Chapter 5: Guilty Conscience
Annalise Marie Hope awoke in the night, crying. Slowly, her mother opened the door and peaked in. "Oh Anna…" she walked over and picked up the baby and rocked her back and forth, singing softly. "Green finch and linnet bird, nightingale, blackbird. How is it you sing?"
Baby Annalise calmed down and petted her mother's long, curly hair that hung over her shoulders.
Anthony stood at the door, watching his wife and daughter with a fond smile. Johanna looked over her shoulder and smiled when she saw him. She motioned for him to come, and pressed her finger to her lips. He crossed the room and put an arm around his wife.
"Shh, she's asleep." Warned Johanna with a smile. Both parents stood in silence, smiling at their baby girl.
Anthony began to whisper-sing.
"I have sailed the world,
Beheld it's wonders, but
I'm still amazed at the greatest wonder yet…
Ah, miss.
Look at her, look at her,
Pale and ivory-skinned,
Have you ever seen, ever seen
Such a wondrous sight?
Who would sail the world for all its wonders?
When here in your arms sleeps the greatest wonder yet?
Annalise Marie Hope…
Ah, miss,
Ah, miss…"
Gently, Johanna laid Annalise down in her bassinet. Johanna took Anthony's hand. "Come on, it's late. Let's get back to sleep."
"Yes, but first I just…need some fresh air."
"Alright…" she watched as Anthony opened their glass French doors and stepped out onto their little balcony. He was acting so strange lately.
Anthony stood out on the balcony for a long time, looking out at Paris. City of lights, city of love. A light breeze stirred the air around him. No doubt that this was the life he'd wanted. He was happily wed in France, with a beautiful wife and a perfect daughter. He had everything he ever wanted.
So why wasn't he happy?
Johanna and Anthony fled down Fleet Street in silent terror. They ran all the way to the docks, where Anthony had a boat waiting for them. The sailed away, watching London slip over the horizon.
One sentence rang clear in Anthony's mind from the last time he stood on those docks.
"You are young.
Life has been kind to you.
You will learn."
He held Johanna close as she cried on his shoulder. It was cold night, and the sea tossed restlessly. He had sailed the world, beheld its wonders. Yes, the cruelty of men was as wondrous as Peru. But there's no place like London.
There's a hole in the world like a great black pit
Whose morals aren't worth what a pig could spit
And the vermin of the world inhabit it.
And it goes by the name of London.
"Never again," Anthony swore "Never again will I return." He looked down into Johanna's eyes. "We'll run away, we won't look back! We'll forget this place and start over, yes? We'll still be married on Sunday…married on Sunday." He hung his head and held her closer.
"Anthony?" Johanna tore him from his thoughts. "Come inside, it's cold." Thunder rumbled in the distance. She walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Anthony? You've been acting so strange lately. What's the matter?"
"I have to do something, Johanna."
"What are you talking about?"
"We have to call the police, he must be stopped."
"Wha--"
"People are dying, Johanna!"
Johanna gazed into Anthony's eyes. "You said we would start over. You said we could forget all this!"
"You know as well as I that we can't."
Johanna walked over and held on to the rail of the French balcony and stared out at the city of lights. Suddenly, sharply, she looked straight at Anthony. "He'll kill us, Anthony."
"You'll stay here."
"No! If--"
"Yes. You must take care of Annalise."
"She needs her father too! She's hardly a year old, Anthony. She needs a father."
Anthony looked in the window at his daughter, sleeping peacefully. "…I'll stay."
Johanna hugged him in relief. He held her close.
"For now, at least."
There was a sailor and his wife,
And she was beautiful
A foolish sailor and his wife.
She was his reason, and his life.
And she was beautiful
And she was virtuous…
And he…was…
Naïve.