Heart of Darkness

A week passed since Angelica came to Lord Greens’ house. The chores became easier the more she learned, and she became close with the other maids. She was surprised by how much she could learn in such a short amount of time and she somehow enjoyed doing work. It didn’t feel like she was wasting her day trying to figure out what to do or how to spend the rest of her day. The only thing she missed was her books and the thing she would probably never miss was her fancy dresses that crushed her ribs. And of course, she missed her brother the most. She wondered how he was doing?

Angelica thought of trying to find a way to send him a letter and let him know she was alright. She wanted to know how he was doing. Was he eating well? Sleeping well? Were people being very harsh to him?

The coffee almost boiled over while she was lost in thought. She quickly removed it from the fire and poured it in a cup to take it to Lord Green. He always liked to have a cup of coffee every afternoon.

Lord Green loved to read on his favorite couch in the main hall every afternoon while having coffee. Sometimes he would have guests over and Angelica would serve them all.

She was aware of the glances she received from his guests whenever she served them and it made her uncomfortable so whenever Lord Green had guests she would change tasks with another maid. She was doing well now and didn’t want any trouble.

But trouble wanted her. Today as she served Lord Green he suddenly grabbed her wrist. Angelica froze in shock. He had never touched her before.

His grip was firm, and he looked up at her. “The amount you owe me will take three generations of your family to pay off.” He said.

Angelica just looked at him not knowing what to say.

“I won’t live that long.” He said.

This man was really after his money. It wasn’t as if he was starving. He lived in this mansion that was more like a palace and wore clothes that cost more than the maids’ salaries.

“I will work hard, My Lord,” she said.

“I know you will. The maids praise you, but I think you would do well working somewhere else.”

Where? She didn’t want to leave this place just when she got used to the work and enjoyed her company.

He released her hand and picked up his cup of coffee.

“Where do you have in mind, My Lord?”

She knew he had many businesses but what made him think she would do better there than here? Unless he meant something she wasn’t quite understanding or didn’t even want to consider.

“Somewhere where you would make more money.” He said simply. “You should pack your things. You will leave now.”

Angelica felt her hands tremble and hid them behind her back. She curtsied and left Lord Green alone. She hurried down to the maid’s quarters and spoke to her roommates to see if her suspicions were right.

“What do you think he means?” She asked.

Ellen wrinkled her nose. “He means to send you to a place where your beauty would be used.”

Angelica began to tremble some more. “I don’t want to go there.” It came out as a whisper.

Ellen shook her head looking saddened. “Then you have no choice but to run away.”

“I have no money. Where would I go?” Angelica asked feeling the tears burn her eyes. “And who would take me wherever I needed to go?”

They all looked at her with worry. “Oh, dear.”

Ellen took her arm and dragged her to their room. “Let’s pack while thinking or he might become suspicious if you take too long.”

Angelica began to pack with Ellen, fighting hard to not just fall down on her knees and weep.

“Is there no one you know whom you can trust?” she asked.

Angelica thought of Thomas. Maybe she would bother him one last time and ask him to help her leave the Kingdom even though the journey itself would also be dangerous for a young woman alone looking like her. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

“I need to escape,” Angelica said.

“Do you know where to go?” Ellen asked.

“Yes, I think I do.”

Not a good choice, but she had to try.

“Good. Let’s get you out of here.” She said.

Everyone helped her pack quickly and then they said goodbye. Angelica hugged them and thanked them for being her family even if it was for a short while. Ellen showed her a way out of the servants’ quarters.

They went through the back of the mansion and through the farmhouse. Angelica looked at the hens and the cow. She felt sad for leaving them already. They had become her friends.

Before she could go further, Angelica stopped. “What is wrong?” Ellen asked.

“I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me. I can go from here. You should go back.” It was enough that she was suffering. She didn’t want to put her suffering on others.

Ellen looked at her worriedly before hugging her. “Be careful and take care of yourself.” She said.

Angelica nodded feeling her eyes burn again. Yet another thing that was taken away from her. It had been a long time since she had such a beautiful bond with someone other than her brother. She made real friends here who cared about her.

Giving Ellen a tight hug, she hurried away. When she came out of the mud and the grass and onto the road on the other side she looked around. She really didn’t know the way to Thomas’s house, and by walking, how far would she get before Lord Green noticed her absence and sent someone to look for her?

Before she could even finish thinking she saw a carriage coming her way fast. Angelica turned away, hoping it was no one who knew her. Lord Green couldn’t have already noticed her absence and this didn’t look like his carriage.

She walked calmly to not cause any suspicion but her red hair, her damned red hair made her easily recognized. Angelica hoped they wouldn’t care much to bully her and continue further. When the carriage drove past her she was relieved, but only until it stopped.

Angelica halted. Her heart raced. Why did it stop?

When the door opened Angelica didn’t take a chance to wait. She turned her heels, dropping her bag she ran in the opposite direction. But two men with their horses came to block her way from the other side.

It seemed like Lord Green already suspected she would escape.

Going to the left would lead her back to Lord Greens’ mansion and going right into a large grass field where she could easily captured. Still, she ran away. She heard a few chuckles before they began to chase her on their horses.

It didn’t take long for them to catch her. One of the men seemed to be built to abduct people. He grabbed her by the waist and carried her like a bag.

Angelica screamed and fought but to no avail. When he took her back to the road Lord Green was there and looked at her with squinted eyes when the man put her down but still held her in place. “You should know better than to escape.” He told her. “Take her.” He then ordered and turned away to leave.

Angelica became angry and got a sudden strength that made her wiggle out of the large man’s hold enough to bite his hand. When he released her she barely took a few steps to run when she was slapped across the face so hard she stumbled back and fell.

She heard a ringing tone in her ear and felt the taste of blood in her mouth.

“What are you doing?” She heard someone’s angry voice. “Not the face!” The man said.

A hand grabbed her arm and pulled her up. Angelica felt her cheek sting and burn. She looked at the man holding her. He held a dagger in the other hand.

“Listen, young lady. Just do as I say. It will be easier for you.” He told her calmly. “Now follow me without resistance or you will be hurt.”

He dragged her by the arm and led her into the carriage. Angelica was terrified and still in shock from the slap.

Inside the carriage, she was cornered by two men who sat on each side of her, crushing her in the middle with their large bodies.

And another one sat across from her. When she felt the carriage move her stomach turned.

Oh, Lord! Where was she being taken?