DESIRE & DUTY
by MEL

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
TBC

DESIRE & DUTY

Chapter Eight

Clarice slumped back into the chaise, now emotionally drained as well as physically. She heard muted voices in the hallway as Lecter filled in Bella Crawford on recent events. Bella's insistent questioning faded to silence and then the front door closed quietly and she came hastily into the library. Clarice made to rise to greet her friend but was motioned back down. A bad idea it had been too, for her previously immobile shoulder now voiced its opinion that movement might not be the best course of action. Told me it would only hurt for a minute she muttered under her breath, but it was with deep affection that she now held this gentleman in her thoughts.
"My dear! Doctor Lecter just told me what happened - what an unspeakable cad that man is!" There were tears in the woman's eyes but she looked flinty.
"Really I'm fine Bella, he is gone now and that is all that matters."
"I'll see to it that he never darkens your doorway again!" Bella spat in an unusual display of anger.
"Did you see him? Now I come to think of it - how is it you came to be here?"
"No I did not see him, and I hope I never do again. In fact-" Bella bit back her outburst.
"Please calm yourself dear heart," Clarice offered a hand to her. "I can assure you he left here in much worse health than you find me now." She smirked a little and Bella relented with a begrudged smile.
"So Dr. Lecter only told me that he removed Paul Krendler from the premises - I take it there was more to it than that?"
"Oh-" Clarice laughed, "a lot more!" Clarice's insides quivered at the memory. Bella waited expectantly, so she continued. "Mr. Krendler actually tried to attack Dr. Lecter."
"Oh my! The poor man!"
"I assure you, he needs none of your concern. It was - it was astonishing. One does not expect such strength and reflexes, from his appearance." Her voice trailed off. "I believe I would like to rest upstairs for a while Bella, if you don't mind?" She needed some quiet time to mull over the afternoon's events.
"Of course! Let me help you up."
"And Bella, let's try and keep this as quiet as possible. I can do without half of London calling and enquiring as to my health. I am going to be just fine, as you can see."

***

Relaxing on the enormous bed, Clarice closed her eyes and drew up the memory of her encounter with the Doctor. He had put Krendler on the floor so effortlessly. She felt her heart-rate quicken as she relived the event, and wondered at herself. She should be appalled that two gentlemen had come to blows in her very own house, and have declared them both veritable hooligans and refused to have anything more to do with them. But he had been coming to her rescue, she supposed she could not berate him for that at all. Perhaps it was the excitement, the rush of fear, that had caused her to behave so inappropriately. She could have believed that, had the feelings not lingered still. She felt a rush of arousal as she admitted the fact of her affliction to herself. She was besotted with this Doctor; and he, apparently, did not find her distasteful either. Clarice pressed her thighs together and allowed long-dormant feelings to wash over her, and day-dreamed of Doctor Lecter until she fell asleep, and dreamed of him some more.

***

Annie came to wake Clarice the following morning, pulling the curtains wide and allowing the morning light to stream in. She announced that Clarice should expect visitors this morning and she had slept late already. Downstairs a light breakfast was laid out for her, along with some morning papers. Clarice happily replenished her energy with the splendid breakfast, and browsed the day's news.
Net Closing on London Fiend
Frederick Lounds, Esq., reporting for The Standard. A number of horrific murders in the East End of London, committed during the past four years, are now thought to be the work of one fiendish killer. Experts declined to comment on the evidence that brought this new advance in the unsolved cases, but say they are confident that they have a clearer idea than ever on how to go about unravelling the mysteries of the gruesome deaths.
Annie bustled into the parlour.
"Finished miss? There's someone here to see you. Miss Rachel DuBerry, shall I show her in?" Annie barely waited for Clarice's 'Certainly!' as she began removing the tray. When the room was cleared, Clarice stood and waited expectantly.

Miss DuBerry breezed into the room like so much sunshine. A tall, willowy woman, raven-haired and white-skinned, Clarice immediately felt dowdy in comparison. Her lips were full, her eyes bright and shining, and her clothes were straight from the fashion pages. She handed off her gloves to Annie, along with a fox fur stole and advanced eagerly upon Clarice.
"Mrs Starling it's such a pleasure to meet you at last!" Her accent was perfect ladylike English, not a hint of London despite the fact that she was said to live in the city all year round.
"How do you do, Miss DuBerry," Clarice bobbed a polite curtsey and tried not to be too aware of her own round vowels and comparatively, she felt, uncouth accent. "It's a pleasure to meet you too. Mrs Crawford mentioned you to me."
"Oh yes, isn't Bella an absolute sweetheart, though how she can cope with that husband of hers I'll never know. He really is the limit! But you simply must call me Rachel!"
"Mr Crawford?"
"He is a terrible lech," Rachel bent her head to Clarice's in mock-secrecy. "I've had to see him off a number of times myself. My, but he does like the ladies."
"Uh-" Clarice managed.
"But listen to me, gossiping away. How are you finding London?"
"I am enjoying the house immensely," Clarice smiled, glad of firmer conversational ground. "It is a real find! Do you live nearby, Miss Rachel?"
"Goodness no! I could never dream of a place on Park Lane! I have a residence on a floor of a great building in Mayfair, and here you have the whole house, you lucky thing you!"
"I had no idea of this being such an extravagance. Bella selected it for me, you see, and I trusted her expertise."
"Of course, it is delightful. But anyway, what I really wanted to talk to you about was, well, your business, if I may be so bold?"
"My business?" Clarice was surprised by the forthright question.
"Yes, I understand that you take care of the whole thing now?"
A little taken aback, Clarice fumbled for a moment, but then caught her stride. Rachel seemed to be waiting anxiously for the answers.
"Well, yes. I helped my husband build the line from almost nothing. There was no sense in entailing it to some second cousin or distant uncle."
"Isn't that a little" Rachel laughed, embarrassed, "progressive?"
Clarice warmed to the woman. She wasn't judging, Clarice realised; she was hoping, desperate to discover that all she had heard was true.
"I like to think so." She smiled warmly. Rachel sighed, evidently impressed and gladdened by the news. "Did you have something specific in mind, Rachel?"
"Well yes, actually," she said shyly. "My own fortune is meagre, being left to me by my great uncle and going amongst a good many surviving relatives. I had hoped that I could, well, make something more of it."
"Well wonderful!" Clarice cheered the woman. "That's a refreshing thing to hear in the circles I've been moving in."
The door to the parlour opened and a maid entered with a tray of tea for the ladies, who set about the task of pouring with gusto. Clarice was delighted to find a woman her own age, and who appeared to not be a hopeless and helpless society damsel.
"May I ask you another question, Mrs. Starling?"
"Please, Clarice is my name, and certainly."
"Do you miss your husband?" she asked very quietly.
Clarice let a small silence fall.
"Every day, I think of him with fondness. But we were parted a long time ago now. The memory does not pain me so much."
"I don't mean to cause you sorrowful memories Clarice, but matters of love and of the heart are not polite dinnertime conversation in my circles. It will be good to have a real friend."
"Did you never think to marry, Rachel?" Clarice turned the tables.
"I thought I was going to, once, but now I am afraid my bloom is wearing off and I despair I will ever become a wife!" she said this airily but Clarice detected sincere concern.
"Surely there are men lining up to court you!" Clarice could not fathom a city were a lady looking like this was single for long.
"Well there is one," Rachel admitted in a low tone of confidence. "But I cannot tell you who he is. He is not ready to formally announce our betrothal, and I must respect his wishes. He has a plan to secure our future, and I cannot fault him." Rachel pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve theatrically, and Clarice made out two initials embroidered in black on the crisp white: "H.L."

H.L. The feeling of gross stupidity came over Clarice like a bucket of iced water. She felt heavy suddenly, as if being pressed down into her chair. Swallowing a rising lump in her throat she forced a smile onto her face.
"How wonderful for you, Rachel."
Rachel caressed the handkerchief lovingly in her lap, before folding it and neatly slipping it back inside her sleeve. The conversation continued in the realms of fashion, the weather, the locale; all a blur to Clarice. How could she have been so stupid? No, not exactly - how could he not have stopped her? That was a silly question, she berated herself, what man was going to turn down advances such as those she had forced upon him? He was probably too embarrassed, and wanted to spare her feelings by not rejecting her. He likely thought she was simply over-excited by the pell-mell of Krendler's visit. She frowned miserably.
"So I would love to stay and visit with you all afternoon my dear Clarice, but I simply must be at my aunt's for tea or she will be dreadfully upset."
"Of course you must go, and thank you for coming," Clarice forced her voice clear and even. "I am going to be in London until well after the new year, we can meet again soon." She rang the bell for Annie who came and restored Miss DuBerry's gloves and stole. With an enthusiastic hug and a kiss to either cheek, Rachel was gone, leaving Clarice feeling very alone.

To Be Continued