by Linda Daly
“You heard for yourself, James is insane I tell you. First he threatened to lock me up in a sanitarium. He has accosted me, threatened to beat me. Why even now, I’m fearful if he finds out that I’ve confided in you, I’ll have to endure his wrath. But I’ll gladly risk such unpleasantness to protect your cousin, despite my past differences with her.”
Never had Lavinia given such a convincing performance, and at once, Rupert understanding the gravity of the situation, grasped Lavinia’s elbow. “Come let’s find Benjamin at once.”
Within minutes of speaking to Benjamin, discovering the nature of James’ secret involvement, and the need for Felicity to appear sick and leave with James while helping her friend Miranda, Rupert—not taking the time to understand what precisely had transpired leading to such an elaborate hoax and fearing the worst—demanded they leave at once to check in on Felicity.
Excusing himself, explaining he had to be certain that his cousin was not gravely ill to his hostess, the Robbins’, Benjamin and Lavinia left the Honeycutt’s party and headed directly to the orphanage.
As they entered the church grounds and seeing no lamps glowing from inside the small home, Benjamin immediately jumped from inside the coach as if sensing something was wrong, knowing Felicity always left a light on for him.
“Benjamin, wait. Let Annabelle go to her,” Rupert said. “Lavinia, you wait here. Benjamin, let’s have a chat inside your office so I fully understand what has transpired causing my cousin to be put in such a compromising situation.”
As Annabelle entered the small dwelling, the sounds of muffled crying came from behind the closed door she knew to be the bedchamber, fear gripped at her heart. Seeing Benjamin and Rupert go to the office, Annabelle lit a kerosene lamp and crept inside the room. Her heart stopped beating seeing Felicity crouched in the fetal position on her bed.
Hearing the door creak, Felicity jumped thinking James had returned to accost her again. Seeing Annabelle, she cowered from her, too ashamed to be seen.
Immediately placing the lamp on the table, Annabelle took the frightened and hysterical Felicity in her arms. At once it was clear to Annabelle by Felicity’s torn gown and her bruised face that she had been raped. She tenderly consoled the trembling woman while taking the quilt off her bed and wrapping it around lovingly.
“Dear Felicity, we need to get you out of these clothes and clean you up before Benjamin becomes alarmed and comes in.”
“He’s here?” she asked dazed and confused.
“Yes, dearest. Rupert has him in his office trying to find out why James was allowed to be alone with you.”
“Oh Annabelle please … Don’t let Benjamin know what has happened. Please! I beg of you. I’m soiled. He’ll never love me again …”
“I promise Felicity, but you are not soiled. You’ve been attacked by a monster who should be killed for what he has done to you.”
Again, Felicity wept uncontrollably—shaking—relieving the pain and humiliation she had suffered. “It’s my fault. I was helping Miranda … .”
“This is not your fault! That depraved bastard forced himself on you. So I will not hear another word that you had any blame in this. Now come and let me help you change.”
Numbly, Felicity tried to rise from the bed, but her legs were weak and her head throbbed. Recalling his words, saying he had only done what Benjamin had done to Lavinia, Felicity felt suddenly nauseated and ran to her dry sink and vomited. The smell of soured brandy filled the room and Annabelle went to her side to tenderly comfort her. Her heart ached for her friend, unable to fathom that her brother-in-law could have done such a vile thing.
Sobbing again, Felicity unable to stand, was led to the side of her bed. Annabelle tenderly washed her and helped her into a fresh gown. After securing her safely in her bed, she told Felicity she would be right back to make sure Benjamin would not disturb her.
Leaving the bedroom, she immediately called for Rupert. Hastily explaining what had happened, and the condition Felicity was in, Rupert eyes widened. “I’ll kill the bastard!”
“No, dearest. Felicity never wants Benjamin to know the shame she has been put through, and if you truly love Felicity then you will respect her wishes and keep her secret.”
“And let James get away with what he’s done? No!”
“Shh, Rupert. Please darling, Benjamin will hear you. Now I did not mean that James should not suffer for the pain and humiliation he has brought down on Felicity. But there are other ways a man can suffer for such vile things he has done. It is up to you my dearest to see that he pays, and pays dearly for what he has done to our Felicity.”
Seeing the tears in Annabelle’s eyes, Rupert took her in his arms. “Can I see her? Is she badly hurt?”
“Felicity doesn’t want to see anyone, not even Benjamin. How can we keep him from her for a few days? Benjamin needs to tend to the children …”
“The hell he does. We shall set sail on the next ship and if need be, I’ll hire a staff to take care of this orphanage until the Bishop finds his replacement.”
Nodding in agreement, it was decided amongst them that it would be best if Annabelle stayed with Felicity for the evening, promising to stall Benjamin from seeing her for the time being. After kissing his wife goodbye, Rupert immediately went back to the office.
“Benjamin old friend, it would appear our Felicity is quite ill. Since Annabelle has already been exposed to her, and since you have to think of the children, I’m afraid seeing Felicity this evening is out of the question.”
Seeing Benjamin try to object, Rupert calmly placed his hand on his shoulder. “Old boy, let her have tonight with Annabelle. She’s having a bad time of it, not accustomed to so much to drink, and she has made quite a mess of herself. Let her hold onto her dignity. Surely one night apart won’t matter to you, but it will mean everything to her.”
Benjamin consented, certain that Rupert was holding something back from him regarding Felicity’s condition, and was only following her wishes not to see her right now. Hearing that Annabelle would remain with Felicity, and knowing she would be well cared for, Benjamin finally agreed to Rupert’s request.
“Need I remind you that my sister-in-law is waiting for us in the carriage?”
“Right.” Benjamin said frowning, consumed with worry for Felicity’s welfare, knowing it had to be gravely serious if his beloved Felicity wouldn’t want him with her. Numbly, Benjamin glanced to the closed door where Felicity was hiding from him.
“Come along with me, old boy,” Rupert softly said. Obligingly, Benjamin did as Rupert and Felicity wanted and left his home while he and Felicity suffered deeply.
On the ride from the orphanage to the Sterling’s, Benjamin said not a word. The events of the past few months processed through his troubled mind. Recalling the first time James had approached him speaking of how he had preformed sexual acts with Lavinia while thinking of another, he wondered if that woman he had lusted after was his Felicity. And remembering on countless times since that day, how he had seen James look at Felicity with such admiration, he felt sickened. What kind of man couldn’t even protect his own wife?
Closing his eyes, he earnestly prayed that what he feared had never happened. Dear Lord, please, I beg of you let my thoughts be wrong. Have I been so naive and so preoccupied with my own selfish needs that I’ve allowed another man to harm my wife?
Before he had a chance to question Rupert further, their carriage arrived in front of the Sterling’s residence. Rupert, glancing at Benjamin said sternly, “Stay here Benjamin. I will only be a few moments.”
Assisting his sister-in-law from the coach, Rupert refrained Lavinia from going inside by using her key, and knocked at the door instead.
“Rupert, the servant’s are asleep.”
“I know. I wish for James to answer.” Puzzled, Lavinia said nothing, waiting suddenly fearful of Rupert’s reaction.
As soon as James answered the door, Rupert viewing the scratches on his face and ne
ck, calmly gripped his left hand on James’ shoulder as if extending a warm greeting while raising his knee forcibly into the unsuspecting James’ groin. Taken completely off guard, both Lavinia and James gasped. Bending over in excruciating pain, James began coughing as Rupert clenched his right hand into a fist planting a firm blow against his jaw. At once James was knocked to the ground, and Rupert calmly said, “Close the door, Lavinia!”
Frozen to the spot where she stood, her mouth opened, she stared down at her husband who lay beneath Rupert’s boot pressed firmly against his larynx. Lavinia started to argue with him, seeing James struggling for air, twisting on the floor at their feet.
“I said, shut the door!” Rupert demanded.
From the carriage outside, Benjamin witnessing what had just transpired, suddenly knew that his fears had been right. James had taken Felicity as his, and judging by the scratches on his face, he knew Felicity had fought off his advances. Unable to bear the thought of her body being gratified by the man he had thought was his friend, and imagining what pain she must have endured, Benjamin became violently ill.
Rushing out of the carriage, vomiting onto the street as he wept, he knew he had not protected the only thing that mattered to him, and that was his wife. Loathing himself for allowing such a thing to have happened, and grieving his wife’s pain, Benjamin sunk to his knees. “Why God, why? She did nothing wrong but love me.”
At the exact moment inside in the Sterling’s home, Rupert glared at Lavinia and calmly asked, “I shall only ask you this once, Lavinia. Do you want to return to England with us, or do you wish to remain here and married to this heathen?”
“England of course, but how will I survive. I have nothing…”
Pressing his boot harder on James’ larynx, seeing the veins protrude from his neck and throat, and hearing him gasp for air, Rupert said, “James will be more than happy to provide for his wife. Isn’t that right, James?” Shaking his head, unable to speak, James clutched at Rupert’s boot.
“Go to the carriage Lavinia, and we’ll return tomorrow for your things.”
Meekly, she said, “You’re not going to kill him, are you Rupert?”
“Go to the carriage Lavinia.”
Fumbling for the door knob, she hastily ran outside, and seeing Benjamin kneeling in prayer, she ran up to him. “You pathetic bastard, all you can do is pray as Rupert is killing James? Well, God have mercy on your soul, Benjamin Myles!”
Hearing her comment, Benjamin snapped out of his grief and ran to the front door to hear Rupert say, “As God is my witness, if you ever step one foot near any of my family again, I’ll kill you, you uncivilized savage!”
Releasing his foot from James neck, he turned and walked from the landing just as Benjamin approached. Seeing James crouched over, gasping for air, Benjamin struggled to get inside to finish off what Rupert had begun, but was pulled back by Rupert. “Remember your vocation!”
“No damn it, get away from me Rupert.” Ripping his collar from his neck, Benjamin shouted, “God has forsaken me and is punishing me for my past sins through Felicity. He deserves to die, and by God, I’m going to kill him, for what he’s done!”
“Think of Felicity. She’ll need you to be near her, to love and comfort her, and how can that happen if you’re locked away in prison, or hanging by a noose. No Benjamin. It takes a stronger man to help your wife than to satisfy the need in you to avenge her. If you truly love Felicity, then walk away for her sake.”
Shaking—never feeling such hate in his heart—desperately wanting to end James’ life, Benjamin glanced up at Rupert and said, “Fine. Not for God, or you, only for Felicity.”
~ Twenty-one ~
After the Pain
Following the party, discovering from Rupert what had happened following Miranda’s daring escape to free Gilbert—although Rupert had not explained precisely why it was necessary for Lavinia and Benjamin to seek lodging at his home—Alfred could only imagine. Calling a family meeting in his study, seeing the concerned look on everyone’s face, he said nothing to relieve their minds. Waiting in silence as the last servant shut the door, trying desperately to know where to begin, Alfred cleared his throat. “Tonight, many things have transpired that will undoubtedly change our lives and those we love forever. Until I have completely said all there is to say, please I must not merely insist but demand, that everyone hold their comments until I have finished.”
Without waiting for a response from his family, Alfred began. “This evening, with the assistance of myself along with others I care not to mention, Miranda has successfully left New York, with her husband—a fine man by the name of Gilbert O’Flaherty.”
At once everyone gasped and Tad stood up protesting that Gilbert was nothing but a murderer. Alfred shouted, “Sit down, Thaddeus. And I do mean now!”
At Michael’s insistence, Tad did take his seat, jaw clenched and face red, while glaring at his grandfather who returned his look.
“Mr. O’Flaherty, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, is a fine and decent man who was framed for a murder he did not commit and was deliberately run down by the actual murderer. This, thank heavens, was witnessed by Miranda, and through her persistence and foresight, not only managed to save his life, but prove his innocence as well—discovering the truth of who actually ended the life of Mr. O’Flaherty’s friend.”
Alfred paused and looked at Tad before turning his attention to Elise who was crying softly in Joshua’s arms. “My dearest Elise, Miranda has a letter for you that I shall give to you following this meeting. But let me say this on her behalf—not sharing with you, in particular—her greatest joy and happiness has caused her great pain. Precisely why she was ill, the stress was far to great on her. However, if she hadn’t done what she did, an innocent man more than likely would have been murdered since the individuals who committed such heinous acts were still actively trying to kill Mr. O’Flaherty. So as you can see, she had little choice but to protect the man she loved and to begin a new life elsewhere. And I must say, the courage and determination that Miranda has shown has made me very proud of her. And Mr. O’Flaherty who could have, at any given moment, turned in those who tried to silence him, chose not to for reasons I will not discuss at this time. So you see why I am very fond of the man Miranda has chosen to share a life with.”
“Is that it, Grandfather?” Tad asked still glaring at him.
“No, actually that is not it. The latter part of this week, the Robbins’ will be returning to England along with Mr. and Mrs. Myles, and Mrs. Sterling. Again, I look at you Elise, because I’m certain Felicity and Annabelle will want to say their goodbyes to you, in particular. It would appear my dearest granddaughter, that your charms have spread across the Atlantic, and you will be missed terribly.”
Smiling warmly at her, he asked, “Dearest, I’m sure you will want to read your letter in private. So why don’t you and Joshua go to your home, but before visiting the Robbins’ or the Myles’, please come and see me tomorrow so I can tell you of Miranda’s wedding. By the way, she asked me to tell you, she never broke her promise to you—there was no maid of honor. Only myself and Gilbert’s sister were in attendance, and strictly as witnesses.” With that, Elise stood and ran to Alfred who kissed her tenderly then handed her the letter.
Following Elise and Joshua’s departure, Alfred insisted everyone else remain. He immediately informed Tad it was not he who had killed David O’Sullivan as he had thought, but was in fact, Daniel Hobbs. Michael stunned, held Sarah’s hand listening intently as his father continued. While Alfred shook his head glancing at both Tad and his wife, he had discovered that Vivian had been paying Daniel money to silence a blackmailer, who at the time they had believed was Gilbert.
Reassuring them that was impossible since Gilbert had been living under their roof since Tad and Daniel had run him down, Alfred pointed out that the money was probably paid directly to the murderer. The murderer, who by now, he was certain was on his way to a poor-farm
where he would work for his room and board since his father had disowned him for what he had done.
Directing his attention to his grandson, Alfred eyes warmed. “Tad, you have chosen unwisely and it cost you more than the blood money your grandmother paid for you. You lost the love of a fine woman. Until Miranda saw you help Daniel run Gilbert down, you had her heart. All she needed or wanted in return was a man with integrity who would not lie to her or break the trust she had placed in you. And Tad, as much as it pains me, rather than trust in her and her love that she genuinely had for you, you sought to kill another man whom you feared was a threat, never realizing the only thing that threatened your relationship with Miranda was you. Tad, I pleaded with you that night you came home after you had thought you took a man’s life that you could either choose to be swallowed up by selfhatred and become bitter, or you could learn from your mistake. I pray Tad at last, that you will learn to be the man both your father and I know you can be.”
Excusing himself, not saying a word, Tad went to his old room and immediately went through the secret passage that connected to Miranda’s room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, her scent still lingering in the room, Tad wept for the love he had let slip through his fingers.
~
Felicity, still quite upset, lay next to Annabelle as she spoke of the events that had led to her attack and why she had felt so safe with James. No longer crying or shaking, Felicity at last felt safe near her dear friend.
“So do you think all those months he had planned this?” Annabelle asked, assured by Felicity that it helped by talking freely.
“I honestly don’t know. It makes no sense. For weeks at a time, Benjamin has been gone and at anytime during the past few years if he had wanted to attack me, he would have had the opportunity now that I think about it.”
Frowning, Annabelle said, “Oh Felicity, you know how much I care for Benjamin, but surely he had to have known it wasn’t safe for you alone here?”
“Alone?” Felicity smiled. “Dear Annabelle, I’m hardly alone. Why we have over a hundred children that we tend to.”
