Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 58: Shame~

"Are they alright?" Lady Brandon asked worried, the guests collectively sat in the parlour.
Edward walked in and shook his head, his expression grim," I fear Mistress Mohan had had a heart attack last night. A dreadful occurrence, truly. Master Mohan and Lord Henry are spending the day with her, in her room, trying to help the servants nurse her back to help."
Leora stared at her, her expression distant. Jiu glanced over, from the other side of the room, and couldn't help but feel uneasy had her cold, unbothered expression. Had she done it?
Lady Gwendolyn sighed, sadly," Truly such a travesty."
"It must have been the stress of the wedding," Marjorie muttered, patting Clarence's back, as the disturbingly, boar-ish baby squirmed.
"That, and her medication," Julian stated, knowingly," Heart attacks with the medication for her aged bones are, regrettably, a small yet possible side effect."
"Besides," Lord Bramston smoked in the corner," She was getting to that age, wasn't she."
"Probably that dreadful cigar of yours did the trick!" Dorian snapped, quite upset.

"Horribel, horribel, occurancé!" Jacques trembled, rocking himself; not fond of bad omens before weddings.
"Well, we can't dwell on such things so close to the wedding," Basil sighed, working on his dead swan art.
"Don't draw that now!" Lord Bramston bellowed at the artist.
"Why ever not?"
"Two dead lovers; it's a call for travesty during these times!"
Basil sulked, setting down his paintbrush," I'm certain Henry wouldn't have had a problem with it..."
"Well, I do," Lady Brandon muttered, weakly," Put it down, Basil."
Basil nodded, miserably; not wanting to upset the bride further.
"What now?" Soren glanced up, grimly," Surely we can't do anything without Henry?"
Edward sighed," No, we can't. I suppose, today will just have to be a day of rest. Perhaps we all need it, after... everything."
Leora stood up, distantly," I shall...take my bath now..."
Edward glanced over.
"Of course, there's the kettle of hot water for you ready to pour in the bath. Do you need me to test the water for you?"
Leora shook her head, weakly," No... I'll be fine."
"If you insist."

Jiu watched as the girl quietly left, disturbingly composed and quiet considering the occurrence. He hated himself for even suspecting she'd done something to Mistress Mohan, but after everything that had happened yesterday, it was hard not to feel that way.
Lord Bramston stood up, suddenly," I think I shall catch up on some light reading today, if you do not mind."
"Not at all," Lady Brandon ushered him off, weakly, as Lady Gwendolyn rubbed the other woman's back.
Lord Bramston nodded, and left quickly. Jiu watched him go, but didn't question it, too caught up in his guilt for his new view on Leora Mohan.

Leora lay in the bath, her head just above the surface, as she stared at the ceiling. She watched as the steam rolled off the surface and up; lost in her thoughts. It was an old bathroom, with tiles that had fallen off in places; Henry had been meaning to get it fixed for a while now.
"Had I humiliated her that much by being with him...?" Leora spoke aloud to herself, distantly, not caring for the state of the bathroom, rather her grandmother's heart attack.
In truth, she'd had nothing to do with her grandmother's heart attack, and even felt slightly remorseful at her actions the previous day. Leora shut her eyes, letting out a deep breath.
"Am I some sort of curse?"
She froze, hearing someone fiddle with the door handle. She sighed softly in relief, assuming it was most likely just Edward.
"I sorted the water out fine, if that's what you're wondering!" She called out to the butler, sitting upright.
The door opened, and a figure stepped in. It was not Edward. Lord Bramston smiled, wolfishly; shutting the door behind him, loosening his tie.
"I'm glad the water is fine, dear," He put on a sultry sort of voice, tossing his tie on her pile of clothes on the floor," I was quite concerned it wouldn't be."

Leora stared in horror as his greedy eyes raked over her naked body. She moved hurriedly, covering her secret parts with her hands and arms; pressing her legs together. How she wanted to be furious. How she wanted to slap him hard across his face, but in that moment, she was stunned, like a deer caught at headlights. She felt vulnerable, exposed, shameful and disgusted. Lord Bramston made his way closer, unbuttoning the top of his shirt; crouching at the bath side as he smirked, cruelly.
"Such a delicate thing..." He whispered, his hand coming to trace under her lip," How I'd hate to break you as I often do to women like yourself. I'm a greedy man, Leora. Does that make me dreadful? I hope not."
Leora trembled in fear," Please leave..."
"I fear I don't want to."
"Leave me alone."
Lord Bramston's expression hardened, he gripped her chin, tightly," And let that Jiu bastard take you? I think not. Your mine, remember? Henry made it so. And I won't let that Jiu take my..."
His hand went down into the water, lingering over where her womb was. Leora recoiled in horror. Lord Bramston grabbed her, furiously, kissing her. It was bitter. She felt sick. Leora moved to pull away, but he held her in place, not letting her escape that easily. His hand moved down to touch jer thigh.

There was a sudden loud, angry 'bang' in the room; followed by a hiss. Lord Bramston pulled away, eyes wide to see the radiator trembling furiously, burst, with steam leaving. The socket that had burst from it had hit him square on the head, and he stared at the thing with wide eyes. Leora, too was stunned. Blood dripped down his head, where it had scrapped him, and he furiously grabbed his tie, storming off. As the door slammed shut, Leora stared at the radiator in shock. He'd been hurt. The girl finally let out a disgusted weep, sobbing into her hands miserably in the bath. It had hurt him. She was a curse. Leora cried, shoulder's trembling. She'd been kissed by Lord Bramston, he'd seen her in such a vulnerable position, he'd touched her body.
"Oh God..." Leora whispered to herself.
She sobbed, continuously, her skin crawling; feeling wrong in her own body. She trembled. She was in the era where it was always the woman's fault for being like that, and she could tell nobody what happened, or else, she'd be a travesty to her family.
Leora crumbled, tears filling the bath, drenching her in true fear, disgust, shame and hatred," I can't tell anyone..."