1901 – Buffalo, New York
Thomas Sharpe had a stunned look on his face as he looked at Carter Cushing and Carter glared at him. Carter had confronted Thomas and his sister, Lucille, about Thomas' marriage and Carter had accused them of fraud.
"I assure you, Sir, we are not frauds. We do need the money or we will lose everything," Thomas said.
"There is no need to explain, Brother," Lucille said with a cold tone to her voice as she looked at Carter. "He has made up his mind."
"Yes, I have," Carter said. He noticed the rejected look in Thomas' eyes as Thomas sighed and Carter pointed toward the door. "Get out!"
Taking his sister by the elbow, Thomas led her to the door and he saw the dark look on her face. He had seen that look many times during their childhood and he knew she was planning something. They left the room as Carter slammed the door and Thomas felt his heart crumbling in his chest. They walked down the hallway when Thomas stopped and he looked back at the door.
"I'll be right back," Thomas said as she grabbed onto his right upper arm and he saw the fear in her eyes. He knew Lucille hated to be alone and he gently cupped her cheek in his hand. "I promise."
She watched him walk back to the room they had just left as he knocked on the door and he walked in the room after Carter told him to enter. Carter glared at him as Thomas closed the door, opened to check if Lucille had followed him then he closed the door again.
"What do you want!?" Carter asked with a growl to his voice.
"I wish to tell you the truth," Thomas said and he placed his hands behind his back. He felt his hands shaking, like they did when he was confronted by someone of authority, and he took a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, then he released it. "Again, I am not a fraud."
"No. What you are is a liar!"
"I wasn't lying about my clay harvester."
"Do you honestly expect me to believe you?! For all I know, you either stole the idea from someone else or it is a fabrication!"
"But I have shown you proof..."
"The only proof you have shown me are some drawings and a toy!"
"It is real, Sir. I assure you," he said, lowering his head. Thomas stayed silent for a few seconds then he lifted his head and Carter waited for him to continue. "What I did lie about was me having… About my wife."
"So, you do admit to being married."
"Yes."
"I should tell the McMichaels."
"Please don't."
"Why ever not?!"
"I don't know who gave you this information…"
"His name is Holly. I use him often to investigate people when something seems too good to be true."
"Then he must not have dug deep enough or he would have learned my wife is deceased. She died five months ago," Thomas said and Carter saw something else in his blue eyes. "As did my infant son."
"They died in childbirth?"
"No, but my son was born early. Too early. He was a poor wrong thing."
"What do you mean?"
"He was born ill and he had deformed legs. He might have had mental impairments as well. He was always crying from the pain. Heaven help me, but there were nights when I would pray that he would die in his sleep so he would no longer be in pain. Then my wife, my son and I became ill."
"And they died," Carter said and Thomas nodded. "How old was your son?"
"He had just turned five months."
"Which means he would be ten months if he had lived."
"Yes."
Carter saw the truth in Thomas' eyes as Carter cleared his throat then Carter puffed out a breath of air.
"I believe you."
"Thank you, Sir."
"As for your clay harvester, I will back you. But you are no longer allowed to have any contact with my daughter."
Thomas gave him a surprised look as a blush moved over his cheeks and Carter laughed.
"Oh, don't be so surprised. I saw the way the two of you looked at each other during the waltz."
"It was that obvious?"
"Yes. I used to look at her mother that way," he said then he pointed to the door. "Now, I think you should do the right thing and end your engagement with Miss McMichael."
"I agree," Thomas said with a nod of his head and they headed for the door. They walked out of the room after Carter opened the door then they headed down the hallway and Thomas saw the cold look on Lucille's face.
"Father?" Edith Cushing called as she appeared in the hallway and she walked to him. "Is everything alright?"
"They are now," Carter said.
"That's good. I was worried."
"Excuse me," Thomas said as he walked by them and Lucille quickly followed behind him.
"Where are they going?" Edith asked as she looked at Carter.
"I believe he is about to break off his engagement to Eunice McMichael," Carter said and Edith gave him a shocked look. She had suspected Thomas was developing feelings for her, as she was for him, but a part of her felt sorry Eunice.
In the ballroom, Thomas headed toward Eunice McMichael, her brother, Alan, and her mother when Lucille grabbed hold of his left arm and she turned him toward her.
"What are you doing!?" Lucille hissed and Thomas looked at Eunice.
"I am ending this farce," Thomas said.
"No, you are not. Do you have any idea how hard I had to work to make this match?"
"You mean how hard you had to work to find your next victim," he whispered and her eyes barely widened.
"You didn't seem to mind."
"I have no choice in the matter and you know it."
"Then you better not do something to ruin it or you know what will happen."
"Let go of me," he said as he tried to move away from her, but she didn't let go of his arm.
"Thomas?" Eunice asked as she, Alan and her mother walked closer and Lucille let go of his arm. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, I am afraid there is," he said, glancing at his sister. "I need to speak with you, your brother and your mother in private."
"Oh, this doesn't sound good," Mrs. McMichael said as he held out his right hand and Mrs. McMichael took his hand. They walked over to the other side of the room when he sighed then he looked down at his feet. "Thomas, what is going on?"
"I…," he said then he paused while looking at Eunice. "I am afraid I cannot marry you."
"Why ever not?" Eunice asked with a gasp.
"You see, Dear Lady, I am… I am already married."
"You're what?!" Eunice shrieked and Mrs. McMichael hushed her. Guests were already looking at them and they were whispering to each other. Thomas felt their eyes on him as he sighed then he blinked his eyes a few times.
"I am already married. Or I was," he said then he paused. "You see, my wife died five months ago."
"Oh," she said and she felt ashamed about shouting at him.
"You poor dear," Mrs. McMichael said.
"There is another reason why I wish to end our engagement. You see, I need time to focus on saving my family business and I fear I would not have time to fully devote myself to a wife or any children we would have," he said and Mrs. McMichael and Eunice heard the truth in his words, but Alan felt like he was holding something back. "Can you forgive me?"
"Of course," Eunice said and her mother nodded.
"Then I wish you good evening," Thomas said with a bow, turned and he walked away. Lucille was about to speak when he took her by the elbow and he led her toward the front door. Carter followed them after he had gone to write a short note and he watched them going outside. Thomas led her to the carriage when the driver opened the door and Lucille got into the carriage.
"Sir Thomas, wait," Carter said. Thomas turned to look at him when Carter walked closer and he saw the look in Thomas' eyes. "Did you break things off with Eunice McMichael?"
"Yes, I have," Thomas said, nodding his head.
"How did she take the news?"
"She was very understanding. So was her mother. Not sure about her brother though."
"I see," Carter said then he looked at the piece of paper in his hand. "This is the address to the bathhouse I use for my morning routines. I will see you there at eight tomorrow morning so we can talk more about your clay harvester."
"I am looking forward to it, Sir," Thomas said as he took the piece of paper then he got into the carriage. The driver closed the door while Carter backed away and the carriage moved down the street. Edith walked down the stairs when she headed for her father and she saw the puzzled look on his face.
"Father, did he end things with Eunice?" Edith asked. Carter turned to look at her when he sighed and he lowered his eyelids.
"Yes, he did. But, Edith, I need you to be honest with me. Do you have feelings for Sir Thomas?" he asked. She knew her father had a knack of being blunt as she folded her fingers together and she lowered her head.
"I don't know. I think I do. There is something about him I find intriguing. Like there is more to him than meets the eye."
"I noticed that as well."
"Father, are you having second thoughts about helping him? He seemed sincere about needing someone to invest in his clay harvester."
"Oh, I have no doubt about that. It's just I feel his clay harvester isn't the only thing he needs help with."
Edith frowned as he led her to the stairs then they went upstairs and they back inside.
The Morning Star Hotel
The hotel room was dark except for the light from the window and Lucille stood in front of the window, looking out at the darkness. She hated herself for harming her brother, but Thomas had ruined her plans.
"Do you have any idea what you have done?! You have just ruined everything!"
"No, I fixed something you failed to take care of. If someone had issued a death certificate for Pamela, Carter Cushing would still have found out I was married, but he would have also found out she is dead."
"We have to take care of him."
"What do you mean?"
"Youi said it yourself. He found out you were married! What if he keeps digging and he finds out about Margaret, Enola and…him!?
"If you mean Thomas, I already told Cushing about him."
"You what?!"
"I told him I had a son and my son is dead."
"Why did you do that?!"
"I wanted him to know everything so he would help me. Help us. Now that he does…"
"No! This is not acceptable! He has to die!"
"Lucille, I will not allow…!"
She didn't mean to slap him so hard. When he hit the floor, he didn't get back up and she had thought she had killed him. It took a while for her to get him undressed, into his nightshirt then into bed as she looked at him and bruising moved over the right corner of his mouth and his right cheek. She walked to the bed when she moved the bedding back and she slid onto the bed with him. She had messed the bedding on the other bed so the maid would think she had slept in that bed and she moved the bedding up. She settled down next to him when Lucille moved his right arm, placed her head at the center of his chest and she wrapped his arm around her. The soft, steady thrumming of his heart calmed her as she closed her eyes and she drifted off to sleep.
Cushing Manor
The first thing Edith noticed after she woke up was the room was semi-dark and the air was ice cold. The last time this happened was when her mother's ghost visited her when she was ten years old. She laid perfectly still when she heard the sound of cloth scratching against the floor and she looked at the wall. She heard a gurgling sound while long, cold fingers wrapped over her right shoulder and she felt someone pressing against the mattress.
"Mother," she whispered.
"Beware Crimson Peak," her mother's voice said. She gave her the same warning the first time, but Edith had no idea what Crimson Peak was.
"You told me this before. What is Crimson Peak? Why must I beware of it?"
"Protect him! Save him!" she said and she dug her fingers into Edith's shoulder.
"Who are you talking about?!" Edith demanded as she sat up then she lit the lamp, but no one was in the room.
"Edith, are you alright?" Carter asked after he opened the door and she moved the blankets around her.
"Yes, I'm fine. It was just a bad dream," she said. She knew her father didn't believe in ghosts and he told her it was a bad dream after she had told him about her mother's ghost coming to see her. She watched him walking to the bed while he held onto the candlestick and he placed the candlestick on the night table before sitting on the bed.
"Are you sure you are alright?"
"Yes," she said with a nod. Suddenly, she thought about Thomas as she bent her legs up and she placed her wrists on her knees. "I guess I am a little concerned about Sir Thomas."
"I am as well."
"Not that I don't believe he can't handle himself, but… But that sister of his... She scares me."
"She does seem rather odd. I noticed how she looked at the two of you while you were waltzing. If I didn't know better, I swear she was jealous."
"Jealous!?"
"Like I said. It was odd."
"I just hope she didn't cause him any trouble about ending things with Eunice."
"I'm sure he handled it," he said as he stood up and she slid down onto the mattress. Even though she was a full-grown woman, he felt he needed to tuck her in and she gave him a warm smile. "Now, go back to sleep."
"Sorry I woke you," she said and he leaned over to kiss the top of her head. She watched him walk to the door when he left the room and she looked at the ceiling. She sent a silent prayer about keeping Thomas safe then she closed her eyes and she went back to sleep.
The Fifth Street Breakfast and Bath House
The carriage stopped in front of the address Carter had given him while the driver hopped down from the driver's seat and the driver opened the door. Thomas nodded as he departed the carriage and he headed for the stairs. The bruise had spread over the right corner of his mouth and across his right cheek and he felt a little self-conscious about it. He had left while Lucille was still sleeping. He had decided to move to another hotel without telling her and his suitcases and trunk sat in the back of the carriage. He headed up the stairs when he heard someone call his name and he turned, seeing Carter coming down the pavement. Carter noticed the bruise on Thomas' face, but he didn't say anything and he nodded with his head toward the door.
"Shall we go in?" Carter asked.
"Yes," Thomas said. They walked to the door while the doorman opened the door and he stood back to allow them to enter. Thomas noticed the elegant furniture, landscape portraits in dark wood frames on the walls, marble pots with large leaf plants, the hardwood flooring spreading into the other rooms, the staircase which arched up to the next floor, the large crystal chandeliers and the elegant carpets under the large tables in the middle of the hall. Servants moved from room to room and he shivered after he heard the sound of a piano playing somewhere.
"This way," Carter said as they walked down the hallway and Thomas noticed a tall man with white hair walking toward him. The man wore a dark suit, a white shirt, a black tie, a black belt, black socks and black hard leather shoes. "Ah, Bently, good to see you."
"Good morning, Sir," Bently, the manager of the bathhouse said with a nod then he looked at Thomas.
"This is my guest, Sir Thomas Sharpe."
"Good morning, Sir."
"Good morning," Thomas said.
"Are there any baths available?" Cater asked.
"Not at the moment, Sir. Maybe you should have some breakfast before your bath?" Bently suggested.
"Does that sound good to you, Sir Thomas?"
"Yes, that will be fine," Thomas said with a nod and Bently led them into the dining hall. He sat them at a table near the window as Thomas looked out at the people moving by and Carter looked at the list of food available.
"What would you like to have for breakfast?" Carter asked and Thomas looked at the list. They both ordered coffee, but Thomas was only hungry enough to order toast and eggs and Bently nodded, walking away. "That doesn't seem like a proper breakfast."
"I don't eat much for breakfast," Thomas said then he nodded when the servant placed the cups of coffee on the table. Thomas took a sip of coffee when he placed the cup on the saucer and Carter looked at the newspaper sitting on the table. "I noticed the look you gave me when you saw my face."
"I did, but I didn't want to embarrass you by asking what happened," Carter said as he paused for a few seconds. "It was your sister who hit you, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was," he said with a small nod.
"Does she…? Does she hit you often?"
"Only when I… When I don't do what she wishes."
"For Heaven's sake, Man, she has no right to do that," Carter hissed in a low voice and Thomas looked at the cup. The servant placed the plates with their breakfasts in front of them as they nodded and they started eating. Thomas glanced out the window from time to time as Carter tried to read his face, but whatever secrets Thomas Sharpe had, he kept them to himself.
A short time later, Thomas sat in the large tub as the warmth of the water moved over him and he placed the wash flannel over his eyes. He could just hear the sounds of men's voices and laughter coming from somewhere down the hallway and he made a deep sigh.
"Excuse me, Suhr," a female's voice said as he lifted the wash flannel from his eyes and he looked at the young lady standing in the doorway. She was medium size with long blonde hair in a braid over her left shoulder and her eyes were a sharp blue. She wore a plain gray dress, a white apron and a pair of black slippers. He noticed her eyes quickly moving over his wet skin and body as he slightly smiled and he made a small sigh.
"Yes?" Thomas asked.
"Do you need some more warm water?"
"No, I am fine."
Nodding, she walked away as he thought how much she reminded him of Edith and he wondered what Edith was doing. Placing the wash flannel back over his eyes, he closed his eyes and he placed his elbows on the edges of the tub.
Cushing Manor
Edith sat at the table while she ate her breakfast, but her mind kept going back to her mother's warning. She still had no idea what Crimson Peak was, but she finally decided the "him" her mother mentioned had to be Thomas.
"But why would Mother want me to protect and save him?" she thought. She started eating again when the air turned ice cold and she placed the fork down. She heard the sound of material scrapping on the floor then she felt the long, cold fingers on her left shoulder and she looked straight ahead.
"Mother," she whispered.
"He needs you," her mother said in her ear.
"Mother, please, what is Crimson Peak?"
"You will see."
"How do you know about it?"
"Family business."
She had more questions, but the air returned to normal and she got up, placing the napkin on the table.
"DeWitt!" she called out and the family butler, DeWitt, walked in the room.
"Yes, Miss, Edith?" he asked.
"Have the carriage ready. I need to see my father."
"He is at the bathhouse."
"I know that. Please. I need to see him."
"At once, Miss," he said as he went to talk with the carriage driver and Edith wrapped her arms around her stomach. She prayed the cold feeling she was feeling was wrong as she sighed while she went to get her cloak.
The Fifth Street Breakfast and Bath House
Carter set his shaving kit on the top of the sink basin then he wiped the fog off the glass of the mirror and he looked at his reflection. He thought about the conversation he had with Thomas, but he didn't wish to speak about his sister. They talked about Thomas' business, Crimson Peak and his clay harvester and Carter was surprised to find Thomas had no formal education in engineering or mechanics.
"And yet you were able to design and build a clay harvester all on your own."
"Yes."
"Imagine the possibilities if you had gone to university."
"I was offered a chance to go, but…"
It didn't take long for Carter to figure out Thomas' sister had somehow prevented him from going to university.
Sighing, Carter picked up the china cup he used to mix the shaving soap when the feeling he wasn't alone caused him to place the cup on the shelf above the sink. Looking in the mirror, he stared at the figure standing behind him and his eyes widened. Suddenly, Thomas appeared in the doorway and he was wearing a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was a mass of wet waves on his head as water and soapsuds slid slowly down his skin and Thomas looked at the figure.
The figure had dark hair like his own, but the hair was tucked under the collar of the white shirt and suit jacket. The figure was also wearing dark trousers, a black tie, a black leather belt, black socks and black leather shoes and he realized the clothing and shoes the figure was wearing was his.
"No," Thomas whispered as he balled his hands into fists and he stood straighter.
"Lucille!" Thomas shouted and Carter saw the anger and fear in Thomas' eyes.