Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Based on the characters created by Stephanie Meyer, in her Twilight Saga series of books
WARNING: This story will contains scenes of domestic violence, strong language and other forms of physical violence, up to, and including death.
Chapter 2
Evading The Inevitable
Vernon Brandon's parents arrived home in the early afternoon. They immediately sent the servants out to the property to begin the clean-up process. Tradesmen were working their way through the city, making estimates and creating makeshift repairs, so the people could return to their homes. Vernon showed his father the damage to the library and his suite of rooms, while his mother asked about the welfare of his wife.
"Alison is in my old room," Vernon informed his mother, then continued to explain to his father the reason for the wait for the tradesmen to arrive.
Alison heard the quiet knock at the bedroom door, and sat up to greet whoever it was.
"Come in," she said when she was sitting up and comfortably covered. She watched as her mother-in-law entered the room and crossed to the bed before looking up.
"My dear, Vernon told me you were..." She looked up at Alison's face and the color drained from hers'. She sat on the side of the bed, next to Alison.
"He didn't say anything about you being hurt." Alison thought she sounded almost concerned. "Please, child. What happened?"
"Are you requesting a response from me?" Alison felt her eyes begin to water, but she fought back the release of the tears. "I simply want to be sure I have permission to speak, so there will be no more misunderstandings."
Savannah Brandon grabbed her daughter-in-law in a large tight hug, as she whispered in her ear. "The Brandon men can be very demanding of their wives," she confided in Alison, then she gasped as she realized that Alison was no longer pregnant. "The baby—oh, please..."
"She's fine," Alison told her mother-in-law. "Not the heir that I was ordered to produce, but a healthy child nonetheless."
"A Granddaughter," Savannah smiled at Alison.
"Yes, she is currently being cared for by..." Alison stopped, afraid at how far she could push her mother-in-law's good graces.
"Say it child. Something is hurting you besides my son's violent streak. You can confide in me. I know how you must need someone to talk to. I know I did, but for me there was no one. Please, just say it."
"She is being cared for by my husband's mistress." Alison locked eyes with Savannah as a look of shock and embarrassment covered the older Mrs. Brandon's face.
"Mistress?" Savannah was suddenly very angry. "He has a mistress and is only just married?"
"And a new son," Alison looked down at her hands, as she laced her fingers together to hold them still. "There, you have it all. I shall endeavor to control my emotions and play the dutiful wife. To the outside world, we shall remain the blissfully happy newlyweds, with a happy healthy baby daughter. But know this, I will do everything in my power to avoid contact with your son from this day forward. He has his precious son, illegitimate or not. And I may have no say on the wet-nurse, but I shall raise my daughter as I see fit." Alison raised her chin to look up at Savannah, again.
"Do you feel better, getting that off your chest?" Savannah smiled at her, and Alison burst into tears.
The two women held tight to each other, until Alison had cried herself out. When there were no more tears, Savannah loosened her hold on Alison and she slumped to the pillows against the headboard of the bed.
"I understand your feelings for my son." Savannah looked away, shame in her eyes. "But I doubt that it will be that easy. Just remember that I am here whenever you need to talk. We are trapped by our marriages, to men that do not love us. I tried to guide my son, but his father was too strong. You must guide your daughter away from men like those we married. It is a mans' world, and we are but possessions to them, but we can help to strengthen each other."
Alison nodded to her mother-in-law. She hoped that she would be able to trust this woman who claimed to understand her feelings and fears. She took a deep breath and settled into the pillows and warm blankets. Savannah held Alison's hand, as a loud knock announced another visitor. Without waiting for a response, Rita walked into the room carrying Mary Alice in her arms. At the sight of Savannah Brandon, Rita stopped short and cleared her throat.
"I'm sorry," she nodded to them both. "Mary Alice has been fed and I thought she might like to see her mother."
"Yes, please." Alison held her arms out for her daughter. She gently took the small bundle and checked on her. Alison smiled down, as her daughter sucked on her fist and opened her eyes just long enough to see her mother. "May Alice," she whispered to the sleepy infant, "would you like to meet your grandmother?" Alison then handed her to Savannah.
"Oh my!" Savannah whispered. "She's so tiny."
"The doctor said that she is small but healthy. Very healthy for being a month early." Alison told Savannah
"You may leave," Savannah dismissed Rita without looking in her direction.
"Vernon...I ah...Mister Vernon told me to make sure and keep...care for the child so Miss Alison could rest," and she held her arms out for Mary Alice.
Savannah turned to Rita and looked her in the eyes. "I am the lady of this house, and I have given you an order. You will leave this room. Now!" Rita gave a small jump and left the room, slamming the door behind her. Savannah smiled down at her granddaughter again, but spoke to her mother. "There are some things I can't do, and some things I can. And I can assure you, that woman will have as little to do with our Mary Alice as I can manage." The two women smiled at each other conspiratorially. "But as for Vernon, I'm afraid that there is very little I can do there. His father will demand a legitimate heir. There is no avoiding that. I'm sorry Alison, but Vernon will have his way for that part of your marriage. The quickest way to avoid his attentions, is to give him the heir that he needs. I was lucky in that our first child was a boy. Why do you think Vernon has no brothers or sisters? But my husband had the good sense to keep his mistresses off the property."
"I always thought that you and Mister Brandon were a very happy couple?" Alison was surprised by Savannah's confession.
"My darlin' girl," Savannah laughed, "you will find that the happiest southern wives are the ones who know that their husbands have mistresses, and are quite happy about it."
"Well," Alison started, "as long as she is in this house, then he has no real need for me. Other than putting a pretty, and legitimate face, on his public appearances."
Savannah handed Mary Alice back to her mother. "I do understand, my dear. I'll do what I can to limit the control that woman has in this house. And I will do all I can to limit her contact with my beautiful granddaughter." With that said, Savannah rose to leave. "Would you like me to put her down to sleep?" she asked.
"Rita has taken the cradle to her room, for her son." Alison told her. "But she's just fine here, next to me." Alison curled her body protectively around her daughter, and smiled up at Savannah.
"Very well," Savannah smiled and left the room, closing the door gently, behind her.
Savannah had been married to Orin Brandon for over 22 years, and she knew how he thought. She would have to wait to talk to him, until she was allowed to retire to her bed. Until then, she would do as much as she could, to undo some of what her son had done. First of all, she would have to find out where her son had stashed his mistress. The house was small compared to some of the other mansions in the neighborhood, but it was still large enough to hide some one, if that was your intention. Savannah started with the largely unused portions of the house. The east wing.
She searched each room, methodically. She was nearing the end of the hallway when she heard the sound of a baby crying. Knowing that Mary Alice was sound asleep with her mother, she assumed that it must be her other grandchild. Savannah walked confidently to the door of the room that contained the two, she hoped, and opened it without knocking. What she found was more than she expected.
Savannah composed herself before clearing her throat loudly. "Well, I guess there is no more doubt that this truly is your mistress." She allowed the anger to seep through her voice, at finding her son in bed with his daughter's wet-nurse.
"Go away, mother," Vernon's muffled voice came from the area of Rita's neck. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Yes, I can, but I am still the lady of this house, and your—new hire will follow my orders." Savannah laced her fingers together and held them down in front of her, as she relaxed into her roll as the mistress of the house. "She will do as you have hired her to, she will wet-nurse your daughter, but that is all. The raising of Mary Alice will be left to her mother and me. Your little tart will simply be a breast with milk. Nothing more. Just a...cow." Savannah smiled a very unfriendly smile. "The rest of her time will be spent here, in these rooms where you have obviously had her for quite some time. I do not wish to see her in the rest of this house. Is that clear?" Savannah smiled sweetly at her son.
Vernon had sat up in the bed, not only exposing his bare chest to his mother, but also Rita's. "I understand you mother, as long as you understand that I will have my heir. My suggestion to you, is that you explain to your new daughter that little fact." Vernon laid back on the pillow, with his hands behind his head. "I hope she heals as quickly as Rita has. I'll not wait long."
Savannah turned and left the room, closing the door tightly behind her. She began to shake before she was able to release the door knob. She placed a hand over her mouth, to keep the screams of disgust and fear from being heard by her son or husband. She hugged the wall of the hallway to keep from falling to her knees, as her shaky legs carried her down the hallway to the open balcony that viewed the foyer and the two, east and west, staircases. By the time she reached the top of the staircase, she had managed to compose herself enough to control the sobs that threatened to take over her body.
"Savannah?" Orin was at the bottom of the stairs by the time Savannah neared the foyer. "Have you been crying?" he demanded to know.
"Oh no." Savannah laughed. "You know me and my allergies. This storm has stirred up all sorts of allergens." Savannah covered for her red rimmed eyes.
"Well," Orin huffed, "I think it may be wise for you to stay out of the East wing. At least until I manage to get the staff to get rid of the trash from that part of the house."
"Yes, Orin," Savannah responded. Her heart gave a small extra beat, as she realized that her husband now knew that her son's mistress was there, and that he would see to her removal.
"I'll be in town," he told her. "I'm going to talk to Doctor Wilton about a wet-nurse for Alison. He will know someone with suitable—attributes."
"Thank you, Orin," Savannah gave her husband a genuine smile as she held on to the staircase rail with both hands.
"Well," he huffed again, "I prefer a house without unnecessary chaos."
Before he could turn to leave, Savannah grabbed his hand and pulled it to her cheek, then gave it a small kiss.
"These are the times I remember why I married you."
Savannah released her husband's hand and hurried around the staircase past him, and into the dinning room. Orin watched his wife, a look of surprise on his face, then turned and walked out the front door. When Savannah heard the door close, she rushed to the west staircase and up to Alison's room. She knocked gently at the bedroom door, but there was no answer. She assumed that Alison was asleep, and decided that the good news could wait until later. With a genuine smile that would last for hours, Savannah returned to the dining room, then to the kitchen to supervise the cooking of dinner.
Savannah altered the evening menu to allow for all of Orin's favorite dishes to be served, as a way of showing her appreciation for all his efforts. She too, enjoyed a quietly well run house, and Rita definitely did not fit anywhere into that definition. She was so happy that for once, they agreed on something important. Savannah saw to the dessert herself, rhubarb pie. It was her own special recipe. Orin had first had it when they were courting. He had come to dinner with her parents, and she had made it then. He had practically eaten the whole pie that night. When she realized that their marriage was little more than a sham, he had told her that her pie was one of the only reasons he had married her. Orin was a thin man, with an extremely healthy appetite. Food was his second love, after his mistresses. Tonight, Savannah was happy to cater to his second love.
Alison had slept soundly, until a rap at her door woke her.
"Dinner is almost ready, Miss Alison," Molly's voice called through the door.
"Please come in, Molly" Alison responded, as she struggled to sit up without waking Mary Alice.
Molly entered the room, placed a large piece of cloth over a chair near the door, and crossed to the bed. "Miss Savannah would like it if you could come downstairs for dinner. If you feel you can make it." Molly smiled down at Alison.
"You're hiding something," Alison gave Molly a suspicious look.
"Why Miss Alison, I would hide nothing bad or hurtful from you." Molly was somewhat indignant at Alison's accusation.
"Well, I do feel better, but I won't know until I begin to move." Alison held her hand out to Molly, to help her stand. "Help me to the ladies, and we'll know more then."
Molly helped Alison to stand, then helped her to the ladies down the hall from the bedroom. Alison felt stiff, but the pain was not as bad as she had expected, considering she had given birth just over 24-hours before. Molly took Alison's bloody packing, and prepared another for her. When Alison had finished her business, Molly repacked her and helped her back to the bedroom. When Alison was seated on pillows, on the rocker, she addressed Molly again.
"Well, that went better than I thought it would. If you will assist me, I think I may be able to make it to dinner this evening." Alison smiled at Molly.
"Miss Savannah said that a simple dress would be best. She sent one along for you, in case you agreed." Molly retrieved the cloth from the chair by the door, and held up the dress for Alison to see.
"It's a lovely color red," Alison laughed. The dress was a very simple design but the color of dried blood.
"She had it made after she had Mister Vernon. She wanted to attend dinner but was very mindful of—accidents. Miss Savannah is a very resourceful woman." Molly grinned at Alison.
Alison laughed at Molly's grin and nodded her head. "Let's try it on." and she slowly stood and helped Molly remove her night dress and slip on the red dress. Savannah was a much taller woman, but she had foreseen the need and had already hemmed the dress for Alison.
"It's a bit short," Molly commented, but I'm sure no one will notice.
"We'll say it's short to prevent me from tripping, in my weakened condition." Alison offered. Alison looked down and saw the tip of her slippers peek out from the bottom of the dress. "However, it is nice to be able to see my feet again." She smiled broadly.
"Yes, Miss Alison, I suppose it is." Molly laughed. "But I think it may be time to get you down those stairs."
Alison took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself for the family dinner that was to come. She went to the bed and gathered Mary Alice into her arms.
"Let me check her before we go down," Molly took the tiny sleeping bundle, then helped Alison sit on the bed while she checked the baby's diaper. She changed her quickly and efficiently, without waking her, then handed her back to her mother.
Alison held Mary Alice close with one arm, while clinging to Molly for support with the other. Together they took the stairs slowly, one by one, until they had reached the foyer. Alison stopped to catch her breathe before crossing the foyer into the dinning room. Savannah greeted her at the door, and took Mary Alice from her, so she could take her seat next to Vernon. Alison smiled and played her part, as the dutiful wife, while she watched Vernon sulk.
Alison wondered why Vernon was in such a foul mood, and was sure that it was somehow her fault. Perhaps coming down to dinner was a bad idea, but Savannah had wanted her here. Alison's mind was whirling with thoughts of what she could have done to cause Vernon to be so mad at her this time. Then she remembered the conversation she had with Savannah, and fear struck her like lightening. She sat straight in her chair, staring straight ahead, waiting for the first course to be served.
Savannah sat in her seat, holding Mary Alice and cooing to her softly. She had noticed Alison's anxious face, and the fear that had suddenly crossed it, then disappeared into a mask of public non-emotion.
"Hand the child to me," Orin demanded. Savannah got up and carried May Alice to the other end of the table, to place her gently into the waiting arms of her husband. "A granddaughter," he huffed. "Not an heir, but beautiful nonetheless. We've never had a girl running about the place before." He smiled down at May Alice and cooed to her as well. Mary Alice cooed back, causing Savannah to laugh. Orin looked up at his wife. "It's been a long time since I've heard you laugh, mother."
Savannah's cheeks began to pink, "It's been a long time since I heard you cooing at a baby," she smiled down at her husband.
"Yes, Well," he cleared his throat, and handed Mary Alice back to Savannah.
Savannah took Mary Alice back to her end of the table, and placed her in the cradle at her feet. Alison had watched the exchange with surprised interest and fascination. She was able to relax a little when Orin Brandon showed his acceptance of her daughter. It was also during this exchange that she noticed an empty place setting across from her and Vernon. Alison prayed that Vernon's mistress would not be joining them for meals. That would be more than she would be able to tolerate.
The sounds of foot steps coming down the east staircase caused Alison to stiffen. The steps were slow but steady, as they descended the stairs. They then slid quietly over the tiled foyer floor and were soon stopped at the dinning room door. Alison turned at the sound of the small female voice.
"I'm so sorry to be late," she softly apologized.
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