Chapter Eight
As soon as the door was bashed in his face, narrowly missing his nose, Sir. Shapiro rounded the path and bolted straight to the Valentine Hospital. As he rushed down the narrow lane he thought about the Victoria he had just witnessed. She was a hellcat; eyes narrowed, cheeks flushed and she seemed to growl as she bared her teeth at him. He still could not wrap his head around it, that her husband was truly gone. While he barely knew Beck, he had thought he was a good man, and no one deserved to die the way he did. That he knew.
Picking up speed her rushed through the small green in the centre of the village and pushed through the small gate. Cat was outside the hospital, assisting one of the patients around the small garden. As she had not noticed him yet, he took a moment to take in Cat, watching as she gripped the taller man tightly around the torso as he attempted to walk with only one leg and a crutch for support. He admired her smiled, the way she seemed to glow as she encouraged him to take another step, it was obvious to everyone that the little redhead loved her job, and the men loved her for doing it with the utmost care.
Finally she glanced over to him and beckoned him over with a slight swing on her hand. With a heavy heart Robbie walked over to his wife to greet the pair.
"Sam, this is my husband, Sir. Robert Shapiro." She explained as Robbie helped him take a seat on the small wooden bench. He smiled warmly at the solider, admiring his determination. Even a journey, one that small, was progress.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Robbie shook hands with the man who had a surprisingly tight grip, wincing slightly he added, "Could I borrow my wife for a moment?"
Without waiting for a response, Robbie clamped his hand down on Cat's arm and guided her to the shaded area of the garden. Caterina glanced nervously up at her husband's vacant expression. She hated when she could not read his face, it was normally so simple for her. But recently, since his return from the war front she found him that much difficult to decipher.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice had a definite edge of worry as she continued, "Was there a letter from the war office, are you being deployed again?"
"No, it's not that." He sighed theatrically as he avoided her gaze, instead his eye flicked to every soldier in the vicinity, thinking about how lucky they all were to still have breath in their lungs and blood trickling through their veins.
"Is it someone we know?" Caterina guessed as she brought her hand up to Robbie's cheek, willing him to look directly in her frightened brown eyes, "Robbie who died?"
"Beck." He finally admitted, "Beck was killed three days ago. I read the letter when I was carrying Tori back to her cottage; his death was instantaneous, it was an explosion."
Cat's hand immediately sought her mouth as she quelled the pathetic sob that was protruding in her throat. At once all of her memories of Beck came flying into her conscious as quick as the shell that had killed her old friend. She remember Beck as a ten-year old, how Cat had teased him so about being friends with two girls, how she had pretended to marry him at the bottom of the garden, when he had made her a Godmother... that man was now dead, all she had now was these memories of him.
"How is Tori?" Cat whispered, as she unconsciously knotted her fist into his shirt.
"Honestly, she is not that good at all. You would not believe it Cat, at first she was docile. Unmoving as if she was paralysed, It was so worrying that even Lady Rebecca was frantic. Eventually I decided to take her back to her cottage because she clearly would not be able to work. But as soon as she got her home... she just snapped. She lashed out at me before closing me out of the house. I heard her screaming at the poor child before I made it to the end of the path."
Caterina shook her in head in disbelief, "I cannot believe this, it is so unlike her. Maybe I can go and –"
She groaned as one of the other nurses came rushing towards her, "Cat we need you, one of your patients is having a fit. You know that you are the only one who can calm him down." She rambled as she bounced from one foot to the other, evidently anxious to return back to the ward.
Cat mumbled something; Robbie was certain it was a word that a Lady should not use, as she turned to dashed off. Shooting him a fleeting apologetic look, she called back, "I will visit her later. Just stay away from her Robbie, do not get involved further."
Dejectedly, he turned and made his way to the end of the path, now so uncertain of what he should do with his time. He was certain that Cat would have left with him to go and visit his oldest friend, and if he was honest with himself, was slightly annoyed that she seemed to care more for her patients than she did about her best friend's well-being. But she knew her the best, so he would not listen to the little voice in his head that was telling him to help the maid instantly. He would trust Cat's judgement and not try to visited her again.
Instead he started up the familiar path that lead up to Emerson, since he made his triumphant return four days previous, he had become somewhat closer with Jadelyn, it seemed he could know call her Jade and get away with it. Heading straight for the door he spotted a short, plump and rosy-faced man bobbed out of the door and head towards a carriage.
Holding up his hand he shouted, "Uncle!" at the top of his lungs.
The little man stopped and turned, his red face breaking out in a large grin as he spotted his nephew making his way up the drive.
My dear boy!" he cried out as he bounced over to him with glee, "How are you today?"
"I have been better." He replied solemnly, "Someone I know was recently was killed in action. A terrible loss, he had a wife and a newborn."
His uncle smacked his lips together before sighing, "That is just terrible. This just means that we should appreciate more the life that we have."
"I agree completely." Robbie said before he jerked a finger towards the house, "Is Jadelyn in?"
As soon as he uttered her name, Robbie regretted it. His uncle stiffened, which was strange for a man who was constantly shaking with excitement, as if he had drank too much caffeine. A dark shadow seemed crossed his face, immediately expelling the colour from his cheeks as his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"She told me she was with Lady Caterina." He said, "I should have known there was something going on with her. She has been acting different these past few weeks. Have you noticed a change Robert, you have seen her more than me these past few days."
Robbie awkwardly cleared his throat, "You know now that I think about it." He lied quickly, "Caterina did mention something about meeting Jadelyn today. I have taken so many bangs to the head these past few months I must have forgotten."
His auctioned regarded him, before shrugging ever so slightly, "I just do not know what to do with her." He replied exasperatingly, "Robert, if you find out anything you will tell me won't you?"
"I do not think it's anything to be worried about. But of course I will inform you if it's anything dangerous."
With that his Uncle slapped him cheerfully on the shoulder before hopping into his carriage, "See you later my boy!" he cheered through the window as the carriage swept down the lane.
He waved at his uncle until the carriage was out of sight, kicking the gravel in annoyance; he looked around Emerson, unsure of what to do now that his cousin was MIA. Starting to walk down the path again, he turned left hastily; this would get him home quicker and at this particular moment he wanted nothing more than a cigarette and a brandy. It was a shame really that Sir. Robert hadn't taken a moment to stop outside the garage, with the door that was slightly ajar, if the man had not been so wrapped up in his own problems, he may not have missed the drama that was about to unfold in Lady Jadelyn's life.
Lady Jadelyn was completely irate, she was so annoyed at the man standing before her... and she had absolutely no idea why. Today Flynn had vexed her beyond belief, she had come down to continue the secret driving lesson's he had promised her, when she had spotted him talking to one of the maids who was heading up to the house. Something bubbled inside Lady Jadelyn that she did not understand at all,which frightened her more than anything as she strode over to the couple. Towering over the petite girl, just one glare told the maid to run away quickly. Jadelyn West was not one to toy with.
Flynn had grinned lazily at his mistress; taking off his hat to greet her sarcastically he walked back into the garage and continued to polish the car.
"Funny we do not pay you to socialise with the help." she muttered as she closed over the large doors.
Flynn chuckled as he glanced sideways at Jadelyn, "But I am the help." he countered, "What's the big deal anyway."
The colour rose in her cheeks as she quickly snarled, "You are meant to be working!"
Flinging the polished covered oil over his shoulder he grinned cockily as he leaned against the car and folded his arms. Jadelyn eye's narrowed, not enjoying the look she was receiving from the male.
"What?" she barked.
"You're jealous."
Jade laughed and was instantly annoyed with the away it sounded; completely fake and unbelievably high, "As if, what do I have to be jealous about, I am far better than that maid in every single way."
Taking a small step towards her, his smile grew, "You like me the way you should like someone of your own class and that scares you more than anything."
"You are ridiculous as if I could ever like you. You are so—just" she let out a strangled cry as she grabbed the nearest thing to her and threw it in his direction. She gasped when the wrench hit his head and he crumpled to the ground, his forehead was beginning to swell at a fast rate.
"Oh my god." she flew to his side, shaking his shoulder she yelped, "Flynn, oh my god. I am so sorry, I didn't think it would actually hit you. Jesus, please don't be dead."
Groaning he sat up slightly, as Jadelyn tentatively touched the bruise on his forehead, "It's throbbing."
While Jadelyn was momentarily vulnerable, Flynn took this as his only chance to persuade her, to make her see what was staring at her right in the face. What these months of flirting was leading up too. Grabbing her hand, he leaned up and brought his lips to hers, locking them together in a passionate embrace.
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Caterina sped out of the ward, night was creeping up on her quickly so she started to jog up to Tori's cottage. It began to lightly drizzle as she finally pushed the creaky gate that lead to the Oliver cottage. Already she could hear the soft wails of her godchild and she felt her stomach twist uncomfortably. The atmosphere that surrounded this cottage was overpowering, already Caterina felt so dismal and weak, suddenly everything seemed bleak. Tapping on the door, she waited respectfully until Tori swung the heavy door open.
The first thing that struck Cat was her appearance, Robbie was not exaggerating, she had never seen her like this before. Her hair was unkempt, it was sticking out at odd ends, as if she had raked her hands through it countless times. Her eyes were blackened around the rims, her eyelashes were matted together and the red veins that snaked around the white of her eyeball told her that she had been crying a great deal. Then there was her cheeks, dark burgundy lines ran down them, as if Tori had dragged her sharp nails down the in anguish. The clothes that she stood in where wrinkled and splattered with tears.
"What do you want?" she asked, there was a harshness to the voice that Caterina had never heard before, it was so raw that it made her nervous.
"I wanted to check on you." she answered as bravely as she could, suddenly she felt like a robin who was battling a hawk, she did not have a hope of winning, all she could do was avoid Tori's sharp talons at all costs.
"I heard about Beck. Tori, I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am."
Taking a step forward to enter the house, she was shocked by the arm that soared up, blocking her path, "I do not want to see anyone. You are not coming in."
Stammering slightly Caterina staggered back, the rain growing heavier as it soaked through her thin uniform, "You forget yourself." she said, her voice rising slightly, "As your employer I order you to let me inside."
Tori laughed, it was almost maniacal, "Do not try and pull out the status card, because you are so much more mighty than me!" she sarcastically replied, "I do not want to see you, Lady Shapiro. Please leave me alone."
Cat tried to quell her anger, Tori was hurting, she had only just lost her husband. But that did not stop her words cutting her like a sharp blade, "I don't understand. Tori, I only want to help you. Please let me help you, you are clearly not thinking straight. I know what you-"
"Don't you dare say you know what I am going through." she cut in, her words were as sharp and as cold, as an icicle, "My husband is dead while yours carries me home like the martyr he is! Sir. Robert Shapiro who is always there to save the day! For months I listened while you ranted on about his safety and how you felt and all I wanted was for you to ask me how I felt, ask about Beck. So many times I wanted to tell you about how I was struggling and you just did not want to listen! But I suppose you do not have to worry about that anymore. I am not waiting for him to come home and I am severing all ties with you."
"That's not fair." Caterina's throat was now hoarse from holding back tears, "Tori you are my best friend you know that."
"Yes when it suits you." Tori scathing replied as she closed the door over more, blocking Caterina's view of Natalie who was in the corner of the room, wailing as she watched the two women fight, "Why did it take you so long to seek me out Cat? Too busy to worry about your best friend?"
"Stop it!" Caterina shrieked, she clenched her small fists together as she fought the urge to slap her, "Tori please. Let me take Natalie, you obviously need time to grieve alone."
Tori's eyes darkened as she glared back at her friend, "No. Stay away from me Cat, and stay away from my daughter."
Hey guys :D
So yep, Tori has gone loco... and it's only going to get worse! See what the toxin is doing! :P
But yeah I just went for it with my Jade/flynn storyline, I loved her throwing the wrench originally it was going to smash the car but I thought this was funnier.
The question is will she rebuff him or not!?
Anyhoo as always leave a wee review!
Love to all who read my stories
xoxoxox