“Ruby!” A hoarse call from the other side of the door.
Rushing to the door, she threw up the latch to find Mr. Mason holding up her father. “We’ve ‘ad a li’l ruckus, miss,” he said, half-carrying Pa inside and depositing him in his chair by the stove.
Clara gasped. Both men had blood smeared on their faces and hands. Her father’s left eye was swollen shut, his bottom lip cracked and bleeding, along with a cut on his right cheek. His knuckles were also scraped up and bloody. She took off Pa’s cap and pulled off the fingerless gloves.
“What happened?” she asked his coworker as her father’s head fell back against the soft material covering the straight back. Both eyes were closed now, and his breathing was shallow.
“We… we were set upon by footpads.” He ducked his head as he took off his own cap, showing a gash in his dark hair.
“During a delivery?” she asked, moving into efficiency mode, pouring water into a bowl, and fetching some towels. “Sit.”
Mr. Mason promptly obeyed, and she dipped one rag into the basin and applied it to his bleeding scalp. “Hold this while I tend to Pa.”
“Delivery?” he asked.
“Did the ruffians get the wagon or did you save the goods?” she asked again, frowning at the man.
Her father moaned, redirecting her attention. Clara wiped his injuries and settled a cold cloth on his swollen eye. Mr. Mason rose, put his cap on, and nodded to her. “I need to be away, miss. Take care.”
Before she could object, he was gone, the door slamming in his wake. By the time she helped her father to his bed, she was exhausted. Her mind was a tempest as she wondered at Mr. Mason’s surprise at the term “deliveries.” What was Pa up to?
***
The morning came too quickly. Clara was surprised to find her father awake and sitting at the table. “How are you feeling?” she asked, pulling on her boots and making quick work of the laces.
“Ruby, luv,” he began.
Her stomach twisted at his tone and use of her nickname. It either meant he needed something, or he was in a sentimental mood. The latter certainly wasn’t possible this morning.
“We’re in some trouble. Well, I’m in some trouble, which could put ye in harm’s way.” He ran his fingers through his mussed, light-brown hair. “I ain’t been truthful about my profession.”
“Profession? I thought you were a delivery man.” Clara sat abruptly, the wind knocked out of her at his expression. He was terrified.
“I work fer an evil man, and there’s no way fer me to quit without… without someone gettin’ hurt.” He took her hand, his gaze pleading with her. “Them who quit the devil disappear. Fer good. And sometimes their family too.”
A heaviness filled her chest, a pang in her breastbone. “What are you saying? He would kill you?”
Pa nodded. “I need ye to accept the board at yer fine house. Right away.”
“But you’re staying here?”
Again, he shook his head. “I’m takin’ work on a ship goin’ out today. Can’t get to me in the middle of the ocean.”
“How long will you be gone?”
He shrugged. “A year or two? The longer the better to keep us both safe.” He squeezed her hand hard; she winced. “Ye must stay quiet, or he’ll find ye. Promise me ye won’t talk to anyone ye don’t know, use yer mother’s name if need be.”
Fear froze her lips. Clara blinked. Her father was running for his life, and she was expected to go to the comte’s house today and act as if all was fine. Hot tears burned her eyes. “What have you done?” she choked out.
“Terrible things. Things that haunt me when I close my eyes.” Someone walked past their window outside, and her father cast a nervous glance over his shoulder. “If I stay, I either continue my wicked ways or end up floating in the Thames. Regardless, ye would be in danger.”
“Why?” Pa was a good man. Why would he do terrible things?
“T’keep us in this luxurious place,” he said with a sneer, spreading an arm out. “Rent ain’t cheap, Ruby. I ain’t got any real skills, but I needed to provide for ye and yer mother. Ye ‘ave no idea what true hardship is, and I wanted to keep it that way. But with yer new position, ye’ll be fine.”
He stood, pulling her up and into his arms. His hug was so tight she couldn’t draw breath, but her arms wrapped around him just as tightly. This is goodbye, her brain screamed.
Pa leaned back and brushed her wet cheeks. “Don’t cry. If I go today, we ‘ave a chance to meet again. Remember that. And never forget how much I love ye, Ruby. Yer ma would be so proud of ye.”
