Flight of a Dove
Chapter 1
Collinsport, Maine 1897
Tessie Kincaid pulled her cloak tighter around her as she walked down the dark silent street near the docks. On her right was little Lilly Maxwell. "Poor kid," Tessie thought as she led the younger girl back to the warmth and safety of Miss Mae's. Lily was only 13, younger than Tessie had been when she left home for the docks of Collinsport. Fifteen and alone, no money and only the small bag she'd had time to grab before the man she was running from had managed to get her door opened, she had stood on the cold foggy docks hoping to find a ship she could stow away on. Instead she had found Miss Mae. Miss Mae ran a home for girls to keep them off the docks. Well they were off the docks, they just had a nicer, and warmer place to ply their trade.
Miss Mae's was a real high class place, red velvet and champagne. Only the richest men in town could afford what Miss Mae's had to offer. 'A lot safer than the docks' she had told Tessie that night three years ago, and she was right. 'If you're going to do something, you might as well do it right, and in style!' was one of her favourite sayings. Some girls were just stubborn, or maybe they didn't care about the money, since a few girls stayed. Or maybe they just believed in catering to the public. Well Tessie wouldn't have any of that, rich folks weren't the public; Rich folks were like diamonds as opposed to rocks. They sparkled, they made you feel all giddy inside like Miss Mae's champagne. They had manners and soft hands, and obviously they had money.
Tessie looked down at Lily with her soft brown eyes and hair. What would she buy with her money? New dresses? Chocolates? A ticket out of Collinsport? That was one thing Tessie hadn't thought to get in the three years she'd been at Miss Mae's. Why would she leave this little town? She had everything she needed, a roof over her head, good food to eat and the man she hoped would walk through those stained glass doors every evening, Quentin Collins.
Quentin Collins, one of the richest men in Collinsport, if not the richest. She wasn't sure how much his older brother Edward, who was also a patron of Miss Mae's had. Tessie adored Quentin, not only was he good in bed, he was attractive and funny. She smiled remembering that evening a week ago when he celebrated his homecoming with her. "Tessie my dear, let's get death blind drunk!" he had said, and so they did. His touch felt like heaven when she was sober, but drunk! Well Tessie thought she must have died. Maybe it was the champagne, or maybe it was because he'd been gone so long. Egypt was as far away from Collinsport as the moon. That night while Quentin had snored beside her she had wondered if somewhere there were other girls like her. Tessie had a happy life for 14 years. A happy life with her mother in a little white house at the edge of town. Tessie's mother worked a sewing machine in a factory over on Carnation street. When she was very young, a neighbour's daughter had been paid a bit to look after her. When she turned 14 she was able to stay home by herself, sure it was lonely but it meant more money that could be spent on food and other things. She hadn't been 14 but a few months when her mother had started bringing Him home. 'He' was a man named Trask, a so called holy man. She couldn't find anything holy about him, surely God wouldn't have a man like him do His work. Luckily he only came a few times a month. He said he toured the state giving lectures about the wickedness of men and getting them to see the light. Didn't he count his own wickedness? Tessie suspected he wasn't really off preaching all that time, but probably had a wife somewhere. He wouldn't even marry her mother, that had to break one commandment or another. And he was always praying! Surely that much prayer couldn't be good for a person, her knees hurt just thinking about it. If only Mrs. Jervis hadn't gotten influenza, Tessie wouldn't have been left home with him. For three days Tessie's mother had sat with their neighbour Mrs. Jervis, and for three days she'd been left in the company of 'Reverend' Trask. Mrs. Jervis had died the night Tessie had left, but she didn't find out about that til later. Mother would have come home that night, but Tessie couldn't have waited. She couldn't bear his hands on her any longer. So she'd run away, to escape on a ship bound for who knows where. Miss Mae had kept her from going, she'd given Tessie the promise of a warm bed and hot food to keep the chill from the winter nights.
She'd promised Tessie she'd make more money then she'd ever seen. She'd refused at first, wouldn't those men be just like the one she had run away from? But what else could she do? Even if she did find someone to marry her, he wouldn't want her knowing she wasn't, well... pure would he? She couldn't work, she didn't really know how to do anything except sew a bit and then she'd have to go to work with her mother. Her mother and Trask would never find her at Miss Mae's. So she had stayed, and learned to tolerate the touch of men, even enjoy it. If only they were all like Quentin, it was that thought that brought her back into the present.
She now stood in the foyer with it's crystal chandeliers and plush red carpets. Miss Mae herself greeted her with a smile on her face. "Well, who have we here?" Lily tried to hide behind Tessie's skirt from the woman with the bright red hair and garish face paint. "This is Lily, she's a bit shy. I found her down by the docks. I talked her into coming here." "Wonderful!" the buxom woman cried, "Show her the ropes eh? Mr. Hanley!" she cried greeting the man who had just walked through the door. Tessie pointed Lily toward the kitchen and pasted a smile on her face for Mr. Hanley. Evan Hanley was a strange sort, very peculiar in his love making. She almost winced just thinking about it. Her bottom had been sore for a whole day afterward, and just as red as it had been the night before. He didn't seem to be looking at her, and she was grateful. Just as she was about to follow Lily back into the kitchen when one of the girls came running through the front doors, panting and out of breath. "Miss Mae!" she screamed, "Miss Mae! It's Evie! Oh, she's dead, she's dead!" The other girls, hearing the screaming ran out of their rooms half dressed, some not at all, with the men right behind them. "Dead?!" Miss Mae demanded of the shrieking girl, "What happened Rose? What happened to Evie?" "Something bit her, she had bl-blood on her neck. I saw her lying there in the alley, and I went to see if she was alright and she didn't move!" The poor girl was shaking and stuttering, someone pressed a glass of alcohol into her trembling hands. She gulped it down hurriedly and coughed trying to get out what she saw. "Her eyes, I saw her eyes! Something scared her, scared her real bad. It killed her!" "Damn it!" Miss Mae swore, her face white. "What was she doing in the alley?" "She was going down to the drugstore, she said she needed to get something. When she didn't hurry back I went outside to watch for her, but I didn't see her. I thought I heard something in the alley, and I found her. I bet it's the same thing that got that girl, Sophie Baker on the docks a week ago!" The other girls were sniffling and scared. They'd miss the sweet blonde with her friendly smile. "Listen girls, I don't want any of you to go out alone at night is that clear? I can't afford to lose anymore of you." Miss Mae said harshly, they all knew she'd miss Evie just as much as they did even if she wouldn't show it. It was then that Quentin walked in. "What the..? What's going on?" he asked bewildered at the sight before him. Rose turned to him and collapsed onto his chest sobbing. "It's Evie! She's dead, oh Quentin she's dead!" "Dead? How?" Rose couldn't answer from crying and Mary Phillips, another of the girls came and gathered her in a hug. "The same animal that got that girl on the docks a week ago." Tessie made her way toward Quentin, "You didn't walk from the Blue Whale did you?" she asked worriedly. "No, no my horse is out back. My God, Evie...." Nobody felt much like doing much of anything after that. Mary took Rose up to her room, and the rest of the girls sat around the large fireplace with the men who remained. The room was silent except for a few sniffles. "Does anyone know anything about her family?" Miss Mae asked the girls. "She has-had a sister in Bangor." a dark haired girl named Tina spoke up. "I don't know her name though, they didn't talk." "We'll get her a nice stone then." Miss Mae said quietly, "Everyone will chip in." Quentin patted her hand comfortingly. "I'd like to contribute too." "And I!" chimed in George Grimes who held Tina on his lap. "Well that's settled then." Miss Mae said with a brave smile pasted on her trembling lips, "Now, I'd like you all to meet Lily. She can have Evie's room. If you'll excuse me I think I'll turn in early tonight." She said rising and went up the stairs. George and the other men said their goodnights and left thereafter. Quentin gave the girls a sad smile, "I should go too. If you need help with anything, arrangements, let me know." Then he too left. The girls gathered each other in a group hug and stood there, gathering strength from each other.
Tessie tucked Lily into bed that night. She felt like an older sister to the girl, her situation was similar to hers. Lily's mother had remarried, and her stepfather was often drunk. Tessie used to wish for a sister when she was younger, she wanted to do more for Lily then 'show her the ropes', she wanted to protect her, to take care of her. She kissed Lily's brow and silently promised to do just that.
The next morning was a strange one at Miss Mae's. The girls seemed to do things mechanically, wake up, wash, get dressed, eat breakfast. They tried some small talk and gossip to fill the strange silence. "I heard there's a new Collins up at Collinwood. He's from England! I bet he's so gentlemanly, and probably handsome too." "Nobody's handsomer than Quentin" Tessie thought to herself. "I wonder, if I had grown up in a family like the Collins if he'd marry me. I'd love to be married to him. Of course then I'd be jealous when he came here, I'd be jealous of my friends." It was then she realized that she was jealous. Whenever Quentin went upstairs with another girl, she wished she were that girl, or that the man who lay panting atop her were Quentin. If she could only have one thing in the world it would be to have Quentin for herself. Not even all the money in the world, just Quentin. Later that morning, when showing Lily the assortment of sponges and other such things, she told the girl she'd never have to be afraid with a man like Quentin. She shouldn't be afraid of any man here. "Are you ever afraid?" Lily had asked, "Are you ever...disgusted by them?" "Listen," she told her "If you ever feel afraid or disgusted or anything like that, you just do what I do. You pretend he's someone else, that he's the most handsomest man in the world. That his breath is sweet and his body is young, and he has all his hair and teeth. Think of the money he'll give you, think of the sweets you'll buy, or the beautiful fabrics. Think of hair combs and silk handkerchiefs. Think of the perfumes and powders. Put on a show for him. The happier he is, the happier you'll be." "And how do I....make him happy?" She asked shyly. "I'll teach you, and what I can't teach will come naturally. You'll do just fine Lily." Tessie told her with an understanding smile. It was similar to the speech Miss Mae had given her three years ago. It was difficult at first, to picture an ugly little man panting atop her with his foul breath as something other than what was before her. But once she'd been introduced to Quentin it was easy to pretend that every man was he. She didn't have to pretend with him. If only he could come every night and choose her over all the other girls. If only she could live with him in the big house on the hill and never have to share him with anyone. Weeks passed, and Quentin came less and less. Tessie suspected he might have a mistress, and grew envious of the unseen woman. One night he had even called out another woman's name in the throes of passion, "Beth.". Whoever Beth was, Tessie hated her.
Lily had begun to lose her shyness as time passed, and Tessie confided in her of her love for Quentin. Lily had yet to sleep with Quentin, and so Tessie could feel no jealousy toward the girl she thought of as a sister. "I love him Lily, I'd do anything for him. I'd never ask for another thing if I could marry him." "Marry him! Tessie, I know I'm young but there is something I do know. Men like him don't marry girls like us." With her spirits sinking, she admitted Lily was right.
Life had finally returned to normal in the house. It had been weeks since Evie's modest funeral, and though the girls still mourned her they resumed their daily activities with the enthusiasm they had before. More was discovered of the mysterious Collins cousin from England, his name was Barnabas and some thought him attractive. He had yet to visit the house and since he was not married the girls wondered about him. Perhaps he went to the docks instead? Tessie sat down gingerly in a tub of hot water. Evan Hanley had visited her last night, he was very tense and it showed. Tessie hoped to get him to confide in her to take his mind off of spanking her bottom, but to no avail. She got the feeling that there was something going on up at Collinwood, but could not find out what. "Edith Collins passed on not too long ago, it must have something to do with the will. I hope Quentin inherited it all, he did say something to me last time about coming into the money soon. Perhaps he has and Edward is upset. Yes, that must be what it is." She had just leaned back and started to relax when the door flew open, it was Mary. "You've heard the news haven't you?" "News? No what news?" "The news from Collinwood!" Terrifying thoughts entered Tessie's head, what news? Had something happened to Quentin? "Edward's wife's come home, so I guess we won't be seeing much of Quentin around here." "Why? What do you mean?" "She's why he went to Egypt, to follow her. He was in love with her." She let the news sink in with a lump in her throat as Mary left. Could she be the 'Beth' who's name he called out? No, wait her name wasn't Beth, it was something else. Now what was it? Oh yes, Laura. But then who was Beth? Did he have two women up at Collinwood? If that was the case she might not see him for a very long time indeed, if ever again. She let the tears fall freely down her face and into the bath water, without Quentin to look forward to, how would she bear it?
Miss Mae's was a real high class place, red velvet and champagne. Only the richest men in town could afford what Miss Mae's had to offer. 'A lot safer than the docks' she had told Tessie that night three years ago, and she was right. 'If you're going to do something, you might as well do it right, and in style!' was one of her favourite sayings. Some girls were just stubborn, or maybe they didn't care about the money, since a few girls stayed. Or maybe they just believed in catering to the public. Well Tessie wouldn't have any of that, rich folks weren't the public; Rich folks were like diamonds as opposed to rocks. They sparkled, they made you feel all giddy inside like Miss Mae's champagne. They had manners and soft hands, and obviously they had money.
Tessie looked down at Lily with her soft brown eyes and hair. What would she buy with her money? New dresses? Chocolates? A ticket out of Collinsport? That was one thing Tessie hadn't thought to get in the three years she'd been at Miss Mae's. Why would she leave this little town? She had everything she needed, a roof over her head, good food to eat and the man she hoped would walk through those stained glass doors every evening, Quentin Collins.
Quentin Collins, one of the richest men in Collinsport, if not the richest. She wasn't sure how much his older brother Edward, who was also a patron of Miss Mae's had. Tessie adored Quentin, not only was he good in bed, he was attractive and funny. She smiled remembering that evening a week ago when he celebrated his homecoming with her. "Tessie my dear, let's get death blind drunk!" he had said, and so they did. His touch felt like heaven when she was sober, but drunk! Well Tessie thought she must have died. Maybe it was the champagne, or maybe it was because he'd been gone so long. Egypt was as far away from Collinsport as the moon. That night while Quentin had snored beside her she had wondered if somewhere there were other girls like her. Tessie had a happy life for 14 years. A happy life with her mother in a little white house at the edge of town. Tessie's mother worked a sewing machine in a factory over on Carnation street. When she was very young, a neighbour's daughter had been paid a bit to look after her. When she turned 14 she was able to stay home by herself, sure it was lonely but it meant more money that could be spent on food and other things. She hadn't been 14 but a few months when her mother had started bringing Him home. 'He' was a man named Trask, a so called holy man. She couldn't find anything holy about him, surely God wouldn't have a man like him do His work. Luckily he only came a few times a month. He said he toured the state giving lectures about the wickedness of men and getting them to see the light. Didn't he count his own wickedness? Tessie suspected he wasn't really off preaching all that time, but probably had a wife somewhere. He wouldn't even marry her mother, that had to break one commandment or another. And he was always praying! Surely that much prayer couldn't be good for a person, her knees hurt just thinking about it. If only Mrs. Jervis hadn't gotten influenza, Tessie wouldn't have been left home with him. For three days Tessie's mother had sat with their neighbour Mrs. Jervis, and for three days she'd been left in the company of 'Reverend' Trask. Mrs. Jervis had died the night Tessie had left, but she didn't find out about that til later. Mother would have come home that night, but Tessie couldn't have waited. She couldn't bear his hands on her any longer. So she'd run away, to escape on a ship bound for who knows where. Miss Mae had kept her from going, she'd given Tessie the promise of a warm bed and hot food to keep the chill from the winter nights.
She'd promised Tessie she'd make more money then she'd ever seen. She'd refused at first, wouldn't those men be just like the one she had run away from? But what else could she do? Even if she did find someone to marry her, he wouldn't want her knowing she wasn't, well... pure would he? She couldn't work, she didn't really know how to do anything except sew a bit and then she'd have to go to work with her mother. Her mother and Trask would never find her at Miss Mae's. So she had stayed, and learned to tolerate the touch of men, even enjoy it. If only they were all like Quentin, it was that thought that brought her back into the present.
She now stood in the foyer with it's crystal chandeliers and plush red carpets. Miss Mae herself greeted her with a smile on her face. "Well, who have we here?" Lily tried to hide behind Tessie's skirt from the woman with the bright red hair and garish face paint. "This is Lily, she's a bit shy. I found her down by the docks. I talked her into coming here." "Wonderful!" the buxom woman cried, "Show her the ropes eh? Mr. Hanley!" she cried greeting the man who had just walked through the door. Tessie pointed Lily toward the kitchen and pasted a smile on her face for Mr. Hanley. Evan Hanley was a strange sort, very peculiar in his love making. She almost winced just thinking about it. Her bottom had been sore for a whole day afterward, and just as red as it had been the night before. He didn't seem to be looking at her, and she was grateful. Just as she was about to follow Lily back into the kitchen when one of the girls came running through the front doors, panting and out of breath. "Miss Mae!" she screamed, "Miss Mae! It's Evie! Oh, she's dead, she's dead!" The other girls, hearing the screaming ran out of their rooms half dressed, some not at all, with the men right behind them. "Dead?!" Miss Mae demanded of the shrieking girl, "What happened Rose? What happened to Evie?" "Something bit her, she had bl-blood on her neck. I saw her lying there in the alley, and I went to see if she was alright and she didn't move!" The poor girl was shaking and stuttering, someone pressed a glass of alcohol into her trembling hands. She gulped it down hurriedly and coughed trying to get out what she saw. "Her eyes, I saw her eyes! Something scared her, scared her real bad. It killed her!" "Damn it!" Miss Mae swore, her face white. "What was she doing in the alley?" "She was going down to the drugstore, she said she needed to get something. When she didn't hurry back I went outside to watch for her, but I didn't see her. I thought I heard something in the alley, and I found her. I bet it's the same thing that got that girl, Sophie Baker on the docks a week ago!" The other girls were sniffling and scared. They'd miss the sweet blonde with her friendly smile. "Listen girls, I don't want any of you to go out alone at night is that clear? I can't afford to lose anymore of you." Miss Mae said harshly, they all knew she'd miss Evie just as much as they did even if she wouldn't show it. It was then that Quentin walked in. "What the..? What's going on?" he asked bewildered at the sight before him. Rose turned to him and collapsed onto his chest sobbing. "It's Evie! She's dead, oh Quentin she's dead!" "Dead? How?" Rose couldn't answer from crying and Mary Phillips, another of the girls came and gathered her in a hug. "The same animal that got that girl on the docks a week ago." Tessie made her way toward Quentin, "You didn't walk from the Blue Whale did you?" she asked worriedly. "No, no my horse is out back. My God, Evie...." Nobody felt much like doing much of anything after that. Mary took Rose up to her room, and the rest of the girls sat around the large fireplace with the men who remained. The room was silent except for a few sniffles. "Does anyone know anything about her family?" Miss Mae asked the girls. "She has-had a sister in Bangor." a dark haired girl named Tina spoke up. "I don't know her name though, they didn't talk." "We'll get her a nice stone then." Miss Mae said quietly, "Everyone will chip in." Quentin patted her hand comfortingly. "I'd like to contribute too." "And I!" chimed in George Grimes who held Tina on his lap. "Well that's settled then." Miss Mae said with a brave smile pasted on her trembling lips, "Now, I'd like you all to meet Lily. She can have Evie's room. If you'll excuse me I think I'll turn in early tonight." She said rising and went up the stairs. George and the other men said their goodnights and left thereafter. Quentin gave the girls a sad smile, "I should go too. If you need help with anything, arrangements, let me know." Then he too left. The girls gathered each other in a group hug and stood there, gathering strength from each other.
Tessie tucked Lily into bed that night. She felt like an older sister to the girl, her situation was similar to hers. Lily's mother had remarried, and her stepfather was often drunk. Tessie used to wish for a sister when she was younger, she wanted to do more for Lily then 'show her the ropes', she wanted to protect her, to take care of her. She kissed Lily's brow and silently promised to do just that.
The next morning was a strange one at Miss Mae's. The girls seemed to do things mechanically, wake up, wash, get dressed, eat breakfast. They tried some small talk and gossip to fill the strange silence. "I heard there's a new Collins up at Collinwood. He's from England! I bet he's so gentlemanly, and probably handsome too." "Nobody's handsomer than Quentin" Tessie thought to herself. "I wonder, if I had grown up in a family like the Collins if he'd marry me. I'd love to be married to him. Of course then I'd be jealous when he came here, I'd be jealous of my friends." It was then she realized that she was jealous. Whenever Quentin went upstairs with another girl, she wished she were that girl, or that the man who lay panting atop her were Quentin. If she could only have one thing in the world it would be to have Quentin for herself. Not even all the money in the world, just Quentin. Later that morning, when showing Lily the assortment of sponges and other such things, she told the girl she'd never have to be afraid with a man like Quentin. She shouldn't be afraid of any man here. "Are you ever afraid?" Lily had asked, "Are you ever...disgusted by them?" "Listen," she told her "If you ever feel afraid or disgusted or anything like that, you just do what I do. You pretend he's someone else, that he's the most handsomest man in the world. That his breath is sweet and his body is young, and he has all his hair and teeth. Think of the money he'll give you, think of the sweets you'll buy, or the beautiful fabrics. Think of hair combs and silk handkerchiefs. Think of the perfumes and powders. Put on a show for him. The happier he is, the happier you'll be." "And how do I....make him happy?" She asked shyly. "I'll teach you, and what I can't teach will come naturally. You'll do just fine Lily." Tessie told her with an understanding smile. It was similar to the speech Miss Mae had given her three years ago. It was difficult at first, to picture an ugly little man panting atop her with his foul breath as something other than what was before her. But once she'd been introduced to Quentin it was easy to pretend that every man was he. She didn't have to pretend with him. If only he could come every night and choose her over all the other girls. If only she could live with him in the big house on the hill and never have to share him with anyone. Weeks passed, and Quentin came less and less. Tessie suspected he might have a mistress, and grew envious of the unseen woman. One night he had even called out another woman's name in the throes of passion, "Beth.". Whoever Beth was, Tessie hated her.
Lily had begun to lose her shyness as time passed, and Tessie confided in her of her love for Quentin. Lily had yet to sleep with Quentin, and so Tessie could feel no jealousy toward the girl she thought of as a sister. "I love him Lily, I'd do anything for him. I'd never ask for another thing if I could marry him." "Marry him! Tessie, I know I'm young but there is something I do know. Men like him don't marry girls like us." With her spirits sinking, she admitted Lily was right.
Life had finally returned to normal in the house. It had been weeks since Evie's modest funeral, and though the girls still mourned her they resumed their daily activities with the enthusiasm they had before. More was discovered of the mysterious Collins cousin from England, his name was Barnabas and some thought him attractive. He had yet to visit the house and since he was not married the girls wondered about him. Perhaps he went to the docks instead? Tessie sat down gingerly in a tub of hot water. Evan Hanley had visited her last night, he was very tense and it showed. Tessie hoped to get him to confide in her to take his mind off of spanking her bottom, but to no avail. She got the feeling that there was something going on up at Collinwood, but could not find out what. "Edith Collins passed on not too long ago, it must have something to do with the will. I hope Quentin inherited it all, he did say something to me last time about coming into the money soon. Perhaps he has and Edward is upset. Yes, that must be what it is." She had just leaned back and started to relax when the door flew open, it was Mary. "You've heard the news haven't you?" "News? No what news?" "The news from Collinwood!" Terrifying thoughts entered Tessie's head, what news? Had something happened to Quentin? "Edward's wife's come home, so I guess we won't be seeing much of Quentin around here." "Why? What do you mean?" "She's why he went to Egypt, to follow her. He was in love with her." She let the news sink in with a lump in her throat as Mary left. Could she be the 'Beth' who's name he called out? No, wait her name wasn't Beth, it was something else. Now what was it? Oh yes, Laura. But then who was Beth? Did he have two women up at Collinwood? If that was the case she might not see him for a very long time indeed, if ever again. She let the tears fall freely down her face and into the bath water, without Quentin to look forward to, how would she bear it?