you are mine! Do you hear? That husband of yours had no right to return. I knew you first. What is more, he abandoned you for nearly two years. In all of that time, I have patiently waited for you to understand that my love for you is vastly different. Did I not demonstrate my deep affection for you by following you to Amesbury? And I would never have gone away and left you. I had hoped you would come to me willingly. Had that been the case, we might have remained in Amesbury. As it is now, we shall have to go away from here.”
As Sarah attempted to gain control of her emotions, though she knew his name, she couldn’t address him properly. All she could squeak out was, “Mr.…ah—”
Angered by the belief that the young woman, who had long been the object of his affections, did not even remember his name, the enraged man pulled Sarah over to the bed. He planned to show her right then that she belonged to him; after that, he would follow through with his plan to take her away. He had waited so long to have Sarah for himself, he little cared that he would be leaving his home, and everything he owned behind.
After what seemed an eternity to Sarah, the man appeared to have relaxed his hold, affording her the opportunity to slip from his grasp. Pulling her clothes down over herself, while shaking uncontrollably, she darted from the room. After nearly falling down the stairs, she stumbled out the door before Mr. Raymond could retrieve his own clothing and go after her.
Once out of doors, she hastily made her way along the shrubbery, attempting to conceal her location should the man follow after her, which she was certain he would do. When she was almost home, while pausing to be sure the horrible man was nowhere to be seen, she observed an elderly gentleman approaching whom she knew to be Joseph Hoyt from church. Before her most recent illness, which had caused her to be absent on several Sundays, she had been introduced to the kind gentleman. Just now, he was strolling by and noticed her hiding in the shadows, crying.
Recognizing her, he asked with great concern, “My dear, what has happened? May I be of some assistance?”
Nearly fainting, she fell into his arms. It did not take long for him to figure out what had transpired. Watching for her attacker, he stood guard over her as he helped her along. Some distance behind them, Matthew Raymond spotted the pair. While cursing himself for allowing Sarah to escape, he returned home, hoping for another opportunity to present itself, and that Sarah, as he had warned, would not reveal what had happened.
As soon as she felt they were at a safe distance from her attacker, since she was now in front of her own home, Sarah felt that she had no choice but to disclose the entirety of what had happened to the elderly gentleman. While explaining, she came to the realization that she must flee from Amesbury, for it was her belief that her husband would surely not want her now, and to remain might put her in further jeopardy. She knew the man who had injured her would do just as he had disclosed—hold her captive in some other town where no one would find her—if he captured her again.
After explaining everything to the gentleman, Sarah believed he would agree with her plan to leave town. She also secretly hoped he might assist her in escaping.
Having understood the young woman’s wish to get away, given that she believed her husband would no longer want her and that she feared her attacker, Mr. Hoyt promised to help her. He quickly came up with a plan, though he did not disclose the whole of it to Sarah. He explained that he had a daughter in Boston who would surely take her in. His intention was to convey her there, and then send word to her husband of her whereabouts. He little believed the young woman was correct in her assumption that her husband would discard her after what had happened. In his mind, the young woman was just too distraught to be thinking clearly.
Having readily agreed to the kind man’s offer of assistance and stating that she would be ready when he returned, Sarah quietly entered her home and made her way to her bedchamber to gather up a few of her belongings. Martha was so distracted by the fact that Peter had been so slow in departing for the Strouts’ home that she had taken little notice of anything else. Esther, on the other hand, had seen her mistress making her way up the stairs, thus she followed after her.
Upon entering Sarah’s bedchamber, Esther quickly noticed the torn garments and specks of blood on her friend’s face and clothes. She also thought, when looking at Sarah’s profile, she detected a bruise emerging just below her eye, and a swollen lip. “What happened? Did you take a fall?”
As her mistress turned toward her, it became obvious to the maidservant that Sarah—appearing utterly terrified—had been crying. Quickly approaching her mistress, she grabbed ahold of her shoulders.
“Tell me what has happened to you?”
Sarah finally spoke. Through her tears, she divulged almost all that had taken place as well as her plan to go away. Without revealing his name, she explained about the elderly gentleman who had assisted her. She went on to say that he would be returning for her to take her away where she would be safe. After pulling off her torn, stained garments, she went over to her washbasin to clean herself.
While in shock over what she had just been told, Esther quietly watched as her young mistress all but washed herself raw. In hearing Sarah sob as she scrubbed herself, Esther’s heart nearly broke. Not knowing what to do, she just stood there. Finally, she spoke, “Are you quite certain that this is the best course of action? Surely, there is no need to go away. Your husband will protect you from that awful man.”
Glancing over at Esther, she replied, “I have to go, Esther. Please understand. Alexander isn’t going to want me after—” Turning her head to conceal her emotions, she continued. “Esther, I have no choice! Can you not see that?”
Then, gaining strength for what she must do, Sarah swiftly dressed. Following that, she hastily threw some of her belongings into a sack. After placing her soiled garments into her friend’s hands, she asked her to keep them out of sight and at the first opportunity to discard them. As she approached the door to take her leave, she made Esther promise to keep her secret.
Weeping, Esther nodded her head. After Sarah had gone from the room, Esther prayed for her friend. She then prayed that God would help her to honor Sarah’s wish that she keep her secret. She knew it woul
d be no little task, as she would most certainly be questioned.
Martha was beside herself with worry by the time Peter returned. Her underservant sensed, by her strained expression, that she was eager for news; thus, he quickly explained that Mrs. Swyndhurst had left the Strouts’ home earlier that evening. Thinking a moment about what to do next, Martha decided to send the young man on to some of the other neighbors’ homes to learn whether Sarah had made more than one visit that evening.
A short time later, Peter arrived back at the estate. He told Martha that with the exception of Alice Strout, Mrs. Swyndhurst had not been seen by anyone else that evening.
Having moved from anger to despair at having no word of Sarah’s whereabouts, Martha sat sobbing at the kitchen table. Esther remained out of sight, for she was certain she would soon be asked if she knew the whereabouts of her mistress. What she didn’t know was Martha was so consumed with worry that she had not even thought to inquire further of her.
The following afternoon, upon his arrival, Alexander Swyndhurst came sauntering into the house, in the direction of the kitchen. He had finished his business much earlier than he had thought possible, and was delighted to be returning home to Sarah so soon. He wished he had not had to make the trip at all, but he had seen no way around it. Upon entering the kitchen, he found a despondent Martha sitting at the table.
Considering the fact that she had gone, herself, that very morning to call on all of the neighbors Sarah frequently visited, the elderly woman was at a loss as to what to do next. As she looked up at Mr. Swyndhurst with red, swollen eyes, she scarcely could find her voice. “Mr. Swyndhurst, something has happened to Sarah.”
Alarmed by her words, he swiftly moved toward the doorway with the intention of going directly to his wife. Martha called him back over to the table. Taking a seat beside her, he grabbed hold of her hand and inquired, “What has happened? Has the apothecary been here?”
“No, Mr. Swyndhurst, it isn’t that. I don’t know how to tell you this except to come right out with it. Sarah is…missing.” With her head hanging low from worry and exhaustion, Martha explained that Sarah had slipped out to call on Alice Strout and her children. She went on to say, “I was so preoccupied that I never noticed until it was growing dark that I had not seen Sarah about all day. Not finding her anywhere, I sent for Esther to inquire what she knew, if anything, of Sarah’s whereabouts. She informed me that your wife had gone to the Strouts’ home. So, as you see, the fault is mine. I should have been looking after her myself, rather than expecting Esther to see to her.”
“Martha, I am not concerned with whose fault it is. Have you sent anyone there to fetch her?” the husband asked with growing concern. “Perhaps she has simply been delayed. It isn’t unheard of for her to stay the night in order to look after Alice’s children.”
Nodding, Martha responded, “As soon as Esther told me where Sarah had gone, I sent Peter after her. She had taken leave of the place before Peter arrived. I then sent Peter to check with all of the neighbors that Sarah regularly visits. She was nowhere to be found. Just this morning, I went myself to all of her usual places, but to no avail.”
With fear rising up in Alexander’s heart, he insisted that Martha assemble the servants in the parlor. Before long, they were all gathered for their employer to question them. With Martha at his side, Mr. Swyndhurst, in turn, looked each of his servants in the eye to inquire if they had any information regarding his wife’s whereabouts. He was hoping that one of them knew something that would explain Sarah’s absence.
Esther was greatly troubled as she stood before Mr. Swyndhurst and his head servant. She watched intently as the worried husband made his way down the line of servants. When he finally approached her, she dropped her eyes to the floor. She believed that in order to keep Sarah’s secret she must not look up, for the distress she had observed on her employer’s face as he spoke with each of the other servants was almost more than she could bear.
Martha had been observing Esther all the while Mr. Swyndhurst questioned the others. She suspected that Esther knew something; thus, she was anxious for it to be the young woman’s turn to be questioned. Martha felt some relief at the thought that the maidservant might know Sarah’s whereabouts. Perhaps it is nothing more than Sarah, up to her usual practices, not wanting anyone to stop her from going off to the aid of some unfortunate soul. Sarah has most likely sworn the young woman to secrecy; otherwise, why would she be behaving so strangely? But as soon as Martha gave herself a moment to consider upon this line of thought, she dismissed her suspicions. They had checked all of Sarah’s usual places. What is it, then? She surely seems to be hiding something.
“Esther, look at me!” Mr. Swyndhurst demanded. He had also sensed that Esther was concealing something.
As Esther glanced up, she began to cry. “She made me promise not to tell.”
“What did she make you promise not to tell?” the master of the house impatiently inquired.
“What am I to do? She shouldn’t have made me promise. She was hurt and—”
Fear flashed across the worried husband’s face at the thought that Sarah had been injured in some way. Angry that the young woman would not reveal what she knew, he glared at her. By now, Esther was beginning to believe that divulging what she knew of the situation might just be the right thing to do.
Wanting to address Esther privately, Mr. Swyndhurst sent the other servants out of the room and then escorted her over to a seat. He attempted to calm himself before inquiring further of the distraught young woman. “Esther, what happened? What did you mean when you said that Sarah had been hurt?”
“Please believe me; I meant no harm. She asked me not to tell, and then convinced me it was the right thing to do—keeping quiet, I mean.”
“Yes, yes, Esther. Now out with it!” He was, once again, losing his temper with the young woman.
Sobbing, Esther began, “Sarah was attacked on her way home last night. When I came upon her in her bedchamber, she was shaking violently. As I approached her, I noticed her gown was torn and bloodstained.” Taking a deep breath, she continued. “When I inquired about her appearance, through her tears she explained that a man had taken her against her will. As she was terrified of him coming after her, since he had said he planned to take her away somewhere, she felt the need to escape.” Not wanting to say more, especially that Sarah had thought her husband would no longer want her, Esther turned her head away.
Upon hearing Esther’s account, Mr. Swyndhurst was left speechless. He wanted to find out all he could, but no words would come. His heart hurt for Sarah too much to speak.
Though she was feeling ill at the thought that Sarah had been attacked, Martha spoke up, for besides observing the state her employer was in, at that moment she sensed there was more to the story. “Esther, there is more, is there not? You best tell us everything you know.”
Looking at her lap, Esther continued, “Mr. Swyndhurst, Sarah believed you would no longer want her now that another man has—” She couldn’t even bring herself to say it. What had happened to Sarah was simply too dreadful to be spoken aloud. Glancing at Mr. Swyndhurst, Esther sighed, for to look at him now, she knew Sarah had been wrong about her husband not wanting her. As Esther had suspected when Sarah had revealed her fear of being rejected, it just could never be true. Mr. Swyndhurst loved her friend too much to toss her aside because of what had happened.
As she continued to survey her employer, she wished she hadn’t had to burden him, along with everything else, with what Sarah had thought about how he would react to the situation. But given that she wasn’t practiced at concealing things, as evidenced by the fact that Martha and Mr. Swyndhurst had already called her out, she felt she had no choice but to tell all.
With tears in his eyes, the distressed husband persisted in questioning his maidservant, “You say her garments…were torn and covered…with blood?”
Esther nodded in the affirmative. “Not that much blood,” she clarifi
ed in an attempt to reassure the devastated husband that his wife would be all right. “It must have been from where the man struck her in the face, and—” While clamping her hand over her mouth, Esther’s eyes grew wide, for she knew she was only making things worse by sharing too many details with her troubled employer.
Wincing at the thought of someone striking his tiny wife, Mr. Swyndhurst asked, “How do you know she was struck in the face, Esther? Did she tell you she was?”
As she shook her head no, wishing all the while she had just kept her mouth shut, reluctantly she responded, “Her lip was swollen, and there was a bruise beginning to show on her cheek. I think she was injured in other ways as well, from the way she carried herself.”
Then, with heavy hearts the three went up to Sarah’s bedchamber. Esther had cleaned the washbasin but had not had time to remove Sarah’s ruined garments from the room. After retrieving them from the floor in the corner of the room, Esther handed the garments to her employer and backed away. Alexander sobbed at the sight of the torn, blood-stained clothing. He then rolled Sarah’s things up in a ball. There was no doubt in his mind now—his wife had been violated.
“Esther, what do you know of her means of escape?” Martha inquired since Mr. Swyndhurst was still too upset to formulate very many questions of his own.
“She told me that an elderly gentleman—though she would not reveal his name—had come to her rescue after she had broken away from her captor. She stated that the gentleman had said he would take her someplace where she would be safe.”
Gaining control of his emotions, her employer asked, “Is that all she said?” He was hoping for more information.
“That is all. I know of nothing more.” With sadness in her eyes for Mr. Swyndhurst, sobbing, Esther stood there wishing she hadn’t had to add to his misery. Soon, Martha dismissed her. Alexander and his elderly friend remained in the room to discuss all that Esther had disclosed.