Doves Migration

by Linda Daly

Glaring at her, his tone now that of disgust, James said, “As you insist, Lavinia. Miranda, you ride with Felicity and I’ll follow you safely home and then I’ll meet you back at our home following the party, my dear. I have work to attend to and I’ll not be returning to this gala event.”

  Lavinia, in a huff, turned sharply on her heels. “In your present frame of mind, that will suit me just fine.”

  Both woman sighed relief after Lavinia left and Alfred said, “By God, James, you gave me such a fright. Why on earth would you suggest she come with you?”

  “Simply because if I hadn’t, Lavinia would have thought something amiss and would have insisted on coming along.”

  Shaking his head, Alfred said, “Well, by God, you could have warned me. My heart can’t take anymore surprises tonight.” Then looking at Miranda, he said, “Are you ready, my dear? I believe there is a very anxious man waiting to speak with you.”

  Smiling at Alfred, she said, “Yes. I’m anxious to speak with him as well.”

  As the four of them made their way to two the carriages, James directed his driver as Alfred helped Felicity into the other carriage after saying his goodbyes to Montgomery. Alfred, pale and visibly shaken, turned and said to Miranda, “Don’t worry, my dear, I’ll see to it that Lucas receives your letter in Washington. I’ll send a courier straight away.”

  Kissing him lightly on the cheek, she whispered, “Thank you, for everything. I love you.”

  “And I love you. Now be off with you and be kind to your family, dear one. Especially, that stubborn one inside who loves you with all his heart.”

  Smiling knowingly at what Alfred was referring to, Miranda stepped inside the coach and lovingly gazed at Gilbert who was lying across the floor of the carriage. After taking a seat next to Felicity, Gilbert withdrew the blanket from his head and glared at Miranda.

  “Mrs. O’Flaherty, don’t ya be thinkin’ that yer goin’ to be getting’ away with walkin’ out of the room as ya did earlier, without me havin’ a chance to say anythin’.”

  “We’ll have plenty of time to be discussing whatever you like, Mr. O’Flaherty, all the while we’re traveling to our new life in San Francisco. But in the meantime darling, please do be patient until we’re safe.”

  With that, Montgomery pulled away from the curb of the Honeycutt’s mansion following James Sterling’s cab. With Gilbert safely tucked away inside, only minutes from freeing the man they had rescued months earlier, Miranda and Felicity clutched each other’s hand, scared to death.

  Lavinia, who had been watching her husband from the window of Vivian’s private suite, observed as their driver, once safely off the Honeycutt’s property and down the street a few doors, pulled over to the side of the road.

  Wondering why they had stopped, Miranda and Felicity gasped and waited in the coach bursting with anxiety. Gilbert, lying hunched over at their feet, moved about slightly. Miranda whispered, “Stay still darling, Mr. Sterling is approaching.”

  James then called to his driver, “Good man please assist me with Mrs. Myles, she’s poorly this evening, and I’ll care for her in my coach after all.”

  The coachman looked curiously at him but did as he’d been instructed. As James took Felicity’s elbow, he winked at Miranda, who looked as if she’d seen a ghost.

  “Mrs. O’Flaherty, it just occurred to me, there will be no way for your carriage to be returned with Montgomery accompanying you. Rather than go through the inconvenience of fetching it tomorrow and since Felicity is truly not herself, why not say your goodbyes now? I’ll take Felicity back to the orphanage myself and have my driver return Alfred’s coach after you’re safely aboard the train.”

  Miranda looked at Felicity hesitantly, fully aware that other carriages were arriving in front of the Honeycutt’s and she felt very apprehensive they could be discovered harboring Gilbert. “Are you alright with this?”

  “Of course, dear. It makes perfect sense.”

  Holding Miranda in her arms, Felicity said, “Please be happy. You both deserve to be.” Then smiling at Gilbert, she added. “Take good care of her. She’s very special.”

  Accepting James’ hand, feeling as she were ready to break down and cry, besides feeling the effects of the alcohol even more than before, Felicity stepped out of the carriage. She leaned slightly on James while he gave directions to his driver who had joined Montgomery on the buckboard.

  Waving to Miranda as Montgomery pulled away, Felicity, distraught, wept silently in James’ arms as he led her inside his carriage, before taking his place on the buckboard.

  Lavinia, still watching from the window, glared at her husband. You will rue the day you chose her over me, James. She sashayed away from the window in search of Rupert.

  As Montgomery proceeded down the cobblestone road leading to Union Station, Miranda’s heart, beating as quickly as the wings of a dove as it just learned to leave the nest for the first time, sighed. Once the carriage was well out of sight, she watched Gilbert slide from the floor of the carriage and retrieve a topcoat, hat, and riding gloves from the boxes that were placed on the seat across from Miranda.

  “Well Mr. O’Flaherty, don’t you look exceptionally handsome today. Every bit a fine dapper gentlemen.”

  “Mr. Hourigan, lass. And don’t yer dare be tryin’ to sweet talk me just now. Not after what ya just pulled off.”

  Detecting a hint of amusement in his eyes, she practiced her Irish accent. “Aye, so I’m to receive the silent treatment again, am I? Well I’ll be havin’ none of that laddie!”

  Shaking his head and smirking while taking a seat beside her, Gilbert chuckled. “That is the sorriest excuse of an Irish accent me ears have ever heard. Is it any wonder I’ve decided to make sure me son knows how to speak with a true Irish brogue?”

  Grateful this nightmare was finally coming to an end, and feeling Gilbert place his arm around her lovingly, Miranda leaned back in the seat and smiled. “Your son? And how are you so sure you’ll have a son, Gilbert? Perhaps our baby might be a girl, have you ever thought of that?”

  “A father knows. Why didn’t ya tell me, Miranda? Have ya already forgotten our promise never to have secrets?”

  “Darling, I swear as I held onto Elise today, and was congratulating her for being in the family way, I just knew I was having a baby, too. So I didn’t keep any secrets from you. I told you as soon as I felt it. Besides, I may be wrong …”

  “Aye, but even if yer not now, we’ve got a whole lot of time to make sure ya are before we get to San Francisco,” Gilbert said, huskily winking at her suggestively.

  “So then, you’re not angry with me for saying such cruel things to you earlier?”

  “Now don’t be pushin’ yer luck there Mandy, girl. Ya were a might harsh, but I’ll be forgivin’ you this once, on account what ya said made a wee bit of sense. So, let’s not be worrin’ that pretty head of yers anymore about what was said in the past. Have ya not forgotten we have our whole lives ahead of us?”

  Minutes later as the coach approached Grand Central Station, she, Gilbert, and Montgomery stepped on board the train, and after finding their assigned box-cars on the Erie, Gilbert looked at Miranda.

  “It’s over. We’re finally out from beneath the clutches of the past and no harm can come to us now.”

  “I know, I was just thinking the same,” she said softly. “No more, hiding or being frightened that someone will find you. By tomorrow your name will be cleared of the killing of David Sullivan, so if you choose, we can start using our name as soon as we reach San Francisco.”

  “It can wait, I’m as much a Hourigan as I am an O’Flaherty, I suppose. Just how long will this train take us to get all the way to San Francisco?”

  “Oh darling, I’m afraid we’re going to be on several different trains, didn’t I tell you? From what Alfred said, we’ll stay of this one until we reach the Mississippi and then we’ll have to make some changes. If memory serves me right, we’ll go on The Central Pacific then on The Union
Pacific. I can pull all the tickets if you like.”

  “No, tomorrow we can look at them. Let’s just enjoy our freedom tonight. To do as we please, not hidden from view.”

  “Yes darling, anything you like. Besides, San Francisco isn’t going anywhere, I don’t believe.”

  Gilbert smiled. “Aye, looks like we will definitely have a great deal of time on our hands. And there’s not much room in this sleepin’ car …” Smiling knowingly at her husband as he took her in his arms, feeling the train leave the station, Gilbert asked, “Any regrets?”

  “None. What possibly do I need other then what I have right here?”

  ~

  As the carriage pulled up in front of the orphanage, James stepped down off the buckboard to find Felicity resting in the back of the coach. After securing her inside her home and seeing she was still quite distraught over Miranda’s departure, he convinced Felicity what she needed most was rest. After convincing her another shot of brandy would help her sleep, Felicity, already intoxicated and feeling the effects of all the liquor she had consumed that afternoon, reluctantly agreed. Starting to feel uneasy that James was still there, he politely saw himself out while leaving the door open for easy access later. The unsuspecting Felicity, feeling dizzy, went directly into her and Benjamin’s bedchamber and began to disrobe while James stood outside the small home, watching her silhouette as she struggled with her clothing.

  After changing into her dressing gown, Felicity lay across her bed, feeling the effects of the liquor. She closed her eyes feeling the room begin to spin.

  Within minutes, James reentered the small dwelling, and locking the door behind him, made his way into the room where Felicity was lying on the bed, nearly passed out. Quickly he disrobed, all the while watching his prey. Naked and standing in the darkened chamber, with only the moonlight shining over the bed, James inched closer and traced her cheek and neck with his index finger.

  She stirred and moaned softly. “Oh, darling, you’re home so soon? I must have dozed off.”

  Unable to lift her head, she moaned again feeling his hands on her breasts through her gown and feeling his urgency grasping them with such force, unlike what she was accustomed too. Felicity slowly opened her eyes. Trying to focus on the reflection of the man standing over her and seeing the face of James Sterling rather than her Benjamin, she began to scream. However, James’ reflexes were quicker than Felicity’s in her current condition, and she felt his hand immediately cover her mouth and nose.

  Trying desperately to get away from him, struggling beneath the weight of his hand, with her fists, she struck him repeatedly while James forcibly pushed her head back onto the bed. Seemingly, he was not hurt by her attempt to fight him off. His left hand held her down, while his right hand grabbed at her gauze dressing gown. He knelt beside her, hovering over her petite frame. His nakedness gleamed in the moonlight and Felicity, seeing his erection screamed again.

  “No one can hear you, Felicity. Don’t fight me, I’m only repaying a dept to your beloved husband, the swine.”

  Not understanding, Felicity cried out, “No. James, please stop … No.” While still trying desperately to fight off her attacker, her blows became stronger as she scratched and tried to bite at his hand while he ripped her gown exposing her breasts.

  “God you are, perfect …” he growled, groping at her naked skin, trying to pull her garment up past her hips. Feeling his hands press up against her inner thighs, Felicity violently began thrashing her legs trying to escape from him. Fully aroused at seeing her delicate skin and the mound of hair below her taunt stomach, James forcibly pried her legs apart and mounted her with all his force.

  Feeling his enlarged manhood penetrate inside the moist crevice of her body, Felicity jerked, scratching relentlessly, pushing him from her screaming, while the rest of his naked body crushed down on her.

  Trapped and helpless against his weight, Felicity continued screaming and crying, to no avail. His grip over her mouth was drowning out her pleas and suffocating her at the same time, and her arms no longer were able to fight back.

  With every thrust of his enlarged erection, causing him to enter her deeper, Felicity heard him groan as his pleasure increased. Silently she prayed this vile act was a nightmare and that James wasn’t actually ravishing her like some wild beast.

  Numbly, knowing she could do nothing to prevent him from defiling her, Felicity struggled to breathe. James, rocking harder and quicker to satisfy his longing, caused the pressure of his hand over her face to intensify. Feeling no oxygen to her lungs, only his sharp thrusts as his body crushed against hers, Felicity glanced up at the ceiling as the room became darker.

  As fear crept inside her heart that she would suffocate by the hands of her attacker, James continued taking pleasure from her weakened and still body, until Felicity heard him cry out, being gratified. His grip around her face lessened as he lay motionless over her.

  “James stop … I can’t breathe …” she gasped.

  Spent and hearing her call out his name, James looked down at her, seeing her lying there, not screaming any longer, and whispered, “If I release my hand Felicity, will you promise not to scream?”

  Nodding through her tears, James hesitantly released his hand from her face and she gasped for air, choking and coughing.

  Lifting his shoulders far enough to gaze down at her, Felicity immediately turned her head, cringing, feeling him touch her breasts, his touch repulsive and vile to her. Hovering over her, Felicity trapped beneath his weight, James kissed her cheek and she jerked her head and spat into his face.

  “Get out! You’ve taken everything from me you wanted, now get off of me you barbarian!”

  Calmly wiping the spit from his face and seeing blood from where she had scratched his face, slowly James pulled himself from her and stood watching her from the edge of the bed. As Felicity tried to cover herself with her torn dressing gown, ashamed and helpless, she hovered in a ball on the center of her bed, sobbing softly. As he placed his shirt over his back he winced, feeling the pain of the gouges she had afflicted. Looking at her now, it struck him that she wasn’t the alley cat, who had dug her nails into his flesh causing him to hunger her more. Lying there now, he saw only a frightened kitten who needed comfort and tenderness after what he had done to her.

  Wanting desperately to give her the consolation she needed, but knowing she would never allow him to be near her, James dressed hastily. As he was ready to leave, he hesitated and knelt beside Felicity.

  “Whether you want to believe me or not, I do love you, Felicity. I am truly sorry that you had to suffer for the sins of your husband. But, a man must avenge his wife’s honor, even if he doesn’t love her. So it had to be like this, me taking you from him, just as Benjamin had taken Lavinia by force with no consent from me, back in England. You do see that, don’t you Felicity? Why should that swine be allowed to live in bliss, when he destroyed Lavinia’s and my relationship forever?”

  Pulling her throbbing head from the bed, Felicity screamed, “Get out!”

  Seeing him leave her room, his words haunted her, and Felicity fell back onto her bed, sobbing hysterically for her beloved Ben.

  ~ Twenty ~

  Restitution

  Following the first set, while the orchestra took a short break, Rupert excused himself politely from Elise, his partner from the last dance, and went in search of Annabelle and Lavinia.

  Angered that his wife’s sister had tried to sabotage their announcement into New York society by insisting she speak with him immediately, and insinuating that if he didn’t, the consequences were something he would have to live with, Rupert was outraged though he concealed it well from others. How dare she try to spoil Annabelle’s chance to shine, just as she ruined Felicity’s years earlier, he thought.

  Seeing Lavinia and Annabelle across the crowded dance floor chatting amongst other guests, Rupert walked over to them and calmly kissed Annabelle’s cheek softly, while glaring at Lavinia. “
Ah, my darling wife, having a good time?”

  “Wonderful. I do wish though Felicity hadn’t become ill. Having her here tonight would have made it perfect.”

  “Right. Well it seems your dear sister, tried to nurse her back to health earlier. Didn’t you Lavinia, dear? How terribly thoughtful of you.” Rupert’s words sounded pleasant, but his eyes reflected anything but.

  Realizing that Elise must have said something to him, she smiled politely at Rupert. “Yes. However, dear brother-in-law of mine, I did ask to speak with you earlier …”

  “Ah, so you did. Well, as we seem to have a few minutes now, perhaps you might care to take a stroll in the lovely gardens of our hosts.” Smiling reassuringly at Annabelle, who suddenly looked alarmed, Rupert said softly, “Dearest, I shan’t be long. Why not go and find our dear friend Elise, to keep you company?”

  Annabelle nodded seeing Joshua and Elise coming toward her and said, “Ah, Elise I was just on my way to find you …”

  As the Carmidy’s kept Annabelle occupied, Rupert lead Lavinia out to the gardens, nodding politely at guests as he took her further along the path for privacy. Finding the perfect place—far removed from anyone—he immediately demanded an explanation for her actions.

  “First you give alcohol to a woman already under the influence and then you try to disrupt Annabelle’s one chance to outshine you. By God, Lavinia, when will your insatiable jealousies ever end?”

  “It doesn’t surprise me that you would think so poorly of me, but this time you couldn’t be farther from the truth, Rupert. Whether you want to believe me or not, I came to you earlier, fearful what James would do to poor Felicity.”

  Hearing this had something to do with his cousin, Lavinia had gotten his full attention, and quickly she explained what she had witnessed, including why she had not gone to Benjamin, who had for the past several months been fooled into believing James was his friend. All the while she had heard from James herself how much he detested him while lusting after Felicity.

  “Why didn’t you say anything to me earlier, or for that matter tell Benjamin of James’ hatred?”