Echoes of the Moon

by Jennifer Taylor

  “No, Isadora,” Maggie said. “It’s not your fault.”

  “They finally got her in the wagon, and the Parson said, “Damn it! No one will buy this bitch. We’ll take her to where she belongs.”

  “Where were they taking her?”

  “I don’t know! Oh God. What have I done?”

  Ian grew still. “They must have taken her to Bedlam.”

  Bethan grew cold, her vision blurring. Her wrists burned with sharp, cold metal.

  “I must go.”

  She made haste back to the inn, with the echo of her sister’s anguish in her head.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Henry was standing over George’s reclining form when suddenly Bethan burst into the inn. He rushed over to her.

  “I must get her out. Now. I’ll find a horse and…”

  “Bethan. Where is she?” Henry grasped her arm.

  “They took her to Bedlam hospital.”

  “I can help.”

  She pulled her arm away. “You don’t understand. This is my fault. If I’d been tending to my sister like I should have, instead of enjoying the pleasures of your flesh…”

  “This is not your fault. I am your future husband. I’ll help you.”

  “You know it could never be.”

  He tamped down his anger. Arguing with her would not help her now.

  “Listen to me, Bethan. We must have a plan. You can’t just walk in there and get her out.”

  “I must go now.”

  He put his hands on her shoulders. “You must trust me. I can get her out. But I must leave now, and there is no time to explain. Wait here for me. Do you hear me? I have a way to get her out.”

  She had the look of her sister about her right now: confused, altered. “You don’t understand. I can feel her pain, her fear and despair.” Her shoulders heaved as she gasped for breath.

  “Please, my love.” He held her face in his hands. “Listen to me. Trust me. I will get her out.”

  She nodded.

  “But I must leave now. Do you understand, Bethan?”

  He kissed her. “Will you take care of George for me while I’m gone?” Mayhap it would keep her from doing anything foolish.

  She nodded again.

  He would ride to his solicitor’s in London now, use his influence. He would do whatever it took to get Elunid released from Bedlam, even use the influence of his family.

  ****

  “Bethan, don’t worry. Henry will get your sister out.” Lena stopped for a moment to reassure her.

  But how could she do nothing while her sister suffered? For she could feel the cold bite of the cuffs around her wrists, the rank, fetid smell of the place, the echoes of terror in the hoarse voices of souls who’d screamed until they could scream no more. No. She must go. You can trust no one else but yourself. Hasn’t it always been so?

  It didn’t take long before she was on the road. The moon had been so kind last night. It still shone bright, but tonight the glow cast shadows onto the path before her. She took the horse from the post outside the inn. Who it belonged to, she didn’t know or care. Every thought, every emotion had blown out of her like a leaf in cold winter winds. Saddle the horse, steal the clothes. She could look like a man: breeches, waistcoat, slouch hat.

  She urged the horse on and out the Landgate. The few people she encountered on the road backed away at the fierce look on her face, and as the trip wore on, road dirt and sweat disguised the details of her face. She rode into the night, Elunid’s moans of anguish rising above the relentless rhythm of the horse’s hooves on the dirt- packed road.

  In hours, minutes, or days, she knew not, the fresh pre-dawn air of the country gave way to the stench of London. She stopped in a thicket of trees to adjust her clothing, made sure her hair was tucked into her hat. Her limbs shook with fatigue.

  She’d followed her sister here, now what was she going to do? She had the herbs in her pocket, the ones Ian had given her for Elunid. She would use it on the keepers as well.

  As she stood out of view, she heard the sound of another horse.

  Reginald appeared, wind-blown and cursing.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Lena sent me to keep you safe.” He got off the horse. “She figured out what you were doing fast enough.”

  Why would Lena send shallow Reginald to help her?

  “Bethan, what are you doing? You must wait for Henry.” He handed her a flask. “Drink this. Bethan, what in hell were you thinking, coming here alone?” He scowled. “And you ride like the devil himself.”

  She drank deeply and shoved the flask back.

  “Even as we’re enjoying Lena’s good ale, Elunid is suffering.”

  “You’re very beautiful, but foolish, Bethan.”

  “Do you love anyone more than you love yourself, Reggie?”

  He winced. “Touché.”

  “I would give my life for my sister.”

  “You don’t need to if you wait for Henry.”

  “I can trust no one but myself. It has always been so.”

  “God, woman! I see there’s no convincing you.”

  “We must hurry. The sun will soon be up.”

  “Do you have a plan, or are we just going to waltz in there and use our good looks as a weapon?”

  “We’ll drug the keepers, then we’ll just…take her out.” She put her foot in the stirrup.

  “What? Bethan.” He grabbed hold of her.

  “Get out of my way!” She whipped around and slammed her fist into his jaw. “Help me or leave.”

  “Shit! Bethan, I must warn you, despite my charming demeanor, I’m not a brave man.”

  Chwaer, help me.

  “We must act. I know—you will pose as her fiancée. I will be her brother.”

  He rubbed his jaw. “You have an arm for the part. And a preternaturally low voice.”

  “Do you have money?”

  “Yes, Lena supplied me.”

  “I have some as well. Also some gin, which we’ll put the herbs in. We’ll bribe them to get in, and bribe them to get out. We’ll say she’s a wild one in bed, like no one else.”

  “Good God, Bethan! I’m shocked a woman of your gentle upbringing would think of such a thing.”

  So was she. “Let’s go. Now.”

  Before long, they reached the imposing structure of Bedlam hospital. A guard slumped against the wall, dressed in blue livery smeared with filth. Before she had time to be afraid, Bethan swaggered up to him. Reggie hummed his appreciation for her demeanor. She’d seen enough men swagger at the inn.

  The keeper scowled toothlessly, an upturned jug by his side. Bethan swallowed her revulsion at the gin fumes blowing from his mouth.

  “Need to see my sister,” Bethan said.

  “Your sister, eh?” He leered.

  She showed him the flask of gin and the money. “Yes, ass. She’s tall like me. Her fiancé here can’t do without her. She’s a hellcat in bed.”

  “She nearly killed us all. We could barely get near her.”

  Good. “I know how to calm her down.”

  Reginald bowed. “I will compensate you well. You see, I must have her. I’ll return her to you, and no one needs to know.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Here’s what we do: you let him see his fiancée, you get some of this.” She flashed the bag of coins. “And when he returns her, you get more.”

  He licked his lips. “Why her?”

  “She’s a hellion in bed, but she’s too crazy to keep.”

  “Good luck to you. No one’ll even touch her.”

  Bethan breathed a sigh of relief.

  “She’s possessed, stronger than an ox.”

  “Let’s get her. Now.”

  The keeper blinked his bloodshot eyes. “Follow me then, fool.” He stumbled down the fetid corridor, falling against the cages. The poor souls behind them cried in a cacophony of misery and entreaties. She tried to hold her breath against the stench of urine an
d feces.

  They followed him all the way to the end of the corridor. The keeper stopped at a cell, turned to fumble with the lock, and while his back was turned, she assessed the situation. She was taller by several inches and had the advantage of being sober and desperate. She knew how to fight. He was strong in the arms, muscular, but she was quicker.

  He glanced back at her. “Here’s your fiancée. Enjoy.” He chuckled, wheezed, and coughed. “Now where’s my gin?”

  She thrust the bottle at him. He snatched it, put it to his lips, and gulped, his throat exposed. She drove her fist into it with all her might, battered his balls with a well-aimed kick. He fell, and she struck him across the face with the jug, pouring the contents over him. No movement.

  “Jesus, Bethan.” Reggie snatched the keys from the man’s hands.

  Elunid lay on the floor in a threadbare shift. Her face was gray in the dim light, her lips pressed together, eyes wide and unfocused.

  Reggie fumbled with the locks on her manacles, while Bethan watched the corridor. No movement from the keeper. Reggie picked Elunid off the floor.

  Bethan embraced her stiff, cold body. “Elunid. You are safe.”

  Elunid grew limp. “Chwaer.”

  Thank God. They hurried down the corridor, Reggie struggling to hold the shivering form. And finally, they reached the entrance and out into the brightness of day. As they moved away from the building and toward their waiting horses at the inn, Elunid let out an ear-piercing, staccato scream.

  Two men in blue livery pissed on the wall of the inn. They turned their heads at the sound.

  “What in hell is… I know her. The tall one.”

  “Hey there. Why do you have her?”

  The other guard nudged his partner. “Come on, man. We’re not on duty yet. We got time for another drink.”

  “If we bring her back, we’ll get a reward.”

  The two men rounded on Bethan and Reginald, grabbed hold of Elunid, who screamed again.

  “Get away from her,” Bethan screamed.

  The keeper stumbled out of the doors of Bedlam. “There’s the one who escaped.”

  Bethan knew what she must do.

  “Reggie, go. Take her to Ian.”

  “What?”

  She approached the men, screaming in words only her sister would understand.

  “No, Bethan!”

  “What’s this?” The two men turned toward her.

  She fell upon them, aiming for their faces, scratching, arms flailing.

  Reggie seemed frozen, damn him! “Go, Reggie.”

  “That’s her,” the keeper screamed.

  As they carried her into Bedlam, Bethan watched Reginald and Elunid disappear.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  He’d done what he had to do to help Bethan’s sister. And he could do more now, more than he could have done as a night soil man, without family or connections. He left the solicitor’s office with the funds he needed to free Elunid, but it came with a price. Had his family changed? Would they receive George, love him as he deserved to be loved? He risked his boy’s happiness for her. He could only hope it wasn’t in vain.

  He rounded a narrow alleyway, nearly colliding with Reginald, who struggled to hold a body in his arms with one hand, the reins in the other.

  Reginald stopped.

  “You have Elunid?”

  “I’m sorry, Henry.”

  “What’s happened?”

  “Bethan…it happened so fast.”

  “Tell me, damn you!”

  “Lena sent me to keep Bethan safe while you did what you needed to do. We, well, she got Elunid out. But then something happened, and Bethan took Elunid’s place.”

  “She took her sister’s place in Bedlam?”

  “Yes.”

  “My God.” His vision blurred with anger. “Damn it, Reggie! How did you let this happen?”

  He fought for control. The damn, foolish, brave woman. She’d sacrificed her life for her sister. He should have known she’d do such a thing.

  “Wait here. I’ll hire a carriage so you can get her to Ian.”

  This was accomplished in short order and Henry helped Reginald put Elunid in the carriage.

  “I’m sorry I failed you, Henry. I wasn’t built for bravery.”

  “Just get Bethan’s sister home safely.”

  Reginald nodded. “I swear it.”

  He would need it. Pray God nothing had happened to Bethan yet.

  He arrived shortly at Bedlam’s gates. Henry was finely dressed, as befit someone of his station. He tried his best to keep the anger from his face.

  At the office by the entrance, the man in charge looked up from his desk. “Yes, sir.”

  Henry bowed. “My fiancée needs to be released immediately. I’m willing to compensate you for her safe and prompt release.” He showed the man the gold coins. His eyes grew wide, then resumed their normal size in the blink of an eye.

  “I see no impediment to your desire, sir…”

  “Lord Henry James Stephens, Viscount of Barton. At your service.”

  “What is the lady’s name?”

  “Bethan Owen.”

  “Oh, dear.” He eyed Henry warily.

  “What is it? What have you done to her?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t let you take her, no matter how beneficial it may be for myself, a man with so many children to feed.”

  “Why not?” He advanced upon the man.

  “You see, I cannot. She aided another prisoner in escaping and assaulted three men, one she almost killed.”

  “You will let her out.” He grabbed the man by the throat.

  The man backed up. “Guard!”

  Through the haze of anger, he heard feet stomping, and a burly, foul-smelling giant of a man loomed over him.

  “As much as I’d like to let her go, I cannot. I’d lose my job.”

  “I’d pay you enough to live your life out well, and the lout here, too.”

  “No. My father and my grandfather both worked here. It’s a matter of pride. Now I will ask you to leave, and you will leave peacefully.”

  Henry fought the urge to pound his fists into both of them. The stench of misery on the giant’s clothing nearly choked him.

  “I see.”

  He would find another way in. Pray God he could save her in time.

  ****

  They had shaved her head as soon as they’d thrown her in her sister’s cell. The blade rasped against her skull, her dark hair falling on her lap, and the men picked it up, held it to their noses.

  “She’s fine, isn’t she? So soft, these locks.” They rubbed them on their face, their arms, their bulging genitals. “What’s she got below?”

  The nicks on her scalp burned, and tiny rivulets of blood ran down her head. She couldn’t wipe it away, for her wrists were manacled. She covered her ears against the endless din, like surf in a storm. But it wasn’t surf, it was suffering: fear, sweat, shit, chaos. Shouts, singing, begging, howls, and entreaties washing over her like the tide. She couldn’t make out the words, but she heard them all. How long would it be before she would cry out so?

  She tried to sing to drown it out, but every song she knew disappeared, and the stench of vomit and feces filled her nostrils. Her stomach twisted. She shivered. No wonder Elunid had done so. It was dank and cold as the bottom of the sea.

  But Elunid was free. And hadn’t she said many times she would change places with her sister? Henry said he’d get Elunid free, but so too had others made promises they couldn’t keep. For he had never arrived, had he? Since when had there been anyone to depend on besides herself?

  She’d fought them off, so far. Mostly. She could rub the one spot within reach where they’d pinched her. The one she’d hit over the head threatened he’d return after his duties, as he rubbed her shorn hair over his bulging cock.

  She eyed the bowl of slop they’d brought her. She should eat, for how could she fight if she didn’t eat, and she would fight her ha
rdest. She held the bowl to her mouth, gagged at the rotten stench, closed her eyes against the bits of moving objects in the weak broth. She must eat.

  Eventually, she finished the contents of the bowl and kept it down; she had succeeded in that. At least she was alone in her cell; who knew for how long? At least she had the memory of Henry’s touch upon her skin, his deep voice making her feel safe and beloved. And a memory was all it would ever be.

  One thing reigned above all else. Elunid was safe.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  He slipped into the inn next to the hospital. He had to think. He would get her out of Bedlam, and soon, but brute force wasn’t going to work. They were on high alert. He scanned the dismal environs of the inn: low ceilings, worn chairs, worn people. Anything of any value had been stripped from the place long ago.

  A brawny, whiskered man stood over him, “What will you be wanting, Toff?”

  Nothing but suffering seeped from these walls. The occupants were either workers, or family members seeking courage before visiting their kin in hell. Then there were those who hungered for the base and depraved, leaving a filthy scum upon his skin.

  A pair of them huddled in the corner, snickering at what the crazed fools would do for a sip of gin, a bite of bread. Didn’t matter did they stink or not, the lunatics would do anything.

  He shut his mind to it. Reggie had told him where she would likely be. Was there a back way in? Who enters the place, and no one takes notice of them doing so?

  All of a sudden, it was so obvious he wanted to slap himself for not thinking of it. Who did people like to pretend didn’t exist?

  He’d smelled the stench of cesspits needing to be emptied. Time for the local night soil man to appear.

  He left the inn to find the night man who serviced the place. It didn’t take long to ask around, not with a handful of gold coins. When he found him, the man was more than willing to comply, and no wonder. He wouldn’t make that much in a year.

  After donning borrowed work clothes, Henry drove the wagon to the spot the night soil man had indicated and set about emptying out the cesspits there. He encountered a worker who’d just stepped outside the door of the hospital and approached him.