A TWIST OF FATE
Chapter Eleven
Rose stared at the gun. She had only ever
fired one once, when Cal had taken her on a shooting party. She had missed the
target completely and been ridiculed by Cal. But she did know that a gun needed
bullets and she hadn't a clue if the gun contained any. She put the gun back
into the drawer and was about to search for bullets when a noise startled her
from her intentions. She looked up at Lovejoy who had just entered the room.
"Are you looking for something Miss Rose? Can I help?"
Rose stood open mouthed unable to grasp conversation.
"Perhaps I can get Trudy to escort you back to your room." He said so
matter of factly that Rose who was still in shock just muttered numbly
"Yes"
Lovejoy stepped outside the room and seemed to return straight away with Trudy.
"Oh, come on Miss Rose" she said kindly and led Rose back upstairs.
Rose nothing but just stared ahead. Trudy put her to bed and fetched some water
to bathe the cut above her eye.
Lovejoy went to the drawing room where Cal sat swallowing another brandy.
"I found Miss Rose in your study, Sir" he said.
Cal looked up at him, miles away in thought.
"What Lovejoy?"
"I found Miss Rose in your study."
"What was she doing?"
"She appeared to be looking for this." Lovejoy removed Cal's gun from
his pocket.
"Good lord, what earth would she want with that?" asked Cal. He was
totally oblivious. "Look Lovejoy, I want you to keep an eye on Rose for
the next few days. And see what you can find out about that blasted young
blonde man George was talking about."
"Yes Sir. Can I also suggest you sleep in one of the guest rooms tonight?
Trudy is attending to Miss Rose."
"Yes of course, thank you Lovejoy." Cal in his drunken state seemed
totally unaware of the damage he had done.
Rose sat up in bed, still in state of shock. Trudy sat beside her holding her
hand trying to speak to her. Rose was somewhere else. She was sitting in a café
with Jack He was holding her hand, she could feel his hand in hers. He was
looking at her with those beautiful intense blue eyes.
"Life is a gift Rose"
"Oh God Jack? What have I done? Life is a gift. I promise I won't waste
it" And then Jack was gone, replaced by Trudy. And she wasn't in a café,
she was in bed.
"Oh Miss Rose, please speak to me."
"Trudy?"
"Oh Miss Rose, thank God. I thought you'd gone all queer on me."
"Oh Trudy," Rose began to cry.
"It's all right Miss Rose. Mr. Hockley has gone to bed in another room. He
won't be coming in here tonight."
"But, my eye?"
"You've a little bump and a cut, but it's going to be fine in a few
days."
"Trudy please don't leave me."
"No Miss Rose, I'll stay as long as you want me to."
Rose gripped Trudy's hand and lay back on to the pillows. She soon fell into an
uneasy but dreamless sleep. When she awoke, poor Trudy was still there, her
head on the bed, also asleep. But she soon stirred when she felt Rose move.
"Miss Rose, I'm so sorry I fell asleep."
"It's alright Trudy, I could not expect you to sit up all night."
"How do you feel?"
"My head hurts and my eye is sore." There was more but Rose didn't
bother saying it.
"Do you want anything yet?"
"I would like an orange juice"
"I'll go and get you one."
"Please Trudy, be quick. Don't leave me too long."
Trudy smiled reassuringly. "Mr. Hockley won't be up before mid-day. Mr.
Lovejoy had to put him to bed."
Rose sat up a little on her pillows. Apart from the pains in her head the
previous night seemed like a nightmare, totally unreal. She shuddered when she
thought of Cal, and felt so sad when she remembered how close she came to not
seeing this day at all.
Trudy came back with a tray.
"Can I please have a mirror?" Rose asked. Trudy passed one over.
Rose inspected her eye. There was a purple bruise emerging from just above it
with a neat cut that seemed to healing. But she looked dreadful. Rose put the
mirror down.
"What would you like to do now Miss Rise?" Trudy asked.
"You said Mr. Hockley was in the guest room?"
"Yes Miss. I shouldn't repeat tales Miss, but I heard he was quite out of
it and Mr. Lovejoy had to attend to him"
"Well Trudy, I am tired still and I am sure you are. I will rest awhile
and you may go and get some sleep also."
"Yes Miss Rose."
"Trudy, thank you for staying with me."
"Think nothing of it Miss Rose."