A Rake’s Revenge – A Regency Romance
Her Majesty's Prison Conway was built on the edge of a marsh in the Thames Estuary. In winter, it was often inaccessible due to flooding, and in summer the inmates and staff were eaten alive by bloodthirsty mosquitoes. It was built in seventeen thirty-six, with room for two hundred criminals. On the day Emily Lucas first visited the prison, it held over four hundred inmates in the worst situation of overcrowding ever known in an English prison.
At nineteen, Emily was a beautiful young woman with fair hair and a fresh complexion. There was only one horse-drawn coach a day from London to the prison, and as it was always full, a place had to be reserved well in advance. As Emily looked out of the window, she saw over the marsh to a large gray building surrounded by the mist of a damp spring day. She shivered and pulled her shawl around her slender frame.
''Ain't no escapin' from here,'' the woman next to her said as she nodded in the direction of the prison. ''My husband’s been here for six years. He was a fine-looking man when he went in. Now he's half the size, and he's riddled with worms from the bad meat they serve 'em.''
Emily thought about asking what the lady's husband had done, but she didn't really want to know. Perhaps he'd murdered someone, and she would have it on her mind for the rest of the day, if not the week.
When they arrived outside the forbidding facade, the coach driver helped the women down and gave them their luggage. Emily had brought apples and some fresh bread and butter. A large man with a barrel chest and a huge mustache came out to greet them.
''Who hasn't been here before?'' he asked. Only Emily put her hand up. ''Right then Miss, you stay close to me.'' He led them to the enormous oak door and opened a smaller door within it. When Emily stepped inside, she felt her heart sink. It was dark, cold and noisy. Very noisy. It wasn't pleasant noise like the chug machine or birds in a dawn chorus; it was the shouts and groans of male voices.
They were standing in a huge stone corridor between the main entrance and the prison. As they walked towards another large door, the sounds became louder, and Emily wanted to go back. But she'd promised herself. The warder opened the next door and showed the women to a room on the left. It had stone walls and no source of light except for a few candles hanging on the walls. Every few yards there was a table and two chairs.
''Right Miss, you sit here,'' the warder said, pointing to a table in the far corner of the room. ''He's not a violent man like some of the others.'' He nodded to the tables closer to the door. ''We keep those tables for violent men. When they start being aggressive, we can shove them back into the prison more easily from there.''
Emily looked around her. There were about ten tables in the room, and the six women she had arrived with all had a seat. A whistle blew from somewhere, and the barred door in the corner opened. The first man to come through Emily did not like the look of. When her father came through the door, she stood up to greet him and was instantly shocked. When he'd been sentenced for crimes of a financial nature three months earlier, he'd been a tall man with blonde hair and a muscular physique. Now he stooped, and his face was dirty. His hair looked as if it hadn't been washed for as long as he'd been in the terrible place.
''Father, oh father,'' Emily cried as she held her arms out.
''Sit down, Miss,'' the warder shouted from his seat next to the door.
''You look so tired. Are you alright?'' she asked.
Her father looked at her blue eyes and beautiful face and smiled. Emily gasped when she noticed he had a tooth missing. ''I'm as well as can be expected, my dear.
''It's a horrible place. I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier, it is so difficult to get here, the coach is always full. I tried and tried but....'' she felt tears coming but stopped herself. She had to be strong for him.
''Don't upset yourself. You are my darling daughter, and it pains me more than anything else to see you upset.'' He took her hands in his. The warder stood up and walked over to them. When he was confident Emily was not passing her father anything sinister, he went away again. ''Are you happy living with your cousins?''
''I would be happier living with you and ma'ma,'' Emily said as she looked at his long finger nails.
''Of course, my dear. But we can't go back. When I close my eyes in the evening, your mother talks to me. She tells me to get out of here safely and to look after you. I miss your mother terribly but she's in heaven now, and we can't bring her back.''
''I wish we could,'' Emily said dejectedly. ''I feel so alone without you and her. It was so lovely when we lived in Kingston, in our house with the garden and the river. Do you remember the tree father?'' her face lit up momentarily. ''You made me a house in the tree, and we sometimes sat up there and drank tea.''
Her father nodded and smiled again. ''Listen to me Emily,'' his grip increased on her hand as if that would make her listen more closely. ''You will be safe at your cousins. Aunt Beatrice, Helen, and James are good people. They will look after you, and help you over the next five years until I get out of here. Who knows, you may even find a husband in that time,'' he said trying to lighten the mood.
Emily wanted to fall in love and be as happy as her parents had been. She'd seen how beautiful their love for one another was. Emily suddenly thought about her mother and how awful it had been when she'd died. Her mother had been the cornerstone of the family. Her father had owned a very successful building company, and he'd been well respected in London. His services had been in demand by the rich and famous, and at some point, he became so busy he'd employed a firm of accountants to deal with his finances. The family were suddenly rich and had moved into a large house on the Thames, in Kingston, a well-to-do suburb of London. Despite taking advice as to the reputation of the firm of accountants and its owner, he found himself bereft of funds very soon afterwards. When he couldn't pay his bills, he was arrested for non-payment of tax and sentenced to five years in prison.
''I've brought you some apples, bread, and butter,'' Emily said lifting the bag onto the table. The warder came across and looked.
When it was time to go, Emily clung to her father and had to be pulled away from him. When she was outside in the fresh air, she vomited. ''Don't worry about it, young lady, it gets us all like that the first time,'' a fat lady with a dirty coat said.
*****
''Emily, Emily,'' Helen shrieked as she bounced into Emily's bedroom. Emily was lying under the covers thinking about her father and the awful place he was in. ''We're going to a party, look.'' Helen looked at the bed and saw Emily's face appear.
''That will be nice,'' she said in a melancholy tone'' She hadn't slept and she had dark rings under her eyes.
''Emily, I'm going to take you in hand. It's no good, I can't stand by and watch you torture yourself anymore. Now sit up and listen to me.''
Helen was nineteen and full of life. She'd had a privileged upbringing in a large house, with servants and acres of garden to play in. Her mother Beatrice, Emily's mother's sister, had married a stock broker who'd died at a young age and left her a fortune. She'd never remarried and brought Helen and James up by herself. ''We've been invited to a party by Roger Carruthers, it's his twenty-first birthday. Do you know the Carruthers family?''
''No, I don't,'' Emily said looking at the gold colored card in Helen's hand.
''Well, they are very rich, and all of society will be there. I know you are feeling melancholy about your father, but you can't do anything about the situation. You need to start eating more, you're so thin. We'll find you a beautiful dress and a lovely pair of shoes, and we'll go to the party and enjoy ourselves.''
Enough Emily told herself. Helen was right, she couldn't change the situation, so she would begin to live her life. ''Do you have a dress I can borrow? All my dresses went into the auction when they sold our house.''
''We will do better than that. I'll ask mother if we can go shopping. We'll both buy a new dress and new shoes and new everything,'' Helen threw her hands into the air in a gesture of jubilation. Emily laughed, Helen's mood was infectious.
Helen somehow managed to convince her mother that she and Emily desperately needed a new dress each, and new shoes, and if mother could possibly afford it, new shawls. Aunt Beatrice was concerned about Emily and thought it would do her good to go out into town and be treated. Helen jumped up and down when he mother nodded in agreement. ''Can we go today mother, please?'' she begged.
That evening, Emily and Helen stood in Emily's room and looked at the spread of new clothes in front of them. Two dresses, two pairs of shoes and two magnificent shawls. ''Come on, let's dress up,'' Helen suggested. When Emily nodded, she rang for her lady's maid. When Jane arrived, she was confronted by two giggly girls standing in their undergarments. Jane was twenty-three and had been with the family for two years. She was from Yorkshire, a no-nonsense woman with a dry sense of humor.
''Right, Miss Helen, stop dancing around and stand still,'' she said as she put the dress over Helen's head. It was a navy blue and made of satin. Helen raised her arms, and it fell down over her. ''Mrs Jones really has a good eye, doesn't she,'' Helen said of the lady who owned the dress shop in town.
''She does. You look lovely,'' Emily said looking at the way the dress hugged Helen's large cleavage. Jane fastened the back of the dress, and Helen did some twirls in front of the mirror.
Jane turned her attention to Emily whose dress was red. Jane liked Emily. She was a sensible woman who had the same kind of humor as she did. Unlike Helen, who Jane found shallow and excitable, Emily had depth to her character. She was intelligent, well read and interested in more than parties. Whenever Jane helped Emily to dress, she was impressed when Emily talked about the situation in the Crimea and the plight of the poor. Jane also liked dressing Emily for another reason. Emily was a beautiful woman with a perfect figure, and she carried her clothes so elegantly. Helen was stocky, but Emily was tall and slender, with a decent bust and curvaceous hips.
Helen looked on jealously as Jane fastened the back of Emily's dress and stood away to look at her. ''You look very elegant, indeed,'' Jane said. Helen wondered why she hadn't said that about her. Emily looked in the mirror and gasped. The dress flowed over her beautiful body touching all the places gentlemen so admired. Emily liked the color, it was between deep red and maroon. The edging around the puff sleeves was the same color as her eyes, Mediterranean blue.
*****
It was a windy April evening when Helen and Emily set off in the coach to the Carruthers residence. The horses pulling the carriage were restless, and they pulled at a rate the coachman didn't agree with. As he held them on the reigns, the coach lurched from slow to fast in sequence, throwing Emily and Helen around until they both began to feel travel sick. Helen leaned out of the window and shouted, ''Driver please, we are being thrown around mercilessly, kindly do something about it.''
When they arrived, the two ladies clambered out of the coach, grateful to be on firm ground. Emily looked at the house. It was a large English manor house with a great lawn in front of it. The oak tree in the middle reminded Emily of the tree at their previous home in Kingston. The one her father had made a tree house in. A footman in a wig and breeches accompanied them to the ballroom in a side wing to the house. When they went inside, the party was already underway.
The ballroom was the most magnificent room Emily had ever seen. A highly decorated ceiling held six large chandeliers which she noted were swinging gently back and forth as the warm air rose to them. The dance floor was full of couples dancing in rings around each other. Emily so hoped she'd fill her dance card because she loved dancing. Her mother had taught her all the popular dances, and on the odd occasion she had gone to a ball, she'd received compliment after compliment about her dancing.
''Emily, look.'' Emily followed Helen's outstretched arm.
''Ah, cousin James. He looks very handsome, doesn't he,'' she said.
''No, I am not talking about my brother, I'm talking about the man next to him. Mr. Dirksen. He's so handsome.''
Emily looked at him. Helen was right, he was the most handsome man in the room. Tall, dark and beautifully dressed in a blue tail coat with matching waistcoat and white trousers, he looked so noble.
James saw the two ladies and motioned for them to come over. ''Emily, I don't think you know Mr. Edward Dirksen?''
''No, indeed I do not. My pleasure sir,'' she said curtsying.
Edward took her hand and touched his lips with it. ''The pleasure is mine,'' he said. ''Miss Emily, James has told me a lot about you. He says your dancing is exemplary, would you do me the honor of adding me to your dance card?''
''Yes, sir, it would be a pleasure. I look forward to it.'' She noticed how Edward looked at her. It was the look her mother had told her about. When a man's eyes drop from your eyes to your chest, it's one thing, but when his eyes travel back again you know he is interested in you, she'd always said. And if her mother had known how women looked at men, she would have seen that Emily was more than interested in Mr. Edward Dirksen.
''I am sorry to hear that your mother passed away recently,'' Edward said. Emily dropped her eyes to the floor. ''I see that I have upset you. I only mention it because the same thing happened to me, five months ago.''
Emily looked up at him sympathetically. If he knew how she felt, he would understand why she sometimes didn't want to get out of bed. ''I am sorry to hear that. It is a terrible feeling isn't it?''
''Yes indeed it is. Perhaps I should have expected it at my age.''
''Why, sir?''
''I am twenty-nine, and I suppose the older you get, the more likely it is that your will lose your parents.''
Ten years older than me, she thought. Interesting, why hasn't he got a wife? It isn't because of his looks, perhaps he has been too cautious and prospective wives had become tired of waiting for him. ''I think whenever it happens it is terrible.''
''Let us talk of something more pleasant,'' he said. ''May I tell you how extremely beautiful you are?''
''Thank you, sir. I am pleased you find me so. May I ask what you do for a living?''
''I am a gentleman. I support several good causes but mostly I am involved with a church group which helps people in need.''
''So you are rich,'' she said with a smile.
''Yes I suppose you could say I am. My family owns an estate in Surrey called Cobham Hall. Perhaps you've heard of it?''
''Yes, I have been there. I am sure my father did some building work there. I used to go with him. It was in summer, maybe three years ago.''
''Yes that's it. I think the firm was called Lucas.''
''Then it was my father. I remember your house. Oh, it's very beautiful, and the gardens are fabulous.''
''My mother was the gardener, I'm afraid it doesn't look nearly as pleasant now.''
They danced with each other, and he was very impressed by Emily's ability. She was light and graceful, and the sight of her smiling at him as her breasts wiggled made him feel excited. He already knew he wanted her.
*****
Henry Lucas bit into one of the apples his daughter had brought him. It was the only one he had left, the others had all been stolen, as had the bread and butter. As the sweetness engulfed his palate, he closed his eyes and thought of his wife. When her pretty face rolled across his mind, he cringed at her last words. ''Look after our daughter.'' He hadn't, he was stuck in this place, leaving her to fend for herself.
''Henry Lucas, are you in here?'' a voice shouted from the front of the cell he was sitting in with twelve other men.
He stood up and looked at the shaft of light coming in as the door opened.
''I am, who wants me?''
''Come out here,'' the warder said, the keys on his belt swinging to and fro. Henry stepped out of the cell and fell to the ground as someone hit him on the skull from behind. He groaned and tried to get up, but a boot on his neck held him down.
''You can go now, warden,'' the man said. ''Very kind of you to point him out to me, here's what we agreed.'' He handed the warden some money and the warden left them to it. He'd got his money and didn't care what happened to any of his prisoners. As far as he was concerned they were all criminals and deserved to die.
The man bent down and pulled Henry to his feet. He was a big man, probably a hired thug Henry thought. Henry sank to his knees again after the man hit him with force in the stomach. He groaned, resting on his hands and knees. Not finished yet, the man brought his knee down onto the back of Henry's head, flattening his face against the ground. As Henry looked along the ground, he saw the feet of another man standing in front of him.
''Henry, how nice to see you again. I'm sure you're enjoying His Majesty's hospitality.'' Henry recognized the raspy voice. It belonged to Benjamin Harvie, the man he'd entrusted with the finances of his business before Harvie had robbed him. ''I hear you've been talking about me, to the constabulary. Well, I'm here to tell you to stop.'' Harive nodded to the big man who pulled Henry to his feet once more. He held him by the throat as Harvie continued. ''Stop talking to the constabulary about me or your daughter gets it, do you understand?'' The mention of his daughter drove Henry to kick out at Harvie, earning him a punch in the face from the thug. ''Teach him a proper lesson, then throw him back in the cell,'' Harvie said as he walked away. When the big man threw Henry back into his cell, some of the other prisoners wretched at the sight of him. Only one prisoner helped him, the Reverend Peter Wright.
*****
Having been invited to Cobham Hall, Emily asked Helen to be her chaperon. When their carriage arrived outside the stately home, Edward was waiting to meet them. Emily looked out of the window and instantly recognized the place that she had visited with her father a few years ago.
''Emily, Helen, how nice to see you. Thank you for coming to Cobham Hall.'' He took Emily's hand and held it to his lips. They looked each other in the eyes and smiled, a loving smile. ''Come inside and take tea with me,'' he said.
They drank tea and talked about the weather and other mundane subjects until Edward began to find Helen's presence irritating. He called his sister who Helen knew. ''Helen would you like go into the garden with Mary? It's such a nice day.'' Helen looked at Emily, who nodded her approval.
''Emily,'' he said once Helen and his sister had left. ''How I have longed to see you again. I have thought about nothing else but you since we first met at Carruthers.''
''And I you Edward. I have missed you too.''
He stood up and sat next to her on the sofa. ''I am in love with you Emily.''
Emily pouted at him, and he kissed her. When he pulled back, Emily took his lapel and tugged him towards her again for more. ''And I am in love with you, Edward,'' she whispered.
Edward looked out of the window and saw Helen and his sister setting off on a walk of the grounds. ''Come with me, my dear,'' he said. Emily looked at him quizzically.
''If you want me to follow you to your bedroom, I will only do so if you promise to marry me.''
''I promise, I will marry you, there is nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you.''
Emily stood up and followed him upstairs. If Helen came back, she would have to wait for her, she thought. She was good enough to keep her mouth closed and not tell her aunt.
The bedroom Edward took her to wasn't large or overly luxurious, it was intimate. The fire was lit and the afternoon sunlight shone through the window. The bed was a small four-poster covered in white linen. There was room for a small chest of drawers and an easy chair.
''So this is your private retreat,'' Emily said, impressed by the ambiance.
''Yes, I like this room. Most of all I like the bed, it's very comfortable.''
Emily sat on the edge and tested it. ''Indeed, it is, very comfortable.''
He took her hand and pulled her to her feet again. ''I love you, Emily, and I want you.'' They kissed, a passionate kiss that left them both gasping for breath. He stepped back and looked at her. Her blue eyes shone in expectation, and her face was slightly flushed with excitement. He kissed her again, this time, his hands snapping open the buttons on the back of her dress. When he'd finished, he pushed the dress back from her shoulders. Her breasts sprang free, and he bent down and kissed her nipples. Emily held her breath and closed her eyes. What he was doing was making her more excited than she had ever been before. She had on the odd occasion explored her own body, and even brought herself to orgasm, but her climaxes had been devoid of the kind of passion he was creating in her now.
She had never seen a naked man before, and she was curious. When she looked down at him, she could see his manhood outlined in his trousers. She couldn't resist, and she placed her hand on him. She was surprised by how hard it was and how it seemed to move when she touched it. Sensing she was eager, Edward unfastened his trousers and dropped them to his ankles. Emily now had access to his naked flesh, and she wanted to explore it. She ran her hands over his thighs and onto his buttocks, they felt heavy and taught. As her hands returned to the front of him, she began to play with his balls. She loved the feeling of them. Everything on her body was smooth and delicate but his sack was rough to touch and the hairs coarse. She loved the contrast of their bodies. She moved her hand to his shaft and was amazed how hard it was. She had no idea what to do, but instinct told her to stroke up and down, and when she did his moans confirmed she'd made the right decision.
They undressed each other, taking their time. When they were both naked Edward picked her up and placed her gently on the bed. As he lowered her, Emily took hold of his shaft and pulled it towards her. When she licked the tip, he dropped her, turned her to him and pushed her legs open. What he did next, Emily could never have imagined would please her so much. His tongue found her womanhood making her scream. Two minutes later she was straining against his mouth as her orgasm crashed over her. As her breathing slowed down, he climbed on top of her and placed himself at her entrance. When he pushed into her, she moaned and pawed at the bed sheets. When he was fully in her, she felt for the first time in her life what it was like to be filled by a man.
His thrusts took her breath away, and soon she began to pant again. He cupped her face and kissed her. Her complexion was flushed with the effort of their love-making and her neck damp. As she moved her head from side to side, he increased the pressure of his thrusts and bent down to take a nipple in his mouth. Emily came again, thrusting her legs around him and grinding her pelvis against his. She was quite exhausted, but the feelings he was awakening in her were so strong and pleasurable that she didn't want it to end. Edward was finding it difficult not to come. She was so beautiful, he'd had to close his eyes on occasions. Every time he looked at her face, her breasts and down to the soft thighs that cradled her pubic hair, he felt driven to the edge. Now he was unable to prolong it any longer. Emily gasped as he pounded her harder. When he called out her name, she felt a gush of warmth deep inside her, and it felt wonderful. What she'd liked most about the whole experience was how much she'd turned him on.
*****
The party season was in full swing when Emily, Helen, James, and Edward were invited to a ball at the home of the Duke of Marlborough. The Duke's palace was just outside London and set in some of the most splendid parkland in the country. As their coach approached the palace, Emily hopped in delight as she saw a stag grazing in the middle of a huge group of doe. When the coach pulled up in front of the enormous building, one of the horses neighed as if telling the passengers to get out. Edward jumped down and held out a hand for Emily.
''I love you,'' he whispered to her. He looked around to see no one was within earshot, ''I want to make love to you this evening, here at this ball. I will find a place.'' She looked at him in a show of mock disapproval.
They'd been seeing each other since April. It was now June, and they'd become inseparable. They made love whenever they could persuade Helen to turn a blind eye, and Edward had taught Emily things she'd never thought about. When he'd knelt behind her and pulled her bottom up, she'd had no idea he could enter her from such a direction and when he'd lifted her up and made love to her in the standing position she'd become so excited he'd had to put his hand over her mouth.
The ball room was much the same as most of the other ballrooms they had visited since the beginning of May, except it was much larger. The Duke of Marlborough had a large estate and was the second richest man in the country. Emily had never been in such a large crowd and even Edward, who had ten years more experience of the ball circuit than Emily had never been to a ball attended by so many people.
As they walked between the guests, Edward had never been prouder. Emily turned heads wherever they went and this evening she seemed to be turning more than usual. Helen and Emily had taken full advantage of Aunt Beatrice's generosity and visited the dress shop in town several times since April. On one occasion Emily had asked Jane to come along and give advice. When Emily had tried on a pastel green dress with dark green edging and a low decollete, she'd thought it inappropriate, but Jane had persuaded her to take it and wear it to this ball.
''You are a beautiful young woman. Time passes quickly, and soon enough you will be married, and nobody will look at you anymore. Take the opportunity now to feel what it's like to be a worshiped.'' Jane's words had persuaded Emily to be daring. Jane had been right; male adoration was beginning to make her feel like a Goddess.
''Who were you talking to?'' she asked Edward as he returned to her. ''I mean the tall man with the large nose and exaggerated sideburns.''
''Oh, that's just someone who pulled me to one side for a moment. Are you going to visit your father soon?''
Emily was taken aback. ''I have booked another coach trip at the end of the month. It's so difficult to get a seat. I asked Aunt Beatrice if her coach could take me, but she told me private coaches weren't allowed within three miles of the prison.''
Edward was sorry he'd asked the question. She'd had such a loving expression on her face, and she was plainly enjoying the evening very much, but the mention of the father had changed that. ''I'm sorry to bring it up now. Let's dance.'' Dancing restored Emily's mood, and as she circled Edward in her daring dress, his desire began to flow. When he suddenly pulled Emily from the dance floor, she wondered why. ''Look,'' he whispered. When she did, what she saw made her giggle. ''You understand now why I couldn't continue,'' he said as he tried to pull his jacket closed. She nodded and began to laugh.
''What is it?'' Emily asked when she saw the expression on Edward's face. His murderous expression frightened her. ''My dear, stay here and talk to Helen and James. I have some business to attend to. I'll be back very soon.'' She nodded and watched him weave between the guests and stop next to a tall man and a shorter bald man, neither of whom Emily liked the look of.
After twenty minutes of Helen's incessant gossiping, Emily decided to see if Edward was alright. She was worried about him, the expression he'd worn had shocked her, she'd never seen him look that way before. As she walked towards them, she wondered who the two men were. They both looked like rogues, one of them had a nasty scar on his face, and the other had a shaven head.
''No, that's not her. That's just some woman from the village I'm friendly with. She's very good in bed, but horrible to talk to. I'm just having some fun with her before I find someone better.''
Emily's legs turned to rubber, and she felt a cold sweat flow over her. Had it really been Edward she'd heard uttering these words. How could he? What was he doing? He was using her and didn't love her after all. She turned away and started to walk away from him as quickly as she could. All she thought of was leaving the room before she was sick over someone.
Edward saw her out of the corner of his eye and wanted to run after her, but he was trapped. He'd convinced the two men her name was Mary Cooper, a girl from a village nearby, who he was using to satisfy his sexual urges. If he ran after he now, he would blow it.
''Emily, wait, stop,'' Helen said as she ran over the lawn. ''Emily what's the matter?'' Emily saw a bush and darted behind it. When Helen caught up with her, she heard Emily's sobbing interspersed with the hideous sound of her retching.
''Oh, my Lord, dear Emily, what on earth is the matter?'' she said as she pushed the bush to one side to get to her cousin. When she saw her, Helen was shocked. Emily was on her hands and knees, her eyes were red, and there were the remains of vomit on her chin.
Emily looked up at her with glazed eyes. ''I want you to take me home, now. And I want you to deliver a message to Mr. Dirksen. Tell him I never want to see him again. Tell him to go to hell.''
''But Emily.....'' Helen was about to ask why.
''Shut your mouth and do as I say,'' Emily growled. Helen nodded and was silent during the journey home.
*****
The journey to the prison didn't seem as long this time. Perhaps because it was more familiar, Emily thought. As they drew up to the huge door, her mind thought over what had happened since the last time she'd seen her father. Edward Dirksen was her first thought, but she was relieved when she was interrupted by the coach driver who swore when he couldn't get the door open. ''Push from inside'' he shouted. The ample woman sitting next Emily pushed against it with her posterior and it sprung open.
Emily waited at the same table as the last time. It was a different warden, he looked kinder. A few gruesome looking men walked into the room and sat down with their wives. When Henry walked into the room, Emily immediately began to cry. Both his eyes were half closed and swollen, and he could barely walk. As he limped towards her, she put her hand over her mouth and bit into her finger.
''Father, what have they done to you?'' she howled. Everyone in the room started across at them.
''Don't be upset Emily,'' he said as he sat down. ''I'm alright.''
''But you don't look alright. I'm going to see the warden about this.'' Emily stood up, but her father stopped her.
''Sit down,'' he commanded. She did. ''I was beaten up by some people over money. A very kind man helped me, I'm recovering. Please, Emily, stop crying, I'll be alright.''
Emily sniffed and wiped her nose. ''I'm sorry, but seeing you like this has been a terrible shock. I've brought some food for you, look.'' Her father peered through his swollen eyes to the bag she was holding. The sight of fresh red apples, and a pot of strawberry jam lifted his spirits.
''So tell me, Emily, what have you been up to? How are Aunt Beatrice and your cousins?''
''Well, I think.''
''You think?''
''I left London, and went to stay with Aunt Prudence in Norwich.''
''But why? My sister has no children for you to socialize with.''
Emily looked at her father's hands. They were black, and some of his nails were lifting off. ''Because a man of cousin James' acquaintance has wronged me in the most terrible way, and I couldn't bear to be anywhere near him.''
''And how are you feeling now?''
Emily wanted to say, devastated, weepy, nauseous and crushed, but didn't want her father to be concerned about her. ''I'm fine. I will never let a man treat me like that ever again. I will never suffer from a broken heart, ever again.''
He patted her hand and looked into her eyes. ''I love you. You are all I've got in the world, and when I get out of here, I'll build us another splendid house to live in, and the best tree house in England.''
Emily nodded and smiled, but the thought that he may not survive long enough crossed her mind, and her smile turned into a frown.
*****
Throughout the winter, Emily visited her father as often as she could from her home in Norwich. Each time, she took fresh fruit in an attempt to prevent him from succumbing to some of the horrible diseases in the prison. Aunt Prudence proved to be an accommodating host and kept Emily amused. It had been a long cold winter, and Emily began to think of London and the new season. She didn't want to see Edward again, but she wasn't going to find a husband in Norwich. She needed to go back to the city and find a man to settle down with before she became too old. Aunt Prudence was loathed to see her go, but understood. Indeed, it was Aunt Prudence who suggested she should go and stay with her sister in law, Mary Coates, who lived in the heart of the city of London.
When Emily arrived, she was pleased to see she was right in the middle of all the action. Mary was married to a banker, and the bankers lived in the city center, in magnificent town houses. Eighteen Jackson Row was just like all the others in the street. A black railing surrounding a small front garden, and a black front door with a window above it and a brass doorknocker in the center.
When Emily arrived for the first time, she was greeted by Christopher Coates, Mary's son. Agreeable, Emily thought as she looked at the tall young man. He was dark, and his eyes told her that he was a kind soul. Over the coming weeks, she became very fond of him, and they began to spend more and more time together.
''He's so handsome,'' Helen said when she came to visit. ''He really is quite the most handsome man I have ever seen. Much more handsome than Edward.''
The sound of the name Edward shocked Emily. She'd thought of him all winter, every day, and for some part of every hour. In the end, she'd forced him out of her mind in a savage attempt at self-preservation. Now he was there again. Helen wasn't correct, Edward was far more handsome than Christopher, but Christopher was adequately handsome. He also had good prospects in the bank which his father ran, and Emily saw a decent future for herself with him.
The British Bankers Association Ball is always on the third Saturday in May, and this year was no exception. Emily, tired by the winter and depressed by her failed relationship with Edward, had decided to wear the green dress which showed off her breasts so well.
Emily was surprised how well Christopher could dance. Much better than Edward. Christopher for his part, didn't take his eyes off Emily for a second that evening. When she moved her breasts jiggled seductively, and he felt himself getting hard on at least three occasions.
''Emily, will you walk with me outside, we can ask Helen to accompany us?'' Emily agreed and as they walked, Helen, who'd learned much about being a chaperon from Emily's previous encounter, stayed a discreet distance behind them. Helen was jealous, Emily always took the most handsome men. Christopher made Helen feel like a silly schoolgirl, and when she looked at him, she felt warmth rising in her belly.
Helen held her hand to her mouth and tried not to scream in frustration when she saw Christopher go down on one knee in front of Emily. When she saw Emily nod, she ran back into the ball.
''Mr. Christopher has asked me to marry him,'' Emily said to Helen upon her return to the ballroom.
''I know, I saw him. And I saw you say yes.''
''Helen, please be happy for me, you should see the grumpy expression on your face.'' But Helen couldn't hide her disappointment.
*****
Emily hadn't wanted to go to the Duke of Marlborough's ball. It held unpleasant memories. It had been at this ball, a year ago, that her life had fallen apart when she'd overheard Edward talking about her in such a despicable way. She was no longer surprised by his behavior on that evening. On several occasions during the current season, young women had told her that she'd had a lucky escape, from him. When she inquired why, all of them told her the same thing. That he'd become a serial womanizer, a rake, who spent no more than two weeks with each of his conquests before moving mercilessly to the next.
Christopher had eventually persuaded her to go because it was the highlight of the season, and because he wanted to be seen with her. She'd been very insistent that she didn't want to go, but he'd called her mean and narrow-minded, so she'd relented.
It was just like the previous year, crowded. Emily turned as many heads as she had done last time, and Christopher was just as proud of her as Edward had been.
When Emily and Christopher danced, she suddenly felt it. It was like a surgeon's lance, piercing the back of her head. As she weaved her way around the other dancers and back to Christopher, the feeling intensified making it difficult for her to concentrate.
When she looked to her left she saw him standing at the edge of the dance floor, his eyes fixed on her and a look of hurt etched across his face. She felt her heart racing and tiny drops of perspiration developing on her upper lip. Her legs felt numb, and she had to stop the dance.
''What's wrong, Emily?'' Christopher asked as he followed her. ''You can't just stop in the middle of a dance.''
''Christopher, I told you I didn't want to come to this ball, for God's sake, leave me alone,'' she said. He stopped and watched as she made her way to the ladies room. He went to join Helen and her group, much to Helen's delight.
When Emily emerged from the comfort of the ladies restroom, Edward was waiting for her. He took hold of her arm and pulled her into a corner where they were relatively free from view.
''Emily, what have you done to me?'' Edward asked.
What have I done to him, what a cheek, she thought. ''I have done nothing to you, Edward. You are a dishonorable man and I treated you as you deserved to be treated.'' Emily felt her heart fluttering and her knees shaking. She could see how crushed he was, and it pained her. She wanted nothing more than to feel his naked body on top of hers, but he had said something terrible, and she could never trust him again.
''Why do you say I am dishonorable, please justify yourself?''
''Justify myself? Justify myself?'' Emily was close to rage. ''It is you who should justify yourself. I heard what you said to those men last year, at this very ball. What you said was cruel and unforgivable. You used me for your own indecent gratification. You will never do that to me again.''
''But Emily you left without speaking to me. You have no idea what went on in that conversation. You jumped to conclusions.''
''Conclusions?'' He stood back from her as she took hold of his jacket and twisted it. ''All I know is what I heard, and nothing could justify what you said, nothing.''
''But Emily, I love you, I have always loved you. I want to be with you.''
''Well you have a strange way of showing it. I hear you have turned into a womanizer. I believe there isn't a single woman in London who you haven't taken to your bed.''
He was shocked at her accusation. ''That is not true. I have seen some young ladies, but only to help me over the distress of losing you. And it didn't work, I will never get over you.''
''It's too late, Edward,'' she said. Emily wanted to cry, his impassioned pleas had made the river of desire within her flow again, and she yearned to feel him inside her. But she could never trust him again, and her life with Christopher would be much calmer and less fraught.
''Do you deny me because you are with someone?''
''Partly.''
''The man you were dancing with is not worthy of you. Emily, you are intelligent and a free spirit. You have the most amazing sense of humor and you are compassionate. He won't make you happy, he will stifle you in a swamp of domesticity. He's a gray banker, they are all the same.''
Helen must have told him who Christopher was. ''I will soon be his wife. Goodbye, Edward.'' Don't go, kiss him, pull him to you and kiss him, a voice said to her. But her body turned away and took her into the crowd.
*****
Christopher was at the bank, and his mother had gone out to a women's luncheon. Around twelve o'clock there was a loud bang at the door. Emily sat and waited for Rodgers the butler to answer it, but when the person knocked again, she remembered it was his day off, and apart from cook she was alone in the house. She put her sampler down on the sofa and went to the door.
She recognized the man standing in front of her. It was the man with the big nose and exaggerated sideburns that she'd seen at the Duke of Marlborough's ball a year ago. He was the man Edward had first spoken to before he'd spoken so badly of her.
''Miss Emily Lucas?'' he asked. She nodded. ''Splendid. I'm afraid the man I'm with is a very slow walker,'' he said as he pointed down the street.
''Father, father, oh father,'' she said as she bolted out of the door and down the street. He was frail, and she almost knocked him over in her enthusiasm.
''Emily. Oh, it's so good to see you,'' He put his arm around her, and she helped him up the garden step and into the house. She shouted to the cook to bring some tea and sat her father in the most comfortable chair in the drawing room.
''I cannot believe it's you, father.'' His eyes were less swollen than the last time she had seen him, and his lips had recovered but he had lost more weight, and he looked like a bag of bones.
''How did you manage to get out of that terrible place?'' she asked.
''May I introduce myself,'' the other man said. ''I am the Bishop of Denningsborough. Do you know a man called Edward Dirksen?''
''Yes, I do,'' Emily said.
''Well if it weren't for Mr. Dirksen, your father would still be in that horrible place.''
''I don't understand,'' Emily said, looking at her father and then the Bishop.
''Mr. Dirksen is a very active member of a group in the church that looks after the needy.''
''Yes, I know, he mentioned some church group he was involved with.''
''Well, via that organization, Mr. Dirksen has campaigned tirelessly for your father's release.''
''Are you alright?'' her father asked, as Emily's complexion turned white.
''In the prison with your father was a vicar by the name of Peter Wright. He too got into trouble financially, and they ended up in the same cell.'' The Bishop stopped speaking when the cook arrived with the tea. She placed a cup and saucer in front of each of them and the tea pot close to Emily. ''I visited Reverend Wright very often,'' the Bishop continued, ''and in the process got to know your father. It came to my attention via the church organization that Mr. Dirsken was trying to secure your father's release. I met Mr. Dirksen on two occasions. We talked about the best way to go about getting your father and Revered Wright freed.''
Emily was struggling to keep up with developments. Edward had done all this, and he'd never told her, even when they'd spoken at the last ball. Why hadn't he said something?
''During one of my visits, Reverend Wright told me your father had been badly beaten by some men who came to the prison. The same men who had stolen all your father's money, his former accountants.''
Emily looked at her father who nodded.
''Unfortunately, these men also threatened your life, Emily.''
''What?'' Emily gasped. She was about to pour the tea but stopped as her hands began to tremble.
''They told your father that if he talked to the police about them, they would harm you.'' The Bishop stroked his sideburns and fiddled with a large ring on his little finger. ''Those same men turned up at the Duke of Marlborough's ball last year. Luckily I was able to warn Mr. Dirksen, and he threw them off your track by telling them that you weren't Emily Lucas.''
''He told them I was just a woman from a local village and that he barely knew me,'' Emily said, completing the Bishop's story. ''I need to go out now. Will you come with me?'' she asked.
''To where,'' her father asked.
''To Cobham Hall.''
*****
Emily jumped out of the coach before it had come to a halt and ran to the door. The door knocker shook on its base as she hammered with it. The butler looked startled when Emily ran past him without saying anything. ''Edward, Edward,'' she shouted frantically running from room to room.
''Mr. Edward is outside in the garden,'' the butler pointed out.
She ran to the back door and out into the garden. Again she shouted his name. Edward stopped reading the newspaper and looked across the terrace. When he saw Emily, he jumped to his feet. ''I'm here.''
''Oh, Edward,'' she shouted as she ran to him. ''Edward, I'm so sorry, I have been terrible to you. Please forgive me. You must take me back. I don't want to live without you.'' She reached him and flung her arms around his neck.
''Calm yourself, Emily,'' he said.
''But how can I be calm after what I have done to you. I am a terrible person.''
''No, you are not. You are an adorable woman who I love very much, but thought I'd lost.''
''Will you ever forgive me? The Bishop and my father have told me how hard you have been working to secure my father's release. I will be forever in your debt.''
''The last time I spoke to you, you were engaged to another man,'' he reminded her.
''I want you, not him. The engagements off, as of this moment.''
He kissed her. ''In that case, why not get engaged to me instead?''
''Yes, yes, oh yes please,'' Emily said, ecstatically.
''Mr. Dirksen, thank you for all you have done to secure my release, I will be forever in your debt,'' Emily's father said when he and the Bishop had caught up.
''Not at all, sir. I am pleased you are now a free man.''
''But how exactly did you secure his release?'' Emily said still slightly confused. ''My father was convicted by a court, how did you get the decision reversed?''
''That was easy. You remember your father built a large extension onto this house?'' Emily nodded. ''I still have all the paperwork including a letter from Mr. Benjamin Harvie the accountant that your father employed at the time,'' Edward spoke slowly and deliberately. ''In the letter, Mr. Harvie informed me that I should pay the invoice for the work done into a different bank account than the one I had originally been given. As the letter was from a firm of professional accountants working on behalf of your father, I duly did as he requested.''
''And?'' Emily interrupted eagerly.
''It was a very large amount, I believe it was the largest job your father had ever done.'' Emily's father nodded. ''When I heard what had happened to your father, I went to the authorities and told them how much I had paid and asked them to investigate.'' Edward looked to see if Emily was still following. She was nodding keenly so he continued. ''They found that the account was in the name of Mr. Harvie himself, not his company. They also had no record of Mr. Harvie ever having declared this amount, and many other amounts which had flowed into his account, to the taxman. Mr. Harvie was arrested for tax evasion two days ago, and your father duly released.''
Emily sighed with relief. ''I have just one more question,'' she said. ''You didn't know about my father's plight until I told you, is that correct?'' Edward nodded. ''Then in effect, you did this for me.''
''I suppose so. But don't tell your father,'' he said with a grin.
''I love you, Edward Dirksen.'' Emily said.
*****
THE END