The Strength of England

~7~

Silence filled the normally loud home as Arthur made his way to the sitting room. He was thankful for that really, he didn't want them poking their noses where they didn't belong. Placing the tea tray on the side table, he sat down on the floor before Juliet.

"You know there's plenty of room up here for you, right?" she said, watching him.

"I know that; however, I want you to feel comfortable without me crowding you." he said, pulling his knees to his chest. "I want you to feel comfortable with me and trust me as well."

"I do trust you and feel good with you. Why do you think otherwise?" she asked, her face puzzled at his words.

He gave her a serious glare, he didn't want to say anything but knew it got clear to her as she settled back in the couch. Arthur adjusted himself a little more as he thought of the incident at the hall.

"Now, whenever you are ready to talk, we can. It can be about anything really. I'm ready when you are." he said.

"No what you really mean is you want me to talk about what happened back there but are trying to make me feel good by stating you are ready to speak about anything." she replied.

"Not unless you want to speak of it. I'll avoid it until you are ready." he gave back.

Juliet sighed, he knew she would speak sooner or later to him, it was just a matter of time until then. She shifted in the seat as she looked at her hands, squeezing them for all she was worth.

"Easy there love." he spoke gently as he took her hands, "You're going to hurt yourself with that grip.

Her hands were small and dainty compared to his long and rough ones, they were elegant, regal, and royal like Bessy's. He loves taking Bessy's hands and just letting them rest in his, like now with Juliet. It was a comfort for him, one he missed dearly. He gently caressed her palms and fingers with his, giving just the feather like touch to her skin. He heard her sigh as he continued to her wrists and back to her fingertips.

"It didn't start with him." she suddenly said.

Arthur looked up at her, her eyes seemed lost and wounded by the past that lived behind her eyes.

"Then, where did it?"

"Home."

"Home?" he asked.

She gave a small nod, "Yea. Home. Most people looking in thought we were the perfect family. But really looking at us, under the forced am smiles, makeup, and classy clothes, you'd see the hell that we endured. Being as young as I was, I never really saw it at first. Guess I should thank my sister for that. Her the oldest and I the baby of five."

She sighed as he continued to touch her, "Laura always was around for me. No matter what it was. She was more a mother than sister, really. I never noticed them yelling at her, or the bruises hiding on her skin, the sinking of her eyes and cheeks. All I ever got from her was her smile and love."

"Then one day, she had enough." She said, her voice slightly cracking. "She gathered her things and kissed me goodbye. I never saw her again. Imagine, a ten-year-old girl having her world turned upside down as her older sister ups and leaves. It was calm at first, the uncertainty of what was next with my family gave it that calm. But it didn't last."

Arthur felt Juliet tremble as she spoke of her past, a part of him wanted her to stop, to end her suffering of the memories but another part of him wanted to know what made her be the person she was.

"My brothers started hitting me more and throwing me around, without Laura there to defend me I was fair game to them. Momma always had something for me to do along with daddy but it was always wrong how I did it. Got beat every time for the mess up too. To them, I couldn't do anything right. Nothing more but an incompetent, stupid, worthless, bastard child."