“Give her coin. A guinea will make her focus. I remember that.”
He pulled a shiny coin from his purse and placed it in her fingers.
Her palm wrapped about it. Her smile became bright. “I remember now. Ruth, it was early in the morning. The sun hadn’t risen. A group of men had you. They sold you.”
“Was one Soulden Wilkinson?” Wycliff asked. His raspy voice sounded more strained.
“No. But his boy Nicholas was one. Ruth was all bloody and beaten. We had to clean her. Disinfect her from their abuse. Men can be so horrible to a woman. They’d had at her and beat her bad.
Wycliff started to pace. “Had at her?”
“Yes, I bought Ruth from them. They would’ve killed her or left her to the elements to die, if I hadn’t. My girls must choose to work for me. Ruth had been hurt so bad, she’d never work for me.”
I held my friend’s hand tight. “I wasn’t strong when I left, but I’m stronger now. And my Chris is just mine. He’s nothing of the nightmare.”
“They came looking for you more than a month ago. I told them you had died from their abuse. Then I sent that trunk.”
“You sent it.” I looked at Wycliff, then back at Madame. “Milly said she did.”
“Milly is an opportunist. I sent it so you’d be warned.”
“Nicholas Wilkinson sold you, he used you, and came back to get you, my Ruth?” Wycliff’s hands shook.
“Never forget that mole on his lip.” Madame coughed.
I couldn’t breathe. My head felt light. Images of that day, each of the thieves, took over my reason.
Wycliff put an arm about my waist. We trembled together.
“I’ll fix this, Ruth. You could’ve told me. We didn’t need to come.”
“Now you have proof. Proof that your cousin was horrible, that all those men were horrible. This is why my love for Adam died. He left me no proof that my Chris was his. Adam’s secrets made it seem as if Chris belonged to them. He’s too good to be theirs.”
The sound of a carriage arriving drew his attention to the window. “We have to go. There’s some company I’m not prepared to see downstairs.”
I held Wycliff in place, my hand on his. “Madame have you seen Cicely Wilkinson? She’s my sister-in-law. Young girl, mulatto.”
“No one by that name. I’d know.”
“Ruth, we have to go.” Wycliff picked me up and brought me to the window.
I saw a black carriage and three men looking around.
“No wonder you had Lawden park away from here. And pointed the carriage in the right direction for escape.”
Wycliff winced. His fists balled, but that arm stayed about me. “They watched me, until I made a mistake.”
“Listening to me was a mistake?”
He didn’t answer. “Madame, I didn’t mean to bring trouble here. Is there another way out?”
“My closet. There’s a hidden staircase for my important guests to leave.”
I ran and kissed Madame’s cheek. “I’m sorry.”
“Sometimes trouble comes for you. There’s a peace I’m holding to. You’re younger, you have more time to find it. When you do, don’t let go.”
Wycliff’s arm wrapped about me again.
