This is fast getting explicit, so please don't read if you are under, say, 13. If you ignore this warning, don't blame me for corrupting your innocent preteen mind.
Midnight
Chapter 10
Nellie swore softly under her breath, a long, unbroken stream of curses. She knew what had happened. Frankly, she couldn't blame the poor silly nit.
But, darn her for leaving Johanna!
And darn her for offing herself in Nellie's parlor. What the heck was she supposed to do about the body, for heaven's sake?
Moments later, Nellie found herself puffing down the stairs to the bakehouse, one of Lucy's wrists gripped in each hand.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," she gasped through her teeth, and heaved the body into the blazing oven.
A nasty smell drifted through the bakehouse, wrinkling Nellie's nose. Waving the air in front of her face, she heaved the furnace door shut and staggered back up the stairs.
"C'mon, Johanna," she said, humming a lullaby as she laid the baby in her crib. Poor girl looked exactly like her mother. Nellie hoped she didn't turn out as stupid.
Knock knock.
"I'm closed," Nellie hollered.
A smooth-as-silk voice flowed through the glass and goosebumps broke out all over Nellie's skin.
"I'm not here for food. It's Judge Turpin. Let me in, please."
Nellie tossed the blanket over Johanna's face in a futile attempt to hide her and opened the door.
"Oh, I see you've brought the beetle with you." She emphasized the "t" in beetle. The Beadle just smirked at her and brushed past, noting the dust on the counters and the bugs scurrying in and out of pies at will.
"Lovely."
"Nellie, I'm afraid this isn't a social visit," Turpin said, smiling. "May I speak to Lucy?" He watched with delight as Nellie stiffened.
"She's... not here," she said tightly.
"I see. Any idea where she might be?"
"She never came back... after beetle over there took her off someplace."
Turpin's smirk was nothing short of delighted.
"Well then. I'll just take the child now." He moved past Nellie, skimming a hand over the silk of her dress as he passed. She grabbed at his sleeve.
"The child?" she asked. Turpin nodded and shook free of Nellie's hand.
"Yes. What was her name..."
"Johanna."
"That's it. Well, I'll be taking her now." He scooped the sleeping child out of her cradle.
"No!" Nellie flew at him, trying to grab Johanna without waking her. He pushed her away easily. She kicked him in the shin and the Beadle grabbed her by the upper arms.
"Well, if you'd like to be wet nurse..." Turpin slipped a hand softly just beneath Nellie's breast, sighing. The Beadle's fingers dug into her arms as she fought to get away; she felt bruises starting to form where they pressed.
Turpin leaned forward, his hot, sticky breath crawling up into her nose, and kissed her neck. His lips parted and he began to suck until her drew blood.
Nellie screamed and struggled, tears dripping off the end of her nose, as he slid the hand on her chest slowly upward and squeezed.
"Sir," the Beadle whispered, releasing Nellie and pointing out the window. A constable was progressing slowly down the street.
Turpin stepped away and bowed.
"A pleasure seeing you today, my dear Nellie."
And the two departed with little more ceremony than they had arrived.