Chapter 22

 

Julia and Lucy were installed in one of the finer guest bedrooms on the second floor. None of the family members complained, but the staff, who had been ordered to prepare the room, looked more than a little put out by the arrangements.

“Perhaps Miss Kemp would be more comfortable in one of the third-floor rooms. We can move Prudence to Lisle’s room,” Violetta suggested when Margaret ordered her to bring up some fresh linen.

Margaret’s heart quickened when she realized there would be a confrontation. “Those rooms are hardly suitable for a baby,” Margaret said calmly.

“Yes, but the child can sleep in the nursery with George and Hubert, and Miss Kemp can have her old room.” Violetta gave a closed-mouth smile and tilted her head to one side.

“Miss Kemp is our guest and, as far as I am concerned, she will remain such for a good deal of time. My suggestion is if you or anyone else belowstairs has a problem with whom I chose to house under my father’s roof there is a door to the street and you are all welcome to use it.” Margaret brushed a loose strand of hair from her forehead. “Now, can you please send Maxwell up to speak with me? We’re going to need the cot from the attic as well.” Margaret flashed a dry smile as the dispirited maid ducked back into the hallway.

“Miss Margaret, please, it would be no trouble for us to sleep with the servants,” Julia said once the three of them were alone. She clutched Lucy closer to her bosom and gently swayed back and forth to keep the child from waking.

“Nonsense, this room is empty and well suited for two people,” Margaret said, as she pulled down the seam of her bodice. “Besides, I have no doubt we’ll be moving you down the hall before long.”

Julia blushed as her eyes darted to the floor.

“Now away with you, Peter,” Margaret said, nearly pushing him out the door. “Aunt Louisa and I have our guest well taken care of. You shall see each other in the morning.”

“It’s not safe.”

“Two constables are stationed right outside our front door. I’ve already ordered Maxwell to bring them coffee throughout the night.” Margaret placed a hand on Ainsley’s upper arm. “Go rest.”

Ainsley nodded reluctantly, and looked over his sister as she ushered him out the door. “Summon me if you need anything.”

“Goodness, there will be none of that,” Margaret teased, pulling the door to close it.

“That’s not precisely what I meant,” Ainsley said, flashing a look of disappointment.

“You are all safe now.”

He leaned on the doorframe, preventing Margaret from closing the door fully.

“How assured are you of that?” he asked, keeping his voice low.

Margaret hesitated. “If I admitted to my true feelings on the subject I may never sleep again,” she said, as she slowly pressed the door into the frame.

“I do not mean to cause any quarrels,” Julia said, biting into her lower lip. “Your family shouldn’t have to suffer,” she said, “for what I’ve done. I’ve brought this to your door.”

Margaret’s shoulders sank when she heard Julia’s voice so defeated and resigned. “Heaven’s no. You are no more responsible for the deeds of a madman any more than I am,” Margaret said. Without thinking, she raised her hand to the scar at her throat. “We all bear our scars,” she said after a moment.

“I have to tell you, Lady Margaret,” Julia said. “I have to tell you who I really am and what I’ve done.”

“You’ve done nothing, nothing at all to deserve this.” Margaret went straight to her and gathered up the sleeping Lucy in her arms.

“I wish that were so.” Julia closed her eyes but it was too late. A tear slipped from her eyelids and rolled down her cheek.

“Your husband’s choices are not your choices,” Margaret said, trying to reassure her maid.

“There’s more. Please, Lady Margaret, let me tell you all of it.” Julia reached out with one hand and took Margaret’s hand. “I was young and reckless when I agreed to marry him,” she began. “He possessed everything I lacked: money, power, a future. I knew his business was illegal but I didn’t know the extent. I was happy to have food and shelter and protection. And my brother encouraged it. In a way, I had no choice. I had thought I was happy but I know now that I was simply scared.” She licked her lips and wiped away a tear as Margaret gathered Lucy from her arms. “He…he hit me often and he told me it was my fault, that I needed to be trained.”

When Margaret saw the tears in Julia’s eyes, and heard the words she spoke, she choked up and found herself unable to speak.

“His brother, Edgar, was far worse,” Julia continued. “His wife, Ida, lost a baby by his hand. She had come to me to help her stop the bleeding, but I couldn’t. There was so much blood. It was everywhere. I was so afraid she’d die and that they would blame me.”

Margaret took in a deep breath and raised a hand to her face. “Oh.” She turned to the bed and slowly lowered Lucy into the middle. Gingerly, she positioned pillows on both sides of the babe and then pulled a blanket from the chair behind her to cover the child.

“She knew she couldn’t stay with him. She wanted me to come with her but I was too scared. I couldn’t imagine a life by myself. In many ways, she was much stronger than me.”

“What happened to her?” Margaret asked reluctantly.

“Edgar found her and slit her throat, and threw her in the Thames, just as he threatened to do many times.”

Margaret gasped and nearly fell back into the chair beside the bed. “Oh, Julia.”

“I started carrying a knife with me wherever I went, just in case. And then one night he came to me, drunk and angry. He said I had ruined his marriage and killed his baby. He ranted and raged, for nearly an hour. He threw things about and hit the walls. He wouldn’t let me leave and it was just getting worse and worse. And then he lunged at me. He had me against the wall and was choking me, both hands clasped at my throat. I had no choice.” Julia reached up and touched her neck, pained at the memory. “Somehow I found the strength to drive my knife into the side of his neck. Even as he bled out he held tightly to my throat, determined to kill me as he died. He nearly succeeded.”

The room went dead silent as Margaret digested what Julia had just described.

“I dragged his body to the yard and cleaned up the room as best I could. I wanted it to look like he died in some brawl or something. That night I ran to Mrs. Holliwell and a week later she found me a place here. I thought it worked until I saw that man tied to the lamppost. I knew then that they had found me.”

Margaret sat in silence as Julia went for the window. Pulling back the drapes she peered outside to the street below. “I’ve seen all that you and Peter have been through and I’ve wished so many times it didn’t have to be like this. They know where I am now. And I’m afraid what happened to my sister-in-law Mary is just the beginning.”

“Why do you say that?” Margaret asked.

“Thaddeus is like a cat,” Julia explained, turning to look at Margaret. “He likes to play with his prey before finishing it off.”