Act XI: Veritas Victorious

Now that the husband was gone, Turpin prepared to finally take what was deservedly his. Times had changed though, He had grown older, and didn't particularly want to keep her when he was finished. Perhaps he had grown more understanding of the world, and he was willing to send her back home, where she belonged. Or perhaps he was getting too old. Once he could put to rest his obsession, there was no real need to keep her anymore.

He decided not to think about it. He called together all of his closest (in proximity) acquaintances. He was going to throw a party. Masquerades were rather in vogue these days.

Lucy didn't know how to respond to the Beadle. It was awfully kind of the judge to be thinking of her, but she could not bear to enjoy her life when Benjamin was suffering so. Besides, she had nothing to wear. The Beadle said it didn't matter.

Well, a bit of night air would do her some good.

Although Nellie seemed a bit reluctant to spend her evening with the baby, Lucy assured her she would not be gone for long. The Beadle grabbed her arm and dragged her across the street, not even giving her time to grab a cloak.

Lucy coughed as she entered the Judge's main hallway. The coal-infused air was too much for her delicate lungs, and the soot turned her pretty white dress yellow. The music was insanely loud, and their drunken laughter was shrill.

"Oh! Look what the cat dragged in!" exclaimed a plump lady dripping with jewels.

"Yes," agreed a heavily bearded man, "She does look quite a sight."

She decided to ignore those comments and appreciate the decorations. It was not long before the judge called her to his study.

This was it. He offered her a drink, she accepted and sat down in one of the plump leather chairs. Perfect.

They talked about the weather, her daughter, and other innocuous things. She mentioned her upcoming birthday in April. (Which would have meant that she was born eight months after the wedding. He was sure Tabitha told him that she was born in July, hadn't she? Turpin briefly wondered if he should send the girl home, but shook his head. He was just overreacting. That's all.)

"Did you want to speak to me?" Not really, but if he was going to do this, he might as well gain some pleasure out of the whole situation in more than one way. She had refused him, after all, out of an arrogance that must have only come from her father. If he was going to be pained by digging up memories of her parents, she might as well have her suffer as well.

He told her the story of Tabitha, Crawford, and the Barkers. She didn't believe him. She couldn't.

"You have a sick sense of humour!" she screamed.

He laughed. "Did you ever know what you father looked like?"

She froze. Then responded haughtily, "Mother said there were no portraits of him."

"Because she probably never wanted to see his face again. There is one portrait remaining, it's over by the bookcase."

"Why do you own a portrait of my father?" she asked bemusedly. He gave no response. Actually, he couldn't really remember its purpose either after all this time.

Slowly, she approached the canvas. She laughed, "You know, this does have an awful likeness to… Oh my God." She vomited.

"That was a new carpet, you know."

"AHHHH!" She wailed. She cried, threw things and ran out of the room, tumbling headfirst down the stairs. He could hear each individual thud, and then a giant crash. She was tangled up in her gown, petticoats flying everywhere, as she screamed her head off. The guests downstairs were laughing hysterically at the sight.

"Oh, how droll!"

"What a daft creature!"

To save whatever remained of his dignity, he ordered Bamford to drop her home. He dismissed his drunken guests early, and decided to go to bed. Yes, he was getting much to old for this.

Nellie waited patiently for Lucy to return. Although she couldn't stand the silly little nit, she did promise to herself that she'd take care of Benjamin's family. He'd want that.

She heard a thud, and the sound of hooves clattering in the distance. She laid the baby down, and went to open the door.

Much to her surprise, Lucy was lying on the floor, huddled into the ball. She noticed the bruises all over her body and assumed the worst. Her sobs of "Never felt so dirty before in my life," and "They laughed at me! They laughed, in their stupid paper masks!" only helped fuel her morbid, girlish imagination, which she thought had died after she had gotten married. Luckily for her, Albert was asleep. She tucked Lucy into bed, and tried to let her hold Johanna, but she only screamed.