Diamonds Fall (9 page)

"Other people live like this? Really?" She sounded almost hopeful.

"In some sense, yes."

"But not really in your world, it's too...perfect."

Annabel laughed humourlessly.

"No it's not. It's easy, that doesn't mean it's perfect."

"Same thing," Patsy whispered turning back over and resuming her former position.

"Patsy there are violent men in every class. I've known of people who have had husbands or fathers who abused them for years but there was nothing anyone could do about it because they were too powerful. Like your father, everyone was scared of them. They play their game too well."

"It's not a game." Patsy retorted, rolling back around again to face Annabel.

"You won't be here forever Patsy. When I get taken back home, whether it be days or years from now, you're coming with me - you, Billy, Jen and Daniel if he wants to. In fact, anyone you want can come. I've got enough money and a big enough house. Lord, I have an entire wing to myself that the whole village could fit into and still have rooms spare."

Patsy's face lit up and then dimmed in disbelief.

"You don't mean it. You jus' want me to help you escape."

"Of course I mean it! How dare you say that." Annabel crawled closer to Patsy and took her hand again. Both girls were now sat bolt upright, looking each other dead in the eye.

"Really?" Patsy whispered. "I could really come with you?"

"You're like my sister Patsy...better than sister because I actually like you. You've given me the hope I needed to stay alive, I need to give it back to you somehow, someday."

Patsy looked radiant with expectation. Her hold on Annabel was so tight it hurt but she couldn't care less. A silent tear landed on their clasped hands, glistening in the pale moonlight as if sealing their agreement. Drunk on each other's naive optimism, they both laughed. The sound hit their ears in a hollow echo. Patsy leaned back against the slimy wall and glanced over Annabel's shoulder. Annabel followed her gaze towards Daniel. There, they watched his chest rise and fall, his fingers twitching as he dreamed, until the pale sun shone back through the broken window.

Patsy fell asleep not long after the sunrise, still leaning against the wall, her head resting on Annabel's shoulder. Annabel briefly closed her eyes but the second her lids met, blocking out the visual world, images of the fire poker smacking into Daniel filled her mind, flashing in front of her like a storm. She heard his first groan of surprised pain, the sound of the air leaving his lungs at the impact of Tom's boot and sleep became impossible to achieve.

Gently easing Patsy's head from its resting place, Annabel crept over to Daniel. Sitting beside him, she ran her eyes over the scars criss crossing his torso. The recent ones were bright red and angry, whilst the old ones were pink, raised slightly above the healthy skin. Annabel jumped as he let out an anguished groan. Still in the clutches of a dream, his eyes flew open.

"No," he repeated over and over again, the exclamation getting increasingly more anguished. Annabel placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping him lying down. He took her hand in his, trying desperately to sit up.

"Daniel, wake up." Annabel tried to stir him from his dream, from his nightmare.

"No, please let me help," he continued. "I've gotta help."

"Shh, Daniel not now. You need to sleep now. Everything will be alright in the morning." Annabel brushed his hair from his eyes once more and saw him relax somewhat.

"In the morning," he whispered, ceasing his fight to rise.

"Yes Daniel, it will all be better in the morning."

Annabel didn't sleep anymore that night. She watched Daniel, his face finally peaceful as he slept, her fingers rhythmically combing through his soft, blonde hair.

Patsy awoke first, her breathy laugh finding Annabel's ears a few hours after sunrise. She looked up.

"What?" she asked, offended that Patsy seemed to be laughing at her. She wiped her chin, afraid she had something on her face.

"Our hair looks so silly! I'd forgotten `bout it!"

Annabel's hands went to her head. Feeling the rags still secured in her hair, she laughed as well.

"Turn around," she said, walking over to Patsy and taking down her hair. Looking at Patsy once her hair was falling past her shoulders again, she smiled. The now tight curls complemented her face shape, making her look as innocent as her youthful features should. Patsy untied Annabel's own hair, watching with her mouth slightly agape as it tumbled down into its usual dark blonde spirals, her blue eyes glittering.

"You're so beautiful," she said, wrapping one of Annabel's curls around her short finger. "Stick out like a sore thumb `ere."

"You're not so bad yourself," Annabel replied tweaking Patsy's nose and making her way back to Daniel.

Finding him still asleep she rewashed his healing wounds. They looked less aggressive already although, his emotional scars would no doubt remain with him forever.

It wasn't until evening was once more drawing in that Daniel finally stirred.

Still half unconscious, he moaned. Annabel jumped up. Crouching by his side she placed a hand on his forehead as she had seen other people do - she didn't know what a too hot forehead felt like but she figured it would appear as if she knew what she was doing.

"You're alright Daniel, just like I promised."

He groaned again and Annabel ran her fingers slowly through his fair hair, remembering how much this had healed her when she had been hurt.

That's when she remembered. The smell of Daniel was that same soapy, musky smell that still clung to the thinner of her two blankets, the one she had been bundled inside after she had tried to escape. She realised the hazel eyes she had seen in her brief moment of consciousness weren't Billy's at all...they were Daniel's.

Daniel was her saviour. He had helped her in the darkest hour of her life. He had helped her without even knowing her name. Sat there, amongst the straw and the horses, Annabel made a silent vow. She would help Daniel in whatever way she could, until the drawing of her final breath.

Leaving a few minutes Annabel filled a cup and held it up to Daniel's lips, coaxing him to drink. Whilst he was drinking Annabel realised he wouldn't have the strength to chew through the now stale bread. With a stroke of inspiration, she filled another cup of water and soaked the bread before feeding it to Daniel, like a bird nourishing its children.

Following his limited meal he quickly fell back into unconsciousness.

Carefully removing the blanket from under his head Annabel threw it over his half naked body, fearing he would become too cold during another night. Through much argument she managed to persuade Patsy to follow Billy and Genevieve up to the loft, promising she would sit with Daniel.

Annabel, having had next to no sleep in days, felt tired to her very bones. Each limb felt as if it were made of iron. Yet she had an unspoken duty to stay awake, in case Daniel needed her.

In order to think about anything else, Annabel went over to the horses. They were a little restless. Their hooves scrapped across the floor, their ears pressed back against their heads. She laid her hand on their silken shoulders, patting gently as she had done with the glistening thoroughbreds that were kept at the manor. Before long, in her sleep deprived mind set, she found herself talking to them as if they could hear her. It was then that she finally understood the appeal of animals. The fact they seemed to listen to her every utterance, without there ever being the fear they would repeat or judge her words, was intensely relieving. She was only broken out of this one sided conversation when Daniel groaned again, louder this time, showing that he had re-entered consciousness in some form. Annabel rushed to his side, refilling the cup of water in case he should want it.

"No," he croaked as Annabel lifted the cup to his lips. He looked pained, almost embarrassed, as he opened his eyes. The swelling of his right eye had gone down significantly due to the hours Annabel had spent pressing a cold, wet cloth to the area. Daniel looked at the stable door with meaning in his expression. Misinterpreting this meaning Annabel rested a tender hand on his arm.

"You're safe, it's alright."

He shook his head and tried to roll onto his front in an attempt to stand but Annabel gently pushed him back down.

"You've got to rest Daniel."

"No," he clutched his side, gasping as his struggle jostled one of his wounds. "I've gotta...go."

He broke off blushing, looking at the door again. Annabel caught on, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Oh," she giggled. "Um...I'll help you..."

A trace of a smile formed on Daniel's lips at the awkward situation as he managed to raise himself into a seated position.

Annabel bent her knees and Daniel put his arm around her shoulders. She lifted him onto his feet with a grunt as his weight rested almost entirely on her right side. Daniel was shaky on his legs, his face now crumpled with both the pain and exertion. Despite the hurt, Daniel attempted a laugh when the blanket fell away, revealing his naked chest.

"Couldn't wait...to get me...naked," he rasped.

Annabel blushed. "You were hurt," she reasoned.

"That's...what they all say...ow..." He groaned as he took his first step.

"Do you want my help or not?" Annabel teased to take his mind off the hurt.

"Sorry."

With Annabel's assistance he managed to hobble outside, almost falling on several occasions. It seemed he must have damaged his ankle when he jumped from the loft; he was unable to put much weight on it at all.

Once outside of the stable Annabel waited in the doorway as he used the wall to support his way around the back. He wouldn't let her help him any further. A few minutes later he reappeared and Annabel resumed her position at his side, lowering him back onto the straw. They were both slightly out of breath and shared a cup of water between them.

"I can't drink too much," he said after a few mouthfuls.

"Why not?" Annabel asked.

"Tha' was too much effort. I don' wanna repeat it soon."

They both laughed until Daniel grimaced, clutching his side.

"I like your hair like that," he whispered after a few moments, settling back on the straw. Annabel smiled involuntarily as she felt a blush colour her cheeks. "Don' pretend to be embarrassed. I'm sure you've been told tha' by much more important people than me."

Annabel thought about that for a moment and realised whilst this was true, her vanity had always accepted those compliments as a given, of course she was beautiful. But Daniel thought she looked nice whilst she sat there at her very worst. It made her heart flutter in a strange, foreign way that, Annabel thought, was very pleasant.

"Thank you," she whispered.

They looked at each other for a while before Daniel grimaced again and squeezed his eyes shut, pulling the blanket up to his neck. He glanced at Annabel who had crossed her arms in an attempt to keep in her own warmth.

"Take the blanket Anna," Daniel whispered, holding up the cloth. "When was the last time you slept? You look tired."

"A compliment and an insult in the space of a minute, thank you Daniel. I'm alright, you are in much more need of the blanket than I."

"Seriously Anna jus' take it." As if to assert his point, Annabel shivered. "Come `ere, we'll share."

Annabel blushed deeper than she had ever blushed before and shook her head.

"No really, I'm alright Daniel. Go to sleep."

"Oh...I didn't mean...jus' you're cold is all."

There was an awkward silence between them for a few minutes before Daniel spoke again. "I know what they did to you. I wouldn't...I'd never do tha', I won' even touch you. I'm sorry, jus' didn't want you to be cold. Please, take the blanket. You gotta sleep."

Drawing in a deep breath, the warm feeling in her heart returning, Annabel slid beside Daniel who held the blanket up for her.

The blanket was large enough for her to remain just beside Daniel, her forehead in line with the top of his shoulder.

"Thank you." Daniel whispered a short while later, just as sleep was beginning to fog Annabel's vision.

"For what?"

"For comin' `ere, for savin' my life, for tryin' to save Hetty." He paused. "It's better with you `ere."

"You're delusional and concussed. I liked you better unconscious." She heard his breath leave him in a quiet laugh before the darkness of sleep descended once more.

The next few days passed by blissfully uneventful. In accordance with the silent vow she had made, every morning Annabel woke up beside Daniel and helped him to wash his slowly healing wounds. Unexpectedly, his nearness and soft touch were starting to heal her in return, dulling the constant shame of her psychological scars.

With Daniel out of action food was hard to come by. They daren't leave the stable for fear of seeing Tom or Trevor and instilling their wrath, leaving them no choice but to go hungry. Even the residents next door were going largely without for Daniel was unable to provide their meat. Neither Tom nor Trevor could hunt. They were both too loud and impatient.

After two days with no food Billy took a chance and snuck into the forest to fill the water bucket. On his return he found a couple of sad looking apples which, the group believed, may have been the best thing they'd ever tasted. Billy, it appeared, had been used to hunger. Patsy and Daniel brought food to him when they could but it seemed he had often been forced to scavenge in the forest.

Annabel quickly forgot her own hunger. She felt a foreign sense of achievement as she cared for Daniel - as if she had been born for this very task, as if she had sat with Daniel every day of her life but simply forgotten until that moment. The coldness she had shown to the world in her old life slowly got stripped away. Her reservations chipped at until they were erased completely. She was at ease in that stable as she had never been before.

Despite the apparent calm, there was still always that sense of something brewing. A large weight seemed to hang above the stable, which grew heavier with every passing day. Daniel would be made to work again soon. It was possible he had already rested too long. This very scene had already played out so many times in his life, he knew how it ended.

Thus, four days were all Annabel could make him stay still for. He was getting anxious to go outside, wanting to prove his strength and reintroduce meat to his diet. Therefore, with Annabel on one side and Patsy on the other, they stumbled their way towards the forest, Billy hurrying in front before anyone could spot the concealed baby in his arms. Once beneath the relative safety of the trees, Daniel dropped his arms from the two women's shoulders and leant against a trunk, breathing heavily from the exertion of staying upright.

After a few minutes he lifted his eyes in determination and stood up on his own, albeit slightly shakily. He began to walk forwards, limping on his left leg. He swayed on his fifth step and grabbed the first thing he could reach - Annabel's hand, which had shot out in some hope of catching him if he fell. Patsy ran off into the forest, an idea lighting her eyes. She came back looking pleased with herself, carrying a large stick which she handed to Daniel. He laughed, thanking her and leaned the weight of his damaged leg upon it. His opposite hand remained clasped around Annabel's.

About half way to their destination Annabel lowered him to the ground at his own request where he began forming something from the plants growing out of the forest floor. When he had finished, she noticed he had made a snare. He made several more of these along their way, hoping at least one of them would yield some dinner.

When Daniel was satisfied, they climbed down the slippery slope to the stream, which was a lot more difficult than the flat forest floor for his wounded body. He fell often, scraping the palms of his hands, yet he refused to let them help him.

When they finally made it to the bank of the river Daniel collapsed onto the grass to catch his breath. Annabel and Patsy lay down on either side of him and they smiled up at the fluffy white clouds, gliding over the canopy of trees above them.

They were all in dire need of a good wash. Luckily Patsy had thought ahead and thus pulled out two bars of the malformed soap. Daniel made Annabel and Patsy close their eyes as he removed what was left of his clothes and lowered himself into the stream. He let out a suppressed screech as the water hit his torso, where the worst of his wounds resided.

They opened their eyes again to see Daniel scrubbing the blood and filth off of his freckled skin. It was quite a sight watching the sun shine off of Daniel's fair hair as he lathered soap over its now greasy texture. All Annabel could see of him were his shoulders and arms. She watched how his muscles worked under his skin as he cleaned his clothes and body, passing the soap over to Billy who was now in the stream next to him, having handed Genevieve to Patsy. The baby whimpered and Billy glanced at her, a concerned look in his eye. To break the tension, Daniel splashed him. Both men laughed at their childish game. Before the fight was over all four of them were soaking. Although Patsy had moved away about half way through in order to keep Genevieve dry. They all laughed so much their sides ached and tears ran down their cheeks. Annabel felt elated, lighter than she had ever felt before.

Shortly afterwards, the girls were made to close their eyes once more and they heard the sucking noises of wet clothes being drawn back over wet bodies. When Annabel opened her eyes again both boys were only in their undergarments, laying the rest of their clothes in the sun to dry. Annabel's gaze lingered on Daniel for a fraction of a second too long, taking in the shape of his legs as the soaking garments stuck to them, leaving very little to the imagination. She blushed, looking away quickly as Daniel caught her gaze. Raising an eyebrow questioningly, a small, teasing smile pulled up one corner of his mouth. He clasped his hands behind his head, wincing slightly as it stretched one of his more vicious wounds. He went to cross his ankles but seemed to think better of it.

"Like whatcha see Miss Anna?"

"No, I most certainly do not! Close your eyes!"

Daniel laughed but did as he was told without hesitation, singing a jolly sounding song as he tapped his uninjured foot on the ground to an imagined rhythm. Annabel removed her clothes with as much speed as she could and jumped into the stream, splashing the men on the shore.

As her head broke the surface she could hear Daniel's deep laugh before he resumed his song. She snatched the soap off the side and began scrubbing herself and her clothes. She didn't want to put her heavy dress back on wet so she laid it down on the ground and ducked under the water again, choosing to take a swim whilst her dress dried. She wasn't particularly good at swimming, there had never been a need for it - it was not proper for someone of her standing. She realised quite quickly that swimming was much more effort than she had previously thought. She was out of breath after only a few strokes but continued to swim until her limbs burned, relishing in the feeling of her muscles stretching out, the supple flesh tightening and toning. Pausing for a while she noticed Daniel was now sat up watching her with a smile on his face.

"Thought you were making a getaway for a minute there," he teased. "But I don't think you'd get very far swimming like that."

"What do you mean?" She had thought she was doing really well.

Still dressed in his undergarments, he lowered himself slowly back into the stream, wincing as the cool water hit his wounds again. Annabel instinctively backed away from him, covering as much of her body as she could with her hands. Daniel did not even try to approach her but simply took off, slicing through the water quickly and effortlessly in an impressive front crawl, hardly even making a splash.

"Like that," he said, careful to remain on the opposite side of the stream to Annabel who was still blushing profusely, the water up to her chin.

"Well, I don't really have much use for swimming, it isn't proper." She tilted her chin upwards, just as she would have done at the manor. She didn't like being shown up.

"Begging your pardon Ma'am," Daniel said in a mockery of Annabel's upper class dialect, bowing his head towards her and touching an imaginary hat. He splashed her again and this time she laughed, realising how ridiculous she had sounded.

"Snob," he muttered, laughing as he resumed his swim, this time a simpler breast stroke which she tried to imitate, turning it into more of a doggy paddle.

Daniel laughed again, splashing her every time she got it wrong but still keeping a few feet away from her at all times.

After a while, both their fingers now resembling small, particularly shrivelled prunes, Annabel had somewhat mastered it and Daniel heaved himself back onto the grass, with a little help from Patsy who had climbed out a good hour before.

The sun beat down on their heads; their clothes now bone dry in the heat. Annabel once more forced everyone to turn around before climbing back into her warm dress. She lay in between Daniel and Patsy, spreading her hair out behind her so the sun could dry it.

Genevieve made a small noise, not quite a cry but still a sound of discomfort.

"Jen `ungry. Goin' for walk," Billy stated.

"I'll come with you," Patsy said as she got to her feet, brushing the back of her skirt to rid it of any dirt.

"Mind if I stay `ere?" Daniel asked, wincing as he shifted.

"I'd mind if you came Dani. Rest."

"Jen wanna see forest," Billy said, interrupting Daniel's laughter.

"Well Jen, check the snares for me."

"She will," Patsy giggled, swatting her brother on the head.

Once they were on their own, Annabel and Daniel lay side by side, feeling the sun gently warm their faces. The only sound was their slow breathing.

Although Annabel had been close to Daniel for days now, she quickly became very aware of his body beside her, in a way she had never felt before. His hand seemed to give off a strange heat, radiating through hers only an inch away. A light breeze rustled the leaves above them. They watched as one fell, shining emerald green in the light as it spun through the air. It landed at the base of Annabel's neck. Propping himself up on one elbow, grimacing at the pain, Daniel leant forwards and picked it off, brushing his fingers over Annabel's skin with a deliberate slowness. His face turned serious and he bent down a little further, pressing his lips against hers.

They had barely touched yet a fire ignited itself within her.

Daniel focused his gaze on Annabel's, a frown returning to his face as he misinterpreted her motionless stature.

"Do that again," Annabel whispered.

Daniel laughed softly, their breath mixing together in the small space between them. He placed his rough palm against Annabel's cheek and touched his mouth once more to hers. This time he pressed just that little bit harder and a sound escaped his mouth. Annabel pulled away, a look of concern in her eyes. Daniel looked crestfallen.

"What's wrong?" Annabel asked, tracing her fingers over the almost healed bruise on the side of his face. "Did I hurt you?"

He laughed, shaking his head. A blush rose slowly up his neck.

"No, I - I liked it."

"Oh, I thought you were hurt."

Smiling, she kissed him once more. As he began kissing her too, he slid his fingers into her damp hair. She ran her own palms over his back, this time smiling at the small moan this brought to his lips. They were oblivious to everything around them, only breaking away from each other when their need for air became too strong to resist. They rested their foreheads together, drunk off their own happiness and laughed softly.

"Billy and Patsy should be back soon." Daniel pulled himself up into a sitting position. "They've been gone ages, so they must have found some good rabbits."

"Should - should we build a fire then?" Annabel said clearing her mind to attempt normal thought. Daniel smiled.

"You're learning! Yeah, I'll get wood."

He brushed her lips with his own one more time and then stood up, hobbling into the dense forest around them. Just before he disappeared he looked back at her and chuckled, as if in disbelief. Annabel sat on the grass in a daze with her fingers pressed against her lips, marvelling at how his had felt there. She could still taste him; still feel his hands on her skin. A thrill ran through her blood as she saw his lean frame stagger back into the clearing.

By this time, Patsy and Billy were also returning. In Patsy's arms was a large pot. Lowering it to the ground, Annabel saw it contained a knife, three dead rabbits and a few muddy potatoes.

"We wen' back for the pot and knife but we found the `tatoes in the woods. The rabbits were in your traps Dani. Oh and we fed Jen."

Daniel lit the fire by piling dry leaves and grass on top of the wood and striking two stones together in a practiced fashion. Patsy and Billy skinned and gutted the rabbits whilst Annabel was given the task of removing the meat from the bones. The others laughed at Annabel's squeamishness during this task. They rinsed the potatoes in the stream, filling up the bucket with just enough water to cover the food and placed the pot on the heat as Daniel got back into his clothes.

The mood that evening was one of pure joy. Annabel had never thought she could feel like this with nothing more than a humble meal and the company of people she could now call her friends.

They ate so much stew they thought they would burst, drinking from the stream when the need struck them. They sang songs, told jokes and danced around the fire until they were too dizzy to stand. Anybody watching would have thought them drunk or insane but they were just young, completely oblivious to anything other than themselves and the simple happiness of this moment.

As the darkness grew heavier, their hearts turned cold with the knowledge they would have to return, for surely someone would notice their absence soon if they had not already. Climbing back up the rocks they went into the dense trees in pairs, clinging to each other and giggling with childish fears of shadows, each trying to scare the others.

Annabel and Daniel quickly dropped behind due to Daniel's injured leg. Annabel secured her arm around Daniel's waist, supporting him as he walked. He in turn wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Every time he touched her, the memories of Trevor's foul touch were replaced by this new, thrilling tenderness.

"Follow me," Daniel whispered in her ear, turning around so they were heading back towards the stream.