Page 77 of Heartbreaker of the Ton
“You hardly think that’swhat?” she replied. “A subject for polite conversation? Why not? Is it perhaps because men such as Sir John Fulford hide behind the veneer of polite conversation so that they can force themselves onto vulnerable young women in their power then throw them out, leaving them to die in childbirth, or worse—surrender to marriage to a brute who spends their entire married life blaming her for the actions of another?”
She reached toward Ralph and grasped his lapels. “Men like you disgust me,” she snarled. “Rather than lay the blame at the feet of the perpetrator, you content yourself with wallowing in self-pity, blaming your poor wife for having been violated by another. And yet you—and others like you in this godforsaken village—see fit to fawn over Sir John, touching your caps and bobbing curtseys as he passes by. What’s it to you if he violated your wives, or your daughters? You see it as a necessary sacrifice so that you might continue to live your lives in peace—sending a virgin to be slain by the dragon.”
“Mrs. Ward—” Mr. Gadd began, but she interrupted him.
“And as foryou, Mr. Gadd, do you consider yourself blameless? Your own daughter Freda was destroyed by the very man you serve, and though you profess to love the child she bore, in your heart, you blame her. You might not tell her, but she feels it. Frances is your granddaughter—and yet you also see her as the child of your daughter’s rapist.”
“You evil woman!” Ralph said. “Spreading your poison around the village. You’re not proper Sandcombe—you weren’t born and bred here. You’re not one of us and you never will be.”
“If being ‘proper Sandcombe’ means permitting violation, rape, and brutality, then I am glad to be a misfit!” Etty cried. She gestured toward Andrew and Mr. Gadd. “Allof you share the blame for the sins in this village. You may satisfy yourselves that you are not the perpetrators, but turning a blind eye when youknow something is wrong is the worst sin of all—because you should know better. You shouldallknow better!”
What a warrior she was! A lone woman, slight of frame, standing up to a brute with a ferocity unmatched. A champion for those for whom nobody else spoke, freely and without agenda. Fearless and honest—with no thought for her reputation, or safety, in her quest for justice.
Andrew was never more in love than at that moment.
Then she swung her arm and punched Ralph in the jaw. He staggered back under the force of her blow, lost his balance, and fell into the sand.
Etty blinked and stared at her fist, incredulity in her eyes.
Then a wail rose. Andrew turned to see Frannie standing beside her mother, her face ashen.
She had heard every word.
“Frances…” Etty whispered, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Mama,” Frannie said, “i-is it true?”
Mrs. Gadd stood trembling, tears spilling onto her cheeks. “Frannie, love…”
“Are you satisfied, Mrs. Ward?” Mr. Gadd said. “Is this what you came for, to unearth secrets which are none of your business—secrets that destroy families?”
“Your family was already destroyed by Sir John,” Etty said. “And he’ll continue to destroy it. Is that not why you were so desperate for Frances not to go into service? For fear that she’d suffer violation at the hands of her—”
“No!” Mrs. Gadd sobbed. “Do not say it!”
“Why, because you wish to deny it?”
“No! Because I cannot bear it! Why must you speak of such things?”
“Because it’s better if the truth were not kept hidden!” Etty said. “Deception only leads to misery.”
“Then what would you have us do, Mrs. Ward?” Mr. Gadd asked. “You may come and go as you please—you’re an outsider. But those of us who have lived in the village all our lives, and our parents and grandparents before us, where canwego?”
“You fight the injustice,” Etty said, “and you protect the innocent, even if that comes at the price of hardship to yourself. Not because it’s the easy thing to do—but because it’s thegoodthing to do.” She glanced toward Andrew, a plea in her eyes.
“Mrs. Ward is right,” he said. “We have all failed innocent young women such as Loveday and your Freda, Mr. Gadd. Perhaps it’s time we stopped concealing the truth and did what was good.”
“Vicar, there’s nowt you’ve done wrong,” Mr. Gadd replied.
“Isn’t there?” Andrew said. “I have delivered sermons, pontificated on the morals of the world. I might have delivered a gift or two to the needy. But what does that all achieve? All I am doing is easing the suffering of a few souls in the village, rather than striving to put an end to the cause of their suffering. If I act within the boundaries set by my patron, am I not perpetuating the wrongdoing? I have no right to remain in this village if I stand by and do nothing.”
“Ye’re a fool, vicar.”
Andrew turned to see Ralph struggling to his feet.
“No doubt you’ve been tempted by the village whore. It’s not you who should leave Sandcombe—it’sher.”
Ralph curled his hands into fists, then he cocked his arm back and advanced on Etty.
