Chapter 14

It was three o'clock in the morning, after a busy day, but Betsy could still not sleep. She knew it was futile to even attempt to try, so she sat in the kitchen on a wooden chair, by the side of the fire, staring at the glowing embers.

Only a few hours ago, Betsy had listened quietly, as Joe and Captain Laws, sat at the kitchen table, and discussed their plans for the evening ahead. Over many years, she had patiently listened to them, but, even after all this time, it did not get any easier. She had never raised any objections to his involvement in any mission he had undertaken with Captain Laws. She had learnt, from experience, that any concerns she might raise, could compromise his ability to do the job he loved.

But, as she stood in the shadows, she was overcome by a sense of unease. What they were describing, was not a run of the mill military mission. It was a rescue of a young woman, that neither of them knew, from a place with a dubious, at best, reputation. She had felt a little nauseous, when she had over-heard Captain Laws say to Joe, in a low, serious voice. 'This mission has not been sanctioned by headquarters. If we are caught, there is nothing they will do to help us. We're on our own.'

While the two men were still talking, Betsy had decided that she had to confide her worries to Joe. She wanted to know why he was willing to risk his life, for a woman; a woman, who was someone else's problem. She also wanted to know why it had to be him that risked his life and reputation, taking part in a mission that had not been officially sanctioned.

Later that night, while Joe was preparing to go, she saw her opportunity to talk to him. 'Joe,' she had said, with apprehension in her voice, 'do you have to go out tonight?'

Joe smiled at her sweetly. 'Now, my love,' he said softly, as he touched her cheek tenderly, 'you should know better than to worry about me. I'm like a cat, I've got nine lives, and I think I've got at least two left.'

'Don't joke,' she said, moving away from him and busying herself with some unnecessary household chore, 'you know I don't like it when you put yourself in danger.'

He went over to her and put his arms around her waist. 'Betsy,' he said softly, 'I have to go. I can't let the Captain go by himself. You know all too well the trouble he'll get himself into without me by his side, holding his hand.'

'I don't like it,' she replied, shaking off his embrace, 'I don't want to lose you.'

'I'd be much happier if you married me,' Joe said, looking at Betsy seriously.

'Oh Joe,' Betsy said, her eyes downcast, 'we have agreed that marriage is not possible.'

'No, Betsy,' he said softly, 'you have agreed. I have always wanted you to be my wife. Nothing's changed. Please think about it, even if it's for the sake of the kiddies.'

'Joe, I can't. Not after...' she said, her voice trailing away.

'I'm nothing like Jem,' he said, with feeling, 'I love you Betsy, and I would never do anything to hurt you.'

'It's not that,' Betsy said defensively, 'I know you are nothing like Jem, but...'

'If it's that odd idea you have about me dying as soon as we're married, you can forget it. I'm not going to lie, I've been in some close shaves over the years. And you also know full well, I could die in my next battle, but if I do, it'll have nothing to do with our marriage.' Joe said, walking over to her and holding her hand. 'Marry me, Betsy, please,' he said, looking straight into her eyes.

'I don't know,' she said, not daring to look back at him, 'I...'

'We'll talk about this when I get back,' Joe said, as he picked up his knife and sheathed it in a leather pouch around his waist.

'Oh Joe,' Betsy said, looking at him, her eyes moist with tears, 'I wish you wouldn't go tonight. Why should you risk your life for the sake of a whore?' she said angrily. 'Your children need you: I need you.'

'Now, Betsy,' he said tenderly, going over and putting her arms around her, 'that's not fair. You know I always put you and the kiddies first. I love you.'

'Then don't go,' Betsy said firmly, 'it's too dangerous.'

'Betsy's right,' a deep voice said, from the other side of the room, 'you don't have to come with me, Joe.'

'Let you go on your own, sir, and miss out on all the fun?' Joe answered, letting Betsy go and touching her gently on the cheek. He then turned around to face his commanding officer. 'Can't let an officer go by themselves,' he said cheekily, 'no one can tell what sort of trouble they'll get into when they're left to their own devices. Most of them, begging your pardon, sir, don't know their arse from their elbow.'

Betsy looked at Damien, with her hands on her hips and tears still in her eyes. 'Then just make sure he comes back in one piece. Otherwise, you'll have me to answer to,' she said sternly.

'You know I'll always take good care of him,' he replied, smiling at her. 'Anyway, I wouldn't dare come back without him. My life wouldn't be worth living.'

Now, all Betsy could do was wait. She busied herself by putting the children to bed, and then she distracted herself for a little longer, by tidying the already pristine looking kitchen. Once she had exhausted all the usual domestic chores, she then sat by the fire in the kitchen and began to tackle the endless pile of darning, she carried around with her but was always far too busy to do. After an hour, in which she had not even finished one of Joe's old socks, she gave up and began to stare at the fire.

She began to wonder why Joe had asked her to marry him. It was not the first time, he had asked for her hand in marriage. But, it had been so long, nearly three years since his last proposal, that she thought he had given up on her. The first time, he had asked her for her hand, was only a few weeks after her first husband had died of fever. She had been afraid and lonely, but even then, she had refused. To her, marriage was a curse. It was an excuse for a man to exercise his physical authority over a woman. And, she had sworn to herself that she would never be tied legally to another man, like she had been tied to Jem, with no escape from his tyranny.

But, she had always known that Joe was different. He was kind and generous to her and her daughter. He never physically chastised her, and he had never manipulated her feelings in order to change her mind. She also knew that he loved her, as much as she loved him. Then why did she keep refusing him, even after all these years? Was she really frightened of losing him in battle? Or did she think that her relationship with him would change in some way as soon as they were pronounced by the chaplain as husband and wife?

She picked up her darning, once more, disgusted at her own self-pity. A woman, with responsibilities to her children, could not afford to think of herself. Maybe, it was time for her to marry him, even if it was only for the sake of the children.

Then, at around four o'clock in the morning, her eyes weary from the monotony of the work, she heard the kitchen door open. She leapt out of her chair and went nervously towards the door. 'Joe,' she said, in a loud whisper, 'is that you?'

Joe quickly entered the kitchen. 'Yes, Betsy,' he said, out of breath, 'we're back.'

'Thank goodness,' she said, with a sigh, 'I've been so worried.'

Captain Laws then entered the kitchen carrying a large bundle in his arms, 'Betsy,' he said, with urgency, 'Come over here, I need your help.' He then laid the bundle carefully on the chair, that Betsy had just vacated.

'My poor dear,' Betsy said, as she gently pulled the material of the coat away from the person that was underneath. 'What have they done to you?' Betsy said, as she brushed her hair from her eyes and gently touched her cheek. She then looked at the deep red wounds on her wrist, where the manacles had been, and then she saw the five raw gashes across her back. 'How could they do this to you?' she then said angrily.

Captain Laws then walked over to her and saw, for the first time, the extent of her injuries. 'They're worse than animals,' Captain Laws said in disgust. 'Can you clean her up?' he said to Betsy, with a sigh.

Betsy nodded. 'Yes, of course.' She then turned towards Joe, who was still standing in the middle of the kitchen, 'Joe heat a kettle of water and get some clean linen.'

'She will need plenty of rest. Is there a fire in my room?' Captain Laws asked Betsy.

Betsy nodded again. 'I've been keeping an eye on it while you're away.'

'Good,' he replied purposefully, 'I'll bring her to my room, it will be quiet and warm, and she can have some privacy while you clean her.'

As Captain Laws gently lifted Cassie out of the chair and began to carry her to his room, Betsy noticed, for the first time, a girl, no older than fourteen years, standing in the middle of the kitchen. The girl, who had been watching her with awe, receded into the shadows after she had been spotted. 'And, who do we have here?' Betsy said gently, trying to put the girl at ease.

'Susie, ma'am,' the girl said, in a whisper, looking nervously at the older woman and dropping her a curtsy.

'Please don't call me ma'am,' Betsy said, with a broad and welcoming smile. She held out her hand and said, 'my name is Betsy. Come and sit next to the fire and warm yourself.'

The girl nodded and walked nervously to the fire, sat down and held out her hands towards its warm glow. 'Once the water is boiled,' Betsy said, looking at the kettle that Joe had hung above the now roaring fire, 'Joe will make you a nice hot cup of tea.'

Once Susie was sitting comfortably on the chair, with a blanket over her shoulders, Betsy went over to Joe. 'Joe,' she said, as she went over to a drawer in the dresser where she kept her clean linen, 'when the water is boiled, please bring it to Captain Laws' room. And could you also make Susie a cup of sweet, hot tea? The poor little thing is chilled to the bone.'

Betsy knocked on Captain Laws' door and opened it slowly. He was just about to lay the girl, who was still wrapped up in his coat, on the bed, when Betsy said, 'let me put a sheet down first. The poor girl is covered with her own filth, and I don't want to get the bed dirty.'

'Who could do a thing like this?' she said to Captain Laws, as she gently took his coat off the injured woman's shoulders. 'It's wicked,' she added, shaking her head, 'wicked.'

'Yes, it is,' he said, with a sigh. 'Betsy,' he said seriously, 'will you look after her and Susie. They must stay indoors. If they are seen by anyone, they could be in danger. But, before you agree, you need to know that you will also be putting yourself in danger hiding them. The men that did this to them are ruthless and will stop at nothing to get them back. I need to go out again, but Joe will stay behind to protect you.'

'Don't worry,' Betsy said, gently covering Cassie with a blanket, 'I'll make sure that they are both looked after.'

'Thank you, Betsy,' he said, smiling at her, 'my mind is at rest, knowing that you are looking after them.'

'She's beautiful,' Betsy said, as she brushed the hair from her face, 'What is her name?'

'Miss Cassandra Stanford,' he said, still looking at her, 'she is indeed very beautiful, despite what they have done to her.'

'Are you going to stop the man who did this to her?' Betsy said as she examined the bruising that was peppered all over her face and shoulders.

Captain Laws shook his head. 'No, Betsy, I cannot,' he said, as an apology, 'there is nothing I can do. The man who did this to her is far too influential. He has the backing of some of the most important men in the country. And, as far as the law is concerned, he is untouchable.'

'But,' Betsy said sadly, 'he almost killed her. Is there no one who can bring him to justice and stop him from doing this to others?'

'I'm sorry, Betsy,' Captain Laws said guiltily, 'there is nothing I can do.'

'But,' Betsy said, looking intently at Captain Laws, 'when I overheard you talking, earlier last evening at the kitchen table, I thought I heard that it was Colonel Mitford that asked you for help. Why can't he arrest him? He's got friends in high places.'

'I'm afraid politics is not that simple,' Captain Laws said, with a dejected sigh. 'The man who imprisoned her, has political influence, including members of the current government. If he interfered, Mitford would, no doubt, lose his job, and the man responsible for her injuries would be free to carry on with his business.'

Before Betsy could reply, and tell him how unfair it was, Joe entered the room. 'I've brought the hot water, love,' he said to Betsy, 'shall I put it over here, by the fire.'

'I must go,' Captain Laws announced, 'and thank you both for what you have done tonight.'

It took Betsy several hours to clean Cassie. She was weak, and the wounds on her back were deep and raw, and full of dirt from the cellar floor. It did not help that, as she regained consciousness, she began to shiver and murmur incoherently. 'I think she must have a fever,' Betsy said to Joe later that morning, 'should we send for the saw-bones?'

'That's no fever, she's cold and clammy,' Joe said, with a sigh, 'I've seen these symptoms before when I was in India. Some of the lads in the 33rd were stupid enough to get themselves addicted to opium. We'll have to give her some laudanum.'

'But won't that make it worse,' Betsy said, looking at Joe with concern, 'giving her more of that dreadful stuff.'

'She'll have to wean herself off it gradually, taking a little less over time, until her body gets used to not having it,' Joe said to her. 'Let us hope that when she fully regains consciousness that she will want to stop taking it. I've seen men go out of their minds trying to get more of the stuff. They'll do anything for it. It's awful.'

'Poor creature,' Betsy said, stroking her forehead with a damp cloth, 'what have they done to you?'

'I'll go and get some,' he said to Betsy, 'it should reduce the shivering and help her rest.'