To Death Shall Thy Part

Chapter 5 - Farewell

The slap was so hard, Catherine falls down to the ground, her head bumped at the corner of the coffee table, blood dripping from her forehead. Hendrix assisted her and checked her wounds while her mother called for a doctor. Yet her father ordered.

"GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU IN THE FUTURE. WHAT A USELESS UNGRATEFUL CHILD."

"Frederick! How could you say that?!?!" Lady Isabella felt alarmed. Yet, Catherine just holds her hand and said that's okay.

"I know my choices must have disappointed you, but I never regret any of it. I'm really sorry." Catherine bowed once more before resolutely turned her back to them. Without even waiting for the doctor to tend to her wounds, she grabbed the bag lying underneath a table and exited the manor. She could hear the cries and pleas of her mother, causing her to cry even more, yet she didn't dare to look back.

"Why didn't you stopped her? You could have but you did nothing." Lady Isabella questions her husband angrily.

"SHE ALREADY LEFT, YET YOU STILL THINK OF HER? I DON'T HAVE A DAUGHTER ANYMORE. STOP MENTIONING HER EVER AGAIN." Lord Frederick left angrily.

Lady Isabella collapsed on the floor sobbing hard while saying Catherine's name. Hendrix just patted her back without saying anything. He looks at the door where Catherine walked and sighed. Lady Isabella grabbed Hendrix's hand and pleaded.

"Hendrix, go and get your sister back. Let's talk this out."

"Mom, it's useless. She already made her decision. Even if we bring her back here and have a heart to heart talk, she would still leave in the end. Give up mom. You'll be less sad." Hendrix continues to pat her back. After hearing her sons' word, Lady Isabella was silent for a moment before asking again.

"Did you know about this?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"A few nights ago."

"And you didn't stop her?"

"I tried to, yet she was adamant on leaving."

"I see." Lady Isabella stands up slowly, and Hendrix assisted her. She turned to look at him seriously and said.

"Does your sister have money on her? Hendrix, find her and give her some."

"Mom, don't worry, I've given her enough money to survive for a week. It is up to her how she uses it. She'll be fine. Ease yourself." Hendrix smiled to coaxed her up.

"Okay, I understand. I'm a bit tired. I wish to rest in my bedroom. No need to escort me." Lady Isabella's figure seems to aged ten years older. Her face is full of fatigue. She slowly walked to the stairs leading to the upper floor with a heavy heart. Hendrix just watched her silently until she was out of sight.

"Tsk. What a pain you are, Catherine."

Central London - Twilight Tea House

Catherine sat at the corner innermost of the tea house while waiting for her order to arrive. She decided to compose herself before hatching a plan on how to survive with only five thousand pounds. She was grateful for the money she received from her brother. With this money, she could stabilize herself within a week, enough time to find work and settle in this bustling city.

"Madam, here's your Roselle tea. Enjoy." the waiter placed a cup of tea on my table and some cookies to pair. Catherine thanked the waiter and gave him some tips. The waiter smiled and bowed once more before leaving.

Catherine smelled the tea before taking a sip. Her mind was filled with things and plans she thought. It was a good while that the tea finished. She exited the establishment and went to hail for a carriage to St. Mary's Hospital. The ride was more or less, pleasant. After climbing down the vehicle, she thanked and paid the driver. She walked to the desk information corner and asked the clerk politely.

"Excuse me, Is Lord Zachary free? I wish to speak with him."

The clerk smiled and responded politely. "May I have your name, Miss?"

"Catherine. Catherine Faucigny."

"I'll check first. Please have a seat over there." she pointed at a bench in a hallway. Catherine thanks the clerk before heading to sit. After a few minutes of waiting, a man in mid 40's wearing a white coat emerged from the corner and smiled as he looked at her. Catherine stands up and approaches him with a sweet smile.

"Lord Zachary, a pleasure to see you again." she shakes her hands with the man.

"Ah... Lady Faucigny. Nice to see you again too. Shall we talk in my office?" Lord Zachary lead the way and Catherine just nodded. As they walked in the hallway, they conversed.

"How long has it been, my lady?"

"I believe it has been a year since we last saw each other, my lord. It was during Duke Grantham's Banquet"

"Ah, time flies so fast." Catherine just chuckled as a response. When they arrived at the office, Lord Zachary opened the door for Catherine and pulled her a chair.

"Care for a tea?" Lord Zachary offered.

"Thanks, but I have to decline. I already had tea before coming here." Catherine declined politely. Lord Zachary nodded in acknowledgement and sit down in his chair and talked down to business. "So, how may I help you, Lady Catherine?"

"I wish to work here in the hospital," Catherine stated.

"I figured you would say that." Catherine raised a brow in hearing his words.

"What does my lord means?"

"Your brother sent a telegram yesterday. He said that if ever you would come to me for a job, I'll use my name and his name too as seniors who recommends you with your talent as a prerequisite." He handed him a letter addressed to Lord Zachary. There was no questioning who it was from, from the handwriting himself, she could recognize it was her brother's own handwriting.

"So that means?" Catherine inquired.

"Even though you have both our recommendations, there will be no privileges for you. Everyone is equal here. So you'll start as a Nurse Apprentice. Is that okay with you?"

"More than enough. Thank you." Catherine gratefully thank him again and chatted a bit more before leaving.

Standing at the side of a post lamp, she was looking left and right for a sign that indicates a renting place, having found none, she walked a few steps before stopping at a bar. She entered the bar and went to the island. She ordered fish and chips and asked the bartender.

"Excuse me, good sir. Can you recommend me a place to rent a loft around here?"

"Have you tried renting in 221B Street?"

"Isn't that the place of the Great Detective Sherlock Holmes?" Catherine responded.

"En. So, have you?"

"Is there any option? I heard it gets rowdy all the time due to sir Sherlock's clients."

"Then, what about the building across 221B? Have you tried?"

"Not yet. I didn't know it was also a renting apartment."

The bartender glanced upon at Catherine from head to toe, wanted to ask if she's from another country and was trying to settle down here in central London, Yet stopped himself as it sounded offensive.

"The rent is only 10 pence. Why don't you try."

"Thanks a lot. Also, can I trouble you to pack this up?"

"Okay."

She exited the building and started walking towards 236B Baker Street. Just across the famous 221B Apartment. She walked to the door and knocked two times. It was a good few minutes before the door was open by a woman in her mid-'50s. wearing an apron with a spatula on her left hand.