Chapter 2 2 September 1808
Ally felt hallow. Empty inside as if she’d never be happy. It was her birthday but she could muster the strength to even smile. She remembered that day in the forest. As if she’d forget the day her life had changed forever. He’d raped her. She remembered his hands on her and she’d been helpless to stop him. The monster had tied her hands even as she fought to stop him. She remembered the tears, the pain, and the screams as he ripped into her. She remembered his laughter. Ironically, she also remembered staring at a bush of wild roses after he’d left her alone as the night grew dark.
Ally didn’t really know how she got back to Harper Manor; everything just seemed like a blur in her memory. As if it wasn’t real. Ally knew differently. Lady Elizabeth was horrified at the sight of her. Lady Elaine looked at her disgust, as if Ally was a ratty servant’s dress. Lord Marcus smug look told her that he’d known what was going to happen. Worst was how her father looked at her. As if he didn’t know how to comfort her. She’d gone to the only person who really mattered, Mrs. Applebee.
There’d been more tears as she told the older lady what’d happened. Now there was none. Lord Edward Moore, son of Viscount Ramsey, claimed to be in town the whole day. He had Marcus as a witness. Who would believe a spinster over a powerful lord who had a witness?
Four months had passed. Four months. Ally was gaining her strength back. Most morning she didn’t wake up screaming or rushing to the bucket Mrs. Applebee had placed in her room to relive the contents of her stomach. Ally was still afraid to walk into the forest she once loved.
This morning was not as good as some of the others. She felt sick to her stomach and a little light-headed. In her bedchamber, Ally washed quickly in the tube her lady’s maid, Lucy, order to have filled for her. Just as quickly she dressed and headed down to the kitchen, avoiding the breakfast room where she knew her family would be. The smell of the bacon cooking twisted her stomach in tighter knots.
“Ah, there’s she is!” Mrs. Applebee rushed over to the door, dodging servants who were milling about, and pulled Ally into her arms in a bone crushing hug. Easing back slightly, she looked into Ally’s face, “Lovely day for a birthday isn’t it,” she said brightly, “still a little pale, I see. Too skinny,” Cook muttered the last bit to herself. “Well, what’ll it be?” she asked Ally before pushing her into a chair at the table set in the middle of the room. Ally had hardly had a chance to speak but she knew that with Mrs. Applebee it was better to answer when she had the chance.
“Just toast. And tea if you have any.”
“Toast! And tea if I have any? Little girl, when have I ever been without tea in my kitchen, I ask you? Did you hear that, Janet? ‘Tea if I have any’, I mean really,” She was already busy at the stove. “You’ll have some of these eggs too, little girl.”
Ally finally smiled, and knew it was best not to argue. Cook always called her ‘little girl’. The cook was a older lady, rounded about the middle. She had a homely face and gentle eyes that could freeze anyone who crossed her the wrong way. Content to be in a place no harm could come to her, Ally felt the hollowness ease from her body and mind. Times like this made her think that maybe happiness would come again. The kitchen was busy like every morning. Servants were everywhere, grabbing their own meals before setting out to do the day’s bidding, some stopping to wish Ally happiness for her birthday. The cook came and shoved a plate at Ally. “Eat. No leaving this table before every morsel is gone.” That said she stalked across back to her stove, and let out a booming laugh at something a young footman whispered in her ear. Ally loved the sight of the older woman like that.
It was the smell of the bacon that was on her plate that did it. Before Ally knew what was happening she felt her stomach twist and heave. Alarmed a maid called out but Ally couldn’t clearly make out what was said. A bowl was being shoved under her nose. Grateful, Ally accepted it as her body continued to dry heave. She’d only had soup for supper the night before so it was no wonder why nothing was being forced up. Cook was there rubbing her back.
“Janet, go a get me a cool damp washcloth. Bring it to Lady Allison’s quarters and hurry.”
It was a blur of images until I was back in my bedchamber flat on my back. Cook tisked as she arranged and rearranged the pillows. “It’s as I though, little girl, just as I thought.” She was muttering, as if she was just talking quietly to herself. Ally was fine just closing her eyes and resting where she was. She knew the feeling would pass soon, it always did.
“Can’t stand the smell of my bacon, dizziness, and slight fevers. I know just what this is, little girl, I do. But you’re not so little anymore are you? No, not so little.” Cook rambled on but Ally didn’t open her eyes until she felt the cloth on her face. It felt amazing on her heated skin.
“What’s wrong with me, Cook? Is it because….because of….of what happened?” I was hesitant to ask. I disliked talking about it now and Cook always turned red as a radish when anyone did.
“I’m afraid so, my girl, but don’t be alarmed, you’ll live.” She sat on the side of the bed. Ally felt a hand on her abdomen and a kiss being pressed to her temple. “Just a little bun in the over, I’m afraid.” Cook continued to talk softly but Ally had stopped listening, a look of confusion creasing her brow. Bun in the oven? Mrs. Applebee couldn’t mean she was with child? At that moment Ally was glad she was laying down because she could feel herself sliding under to the darkness.
* * * *
Ally opened her eyes slowly. She knew what’d had earlier wasn’t a dream. Ally was a smart girl; she’d read almost all the books in her father’s library, in Italian, Greek, and French. She knew what happened between a man and a woman. She knew the outcome of such experiences so she didn’t try to deceive herself any longer. She’d begin to question herself when her favorite dress began to fit a little to snuggly. Ally closed her eyes against the tears that formed. They wouldn’t help. She had to get up and deal with whatever came. Pushing herself up, Ally decided the first thing to do was find Cook to get some of her questions answered. When she made it to the stairs she heard the voices, a mixture of male and female; familiar and unidentifiable. When her name was mentioned Ally decided to find out what all the commotion was about. Pushing her father’s study door open, Ally froze in shock. Her eyes swept the room quickly before starting again for a slower look.
The room was tall, full of book cases that surrounded a large desk at the far end. A loveseat sat in the middle of the room over a huge circle rug facing a roaring fireplace as the flames flickered. The bold colors of burgundy and cream with dark cherry woods gave testament that the room belonged to a man. Everyone seemed to stand still, barely breathing as Ally looked at them each in turn. Behind the writing desk stood her father and Lady Elizabeth, one with face old and expressionless while the other pinched with horror. Even in the middle of an argument Lady Elizabeth looked like an ice queen; pale blond hair pulled back and knotted, ice blue day dress, and a diamond pendant my father gave her sitting between her breast. My father was just her opposite. He was tall and still handsome even with age. Where Elizabeth was pale, he was dark, she blond and he a dark chestnut. His stormy gray eyes like steel. Cook stood before the desk, a look of shock, something I’d never seen before, etched in the lines of her face. Marcus stood by the fireplace, looking relaxed as if nothing important was being said. He had the look of his mother but was nothing compared to his twin sister; Elaine was one the couch. In her pastel pink dress and hair like her mother’s, her face was shining with glee. Elaine always loved a good scandal.
Slowly, Ally turned her head to the two other men in the room. Both were tall; they were almost the same height but the one on the left was maybe three or so inches taller than the other man. Looking at them, Ally thought they were dressed oddly. They both had strong builds, and, Ally could tell just by looking, muscled bodies. She felt a little uneasy about that. That was where the similarities met an end. She could tell which man was Tommy just by looking at his face for it was like looking in a mirror. His hair was the same dark black but cut short atop his head. The same gray eyes as her father, as herself, looked back at her. His face had hardened with age but as she looked harder she could see the same young and fun-loving person she once knew at the age of seventeen. The taller man was blond, but not pale like the others, but a darker blond. His hair was spiked at the top of his head as if he’d run his hand through it too many times. His deep blue eyes were slanted, and his nose a little crooked but neither took away from his handsome looks; in Ally’s opinion it made him look even better. She could tell that he was older than her brother but certainly not by many years. They were both dressed in buttoned white shirts with the sleeves rolled up they’re arms. She could tell they’d been traveling for day for their trousers were wrinkled. Their boots had scuff marks across the tops.
Emotions crashed into Ally. Tommy was here. Ignoring everyone and protocol, Ally launched herself into Tommy’s arms with a cry of joy.
“Tommy, you’re actually here.” He seemed to expect her at the last minute because he braced his feet and opened his arms to accept her. He enveloped her in his arms and held her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. Ally felt safe, truly safe at that moment.
“Allison. Ally sweetheart, are you okay? I came as soon as I could. After I got Cook’s letter I dropped all my meetings as quick as I could. She said you’d been raped.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth there was a horde of reactions. Father cleared his throat, Elizabeth whimper and leaned heavily on the desk. Elaine and Marcus exchanged a quick look that Ally missed but the stranger didn’t. Cook turned red in the face. Tommy was apologizing at once.
“I’m so sorry, Ally Cat. So sorry. I didn’t know what to do. I’ve come to take you with me back to Glendale.” That too caused reactions around the room. Ally was looking into Tommy’s face so she didn’t notice the movement, but she found out what all the fuss was about to begin with.
“She’ll not be going anywhere and that’s final.” It was Lady Elizabeth that spoke. She’d gained her composure again and looked like the ice queen again. “What would people say if she were just to leave?”
Cook whipped the tears from her eyes and turned back to Elizabeth. “Well, Mistress Harper, that girl has good reason to go know. Better to be there than here in her state.” Ally knew what was going to happen, but before she could tell Mrs. Applebee not to tell anyone about Ally being with child, the older woman did just that. “In the family way she is. Four months along she is. Now, do you still think she was tell a tale about that…that incident?” Cook demanded of everyone in the room. When Ally finally explained to them what happened in the forest it seemed her family initial agreement was to pretend it didn’t happen.
Ally could feel every eye in the room turn her way. Without thought she buried her face into her brother’s shoulder. She heard him whisper, “Is it true?” and slowly nodded her head. Now everyone knew her secret, even the stranger whose name she didn’t even know. How horrifying.
“Allison.” Taking a deep breath Ally turned to her father to look him right in the eye. She was strong, always strong. Ally repeated the chant inside her mind.
“I’m going father. I was intended to go with or without your permission. It what I want, I have to get away from here. Certainly now is the time for me to do that.” Taking a breath between her words Ally opened her mouth to say more but Elizabeth had already rounded on Mrs. Applebee.
“You insolent woman, how can you be sure? You’ve convinced her that she’s with child haven’t you? I should dismiss you now!” The last bit come out as a yell and before Ally could speak she felt Tommy’s rough hands land on her shoulders.
“Well, you won’t have the pleasure of dismissing me, you won’t. You see, I’ve gone and quit now haven’t I? You won’t hurt Miss Allison again, I tell you. You or your brats.” With that Cook turned and walked calmly from the room as if she owned the whole manor. Ally felt a mixture of pride and worry surge up into her chest. Mrs. Applebee wouldn’t have anywhere to go. Her husband was buried in the cemetery behind the church so she would want to move miles and miles away with Ally and Tommy.
The voices around her interrupted her Thoughts. Tommy was speaking to their father.
“She’s coming with me. I’d be worse if she stayed here. This town won’t be nice to an unwed lady who’s with child. I have money; I have an estate, and a business that I can support her with.”
Looking at father now I realized that I’ve never seen him look as old as he did at that moment.
“I believed her,” he said quietly. With a sigh he sat behind the desk and rubbed his hand over his eyes. “I believed her when she told me but I didn’t know what to do. I still don’t know what to do.” Looking up again Lord Thomas looked directly at his son, something he hadn’t done in many years. “I hired a detective to look into the matter but it seems as if Edward Moore was seen around town numerous times that day, by Marcus included. His alibi is solid.” Shaking his head he looked at both his children together and realized that he was about to lose them both. “Take her with you. She needs you more than she’ll ever need me.” With that Lord Thomas Harper walked from his study; Elizabeth, Elaine and Marcus moved to follow.
The stranger moved before anyone could comprehend what happened. He sailed across the room to block the door before the trio could exit. His eyes moved between the three of them, sharp as blades, their color as deep as the sea.
He spoke quietly, “If I find that any of you have something to hide regarding Lady Harper’s unfortunate encounter,” he paused to look them each directly, “I will personally seek you out. It won’t be pleasant. Good day.” With a nod of his head he removed himself from the doorway. Ally could tell by the looks on her their faces that they did not appreciate the oddly dressed stranger’s threat. She also noticed that they each keep their silence before sailing out of the door in a well from line that looked as if they’d practiced dramatic exiting.
Turning slowly to face both the stranger, she must really find out his name, and Tommy, Ally started to speak but lost the opportunity with a look from Tommy.
“Ally, this is Sebastian Morgan. He’s my partner.” He sighed at her look of confusion but again before she could speak he launched into an explanation he knew she would ask for.
“When I left Harper Manor three years ago I went aboard, to the Colonies. I’d been there almost a year when Bastian saved my life. I’d been sick and he helped me until I was better. After that I joined his business. He’s a farmer. I’ve always been good with numbers so he took me one as his accountant.” As he spoke he led Ally to sit before the fire. Sebastian continued to stand by the doorway so Ally’s couldn’t see him anymore. “I told him what I wanted to do for you. He told me I was noble; a noble British Lord is what he called me,” Tommy chuckled as he spoke. “We stayed aboard until some time ago, when I sent you my last letter. He finally agreed to move his business here, in Mardling. Everything has been a little hectic with the renovations to the house and the land that I didn’t want to you there until it was complete.” He paused and a frown tugged at his mouth that was so much like her own. “That when I got Cook’s letter. It was dated four days before I received it. We came as soon as I could. Ally Cat I’m so sorry.”
Shaking her head to clear it of the slight ache that had began to form there when she first walked into the room, Ally stood and began to think. So much to think about in such a short time. Yet again taking a deep breath Ally spoke for the first time since everyone left the room.
“Tommy, I’m just grateful that you’re here.” Turning to the taller man, Ally spoke to him too. “You too, Mr. Morgan, I truly am. I cannot stay here any longer. I had a plan to travel to Mardling before the summer came to an end but,’ Ally stopped and she knew that both men thought of what happened to her in the forest. She began again, “I am with child.” She spoke clearly to the room, but mostly to herself. It still didn’t seem real. Her thoughts and emotions were utterly scrambled but now was not the time to think about it. “I won’t give up my baby. I won’t.”
Even before she finished speaking Bastian was walking towards them. “That’s not a problem.” His was clear and Ally could hear the authority behind it. She shivered at the sound of it and frowned in confusion.
“No problem at all.”Tommy agreed. “Ally, have your maid pack for you. As I was telling father, we must leave post haste. In our business we cannot be away much longer.” His hand had made their way to her hair as they had multiple times when they were children. The gesture made her heart swell. Nodding in acceptance she rose to leave the room. Before slipping quietly away she spoke to them both, pride be damned.
“Thank you, thank you both.” With that she left them alone.
* * * *
For the first time since entering the room Sebastian Morgan sat and looked at his friend. “You’re family is odd, my friend, very odd. I could see the ghost in your sister’s eyes but she’d holding better than you thought she would.”
“Yes, I agree with one but not the other. She’d coping better than most and I could tell she’s scared but Morgan, those people aren’t my family. Allison is and now she and her child are my responsibility. Thanks for coming with me, Morgan, really.” Standing with a sigh, Tommy prepared to do what needed to be done. “Could you keep an eye on Ally until we depart? I don’t think she’s safe being here now. I need to make some arrangements with my farther.”
* * * *
Wearing a riding habit now, Ally looked around her art studio for the last time. She’s miss her room; it was more than a room to her but a sanctuary, a safe haven where she could express her passion with a brush and easel. At the sound from the doorway, Ally turned to find Mr. Morgan leaning on the doorsill looking about the room.
“This is the studio you told Tommy about. What did you call it in your letters? Your hide-away. I see you’ve packed all your work and supplies, have you?” His tone was friendly but some part of Ally felt that she should tread carefully while another part felt as if she could trust him.
“Yes. Yes, it’s all been packed. I want to thank you again,” he interrupted her.
“No need to thank me, you’re Tommy’s family. He needs you as much as you need him, trust me. As for the other,” he stopped his scan of the room and looked directly at her, “we will somehow make Edward Moore pay for what he did. Here’s a promise. You’ll never be hurt again while you’re with me. I promise you that.”
Looking into his eye, Ally felt the sincerity of that statement. She felt herself began to trust again after four months of pain. She wanted to believe in this man with a want that filled her body and soul. She’d never wanted anything more than she did in that moment.
Before breaking the silent bond they’d formed Ally whispered only one word but she knew he would understand. “Why?”
Bastian looked at Ally. He wished he knew the answer to that himself but it was something he couldn’t seem to put in words. From the first moment he laid eyes on her Bastian felt as if a chain had warped around his heart and pulled. He’d seen a woman who was scared and trying not to be. A woman who’d had a difficult life full of equally difficult people but was still able to live. He thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d laid eyes on, someone who needed a friend. Now looking at her in the light of her makeshift studio he thought she looked like the queen of fairies, petit compared to his six feet.
Finally he decided on a simple answer she needed to hear, “Because you’re Tommy’s sister and it looks as if you could use a friend.”
Lucy slipped in to announce that everything was packed and the moment was broke but not forgotten. For either of them.
