Just a few thank yous beforehand:
CaptainFlyingSparrow - thank you, and I'm glad you're enjoying it!
spartathreehundred - also glad you're enjoying it, and all shall be revealed in due time!
MoonlitSerenity - thank you for both your reviews, and I'm glad you didn't find it too fluffy (I was so worried it might be at some points). And I'm only updating quickly because my muse is on a roll!
So here we go...Chapter Four!
Chapter Four
Remmy sighed as she gazed up at the ceiling, curled up on the sofa underneath a blanket. Her eyes took in every detail of the ceiling, surveying each crack and every crevice. She then began to find pictures in the ceiling, such as an eye or a cat. But when a particular arrangement began to look like a smiling woman, Remmy quickly looked away.
As she laid silently, Remmy could hear faint footsteps. She listened carefully, and then realised it was Sweeney, upstairs in his room.
Remmy felt odd as she thought about Sweeney. She found him. Her Father.
A small smile played on her lips as she thought about him. All her life she had grown up without a Father, watching enviously as her friends were cuddled by theirs, and now, at the age of fourteen, she found him.
Remmy yawned, her eyelids beginning to feel heavy. Sighing contently, she curled up, pulling the blanket closer to her. Smiling at the warmth, she closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep.
"Remmy, get back here!"
Six year old Remmy laughed as she continued running from her Mother, the grass tickling her bare feet.
"Why?" She called.
"You need to brush your hair and put your shoes on!" Her Mother, Claudine, called back.
"No I don't!" Remmy said in a sing-song voice, skipping away with a grin on her face. Claudine laughed as she ran after the young girl and scooped her up.
"Got you!" She said triumphantly. Remmy giggled as she squirmed, trying to get away, but to no prevail. Claudine took her daughter back indoors and helped her into her shoes, then sat her on her lap and began to gently brush her hair.
"You look so much like him." She whispered.
"Like who, Mummy?" Remmy asked.
"You're father," Claudine said with a small smile. "You look just like him."
Remmy smiled up at her Mother before turning around and gently humming to herself as Claudine brushed her hair.
"Can I go outside now, Mummy?" Remmy begged.
"One moment," Her mother replied, taking a ring from her hand. She picked up a red ribbon and carefully looped it through the ring, then tied it around her daughter's neck. "There you go. Now you will always have something to remind you of your father."
Remmy frowned in her sleep, her brow furrowing slightly, as she rolled over onto her side, nestling her head into the pillow, blissfully unaware she was being watched.
Sweeney stood in the doorway, staring at her with a small frown. He didn't know why, but he had felt compelled to leave his barber's shop to see Remmy, forgetting it was late at night. Instead of disturbing her, he simply stood in the doorway and watched.
She was curled up like a small cat, wriggling around occasionally. Her curls were brushed back, exposing her pale face that was decorated with one long scratch and several bruises he hadn't noticed before.
It was odd, the feeling he felt inside. Since Johanna, the only family he had remaining, had left, it felt as if something inside had shattered…his soul.
His soul was broken when Lucy died, but Johanna's departure made sure it was unfixable. But now, watching his newly found daughter, it felt as if something…something was fixed…only a tiny bit, but it was still there.
Sweeney then realised he had moved from the doorway to stand by the sofa, where Remmy was curled up. Scoffing at his stupidity, he turned around and walked away.
Why was he getting so sentimental? Yes, she was his daughter, but he barely knew her. He had only just met her.
Sweeney thought this over and over again as he sat in his chair, resting his head in his hands.
Maybe it's because you're still Benjamin, deep inside.
Sweeney looked up, his eyes darting around the room, but saw no one.
Remmy's eyes slowly flickered open the next morning and, with a yawn, she stretched out her arms and legs before sitting up. Running a hand through her hair in an attempt to tame the wild curls, she slowly stood up and made her way into the shop, where she could hear voices.
"Oh, morning deary! I was just 'bout to come in and see if you were awake." Mrs Lovett said cheerily, smiling at Remmy, who hesitantly smiled back.
"Morning, Mrs Lovett." She said quietly, standing in the doorway, somewhat unsure of what to do. Mrs Lovett chuckled quietly.
"You can sit down, love," She said gently. Remmy's pale cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded and hurriedly slid onto a seat next to Toby. "Now, how's about I get you some breakfast?" Mrs Lovett offered, and Remmy nodded eagerly.
"Yes please, Mrs Lovett!"
Mrs Lovett smiled and left the room. Remmy smiled awkwardly at Toby, who grinned.
"It's great you're gonna stay here, Remmy! You can come and meet all my friends today and maybe-"
"Oh no, Remmy and I are going to the market," Mrs Lovett interrupted, and then turned to Remmy. "We need to get you some dresses, love, because you can't wear Toby's clothes!"
Remmy looked down at her borrowed outfit and bit her lip nervously.
"B-but..." She began, but Mrs Lovett cut her off.
"I know this lovely shop we can go to, not too expensive. You can wear your other dress – I washed it for you – and we can pop down together, get you sorted out and be back in time for lunch. Oh, I was going to ask, how would you like here, Remmy?" She asked suddenly.
"W-work, Mrs Lovett?" Remmy repeated.
"Yes, you and Toby would be a great help! Me old legs aren't what they used to be, you see." Mrs Lovett replied sadly, shaking her head.
"Well…yes, I'd love to, Mrs Lovett, but I've got to do something today." Remmy admitted quietly.
"Do something? What have you got to do, deary?" Mrs Lovett asked kindly.
"Erm…just visit an old friend, m'am, if that's fine with you."
"Of course it's fine! Would you like me to come with you?"
"No!" Remmy said quickly, making both Toby and Mrs Lovett stare at her. Remmy quickly composed herself. "I mean…no, I'd rather you didn't, but thank you very much for the offer. It's just an old friend I haven't seen for a while, who is currently living in London."
"Fine," Mrs Lovett said quietly, feeling slightly annoyed. "I'm just going to ask Mr Todd if he wants something to eat."
Mrs Lovett left the room, the cool breeze blowing around her and playing with her small curls as she walked up the steps.
"Mr T, would you like some breakfast?" She asked, opening the door. Sweeney shook his head, making her sigh. "Oh, by the way, Remmy's going to be staying with us."
"I know." Sweeney replied quietly.
"What do you mean you know?" Mrs Lovett questioned.
"I talked with her last night," Sweeney turned around. "She's my daughter."
Mrs Lovett gasped. "You're daughter?" She said incredulously. Sweeney nodded. "Are you sure, Mr T?"
"I'm sure." He murmured, and then turned away again. Mrs Lovett's mouth was slightly parted as she thought of the teenage girl downstairs. She did look a lot like Mr T…but she couldn't believe it. Lucy never had any other children after Johanna.
"But…how, Mr T?" She whispered. Sweeney didn't answer. Perhaps he didn't hear her, or maybe he decided to simply ignore her. Either way, Mrs Lovett felt no urge to repeat the question.
"I'm popping out for a bit with Remmy, to get her some dresses." She muttered, turning around and leaving.
Later on, Mrs Lovett's mood lightened as she and Remmy strolled along, looking at various dresses and other items of clothing for the young girl. She found Remmy very pleasant to be with, and enjoyed her chatter.
"So where are you meeting your friend, Remmy?" Mrs Lovett asked suddenly, and Remmy's small grin immediately disappeared.
"Oh…I'm…I'm going to their house." She said quietly. Mrs Lovett looked at her with narrowed eyes, but didn't press on. Remmy didn't relax, however, and avoided eye contact with her.
After a while, Remmy finally looked up.
"I've got to go." She announced. She sounded fine, but her dark eyes told another tale, filled with an unfathomable anxiety.
"Oh," Mrs Lovett replied, slightly surprised at the sudden decision. "Would you like me to take your new dresses back with me?"
"If you don't mind, Mrs Lovett," Remmy said, and then gave her a small smile. "Thank you, very much."
"Think nothing of it, deary, I've just got a too gentle heart."
Remmy smiled again, and then turned around silently, ducking into the thick crowds so she was no longer seen. Mrs Lovett smiled fondly and turned around, walking in the opposite direction.
Remmy's heart pounded as she weaved her thin body through the crowds, finally ending up in her destination.
She looked around with wide eyes as she slowly strolled along, feeling rather out of place in the posh street. There were no beggars lurking around, nor thieves pinching money from unsuspecting victims. Instead, high society men walked along with their long canes tapping on the ground, their pretty wife's holding onto their arm.
Her shoulders hunched up slightly, Remmy walked up a few steps and gently knocked on the large door. She chewed on her lip as she waited.
"Finally," Jacob hissed, opening the door and pulling her inside roughly. "I thought you weren't coming."
Remmy flinched as Jacob slammed the door, then grabbed her arm and hauled her along while she looked around her surroundings with wide eyes.
"This is your inheritance?" She questioned. Jacob rolled his eyes as he pulled her into a room and shoved her towards a chair.
"Yes, now sit down. I'll be back in a minute."
Remmy watched him leave, and then looked around the room in a similar way she had looked at Sweeney's barber shop. Her nose screwed up slightly in disgust as she surveyed the pictures of naked woman painted on the walls, and she slowly strolled towards the shelves, which held many leather covered books. One caught her interest, and she carefully picked it up.
"Ugh," She muttered, slamming the book shut and shoving it back onto the shelf. That wasn't what she had expected. Pictures of men and woman in grotesque, sexual positions covered many of the pages, most of them looking as if the women were in pain.
"I told you to sit down, Remmia."
Remmy jumped and spun around, glaring at Jacob as he slowly entered, holding a large bottle in his hands.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. You know that I love books." She said, crossing the room and sitting down.
Jacob gave her a hard look before carefully pouring a rich, red liquid into a glass and sipping it, smiling.
"I just love French wine, don't you?" He asked mockingly. Remmy ignored him.
"Why am I here, Jacob?" She demanded.
"We need to discuss our little…plan," Jacob told her. "Of how you are going to help me avenge my Uncle."