“I’ve been making inquiries about you and watching you,” he said. “I know you better than you think.”
“I scarcely know
you
at all!” was her protest.
“That is why I insisted on your joining me today,” Edward said. “So I could express my feelings and beg you to consider me as a sincere contender for your hand.”
Mary heard his words as though in a dream, not daring to accept what he was saying, yet clutching at the hope of it against all her good sense. She said, “I was engaged once to a village boy. He was killed in the war.”
“Tragic!” Edward murmured. “I shall take his place.”
“Your parents would never allow you to marry a servant! A country girl working in their house as a kitchen slavey! It could never happen!”
“It can,” he insisted. “You are no ordinary servant. Your father was a prosperous miller ruined by gambling. I heard the whole story from our housekeeper, Mrs. Higgins. I shall face my parents and plead your case with confidence! And with ardor, since I so dearly love you!”
“Edward!” she said softly. He took her in his arms and they were embracing each other as the door to the room opened and a young girl brought in a tray with bread, mutton, a flagon of port and some pewter mugs. The girl quickly placed the tray on the table and ran out. Mary thought for just a moment that she heard a muffled giggle.
Mary pushed Edward away from her and blushing, exclaimed, “She saw us! Whatever will she think?”
He laughed. “She’ll think we’re in love. And isn’t it true? Don’t mind her! She’s used to such sights. Come, let us enjoy the food and drink!”
“I’m famished!” she said, happily, remembering that in her excitement she had barely touched her earlier meal.
They sat down to the mutton and bread and she found it delicious. Edward insisted on pouring out the port into the mugs and made quite a ceremony of it.
“It is quiet here,” she said, sipping the port. “But why doesn’t Mrs. Wade open the shutters rather than using lamps?”
“Her customers mostly come in the evenings,” Edward said. “And it would be a nuisance for her having to continually open and close the shutters. This way it is warmer and much more quiet.”
“I suppose so,” she said. “It is the first time I have ever visited such a club.”
Edward’s eyes were fixed on her in a strange fashion and her urged her, “Do drink up your port. Don’t you like it?”
“It’s very good,” she told him. “But I’m feeling slightly dizzy. Perhaps I’ve had enough.”
“Nonsense,” he said, pouring another mug full for himself. “I’ve had at least three times as much as you. The dizziness will pass.”
So she did as he asked and drank down the rest of the port, though she truly didn’t much care for the taste. But she wanted to please him, not to spoil their glorious afternoon. He had gone to a great deal of trouble to entertain her.
“See! I told you the port would make you feel better,” he said, smiling at her across the table.
“Yes,” she managed in a small voice. For the sad fact was that her dizziness had increased rather than vanishing. The room fairly reeled around her and Edward’s face was blurred and at times out of focus.
“Mary!” he said her name and leaned across to give her a closer study.
She tried to smile but she could not manage to say anything at all. She now was floating in a kind of dazed state. It was as if she were dreaming and yet still awake. She was not able to think clearly or even to move. She just sat there, languidly drifting.
“You need to rest,” Edward said softly. He stood up. took her in his arms and carried her to the bed. He placed her down gently and she stared up at him in dazed wonder.
She had only a confused recollection of what happened next. With an expertise which she could not have expected the handsome man stripped her of her clothing. Then he stood by the bed and undressed. She saw him as though through a thick cloud and it occurred to her he was as striking looking without clothes as he had been when fully dressed.
Then he too was on the bed, his naked body pressing on hers. He held her close to him. She cried out sharply as a strange pain shot through her loins. Then the pain ebbed slowly away and a feeling of deep satisfaction followed it. She was only dimly aware of this satisfaction and of his lips caressing hers. Then she sank into a deep velvet sleep.
She awoke to find Edward fully dressed, standing by her bedside. Her head was aching and she was naked beneath the coverlet he’d thrown over her.
Dazed, she raised herself up, the coverlet pressed to her to cover her nudity. She spoke in a strained voice. “What has happened?” she managed to say.
Almost impatiently, the young man said, “You fell asleep. I had to cover you.”
“My clothes!”
He made a protesting gesture. “It’s getting late! Don’t ask a lot of silly questions! I have to get you back before seven!”
Tears brimmed in her eyes as the full realization of what had taken place finally struck her, and she reproached him with, “You’ve betrayed me!”
“Please,” he begged her, “Let us dispense with rural melodramatics! I’m going down to see if the carriage has come back. When I return I’ll expect you to be dressed. There is a basin and water on the commode!”
Having delivered himself of this he left the room. Desolate, she sat in the bed for long minutes, weeping softly. Then, still confused and dizzy, she forced herself to get up. She washed and hastily donned the items of clothing strewn on the floor by the bed. Her humiliation was great, but a greater anger was rising within her.
Putting on her pelisse and bonnet she stared at herself in the mirror. She looked as if she had been on a drunken spree. And somehow she knew it couldn’t have been the port. She’d been drugged! Somehow, while he was pouring out her drink he’d managed to place something in it. She’d heard of such stories and what happened to the girls who were victims of men such as Edward Blake. He had carried it out so well that he was evidently no novice at the game!
She hoped she could walk without staggering and she also prayed the deep shame she felt would not show in her face. How would she manage to conduct herself after she reached the house in Benjamin Square? How would she cope with the questions of Emma and the others about how she had spent her day? What a fool she had been! A trusting, ignorant fool!
Her grim reverie was broken by Edward’s return to the room. Seeing her dressed, he snapped, “The carriage is here! Thank goodness you’re ready! Even if we hurry I can barely get you back before seven.”
As they went down the stairs they were silent. From somewhere in the rear of the house there came high-pitched feminine laughter. Again Mary felt shamed and besmirched. She realized now that the charming Edward had taken her to a House of Ill Repute! Brought her to a brothel and raped her!
Edward helped her into the carriage and sat beside her. She edged as far away from him as she could. The driver started the vehicle off at a good clip. Neither spoke for a moment and then Edward turned to her and sullenly said, “Don’t pretend outraged country innocence! You knew what I had in mind and you wanted it as well!”
She stared straight ahead of her, shaking with rage. “I trusted you! Believed you! I was a ninny!”
“Don’t be so bitter!” he protested, his tone changing on the instant, “I
do
love you! I swear it! I just could not help having you! My need for you was beyond my powers of restraint!”
“Please don’t talk about it!”
“I must,” he said urgently. “I plan to speak to my father about you. He will talk to Mother. I’m sure if we handle this properly they will give us permission to marry.”
She threw him a scathing glance. “You expect me to believe that?”
“You must or our love will come to nothing,” Edward said with apparent desperation. “Just be patient for a few days. Remember that I love you and want you for my wife.”
“After what you did this afternoon you ask my
trust
?”
“I could not help myself,” Edward said unhappily. “Can you not understand?”
“No! You tricked me in a cravenly, cowardly fashion!”
“I shall make it up to you, I swear it!” he cried. “I love you beyond any girl I have ever known!”
“And did you treat those other girls as you have me?”
“Forgive me,” he said brokenly.
They made the balance of the journey in silence. The carriage stopped at the corner of Benjamin Square and Edward helped her to descend. Before she left him, he told her, “I swear I will speak to my father.”
“Please, let me go!” she said curtly.
He held onto her arm. “There is a guest room on the second floor,” he said tensely. “It is hardly ever used. Meet me there two nights from now. Come at midnight. I will be there and tell you what my father’s reaction is.”
“I’m late!” she groaned.
“Remember! Midnight! Two nights from now in the guest room on the second floor,” Edward whispered in her ear. His lips brushed her cheek as she pulled herself free from his grip and hurried down the street.
The chill of the foggy night helped clear her head a little. She made her way to the service entrance of Blake House and was fortunate in meeting no one on the way to her room. Emma was still at work in the kitchen so she undressed and quickly got into bed before her roommate came to join her. When Emma arrived she pretended to be asleep and did so well that Emma was taken in by her sham and moved about the room silently until she also got into bed and blew out the candle.
Only then did Mary dare open her eyes and stare up into the darkness. Tears seeped between her eyelids and slowly ran down her cheeks as she thought of the ugliness of it all.
Edward who had charmed her and whom she had trusted had coldly betrayed her. For a few moments she had actually hoped that he might truly be in love with her and serious about his wanting to make her his wife. There seemed little likelihood of that now! She was shamed that she had been so naive and had believed all he’d told her in the face of facts which should have made her suspicious. Because she’d trusted him! As a result she felt dirtied and cheap!
Emma woke her promptly in the morning. “Ten minutes to six,” the red-haired girl said. “You must have had a busy day! You were asleep when I came in and you slept like a log all night!”
Mary sat up in bed and nodded. “I was weary. I walked too far and had a difficult time finding my way back!”
“Did you see much of London?” Emma wanted to know.
“As much as I cared to for one day,” she said bitterly, getting up.
“You must tell me all about it!” Emma said.
“Later,” Mary said sharply as she went to wash her face. “There’s no time now!”
Luckily there was an accident in the kitchen that morning which made Emma forget everything else, including questioning her. The red-haired girl was carrying a big pot of boiling water across the room and some of it spilled and scalded her left foot and leg. A doctor was called in and took care of the burn and suggested that Emma be placed in a room by herself to rest until her foot and leg had healed.
Mrs. Birney found the girl another room and this left Mary alone. She was relieved and unhappy at the same time. Unhappy that her friend Emma should have had the accident but relieved at having her bedroom to herself and not having to answer Emma’s questions.
The first night she spent alone in the room she slept restlessly, having nightmares about Edward carrying her off to that brothel once again. She was sure she hated him but she could not get him out of her mind. And as the days passed she began to wonder if there might be any hope. If he truly would talk to his father and make some attempt to marry her.
The night when he had requested she keep a midnight rendezvous with him in the second floor guest room arrived. He was conspicuously present in the house all evening. The maid who served the family at dinner was excited that he should be home for a change.
The maid confided to Mrs. Birney, “Mr. Edward is spending the evening with his parents. Some fine lady must have jilted him!” And the maid and the cook had enjoyed a hearty laugh.
Mary had not realized the influence the charming Edward had over her. As midnight drew near she found herself awake and restless, tossing about in her bed. She gazed into the darkness and worried that she might be losing the opportunity of a lifetime. Perhaps he had remained at home to bring her the news that his father had relented and they would be able to marry. If she didn’t keep the rendezvous with him she might miss hearing this welcome news and Edward might regret his impetuous offer.
This preyed on her mind until she could stand it no longer. She rose from her bed and put on slippers and a cape and quietly made her way from the bedroom.
The house was silent and she walked slowly like a wraith along the hallway and up the back stairs to the second floor. She knew the room Edward had mentioned and went directly there. Slowly opening the door, her whole body trembling, she gazed inside. The room seemed to be deserted. She stepped into its shadows and almost immediately Edward appeared from the darkness.
“You came!” he said with subdued triumph. “I knew you would!”
“I must be a fool!” she said, a tremor in her voice.
He folded her in his arms, kissed her and held her close. “Then you are the dearest fool I have ever known!”
“Did you speak to your father?”
“Yes, and he has asked for a week or two in which to consider it. Then he will talk to my mother. I’m sure he’s going to help us,” Edward told her happily.
Tears of joy filled her eyes. “He really is willing for us to wed?”
“I am sure he is! He only waits to persuade mother! But I know he can manage her and then it will be nothing but bliss for us!” He took her in his arms again and this time he led her to the bed.
They made love as they had before. This time she found it more pleasurable. She was not drugged and she had the happy knowledge that soon she would be Edward’s wife. It was enough to make her surrender herself to him with a joyful passion!
So great was their pleasure in each other that they were not immediately aware of the door being opened and Mrs. Higgins, the housekeeper, standing there with a lamp in her hand. She took in the scene grimly and then retreated without a word, closing the door.