Danielle curtsied, a bit pale at Milord's cold tone. She walked slowly to the office and waited there, wondering why the Master wanted to see her. She looked around the room and wondered if it was just orders on how to care for Lady Emilie. She hoped so, she had been ordered to draw the Lady a bath, so was she safe? Worst come to worse, she'd place the blame elsewhere. She waited nervously, wishing she could look around a bit, see what was kept here. She decided to sneak a quick peek around.
Blakeney stalked into his study, he had been angered that Charlotte had run off when he had ordered her to stay in the house and with the all the rumors flying! They had to be coming from someone who was there either the doctor, Dessau, or the girl. The doctor was not the type to, Dessau normally had more decorum, so that left the girl who shouldn't have even been in the room. He opened he study in time to see her looking into his paper. He strode across the room and bed her by the wrist. "What do you think you're doing?"
Unfortunately, Danielle wasn't listening closely enough and before she knew it, the Master of the house had grabbed her by the wrist. "Nothing...your lordship" she said, realized she was caught in the act.
Blakeney stared down at her, eyes flickering dangerously, "'Nothing'?" he queried. "'Nothing'? I find you rummaging through my paper and you call it nothing?" Still gripping her wrist tightly, he pulled her away from the desk and shoved her roughly in to a seat. "Perhaps you think it's appropriate behavior to rifle through your master's possession. And for what purpose? To spread malicious rumor? To purloin valuables? Such behavior is high suspicious in light of recent events. So perhaps you can enlighten me, as to the reason that rumors of above stairs affairs are circulating about the household staff, when you are the only one with the knowledge and motive to spread them? Or why it is that you are even above stairs in the first place, assuming Charlotte's duties? Or where is Charlotte when I gave her orders not to leave the estate? And why you felt so bold as to make yourself privy to my personal papers?" He leaned in close, placing his hands on the arms of the chair she was sitting in, his face looming close into hers. "And remember, my dear, more than your job is at stake should you attempt to play me false."
Danielle was quaking in her shoes as she was shoved into a chair. She tried to keep herself together, if she broke down, she was doomed. More then her job? Sweet Jesus, what was she going to do? She averted her eyes respectfully. "Sir, everyone heard the crash. I went to check and saw milady on the floor. I apologize for screaming but you can imagine, it was shock to see her crumpled on the floor in a pile of blood, especially after yesterday when she was kidnapped and beaten. Charlotte told all of us the lady was half dead, I was sure she had been hurt again. No wonder everyone was talking, surely that can't be blamed on me. On Charlotte, well she seemed very angry about having to stay in the house and asked if she could switch with me and take my day off in exchange for hers in a month. I agreed and took her duties as she asked. I don't know where Charlotte is, I suppose she is in town somewhere. And I thought I saw my name, I didn't think a quick peek would hurt if it was about me, I would never steal anything of course" she said, knowing that was the weakest part of her defense. She trembled a bit and wondered how this would be taken.
Blakeney drew even closer, his _expression terrifying. "Charlotte, you say? You know that if I've found that you've lied, the punishment will be ever more severe, my dear." Blakeney straightened up and towered over the trembling girl. "As for my papers, there are no excuses for your behavior, that is something you will be punished for, and your quarters will be turned out to assure the honesty of your work. Should anything be found there, you will receive a trashing to remember and you will be given your papers AND if I've a mind of it you'll be imprisoned."
Danielle quaked. "I am sorry my lord" she said. She had no doubt Blakeney would carry through with his threats but there were things in her room she didn't want seen. "I swear, there is nothing in my room" she whispered.
Blakeney's eyes narrowed and flickered dangerously. "That remains to be seen." He paused. "Well, let's get the matter over with then. So that your innocence can be proved and you can get back to your duties."
Danielle turned pale. "Please, there is nothing in there" she whispered, almost fainting with terror. There was one thing, she knew it would be damning. "I...swear, nothing is in my room" she said.
Blakeney grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to her feet. "As I said," he said in deadly tone, "that remains to be seen. I don't want an unjustified shadow of doubt looming over your head." He yanked her after him and proceeded through a side door towards the servants� quarter. He pulled her to her room and push the door open. Inside he released her wrist and commanded that she remain at the door in a tone that she best comply or suffer. He began rummaging through her drawers and into every nook and cranny of the small room. From inside of Danielle's pillowcase he extracted an extricate emerald necklace. He held it up before him, it was one of Tessa's. He remembered giving her that necklace shortly before Percy was born, she lovely emeralds and he had it especially created for his lovely wife. And now it was here in the room of a nosy, thieving maid. He turned on his heels, stalked to the doorway and struck Danielle so hard across the face that the girl fell to the ground, bleeding from a split lip. "How do you explain this?" he growled, then notice a piece of bloody cloth that had fluttered out of her pocket. He recognized it from Emilie's dress. "You've got a lot to explain, my dear!"
Danielle was pulled through the house and ordered to stand at the door. She prayed he wouldn't check her pillow case, please, let him miss that. She closed her eyes when she heard a sharp intake of breath and then a ribbon of pain shot through her face. She collapsed on the ground, her face bleeding and her head spinning. She didn't know what to say. "I...I..." she began to stutter when she opened her eyes and saw him holding the cloth. She continued to stutter "I don't know where that came from" she said.
Blakeney grabbed her neck and dragged her to her feet by it. "That cloth is a part of Lady Emilie's dress which fell from your pocket. And this necklace," he growl holding it before her face, "belongs to my wife! How dare you! How dare you betray me? I take you in, paid you well! Give me a reason not to have you hung like a common thief? Or practice the Oriental custom of cutting off a thieves hands?" He was of a mind to do it.
Danielle trembled as she was seized by the neck. "Don't cut off my hands" she begged.
Blakeney wanted her to hurt, he wanted her to know to know pain and suffering and humiliation! "Why not, my dear? It is fitting punishment for treacherous thieves like you!" He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back to his study long enough to grab the crop he had used on the delivery boy, then dragged her by the hair out into an area behind the barn and threw her up against the wall of the barn. "Brace yourself, girl, and prepare to take your punishment." Danielle cowered by the wall. Blakeney once again unleashed his fury with less reserve than he had used with Andre, no one there to hold her in place or to tell him when to stop. He did not stop for some time and her back was not the only recipient of the crop. Nasty welts appeared on back, legs, arms, face, and any other portion that she could not shield. He beat her with such force that he broke his crop, fatigued by the exercise he looked down at the blood mess. She still breathed, but was unrecognizable, nor would she be later - several strokes had permanently disfigured her face. She had tried to hurt him and his family, her punishment was deserved... but there was still her tongue. She could still spread rumors of what had happened, her credibility had to be taken away. He slipped back into the house, into his study. What to do? He looked into the fire blazing on the hearth, she could not be allowed to hurt them... He picked up the poker and stoked the fire... a way to strip away her credibility so no one would believe her... He watched the poker in the fire heat up and begin to glow, the shape was similar to those used to brand prisoner. A thought came to him... he heated the poker up till it could glow no brighter. Then swiftly crept back to the Danielle, careful to avoid being seen and branded the unconscious girl. He then stripped off a few distinguishable items of clothing, such as apron and bonnet and left her. He would get rid of her later, if she was still there. He would dragged her to point along the road and leave her and tell the servants that she had been dismissed for incompetence. He when back into the house and up to his rooms where his washed and changed.
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Charlotte had been having a wonderful day. She had spent the day walking around the town, seeing the sights. How perfect had it worked out, that Danielle had switched days with her. She had been rather happy to have fresh air before she was cooped up in the house with a tyrant, a madwoman, a rebel and a hysterical invalid. She would have to get back soon though. Well, she'd be back by evening. She wondered how everything was going. As she walked around, she imagined how horrid Lady Emilie was, still cowering at every shadow and Lord Blakeney still in a fury. Well, hopefully Danielle would be able to take care of the young Lady. As she walked through town, she tried to forget the troubles and just be happy.
I got punished a bit too severally, and was sentenced to die
Sitting on the electric chair, I realized I was going to fry
I wished I could have swapped to normal chairs
For change this state of sordid state of affairs
Since it's a famous adage as of late
That if you change your spot, you change your fate
-"Yo Ya" by Poogy Tales, translated by me and yes this a real Hebrew song, disturbingly upbeat. Felt it reminded me of the whole madness at Blakeney Manor.
