Page 33 of The Demons of Wychwood

That revelation was like a hammer blow and all three of us shared wary looks.

“Elly, please sit down,” I urged. “I swear, no one’s taking our Bess from us. You’ve been carrying this weight for too long now. It weren’t your fault.”

Elowen started to cry then, and that set Bess off too. I got up and rounded the table.

“Come ‘ere,” I said, my arms open wide. I enveloped my girls in a hug, Elowen crying on one shoulder, Bess on the other.

“Forgive me,” Kit sounded dumbfounded and alarmed. “I did not intend to cause such distress, but I assure you, whatever happened, I can help. Please let me help you, Elowen.”

“Tell him Elly. Let him help,” I urged. She snuffled then pulled back, passing Bess to me. Elowen searched in her pinny for a handkerchief, found it, and wiped her eyes. The resilience of nippers always amazed me. I jigged my niece on my hip and she began to laugh. The storm clouds were forgotten, and Bess pointed toward her toy box. I put her down on the rug and opened the lid. I knew she’d play quietly while the grown-ups dealt with this messy business.

Elowen wiped her eyes and nose again as she seated herself and poured another cup of tea. After a minute to catch her breath, she said,

“It, um…happened after the Spring Ball near three years ago,” she began. I took my seat and gave my sister a nod of encouragement to continue.

“I shared a room with another maid, Nelly Parkin. She had an awful sweet tooth and was always bugging those of us who worked in the kitchen to get her leftovers of sweets. It was all hands-on-deck to prepare the spread for the ball. Mrs. Trelawney knew I was kitchen trained and so I was given the job of decorating pastries. Our Ma had taught us all the skills of the kitchen, and so it was a doddle for me. I piped cream and added summer fruits to hundreds of tarts. Nelly kept pestering me, lingering over my shoulder like a bad smell. ‘Put one aside for me Elly, no one will ever know’. Cook would’ve had my hide, and so I told her no. But then, after the ball was over and the ladies and gentlemen were going home or up to bed, Nelly was on at me again. We’d been told by Mr. Jenkins to cover the remaining food and tidy up in the morning. We went up to bed as told. But Nelly wouldn’t shut up about those bleedin’ tarts. She suggested that maybe we should creep down to the dining room and see if there was any left. I knew it was a daft thing to do, but I said I’d do it to shut her up.” Elowen paused to take a sip of tea.

“Nelly took a candle and we went down the servant’s stairs in our nightgowns. She said she’d be the lookout and stopped outside the dining room while muggins here was to fetch the fruit tarts. There were lots of leftovers and I found the display of pastries. I picked up a napkin and put two tarts inside and tied it up. Then I heard a gruff voice say, “Who’s there?” I was too afraid to move, or even breathe. He said again, who’s the bally hells creeping around in the dark. Say something or it will be the worse for you! I was terrified. It’s only me, Elowen, one of the maids. Forgive me for interrupting you, sir, I said. I heard two sets of footsteps then. The fellow had walked from the sitting room and into the dining room, and Nelly, the scaredy-cat, was running away up the stairs. The man who came into the dining room was holding a candle. I saw his face, I knew him. Why are you skulking around in the dark like a thief? he said. Are you a thief girl? Then he saw the bundle in my hands “Ah, yes, you are!” He grabbed my wrist then and pulled me to his chest. I dropped the bundle of pastries. He put his hand over my mouth and told me “Don’t make a sound.” I could hardly breathe and I couldn’t move. He…he dragged me into the sitting room. He was strong and drunk and he smelled of cigars. He said, we can’t have maids thinking they can steal and get away with it. An example needs to be set.”

Breakfast was now a stones weight in my stomach. I chanced a look at Kit to see the colour had left his face.

“He forced himself on me, milord. He was too strong …I couldn’t get away—“ Elowen’s head drooped and her hands came up to hide her face. She cried so hard my heart shattered.

“Who did this to you?” Kit’s voice was soft and careful. Elowen didn’t answer. She folded in, her arms on the table and her head hidden. Kit turned to me, anguished. I rounded the table and crouched beside Elowen. I rubbed her back in circles as we did for each other when we were upset as nippers.

“Who did this love?” I said softly.

“I’m so ashamed,” Elowen said brokenly.

“Who did this?“ I asked again.

“The…the General.”

Those words were a lit match to a touch paper. I shot up, standing straight.

“No, you must be mistaken,” Kit exclaimed in disbelief.

Elowen’s head rose then and met Kit’s gaze full on. “Oh no sir, I ain’t. I was in service at Penhelligan for three years before that night. We were all warned to avoid the General. He has his pickings of the maids, and he takes what he wants. I ain’t the only one he’s got with child right under the Ladyships nose, but I’m the only one who survived the birth.”

I felt sick, and looking at Kit I saw he was just as gob smacked as I was. Elowen had never told me how she got pregnant. I’d hoped it was a love match but that her beau was rich and couldn’t marry her. That was bad enough, but this…finding out a brute had forced himself on her, was appalling. I hated General Edward Napier with a fury I’d never known. My incensed gaze collided with Kit’s and I could see that he was distraught with anger and betrayal. The only sounds in the room then were of Bess building a tower with her wooden blocks and then laughing as the tower fell. It felt like the whole world was falling down around us, and in the centre of the storm was General Edward Napier. Kit’s eyes hardened as he looked at me. He nodded decisively as if we’d reached an unsaid understanding.

“Mrs. Lazarus, Elowen. I honestly don’t know what to say except I believe you, and I’m so sorry that this happened to you. I am the heir of Penhelligan, not General Napier. He is not related to me by blood. But the responsibility in this matter lies firmly on my shoulders. There will be a reckoning, you mark my words. Please leave this matter with me. I’ll be in touch as soon as I have news.“ Kit rose from the table and gave a bow, “Thank you for your hospitality,” he said.

Then Kit addressed me, “I’ll get washed and dressed. Will you walk to town with me? I don’t think I’ll find a hansom cab around Stepney this early.”

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