The Hockley's- Hearts Betrayed

By HL Griffiths

The Hockley's - Hearts Betrayed

Prologue Three

"Crosswinds" - The Hockley Family Home, Philadelphia

In the Year 1891

The blonde head of the slim young woman and the dark head of her young son were bent close together in the Nursery as thee woman read to the delighted child who was giggling in delight as she made the characters in the book come alive. The boy gripped his mothers hand tightly and looked up at her with big adoring eyes.

The woman winced slightly as the baby she was carrying kicked hard.

"Mamma" Caledon asked Demelza his mother in a serious voice. "Can we go to the river soon and have a picnic?" His dark eyes surveying his mother intently.

Demelza's smile slipped. "Soon Cal my sweet we will when the weather is warmer" she said to her son. She had just lied to him again. Nathan would never permit her to take Cal unescorted out anyway. Mrs Frobisher would make sure of that.

Even these sweet moments reading to her child and enjoying him were bittersweet. Mrs Frobisher was off an errand and when she was back would sweep Cal away from his mothers embrace to do something educational and character building.

Nine years of fighting to try and have any relationship with her child. Nathan seemed to think that she would contaminate him by making him less manly. God knows Nathan was already carting the child around the mills and showing him off to his business contacts. If the child put a foot wrong he had threatened to belt the child.

Poor Caledon turned in a mute when his father was around and was stiff and formal. It was only when the child was with her unguarded and he hungrily accepted her love and kisses, his thin arms clinging to her leg screaming heartbrokenly when she had to leave. These scenes were used by Nathan as another excuse to keep them apart.

Now there was another poor child on the way. Begotten under protest. Demelza did not think she would survive another birth ordeal like Caledon's, it had left her weak and often sickly, sleeping days away. Nathan always demanding she produce another son. No more children till Nine years after Caledon.

Loneliness her constant companion. Wheeled out to look pretty on Nathan's arm when the occasion demanded. Otherwise Nathan lived his own life. Had other women. There were whispers of a pretty chestnut haired French lady who had captured his imagination.

Demelza knew she was just breeding stock. Often she dreamed of her sister Hope now 23. Rumours had it via Nathan who was bitching that Hope had shamed the name of Tremaine by running off and marrying a commoner she'd met a country fair and had eloped with him in 1886 when she was 18. If it were true she prayed that Hope was happy. Obviously Hope had the gumption to not accept her fate and had made her own path

Caledon's urging hands tapping her arm made her look at him. He was the image of his father but he was sweet natured at times. His observing eyes warm as he looked at his mother. How he loved her. She was gentle with him and read to him and tried to interest him in art. Even at nine he knew that these stolen times could not be told of to his Father. His Father wanted him to be a man and was always correcting him and watching him, childish pursuits like reading, playing and painting were not allowed. Nathan already had him riding and learning to fence and row and hunt.

Demelza pulled her son to her and kissed him, "Mamma has enjoyed seeing you today" she whispered to him... Caledon lived for these moments. "Mamma" he replied and laid his head against her. She stroked his soft hair and he melted into her.

"I love you Cal, never forget that" she said softly "Love you Mamma" he echoed.

The tender moment was soon shattered as Mrs Frobisher entered the nursery, eyes gimlet hard as she spotted Mrs Hockley hanging around again. Mr Hockley would not be pleased. The child was unmanageable when his mother left, crying and snivelling for her. It wound Mr Hockley up and then she Mrs Frobisher got it in the neck. Mr Hockley was not a man to anger. He had his plans for the boy and that was her job. Mrs Hockley weak and punitive was not a part of these plans; Mrs Frobisher knew that Nathan had no regard for his wife. Now she was expecting again and was ill a lot. Some women were not meant to have children!

"I must go Cal" Demelza whispered into Cals hair."Please dont make a fuss, it just makes it harder for me and for you my sweet"

Cal nodded, he was learning. The last time he had screamed for Mamma. Nathan had heard him and had belted him for the first time. Swearing it would be ten times worse if he squealed to mamma about it.

Tears ran down both their cheeks. Demelza turned silently and left. Cal sat on the chair, head bowed, dejected. "Enough of that Master Caledon, come and have your milk" Mrs Frobisher barked.

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Nathan Hockley entered the bedchamber banging the door as he came in.

Demelza sat brushing her limp blonde hair r dropped the brush in fright, it clattered on her dressing table knocking off pots and bottles.

Nathan stared at his wife with unashamed dislike "What are you doing Demelza "he shouted. She lowered her wide grey eyes not meeting his fiery look.

"You startled me Nathan" she said softly. Nathan snorted with impatience. He did not notice Demelza paleness or the dark circles under her huge eyes. He did not like to look at her bulging stomach

"I have come to tell you that Caledon leaves in a few days for Boarding school, he is of age" he said brusquely. To get Caledon away from this woman that wanted to mummy him, no Hockley male could afford to be simple and girly.

Demelzas heart sank. He was sending Cal away. Oh how could she bear it? Not to see him ever.

Nathan read the haunted look on her face. "Don't be such milksop Demelza "he roared. "You knew the boy would have to go away at some point, you have the my new son to worry about"

Demelza hands stroked her tummy. Poor child subject to the same treatment as Cal. She wished it had never been conceived. How could she cope being denied from loving a second child. What if it were a girl?

"Why are you frowning at me, looking at me like dirt under your nose" Nathan shouted, quickly to anger. Demelza rose awkwardly from the chair. This pregnancy worse than Cals. Sudden queasiness and a stabbing pain in her abdomen made her stagger and catch hold off the bedpost.

Nathan was heard in the background screaming that she'd been drinking and was drunk.

"No" she said in a breathless tone "I am not, just dizzy Nathan I don't drink, my stomach hurts"

Nathan's temper rose and he smacked Demelza squarely across the head. Demelza moaned and blacked out, falling.

Nathan watched in horror as her slight frame tumbled like a ragdoll and she smacked her head hard on the dresser and fell crumpled to the floor.

"Get up Bitch, don't answer me back" he went over to her inert form and nudged her, she did not move. Nathan totted and pulled her head up by her hair.

"Get up Bitch" he said again. She was floppy and still. Barely breathing. He dropped her head roughly.

As he looked at her feeling revulsion deciding what to do next a puddle of blood started to ooze from beneath her.

It was at that point that Nathan started to yell for the servants to fetch the doctor as Mrs Hockley had tripped and had taken a nasty fall.

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The waves of sickness engulfed Demelza lying in the bed. She felt as weak as a bird. It had been days since Nathan had attacked her causing her to fall.

He had been in just ranting and raving telling her she'd killed his son. She'd lost the baby. And delivered a stillborn boy with a fuzz of blonde hair.

The fall was the catalyst. She privately though it for the best. She did not want to inflict Nathan Hockley on another innocent life. He'd already done enough to Cal and now Cal was lost to her. Sent away to school to be turned into a cold hard business man. A Hockley male Like Nathan.

The doctors had told Nathan there was to be no more children. He railed against the news and went on a two day drinking binge. And spent more time with Sylvie.

The Tremaine whore had killed his child; she wasn't strong enough to bare his sons.

He gave Sylvie Dubois his mistress beautiful jewels taken from Demelzas collection.

When he was with Sylvie he felt like a man and now she had just told him that she was expecting. Sylvie was everything Demelza was not. What to do?

Sylvie must be his wife, French and feisty, she was a challenge and they suited each other.

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Demelza heard voices outside the door; she was recovering and was becoming more alert. Her heart full of grief and anguish for the future. Nathan's outburst more angry and passionate. His hatred of her was growing day by day.

"What is to be done" Nathan was saying. He thought Demelza was sleeping inside the suite.

His lawyer Benjamin Lakeland looked pensive.

"She is a semi invalid now Ben" Nathan said in a voice full of derision. "She's loses the baby and now is useless. I have a wife but no wife. I have needs of my wife, to manage Crosswinds, to be my foill, to be entertaining and hospitable. NOT THAT Creature lying in my bed, good for nothing"

The lawyer was taken aback at Nathan's vehemence.

"Well Mr Hockley I may have a solution" he said quietly.

"I know of a nice residence where Mrs Hockley could stay"

"What send her on a quiet retreat or little vacation I don't think so" Nathan retorted.

"No" The lawyer answered "Somewhere to stay, indefinitely!"

The lawyer and Nathan looked at each other

"Like forever" Nathan queried

"It can be arranged, she can be out the way, guarded."

Nathan frowned, plotting. "But I would still be married to her" he said coldly.

"That could also be arranged Sir, I know people in high places, a discreet divorce can be possible"

Nathan smiled slyly

"Do it" he said "Decision made. No one will ever know what will have happened to her. Least of all my son, he doesn't need her"

Suddenly from the suite anguished screams could be heard from Demelza as her world fell apart.

"Nathan NO, You cant, please don't take me from my son, please I'll do anything"

Nathan instructed the servants to get the Doctors to sedate her.

Demelzas last thoughts were her sons dear face and Hope her sister. She screamed their names .Their beloved faces faded from view. Tear stains on her face as she slid into blackness

"Good bye Demelza, you'll be looked after where you're going" Nathan scoffed as he walked from her suite for the last time.

No looking back, she would be gone tomorrow. He would be free to marry Sylvie soon and they would raise their baby here. Caledon would never see his addle brained mother again.