The Makings of Evil

Part Six

( A note to the readers ~ As it turns out, I got my years wrong, got confused. So far the story has taken place in the 1750s and not the 1770s. I have changed it but for some reason the change won't update so avoid confusion, just ignore the previous years I have given and look at this one. The year is 1759 and they will go to Maine in 1760 as in the film. sorry for the confusion and thank you for reading :3 )

Liverpool, 1759 ~ The Dinner

That night my mother tried to put me into bed as early as was allowed, after all my chores had been completed but I had other ideas. I knew there was the diner tonight and I wanted nothing more than to be part of the regardless of the class divide. Once again my mother tucked me under my blanket.

"Now, my darling, you must rest for your work tomorrow." With that I jumped out of my bed again and began to jump around the room.

"Please Mama, I want to see the party, all the dancing and the gowns. Oh please mama!" My father then walked into the room to wish me goodnight and he gave a wide smile when he saw me jumping around.

"I don't think we will get her to sleep now," he whispered to my mother.

"Papa, Papa! Please can I go?" I asked desperately. I already knew the answer and that it would not be allowed. My father picked me up and placed me back into my bed.

"Listen to your mother. You know it can't happen. We must not mix with them." I sighed and reluctantly settled into my bed.

"Papa? Will we ever be part of it?"

"I'm sorry, darling. It a whole different world and we don't belong in it. Maybe one day when you are older you might marry a rich man who loves you very much and he will give you a world just like this, or maybe you will even find your own way in." I smiled at him and snuggled up.
"I will make you and mama proud of me." Both my parents smiled and kissed my head, my mother tucked Sapphire and Emerald in with me.

"We know, darling," my father said. "Just go to sleep, and sweet dreams". I closed my eyes and felt them kiss my head again and heard the door shut. As soon as they were gone I was back up again and on my tiptoes looking out the window as carriages began to stop at the front of the house. I looked with awe and envy at the wonderful dresses the women wore and I smiled at the gentleman treating the women with such care and respect, wondering if I would ever be treated in that way. I saw Joshua standing at the front door, not too far away from my window and he slowly looked up, our eyes met for a few seconds and that familiar chill shot through me. I look away and dive back under the covers again. I started to smell the wonderful food that Mrs Allard and the other servants had spent all day cooking and my stomach growled loudly and I moaned, moving onto my stomach to try and get rid of the hunger pains. The only thing I thought of doing was putting my pillow over my head and blocking out the smell. A few minutes later sleep over took me and the dream I had has always stayed with me. Sometimes I think about it and wonder if it was a vision into the future. I dreamt that I was cleaning the floors in the great hall. There was a smell of burning in my nostrils but it wasn't a smell of burning wood or food, it was different, almost with a hint of death. I looked up from my scrubbing brush into the eyes of Joshua. There was a look on his face that frightened me. It was a look of madness mixed with something else that I didn't understand at the time. He brought a belt out from behind his back and brought it down on my shoulder. At that point I woke up with a jolt, breathing hard. I thought to myself that that wouldn't happen, it couldn't possibly. But that smell of burning, I could still smell it and it felt wrong.

The meal was over and I could hear music play so I knew the dancing had started. Surely no one would know if I went to have a look. I climbed out of bed and pushed my long brown hair behind my ears before slowly opening my door and looking around. There was no one there so I proceeded to walk along the corridor to the balcony that overlooked the hall where I knew everything was taking place. There was a sudden rush of footsteps and I hid behind a statue and covered my mouth so no one would hear my breathing. Luckily it was just a maid just running past to prepare all the guest bedrooms in time. Once she was gone I went through the door to the balcony and the music burst through. It was a wonderful waltz and I instantly started to sway to it, moving over to the edge to watch the people below. It was a wonderful sight, watching the women dresses spins out at the bottom as they danced with the gentlemen. I stood and smiled as I watched them. A noise from behind me made me turn quickly, getting a fright in case I was caught. I smiled a little when I saw Barnabas standing there with that little cheeky smile. I remembered my manners and curtsied a little.

"Bonsoir...," I whispered as I looked at the floor.

"Good evening to you too. I see you can't sleep either. Mother and Father would not let me stay up which I think is extremely unfair. They said I am too young to stay up late and join in." I smiled and looked up at him.

"I had a bad dream, that's why I am not sleeping but I wanted to see. I haven't seen anything like this. Even in Martinique things were not as grand." He gave me another smile.

"I have never been there. I have been to mainland France, it was very beautiful. I am sure Martinique is beautiful too." He went and looked over the balcony at the people below. "Mother has made me take lessons to dance like that. I don't like it but I do not want to disappoint my parents. Do you dance?" I blushed and looked away.

"No, I was never given the chance. My life is so different from yours. We have always had to work or we would starve. It has been very hard." I looked down and Barnabas seemed to sympathise as he didn't ask any further. I was aware that he was walking closer to me and then I felt his hand in mine. I gasped and nearly pulled it away from shock.

"Can I teach you to waltz?" He gave me a very warm smile and I couldn't help but return it and nod. He took my hand and placed it on his shoulder and then put his own hand on my waist.

"I will lead so when I step forward you step back. It is really very easy, follow my steps." After a few shaky minutes I had managed it and I was waltzing with him around the balcony with a wide smile on my face. He spun me out then back into his arms and then it just came naturally and I knew what to do. I stopped looking at my feet and up into his eyes and saw that he was matching my smile. The music stopped and he took a step back, lifting my hand to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on it. I smiled and blushed again.

"You are a fast learner, better than me. My mother would be proud of that." I laughed a little.

"I don't think so, I am a low class and should not be part of this world. My Papa told me that."

"Perhaps, but I do not see a class divide with you yet I have been taught about it and told that I should not treat the maids like equals. I have to do it as father would be very angry but I do not want to treat you that way. I want to be your friend." He smiled again and a slight pinkness went to his cheeks as it did on mine. Before I had time to respond, the door to the balcony opened and Joshua emerged. I felt my heart jump and cowered slightly. He walked to Barnabas with a slight smile and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Now son, you really should be in bed. Is she keeping you awake?"
"No, father. I couldn't sleep so I came to listen to the music and I met her here."

"Well, please go back to bed, you have your tutor in the morning and you need to be able to concentrate. I want you to do well."

"Yes, father." Barnabas turned to me and smiled. "Goodnight, Angelique. Sweet dreams." I watched him walk out and back to his room. Joshua waited until he heard the bedroom door shut before turning to me with a burning glare.
"I never want to see you out of your room when you shouldn't be. I don't want you to be seen!" He grabbed my wrist and pulled my to my room and slammed the door shut behind him. I looked up at him, terrified, my eyes wide as he seemed to bear down on me.

"I don't know what your plan is with my son. He is a treasure to this family. He is my only son and my wife can't have anymore. He won't be corrupted by some filthy little rat I picked off the street!" He moved his face so close to mine I could smell the alcohol on his breath. "I brought you here for me...not for him," he whispered threateningly. I watched his lips curl into a cruel smile. I didn't know what he meant. Brought me here for him? I didn't have time to think before he swung his hand, striking my cheek so hard I feel backwards onto my bed. My eyes filled with tears and I held my cheek with both hands. He straightened up and looked down at me and pulled me up. He lowered his head to whisper in my ear. Now, his tone had completely changed. His voice turned soft but his nails dug into my arm.

"Don't tell anyone I did that, alright? I can do a lot worse. Just do what I tell you and everything will be just fine." He moved back slightly and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Go to bed, you have a lot of work to do in the morning. Sleep well, my Angel." With that he grinned at me and left me standing there trembling with a red mark spreading over the cheek he struck. I didn't understand what he meant. I hadn't done anything. I climbed into bed and pulled the cover over my head as I cried as quietly as possible, his words going over and over in my mind. Finally I fell into a dreamless sleep. Little did I know, that was just the start of things and that his threat of being able to do a lot worse was more than true.