Shadows Fall Away (33 page)

She pulled her hand away. “What would you have me do? I’m expected to make a good match. Would you propose I marry someone like you? You may be charming and fun but what does someone like you have to offer?”

“Friendship? The freedom to do what you want and be whoever you want to be?”

Her blue eyes went wide and tears formed. She blinked them back. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my guests.”

Genie

I slipped out the rear door in Father’s surgery and stood out by the side gate, trying to compose myself before I did something foolish like dissolve into a flood of tears. It was bloody cold out. My bare shoulders and arms were a mass of gooseflesh but I didn’t care. I couldn’t think in there. Couldn’t breathe in there. It was suffocating, crowded, and enough to make one lose one’s mind.

I couldn’t do this! I couldn’t be the perfect proper woman everyone wanted me to be! I looked down the darkened street. I needed to go. I had to get away before it was too late, before I was caged like an animal forever. But where? How? I hadn’t a shilling to my name. The little I had saved was placed in an account “to build a nest egg for my and Jack’s married life.” In short, it was now Jack’s to do with as he saw fit. Oh God. I was his to do with as he saw fit. What if he was like Phoebe’s husband? What if he infected me with something dreadful?

“Eugenia, darling, whatever are you doing out here?”

Oh God. There was no escape now.

I didn’t turn to look at Jack. I knew I’d throw up if I did. Instead I took a long slow breath and calmed myself as best I could. “It was too warm inside. I wanted to get some fresh air.” I cringed when he placed his hands upon my shoulders.

“Well, you aren’t warm now, you’re freezing.” He removed his hands. “Take my jacket and let’s get you inside.”

I clutched the jacket to me. “I don’t want to go back in. I’m not in the mood for a party.”

“Why don’t you rest a few minutes? It will do you a world of good. It’s been a hectic few weeks for all of us.”

He placed his hands upon my shoulders once more and turned me toward him. “Come, Eugenia.”

I refused to move. “Are you my friend, Jack?”

“I’m soon to be your husband, silly goose. That’s far more important than being a friend.”

“Is it?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Come inside before you catch a chill,” he said matter-of-factly then took hold of my hand and led me back into the house. We exited the surgery and crossed over to the servants’ stairs at the end of the hall. I had the feeling of being watched and looked over my shoulder to see Mark Stewart.

What does someone like you have to offer?

The freedom to do what you want and be whoever you want to be.

The gas lamp in my room was set to low. Jack turned it up and removed his jacket from me.

“We are friends though, aren’t we, Jack? Friendship is important even in a marriage, don’t you think?”

He frowned and touched my forehead. “You’re talking nonsense. Let me go down and get something from the surgery to help you rest.”

“I am not talking nonsense. I’m simply asking a simple question. Don’t you think friendship is an important part of marriage?”

He smiled and stepped closer, reached out to caress my cheek with the back of his hand. “I can offer you so much more than a friend, Eugenia. Perhaps that’s what you need. You’re a passionate woman about so many things. You need to set that passion free. I can help you do that…”

His voice trailed off and he leaned in for a kiss, our first real kiss. He tasted of brandy and cigars and it made me want to gag. I pulled back, gasped for air, and Jack laughed.

“Such a dear frightened lamb. You need not be afraid. I know exactly what to do.” He kissed my neck, my shoulder, tugged at the top of my bodice, and kissed the swell of my bosom. He reached round the back of my bodice and undid the first few hooks. I pulled away. “We mustn’t. Not now. Not here.”

“No one will even notice we’re gone.” He pulled me close, wrapped his arms around my waist so I couldn’t pull away again. He kissed me hard, pressed against me, and maneuvered me back to the high bedpost until the twisted wood dug into my back.

He nuzzled my neck, licked my ear, and made an icy chill slide down my spine. He cupped me through my bodice, squeezed until I winced. “I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you. I know you feel the same. We don’t need to play these games any longer.”

I whimpered in pain when he shoved his hand into my top and griped my flesh. “Jack, no. Not yet.”

“Yes.
Now
.”

I closed my eyes trying in vain not to cry. I thought I imagined the sound of the voice that echoed around me.

“Keep your dick to yourself and back off, asshole.”

Jack let go. I opened my eyes. Mark Stewart stood, like an angry sentinel practically filling doorway.

Fists clenched at his sides he stepped inside, got between Jack and me. “Get out and leave her alone.”

“You have no right!”

“You’ve got no right to be in here either so get the fuck out and leave Genie alone.”

“She is my fiancée.”

“Big fucking deal. You think that gives you the right to rape her?”

“Why, you—”

He advanced, but Mark shot forward and leveled a punch that knocked Jack flat. His stance said he was prepared to do even more. “You’ll touch her over my dead body.”

Jack pulled himself up, grabbed his jacket from the floor, and tugged it on. “If you think I’m leaving you in here—”

“Oh, I’ll make sure you go all the way downstairs, Jackass. How about we look up Dr. Trambley and tell him what you just tried to pull under his roof?”

Jack seethed, his eyes gleamed like those of a dragon his face turned a shade close to purple. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Watch me.”

Jack didn’t move and Mark shifted so his weight was on his uninjured leg. He gestured with both and flexed his fingers before making fists and taking another fighting stance. “Ready for round two? Ten to one says it’s a total knockout.”

With a muffled growl Jack turned and strode across the room. Mark followed, limping badly. He stopped in the doorway and turned. “You’re all right?”

I nodded as I rushed forward. “You’ve hurt your leg again.”

“I’ll live.” He put his hand on the side of the door and pulled it shut. “You lock this, okay?”

I nodded and placed my hand on his. He smiled and winked.

***

Mark

I wanted to shove Scumbag Jack down the steps but there were too many witnesses. So I did the next best thing and interrupted old man Trambley’s conversation with some hospital big shot. “I need a minute, sir. It’s important. It’s about that loser who wants to marry your daughter.”

“
What
?”

Jacko popped up. “It’s nothing, Cornelius. I’ll handle this.”

He clamped a hand on my shoulder but I spun away, my ankle protesting the entire way. “You’ve been handling all sorts of things haven’t you, Jacky? Let’s tell him exactly whose tit you were manhandling—”

“Enough!” Trambley said.

The hospital big shot gave Jack a long look and other hospital guys in earshot did the same. Even Mrs. Trambley gave him the evil eye.

“My office. Now.”

I stood as straight and tall as my gimpy ankle would allow me and I followed the good (and pissed) doctor while Jack Palmer trailed behind like the whipped dog he was.

Trambley glared at us both. “What is this about?”

“Jack here tried to rape Genie. In her own room, no less.”

“
What
?”

“You heard me.” I smirked at Palmer. “Go head and deny it. I caught you red-handed. Literally. Your hand down the front of Genie’s dress. And she didn’t look very happy about it. In fact, she was ready to cry.”

“This is absurd! He had no right to even be above stairs!”

“And you had a right to be in Genie’s room?”

I saw Trambley lean to my side. I took a seat and propped my leg on a little stool that was nearby.

Jack was breathing hard. He clenched and unclenched his fists. I could almost hear the squeal of the little wheels in his head as he tried to think of a way out of this.

Dr. Trambley leaned back against his desk and folded his arms across his chest. “Well, Palmer?”

“Eugenia was feeling overwhelmed. She was on the verge of vapors and I merely escorted her up to her room to lie down a while. Then this boor crashed in—”

“Vapors, yeah,” I said. “But that doesn’t explain why her dress top was a mess and why your hand was down inside it.”

Palmer breathed a sad little sigh and looked to the floor. “Cornelius. This is painting Eugenia in a most unfavorable light.”

I jumped up and the bad ankle gave out on me. I hit the floor hard, whacked my head on the heavy chair leg. Once the stars stopped flashing when the pain exploded I dragged myself back up. “Don’t knock yourselves out coming to help me or anything,” I grumbled.

“Sit down,” Trambley said like I did it just to piss him off. He felt around my ankle. It was swollen inside the high boot. “Come by the hospital tomorrow and we’ll splint it for you.”

“Thanks, but no. I’ll deal.” I hauled myself back up and pointed at Palmer. “And you need to deal with him. You can’t let him marry Genie. He’s not good for her; he’s—” I stopped myself short of saying Jack the Ripper. Because really what actual proof did I have?

Palmer stalked over. “I’m what, Mr. Stewart?”

“You know exactly what you are. You’d better not hurt Genie ever or you’ll be sorry.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a promise.”

Dr. Trambley cleared his throat. “I think you’d best be on your way, Mr. Stewart.”

“But he tried to rape her. I know he would have.”

“Eugenia is my daughter. It’s my duty to look after her. Not yours. Good evening.”

“Fine. Just give me a second. This is hurting pretty bad.”

“Jack, get Mr. Stewart a brandy.”

Palmer gave me a smile that said he planned to put some rat poison in it.

“Never mind. I’m fine. I’m out of here.”

In the hall I stopped one of the hired maids and asked her to see if Mrs. O’Connell was still downstairs. She was so I hobbled myself down. She and Sarah fussed over me for a minute and I let the ankle be the reason we had to go. “I’m sorry to spoil the party. You can stay. I’ll pay for your ride home.”

“It’s all right, lad. I had two handsome young men dance with me, had the finest champagne money can buy, and got to dress like a proper lady. I’ve had my good time and then some.”

Sarah made one of the hired staff run out and get us a hackney and we left by the back door. Genie’s room was at the back of the house and I looked up. I thought I saw a shadow pass by her window and I waved.

I hoped she’d be all right until I could give Palmer what he had coming.

Genie

I thought it had all been a horrible dream. I wanted it to be only a dream but when I woke and saw the faint bruising on my bosom I knew it was all too real. If Mark hadn’t come in when he did—

I ordered myself to stop right there. He had come in and nothing else happened. I composed myself enough to return to the party and Jack remained aloof until it ended and he left without another word. It was a moment of weakness on his part, it had to be. We’d all been a bit frazzled by the party preparations and talking about the wedding. He’d had too much to drink. He wasn’t a man who would force a lady, he simply couldn’t be. He was a gentleman, a doctor, a respected member of the community. He could no more be a molester of women than he could be the Whitechapel Murderer. It was wrong of me to think ill of him.

Jack Palmer was a fine, upstanding young man. Any girl would be thrilled to receive his marriage proposal.

But why wasn’t I?

He’s not good enough for you.

What does someone like you have to offer?

Friendship? The freedom to do what you want and be whoever you want to be?

I flung myself onto my bed, buried my face in my pillow, and cried.

But tears were not the answer to my troubles.

I got hold of my composure and plotted a course of action. My life was my life. I would live it as I wished. I didn’t want to be homeless and working endless days for pennies a day but I had done it. I could do it if I had to. Perhaps medicine was a dream I had to give up. I could be a governess. I had more than enough qualifications for that. I could leave London. Surely some small village doctor was in need of a nurse skilled in dealing with women and children.

Perhaps I might even travel to America. A person could be anything they chose there, according to Mark.

Steeling my resolve, I dressed and went down to breakfast. The furniture was still being set back into place. Poor Sarah was beside herself making certain the workmen got it right.

“Oh Miss, I’ll bring a tray right up to ya. I thought you’d ring for me first.”

“No, it’s all right. I’ll get something while I’m out. I shouldn’t be gone long. I’m going to the study and write a note for my sister. You make certain she reads it as soon as she’s awake and if Mother wakes first I need you to watch over her.”

“I promise, Miss.”

***

I stopped by the tea shop for breakfast. The warmth of Mrs. O’Connell’s smile and the comforting smells that spilled from the kitchen went a long way in calming my nerves and helped to strengthen my resolve about pleading my case to Father.

Mrs. O’Connell went on about what a lovely party it was and what a grand time she’d had.

“I’d be honored if you’d let me bake the wedding cake. It will be my finest cake ever. A raspberry filling and sugared roses…”

“We have time enough to decide on those details. How is Mr. Stewart? He seemed to be favoring his leg when he left.”

She nodded, her brow knotting with worry. “That boy. The energy of youth will be his undoing. He was in quite a lot of pain but the doctor gave him something to take for it. I’ll see he gets the rest he needs. He’ll be fit as a fiddle in no time.”

“I’m sure your nursing skill rivals my own.” I finished my breakfast and left payment on the table. “I’ll pop by on my way home if I can.”