“If I show improvement, will Eleonora be allowed to visit again?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Then I have every intention of being fully healed within a month.”
Though obviously skeptical, Nurse Abbott gave a sharp nod.“Good.”
Unfortunately, when Nurse Ingram took over, an afternoon of rest was not part of Dr.Chalfant’s new plan to aid Constanza’s recovery.Instead, while Mrs.Beaumont enjoyed the warmth of her bed, Constanza was marched down four flights of stairs to the basement, where laundry duty awaited her.
So this was their plan for her moral reform?Stripping her of her paid-patient privileges and assigning her chores that would tire her beyond the capacity for rebellion?If that’s what they thought would leave her more pliable to accepting their so-called truths, so be it.The soft chores of sweeping and dusting had made her weak and lazy, and she’d regain her strength and stamina by these harsher chores.Then she’d be able to meet the demands of a traveling stage life with Nora.
The odors of lye and rank body mixed with the damp heat of the vast room.It didn’t take long to understand why a room meant for cleaning would smell so foul.Sweat poured from all the usual places plus some she’d rather not think about.Only ten minutes into the chore, and her arms trembled from the exertion of pushing largebatches of linens around in the water with the long washing paddle.How long did they expect her to do this?While she didn’t want to claim being old, surely this was a duty best done by patients much younger than she.
At least the activity worked to quickly dispel the remaining fog of medicine.She held back a grumble as an attendant dumped a giant mass of linens atop her paddle.She worked it free of the tangle and pushed the floating material to the bottom.
“This is the laundry room, where state patients earn their keep.”
Constanza stopped her dreaded task and watched the nurse entering with a curious tourist behind her.It was a humiliating practice, this allowing sightseers to tour asylums and observe those locked inside.Society claimed it helped draw awareness to the plight of invalids and promoted social reform programs, but Constanza knew better.Inmates were a curiosity meant to entertain and shock the observer’s senses.The number of visitors had dwindled over the years, but almost every one behaved the same.The residents were openly examined, pitied, and derided as if they had no understanding.
Nurse Charity—who insisted on using her given name as some sort of symbol of her piety—had been ill-named by her parents.Instead of being a pillar of Christian values, she took perverse enjoyment in bringing tourists directly to Constanza and requiring her to sing for them.By the way she scanned the room until she spotted Constanza, it appeared she intended to do it again.
Well, Constanza would not perform.Today, and every day from here forward, she would maintain the life Marcellus had created for her as Josephine Davis.She stood straighter and awaited Nurse Charity.However, when Nurse Charity entered the room far enough for her guest to follow, Constanza shrank back.
Winston strolled next to her, a malicious one-sided smile declaring his victory.Twenty-five years since she’d seen his face—before she’d left England—and still she knew it without hesitation.He’d done the impossible.He’d found her, and this time there would be no escaping with a new name to a new city.
Nurse Charity waved toward Constanza.“This is Mrs.Josephine D—”
“No!”He couldn’t know her new name.It would make finding Eleonora too easy.
“Oh, excuse me.Which is it today?Constanza Brisbane or Katherine Yates?”She lifted a hand to hide her speaking but didn’t bother to lower her voice.“You might want to keep ahold of your valuables, sir.If she’s chosen to be Katherine Yates today, she might try to steal from you as she sings.”
“I’ll be sure to keep a tight hold on what is mine, but perhaps she should be more concerned with what is hers.”
Constanza didn’t have to see the glee in his face to know exactly what he meant, and she wouldn’t allow him to even set eyes on Eleonora.She yanked the paddle free of the wet linens and swung with all the strength her arms had left.It slammed against the side of his head, knocking him into Nurse Charity.Constanza didn’t give him the chance to regain his footing but lifted the paddle above her head and crashed it down on him again.He fell to the floor.
Nurse Charity’s shrill whistle blew.Constanza only had seconds before the orderlies would pile atop her.She pounced on Winston’s chest and wrapped her hands around his throat, shaking his neck as she did so.His fingers wrapped around hers, easily pulling them loose enough to breathe, but he didn’t stop her shaking him.On the contrary, he exaggerated it and even made it appear she did him more harm than possible.He writhed beneath her, but with how easily his movements lifted her, he could have tossed her off without any trouble.The expression of horror and struggle were fake.While she fought with all her heart to save her daughter, he made a show of it.
Realization hit too late.She’d fallen victim to his plan and sealed her fate.
He must have seen her understanding, because he lifted his head enough for her to be the only one to hear his words.“Don’t worry.Ursula and I will take good care ofNora Davis.If you’re lucky, you might even see her one more time before you both meet your ends.”
No.He couldn’t know.But somehow he did.A surge of fury gave Constanza new strength, and his fingers failed to loosen her grip.She leaned her whole weight into choking him.“I’ll die before I let you hurt her.”
He slapped at her hold, his face turning red.Almost.A few moments longer ...
A horde of orderlies descended upon her, yanked her off him, and slammed her to the floor.
No!Not yet!I’m not finished.
Winston rolled to his knees, making a show of gasping for breath, but turning his head enough for her to see his malicious victory.
She flailed and fought to reach him, screaming what, she knew not.Anything to get the orderlies to realize he was the one she’d so long feared.He was the one who needed to be locked up.But more hands joined the others, forcing her flat until she could no longer move.A sharp pain jammed into her arm, and the sensation of a foreign liquid spread from the spot.
“No!”
She couldn’t lose this battle.Not when she desperately needed to warn Marcellus that their worst nightmare had arrived.
Nurse Charity aided Winston to his feet.“I’m so sorry.She’s never been violent for me before.I’ll take you straight to Dr.Chalfant so your injuries can be examined.”
