A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Rose was in no doubt that her life was in
danger. She sat up in bed, trying to think straight.
"Keep calm, Rose," she told herself
through clenched fists.
She knew that she could not go that home on
Friday, and that Cal would not let her stay. That was his plan, and nothing
would change it. The only option was to get away before Friday. Leave; run
away. It all amounted to the same. She had to escape.
But how, and where would she go? Money, she
needed money. There was always some in the safe, plus her jewelry. She could
get it when Cal wasn’t around. But where would she go? That question bit hard.
"Jack!" she suddenly thought.
"Jack would know where I could go. And I can trust him," she thought.
Suddenly, she felt calmer, more relaxed. Jack would help. He had offered
before. But she needed to know for certain. She would have to get a message to
him; he would be back by now. Trudy could deliver it. Rose bit her lip. This
meant involving Trudy.
Rose rang the bell, and Trudy came within a
moment.
"Yes, Miss?"
"Is there anyone around outside the
door?" asked Rose.
Trudy checked. "No, Miss."
"Good. Then come here." Rose took
Trudy’s hands.
"Cal has told me tonight that the place
he is sending me to on Friday," she stopped for a breath. "Well, he
made it clear that he does not intend me come out of it. That is why you are
not going with me. He has some plan to make people think I am mad. I am not,
Trudy. I can assure you."
"Oh, Miss Rose, I knew something was
going on," Trudy replied, squeezing Rose’s hands. "I overheard when
the Doctor was here the other day. They spoke about you being with the grief
and all. Then the Doctor told me you were going one place, Lovejoy told me
somewhere else. I asked Thomas where Carshalton was, for that was the place,
and he told me it was for mad people. Oh, Miss Rose, what are you going to
do?"
"I have to get away from here before
Friday. I must ask you, Trudy, do you wish to help me?"
"Oh, Miss Rose, of course I will, as
much as I can."
"Then I need you to take a letter to
Jack tomorrow. Jack the artist. I am sure he can help me find somewhere safe to
go."
"Oh, Miss, this is awful." Trudy
shook her head.
"Now, Trudy, you must be brave. You must
behave as though you know nothing," Rose warned. "Cal is very clever,
and Lovejoy is very watchful."
"I understand. But when are you to
go?"
"It must be Thursday. Find out as much
as you can about Cal’s whereabouts, and indeed, the rest of the household. For
as much as no one will stop me, they are Cal’s staff, not mine."
"What will you take with you?"
"I cannot take a trunk out of the house
without being seen, and to hire someone to take it for me would be foolish. I
fear I will be able to take little other than the clothes on my back. I will
need you to make a little bag of things I will need, but that can be done
tomorrow. Now go, and remember, you know nothing."
Rose released Trudy’s hands and slumped back
in the bed. She felt relieved in a kind of way. She thought about what to put
in the letter, and decided brief was best. Short and to the point. It would be
written just before Trudy left, so there was no chance of it being discovered.
Cal had to be out of the house in the morning; he rarely stayed in all day. It
would not be unusual for Trudy to run an errand. This part of the plan had no
problems.
*****
Jack sat on his stool, his ready-done
pictures displayed, his sign offering portraits leaning against the railings.
There did not seem to be as many people around as last week, or maybe he was
imagining things. There were few enough coins in his pocket, that was a
certainty. He looked up, and saw Trudy before she saw him. She looked a little
odd, a coat over her uniform on such a fine day, a strange look, almost of
anxiety, on her face. She was looking round, as if searching for something.
Then, she spotted Jack.
"Oh, Mr. Dawson, I have been looking for
you."
"How are you? And Rose?" Jack
ventured.
Trudy looked over her shoulder, her behavior
now bothering Jack.
"Is something wrong?"
"I have a letter for you, from Miss
Rose. Here." She produced an envelope from under her coat.
"What’s this about?" asked Jack,
thumbing the fine paper on the envelope.
"You must read it," Trudy implored.
Intrigued, Jack tore open the envelope and
read.
Dear Jack,
You once told me that you would help me. I
need that help now, if you still wish to. I will not go into details now, but
tomorrow I have to leave Cal, as I fear for my life. I do not know what to do,
or where to go, and I can only trust you and Trudy. Please be at St. Agnes’
Church at 10 AM tomorrow morning. Trudy will meet you and give you my bag.
Shortly after 11, I will arrive for prayers and will leave the driver outside.
I will meet you through the back entrance. Then you can put me on the train to
somewhere you think will be safe for me.
If you will help me, Jack, tell Trudy. I
do hope you will and that I will see you tomorrow.
Kind regards,
Rose.
Jack crushed the letter in his hand, almost
as though he were in pain. He looked at Trudy.
"What has happened?"
"I think Miss Rose would like to tell
you herself tomorrow."
"But is it true, that she fears for her
life?"
"Yes, Jack, I do believe it is
true."
"Then I will help her. Tell her that I
will be there tomorrow. I know where it is. And tell her, tell her that I will
look after her."
"Thank you, Jack. I will tell her
now." Trudy smiled. "See you tomorrow." And she was gone.
Jack shivered despite the heat of the day.
What on earth was he going to do with her?
"I’ll take her to New York with
me," he thought. "Then, when she is more sure of herself, we will
decide where she can go." He sighed. If Fabri and Maria did not want her
there, he could find somewhere else for her to stay. It would not be what she
was used to, but it would have to do.