Chapter 6
Her skirts are humungous as I manoeuvre her into my arms. With this outfit on, she weighs a lot more than what I can only assume she does. She gasps again and it sets me into motion. I kick open the shed door into the fresh air. I make my way just a few steps to the back door of the house. I use my foot to hook the bottom of the old creaking door and force it open. I look around to find the kitchen empty. I steady my breath and manoeuvre the form in my arms into the house and towards the stairs. I spy my bag by the front door and carefully bend at the knees to grab it with the hand under her legs. I straighten back up with only a slight grimace and continue my journey towards the stairs. I take two at a time being careful not the jostle her too much.
"Edward?" She calls from behind me at the bottom of the stairs. I freeze. "I thought you were taking everyone to the market?"
"I-er, I thought we'd go a bit later. See if we couldn't get a few more good deals from James on the veg stall." I call down. I continue up the final step as I hear her reply.
"Alright, Dear, but remember to cover up if you go much later. It'll get cold." She calls as she makes her way back to the kitchen area. I carry on to one of the two bedrooms in the house. I open the door and close it before making my way towards a pile of blankets in the corner. I lay her down as gently as I can and put a scrunched up blanket under her head. She gasps and again holds her mid stomach area.
"Hey, Edward, are you in there?" I hear from behind me. I turn to see Alice poke her head in with a smile on her face before frowning. "Wha-"
"No time to explain, get in here and help me." I say turning back towards the withering body on the floor. Alice shuts the door behind her and rushes to my side. "Alice, I need you to help me turn her onto her side." I grasp my bag and open it, grabbing a knife.
"O-OK" She stutters. Nope, this is not how any of us had planned our day today. An hour ago, I was at my apprenticeship being let off a few hours early for the coronation day and now...well.
We are able to shift her onto her right side so she is facing the wall. Her left hand shot out to ensure she didn't hit her face and her skirts stick up in strange shapes as her crinoline is warped from her reclined position. I grasped the knife in my fist and sliced down the expensive buttons at the back of her gown. The material sagged and I pushed my way through until I found the weave of lace and eyelets that is tightening her corset. I hook my blade under one of the threads of white lace and pull. It's like a coil. It snaps and the whole of the bodice begins to unravel. As Alice continued to hold the Queen's hip and leg through the mountain of material and skirt boning, I aided the material in its unraveling journey. Her Majesty let out an almighty sigh as the expanse of her bare back is revealed to me. Whilst I tried to avert my eyes, they kept getting drawn back to the jagged and angry impressions left from the garments being so tight.
We all pause. I help Alice in rolling Her Majesty back onto the blankets. She lets out a shuddering breath and looks up at me.
"Thank you." She whispers. I give her a small smile.
"Edward?" Alice says.
"Yeah?" I reply, dragging my eyes away to see what she wants. I follow her gaze up the Queen's dress to find small circles of blood forming on the jewelled material right where the Queen had been grasping earlier.