Chapter 6

The next morning, when Cassie awoke, she was dazed and confused. It took her several minutes to focus her mind on her present situation. As she gingerly opened her eyes, her head pounding, she slowly became conscious of her surroundings. She found herself, very much alone, in a large bedchamber; but she could not remember where she was; how she got there; or how long she had been lying in the large bed.

The last clear memory she had was leaving Hadlands with Stephan late the previous afternoon. Everything else, including that night, was a blur of disconnected dreams. Cassie remembered, on numerous occasions, that she had tried to wake herself up, but she was always trapped in the nightmare and unable to free herself from the horror of them.

As Cassie continued to look around the room, her mind still clouded by a haze that made her situation feel unreal, she slowly sat up in the bed and, immediately, became aware of her nakedness. She felt ashamed, and quickly got up and put on a silk wrapper that had been placed by the side of the bed. As soon as she stood up, black spots began to dance before her eyes, and if she had not leant against the bedpost to steady herself, she would have fallen to the floor. Once the spots had faded, and her vision had returned to normal, she became aware of her thirst. She looked around the room, in desperation, until she found a large pitcher of water, resting on a dresser. Quickly, she ran over to it and poured herself a glass of water. After she had thirstily drunk the water, she refilled the glass and drank another and then another, until the pitcher was almost empty. After her thirst had been partially quenched, she began to look around the room once more. She still did not know where she was and why she was there.

The room was a large bedchamber, with the remains of a fire still glowing in the grate. A candle, near the end of its finite life, flickered its weak orange light into a corner of the room. The early morning sunshine tried valiantly to break through the cracks of the securely fastened wooden shutters. But, only a few shafts of light managed to squeeze through the cracks in the wood, making illuminated ribbons on the luxurious red carpet. She saw a heavily decorated oriental screen standing at the other end of the room. And behind it, much to Cassie's relief, she discovered a chamber pot. Now she was no longer thirsty, she became aware of a dull pain between her thighs and lower abdomen. After she carefully relieved herself, behind the privacy of the screen, she removed the wrapper and examined herself. Evidence of blood, not part of her monthly courses, was on the cloth she had used to clean herself. Bruises, purple, green and yellow in hue, were beginning to reveal themselves on her thighs and arms.

Cassie, who was now shaking with fear, pulled the silk wrapper around herself once more and walked back over to the pitcher of water. She used the remains of its contents to wash her face and hands, but her hands were now shaking so much, that she spilt some of the water onto the floor.

As she dried her face with a cloth, she heard someone enter the room. 'Good morning,' said a cheery voice of a woman, 'I was hoping you would be awake. Major Ellington did give you rather a large dose. I did warn him... but you know what men are like.'

'A large dose of what?' Cassie replied, looking at her with a puzzled expression on her face.

'Laudanum,' she answered. The woman must have seen the look of horror on Cassie's face. 'We all take it you know,' she said casually.

'We?' Cassie asked her, still confused. All she could do was stare. The woman was dressed in a manner more suited to the evening. Even then, it was a dress that seemed to Cassie to be ostentatious and far too revealing for any time of day or even night. It was made from crimson silk, overlaid with black lace and left little to the imagination. Her voice, though she tried to disguise it, was common. Cassie quickly concluded that this woman was no lady.

'Yes, we,' she answered, smiling broadly at her, 'the girls that work here.'

'But I do not work here,' Cassie said defiantly.

'As you wish,' she said, shrugging her shoulders, 'I'm sure that is something you can discuss later with Major Ellington. You are to meet with him in half an hour. That does not give us very much time to get ready, but it'll have to do.'

As soon as the woman had stopped talking, a procession of maids, carrying a hip bath and pitchers of hot water, marched purposefully into the room. The fire was relit, the bath was filled, and the wooden shutters were opened, allowing the morning sunshine to flood into the room. 'Ah, Betsy,' the woman in crimson said, in an authoritative tone, 'prepare this young woman to see his lordship and the major.'

'Yes, ma'am, the maid answered and bobbed a curtsy.

'Do you have the dress? The cream silk that the gentlemen requested,' she asked looking around the room.

'No ma'am,' the maid answered, bobbing yet another curtsy.

The woman let out a sigh and then said, 'I'll return in twenty-five minutes to oversee the finishing touches, and I suppose that I'll have to bring the dress.' And with a flourish, she left the room.

The maid said very little to Cassie, she just guided her, in silence, through each step of her toilette. The bath water was hot and welcoming, but it had an unusual smell, a heavy scent of musk and spices. The soap also smelt strongly of musk, but Cassie was, at this point, to weary to care. She just wanted to wash away last night and those hazy memories. Though she could remember little, the snatches of dreams that she was beginning to recall, were horrifying.

The bleeding that she had noticed earlier had fortunately ceased, but her body was still tender to the touch. Cassie wanted to stay in the warm water for longer, but the maid signalled for her to get out, by holding open a large towel. Another maid that had entered the room while she was still in the bath motioned for her to take a seat at a dressing table and began to comb and style her long golden hair.

Cassie was still in a daze, as the two maids fussed around her. Her head was still swimming from the laudanum, and she was becoming thirsty again. She just silently let them carry on with their task. In little over an hour, she would be free of this place and these dreadful people. The debt that had been hanging over Stephan was now paid, and they could leave this place without delay.

She was still wrapped in a towel when the woman, in the crimson dress, came back, carrying a gown that she hung up on the back of the door of the bedchamber. 'Good,' she said with an air of authority, I see you are now ready to be dressed.'

Cassie looked over to the gown of cream silk, and said, 'I think you are mistaken. The dress I wore yesterday was dark blue.'

'You are to wear this,' the woman said curtly, pointing to the dress, 'his lordship's orders.' The woman brought it over to Cassie. 'Quickly, we haven't got all day' she said impatiently, 'we only have five minutes before you have to present yourself to his lordship.'

'But, it is not decent.' Cassie said looking at the sheer, almost transparent silk, 'anyway where are my undergarments.'

'My dear, you do not need to wear them, or anything else. Now quickly,' she said, sharply, 'put it on and stop arguing.'

'No, I will not,' Cassie said defiantly, 'I do not know who you are, but I demand that you get my clothes immediately. I will be leaving here this morning with Major Ellington, and I...'

Cassie was stopped mid-sentence, by a sharp slap across her cheek. 'My name is Madam Ruby. And, you will address me as either ma'am or Madam. You will never, ever speak to me like that again. Have I made myself clear?'

Cassie touched her cheek, where Madam Ruby had struck her, and nodded. 'Good,' the woman said, in a softer voice, 'now be a good little girl and put the dress on.'

Madam Ruby watched as one of the maids, who had been standing expressionless by Cassie's side, helped her put on the dress. Once Cassie was dressed, Madam Ruby took a step towards her and said in admiration, 'lovely, my dear, his lordship will be pleased with you.'

Cassie wanted to shout out and tell this ghastly woman to leave her alone, but she was frightened of her. There was a cold expression in her eye, a warning to Cassie to keep her peace. Cassie was in no doubt that Madam Ruby would hurt her again if she did not comply with her command. 'Pass a sponge and a bowl of scented water,' Madam Ruby said to one of the maids, who immediately scurried away to fetch the requested items. Once Madam Ruby was in possession of the sponge, she soaked it in the water and gently dampened the front of the dress. Cassie flinched as the cold, damp silk clung tightly to her skin and the overpowering heavy scent, that she recognised from the bath, filled her nostrils. Madam Ruby then tied a golden sash around her waist and gave her a pair of cream silk slippers. 'Perfect,' she said, 'now follow me.'

Walking was difficult. The silk slippers that she had been given to wear were far too small for her feet. Walking was also made difficult by the damp silk of the dress, that clung to her skin, making her progress down the stairs very difficult. Not wanting to incur the wrath of Madam Ruby, once more, she made her way carefully down the stairs. It would not be long, she thought to herself, until she was reunited with Stephan. Then Cassie would give him a full account of this woman's impertinence.

Madam Ruby stopped outside a door, turned to Cassie and made some adjustments to the dress, then knocked. It was immediately opened by a burly footman. Cassie's heart froze when she saw the expression on his face. He scanned her from head to toe. Then his top lip curled into a sneer.

Cassie followed Madame Ruby into the room that looked to her like a study. A large desk, adorned with a few scattered papers, was positioned by the window, while at the other end of the room, there was a roaring fire surrounded by leather chairs. Two smartly dressed gentlemen, one of whom was Ellington, were sitting by the fire. Cassie observed that he looked different today. The dark circles that she had seen under his eyes the previous day were now gone, and even though he still sported a black eye, he did not seem in the slightest bit concerned by its presence. As she was led by Madam Ruby towards them, neither man looked at her. They just continued having their light-hearted conversation amongst themselves.

Madam Ruby positioned her in front of them, and said, 'my lord, major, the new girl is ready for your inspection.'

Both men looked up at her. Ellington, who had been sprawled out in one of the chairs, stood up and walked over to her. He then began to examine her, not with love or tenderness, but with a critical eye. Cassie stood still, she was very embarrassed by the way she looked. 'Told you, Melrose,' Ellington finally said, after circling her a couple of times, with his hands behind his back, 'looks the part, doesn't she?'

'Ellington, you are a marvel. She is perfect. Absolutely perfect.' Lord Melrose replied. Then, leaning back in his chair and addressing Cassie, he said, 'how old are you, my dear?'

'Seventeen,' she whispered, her mouth had become dry, and she found it difficult to speak.

'And when were you seventeen?' Lord Melrose then enquired.

'Last month,' she whispered, looking at the floor and putting her arms in front of her, trying to hide her embarrassment, 'just before my father's death.'

'Good,' he replied, 'you will enjoy your time working for us. If you are cooperative, of course.'

'I do not understand,' she whispered, looking at Ellington, 'Stephan,' she said imploringly, an air of desperation in her voice. 'I thought we were leaving this morning.'

Lord Melrose let out a loud bark of laughter. 'My word, Ellington, you really are good. I would never have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes. She really believes that you are going to whisk her away from here. You are a regular Prince Charming. Well done, old chap!' Cassie stood in disbelief as he continued to laugh at her, 'I suppose he told you all sorts of lies. I really have no sympathy for you, you know, you should learn not to be so gullible.'

'Lies?' she whispered, 'I do not understand.'

'Come on, Ellington, what did you promise her?' Melrose said lightly, 'houses, jewels, carriages...' Melrose paused for a moment, 'surely not marriage.'

'Of course not,' Ellington said, grinning at his cousin, 'I would not be that careless. I only promised her my protection, and that is what she will get. I have not lied once.'

Cassie gasped and looked at Ellington, her eyes wide open, 'but yesterday, you said...'

'Oh Cass, I never promised you anything yesterday, or any other day,' he said, shrugging his shoulders. 'Yesterday, I just told you that I owed money. You offered to help, and I accepted.'

Cassie's head was spinning. 'But...you said you would marry me.'

'My dear, innocent Cass,' he said as he stroked her cheek, 'remember one of the first conversations we had on our first night together at Hadlands when you sneaked into my bed in the dead of night.' Cassie nodded. 'You complained that your sister told you that gentlemen, such as myself, do not marry girls like you.' He stopped talking waiting for an answer. 'Well, do you remember?'

Cassie nodded. 'Yes, I remember.'

'She was right,' he said, as he took both of her hands and looked into her eyes, 'gentleman like me, do not marry girls like you. Penniless wantons, who will lift their skirts to the first man who shows them any attention.'

'But, you told me about your impending marriage. And I thought...'

'Brilliant,' interrupted Melrose, 'she thought you meant to her, when in fact...' He started to chuckle. 'My dear, I am sorry to disappoint you. Ellington is indeed to marry in a couple of weeks, but alas, it is not to you.'

Cassie took in a sharp intake of breath. 'It is not true. Please, Stephan, tell me it is not true,' she pleaded.

He let go of her hands. 'My betrothed is waiting for me in London. But take heart, my dear Cass, unlike you, she is no beauty. However, she does bring to the marriage certain things that you cannot; money and connections.' He touched her jaw tenderly. 'Anyway, why should I marry you, when I can sample your many charms whenever I wish?'

'No,' Cassie said quietly, 'no, please, this is all a joke, a jest.' She grabbed his arm and began to plead with him. 'Please, Stephan, take me away from this place. I do not belong here.'

'Cass, have you seen yourself recently,' he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and looking down at her.

'No,' she whispered, 'there were no mirrors in the bedchamber, where I was dressed.'

'Reynolds,' Ellington ordered, 'please bring the cheval glass and put it in front of her.' Reynolds brought over the mirror and uncovered it. 'There you are, my dear, that is what you have become.' He said, as he grabbed the top of her arms and spun her around so that she could see her reflection. 'Do you really think someone like me, with my family connections, would marry a woman, a wanton woman at that, who dresses like a whore and behaves like one?'

Cass looked at her reflection, and a stranger stared back at her. Her eyes had been darkened with kohl and rouge had been applied to her lips and cheeks. The sheer cream silk of the dress, clung to her legs and body, leaving nothing to the imagination. 'No,' she cried, 'that is not me.'

'It is now,' Ellington said, his fingers digging into her arms, to prevent her from turning around. 'Look at yourself,' he said harshly, 'you are now nothing but a whore.'

'No, no, I am not,' she cried.

'What did you do last night?' He said, still holding onto her arms so that she had to keep looking at the stranger in the mirror. When no answer came, he said, 'you slept with other men, for money.'

'But, I did it for you,' she cried, 'I did it for you.'

'And you will continue to do it for me, whenever I ask you to.' Then he said, a little more gently, 'like the good little girl that I know you are.'

'No, Stephan, please,' she said, sobbing, 'take me away from here, please.'

'No, Cass, you will stay here and do as you are told. And Cass,' he said, waiting for her to acknowledge him. 'You should address me as Major Ellington from now on. Not Stephan. My given name is reserved only for my closest friends.'

'What about Verity and Reggie? They will be ruined...' She cried out, in despair.

'If you are a good girl, and do as you are told, your brother and sister will never know the extent of your disgrace. We will spread some story about an accident, and your untimely demise.'

'I will never see them again.' Cassie said with a sob.

'Do not worry, my dear, we will look after them.' Ellington said, releasing her arms and patting them gently, 'just as long as you do as you are told.'

Lord Melrose, who had been watching them with amusement from the comfort of his chair, again joined in the conversation. 'Tell her the good news about Reggie,' he said joyfully.

'What about Reggie?' Cassie replied quickly.

'We have been making enquiries regarding your brother's trust. And, it transpires that your brother's guardians really do not care what happens to it. Melrose, through his solicitor, has approached them, and they have agreed to transfer the guardianship of your brother to us. As his guardians, we will be able to look after your brother. Of course, we will do our best for him, if, and only if, you do as you are told. Disobey us, and in turn, we will make your brother's life very difficult.'

Cassie sighed. She was beginning to realise that her life was no longer her own. The trap that had been primed by Ellington weeks ago had sprung. Cassie had fallen for his deception, and there was no way of escape. She nodded. 'I have no choice, do I?'

'Cass, of course, you have a choice. You could leave at any time and go to Scotland to take up that dreary job as a governess. But, think about poor Reggie. We would make his life difficult if you left.' He lifted up her chin with his fingers so that she had to look into his eyes. 'Do not worry, my dear,' he said almost tenderly, 'I will look after you, just like I promised.'

Cassie nodded. 'I will not leave,' she said quietly.

'Good girl,' Ellington said, patting her shoulders, 'I am glad you have seen sense. Now you must go with Madam Ruby, and she will introduce you to your new friends.' Cassie turned to follow Madam Ruby when Ellington called out. 'Your new name, my dear, I nearly forgot to tell you, it is Rosa d'Oro, the Golden Rose. I think it suits you.'

✽✽✽

A few days after starting her new life, Major Ellington took Cassie back to her childhood home, Hadlands. Upon their arrival, he had ordered her to pack her valise with her clothes and most treasured possessions. Later that day, when she arrived back at Highfields, she had assumed that all her belongings would be returned to her. However, after a week, she had still not been reunited with her possessions. She knew that if she wanted to see her valise again, she would have to pluck up the courage to speak to him.

Early one morning, just after she had left a guest's bedchamber, she saw Major Ellington walking down the corridor towards her. She knew that this may be her only chance to speak to him privately. 'Major Ellington,' she asked timidly, 'may I have a quiet word with you?'

'It depends on what it is, my dear. 'If it is to complain,' he had said impatiently, 'you can forget about it.'

'No,' she whispered, looking at her feet. Since Ellington had humiliated her in front of Lord Melrose, he always spoke to her as if she was and inferior. 'I promised you I would not complain. I will keep my promise.'

'Then come with me,' he said briskly, as he opened a door that led into an empty bedchamber.

Cassie followed him into the cold, dark room that had been unoccupied for the last few days. Major Ellington walked over to the windows and opened the curtains to let in some light. It was a gloomy morning, and even though it was the height of summer, the light did not penetrate far into the room. 'Please take a seat,' he said motioning to a chair next to the fireplace. Cassie obeyed and sat on the edge of the seat and nervously twisted her hands together on her lap.

'What is it?' he demanded, after a long pause.

Cassie continued to knot her fingers together, 'I wanted to ask you if I could have my valise back.'

'Your valise?' he questioned, looking at her blankly.

'Yes,' she replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt, 'the one I packed when we went back to Hadlands last week.'

'I am very sorry, my dear girl,' he said nonchalantly, standing in front of her with his hands behind his back, 'but it is impossible to return your valise to you. Anyway,' he added dispassionately, 'it is not as if you need any of those horrendously fitting dresses anymore. Look how lovely you look in your new dress.'

Cassie blushed as she looked down at the dress she was wearing. It was made from the finest cream silk and fitted her beautifully. A few weeks ago, she would have jumped at the chance to own such a fine garment. But like everything else in this place, it did not really belong to her.

'But,' she said close to tears, 'there were some books that I would have liked to have kept.'

'Books?' he had said, looking down at her with a gleam of amusement in his eyes, 'why would you need them here? My dear girl, you will have no time to read when we arrive in London.'

Cassie's head slumped as he spoke, and she tried to fight back the tears that were beginning to sting the corners of her eyes. He sat next to her and took her hands in his. 'If you want books,' he said a little more tenderly, 'I will get you books. Which one would you particularly like to have?'

'I would have liked to have kept my Bible,' she said nervously, as she looked up at him, 'it had been given to me by my mother, just before she died.'

'Oh dear, I am sorry,' he said, touching her cheek, 'but I am afraid you will not see that again.'

'Why not?' she said in despair. 'It was very precious to me,' she said as the tears that she had restrained earlier began to flow down her cheeks.

'Crying will not bring it back,' he said dispassionately. 'As I have already told you,' he said, his speech slow and deliberate like he was talking to a child, 'you will not see it again, so there is no use crying over it.'

'What about my other possessions?' she said almost in a whisper, 'I kept them in a small wooden box, that I had packed in my valise. It contains nothing of any value to anyone, apart from me. Please, may I have them back?' Cassie asked, becoming more desperate as she spoke.

'I am afraid your valise, the one that you so carefully packed with all your precious trinkets, has gone,' he said brusquely.

'Gone?' she replied in a whisper.

'Yes, gone,' Ellington said with a sigh, 'never to be seen by you again.'

'But why?' Cassie said, looking at her clenched hands on her lap.

'I had to, my dear,' Ellington said in a soothing tone. 'Remember, your first morning at Highfields? You asked me to keep your brother and sister in the dark about your new career, did you not.'

Cassie nodded. 'yes, yes I do.'

'I had to concoct some story about what had happened to you, and your valise was vital to my plan.' He then took both of her hands in his. They felt warm compared to the icy cold of her fingers. 'You are cold, my dear, lean into me,' he said as he lifted his arm and put it around her shoulder. Cassie obeyed his command and leant her head against his chest, and she felt strangely comforted by his touch.

'A few days ago, there was an accident on a stagecoach that had been on its way to Scotland. It had been raining heavily, and the road, like most in this country, was in a shocking state of repair. Not long after the journey had begun, just after the sun had set, one of the spokes in the wheel broke, and the coach overturned. In the confusion that followed, a valise was found by the side of the road that belonged to a Miss Cassandra Stanford. The coachman clearly remembered a young woman, matching your description, catching the stagecoach earlier that day, but he could not find her among the surviving passengers. A few days later, after an extensive search of the surrounding area, the magistrate, who had been heading up the search party for her, sensibly concluded that her dead body must have been washed away by a nearby river that had broken its banks earlier that day.'

He pulled her a little closer and rubbed the top of her arms. It was cold in the room, and Cassie had started to shiver. 'It will not be long until your family solicitors inform your brother and sister about your untimely death.'

'I still do not understand why I could not have kept anything?' she said almost pleadingly, 'not everything, just a few trinkets.'

'I am sorry, my dear, but you must understand, I needed everything to make it look convincing. If your precious Bible, or anything else, was missing from the valise, your sister would have become suspicious and may have begun to investigate your disappearance further. You ask me to protect both your brother and sister from your disgrace.'

Cassie looked up at him and nodded. 'I understand,' she said, looking at him with wide eyes.

He kissed her tenderly on the lips. 'Good girl,' he then said, touching her cheek with his fingertips, 'I knew you would understand.'

He then stood up and took her hand as a signal for her to stand as well. 'Now, my dear,' he said still holding her hand, 'be a good girl and tidy yourself up. Your eyes are red and sore, and that will not do at all. It is our last night at Highfields. Go and get a little rest before tonight.'

Cassie nodded and with a heavy heart, she followed Major Ellington towards the door. 'I will see you later, my dear,' he said as she left the room.