Love Is Pain My Dear

Together we will prevail my love

"Nellie are you really wearing that...." Johanna gasped in her doorway completely surprised she had taken it this far.

Her dress was not fit for a lady, it had been delivered to her door step this morning with a note saying 'put this on'. It was now evening, Johanna knew what was going on but that didn't mean she approved. When Nellie returned last night to tell her what happened Johanna had been fearful of her safety. Getting involved with these dangerous men was scary enough with her father being in the mix, but Nellie too she didn't like any of this.

"I don't ave a choice dear" she whispered looking at her reflection in her bedroom mirror. The cream coloured dress was tarty and revealing, although her legs were covered her chest was very much exposed and her corset tight. There were only small straps over her arms leaving them completely bare. She was practically naked and knew that this Arnold man wanted her looking like this to seduce his next victim.

She just hoped and prayed that all she had to do was lure the man into a trap and not have to take things further. She knew she wouldn't be able to do that even if it was for her own life....

She had little idea of where she was going or when they would be calling for her. Nellie didn't even know if this was to be a one day event or if they would keep her for longer. Yet with all those unanswered question she felt comfort in the fact she would be with Sweeney again. No matter what mess they were in he alway made her feel protected.

"Mummy?" Lily's timid voice sounded hiding behind Johanna's skirts.

Nellie turned and frownd towards her before crouching down and extending her arms. "Why are ya hiding darlin?" She asked softly concerned to see her little girl looking afraid.

As Lily walked into her mother's room she chewed sadly on her bottom lip. "I downt wawnt you to leave" she whispered in Nellie's ear her eyes watering sadly afraid she might lose her mother too. Nellie had explained to Lily that she was going to help her father in which case she didn't know how long for. Telling her little girl she might be gone for a few days had clearly made Lily worry about her.

Hugging her close Nellie kissed Lily's forehead whilst brushing her brown locks with her hand soothingly. "Ya don't ave to worry sweetie, Nothin will happen to me or ya daddy ok? An when I come home maybe E' will be able to come back as well....you'd like that wouldn't ya?" She grinned pulling her back to look into her daughters large brown eyes.

Nodding shyly Lily turned to look up at Johanna thumb in mouth.

"And I will be here Lily, We both can wait for mummy and daddy together" Nellie smiled at Johanna as she took Lily into the other room.

Of course she felt bad about leaving Lily, but she didn't have a choice in the matter. She just hoped Sweeney would have a plan, hopefully together they would get through this mess a lot quicker.

Turning to look at herself in the mirror Nellie applied a little more red lipstick to her lips. Her makeup was heavy and she certainly looked like one of the women of the night. Although she felt anxious about doing this Nellie felt confident too about getting the job done. It's not like she wasn't used to this sort of thing after all.

As the carriage pulled up outside of the pie shop on this very cold evening Nellie kissed her daughter goodbye and waved to Johanna as she walked towards the coach. She was aprehensive still about the whole thing yet as soon as the door opened to her she was relieved to see her husband inside.

"Get in"Arnold snapped yanking her in by her arm and pushing her into the seat opposite him. The door closed quickly and they were soon off on the road the wheels bumping along the cobbled streets. Sat beside her husband she saw the anger in his eyes when he saw how exposed she was and so stayed very silent. Opposite was Arnold he was looking at her up and down with a dirty smile on his face.