Chapter 44
Wives of military men divided their status among themselves according to their husbands’ ranks. Those who failed to earn the respect of both superiors and subordinates found themselves isolated. If she were to be linked with River Ross, she had to ensure that the scandal—whether it was about deceiving a lover or fleeing while pregnant—belonged solely to her.
As she had resolved from the beginning, it was better to become a thoroughly scandalous woman. Like Lady Lowen, who had been ousted from society for allegedly being involved with three men at once and remained a pariah, never receiving a single proposal even past the age of fifty.
“No one mocks a man for buying a prostitute. But a man who takes a prostitute as his wife is always an object of ridicule.”
An interview Lady Lowen had given to a weekly magazine contained a deep insight into the world. From the moment Vanessa thought it was a fitting guide for young ladies forced into the marriage market, she had viewed the woman as a sort of pioneer.
“You’re going to prick yourself.”
Mary took the fabric from Vanessa’s hands as she sat staring blankly at her embroidery hoop.
“Finish that after we get out of the car. I’ll hold onto it for now.”
Mary skillfully bit the thread, tied a small, neat knot, and tucked the needle away so it would be easy to pick up later.
“Thank you, Mary.”
Vanessa leaned her head against the seat, heavy with motion sickness, and let out a long breath. Her progress on the embroidery was painfully slow; it had been a long time since she’d picked up a needle. There was still no word regarding the brooch and cufflinks that had been stolen by the pickpocket.
She didn’t want to lose hope, but she couldn’t afford to just sit and wait. The twins’ birthday was next week. That was why she had bought handkerchiefs and fine thread.
“That is the famous Kingston drawbridge,” Alman announced.
Vanessa snapped her head up at his words.
“Once we pass that, we’ll be in Essex. You’ve been here before with the Master, haven’t you, My Lady?”
“…No. This is my first time.”
The name of the place brought back memories she had tried hard to suppress. The site of her parents’ accident was not far from here. Their carriage had remained trapped under a bridge used by dockworkers for a very long time.
Vanessa still remembered the whispers of the officers in charge of the case back then. They said if someone had only discovered them sooner and reported it, they might have lived—that the lack of people around due to it being a festival day had been their undoing….
“Oh my god! Alman! Look out!”
Lost in her dark thoughts, Vanessa’s gaze snapped forward at Mary’s scream. The car’s headlights illuminated the dark alley with an unnatural brightness. And there, in the center of that brilliant light, stood a vagrant with his arms spread wide.
For a split second, time seemed to slow down to a agonizing crawl. Screeech. The tires braked with an ominous sound, Mary let out a blood-curdling scream, and the car swayed unstable from side to side. In the center of it all were the dark eyes of the vagrant, staring directly at her.
The moment she recognized the unstable mix of terror and euphoria in his gaze, Vanessa instinctively covered her face with both hands and let out a sharp cry.
“Ah!”
At that moment, time regained its speed, and everything came crashing down at once. With a violent screech of friction, the tires gripped the road, and her body jerked forward. Then came a heavy thud as the car struck something, the impact shaking the frame as if it might flip over.
Vanessa tried to brace herself by grabbing the front seat, but her head slammed hard against something, and her grip slipped. The car spun half a turn before finally coming to a halt. Acrid smoke began to billow from the crumpled hood.
Mary, coughing raggedly, crawled up from the floorboards and grabbed Vanessa’s arm.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m… I’m fine. What about you, Mary?”
“I’m okay. Oh heavens, My Lady, your nose is bleeding…. Use this.”
“What happened?”
“Some madman jumped right out in front of us. I’ll go see, you stay here.”
“No… I have to see for myself.”
Wiping the blood with a handkerchief, Vanessa quickly stepped out of the car. If she wasn’t mistaken, he had blocked their path with clear intent. At the very least, he had recognized this car.
Mary shouted something behind her, but Vanessa didn’t hear it. Was it mere blind instinct, or some kind of premonition? Vanessa was certain the man had been trying to tell her something. As she approached him, Alman, who had finally scrambled out of the driver’s seat, stepped in front of her in a panic.
“My Lady, please stay inside. It’s dangerous.”
“The accident has already happened. What could be dangerous now?”
“He seems to be mentally unstable. If you would just go back inside…”
“Good heavens, Alman. The man is hurt!”
The vagrant was still sprawled on the ground. The people nearby only stole glances and moved on; no one offered to help. Vagrants usually died fighting amongst themselves or caused nothing but trouble like this, so staying uninvolved was considered the best course of action.
Vanessa pushed past the driver and knelt by the man. Dressed in a tattered military uniform, he was groaning, though he hadn’t lost consciousness. Blood flowed from his forehead, but fortunately, thanks to Alman’s sharp swerve, the injuries didn’t appear life-threatening.
Vanessa supported him, unconcerned that his blood was staining her clothes.
“Are you alright? Can you move?”
“Ah, ugh…”
The man clutched his broken leg, whimpering like a wounded animal. His dark pupils were unfocused, as if the shock of the collision had knocked his senses loose.
“Alman, we need a doctor. He’s hurt worse than he looks.”
“A doctor? But…”
“What if something happens to him? We don’t have time, so hurry. If he demands payment, give him this.”
Vanessa unfastened one of her earrings, set with a small diamond, and pressed it into Alman’s hand.
“My Lady, this is…”
“It was my mother’s.”
“Oh, heavens.”
“It belongs to the House of Somerset. Tell him it’s only a temporary collateral, so he must not sell it. Tell him I will bring the money to reclaim it within a few days.”
She knew it was madness even as she said it, but there was no other way. In a remote place like this, doctors were slow to move, and the name of Somerset carried far less weight than it should.
“I’ll stay by his side until the doctor arrives.”
“…Understood. Please keep talking to him so he doesn’t lose consciousness.”
“Mary, go to that shop and get some hot water. And clean towels if possible…. Hurry!”
Mary, who had been standing frozen, snapped to attention at Vanessa’s firm command. The maid hurried across the street and disappeared into a shop entrance. Meanwhile, the vagrant was clutching Vanessa’s sleeve as if it were a lifeline.
Looking at his blood-streaked face made her feel faint with fear, but Vanessa steadied herself and took the man’s hand.
“You mustn’t drift off. Just wait a little longer. Help is coming.”
“…I, know… that…”
“It’s going to be alright. You’re bleeding, but…”
“No… not… it won’t do.”
“What did you say?”
She leaned in slightly to catch the words he was incessantly mumbling. In that instant, the man gripped her wrist with painful force. It was a strength so fierce it was hard to believe it came from the same man who had been lying helpless moments ago.
Vanessa flinched instinctively as his face pressed closer. An unbearable stench wafted from his body, which was covered in layers of dried grime, and his teeth were yellowed and crooked.
“I know…”
The man’s voice was faint, but it began to grow clearer.
“As soon as I heard the sound… I ran. The engine sound of that car… the one you’re in….”
“You recognize it?”
“Exactly. From seven years ago… that car. I have… good ears. I recognized the sound… I even won a medal for it…. Just like your master… I caught that cowardly Tran spy….”
The man swallowed hard, struggling for breath, and continued feverishly.
“If you want me to keep quiet… give me… more money. My child is sick…. Do that, and I’ll disappear just like you want.”
