The Bride's Scarred Love (Mail-Order Bride) Page 3

  “No!’ Ruth screamed in the doctor’s office.

  “I’m sorry,” the doctor said, shaking his head.

  Ruth cried all the way home, afraid of David’s reaction and determined to protect her child against his abuse. As expected, her husband wasn’t pleased at all. He ranted and raved like a lunatic.

  “You’re totally useless. As if it wasn’t enough that you gave me a girl, you could only produce a defected one. Why did I even marry you? I curse the day I laid eyes on you. I never bargained for faulty goods when I paid your useless father off. What did I ever do to deserve a useless wife and a blind daughter? I spit on you both.”

  He left the house soon after, to drink himself into a stupor, only to heap even more insults on her before falling into a drunken sleep on his return home.

  Their marriage took a downward turn after that as David stayed more and more away from home. Whenever he was home, he would show his displeasure at every turn. Ruth stayed out of his way and made sure her daughter did the same. It wasn’t long before she started hearing rumors about his numerous affairs. She heard the servants whispering about it one morning, but she didn’t allow it to get to her. He could do whatever he wanted; she wasn’t going to say anything to him.

  She was on an outing with her mother and Maisie at the park one sunny afternoon when she saw David entering his own carriage with another woman. The manner in which they looked at each other and held hands told Ruth all she needed to know about what was going on between them.

  “Oh, that horrible man!” her mother exclaimed beside her.

  “Mama, please, not in front of Maisie.”

  Margaret looked at her beautiful granddaughter who was Ruth’s replica, and smiled fondly at her.

  Ruth shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, Mama. Maisie is all that matters to me right now.”

  And she meant it. She didn’t care that David was having numerous affairs. At least he left her alone to care for her daughter, who she loved dearly.

  Life was going well for her as long as she had her daughter to love, until one fateful day when everything changed.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  An Unfortunate Incident

  “Ruth, it’s so lovely to have you here. I don’t see you as often as I want.” Margaret expressed her joy at her daughter’s visit.

  Ruth smiled at her from her position on the stuffed sofa in the lavender themed drawing room. She bit into one of the tiny biscuits she had been served and savored the taste. Cook’s biscuits were still as pleasant-tasting as ever. She had missed them terribly.

  Margaret observed her daughter with affection as she enjoyed her favorite childhood treat. After studying her face for some minutes, she was elated to see that the loneliness and sadness usually evident in Ruth’s eyes were no longer there. Ruth was positively glowing, and the elderly woman believed it was all thanks to having Maisie in her life. No thanks to that horrid man who was going about town flaunting his disregard for Ruth by indiscreetly consorting with women of disrepute.

  “Mama!” Ruth cried with alarm. The elderly woman seated beside her had a huge frown creasing her beautiful facial features.

  “Oh.” Margaret realized ruefully that she had allowed her inner feelings to show on her face. Her hand automatically rose to pat her daughter’s cheek and she gave her a genuine smile to wipe away the concern in her eyes.

  “I’m so sorry, my dear, I was just thinking of that despicable husband of yours.”

  “Oh, Mama!” Ruth’s gaze roamed the room and settled on the rocking chair where her mother’s knitting lay, abandoned upon her rival. She decided to change the topic. Talking about David changed her carefree mood into one of deep depression.

  “I’m knitting Maisie a pullover.”

  “That’s wonderful, but don’t change the topic.”

  Ruth exhaled noisily and settled her gaze on the peach reticule that complemented her peach dress. Her hand wrapped around the drawstrings and her fingers trailed the embroidery.

  “I don’t want to talk about him, Mama.” Her shoulders raised and dropped in a nonchalant gesture. “I mean, what’s there to say about a husband who doesn’t even come home for days and when he does, it only causes me and Maisie unhappiness?” Her eyes elevated and her mother quickly hid the pity that she was sure her daughter would see in her own eyes. “Mama, let’s forget about him. I don’t want us to ever talk about him again. Let’s talk about Maisie.”

  The transformation on Ruth’s face when she began talking about her daughter was instant. Her dull eyes became filled with light to rival that of the sun, and a bright smile curled the corners of her lips. Her mother’s eyes watered a little as she watched and listened to her daughter go on and on about Maisie. It brought back loving memories of how she used to talk the ears off anyone who cared to listen about Ruth when she was a baby. Though content in her marriage, she had found great joy in being a mother and she was happy that her daughter, despite the unfortunate circumstances that led to her marriage, was finding joy in motherhood too.

  “Mama, she’s such a wonderful child and I’m fortunate to call her my daughter.” A tender smile danced at her lips.

  “I can imagine, my dear. You were such a delight to me, too.”

  Ruth beamed with joy. “Why didn’t you bring her along with you?”

  “She was taking a nap and I didn’t want to disturb her. She will be with me on my next visit.”

  “That would be lovely.”

  They went on to talk about her father’s store which was doing very well. The prosperity showed in the house where new furniture had replaced the shabby, and of the rooms were redecorated. Ruth held herself back from being spiteful at the good fortune her sacrifice was bringing her parents. Looking at the bright side, her dear mother was back to living in the luxury to which she was accustomed. And she had Maisie now, so some good had come out of the marriage.

  Margaret clung to her daughter when it was time for her to leave. She didn’t see her enough and Stephen forbade her from calling on Ruth because he felt her visits prohibited their daughter from settling down in her husband’s house because she still longed for home. Margaret kept that information to herself though. If Ruth knew, she would despise him even more. Her disregard for him whenever she visited while he was present, spoke volumes.

  “Mama, please don’t worry about me. I’ll visit regularly now that David doesn’t care about my whereabouts, which is quite a relief. I could fall at his feet and he wouldn’t notice,” she giggled helplessly.

  Her mother caught the giggles too and before long they were both giggling like shy schoolgirls in a schoolroom. Ruth was still giggling when she climbed into the carriage. Thoughts of her precious daughter consumed her, and she couldn’t wait to get home to hold her in her arms.

  The coachman helped her from the carriage and she hastily climbed the steps into her house.

  “Nanny Brown,” she called as she climbed the imposing staircase.

  David had presented the robust woman and informed Ruth that she was to be the nanny he hired to look after Maisie because he wanted Ruth’s attention back on him and not the blind girl. This amused Ruth since he was so seldom home. Ruth had felt insulted by not having been consulted, apart from being more than capable of caring for her own daughter, which she enjoyed immeasurably. Her misgivings hadn’t been voiced though. David would just end up cursing her and her daughter.

  Ruth found Nanny Brown to be very helpful and she had a wealth of knowledge caring for children. She was somewhat of a relief to Ruth who cried whenever Maisie walked into furniture or a wall only to fall to the floor, crying hysterically.

  Ruth hurried down the hall to the nursery, which she found to be empty. Could Nanny Brown have taken Maisie to the park? But the woman would have told her of her intentions before she left to see her mother. She didn’t make decisions on her own. Swinging away, she closed the door and made her way towards the stairs. Her steps faltered when she saw her husband at the foot of the stai
rs, nursing a glass of whiskey with one hand while the other was inside the pocket of his cotton trousers. What was he doing at home at this time of day? Her eyes mirrored her question as she sluggishly descended the stairs, unaware of the enchanting figure she presented making her way towards the man who now looked her over appreciatively.

  “David,” she said with a fake smile plastered on her face. “What are you doing home so early?”

  He ignored her question and gave her a smug smile. “Looking for that blind bat, I see.”

  Ruth’s heart slammed in her throat with a thud and she found it difficult to breath. Her face turned white as a sheet and her hand shook as she held on to the rail for support, feeling suddenly faint. She took a few moments to compose herself before fixing desperate eyes on her husband.

  “Where’s my daughter?’ she demanded through clenched teeth.

  “Where she should have been from the moment she was born,” he harshly replied, turning away. Hysteria propelled her, and she flew down the remaining stairs to clutch his arm.

  “Where is Maisie?”

  He seemed stunned that she had the audacity to make physical contact when she so often avoided his touch. He shook her hand off and took his time, in deliberate wickedness, to take a gulp from his glass of whiskey. He made up his mind to toy with her a little. It would be fun.

  “I’ll give you three guesses.”

  His wife licked her lips nervously and she tried to settle her pounding heart, realizing that he was purposely being mean. Nothing had happened to her daughter. He just wanted to cause her misery while he could. Beads of perspiration formed on her forehead and on her upper lip.

  “She…she’s at the park with her nanny,” she guessed, hoping with all her might that she was right.

  He threw back his head and gave a full bellowed laugh, “At the park? In these temperatures? What a wonderful mother you are!”

  Her hands became clammy and she wiped them on her dress, “David, please. Please tell me where my daughter is.”

  Laughing humorlessly, he said, “Oh, so you can beg? I thought you were demanding and audacious only minutes ago.”

  Tears spilled from Ruth’s eyes as trepidation made its dreadful way up her spine. She didn’t want to think of what David might have done to poor Maisie.

  “Please.”

  “It’s time for your second guess.”

  “David, please.” She didn’t want to play the game anymore. She just wanted to know her daughter’s whereabouts.

  He chortled wickedly. “Wrong guess. I know of nowhere called ‘David please’. Final guess.”

  Despair made her fall to her knees before him, “I beg you, tell me where Maisie is. She’s all I have.”

  Snorting, he drained his glass, “I grow weary of this guessing game. I’m going back to the office.”

  “I’ll give you a son,” she cried out in anguish. “Just tell me what I want to know.”

  “Then you will never hear those words from me because I’ll never tell you where she is.”

  “God, no,” a shaky hand went to her lips and a sob escaped her.

  “And, as to the matter of you giving me what I paid for, you will now that the distraction is out of the way.”

  Ruth’s lips quivered and she gasped when a cold hand squeezed her heart at the implication of her husband’s words. He would never tell her where Maisie was. The thought of never again seeing the child who brought her such happiness, drove her to the very edge of insanity. She gripped David’s leg and begged him from the bottom of her heart.

  “David, I’ll do anything you tell me. Please, where is she?” Broken sobs racked her body.

  Evidently disgusted by her behavior, he bent down and lifted her to her feet. Her beautiful face was tainted by tears, her nose runny and her cheeks flushed. He gripped her arms painfully.

  “Stop your disgraceful behavior, Ruth. Let me clearly explain to you so you don’t raise this topic ever again. I got rid of that visibly impaired child because she’s not worthy of being called my daughter. A respectable and wealthy man like me shouldn’t be associated with a blind off-spring. That’s nothing more than repulsive.”

  Ruth, overcome with grief at losing her darling child, could only beg repeatedly, but her plea fell on deaf ears. Her husband was adamant that she move on and forget about Maisie. Before he pushed her away in repugnance, he sternly affirmed, “You’re better off without her. She’d only drag you down. You’re such a beautiful lady; to be saddled with a blind child is just shameful. Prepare yourself for another baby and, for your own sake, best it be a healthy boy this time around. I’ve waited too long for my reimbursement for marrying you. It’s almost three years now since I made the bargain with your father. Three fruitless years! I didn’t disturb you before now because the doctor told me you had a difficult time birthing that useless child and needed time to recuperate before producing another baby. If you can’t give me what I want, I’ll throw you out and marry someone who can. But make no mistake, your father will repay every dime I paid for selling me faulty goods.”

  Ruth crumbled to the ground like a deflated balloon and cried her heart out. Recollections of her child flooded her memory and she groaned with so much grief that she wanted to die. She remained in this position for a very long time. Every servant who heard her weep with unimaginable agony, halted whatever they were doing and wished there was something they could do to help her. They had all been behind closed doors when they heard the little girl crying for her mama while the nanny begged the master of the house to at least wait for his wife to return before removing the child. The man had callously informed her that her services were no longer needed and that she should gather her belongings and leave. Their hearts broke as they watched from the windows as the angry man deposited Maisie into the carriage, instructing the coachman to whip the horses so as to remove the infliction posthaste. Susie, Ruth’s maid, had wept like a baby.

  Ruth eventually dragged herself to her feet and called for her own carriage without correcting her appearance. Upon its arrival, she instructed the coachman to take her to her father’s house, where she was barely able to disembark on arrival.

  One glance at her daughter and Margaret knew something was terribly wrong. The empty look in her eyes robbed her of words for some seconds not least because of the certain lifelessness in them that frightened her.

  “He did it, Mama. He finally carried out his threats,” Ruth went on to tell her all that transpired between her and her husband after her arrival home.

  Her mother broke down and cried. She knew it would be a waste of time reasoning with her son-in-law in the hopes of learning the whereabouts of her granddaughter, because the man was as hardhearted as granite. She could only comfort her daughter and assure her that Maisie would be found. She was prepared to sell all she owned to get the poor girl back. Ruth’s father heard them crying in the drawing room and discovered the reason for their despair when he opened the door to investigate. He stood motionless with disbelief over David’s cruelty. He knew, as did his wife, that he couldn’t demand the return of a granddaughter he had only set eyes on once, and then only from a distance. His son-in-law had warned him that on no account should he step foot in his house and in no way should he have a say in his marriage. Stephen’s hands were tied, and he recognized the unpleasant taste of despondency in his mouth. His wife and daughter failed to even notice his presence through their desolation.

  David was forced to fetch his absent wife after arriving home for dinner only to be told that she had not yet returned from a destination unknown. He ignored the bleakness in the house and, in a rage, went to his father-in-law’s house.

  Stephen wasn’t home, having sought consolation at the bar room where he drowned his sorrows and regret in liquor. The horrid David therefore had no one to stop him from dragging his wife roughly from the house and forcing her into the carriage. Ruth cried all the way home, begging him repeatedly to tell her where Maisie could be found. He simply i
gnored her.

  Ruth’s life reverted to the way it was before Maisie came into the picture—lonely, wretched and isolated. The sun had gone out of her life and it would never again return. Darkness was now her companion and there was nothing to fill the void. David locked her in her room for days to stop her from searching for her daughter. He also prevented her mother from seeing her, citing ailments related to her second pregnancy and not requiring her mother’s help since she was in the care of a capable doctor.

  Ruth no longer cared about not seeing her mother or anyone else. Her nightmares were filled with Maisie calling out to her for help. She woke up most mornings with tears in her eyes and her daughter’s name on her lips. David finally permitted her to leave the confines of her room and she was allowed to go downstairs to dine with him. She pushed the generous portion of food around her plate and he mocked her mercilessly before leaving for the bar room as was his norm.

  Ruth was about to climb the stairs to retire to bed, tired from staring out the drawing room window, when she heard the knocker on the front door. A maid emerged from the kitchen to open the door, permitting the commanding figure of a man into the room, who tipped his hat to her.

  Nausea rose in Ruth’s throat and threatened to spill out, but she pushed it down and swallowed thickly.

  “Mrs. Jones?” the man questioned, and Ruth nodded with a hand to her throat.

  “I’m Officer Kane.”

  She could only bob her head up and down, robbed of the ability to speak.

  “I’m sorry but there has been an unfortunate incident.”

  She inhaled sharply and tears dulled her blue eyes. She could only imagine Maisie’s body found washed ashore along the East River or the Hudson River.

  “It’s your husband,” the officer continued when the young woman failed to speak. Her only reaction were the tears in her eyes.

  Her continued silence prompted him to give it to her straight, “I’m sorry; your husband suffered a massive heart attack and…and he didn’t make it.”