Victoria Beckett had returned to her hotel room after the contretemps with Patsy the whore.
Sitting on her bed, her fury knew no bounds. Her fate was sealed regarding Lord Richard Wyndham – he had threatened her with the magistrate!
Muttering to herself, Victoria’s temper quickened with each passing thought.
‘Damn that woman! Every time I get close to seeing you ruined, someone comes to your aid. Well, I think it’s time for you to start worrying, Ann Felton, because I’m coming for you!’ A feral grin stretched her mouth and Victoria began to cackle. Low and guttural at first it rose to a maniacal screeching. Then suddenly there was silence.
Barely eating and not sleeping at all, the stress of being thrown out by her parents as well as having to find a job had taken its toll on Victoria. She had, by a strange coincidence, come upon Ann Felton in the street and had endeavoured to run her down with her horse and trap. She had tried desperately to prevent the girl’s gowns selling from the drapers, and when she was found out, she was sacked. Then Felton had stolen the man she intended to marry; this was something Victoria would never forgive.
Again a cackle sounded, then she sat stock still on her bed, staring out of the window at the chimney pots on the building opposite.
Victoria Beckett had gone quite mad.
And so it was that particular evening when the girls were standing the corner with the constable, Victoria made her way to Queen Street and watched Richard and the girls leave the house. Ann was not with them; did that mean she was in the house alone? If so, this was Victoria’s chance. Ensuring everyone was gone, she sidled up to the front door, hoping it wouldn’t be locked. To her delight, it had been left on the latch. Then – she was face to face with Felton.
Ann stared at the girl in the living room, who had a gleam of insanity in her eyes.
‘Oh dear, had a little accident, have we?’ Victoria giggled, waving the knife at Ann’s arm.
‘What do you want?’ Ann said, subconsciously cradling her wounded arm in a protective gesture.
‘I want you out of my life!’ Victoria snarled, holding up the knife, then she began to circle the table that separated them.
Ann saw the knife’s glint in the light of the lamp as she moved slowly away from the approaching threat.
‘Why? What have I done to you that you would threaten me with a knife?’ Ann kept her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her.
‘You ask me that? All right – I’ll tell you,’ Victoria continued to circle her quarry. ‘It was your fault my father threw me out without a penny to my name!’
‘How could I be responsible for that?’ Ann took another step away. If she could keep this woman at bay long enough, then Richard and Maisie might be back.
‘Shut up! You wanted to know, so you just listen!’ Victoria snapped.
Ann nodded her acquiescence. For all the world they looked like two prize fighters weighing each other up.
‘If that wasn’t enough, you then made sure I was dismissed from my work at Williams’ Drapery!’ Victoria wrinkled her nose in disgust at having to work in the first place.
‘I can assure you I had nothing to do with that,’ Ann ventured. She had to keep Victoria talking. She prayed her friends were on their way home.
‘You’re lying!’ Victoria’s voice rose an octave.
‘No, I’m not,’ Ann whispered in an effort to cool the girl’s escalating temper. Grateful the table was between them, Ann took another sidestep.
‘You’ve taken the man I was going to marry! Lord Wyndham was supposed to be my husband!’ Victoria growled. She moved again, as did Ann.
‘Richard is a friend,’ Ann said, praying the girl would believe her. She winced as Victoria gave a shrill laugh. Clearly Miss Beckett had lost her mind.
‘You expect me to fall for that? I’ve seen you together and it’s more than friendship!’
The sneer was unnerving and Ann was more and more afraid as the minutes ticked by. She could not hope to fight off Victoria with her arm confined to its sling. Ways to escape flashed through her mind; if she could get to the door, she could flee.
As if reading her thoughts, Victoria changed direction and began to circle the other way, all the time keeping her back to the door, trapping Ann inside the room.
Ann considered trying to escape through the back door, but she knew this to be locked securely and in the time it took to open it, Victoria would be on her.
‘Victoria, you don’t want to do this,’ Ann pleaded.
‘Oh, but I do! You see, with you out of the way, the road to becoming Lady Wyndham would be clear for me.’ Again she cackled like a witch from a fairy tale.
‘You could still have Richard,’ Ann pressed. ‘Put down the weapon and we can talk.’
‘I’m sure you’d like that, but the only place I intend to put this…’ Victoria hoisted her arm and flicked the knife blade from side to side ‘… is in your heart!’
In an instant, she lunged forward across the table and in that same moment Ann stepped back.
‘I scared you that time, didn’t I?’ Victoria steadied herself and stepped sideways again. ‘You see, Ann Felton, when I’ve finished with you – I have my parents to visit. I have to show them it was wrong to cut me out of their lives. So now I will make sure they have no more life to live!’
‘Listen to yourself, Victoria, you’re talking about killing your parents!’ Ann couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
‘It’s no more than they deserve!’ Victoria screeched. So loud was her voice she didn’t hear the door open behind her. Suddenly the knife was knocked from her hand to land with a clatter on the table, and she was being held fast. Struggling to free herself, Victoria’s rage erupted to see her fighting like a wild cat. Her arms flailed as her feet left the floor and she continued to scream like a banshee.
Richard, hearing all the shouting, had slipped into the house quietly and disarmed the girl threatening Ann. Holding tight to Victoria, he saw Maisie glide around him. The sharp slap Maisie delivered to the girl’s cheek immediately calmed her and she slumped in Richard’s arms, completely spent.
Ann dropped into a chair, releasing a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding.
Richard and Maisie bound Victoria’s arms to her sides with a shawl and then pushed her into a chair. She had not resisted and was completely compliant.
Ann shook her head as she watched the haughty Victoria Beckett sitting mumbling and dribbling like a baby.
Richard rushed over to Ann. ‘Oh, my love, are you hurt?’
‘No, I’m all right,’ Ann confirmed. ‘She – she…’ Suddenly it was all too much for her and Ann could say no more. It was uncharacteristic of Ann to show such vulnerability, but clearly she was distraught and shocked by the incident.
Richard took her in his arms and kissed her hair.
Maisie was standing over Victoria, who continued to mumble incoherently. Presently she said, ‘Richard, we need to find a copper.’ Maisie raised her eyebrows in a little wiggle.
The unspoken message was received by Richard who nodded. They both knew the police were otherwise occupied, but Richard guessed someone would be manning the station.
Ann shivered in his arms; the relief combined with shock had left her feeling cold.
Now, Richard was glad he had left Ella and Eve at the Bell Inn and escorted Maisie home. Taking stock of the situation, he grabbed Ann’s shawl from the arm of the chair and wrapped it around her. Moving to Maisie, he said, ‘Watch her carefully, I’m going to hail a cab.’ His head tilted to Victoria, who was now laughing like an idiot and totally unaware of what was happening around her.
Rushing from the room, Richard stood on the cobbled road and whistled loudly. Hearing nothing, he whistled again and then came the clip-clop of a horse’s hooves. Hailing the cabbie, he said, ‘I have to get a woman to the police station, she tried to stab my sweetheart!’
‘Oh, my gawd!’ the cabbie whispered as he jumped down and opened the carriage door. ‘C’mon, guvnor, I’ll ’ave yer there in a minute.’
Richard nodded and ran back indoors.
‘Maisie, stay with Ann, I have a cab waiting. I’ll get this one to the police, then come back here. Lock all the doors and open them to no one but me.’
‘Righto, but will you be all right with her on yer own?’ Maisie asked.
‘Yes, don’t worry. Just remember what I said.’ Richard picked up the knife from the table and slipped it into his pocket. Dragging Victoria to her feet, he checked her bonds were still secure before marching her outside to the waiting cab.
The cab driver was true to his word, having them outside the station in no time.
‘Hello, hello. What do we ’ave ’ere then?’ the desk sergeant asked as Richard steered the still bound Victoria into the police station.
Slapping the knife onto the desk, Richard explained the events that had taken place a short while earlier.
The desk sergeant blew out his cheeks and rang a handbell, summoning a constable. ‘Take that one to the cells and lock her up. Be careful, she’s dangerous!’ Turning to Richard, he said, ‘Right, sir, let’s have the details.’
Richard answered the sergeant’s questions and being told someone would be out to interview Ann in the morning, he was allowed to leave.
Thanking the cabbie for waiting, Richard travelled back to Maisie’s, his mind going over the incident. Dragging his hands down his face, he realised how close to death Ann had come for the third time. He shuddered and his breath came in gasps. He had almost lost her – again. It was then he made up his mind; Ann Felton would become his wife, even if he had to beg on bended knees.
On arrival at Maisie’s house, Richard gave the cab driver half a crown. ‘Thank you, sir, you can tell your children you helped save a woman’s life and possibly aided the incarceration of a would-be murderer.’
The cabbie tipped his hat and thanked the man for the tip. ‘I will indeed, mister.’
Richard banged on the front door, shouting, ‘Maisie, it’s me, Richard.’
The door opened a crack and Maisie sighed with relief. Closing the door, she locked it behind him. Returning to the living room, she saw Richard and Ann in a loving embrace. Tiptoeing to the kitchen, Maisie set the kettle to boil. She smiled to herself as she thought, It’s about bloody time!
Making the tea, she rattled and banged to let Ann and Richard know she was returning. Placing the tray on the table, she poured the tea, having noticed the pair sitting holding hands.
‘Tea up,’ she called and Richard went to collect his and Ann’s cup.
All three sat by the fire to discuss the very eventful evening.
As Maisie’s eyes met Ann’s, she grinned.
‘What’s so funny?’ Ann asked.
Shaking her head, Maisie’s grim grew wider. ‘I was beginning to think you two would never get together.’ She laughed out loud as she saw Ann’s shy smile.
As the conversation turned to Victoria’s attempt to kill Ann, Richard said he had no intention of leaving the girls until they had spoken to the police the following morning.