A Girl Who Can Dream

Chapter the Seventh

Everything. What did he mean by that? What did this evil man, this evil Sir Victor, want with someone like me?

I kept my head held high and stared above him, like he wasn't someone worth looking at. "Everything, Sir Victor? What do you even want from me, what do I really even have? A say in court? I have none, my father takes that responsibility and I couldn't go even if I wanted to, as a lady. Freedom? I'm a woman, I have none. I cannot even choose the field in which I want to go into life. Happiness? How can I have any of that for you to even steal if I have none of the above? Please, sir, tell me the specifics."

"Isn't your life everything?"

In only four words, the baronet had blown me away, again. I closed my eyes. "Specifics." I gritted out. If Sir Victor were to murder me, it would accomplish nothing, as he wouldn't get anything out of it.

He looked at me, amused. "Still didn't get it Lady Cavendish? I thought you were smart, that's why you wanted to study the sciences and literature. Am I correct?"

The blood drained from my face as I realized that this man had been shadowing me for the entire event last night. I'd only told one person the exact fields that I wanted to study, and that was Elizabetha. I hadn't seen this man there, but I hadn't been looking for him.

Sir Victor continued. "And you have so much that I can steal, my lady. So, so much. The land that you own, the inheritance that you will get, and the title." His eyes glistened with eagerness, as if he couldn't believe his luck. "The only thing you were wanting is a love life, which is where I come in."

Suddenly, everything made sense and my heart stopped for a moment in its beating as I processed everything. The sickening plan that Sir Victor had was, unfortunately, perfect. He could claim that I'd run away from home to be with him, and Father would be so glad that I'd finally taken an interest in marriage that it wouldn't matter that the man I "loved" was a lower class baronet. As long as I was married, Father wouldn't care at all. And I would be stuck in the care of this snake-like beast. I glared pointedly at the man, showing him that I'd understood his plans.

"Now, now, don't look at me like that. It's not like you can do anything to me. Nothing is illegal." Sir Victor said.

I held back an unladylike snort. "So kidnapping a lady isn't illegal now? Not a crime?" I wanted this man out of my sight as soon as possible because just looking at him made my stomach turn. "You disgust me, sir. A man must work to woo a lady, he mustn't cook up some evil plans and force her into marrying him."

The baronet's chuckle made me want to slap him across the face. "I didn't kidnap anyone, my dear. You came running to me. Now, hush. I don't want you working yourself up. I'll let little Emma take care of you until your Father agrees to this marriage."

As I glared at him, Sir Victor got up and slowly limp-walked out of the room, locking the door behind him. Someone will get me. I assured myself, hoping it was true. Grayson or Father will look for me. But I was doubting my own words now.

Little Emma, it seemed, was both a blessing and a curse in this horrible place that was my prison. She served both as a friend, someone to talk to and turn to when boredom struck, and as a jailor, too afraid of her master to let me escape.

I understood her fears. Though the baronet wasn't a rich man, he had a few too many servants, making for a crowded home. Even if Emma decided to let me go, plenty of loyal servants were just waiting there to lay their hands on me and catch their master's attention. It would only be a waste.

Still, I was grateful to the girl as she walked in during dinner time with the same little tray as before. She wore her blue and white servantry uniform and her white bonnet to cover her hair. She was a bony, wispy little creature, no meat on her. But from the unhealthy pallor and sallownesss of her cheeks, I could tell that this wasn't her normal, healthy state. The work of a servant was too much for this girl and anyone could see the exhaustion written on her poor face.

She dropped the tray on my cot and turned to leave. "Stop, please." She froze. "It is part of your duties to take care of me, correct?" She nodded and I could see the fear on her body. "Please, I'm bored out of my mind here, all alone. Just sit here and talk to me for a little while."

Slowly, the girl turned and sat next to me on the cot. I could see the relief on her face and I smiled kindly at her. "So, Emma, how old are you?"

She hesitated for a moment before responding. No one at this house seemed to speak to her much, as far as I could hear, and when they did, their voices were harsh, as if speaking to a misbehaving child. My soft voice and kind eyes must've confused the poor girl. "Ten." She whispered.

My eyes widened. I'd known that she was young, but ten? I'd still be climbing trees and behaving boyishly at that age. I couldn't believe that she was already working. "My, my. What's caused you to have to work at such an age? You must be enjoying your childhood at ten!"

Emma's eyes watered slightly at the mention of her lost childhood. She looked away and spoke softly of her story. "My mum and my pa passed away just two years ago. My family was that of farmers, so we lived away from London and its polluted streets. I grew up with my little brother Johnny on a little farmhouse on the outskirts of London. Pa made sure to get us, both of us, a fine education. Said we must grow to be rich and famous like the nobles. Then, suddenly, I was only eight, Johnny two, and typhoid passed around near our farm. The air near where we lived was crystal clear compared to London proper, but my mum and my pa were weak in health. They were gone and we didn't inherit a penny because pa's older brother Wilfred took it all. He told us to scram and I fled to London where I heard dreams come true. I found the master with a loving wife and son in a joyful mood. He agreed to take Johnny and me in, and give me a little work in exchange for it. When the mistress died, master got in a dark mood. He'd break things just to see us pick it up, then take pennies off our pay. I was worried for Johnny and myself, since we didn't have anywhere else to go. He's gotten better now, but I've been forced to work the amount of a real maid, not just a child. Johnny's four now, talks too much. Says I look terribly tired in front of the master. One time, we almost got kicked out for his loud mouth." She looked at me. "I'd sworn not to do anything to upset him again, but then you came along. I knew how horrible this room was and I knew that whatever master planned was bad, so I let the lord in and hoped not to get caught. Mary, the oldest servant in the house, told on me today, though."

My heart ached for this little girl's problems. It seemed in my view that everything in her life was going wrong. "What did Sir Victor do?"

Emma pulled out her hand and I gasped at its mutilated state. He'd lashed the girl's hand with a whip for doing the right thing and helping a maiden! It was horrible, it wasn't right. I held her hand carefully, my eyes sweeping over the bloody lines that were left. I looked at the girl's face and found tears streaming down her face. "He said next time Johnny would get it." Her voice was barely a whisper.

"What?" This horrible man was going to whip a poor four year old? For doing no wrong? I'd thought that the only wrong this baronet had done was to kidnap me, but now I knew that it was just his nature to hurt people. To enjoy their tears.

I cradled little Emma's head against my chest. "You poor, poor thing. How dare he do such a thing? Knowing your youth and your state?" I sighed. "That hand won't heal properly without proper medicine. If I had any, I would've helped you."

"It's alright, miss." Emma squeaked. "I'm still alive and I can still work. I won't ever step out of line again. Johnny's life depends on it."

"No," My voice was firm. "Emma, you will be freed from this place just like me. When I leave this horrid prison, you and Johnny will come with me." The little girl began to protest, but I held firm. I'd decided. I wasn't going to let that man ruin a child's life.