Page 74 of The Forsaken
“Since you’re in favor of leniency, you soft-hearted fool, you’ll do the flogging.”
“I won’t.”
“You will. I’m master of this house, and you answer to me. You will give him thirty lashes. And if you refuse, I’ll double the number.”
“You can’t do that,” Guy snarled, staring at Hugh as if he’d never seen him before.
“Sixty lashes. Go on, argue some more, and I’ll make it one hundred.”
“I no longer recognize you, Hugh,” Guy said, his voice dripping with contempt.
“I no longer have to answer to Father or to William. I’m finally my own master, and I will do as I see fit. Now, have Walsh brought here and administer the punishment. Sixty lashes.”
“As you wish, brother.” Guy turned on his heel and strode out the door.
“What are you staring at?” Hugh demanded when he turned toward Kate. “Get out!”
She didn’t need to be told twice but fled the hall and locked herself in one of the vacant bedchambers on the top floor. She couldn’t bear to look at Hugh, nor could she bring herself to witness the punishment when the man was flogged in the yard. As she listened to the whistle of the whip and the young man’s screams, in her mind’s eye she saw droplets of blood landing in the snow and blooming into red flowers of pain. She knew the man couldn’t go unpunished for what he’d done, but Hugh’s pleasure in causing him suffering and taunting Guy made her sick with disgust. He would have gelded the man had Guy allowed him to, and that was what scared her the most. He didn’t care about Aileen or her baby; he wanted to exercise his power over another human being, the way he’d done with Kate that very morning. Hugh had grown harder and meaner since their marriage, and she feared what the future would bring now that he could no longer rely on inheriting her father’s estate.
Only a few minutes after the screams abruptly came to an end, Kate heard the thunder of hooves on the frozen ground and knew with sickening certainty that Guy was gone. Tomorrow, Alf and Walter would bury Aileen in the woods, Hugh’s one concession to Guy’s wishes, and this terrible episode would be over, but the scars it left would last a lifetime.
FORTY-FOUR
AUGUST 2014
London, England
Quinn wiped the gel off her stomach while Dr. Malik turned off the ultrasound machine and recorded the results of the scan in Quinn’s chart. Gabe stood by quietly, waiting for the final word from the doctor, but Quinn had seen the relief in his eyes when he watched their baby cavort on screen. He’d been really worried.
Dr. Malik turned back to Quinn and Gabe and gave them a reassuring smile. “Everything looks good. Your blood pressure is slightly elevated, but not enough to be of concern, and your ankles are swollen, but it has been rather warm these past few days. Try to drink more water and keep an eye on the ankles. Ring me if the swelling gets worse. I see no reason for complete bedrest as of now, but I’d like you to rest at least two hours every day. Are you resting?” she asked, peering at Quinn over her rimless specs.
“Not as much as she should,” Gabe piped in, earning himself a look of reproach from Quinn.
“I will rest more,” she promised.
“I’d like to see you in a fortnight,” Dr. Malik said as she said her goodbyes and rushed off to see the next patient.
“See, all is well,” Quinn said as she got off the examining table and slipped her feet into her shoes.
“Thank God. Would you like me to come with you?” Gabe suggested. “I still have a bit of time.”
Quinn had heard back from Hetty Marks two days ago. Hetty was in London visiting her sister, and had suggested theymeet in person, which had left Quinn fluttering with nervous excitement. They had arranged to meet by the Albert Memorial at noon.
“Gabe…”
“All right. I understand. Ring me when you’re through.”
“I will. And thanks.”
Quinn took a taxi to Hyde Park. It was too far to walk, and as Dr. Malik had observed, it was a hot day. Even in her light summer frock, Quinn was perspiring. The green expanse of the park beckoned to her to enter its coolness, but she had to wait by the memorial. It was the easiest spot to meet someone since it was open and elevated, the perfect vantage point.
The air shimmered with heat and was thick with the aroma of freshly mown grass and flowers. Birdsong carried on the light breeze but was quickly drowned out by the sound of a giggling toddler. Quinn looked at the little boy and her heart filled with longing. She couldn’t wait to meet her baby. She wanted to hear it giggle just like that, and feel its weight in her arms as she held it close, enjoying that intoxicating baby smell that all little ones seemed to have.Eau de Bébé, Jill called it.
Quinn walked up the steps in front of the memorial before taking a drink of water from the bottle she always carried. The water was tepid and Quinn made a face, which elicited a chuckle from the elderly woman who was just walking up the steps.
“I remember you making a face just like that when I gave you a bottle. The formula wasn’t warmed through, and you were very displeased, as I recall.”
“Ms. Marks,” Quinn said, smiling at the woman. She looked exactly like her profile photo on Facebook. Round blue eyes, ruddy complexion, and thick salt-and-pepper hair cropped close to her head. Ms. Marks wore a long cotton skirt with a pattern of bright red poppies against a cream-colored background, and a beige top.
