The Harlot's Daughter

Six Part Three

Violet and Lynwood discussed their plans to sweep the alleyways for children in the morn. Orphaned, or abandoned, given a little time, Violet could usually persuade them to come home with him. In the meantime, Lynwood would gather supplies, as the men made it a habit to take staples down to the poverty region, attempting to help those they could, those who were merely striving to survive. Violet was determined to do something, and hopefully, with a bit a help, the families he assisted would not need to send their children to work in the factories.

Lynwood returned the coach to the carriage house, just as the opulent carriage he had seen behind him came rolling up the drive. Violet recognized it as Lord Ashton's conveyance, well before the driver reined in the jangling team in front of him.

Elizabeth joined Violet, having left Daniel sleeping under Nora's watchful eye. "Oh, perfect!" Elizabeth looked up at Violet most happily, as now she would not need to have an invitation sent out to the Ashton's.

James and Nannette heard the coach also, peeking around the ship's side, James cringed at his luck. "Oh, perfect." He muttered sarcastically. "What in the hell is he doing here?"

"Who is it?" Nannette peeked, then drew back quickly, "Tarfeathers!" Nannette turned concerned eyes to her husband. "James, what do we do now?"

"We stay out of sight, if possible, and hope he leaves quickly." James pulled Nannette back to the steps, where they sat nervously, both of them hoping their cover would not be blown to smithereens.

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Katherine Petals had appropriated a downstairs room for her sewing and crafting. Katherine had a fair idea of Margaret's size, allowing her to baste some things together for the maid's journey ahead of time. If Katherine was correct in her estimations, there would only be the final stitches to apply and most of Margaret's needs would be met.

Margaret was grateful for the crackling fire that burned in the hearth, it warmed her quite nicely as she stood behind the screen Katherine had thoughtfully put up for her. She could not believe the many things Katherine already had for her to try on, breeches and shirtwaists, a heavy coat, along with a light jacket, and gloves both thick and thin. Katherine had even cut out the pieces, only awaiting Margaret's foot size, to make her a wool lined pair of suede slippers. These thrilled Margaret, as she had not been joking when sharing with Brutus that her toes froze, much of the time.

Margaret slipped out of her dress and lay it aside. Pulling her chemise over her head, Margaret stopped cold upon hearing Katherine's soft, sharp gasp.

Katherine stood in shock. Simply wanting to give Margaret a thicker pair of stockings, as Margaret had shared how cold she always was, Katherine did even not stop to think that Margaret may have a reason to hide her body.

Margaret pulled the shift the rest of the way over her head. Using the thin fabric to cover the front of her, Margaret's eyes lifted to Katherine's face, seeing Katherine's violet eyes filled with sympathy and pain. Margaret lowered her eyes demurely, breathing as evenly as she could, wishing Katherine had not seen.

As Katherine took in the sight before her, no adequate words came to her mind. "Oh, my dearest darling, I am so, so sorry." Katherine could not help the tears that gathered in her eyes at the sight of the lovely girl, her heart breaking as she took in the fragile body riddled with scars.

Margaret looked down at her arms, at the silvery crisscrosses that covered her. She knew that was not the worst of it, as the scars liberally covered her body from her breasts to her knees. Defensive wounds covered most of her arms, but nothing had she to protect herself with when Bailey strung her up by her wrists and beat her senseless with his quirt, his cat, or his fists.

Margaret relived the shame of hanging from chains, stripped of her clothing, her mind taking her back to the dark cavern where she had seemed to die a thousand deaths. Margaret had no idea what had been done to her after she would faint, her body would hurt so badly upon awakening, she had never known where she hurt the worst, inside, or out, as all had blended into one, fiery, red haze of pain.

Katherine stepped closer, "I did not realize, Margaret, please, forgive me." Katherine lifted a hand and smoothed Margaret's hair under her palm, much as she would if Margaret were her own flesh and blood. Katherine Petals had known pain in her life, she had known abandonment and she knew what it was to be betrayed. But never, ever, had she imagined having to endure what this girl seemed to have suffered. Katherine sensed in Margaret a need for comfort and acceptance, sliding her arms around to hold Margaret gently within her embrace.

Margaret closed her eyes tightly, imagining Katherine's arms were those of her mother. Silent, invisible tears swelled in her chest, squeezing her eyes shut even tighter, her mother's face appeared to her clearly. A sob escaped from her throat, it came from deep within, as Margaret had not cried over the loss of her mother's love for many years now. Margaret felt a tear slide down her cheek, so much sorrow held in the tiny drop, for she had learned long ago that crying was futile. But now, now that the dam had broken, the tears fell freely, streaming down her face while Katherine held her close and stroked the soft, scarred skin of her back.

Katherine felt so very horrible, she did not know what to do. My God, what have I done? She murmured comforting words about things being all right, she comforted Margaret as best she could, knowing somehow, that if she did not treat this correctly the girl would not accept her ministrations for long. My God... how could you allow this? Katherine cried out to her Maker from the depths of her heart as she held the sweet girl tightly in her arms. How did one fix this? One could not, Katherine realized. The scars had faded, and more would fade still as time passed, yet, Katherine wanted to curse at the unfairness of it all, at the horror that had been dealt out upon this beautiful child. She wanted to curse at her own inability to do a damn thing to help her. One could not take away the brands that covered Margaret, Katherine could only imagine the scars this poor child must bear in her soul. "You are most assuredly the strongest woman I have ever known." Katherine pulled back a little, again stroking Margaret's silky, ebony hair, looking deep into the girl's wounded, ocean blue eyes. "What you have survived, my dearest darling, is nothing short of miraculous. I can only imagine that God must have a very special plan for your life, for you to have survived it at all."

Margaret sniffed daintily, wiping at her eyes with her chemise, as Katherine continued her affectionate stroking. "I would like to believe that, Mama Katy, I really would... I... I believe I shall." Margaret's tears still slowly traced down her cheeks, but now they fell from hopeful eyes, trailing past a trembling smile. "Thank you, for you gave me my own mother's arms for a moment in time."

Katherine clucked her tongue and brought Margaret into her arms again, holding her lovingly, swaying her from side to side.

Her own mother was not here, but Katherine's words lingered in Margaret's mind. Did God, perchance, truly have a plan for her life? Is that why she had survived the many horrors perpetrated against her? Margaret would certainly like to think so. Mayhap, God's plan was for her to help Captain Marks. Margaret felt better, thinking that if this were God's plan for her, she would be doing the Lord's will and surely, just as she had told Brutus, God would care for them. Mayhap, she had already begun doing His will, she thought, as Brutus had seemed to readily accept her reassurances.

Taking a deep breath, Margaret stiffened her spine, which Katherine felt, causing her to, once again, release the girl a bit.

"We had better get back to it if I am to do the Lord's will with Captain Marks." Margaret felt lighter, and a little freer, surprisingly enough, because Katherine now shared her secret.

Katherine looked at the small maid in surprise, laughing softly at the girl's statement, wondering at the sudden change in her demeanor, "Yes, my dear, I do believe we had better get busy."

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There will be another part to this chapter, but I thought to give you this in the meantime :)

Thank you all for reading, for voting, for inspiring me to continue, it means the world to me that you do! Blessings upon you my lovely readers... Until next time...