Doves Migration (40 page)

“None. What possibly do I need other then what I have right here?”

As the carriage pulled up in front of the orphanage, James stepped
down off the buckboard to find Felicity resting in the back of the coach.
After securing her inside her home and seeing she was still quite distraught
over Miranda’s departure, he convinced Felicity what she needed most was
rest. After convincing her another shot of brandy would help her sleep,
Felicity, already intoxicated and feeling the effects of all the liquor she had
consumed that afternoon, reluctantly agreed. Starting to feel uneasy that
James was still there, he politely saw himself out while leaving the door
open for easy access later. The unsuspecting Felicity, feeling dizzy, went
directly into her and Benjamin’s bedchamber and began to disrobe while
James stood outside the small home, watching her silhouette as she
struggled with her clothing.

After changing into her dressing gown, Felicity lay across her bed,
feeling the effects of the liquor. She closed her eyes feeling the room begin
to spin.

Within minutes, James reentered the small dwelling, and locking the
door behind him, made his way into the room where Felicity was lying on
the bed, nearly passed out. Quickly he disrobed, all the while watching his
prey. Naked and standing in the darkened chamber, with only the
moonlight shining over the bed, James inched closer and traced her cheek
and neck with his index finger.

She stirred and moaned softly. “Oh, darling, you’re home so soon? I
must have dozed off.”
Unable to lift her head, she moaned again feeling his hands on her
breasts through her gown and feeling his urgency grasping them with such
force, unlike what she was accustomed too. Felicity slowly opened her
eyes. Trying to focus on the reflection of the man standing over her and
seeing the face of James Sterling rather than her Benjamin, she began to
scream. However, James’ reflexes were quicker than Felicity’s in her
current condition, and she felt his hand immediately cover her mouth and
nose.
Trying desperately to get away from him, struggling beneath the
weight of his hand, with her fists, she struck him repeatedly while James
forcibly pushed her head back onto the bed. Seemingly, he was not hurt by
her attempt to fight him off. His left hand held her down, while his right
hand grabbed at her gauze dressing gown. He knelt beside her, hovering
over her petite frame. His nakedness gleamed in the moonlight and
Felicity, seeing his erection screamed again.
“No one can hear you, Felicity. Don’t fight me, I’m only repaying a
dept to your beloved husband, the swine.”
Not understanding, Felicity cried out, “No. James, please stop . . . No.”
While still trying desperately to fight off her attacker, her blows became
stronger as she scratched and tried to bite at his hand while he ripped her
gown exposing her breasts.
“God you are, perfect . . .” he growled, groping at her naked skin,
trying to pull her garment up past her hips. Feeling his hands press up
against her inner thighs, Felicity violently began thrashing her legs trying
to escape from him. Fully aroused at seeing her delicate skin and the
mound of hair below her taunt stomach, James forcibly pried her legs apart
and mounted her with all his force.
Feeling his enlarged manhood penetrate inside the moist crevice of her
body, Felicity jerked, scratching relentlessly, pushing him from her
screaming, while the rest of his naked body crushed down on her.
Trapped and helpless against his weight, Felicity continued screaming
and crying, to no avail. His grip over her mouth was drowning out her
pleas and suffocating her at the same time, and her arms no longer were
able to fight back.
With every thrust of his enlarged erection, causing him to enter her
deeper, Felicity heard him groan as his pleasure increased. Silently she
prayed this vile act was a nightmare and that James wasn’t actually
ravishing her like some wild beast.
Numbly, knowing she could do nothing to prevent him from defiling
her, Felicity struggled to breathe. James, rocking harder and quicker to
satisfy his longing, caused the pressure of his hand over her face to
intensify. Feeling no oxygen to her lungs, only his sharp thrusts as his body
crushed against hers, Felicity glanced up at the ceiling as the room became
darker.
As fear crept inside her heart that she would suffocate by the hands of
her attacker, James continued taking pleasure from her weakened and still
body, until Felicity heard him cry out, being gratified. His grip around her
face lessened as he lay motionless over her.
“James stop . . . I can’t breathe . . .” she gasped.
Spent and hearing her call out his name, James looked down at her,
seeing her lying there, not screaming any longer, and whispered, “If I
release my hand Felicity, will you promise not to scream?”
Nodding through her tears, James hesitantly released his hand from her
face and she gasped for air, choking and coughing.
Lifting his shoulders far enough to gaze down at her, Felicity
immediately turned her head, cringing, feeling him touch her breasts, his
touch repulsive and vile to her. Hovering over her, Felicity trapped beneath
his weight, James kissed her cheek and she jerked her head and spat into
his face.
“Get out! You’ve taken everything from me you wanted, now get off of
me you barbarian!”
Calmly wiping the spit from his face and seeing blood from where she
had scratched his face, slowly James pulled himself from her and stood
watching her from the edge of the bed. As Felicity tried to cover herself
with her torn dressing gown, ashamed and helpless, she hovered in a ball
on the center of her bed, sobbing softly. As he placed his shirt over his back
he winced, feeling the pain of the gouges she had afflicted. Looking at her
now, it struck him that she wasn’t the alley cat, who had dug her nails into
his flesh causing him to hunger her more. Lying there now, he saw only a
frightened kitten who needed comfort and tenderness after what he had
done to her.
Wanting desperately to give her the consolation she needed, but
knowing she would never allow him to be near her, James dressed hastily.
As he was ready to leave, he hesitated and knelt beside Felicity.
“Whether you want to believe me or not, I do love you, Felicity. I am
truly sorry that you had to suffer for the sins of your husband. But, a man
must avenge his wife’s honor, even if he doesn’t love her. So it had to be
like this, me taking you from him, just as Benjamin had taken Lavinia by
force with no consent from me, back in England. You do see that, don’t you
Felicity? Why should that swine be allowed to live in bliss, when he
destroyed Lavinia’s and my relationship forever?”
Pulling her throbbing head from the bed, Felicity screamed, “Get out!”
Seeing him leave her room, his words haunted her, and Felicity fell
back onto her bed, sobbing hysterically for her beloved Ben.

Following the first set, while the orchestra took a short break, Rupert
excused himself politely from Elise, his partner from the last dance, and
went in search of Annabelle and Lavinia.

Angered that his wife’s sister had tried to sabotage their announcement
into New York society by insisting she speak with him immediately, and
insinuating that if he didn’t, the consequences were something he would
have to live with, Rupert was outraged though he concealed it well from
others.
How dare she try to spoil Annabelle’s chance to shine, just as she
ruined Felicity’s years earlier,
he thought
.

Seeing Lavinia and Annabelle across the crowded dance floor chatting
amongst other guests, Rupert walked over to them and calmly kissed
Annabelle’s cheek softly, while glaring at Lavinia. “Ah, my darling wife,
having a good time?”

“Wonderful. I do wish though Felicity hadn’t become ill. Having her
here tonight would have made it perfect.”
“Right. Well it seems your dear sister, tried to nurse her back to health
earlier. Didn’t you Lavinia, dear? How terribly thoughtful of you.”
Rupert’s words sounded pleasant, but his eyes reflected anything but.
Realizing that Elise must have said something to him, she smiled
politely at Rupert. “Yes. However, dear brother-in-law of mine, I did ask to
speak with you earlier . . .”
“Ah, so you did. Well, as we seem to have a few minutes now, perhaps
you might care to take a stroll in the lovely gardens of our hosts.” Smiling
reassuringly at Annabelle, who suddenly looked alarmed, Rupert said
softly, “Dearest, I shan’t be long. Why not go and find our dear friend
Elise, to keep you company?”
Annabelle nodded seeing Joshua and Elise coming toward her and said,
“Ah, Elise I was just on my way to find you . . .”
As the Carmidy’s kept Annabelle occupied, Rupert lead Lavinia out to
the gardens, nodding politely at guests as he took her further along the path
for privacy. Finding the perfect place--far removed from anyone--he
immediately demanded an explanation for her actions.
“First you give alcohol to a woman already under the influence and
then you try to disrupt Annabelle’s one chance to outshine you. By God,
Lavinia, when will your insatiable jealousies ever end?”
“It doesn’t surprise me that you would think so poorly of me, but this
time you couldn’t be farther from the truth, Rupert. Whether you want to
believe me or not, I came to you earlier, fearful what James would do to
poor Felicity.”
Hearing this had something to do with his cousin, Lavinia had gotten
his full attention, and quickly she explained what she had witnessed,
including why she had not gone to Benjamin, who had for the past several
months been fooled into believing James was his friend. All the while she
had heard from James herself how much he detested him while lusting after
Felicity.
“Why didn’t you say anything to me earlier, or for that matter tell
Benjamin of James’ hatred?”
“You heard for yourself, James is insane I tell you. First he threatened
to lock me up in a sanitarium. He has accosted me, threatened to beat me.
Why even now, I’m fearful if he finds out that I’ve confided in you, I’ll
have to endure his wrath. But I’ll gladly risk such unpleasantness to protect
your cousin, despite my past differences with her.”
Never had Lavinia given such a convincing performance, and at once,
Rupert understanding the gravity of the situation, grasped Lavinia’s elbow.
“Come let’s find Benjamin at once.”
Within minutes of speaking to Benjamin, discovering the nature of
James’ secret involvement, and the need for Felicity to appear sick and
leave with James while helping her friend Miranda, Rupert--not taking the
time to understand what precisely had transpired leading to such an
elaborate hoax and fearing the worst--demanded they leave at once to
check in on Felicity.
Excusing himself, explaining he had to be certain that his cousin was
not gravely ill to his hostess, the Robbins’, Benjamin and Lavinia left the
Honeycutt’s party and headed directly to the orphanage.
As they entered the church grounds and seeing no lamps glowing from
inside the small home, Benjamin immediately jumped from inside the
coach as if sensing something was wrong, knowing Felicity always left a
light on for him.
“Benjamin, wait. Let Annabelle go to her,” Rupert said. “Lavinia, you
wait here. Benjamin, let’s have a chat inside your office so I fully
understand what has transpired causing my cousin to be put in such a
compromising situation.”
As Annabelle entered the small dwelling, the sounds of muffled crying
came from behind the closed door she knew to be the bedchamber, fear
gripped at her heart. Seeing Benjamin and Rupert go to the office,
Annabelle lit a kerosene lamp and crept inside the room. Her heart stopped
beating seeing Felicity crouched in the fetal position on her bed.
Hearing the door creak, Felicity jumped thinking James had returned to
accost her again. Seeing Annabelle, she cowered from her, too ashamed to
be seen.
Immediately placing the lamp on the table, Annabelle took the
frightened and hysterical Felicity in her arms. At once it was clear to
Annabelle by Felicity’s torn gown and her bruised face that she had been
raped. She tenderly consoled the trembling woman while taking the quilt
off her bed and wrapping it around lovingly.
“Dear Felicity, we need to get you out of these clothes and clean you
up before Benjamin becomes alarmed and comes in.”
“He’s here?” she asked dazed and confused.
“Yes, dearest. Rupert has him in his office trying to find out why James
was allowed to be alone with you.”
“Oh Annabelle please . . . Don’t let Benjamin know what has
happened. Please! I beg of you. I’m soiled. He’ll never love me again . . .”
“I promise Felicity, but you are not soiled. You’ve been attacked by a
monster who should be killed for what he has done to you.”
Again, Felicity wept uncontrollably—shaking--relieving the pain and
humiliation she had suffered. “It’s my fault. I was helping Miranda . . . .”
“This is not your fault! That depraved bastard forced himself on you.
So I will not hear another word that you had any blame in this. Now come
and let me help you change.”
Numbly, Felicity tried to rise from the bed, but her legs were weak and
her head throbbed. Recalling his words, saying he had only done what
Benjamin had done to Lavinia, Felicity felt suddenly nauseated and ran to
her dry sink and vomited. The smell of soured brandy filled the room and
Annabelle went to her side to tenderly comfort her. Her heart ached for her
friend, unable to fathom that her brother-in-law could have done such a
vile thing.
Sobbing again, Felicity unable to stand, was led to the side of her bed.
Annabelle tenderly washed her and helped her into a fresh gown. After
securing her safely in her bed, she told Felicity she would be right back to
make sure Benjamin would not disturb her.
Leaving the bedroom, she immediately called for Rupert. Hastily
explaining what had happened, and the condition Felicity was in, Rupert
eyes widened. “I’ll kill the bastard!”
“No, dearest. Felicity never wants Benjamin to know the shame she
has been put through, and if you truly love Felicity then you will respect
her wishes and keep her secret.”
“And let James get away with what he’s done? No!”
“Shh, Rupert. Please darling, Benjamin will hear you. Now I did not
mean that James should not suffer for the pain and humiliation he has
brought down on Felicity. But there are other ways a man can suffer for
such vile things he has done. It is up to you my dearest to see that he pays,
and pays dearly for what he has done to our Felicity.”
Seeing the tears in Annabelle’s eyes, Rupert took her in his arms. “Can
I see her? Is she badly hurt?”
“Felicity doesn’t want to see anyone, not even Benjamin. How can we
keep him from her for a few days? Benjamin needs to tend to the
children . . .”
“The hell he does. We shall set sail on the next ship and if need be, I’ll
hire a staff to take care of this orphanage until the Bishop finds his
replacement.”
Nodding in agreement, it was decided amongst them that it would be
best if Annabelle stayed with Felicity for the evening, promising to stall
Benjamin from seeing her for the time being. After kissing his wife
goodbye, Rupert immediately went back to the office.
“Benjamin old friend, it would appear our Felicity is quite ill. Since
Annabelle has already been exposed to her, and since you have to think of
the children, I’m afraid seeing Felicity this evening is out of the question.”
Seeing Benjamin try to object, Rupert calmly placed his hand on his
shoulder. “Old boy, let her have tonight with Annabelle. She’s having a bad
time of it, not accustomed to so much to drink, and she has made quite a
mess of herself. Let her hold onto her dignity. Surely one night apart won’t
matter to you, but it will mean everything to her.”
Benjamin consented, certain that Rupert was holding something back
from him regarding Felicity’s condition, and was only following her wishes
not to see her right now. Hearing that Annabelle would remain with
Felicity, and knowing she would be well cared for, Benjamin finally agreed
to Rupert’s request.
“Need I remind you that my sister-in-law is waiting for us in the
carriage?”
“Right.” Benjamin said frowning, consumed with worry for Felicity’s
welfare, knowing it had to be gravely serious if his beloved Felicity
wouldn’t want him with her. Numbly, Benjamin glanced to the closed door
where Felicity was hiding from him.
“Come along with me, old boy,” Rupert softly said. Obligingly,
Benjamin did as Rupert and Felicity wanted and left his home while he and
Felicity suffered deeply.
On the ride from the orphanage to the Sterling’s, Benjamin said not a
word. The events of the past few months processed through his troubled
mind. Recalling the first time James had approached him speaking of how
he had preformed sexual acts with Lavinia while thinking of another, he
wondered if that woman he had lusted after was his Felicity. And
remembering on countless times since that day, how he had seen James
look at Felicity with such admiration, he felt sickened.
What kind of man
couldn’t even protect his own wife?
Closing his eyes, he earnestly prayed that what he feared had never
happened.
Dear Lord, please, I beg of you let my thoughts be wrong. Have
I been so naive and so preoccupied with my own selfish needs that I’ve
allowed another man to harm my wife?
Before he had a chance to question Rupert further, their carriage
arrived in front of the Sterling’s residence. Rupert, glancing at Benjamin
said sternly, “Stay here Benjamin. I will only be a few moments.”
Assisting his sister-in-law from the coach, Rupert refrained Lavinia
from going inside by using her key, and knocked at the door instead.
“Rupert, the servant’s are asleep.”
“I know. I wish for James to answer.” Puzzled, Lavinia said nothing,
waiting suddenly fearful of Rupert’s reaction.
As soon as James answered the door, Rupert viewing the scratches on
his face and neck, calmly gripped his left hand on James’ shoulder as if
extending a warm greeting while raising his knee forcibly into the
unsuspecting James’ groin. Taken completely off guard, both Lavinia and
James gasped. Bending over in excruciating pain, James began coughing as
Rupert clenched his right hand into a fist planting a firm blow against his
jaw. At once James was knocked to the ground, and Rupert calmly said,
“Close the door, Lavinia!”
Frozen to the spot where she stood, her mouth opened, she stared down
at her husband who lay beneath Rupert’s boot pressed firmly against his
larynx. Lavinia started to argue with him, seeing James struggling for air,
twisting on the floor at their feet.
“I said, shut the door!” Rupert demanded.
From the carriage outside, Benjamin witnessing what had just
transpired, suddenly knew that his fears had been right. James had taken
Felicity as his, and judging by the scratches on his face, he knew Felicity
had fought off his advances. Unable to bear the thought of her body being
gratified by the man he had thought was his friend, and imagining what
pain she must have endured, Benjamin became violently ill.
Rushing out of the carriage, vomiting onto the street as he wept, he
knew he had not protected the only thing that mattered to him, and that was
his wife. Loathing himself for allowing such a thing to have happened, and
grieving his wife’s pain, Benjamin sunk to his knees. “Why God, why? She
did nothing wrong but love me.”
At the exact moment inside in the Sterling’s home, Rupert glared at
Lavinia and calmly asked, “I shall only ask you this once, Lavinia. Do you
want to return to England with us, or do you wish to remain here and
married to this heathen?”
“England of course, but how will I survive. I have nothing...”
Pressing his boot harder on James’ larynx, seeing the veins protrude
from his neck and throat, and hearing him gasp for air, Rupert said, “James
will be more than happy to provide for his wife. Isn’t that right, James?”
Shaking his head, unable to speak, James clutched at Rupert’s boot.
“Go to the carriage Lavinia, and we’ll return tomorrow for your
things.”
Meekly, she said, “You’re not going to kill him, are you Rupert?”
“Go to the carriage Lavinia.”
Fumbling for the door knob, she hastily ran outside, and seeing
Benjamin kneeling in prayer, she ran up to him. “You pathetic bastard, all
you can do is pray as Rupert is killing James? Well, God have mercy on
your soul, Benjamin Myles!”
Hearing her comment, Benjamin snapped out of his grief and ran to the
front door to hear Rupert say, “As God is my witness, if you ever step one
foot near any of my family again, I’ll kill you, you uncivilized savage!”
Releasing his foot from James neck, he turned and walked from the
landing just as Benjamin approached. Seeing James crouched over, gasping
for air, Benjamin struggled to get inside to finish off what Rupert had
begun, but was pulled back by Rupert. “Remember your vocation!”
“No damn it, get away from me Rupert.” Ripping his collar from his
neck, Benjamin shouted, “God has forsaken me and is punishing me for my
past sins through Felicity. He deserves to die, and by God, I’m going to kill
him, for what he’s done!”
“Think of Felicity. She’ll need you to be near her, to love and comfort
her, and how can that happen if you’re locked away in prison, or hanging
by a noose. No Benjamin. It takes a stronger man to help your wife than to
satisfy the need in you to avenge her. If you truly love Felicity, then walk
away for her sake.”
Shaking--never feeling such hate in his heart--desperately wanting to
end James’ life, Benjamin glanced up at Rupert and said, “Fine. Not for
God, or you, only for Felicity.”