"And why have you left my haus?" he asked, swinging his cane up in the air.
"You need to ask?" Eugenia said in a squeaking voice. Her tongue seemed to have frozen to the inside of her mouth.
"Did Fräulein Clarissa frighten you away?" he asked, moving toward Eugenia. She could see the beads of perspiration on his brow, and she could just envision the sweatiness of his palms. She only hoped that he wouldn't touch her.
"I'm only thankful now to Clarissa for enlightening me about what was to become of me in the near future," Eugenia said. "Didn't she tell you what she had done to me?"
"Nein. I only treated you gut. What did Fräulein Clarissa do to you?"
Eugenia hadn't ever heard him speak in his German tongue before. And his sprinkling of German words now was surprising to her. Maybe he was indeed upset by what had occurred. Maybe all that happened had only been of Clarissa's doings. But yet, there was Key, and he had said that Frederick and Clarissa had done this to other girls. She knew that she was no different.
"Your Fräulein Clarissa chained me to the wall in one of your tower rooms," she hissed, growing bolder, seeing that he didn't grow angrier. In a confusing way to Eugenia, she could tell that he was more hurt by what she had said. He seemed like a little puppy who had lost a bone. A plaything.
Frederick's face drained of color. "No. Clarissa didn't tell me all," he said, going to a chair, slouching his bulkiness down into it, lowering his head.
More surprised than before, Eugenia knew that he hadn't lingered long enough with Clarissa to find out all the reasons why, that he had more than likely left her standing there in the middle of telling him, before she had had a chance to finish. Eugenia was growing more confused by the minute. Did Frederick think more of her than he had of any of his previous girls? Was he ready to ask her to go back with him? God! She hoped not. She would never enter that house again. No matter what. And there was Clarissa. How Eugenia hated her. And Clarissa would surely tell all when Frederick returned. She even wondered if he had missed Key yet? He had prized Key's way of cooking. Key had always taken pains to please Frederick, and Eugenia knew that he probably could never be matched by another cook.
Eugenia could no longer see the red of the chair, but only the black of his attire. "How did you know I was here?" she asked cooly.
"I saw Dawn's carriage at my haus yesterday. I knew that she had only been allowed to enter my haus for one reason. That reason had to be you. I was going to question you about it later," he said. "When Clarissa said that you had run away, I knew you didn't have anywhere else to go but here."
"Oh," Eugenia murmured, her eyes darting upward as Dawn entered. Dawn's eyes were almost completely black from the dilated pupils. Only a small rim of blue was present. Eugenia knew that Dawn had just given herself another injection of morphine. Apparently the last bout of coughing had become much too painful for her. And now? Could Dawn cope with Frederick more skillfully? Or would she be so lethargic from the drug that she wouldn't be capable of fighting back for Eugenia's sake?
Eugenia soon found out.
"What the hell do you mean by storming into my establishment?" Dawn demanded, crossing her arms in defiance before her. "I told you to never darken my door. Ever again. We don't need the likes of you. My girls don't need your kinky habits to soil their bodies."
Eugenia's eyes darted toward Frederick. She could see that the color had returned to his face in a bright crimson and that his jowls were fast enlarging. She knew that he was on the verge of exploding. She could see his chest heaving inward and outward at a fast rate and wondered if he might have a heart attack right there. But he only lifted a handkerchief to his forehead and dabbed the perspiration from it, then smiled darkly up at Dawn.
"I've come to take Eugenia back with me," he finally answered, tapping his cane nervously in front of him.
Dawn threw her head back and began to laugh hysterically, which made her cough once again.
When her coughing ceased, she went and stood over Frederick, glaring downward. "You'll never get the chance to get your hands on Madam Eugenia," she hissed, then stopped when she saw the reaction from Frederick as his jaws flew open and his eyes bulged as he stared quickly at Eugenia.
"'Madam Eugenia' did she say, Eugenia?" he said, almost inaudibly. "What does she mean?"
Eugenia rose and went to a window, putting her back to him. She knew that she should hate him, knowing so much about him, but he was so pathetic. She swung around, still aware of his eyes on her. She now knew that her own breath was coming in short rasps and that her bosom was noticeably working in and out. She could even see his eyes settle on the front of her. She had to wonder if he was thinking about what he had missed by not having had the chance to take advantage of her before she had been set free by Key.
"Yes. 'Madam Eugenia,'" she snapped, waiting to see his reaction.
"What does it mean?" he gasped, looking from Dawn to Eugenia, his eyes fast becoming red-streaked from the strain.
"It means that Eugenia is now the madam of this establishment," Dawn blurted. "I am no longer able. She is to run my house. You can be sure that no slobs such as yourself are allowed inside. Right, Eugenia?" Dawn asked, looking for Eugenia's words of reassurance.
"It's true, Frederick," Eugenia said, walking to the fireplace, stooping, putting a log on the fire. , So casually, as though she wasn't being confronted by the man who could have killed her. But she had to act unafraid. As though she was capable of handling herself. Not for only now. But for the future, in case he decided to come back for her.
"Now will you please leave?" Dawn shouted. "Leave Eugenia alone. She's not associated with you, or your name, any longer. She's the Madam Eugenia. Someone to be respected. Not to be used."
Frederick rose swiftly. "I'll get the law after you, Dawn," he said hoarsely. "I'll say you kidnapped Eugenia. Forced her to stay here with you."
Dawn laughed loudly. "And what do you think Eugenia will say when she's questioned?"
"She will return with me," Frederick said, eyeing Eugenia darkly. "You'll see."
Eugenia wondered if he was going to use force, frighten her enough so that she'd tell the sheriff that she had been kidnapped? But no. It was impossible. She was safe as long as she was in Dawn's house. But could she ever feel safe to wander from the establishment? To shop? To feel free to roam Cripple Creek's streets? No, not for a while.
"You don't seem to remember that I've my own ways of persuasion with Sheriff Landsing," Dawn said, going to Frederick, getting so close to his face that he backed away. "He knows to not mess around with my establishment, or he'll not be able to get special favors for himself or his friends. Just you remember that before you start causing me and Eugenia any further trouble."
Frederick swung around and began to walk away from Dawn, then turned and eyed Eugenia darkly once again. He pointed his cane in her direction, shaking it. "Fräulein, I was gut to you while you were a part of my haus. Ja?"
Eugenia swallowed hard, remembering. He had given her everything, had even been responsible for her proper way of speaking.
"Yes," she said quietly.
"You will always be mein klein Fräulein. If you ever decide to return, I will see to it that Clarissa leaves you alone. I'll even pay you much geld if you'll return. But if not, danke schon for the weeks of pleasure you have given me by your presence in my haus." He turned and left the room, but Eugenia could hear his last remarks. "Auf widersehen, klein Fräulein." Then all she heard was the slamming of the front door, followed by an awkward silence between Eugenia and Dawn. Eugenia hurried to the window and watched the carriage carry his bulky figure away from her. It was a part of her life that had just become a closed chapter. She felt Dawn's presence at her side.
"What the hell do you think of that?" Dawn said. "I really think that old German bastard had a thing about you," she added, pulling a curtain back to watch also.
"But he's known to have been responsible for so many girls' deaths," Eugenia said
quietly.
"Are you sure it was him, or was it Clarissa? By herself?" Dawn said, touching Eugenia softly on the arm.
Eugenia's eyes widened, wondering. Maybe Dawn was right. But how had Clarissa explained away the disappearance of the other girls?
"I don't really care," Eugenia said, going to a chair, slumping down into it. She was just glad to see Frederick leave, get out of her life. Even though she felt a bit sorry for him there would always be a sense of fright inside her. She would most surely be too afraid to leave the house for a while. And what would he do when he returned home and found Key gone? Would he return once again? Or maybe he wouldn't connect Key's disappearance with her own.
"We don't have to worry about him bothering you again, honey," Dawn said, stooping, smoothing Eugenia's skirt around her feet. "He knows you're here to stay. For as long as you want."
Eugenia looked up into Dawn's face, seeing the paleness, feeling so sorry for her. "I'll stay for as long as you wish," she said. It had been so easy for Eugenia to forget that Dawn had committed a murder herself, knowing that Dawn had done it not only for spite, but for the safety of many other girls who had been taken advantage of by Madam Valerie. Feeling disgust for anyone who might take another's life, Eugenia just hadn't been able to associate Dawn with these feelings. A sudden rush of petticoat through the doorway made Eugenia sit up to attention.
"Madam Dawn," Nell said, breathless.
"What is it, Nell?" Dawn asked, going to her.
"I just heard the most terrible thing," Nell answered, stopping to take a deep breath.
"What is it?" Dawn asked gently, brushing some loose locks of golden hair from around Nell's face.
"Iris? You know, one of the colored women in back?"
"Yes? What about her?"
"She just came to the back door and told me about Emma Brown. Something terrible she did."
"Okay. Settle down," Dawn said soothingly, guiding Nell to a chair, helping her down onto it. "Now. Please tell me. Slowly. What did Iris tell you?"
"It's sure horrible," Nell said, her eyes widening as she looked first at Dawn, then Eugenia.
"Well? What?" Dawn persisted, stooping down in front of Nell, looking up into her eyes.
"Emma Brown. You know, she's a colored woman who lives in one of the cribs."
"Yes. I know of her. She used to be a part of our establishment. When Madam Valerie first became madam. What about Emma?"
"She killed a man last night."
"What?" Dawn gasped, rising, putting her hands to her cheeks. She was seized with another bout of coughing, silencing all else in the room.
"But that's not the most horrible thing about it," Nell continued.
"What could be more horrible than murdering somebody?" Eugenia said, then flashed a look toward Dawn, seeing her shocked expression and the paleness of her face deepening. Eugenia wanted to go to her and apologize but knew that Nell would question it. She would later.
Nell continued, "It seems that Emma Brown was so angry with this white man that she actually peeled the skin off of one of his fingers with her teeth. And we don't know if she did it while he was dying, or after he was dead."
"God," Eugenia gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.
"Horrible," Dawn said, lowering herself onto a chair. "How did Emma kill him?"
"She used a razor on him. Sliced him up pretty good, so Iris says."
Dawn looked toward Nell. She coughed in to her handkerchief, then placed it on her lap. "And may I ask what you were doing talking to Iris?" she snapped, her brows furrowing.
Nell cleared her throat nervously, looking away from Dawn. "Iris and I have become good friends. That's all," she said in a low whisper.
"I thought I told you that the colored girls are to be kept separate from you other girls," Dawn said further.
"But she's my age. I like her. And she's so sweet. And innocent. We like to talk. Just about similar things. Don't you understand?"
Dawn sighed heavily. "Yes. I guess so," she said, pausing, studying Nell in silence. Then she added, "I'm sorry, Nell. You can feel free to socialize with her if you like. Maybe I've been too strict on you girls. I should realize that there is more to your lives than just pleasing all the gentlemen callers. Please feel free to have Iris into your room for a visit. Any time. Except, of course, during the hours that men are expected."
Nell flew from the chair, her hands clasped in front of her. "Yes, Madam Dawn," she bubbled. "I'll be forever grateful. Thank you. Oh, thank you. I have been so lonesome. It'll be fun to have someone to talk to who likes the same things that I do."
"Like what?" Dawn said. "What do you talk about?"
"We talk about the stars, the moon, the flowers. We have even thought up some pretty good poetry together. Would you like to read them sometime?"
Dawn smiled warmly. "Dear me. I didn't know that one of my girls had it in her. Yes, Nell. Any time."
"Oh, thank you. Thank you," Nell said, rushing from the room.
Eugenia smiled in Dawn's direction, seeing the gentle side to her that she knew was her main asset but had so obviously not let show so much in front of the girls because of her having to keep control over them. "That was sweet of you, Dawn," she said, going to her, encircling her, hugging her.
Dawn began to hug her back, then pushed Eugenia away from her. "We must remember. My illness," she said softly. "I wouldn't want you to catch it."
Eugenia scooted away from her. "Dawn, why won't you go to a doctor? Please? I hate to see you waste away so. Please. If not for yourself, for your girls. For me."
"I just can't, Eugenia," Dawn said, going around the room, inspecting the cushions on the chairs and sofas, fluffing them with a pat of the hand. "Today we will serve French champagne to the gentlemen callers," she said, changing the subject. "That will make them aware of how special they are treated at Madam Eugenia's parlor."
Hearing it put that way made goose bumps travel along Eugenia's arms. She laughed nervously, realizing this would be her first day to be the madam, knowing that Dawn had most obviously dropped the "Madam" before her own name, having had handed over the title entirely to Eugenia. Eugenia had to wonder if Dawn knew her health was fast slipping away. Surely not, or she would agree to see a doctor. No one could accept death that willingly.
"Sure is terrible about Emma Brown, isn't it?" Dawn said. "I remember her well. She was a trouble maker among Madam Valerie's colored girls. Kept them stirred up all the time. I was so glad when Madam Valerie made her leave. But she didn't move far enough away. She took up the first empty crib that she could find. And she's been doing a fine business for herself ever since. But I knew her temper would get the best of her. God. That poor gentleman caller. How horrible a death he must have had. Peeling the skin off one of his fingers with her teeth? God. How horrible."
Eugenia was fast learning the ways of all kinds of women. She knew that she could have a rocky road ahead if she didn't learn fast the art of being able to brush the fears and surprises of life's discoveries aside, knowing that there would always be another tomorrow, a fresh beginning.
* * *
Chapter Fifteen
Christmas Eve. Eugenia walked to her bedroom window and stared downward onto the snow-covered street, then to the huge red bells hanging from the streetlight standards. As she watched them blow gently in the breeze, she could almost hear the soft peals from them, reminding her of the plastic bells that her Mama had hung in the doorways at Christmas time. Eugenia had always wished for a true bell. One she could listen to. Marvel at.
Tears came to her eyes, remembering all Christmas Eves past, this being her first Christmas Eve away from home. Ah, the fun they had had when she, her Mama and Papa, and Elizabeth had sat around a roaring fire in the fireplace, popping corn, shaping the corn into large, popcorn balls stuck together with corn syrup. She had always enjoyed making them but had hated eating them because of the way the corn syrup had always stuck her teeth together. But it had been a tradition of
Christmas Eve at her house to make these popcorn balls, unwrap gifts that were exchanged with one another, and sing Christmas carols while decorating a freshly cut pine tree from her mountain. But this year it would all be different for her. She felt so lonesome and needed to hear laughter from her Mama, and to smell the aroma from her Papa's pipe. And Elizabeth. She missed Elizabeth so terribly. Yes, they had been rivals for attention from Mama and Papa, but now it all seemed so frivolous, so unnecessary.
Eugenia let her eyes wander to Mount Pisgah, only half of it being visible. The rest was hidden beneath a heavy shroud of foggy mist. More snow, Eugenia thought to herself, knowing the mountain wasn't passable to anyone now. If she could have only sent word to her Mama and Papa that she was all right, she knew that would have made their Christmas much merrier. The way it stood, Eugenia knew that they had no idea what had become of her. Even probably envisioned her dead. Possibly eaten alive by a black bear.
"Eugenia?"
Eugenia swung around and found Alison standing behind her. "Yes, Alison? What is it?"
"It's Dawri," Alison whispered. "She's much worse. What're we going to do?"
"First, we have to get her some more morphine," Eugenia said firmly. "To kill the pain. Do you know how it works? How to get a messenger boy to get it for us?"
Alison shook her head. "Yes. If I give him a jack of spades playing card, he'll go and get us the morphine at the drugstore."
"Right. That's the code that Dawn has worked out. Now go and call the drugstore and ask for the messenger boy to get here immediately. Now run. Do as I say," Eugenia said, shooing Alison away from her with the sweep of her hand.
Eugenia didn't know quite what to do. She hated even to cross the hall to enter Dawn's room. She could almost smell death each time she entered. And the atmosphere of this upper floor was so much different than that of the downstairs, where the girls were giggling and running around, decorating the house for a big time expected later in the evening. She couldn't tell the girls that Dawn was so bad, it wouldn't be fair to them to suppress their excitement for this special day and evening of the year. Christmas Eve was the one time they could have fun, let their frustrations be forgotten. Christmas Eve was meant to be gay, not quiet and foreboding. Not waiting for Death to enter the house, squelching it all. No, Eugenia had made her mind up. She wouldn't tell the girls. Dawn would want it that way. She would want the girls to have a good time and entertain the group of miners who were expected shortly after dark. She would want to be sure her house was the best house for entertainment, especially on one of the most important nights of the year.
Eugenia's Embrace Page 17
