A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter Forty-Three
Cal was still hiding in his study. His call
to his Father had been short and difficult. So many questions that he couldn't
yet answer and the condolence of course. Cal could hear his Fathers voice, a
mix of thin concern and disappointment. The call to Ruth even shorter. She had
insisted on coming immediately and expected Cal to send the car straight away.
He had of course, but found it almost amusing that Ruth was making demands but
still expecting him to look after her.
She would be here any moment. Then he heard the door and voices and knew Ruth
was here. He told himself over again and again that it was an accident. But the
doubts were creeping in and he was afraid. Afraid of Ruth, Rose and the truth.
Ruth didn't bother knocking. She came straight in.
"Cal what have you done to my daughter? Where is she?"
Cal looked up in surprise. Such an outburst was totally unexpected.
"I have done nothing to your daughter Ruth. It was an accident."
Ruth leaned closer to Cal, her face set and her lips thin with anger. Cal had
never seen this Society Matriarch ever show anything other than perfect
composure.
"People do not just fall downstairs Mr. Hockley. My daughter is
unconscious and she has lost my grandchild. I will find out what happened. I
will." She turned to go.
"Now please excuse me. I have to see my daughter. Have you seen her
yet?" She shot Cal a look but didn't wait for an answer. She knew Cal
hadn't been near her. She could guess why from the look on his face. She left
the room and was by half way up the stairs, Trudy beside her. She wasn't
stupid. She had known exactly why Rose had bruises on her before. Of course,
Rose was prone to such willfulness she knew Cal would have to control her. As
long as Rose had complied, all would have been fine. But not this. Not this.
This had gone too far.
Cal who was normally quick witted and tongued sat despondently. Lovejoy tried
to offer more liquor, but Cal waved it away. He sat and stared at nothing. His
baby was gone. Of course, it would have been a boy. Why hadn't Rose said
anything? Did she know? A sudden nagging thought occurred to Cal. The associate
who had told him he had seen Rose out said she was near Mornby Street. Mornby
Street led towards the park. It also was very close to Doctor Henry's. Could he
have made a terrible error of judgment?
"What happened to my daughter Trudy?" she asked.
"I wasn't there Ma'am. I heard the scream and came running. She was
already at the bottom of the stairs."
"How is she now?"
"The doctor has only just left. He has left one of his nurses here, to be
with her."
Trudy gently opened the door. Rose lay in bed, as though she were asleep. Her
hair was spread over the pillow, but there was a gash on the right side of her
head and bruising was evident on her face. A nurse sat patiently beside the bed
and rose on Ruth's arrival. Trudy quickly introduced them and left whilst the
nurse filled Ruth in Rose's condition.
Trudy had heard wild gossip in the kitchen. To see for herself, she went and
pushed open the door to Rose's art room. The mess was evident. So they had had
a fight in here. Mr. Lovejoy had been seen removing something from the top of
the stairs. If the rumors were to be believed, Cal had had been dragging some
of the pictures away when Rose fell, probably trying to stop him. Trudy sighed
sadly.
"Poor Miss Rose" thought Trudy. She was going to begin clearing it
up, but didn't know where to start. She decided to do it another day, perhaps
when Rose was better and could tell her if anything could be saved. She called
in again to Rose's room to see if Ruth wanted anything. It was going to be a
long day.
Rose was still lying still. Ruth requested a drink and Trudy duly went to fetch
one. As she passed the study door, she glanced at it. It was shut with no noise
from within. Mr. Hockley was a coward all right, thought Trudy. Poor Rose to
end up with a man like him.