So exactly where was Ruth Bennett during the episode The Devil's Dust? A 'what-if' chapter including Lady Felicia.
Cq of egypt owns nothing shakes head.
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Rat Fink: Ohh... you think her mouth got her in trouble last time? you haven't seen anything yet!
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Father Nathan Brown was absolutely appalled. Why was he appalled?
Because of the lack of community, love, and grace within the confines of his parish- the parishoners of which were avid gossip spreaders.
None the least of which amounted to Mrs. Bridget McCarthy.
"I think her father is experimenting on her!" the old woman hissed.
Nathan had swiped an apple just as Mrs. McCarthy tried to swipe his hand away.
"You little..." She changed her tune as soon as she saw him. "Oh, Father!" she huffed.
"Apple a day, Mrs McCarthy." Yes, and just what would you have done had I been a youngster of seven?
He shuddered.
"The cheek of it!" Mrs. McCarthy sneered.
"Katie You're supposed to be her friend! She hasn't got the plague!" Mrs. Bennett cried as Katie and her mother walked past.
"Mrs Bennett Ruth" Nathan greeted. "I find this response mystifying." he growled.
Most villagers ignored him. Where was Lady Felicia today? She could back him up if no one else did...
"Well, their ignorance isn't your responsibility." Mrs. Bennett turned and walked quickly away.
"Father." Mrs. McCarthy sidled up to him. "That child is afflicted!" Nathan rolled his eyes.
"Yes, well, we're all afflicted, Mrs McCarthy." You most of all it seems... "She has the atomic bomb sickness. You must keep away."
"Truth and rumor, in my experience, are not one and the same thing." Nathan said, trying to ignore her.
"So why did Dr Evans walk out on them? Last night. Giving no reason. Everyone knows she goes in to that atomic place. She's one of their...what do you call them … human hamsters." she shivered in disgust.
Listening to Mrs. McCarthy was like listening to the Serpent hissing in his ear. He found it greatly annoying and angering.
"If Ruth Bennett visits Mr Bennett's place of work, I am sure that it is perfectly safe." He looked after the Bennett's to make sure they were alright, when Mrs. McCarthy kept going on and on about the Bennett's faults and malicious rumors about the family.
No wonder Felicia got so sick and tired of her. Is that why Lady Felicia wasn't here today?
"Then why has Mr Bennett become sterile? Oh, think about it, Father. Only the one child."
He thought of telling her not to believe everything she heard, but would that really and truly do any good?
"Medium wrench please, Bob." Ruth Bennett gave him what he was looking for.
"Thank you Bob" said Douglas as he smiled at his little angel. She was growing up so fast, too fast, before his very eyes.
It saddened him that he would never grow old to see his daughter marry, have children, have those children laugh and run around, sitting on his knee as he told them stories...
No, that job would be for Geoffrey, and Emily... sweet, beautiful Emily...
He shook his head, wiping his forehead with the wrist of his glove from the perspiration that gathered there.
He grinned at Bob again, knowing they had a long way to go...
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Geoffrey went to answer it, when he found their guest to be none other than Father Brown.
"Ah, Mr. Bennett." Nathan smiled.
"Father!" smiled Bennett, not as enthusiastically. "I wonder if I might have a word with you and Mrs Bennett? I could come back later"
Deciding that the priest could only make things better, Geoffrey invited him in. "Please."
"Hello, Ruth. Ah, Douglas."
"Father."
"Taking it easy, I see."
"He who fitted the pipes must fix the leaks."
"I think you've made that one up." Nathan said, amused.
"Have you been to the hospital yet?"
"No, he hasn't." Geoffrey said sourly for his best friend.
"They don't want to be bothered with me." Douglas shrugged. "Anyway, I'm almost done. Thanks to Bob." He smiled at Ruth, who grinned back at him.
"You're a stubborn fool, Douglas." Geoffrey said, amused.
"Mm." Nathan smiled again.
"I'll get Emily." Geoffrey said. "Please, come through."
"Hello. Again." said Emily, awkwardly, not expecting to see the priest in her home of all places... especially when there were leaks everywhere.
"Your husband and Douglas, comrades-in-arms, I see." Emily nodded. "Douglas saved his life."
"Three times." Geoffrey added. "Please."
"And the debt has been paid many times over."
"Douglas is a very good man."
"But a terrible plumber."
"Oh, dear." Nathan grinned.
"So here to round up some lost sheep?" Geoffrey asked. "Atomic physics and telepathy. What talents! I would love to have you all back at St Mary's. But that's not why I'm here. I have heard that Dr Evans is no longer working with you." Nathan said, concerned.
"That is correct." Geoffrey said, stiffly.
"His departure has fanned the flames of village gossip, which I do not believe for a minute. However, many do." Nathan frowned.
"And?" Emily asked.
"There is a meeting of the Atomic Emergency Committee this evening in the Parish Hall. I happen to know they do not have a speaker. And I thought..." Father Brown started.
"Let me stop you there. My enthusiasm for Parish involvement has faded recently." Hence the sour look on the man's face.
"Which I understand." Nathan appeased.
"So what better opportunity for you to address villagers' concerns directly? I will ensure that they turn up in numbers." Nathan frowned to himself.
He wasn't the only one who would be sure that the community showed up, oh no... Mrs. McCarthy would do it just to prove her point! Not that she had one of course.
Father Brown was really beginning to see why Felicia had such an issue, not just with some of those in the community who shunned her for being an outsider, but also those who fanned the flames of assumption and rumor, insisting it to be fact-namely, Mrs. McCarthy.
"Hurry along, there. Take your seats, please." Mrs. McCarthy clucked, sitting up front and center as if she were some school marm with the right to demand an explanation from one of her wayward students.
Nathan clenched his fists and teeth on Geoffrey Bennett's behalf.
Give the man a chance to explain without jumping to your own conclusions, for heaven's sake! This isn't the witch trials! Sadly though,
Nathan realized it was a sad interpretation of the witch trials, with only Geoffrey to give an explanation that either no one understood, or wanted to understand...
Many had already made up their minds to the truth and wouldn't be persuaded otherwise no matter what was said. Nathan hoped that Geoffrey would at least try, without losing his temper...
Nathan himself was grasping onto his own straws as he glared at Mrs. McCarthy.
"I understand why Kembleford and other places' have set up committees like this. These are terrifying times." Geoffrey started.
"Fear of a Soviet atomic attack seems unavoidable." he said looking around at his so-called friends, his so-called church-loving, God-fearing neighbors.
In situations like these, Geoffrey wondered if there was a God, and wondered if he planned to do anything at all about this mess they were in.
He glanced at Father Brown, who until this moment he hadn't appreciated the priest taking his side.
"Paranoia about radiation is not." he glared at the others around him. Geoffrey Bennett gestured to his drawings.
"As I hope I've just demonstrated, radiation is essentially the act of giving off energy...It is an entirely natural process." He brought out the Geiger counter to show the village just what they were looking for.
"This instrument will tell us the level of background radiation in this room." The counter started to beep- slowly. People started to jump and murmur.
"Oh, it seems we have a radioactive source among us." Bennett said with a smile. "There's no need to worry. Please, it's very weak."
He asked to borrow Susie's necklace, who was sitting in the front next to Sid. Sid looked interested in it... there didn't seem to be anything wrong with the counter thingy...
"The atomic center I work in has a background radiation level of less than half what is given off by this
necklace." He gave the strand back to Susie, thanking her.
"I hope that, er, reassures you. Thank you." Father Brown, Sid and Susie were the only three that clapped, much to the priest's disappointment.
"Oh, and I would like to donate this Geiger counter to your committee. I hope you, er, find it enlightening."
Nose already turned up, Mrs. McCarthy stood up and smirked. "Thank you, Mr Bennett." she sneered, looking very much to Nathan like one of the hag witches of old.
"I understand you're trying to bamboozle us with science." she huffed.
"Yes!" shouted the crowd. "But it won't work." the goose continued. "Why did Dr Evans quit?"
"Mrs. McCarthy..." Nathan started, noticing Bennett's temper getting the better of him.
"Mr. Bennett?" demanded Mrs. McCarthy, as if she had a right to demand an answer.
"Dr Evans left our employ for personal reasons..."
"Why do you take your daughter to work with you?" Mrs. McCarthy continued on.
"This is not the time..." Nathan warned, his own temper rising... How dare she not listen to instruction!
"Please answer the question, Mr Bennett." Mrs. McCarthy cackled, knowing she had him on the spot.
Ohh... Felicia wasn't here to steal the spotlight this time! This time it was her show! Haha!
"They were studying radioactivity in her class..." pleaded Mr. Bennett, as if he were pleading a case before a courtroom.
Nathan was appalled. How dare Bridgett McCarthy judge a man for his daughter's sickness... one not even her own!
Why...? He suddenly caught the look in her eye, knowing that if Felicia were here... Oh, you terrible, horrible woman! May God have mercy on you!
Mr. Bennett continued to insist that his daughter Ruth did not have radiation sickness.
"You can show us all the fancy drawings you like... but it doesn't matter... your daughter is ill... Mr. Bennett... you've brought her among us, where the radiation can spread, and that's just irresponsible!"
Nathan stood up, his eyes, a blue cobalt in anger. If she dare cause this family to be excommunicated because of some foolish rumor... He'd write the agency at once! There would be no second chances!
"Mrs McCarthy, that is enough!" Mrs. McCarthy blatantly ignored Father Brown... this was her time and her piece!
"But this community will not sleep easy, until your daughter leaves Kembleford!"
Susie and Sid sat quietly as the village rallied around, agreeing with the old goat.
"Here, here." Mr. Bennett stormed out, past Father Brown.
"Imbeciles. Every last one of them." Hoping to make peace somehow, Nathan called after him.
"Mr Bennett!" Once Bennett had gone, and the villagers were talking among themselves, Father Brown caught up with Mrs. McCarthy.
"What on earth did Geoffrey Bennett do to deserve that?" he hissed, glaring at her.
She gave him a haughty look. "Book of Numbers, chapter five. "Command the Children of Israel, that they cast out of the camp "every leper and whosoever hath an issue of seed."
Nathan had every instinct to fire her himself on the spot! But, he couldn't do that. He'd settle for yelling at her for now, and then decide what he was going to do.
"Ruth Bennett is not a leper and that was unchristian." he growled. "It was insensitive, intolerant and it was judgmental. And I am very disappointed!"
He stalked off to cool down wishing once again Felicia were here. Breathing in her natural jasmine scent always calmed him down. He closed his eyes and smiled, just thinking about her.
Father, I don't know what that was about, but if your plan includes me, I'm ready...
A little later, he was headed to the Bennett's to apologize for the meeting, when he noticed Ruth sitting in the garden, in her pajamas, a red streak across her face, as if she'd been slapped.
"Ruth? What happened?" he murmured. "Please keep them away from me." she whispered.
Nathan wondered if she were referring to her parents. "Why?"
"They're monsters." she hissed.
"Ruth? Ruth!" Mr. Bennett was nearing the garden, calling for his daughter.
"Can I speak with you tomorrow?" she asked.
Nathan shook his head. If she'd been hit, he needed to know how and why. "Tell me what happened, now."
Ruth shook her head. "I'll come in the morning.11 o'clock."
Nathan, deciding he couldn't stop her, nodded. "I'll be at St Mary's."
"Father." Geoffrey Bennett caught up with him and Ruth in the garden.
Nathan was startled, ill timed to come up with a reply. "I came to apologize about the meeting."
"Oh. No need." Bennett said nonchalantly.
"Ruth seems a little upset." Nathan prodded, wondering if her parents might know what happened to her cheek.
"It's been a tiring day for her." Bennett brushed off the priest's inquiry.
"Come back inside, Ruth." Ruth hesitated. "Come on." She got up and walked to her father, taking one last look at the priest. "There's a good girl." Geoffrey praised.
Nathan looked concerned, an ill-at-ease feeling creeping into his chest. "Anything I can do?" he asked.
"I think we'll be fine, Father. Thank you."
Father Brown nodded and turned away as the Bennett's walked back to their home.
Just what had that been about?
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"There you are. Your last cup got cold waiting for you. About last night..."
As insulted as he was about her blowing the issue off was her pretending as if it had never happened.
"I'm not the person you should be apologizing to." he said coldly.
"I have to go."
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She was gone- One minute she was there, the next she was gone...
Emily couldn't believe it.
She hadn't wanted to believe it from the start.
Her daughter, her Ruth, was a stranger to her...
She was a child! And yet, she was writing fantasies about her physician as if she were a grown woman of forty!
"You shan't marry, him Ruth! You are still a child!"
"I am not a child any longer, Mother, you shan't speak to me as if I am!"
"Disrespectful child! While under this roof, you shall do as your father and I tell you!"
"Then perhaps I shall run away, I hate you both, and if you keep me from Michael, neither one of you shall ever see me again!"
Emily couldn't stop herself. She struck Ruth across the cheek.
With a cry, Ruth held her cheek. "Oh! Y-you hit me"
"R-Ruth- darling, I..." All of a sudden, Ruth's eyes changed from surprised to anger, she glared at her mother, shook her head and ran up to her room.
"You'll be sorry! You'll never see me again! You'll be sorry!"
That had been in the sitting room last night.
At 8:00 this morning, Geoffrey and Emily both found Ruth's room to be ransacked.
Clothes, items strewn everywhere... not a letter, not a sign of her whereabouts.
Emily looked forlornly at Geoffrey He looked as lost as she felt.
What were they going to do?
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At half past midnight, Alan Hornsby woke up to the sound of knocking at the front door.
To his knowledge, his mistress didn't have any guests scheduled at this forbidden hour...
Even the priest, Father Brown wouldn't show up a quarter past nine.
The butler chuckled to himself. He wondered if the priest would ever have the gumption to tell their Lady how he felt.
Hornsby loved Felicia like a daughter, and did his best to care for her, as she did him.
To his knowledge, her former husband, the late Lord Xander Montague, had been a beast of a man, loving nothing, and no one, save himself.
He had caused Lady Felicia a great deal of pain during their marriage, emotional and otherwise.
Hornsby growled at the thought of Lord Xander.
Though not aware of the state of the man's soul, he was glad that the man could no longer hurt Lady Felicia, who had done quite well without him.
Good riddance! He thought.
The knocking on the front door continued.
"Hold your horses" he muttered, "I'm coming..."
The doorbell rang. "Yes! Yes! Wait a moment" Hornsby said louder.
He opened the door, not expecting what he found. There was a young lady, with a suitcase in a man's tailored suit, possibly her father's.
Hornsby blushed. He wondered where this girl's bedclothes were, not to mention her parents...
"Good evening Miss...can I help you?"
The girl seemed out of breath, as if she'd been running.
"I-" she panted. "I- oh!" she held her head, the sleeve of the suit bounding over her hands.
"Come in, then" Hornsby huffed. "Come in, come in..."
The girl obliged, Hornsby taking her travel case, which was rather light.
Ruth didn't have a chance to look around, before a beautiful, strawberry blonde lady came into the room.
She was wearing a royal blue chiffon dressing gown, with matching slippers, the robe of which was a darker, sapphire blue.
She looked almost like a queen.
Ruth gulped, having the urge to curtsy for some reason.
"Hornsby, whom have we here?" the lady asked, with a dazzling smile.
Her lips were pink, despite having had rouge and lip pallor on earlier that day. Her skin looked as smooth as buttermilk.
Ruth felt an itchy, uncomfortable feeling lodge in her chest, especially thinking about Michael. If he were here, would he be taken in by this woman's beauty over hers?
"Ah, forgive me for waking you, your ladyship, we seem to have a guest... I'm afraid I still don't know your name, young lady"
"R-Rose" Ruth lied. "Rose Evans"
Lady Felicia raised an immaculate eyebrow. Whatever her name truly was, it wasn't what she claimed.
"Well, Miss Evans" Lady Felicia smiled. "I usually don't have guests this late at night, but perhaps you'll join me for a spot of midnight tea, hmm?"
Just then, a maid came into the room. "Ah, Emily... I'm so sorry, my dear to disturb you"
The maid smiled as Ruth looked at the Lady in confusion. "Think nothing of it, my lady" she smiled.
"This is Miss Evans" the lady said, with a smile. "And I, am Lady Felicia Marsberg"
Both Hornsby and Emily looked at each other. So, their Lady was taking back her independence... good for her...
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, m'lady" Ruth stammered. Lady Felicia smiled. "Call me Mlle. Felicia for now" she winked.
Emily chuckled. Hornsby rolled his eyes. Women!
As Emily poured tea and set out a tray of biscuits and lemon tea cakes, Felicia asked Rose questions about herself.
The girl was a bit ill-at-ease, despite Felicia's attempt to calm her and relax.
According to Rose, she had no family, except an uncle who worked on repairs.
"How old are you, my dear?" Felicia asked with a smile.
"I'm er- sixteen" Rose murmured, taking a huge bite of chocolate cake that Emily had so graciously set out.
Hornsby had tried to take a slice, but had his hand smacked away by Emily. The cake was actually for tomorrow's luncheon. He would have to settle for the chocolate drizzle biscuits until then.
Hornsby grouched and muttered he was off to bed.
Felicia also sent Emily to bed, seeing as they had such a long day planned for the Victory Pond Fowl Awareness soiree tomorrow.
"Are you certain you will be well, my Lady?"
Emily gave Felicia a look.
Felicia exchanged her former nanny's look with one of her own.
"Yes, Emily. Thank you"
Emily nodded. "Very good, ma'am" she retired off to bed.
Felicia turned back to Rose, who looked back at her, yet seemed to stare off into space.
"So," Felicia smiled. "As you are sixteen, I assume there is a young man you have at your fancy?"
Rose blushed and shifted in her seat. She looked uncomfortable.
"I-er...I-"
Seeing as this also was an uncomfortable topic for her, Felicia laid her hand upon Rose's smaller, shaking one.
"You don't have to be afraid, you know" she said. "I'd like to be your friend, if that's alright"
Rose looked wary, as if she didn't trust Felicia. Felicia didn't blame her. After all, they were strangers to one another.
Before Felicia could ask if Rose had any friends at school, Rose turned her head curiously, furrowing her eyebrow.
"What is it, my dear?" Felicia asked.
"I-er, that is, I just noticed..." Rose started.
"Noticed what?" Felicia asked.
"Your shoulders- one is higher than the other..."
Felicia didn't look phased. She took a sip of tea.
"And your right hand- it's upright, rather than down"
Again, Felicia took a sip of tea.
Rose squinted, as if to try and figure Felicia out.
"What happened?" the girl asked.
Felicia, feeling as if a drum were pounding in her stomach, debated whether or not to share her story.
Should she share her life, her pain, with a girl, who in all fairness, seemed to be lying to her face?
She had half a mind to send the girl to bed and ring Nathan immediately.
Something didn't feel right about this girl, and she wasn't sure if her dear friend didn't have something to do with it.
"You first" Felicia said.
Rose cocked her head again. "What?"
"You heard me, Rose" Felicia frowned, crossing her arms the best she could, despite the pain and stiffness it caused her.
"I'm not sure why, but I get the feeling you've been lying to me since you walked through that door." the Countess nodded to the foyer.
"Now. Are you going to tell me the truth?" Felicia watched Rose flinch back, which was the expected reaction.
"Y-you don't know me. Why should I tell you anything? You're just a cripple, pretending to be some great Lady"
That hurt. Painfully. Felicia closed her eyes in prayer.
Father, help me, I don't know what to do or say...
Be merciful as I am merciful. Blessed are the peace-makers for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
"That may be" Felicia smiled. "But I was just like you, once. Young, scared, afraid other children would laugh at me for being so much more intelligent that they were, afraid I wouldn't find someone to love me, since I was so shy"
These memories brought tears to Felicia's eyes.
Felicia saw the girl gulp. She turned her head again.
"How did it happen?" she asked.
Felicia laughed through her tears. Thankful her prayer had been answered.
"A long time ago, a man was very angry with me because I loved someone else"
Rose gasped. How? How could anyone hurt someone so kind, gentle, loving as Lady Felicia? Why?
Rose bit her lip. Since Lady Felicia had been honest with her, it was time for her to be honest too.
It didn't mean she was going to give up her plans to run away...
"People don't like me" she said.
"Why-ever not?" Felicia asked. "You're young, beautiful, intelligent, and if you don't have someone now, you will, given time"she smiled again.
Looking at Rose, she gauged her to be about fourteen, near fifteen... not quite old enough to make wise decisions for herself, but at least she had a mind with which to think and dream...
Rose blushed at the thought of Michael Evans.
"They think I'm a freak of nature... that I'll give them a sickness... like the plague"
Felicia raised an eyebrow. She'd heard some gossip in town about a family by the name of Bennings, or maybe it was Bentley.
Weren't they missing a daughter of about Rose's age?
"Why would they think that, dear?" Felicia asked, getting slightly nervous.
She was more worried about Rose and her welfare than the thought of some silly gossip... probably originating from the Queen Bee herself, Mother Goose.
Nervously, Rose took off the coat she had been wearing... it hadn't rubbed against her skin like the other had...
Felicia gasped at the sight of the awful, dark, circular marks on Rose's back.
She instantly knew what it was from her days as a war nurse in the Second War. Father hadn't wanted her to go, but at the time, she was of age, and the cause needed help.
"Rose... listen to me carefully, dear. Would your real name happen to be Ruth Elisabeth Marie Bennett?"
If this was whom she though it was, Felicia would do Ruth no favors by harboring her.
She had done nothing criminal, but if the marks on her back were indeed toxic, then action needed to be taken immediately.
"No"
"Ruth..."
"No! You'll send me back there! My parents hate me! Michael doesn't know it now but he loves me, and he'll come to me in time..." She was hysterical now.
Felicia was a bit nervous. If she ran now, there wasn't much that Felicia could do. Her injuries were stable, but they were also stiff, and hadn't healed properly. She'd be no match for Ruth's youthful agility and speed.
"Why don't we sleep on it, Ruth... I won't tell anyone right now, but it's obvious we both need some rest. If you feel differently in the morning, you can leave, and I won't stop you. But there is no reason for a young lady to be running around in the dark with the wolves"
Ruth gulped. Thinking a moment, she nodded. After a moment's silence, she turned her head to ask Lady Felicia another question.
"Why are you so sure Michael won't love me?" she asked, folding her arms.
Felicia sighed. Hadn't they just gone through this? "Because, my dear, he's fifteen years your senior!"
"What does that matter?!" Ruth huffed. "Age is just a number when it comes to love! How old are you?"
Trying not to frown at the rude question, Felicia sighed. "I'm forty... not that that is any of your concern."
Ruth grinned, as if she had one over on Felicia. "And do you have a man at your fancy?" the girl challenged.
Not wanting to flush and give herself away, Felicia wished the girl would give up and go to bed.
"As it happens," she sighed. "I do"
Ruth wouldn't let the matter rest, however. "So, why haven't you said anything?" she pressed.
Felicia sighed, rubbing her head.
"Because- it would never work between us."
Ruth frowned. "Why not? Is he married?"
In a way... Felicia thought. "I-I'm not sure- I'm not sure if we could marry, even if I told him I love him"
"Why not?" Ruth asked again. "If two people love each other, they should marry."
If you love Me, feed my lambs.
Felicia grinned. Thank you she thought.
"Well, you love your father, don't you?" she asked.
Thinking of her real dad, Douglas, Ruth nodded.
"You wouldn't want to marry your father, would you?"
Ruth made a face and shook her head.
"You miss your father, don't you?"
Ruth nodded, her eyes filling with tears as Lady Felicia placed her hand on Ruth's.
As they both stood, Felicia walked to the door, noticing dawn was breaking outside.
Ruth suddenly wrapped her arms around Felicia's waist.
"Thank you" she murmured.
"You're welcome, Little Lamb" Felicia smiled, kissing Ruth's head.
"Now, promise you'll go straight home?"
Ruth nodded and rushed away.
Felicia watched the girl until she was out of sight, the sun peeking over the horizon.
Heading back inside, Felicia walked towards the stairs and fainted with exhaustion.
Emily, whom had been waiting on her mistress to return upstairs, rushed down when she heard a thump.
"M'lady? M'lady! Oh! Alan! Call for the doctor! Lady Felicia's fainted!"
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A group of villagers and policemen, including Father Brown, was looking for Ruth Bennett's body... if it could be found.
Nathan shuddered. It was a grim possibility, especially since it had been forty-eight hours since Ruth had been seen...
"Father! Father! I find Ruth." Susie called. "Where?" Nathan asked, trying not to get his hopes up. Behind door." Susie said. "The machine, it goes crazy. Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep."
That would make sense considering the radiation Ruth had come in contact with.
A bomb shelter then Nathan nodded, getting ready to open the cellar door, when Mrs. McCarthy came huffing and puffing behind them. Nathan was still furious at her for yesterday.
What could she possibly want now? "You little thief!" she yelled at Susie, attempting to grab the Geiger counter out of Susie's hands.
What the...? Nathan thought in incredulity.
Lord Jesus help me now...to show grace, mercy, kindness... "It belong to village." Susie said, trying to scratch the woman and defend herself and the Geiger counter at the same time.
"It belong to the Committee." Mrs. McCarthy grunted, attempting to grab the counter back.
"I must show Father where she is." Susie growled. She didn't like old woman snatching, calling her thief, and be mean... As Sid said, she is 'dumb old goat'.
"He is far too busy here to listen to your wild imaginings." she looked at Father Brown hopefully, as if her misdeeds could be blown over, as if she'd done no wrong.
Beauty is beauty does! Susie thought. Old, mean hag! No way Father Brown want spend his time with you! If Lady Felicia here... Susie smiled. She suspected something between the Countess and the priest, but Sid would know better...
In the words of Lady Felicia shut the hell up! he thought. Then, with conviction, Forgive me, Lord...
"We should at least take a look. Don't you think, Mrs McCarthy?"
He opened the door to the cellar, only to find no Ruth. He and Susie were disappointed, until Mrs. McCarthy smirked at Susie.
"Ha! Maybe you heard a woodpecker, Susie." Both of them glared at her, before Susie looked desperately at Father Brown. "Before there was something funny, I swear." she pleaded.
"I believe you, Susie." Nathan said gently, glaring again at Mrs. McCarthy's still smug smirk.
After finding a letter addressed Dear M.E., Father Brown, on a hunch, went back to another person who may have ideas to Ruth's whereabouts. Going and talking to Douglas hadn't been any help.
He'd refused to take off his gloves. The priest noticed that for a plumber he did have an awful lot of pictures round his home...
Going to the church, he decided that perhaps prayer would give him not only peace for his overtaxed mind, but perhaps also the answer to Ruth's whereabouts.
It wasn't until he saw the stone slab depicting baby Jesus being held by Mary that a thought occurred to him. Those warts...like fingerprints... like strands of DNA... could they be hereditary?
And, if Mrs. McCarthy's claims of Geoffrey Bennett being sterile were to be believed, then that would mean that Douglas knew more than what he was saying...
"Thank you." he said with a smile. "What in Heaven's name? Have you gone mad?" Douglas yelled when Nathan stopped by later, looking for a particular set of photographs.
"You must have taken a great many pictures of her over the years." he surmised, going ahead with his train of thoughts from earlier.
"Where is she, Douglas? Where have you hidden your little angel? She's your little girl. How did it happen?"
Douglas sighed, and then the whole story just spilled out...
Emily was still a virgin. She had doubts about marrying Geoffrey. I was weak. She told Geoffrey the father died in the war. He forgave her. He's a good man.
"Mm." Nathan nodded. Douglas continued.
"When she was born white It was a miracle. Emily said I could see her as long as I kept the secret." His eyes filled with tears.
"But I couldn't die without hearing her call me "Dad"." Nathan nodded, fully understanding now.
"So you told her? The night she disappeared?" Douglas nodded. "Yes." Nathan nodded again. They still had one problem. "Where is she, Douglas?"
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"There you are, Father!" Mrs. McCarthy called.
Nathan nodded somberly. "I heard the siren."
"A false alarm." Mrs. McCarthy brushed it off.
"Thank God." Nathan said, perturbed by Mrs. McCarthy's nonchalance.
"But, Father, Emily Bennett has been arrested." Before Nathan could ask what for, Mrs. McCarthy continued.
"The Inspector thinks she murdered her own daughter."
Not in a million years... Nathan thought. He looked around. He was in the correct area, now just to find a diversion for the police, and the n'ere-do-well in front of him.
"Go and tell that policeman the very interesting story about your mother's cat." Mrs. McCarthy looked surprised, and overjoyed. "The one who could open the door?"
Nathan nodded. "Yes." That tale wasn't particularly of any interest to him, since he'd heard it so many times, but it would give the diversion needed, and get Bridget McCarthy out of his hair, at least for a little while.
"Certainly, Father." Nathan jimmied the lock with a pick in Sid's kit.
"Thank you, Sid." he muttered as he closed the door and looked around.
"Ruth? It's Father Brown. No-one knows I'm here." He put the kit back in his pocket, sighed, and placed his hands behind his back.
"Michael's not coming back." Ruth came downstairs and into Michael Evans' sitting room. "How do you know?" she demanded.
"He's in a police cell." Nathan said. "But they found my clothes. I heard them talking outside." she said, still wary.
"Yes." Nathan said calmly. "That was clever of you." he suddenly got a familiar whiff of something, and wondered where exactly she had been all night.
"So why isn't he coming home?" she challenged. "Because they found your diary." he said, leaning towards her.
"And they won't release him until you admit you made it up." She crossed her arms, a smug little smile coming onto her face.
"Did you really think after all this, that you could run away and live happily ever after?" he asked, getting irritated at her smug smile, especially when she started to giggle.
"Yes." Would this child never learn?! It wasn't Funny!
Nathan sighed, trying a different tactic. It was a low blow, but perhaps it would knock some sense into her. "You and Michael will never be together."
Ruth rolled her eyes. "You don't know that."
"Michael told me." Nathan said. Wait, what? She thought about her discussion with Lady Felicia
Age is just a number when it comes to love! How old are you?"
Trying not to frown at the rude question, Felicia sighed. "I'm forty... not that that is any of your concern."
Ruth grinned, as if she had one over on Felicia. "And do you have a man at your fancy?" the girl challenged.
Not wanting to flush and give herself away, Felicia wished the girl would give up and go to bed.
"As it happens," she sighed. "I do"
So why haven't you said anything? Because- it would never work between us...
Looking at the priest, Ruth was starting to piece everything together...
Judging by his age, Father Brown was about sixty, or near to it. Even though he was a priest, she assumed that he was married, but what if he couldn't marry? Could he be in love, or aware that Lady Felicia held a torch for him?
Ruth pondered these things as Father Brown continued to speak, rubbing his forehead the same way Lady Felicia had done the night before.
Could he be the one she's in love with and can't have? Ruth thought.
"I'm sorry, Ruth." Nathan sighed. "I understand you got scared when you found out about Douglas. I understand why you turned on your parents. But now it's time to go home."
I'm never going home." Ruth said, feeling defiant all over again. She grabbed her coat and valise, heading to the door.
"You hid in the woods, am I right? All night, whilst they searched this place. That must have been very frightening."
Well... I didn't exactly stay in the woods all night long... actually I was with a friend of yours... she wanted to say, but didn't.
She figured she was in enough trouble already. "I think you're brave enough to go home, Ruth." No! I won't go home! I'll find my own happiness, even if you and Lady Felicia didn't!
She put on her coat, and picked up her suitcase, heading to the door. No one was going to stop her... "Where are you going to go?" Nathan insisted, determined to get thorough to her.
"London." she said dismissively. "How will you survive?" he asked, surely a fourteen year old couldn't survive on her own.
She took out a wad of notes out of her coat pocket. Probably her parents' money.
"They think your mum killed you!" he hissed, wondering why she was acting like a petulant child.
"Good." Nathan refused to take that as an answer.
"What about Douglas? I believe he loves you very much. And has done all your life." Ruth's facial expression started to change. Her eyes were softer, kinder...
"But he won't be around for much longer." Ruth was confused. What did he mean by that?
"He's dying." That's impossible! "No, he's not." Nathan was insistent, and Ruth got the feeling he was telling the truth.
"Your parents have been protecting you. He's got cancer." No... no no no...
"Spend time with your real dad. While you still can."
You miss him, your father, don't you?
Douglas- she loved him. If he was dying, they she couldn't leave. Not while he still needed her. She'd stay for her dad...
Then, just as she'd done with Lady Felicia, she went to Father Brown, and hugged him
"Thank you" she murmured. Nathan smiled, wondering if he would someday have a little girl as brave as Ruth.
"You're welcome, Little Lamb" Ruth looked up. That was the second time today she'd been called that.
"Father Brown" the priest released her. "Yes, my dear?"
"Do you know a lady by the name of Mlle Felicia?" Surprised, Nathan laughed.
In all the happenings he'd mean to to call on her, but hadn't.
"I do, why?" The child bit her lip. It really wasn't her secret to tell...
"I think she loves you." Nathan tried to look surprised. He was bemused.
Had Felicia shared something with Ruth?
"She seemed sad though- will she be alright, Father?" Nathan was puzzled. Felicia, upset? He made a note to check on her forthwith.
"She'll be alright- now- I believe it's time for someone to be getting along home. Don't you?"
Ruth walked outside, was taken home, and rushed into the welcoming arms of her parents.
Nathan, still upset with Mrs. McCarthy in her role in the whole fiasco, ducked and ignored her advances for conversation.
Half an hour later, he found himself outside Montague mansion, where Michael Evans was shaking hands with Felicia's butler, Alan Hornsby.
That was odd. What was Dr. Evans doing here? Wasn't he still supposed to be locked up?
"Ah! Father! Good afternoon! What brings you out here?" Father Brown, still confused as to how Dr. Evans got out of jail, placed the kickstand on his bike before facing the young doctor.
"Well, this the home of one of my parishioners, Dr. Evans. Tell me, how is Lady Felicia?"
Evans, suspicious of the priest, smirked. "Her Ladyship had a spill earlier this morning. She'll be alright with some rest".
Father Brown nodded. "Well, that is good news" Evans nodded.
He was about to ask Father Brown a question (how was it he knew Lady Felicia), when Emily, the housekeeper, caught sight of Father Brown and motioned him over.
"Oh, Father Brown" she smiled, tears in her eyes. "I'm so glad you're here. Lady Felicia's asking for you" Nathan didn't have to be told twice.
He ran up the stairs, and, at Emily's approval, entered the room. It was dark.
Felicia was in bed covers up to her collar. Her right arm was braced around her neck in a sling under the covers. Had she hurt herself? '
"Felicia?" he asked. Her eyes stayed closed. She was breathing to his relief, but still asleep.
"Felicity?" She groaned. "Mmm"
"Father" Emily whispered.
"What's wrong?" he asked, taking off his hat, and placing it on the dresser.
"According to the doctor, her Ladyship's had a bit of a spill. He thinks it may affect her memory. She kept calling out for 'Nathan'."
Nathan was torn between flushing scarlet, and blanching pale white. Emily continued.
"He asked who 'Nathan' was and I said I wasn't sure- could be anyone." she eyed him with a sweet, yet cheeky smile.
"Ms Emily, you shouldn't have done that" Nathan admonished gently.
"And have you two gossiped about by the likes of Bridget McCarthy? No thank you, Father. I've heard about what's happened 'round here the last couple days... specially with that sweet girl..."
Emily shook her head, when Nathan raised an eyebrow.
"I'll take my chances for lyin' up with the good Lord 'imself before I let that happen. I've known Miss Felicity since she was born, bless her heart" she looked tenderly at Felicia, who still lay asleep, hand to her own cheek.
"She lost everything that night" Emily whispered sadly.
Nathan was at a loss of what she meant.
"Hope, freedom, and her one chance at true love- all because her mother had to sit in the lap of luxury" Emily glared at something unseen, ears in her eyes as she clenched her fist.
"Ah well... it's all over now, and as Paul said 'what Satan means for evil, God will turn for good'."
Nathan smiled, also looking at Felicia. There was hope now. There was a chance at a future- now. Could he take the risk?
Should he?
Now?
"Nathan?" he priest smiled, going towards the bed. Seeing Felicia awake, he smiled.
"Hello, Felicity. How are you today, my dear?" She pouted, a look that surprised him. He adored her all the more for it.
"I'm lonely and bored to tears. I need 'civilized company' as Mummy dearest would say" she drawled, the sedative Evans gave her was working. Nathan chuckled, trying not to laugh.
"How's Ruth?" she sighed, smiling sleepily at him. Blinking back unexpected tears that her memory hadn't failed her, he squeezed her hand, leaned over, and kissed her forehead.
"Ruth's going to be just fine... thanks to you" he winked. When he found that Emily had returned downstairs,
Nathan smiled as he stood up, and removed his cassok robe and shoes, placing them by the door- leaving him in his slacks, black dress collared shirt, suspenders, and black woolen stockings.
Felicia grinned a wickedly sleepy grin, patting the bed beside her. Nathan padded to the other side of the bed, placing his glasses on the small end table.
Making himself comfortable on top of the covers which were quite cool, he covered himself with the end quilt, placing his right arm around her waist, as she lay back against him, her head on his chest.
Nathan smiled, kissed her temple, and rubbed her uninjured arm.
"I hope you're ready darling, because I have a whopper of a story to tell you..." Felicia chuckled sleepily, and was lulled to sleep by the sound of her beloved's voice.
When Emily looked in on them later, she found her two little chicks fast asleep, as if they'd never spent a moment apart...
FB-LF-FB-LF-FB-LF
Over the next few days, the town of Kembleford was brought together, not for another meeting of the committee, but for the rousing, soul convicting, sin condemning homily of Father Nathan Brown.
To step into St. Mary's that following Sunday, one would have thought they stepped into a sanctuary filled with fire and brimstone!
Following that particular homily, many residents of Kembleford sought out the Bennett family, to welcome them into the flock.
Mothers volunteered to make dinners, including Katie's mother, who gladly accepted Ruth and Katie as friends once more.
Others, like Mrs. McCarthy, still tried to stir up trouble. Then again, that was part of village life... not every person was perfect, or learned their lesson, a fact still pondered by Father Brown.
"Ugh. What is that child doing now?" she groused to Mary Clemmings, one of her primary gossip partners. Mary, seeing that the priest wasn't far away, gulped, and ignored Mrs. McCarthy...mostly.
"Well, I expect she's doing exactly what Mr Bennett told her to." And what Mr. Bennett had apparently told his daughter to do, was to spend time with Douglas, who as it turned out, was her birth father of all things... Hmm... seemed he wouldn't be much longer for this world, Thought Mrs. McCarthy with a critical eye. Hmmm...
"Three months, you say?" Nathan asked Michael Evans, as they also watched Douglas parade around with his little girl, as if they were the only two in market that day. " At most." sighed Dr. Evans.
"The lung cancer is very advanced. The cause is unknown, as with most of these cases. But whatever material Douglas carried on his hands, I suspect Ruth's lungs won't have been exposed in the same way his have. God willing, she may yet be all right."
Nathan smiled. That would be good news. When the time came, he and Felicia would be the first ones there to offer support, other than her parents. He looked at Evans curiously.
"What next for you?" he asked. "I'm going back to the lab." Michael said.
"To study the lung cancers?"Nathan asked with an eyebrow raised. That would be a feat.
"Focusing on three materials, all from your list, actually - lead, tin and asbestos."
Nathan smiled, trying not to let pride get the better of him.Thank you Lord.
"I'll wait here, if you want to get your counter." Ruth said sassily to Mrs. McCarthy, as she waited for Douglas to get some supplies she'd asked for.
"I never believed it myself." Mrs. McCarthy said, now feeling a mite guilty about all of that tongue wagging she'd been doing lately.
"Other people gossiping Father Brown will back me up. Father?"
Like hell I will! He thought. '"The leper must be cast out of the camp", Mrs McCarthy!' he frowned, shaking his head at her.
Ruth laughed, especially as Mrs. McCarthy turned beet red.
"Ready to go, Ruthie?" Douglas asked his angel with a grin.
"Sure Daddy...let's go" Nathan laughed, as he watched the two walk arm in arm out of sight...
FB-LF-FB-LF-FB-LF
Ruth grinned over at Douglas as he finished laying out the supper spread.
"What if they don't like it?" she fretted. "What if they get mad?"
Douglas touched his daughter's cheek. "Sweetheart... you helping two people find the love they have for each other is a beautiful thing. It's nothing to be ashamed of... If Father Brown and Lady Felicia are the type of people I think they are, they'll love and appreciate you for your generous heart. Come on... Let's get this finished."
Douglas smiled as he cooled the wine they'd brought along, remembering two days ago when Bob came to him with a request...
Dad?
Yes, Bob?
I was wondering if you could help me do something for some friends...
Douglas raised an eyebrow. What's that?
Bob grinned mischievously, whispering the details into his ear.
Douglas had to laugh at her sweet gentle nature...
even after everything that had happened last week, she wanted to spread love and give something back...
he was in awe of her...
During market day, they set out getting supplies together, the priest and his Lady none the wiser...
FB-LF-FB-LF-FB-LF
"Father Brown!" called a voice as the priest lay his bicycle against the stone wall of a certain mansion, later that afternoon. Looking to his left, he saw a vision upon a chestnut stallion with a star down his muzzle.
"Lady Felicia! How beautifully regal you look" The Countess laughed. "I was wondering if you fancy a ride down to River Oak Pine"
Nathan raised an eyebrow."On that?" he pointed to the horse.
Felicia rolled her eyes. "No, Father, on a motorcycle! Of course on the horse!" Nathan gulped.
"I haven't ridden anything higher than my bicycle in years"
Felicia's eyes gleamed merrily at him. "Say twenty?" she asked.
He nodded, catching on to her flirting. "About..." Felicia giggled.
"Alright. Hadassah is gentler, but Xerxes is quite the runner" Her eyebrow quirked. Was he up for the challenge?
Nathan was caught off guard for a moment by the names of the horses. "She would have compassion on me, an inexperienced rider?"
Felicia giggled again. "Of course, my dear... of course"
"I humbly thank thee my Lady..." he bowed, "buut wouldn't it be easier for just one?"
Felicia shrugged. Both horses were bareback, so it didn't really matter whether they took one or both.
Hmm this would be interesting.
They both were finally able to get upon Xerxes comfortably, Nathan behind Felicia, holding onto her waist as she tried not to jump and startle the horse.
"Tsk tsk tsk... c'mon boy... Nathan, hang on!" Nathan wrapped his arms around Felicia, nervously bracing himself.
"YAH!" Xerxes reared and bolted, causing Nathan to scream, and Felicia to burst into laughter.
"Hah! C'mon Faster!" she called. "No! Not faster!" Nathan yelped.
Having pity on the priest, Felicia slowed from a gallop to a trot...
"Better?" she called. "Much!" Nathan called back, nuzzling into her hair. Felicia laughed, clicked her tongue again, and led Xerxes into a high trot.(1)
Nathan soon relaxed, able to enjoy the scenery around him. Horseback riding was almost like bicycle riding, except you were a lot higher up.
"Where are we going?" he called. "River Oak Pine" she called back. "I'm assuming you received a note?" Nathan flushed as he remembered his note.
"You did also?" he asked. "Yes" Felicia said, trying not to be too embarrassed.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I happen to know that
Father Brown likes you :3
Nathan shivered, wondering whom could have sent his note.
Sun low in the sky,
Near River Oak Pine
Why not treat your Lady
To supper and wine?
Something was eerily familiar about those notes...
Nathan and Felicia weren't sure why.
It wasn't much longer until Nathan and Felicia reached their destination.
Nathan, having changed into comfortable khaki trousers, a white shirt, undershirt and suspenders for the occasion, slid off the horse's back first.
He turned to help Lady Felicia off of Xerxes' back as the horse grazed.
Felicia had slid comfortably into Nathan's arms as she got outfit was similar to his, sans the suspenders.
She tried not to blush as she looked into his eyes.
The priest wasn't doing much better, as the evening sun sank lower in the sky, it dared to play with the curls of Felicia's hair, setting them afire. His hand itched to run through them...
"Ugh, why don't they kiss already?" Ruth asked. Douglas laughed.
"Patience my girl. Flowers take time to grow, as does romance... never forget that, mon petit cherie" Ruth had been amazed that her Father could speak French.
When Lady Felicia saw them earlier, she started speaking to him in French, which Douglas explained everything to his daughter when they were alone.
She'd had too many secrets hidden from her in her life. No more... no more as long as he still had breath in his body.
Felicia was a nurse in the Second War. He explained. She didn't have much training, but she treated wounds like theirs... she could help if things get too uncomfortable...
Ruth nodded. "It's not your fault Dad... I love you no matter what"
Douglas nodded, tears in his eyes as he hugged his angel. "I love you too, Bob... I love you too."
FB-LF-FB-LF-FB-LF
As the two lovers let go, they noticed a picnic blanket spread with supper- chicken, fixings, green beans, potatoes, and apple pie A bottle of wine was cooling next to the food.
Nathan and Felicia looked at each other. What on Earth? There was a note on the blanket.
Nathan bent to pick it up.
"Now that you're here,
And we have your horse,
Enjoy your nice supper..."
Nathan blushed at the last line.
(And kissing of course)
Felicia turned at Xerxes' nicker, and noticed a familiar young girl and her father atop the horse.
"RUTH!" she and Nathan yelled at the same time.
Just as Xerxes sped off towards the sunset, Douglas laughing the whole way, Felicia turned away frustrated, since they couldn't get home.
Nathan smirked, tossed the note, and took Felicity into his arms, kissing her gently on her lips as the young girl suggested...
1- I don't horseback ride very often :( so I'm not very sure about speeds. I made it up :)
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