Chapter 1: Act 1: Part 1
Notes:
The original plan for this was just a simple one-off inspired by the song 'ivy' by Taylor Swift, but when I started writing it, it was just expanding by the minute, so I've decide to split it up into chapters, none of which are planned out bar the occasional big moment so it's gonna be a fun ride for all of us. And its probably going to be a bit of a slow-ish burn, so buckle up for a bit of a bumpy ride.
Also as you will see in this chapter, and as the story goes on, other characters from the show will appear, so its going to be fun to transpose them all into Gilded Age America. Which, as a Brit, is requiring a fair bit of research beyond just rewatching The Gilded Age, so I apologise in advance if the odd inaccuracy slips in here and there.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“I’m going away.”
Hetty barely glanced up from her needlepoint to see Elias stood in the doorway to her private sitting room. She was used to these pronouncements. It usually meant that an affair had ended badly and he needed to lie low for a couple of weeks until the woman’s husband or father had calmed down. Though she did not like his philandering, the couple of weeks peace it usually brought her was always welcome.
“How long will you be gone this time?” she asked as she selected the next colour thread she wanted for the design. She figured the light blue would look best next to the purple.
“About six months.”
Hetty looked up sharply. The longest he’d ever been on one of these trips was a month. “And is there a particular reason why?”
“Just a hunting trip with some like minded men,” he shrugged, “Robert Rutherford has chartered a ship, and we’ll get some proper African animals,” he paused, “I have also hired a temporary manager to keep a watchful eye over things.”
“I could have done that.”
“Not to the standard required,” Elias replied snidely, “besides we can trust this man, he works with David at the Stock Exchange.”
Hetty rolled her eyes as she threaded the needle with the new thread. David Woodstone was the son of Elias’s eldest brother Jeremiah and that whole branch of the Woodstone family was awful. She certainly would not be trusting any friend or colleague of David’s. She was going to have to show this man exactly who held all the power here.
“Oh and if James Radcliffe calls round, I’ve been away for several months.”
Hetty sighed deeply. Of course he had had an entanglement with the wife of the most prominent businessman in Ulster County. She had to wonder if Elias would be less trouble if they castrated him.
Hetty watched from the window of her sitting room as the carriage came to a stop at the front door. She also watched as Wilson, the butler, hurried out to open the carriage door. Her vantage point wasn’t the best from this room, but at least she could catch a glimpse of the newcomer while he was unaware of her.
Already she could tell that his clothes came from the best tailor in Manhattan. At least he had the bearing of a gentleman. She stepped back from the window as she saw him look up at the house. She couldn’t see his face fully, but from this angle she got the impression that there was a hint of boyish charm about him. Unconsciously, her hands smoothed down her dress, as she made sure it was free of any creases. She’d specifically chosen her best teal day dress, it had always been a bit of a good luck charm when she’d needed a foreman to do something in particular. Though her current foreman, Mr Martino was a bit of a soft touch, so getting her way with him might not actually be as a result of the dress. After checking her reflection, she turned to see Wilson approaching the room.
“There is a Mr Lefkowitz in the library to see you, Mrs. Woodstone.”
Hetty nodded and dismissed him with a wave of her hand. She breathed a sigh of relief. After Elias’s pronouncement, she’d had Sophie over for tea and had asked her about David’s friends. Out of all of them, Mr Lefkowitz had seemed the most agreeable. After the stories she’d been told, she was just glad that it wasn’t Mr Cantor. She strode out of her sitting room and closed the door behind her. She walked downstairs towards the library. Hetty reached the open door and watched as the man studied the bookshelves in front of him.
“Mr Lefkowitz I presume.”
“Good afternoon Mrs Woodstone,” he said as he turned to face her, and she got a proper look at him. Her first impression that there was a boyish charm in his face had been right. Clearly she was going to have to be on her guard, she’d encountered men like him before. “It’s…”
“Let us get one thing straight,” she said as she cut him off, “you may have been hired to oversee the factories, but don’t forget that I still command you. It is my family name on the signs. Is that clear?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Good,” Hetty smiled as she noted the look of fear and something else she couldn’t put her finger on that had flashed in his dark eyes as she sat on one of the chairs, and indicated he should take a seat too. She watched as he fiddled nervously with the chain of his pocket watch, and tried to ignore that small part of her that she’d closed off long ago that found it slightly endearing. She picked up the bell from the table and rang it. The tinkling sound of it echoed in the quiet room. “Well, now that we’ve got that settled, tea?”
Trevor looked around the room that he’d been given. He had planned to take a room at the local inn, or rent a room somewhere, but Hetty had been rather insistent on him staying in the house. After her little speech earlier, he guessed it was because she didn’t entirely trust him. Which he completely understood. He’d heard David’s stories about Elias, and if Trevor was in her position, he wouldn’t trust anyone Elias hired either. Trevor knew that he’d have to gain her trust, at least a little bit, if they were going to be working with each other over the next six months.
He also knew that he’d have to be on his guard. He wasn't quite sure what he was expecting when he met her. The way David talked about his aunt, he'd assumed that Hetty would have the appearance of a shrew and a miserable attitude to boot. A woman, that with a bit of charm and flattery, would be eating out of the palm of his hand. But that's not what he got. The first thing he noticed was the assured way that she carried herself, she held the power and she knew it. The second thing he noticed was the piercing blue eyes that seemed to be reading his very soul and spoke of being a lot smarter than people would've assumed her to be.
Trevor also knew that with a few more harsh words and stern talking tos and he’d be in danger of losing his heart. He’d always had a thing for bossy women, he supposed it had been something to do with his first…well everything. Sarah had been remarkably bossy and provided a very formative experience for him, one that he had spent years searching to replicate. And currently, Hetty Woodstone was checking all of those boxes. Trevor could only imagine what it would be like to...he shook his head, he needed to stay focused. He could not get involved with the aunt of one of his friends. He would end up chewed up, spat out, having to move across the country and change his name. He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. He put it back into his waistcoat pocket before he put on his suit jacket and left his room, to head downstairs for dinner. He reached the foyer and looked around, unsure of where to go. Hetty hadn’t exactly been forthcoming, and he figured it had been a test of some sorts.
“They’re in the drawing room sir.”
Trevor looked in the direction of the lilting Irish accent and saw a red haired maid by the door to the library, feather duster in hand as she pointed to a door just off of the foyer. “Thank you…”
“Molly sir.”
“Thank you Molly,” he said as he walked in the direction of the drawing room.
Trevor hoped that his surprise hadn’t shown when the maid had said her name. He’d heard the stories from David about the maid that Elias had an ongoing affair with and that Hetty was very much aware of the fact. As were most of the family, Elias had never been discrete or subtle. Trevor just wasn’t sure why Molly was still here. He had assumed that the minute Elias was out of the way, Hetty would’ve fired her and left her without a reference. He pulled on the lapels of his jacket and made sure that they were straight before he walked into the drawing room. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of red. He turned to see Hetty standing beside one of the windows in a dress of deep red. If he'd thought that blue had been her colour earlier, it was nothing compared to the shock of red against her pale skin.
“There you are Mr Lefkowitz. I thought you must have gotten lost,” Hetty said as she looked over at him, her steely gaze almost making him wilt and the corner of her lips curled up slightly. He guessed his thought about it being a test was right. He thought about mentioning the maid had helped him, but he wasn’t feeling petty.
“I found my way easily enough,” he replied smoothly, “but I’m sure it will become second nature eventually,” he paused, “and you have such a helpful maid,” he added with a slight smirk. He guessed he was feeling petty after all and tried not to smile as her eyes narrowed in his direction. Though he regretted it when he saw the flicker of hurt that had flashed through her eyes. Trevor glanced around the room and noticed the other people who were in the room.
“This is who he hired?”
Trevor turned his attention to the fair haired man who was standing beside Hetty in a navy blue suit. On a chair in front of him sat a woman with a similar hair colour and wearing a pale pink dress with white piping along the seams. Next to her sat a woman with darker hair in a green dress and a bored expression as though she’d rather be anywhere else. Standing beside her was a man in glasses who looked very awkward as though he wasn’t used to being in such surroundings.
“Ah yes, introductions,” Hetty smiled, “this is my very good friend Captain Isaac Higgintoot, his wife Beatrice, Mr Peter Martino, he’s the foreman of the factories, and his wife Carol.”
Trevor bowed to the two women and nodded at the two men. As the conversations started up again, he noticed the way that Hetty was talking in hushed tones with Isaac and raised an eyebrow. David hadn’t said anything about his aunt having her own side piece, though he couldn’t believe she’d actually flaunt it in front of the man’s wife. He also noticed that the foreman seemed quite left out. He walked over and introduced himself, after all they would be working together over the coming months.
“So how long have you worked for the Woodstones?”
“Not long,” he replied, “about a year,” he added. “I used to be a travelling salesman, but Carol said that our daughter needed stability, so I started to look for a proper position. Captain Higgintoot over there was the one who told me about this position. Mrs Woodstone hired me on his recommendation.”
“And is she…”
“Dinner is served Mrs Woodstone.”
“Thank you Wilson,” she said with a nod before she turned and indicated that they should proceed to the dining room.
Trevor had hoped that over dinner he’d be able to continue his conversation with Peter and find out a bit more about the people he was working for. However, at the table he found that he was sat between Hetty and Beatrice. He knew well enough that it was considered bad etiquette to talk across the table. For the most part, he kept his head down and stuck to neutral topics. There would be plenty of time for him to speak with Peter when he visited the factories tomorrow.
“Do you agree, Mr Lefkowitz?”
Trevor turned his head to see that Hetty was staring at him, waiting for an answer and he had no idea what the question had been. “Could you repeat the question?”
Hetty rolled her eyes at him, “I asked if you had seen the programme for the Metropolitan Opera this season?”
“I have not,” Trevor replied, “do you attend the opera often?”
“We have a box there,” Hetty commented, “you’ll see it at some point I imagine,” she said as she picked up her wine glass. Trevor couldn’t help but wonder if there was a vague form of threat in her statement. He glanced across the table and noticed that Peter was giving him an encouraging smile. Clearly the foreman thought things were going well. Trevor did not agree. He watched the looks that had passed between Hetty and Isaac as though they were having their own private conversation, and wondered just what the nature of their relationship was. Before he could ruminate further, Beatrice drew him into a conversation about the Hamptons.
The rest of dinner passed by with relative ease. Especially since Trevor had stopped zoning out to focus properly. Once the plates had been cleared, the Martino’s took their leave while Hetty, Trevor and the Higgintoot’s returned to the drawing room.
“Is this your first time in Upstate New York?”
“No,” Trevor replied as he sipped his whiskey, “I have an aunt in Albany, we usually broke our journey at an inn in Westchester.”
“They do have some lovely inns,” Beatrice smiled softly. Trevor watched as she glanced over at Isaac, who was once again in a deep conversation with Hetty.
“Do you ever wonder about that?”
“About what?” she asked, she followed his eyeline, “oh no,” she laughed, “they’ve been friends with each other for years, they grew up together and shared a nanny before he went off to boarding school,” she added, “he’s said repeatedly that she’s like a sister to him. She even introduced my...cousin Alice to her husband Nigel,” she smiled and Trevor wondered why she’d paused before explaining the relationship, but Beatrice carried on, before he could ask her, “it’s a shame they could not be here tonight. Nigel can be a little full of himself, but he’s a very dear and close friend to Isaac, and Alice is so lovely,” Beatrice turned to look back at Trevor. “Don’t worry if Isaac is a bit brusque with you, he’s just protective of Hetty. You being hired by Elias hasn’t helped matters.”
“Doesn’t he like Elias?”
“Not many do,” Beatrice sighed, before she smiled, “gain his trust and Hetty’s will follow. It’ll make the next six months easier for you.”
Trevor gave her what he hoped was a reassured smile, but he didn’t think he quite worked. Though if she had any concerns, Beatrice didn’t share them as she stood up and placed a hand on Isaac’s arm. A signal he recognised from several other couples, meant it was time to go. He settled back into the sofa as he contemplated the whiskey in his glass. David had implied that his relatives were morally bankrupt – which when he considered some of the things that David got up to was a stretch – but from what he’d seen Hetty didn’t seem to be that bad. The fact that she’d hired a foreman with no experience of factories on the say-so of a friend spoke volumes. He set his glass to one side as he noticed a footman bringing Isaac and Beatrice their cloaks.
“It was nice to meet you Mr Lefkowitz,” Beatrice smiled, as he walked over to join them, “I do hope we’ll see you again.”
“Oh I’m sure we will,” Isaac said as he shook Trevor’s hand, “can’t have him going after helpless maids like…”
“Isaac,” Hetty said sharply as Trevor tried not to look affronted at the insinuation.
“Right, yes, goodnight,” Isaac said before he walked out of the front door.
“You could have told me you had guests over for dinner this evening,” Trevor said once they were alone in the foyer.
Hetty gave him a wicked smile, “but that would not have been as fun.” She turned and walked towards the stairs, “now I’ll say good night.”
Trevor watched as she headed upstairs and shook his head, before he turned back to pour himself another whiskey. It was certainly going to be an interesting six months.
Notes:
Thanks for reading 💚
Chapter 2: Act 1: Part 2
Notes:
Thank you so much for the love shown towards the first chapter. I only hope that this lives up to expectations.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Are you insane?”
Trevor walked into the factory to see both Peter and Hetty standing in front of a man with marks from coal and dirt on his face and arms. He was also amazed that in such a place, Hetty would’ve chosen to wear a lilac outfit. He knew from whenever he’d seen his mother in the shop that even the tiniest speck of dirt would show up, and Hetty Woodstone did not seem like the type to be amused by dirt on her clothes. Trevor also judged that by her position he’d arrived while she was in mid flow.
“Mrs Woodstone…”
“One false move and that’s a hand lost,” she carried on as though Peter hadn’t interrupted her. “We cannot afford to fall behind on production. Use a worker with smaller hands and a firmer grip next time.”
“We can’t spare them,” the worker commented, “they’re needed for the shipment due out later,” he added, “unless you want the Farnsby’s to get theirs out first.”
“Certainly not!” she exclaimed, “those in-breds aren’t even in our league,” she turned to look at Peter. “Just get it done.”
She turned on her heel and walked back out of the factory, barely glancing at him as she stalked past. The worker turned back towards the hubbub of the factory floor. Peter just raised his eyebrows in a ‘that happens all the time,’ gesture, before he directed Trevor towards the office. Though large, the office felt rather small, due to the large desk in front of the window that took up most of the room. A smaller desk was squeezed against the left wall. Unlike the larger desk which had very little on it, the smaller one was covered in rolled up plans, loose sheets of paper and a few ink stained scraps.
“You can use that desk if you like,” he shrugged, “it’s usually where Mr Woodstone sits when he’s here.”
“And how often is that?”
“Not often,” Peter admitted, “Mrs Woodstone’s here a fair bit though,” he added, “she knows a lot about what’s going on.”
Trevor frowned as he leaned back against the desk, “then why isn’t she running the place?”
“He wouldn’t allow it,” Peter said, and Trevor knew exactly who the man was talking about. “It’s a shame really. I mean she’s harsh, takes you to task for the smallest infraction, but she’s fair. Well, she tries to be. Mr Woodstone on the other hand…”
“The devil?”
Peter pushed his glasses up his nose, “well I wouldn’t go that far...that is to say...well yes,” he looked around to see if anyone had overheard. As if he was expecting Elias to pop out from a cupboard. “Shall I give you a tour?” he asked, “introduce you to the workers?”
“Lead the way Mr Martino.”
“Call me Peter,” he said as he held the door open, “Mr Martino still feels too weird.”
“Then you must call me Trevor.”
Peter nodded at him, and led him out of the office.
As they walked around the factory, Trevor took in the state of the workers. They didn’t seem anymore tired than other factory workers he’d seen and they didn’t seem to be too put upon. So clearly, there was an element of care given to them. He also noticed that a few pieces of machinery seemed to be more modern than others. Peter noticed his eyeline and gave him a small smile.
“Mrs Woodstone fought to get that installed,” Peter explained, “it made things easier and increased productivity,” he said, “it also meant the younger workers could do something less dangerous.”
The tour of the factory concluded outside with Peter showing him how far the estate went, the mill a short walk away and just where the border with the Farnsby’s land was. The view was such that it made Trevor think about giving up his lodgings in the city to find a little place in this part of New York instead. He was admiring the large tree and wondered exactly how old it actually was, when he noticed Peter walk away from him and over to the back entrance of the factory. He watched as he placed a hand on the shoulder of the same maid that had helped him the previous night. Though they were far enough away that Trevor couldn’t hear what they were saying, he could tell that Molly was upset about something. He could also guess as to what, or rather who, had upset her.
“Is she alright?” Trevor asked when Peter walked back over to him, and Molly had walked back to the house.
“She’ll be fine,” Peter sighed, “Mrs Woodstone can be a bit…”
“Of a bitch?”
“That’s a little tougher than I’d have put it, but yes,” Peter agreed, “but if your husband’s mistress was under your employ and it was the only power you had over the situation, you’d probably be cruel too.”
“Why doesn’t she just fire her?”
“Molly’s husband died in an accident at the mill last year,” he explained as he indicated the building a short walk away. “She has a young son and is the only one that can provide for him.” Trevor nodded in understanding, he felt he understood some things a little bit better. “So, are you ready to see the mill?"
“I'm sorry Mrs Woodstone. It was an accident. I didn't realise the figurine was so close to the edge.”
“I do not care, just clean it up and get out of my sight.”
Trevor paused on the landing as he reached the top step at the sound of raised voices. He wanted to speak with her about the new machinery he was going to order but he wasn't going to interrupt her when she was berating one of the maids. He had no desire to be caught in the crossfire.
He stepped back a couple of steps as he saw Molly hurry out of the room and in the direction of the back staircase. He figured he was safe from any ire now and quickly walked back up the last few steps and hurried in the direction of his room.
“Were the factories to your liking?”
Trevor turned to see Hetty stood a few feet behind him. “They were, and it looks like you're going to have a profitable year.”
“I'm glad to hear it.”
“And I've requested some new machinery to be brought in for the mill.”
Hetty nodded, “yes Mr Martino had mentioned that, and for a low price too. Good. Maybe it wasn't a mistake for you to be hired.”
Trevor preened under the faint hint of praise. He watched as she turned back to the room she'd just come out of, and even though his brain begged him to not undo the good will he'd just received, he couldn't help himself. “You know you don't have to reprimand Molly, she's just doing her job. So what if she accidentally smashed some tchotchke? Just get a replacement. You can afford it.”
He gulped, as he watched her stiffen and then turn back to face him. Her blue eyes blazing with an intense heat that under any other circumstance would be hot, but in this instance it was actually quite terrifying. Trevor wondered if it was possible for someone to be turned to stone.
“Forgive me if my female brain has misunderstood, but I thought you were hired to manage the factories and not to tell me how to manage my staff?” she phrased it like a question but he knew better than to answer it. And once again he just couldn’t help himself.
“Well…”
“And if the situation was reversed,” she carried on as though he hadn’t interrupted her, “and a gift you received from your mother on your wedding day, which was also the last time you saw her before she was once again committed to an asylum where she died a week later, was smashed by some careless Irish tramp. Would you call it ‘some tchotchke’ then? Like it was easily replaceable?”
Trevor shook his head, hardly daring to answer. It had been an unexpected delight to hear her throw the Yiddish word back at him. And he was also praying that his base reaction hadn't shown. Because that was something he hadn't known would get his blood racing the way it had. Before he could form a response she had walked away from him, leaving him standing alone in an empty hallway. He walked into his room and began to change. He really needed a drink and was thankful his friends had sent a message earlier about meeting him at the village tavern.
~*~*~
Hetty looked out of the window as the carriage trundled down the driveway and disappeared into the night. She pursed her lips in disapproval. She’d heard from Isaac that David and his friends had rented a room at the inn in town. So she was in no doubt that Trevor was off for a night of debauchery and probably a visit to Mrs Collins’s, if the barmaids weren’t to their liking. Hetty wondered why the idea annoyed her so much. It wasn’t as though Trevor had obligations. He was an unattached – as far as she knew – young man, so it was only natural that he’d be out seeking those kinds of establishments. She turned away from the window and walked back over to the sofa. As she sat down, she picked up the needlepoint she’d abandoned a couple of hours earlier, still ruminating on her current house guest.
When she had spoken with Peter earlier, the man had had nothing but good things to say about the man. Praising his head for numbers and ideas to grow the business. Maybe she should credit Elias for making a good decision for once in his pathetic life.
She looked down at the needlepoint and considered the row of stitches she’d started earlier. Hopefully it would be finished by the time the bazaar rolled around. She already did plenty of private philanthropy, but if she didn’t show up with something handmade to sell, Mamie Fish would never let her live it down. And Hetty had sworn a vow after her debutante ball, that that woman would never have anything she could hold over Hetty's head. She could never allow that woman to have the moral high ground. Not when the rivalry had been going on for years.
“There he is!”
Trevor had barely closed the door to the tavern behind him when Ari’s voice carried across the crowded room. He looked towards the back of the room where he saw his friends. Ari sat with two barmaids on his lap while David and Pinkus sat with their tankards going untouched as their eyes followed the other barmaids. He ducked past the other tables to reach them, and as soon as he sat at the table, Ari sent one of the barmaids off to get a drink for Trevor.
“Now, this is important,” Ari said once Trevor’s drink had arrived and he leaned forward slightly as if he was about to impart great wisdom, “have you seen ‘the maid’?”
Inwardly, Trevor rolled his eyes. Of course that is what Ari would consider important. Outwardly though, he put on a sleazy smile that he knew his friends would think was real. “Oh I’ve seen her,” he smiled, “but I’m not interested.”
“Understandable,” David said, “you don’t know what she’s got,” he added to laughter from the rest of the table. “Has my aunt tried to have you thrown out of the house yet?” he asked as Ari got up from the table and walked over to the bar, “or is that just a courtesy she saves for my father?”
“Not yet.”
David looked around to check no one was listening before he lowered his voice and beckoned Trevor forward. “I don’t always get on with her, and I am fairly sure she detests me, but deep down, my aunt is a good woman who was sold to Elias for a plot of land. So don’t be too put out if she’s a little harsh with you, it's just her way."
Trevor sat back in his chair and finished off most of the beer in his tankard in one go. It was the most open he had ever seen David. It certainly made him think that David’s ‘morally bankrupt’ comment had not been aimed at Hetty. It was just another layer to a woman he couldn’t quite figure out. He’d heard her be utterly cruel and merciless to Molly earlier that evening, and there was the factory worker she had shouted at this afternoon for merely taking a two minute break. Yet, she’d kept Molly in her employ despite having a good reason to get rid of her, just so that Molly could provide for her son. Words and policies to the contrary, she cared about the workers, and hadn’t even fought him when he’d mentioned getting some new machinery. He glanced around the room and spotted the familiar form of Isaac as he sat at the other end of the room, talking to a man in a red velvet frock coat.
“Does your aunt have spies?”
“If she does, it’s not the Captain over there,” David replied as he saw where Trevor was looking, “he’s more of a guard dog.”
“I’ve heard that,” Trevor murmured as Ari sauntered back over to them.
“Right,” he said as he clapped them on the shoulders. “I’ve got a treat for us all.”
They turned to see four of the barmaids standing by the stairs to the second level. Trevor wished he could say he was surprised by Ari’s idea of a ‘treat’ but he wasn't. Yet he didn’t feel entirely comfortable about it, even if it was something he’d done in the past. If you knew where to look there were plenty of brothels in the city. While his friends made a show of heading over to the women, Trevor pretended to finish his drink.
“Not coming darling?”
Trevor looked up to see a fuller figured woman with red hair hanging limp and loose over her shoulders. He shook his head slightly, wondering why, for a moment, he’d seen someone else's face there instead of the woman’s own. “Not tonight.”
“But your friend already paid.”
“Then enjoy it,” he said with a small smile before he stood up. He passed her some more notes. Almost certainly double what Ari would’ve paid her. He picked up his coat and headed out of the tavern. He saw his carriage and told the driver that he was ready to go back to the mansion.
As the carriage moved out of the town square, Trevor leaned his head against the back of the little cabin and reflected on the evening’s events. David had provided him with another glimpse behind the curtain. Then there was his sighting of Isaac. He figured that the man he had been talking to was Nigel and couldn’t help but wonder why Isaac had seemed more at home there than he had at dinner the previous night. It was definitely something to ask Hetty about. If she didn’t string up for impertinence.
After half an hour, the carriage came to a stop outside the mansion. Trevor got out of the carriage and hurried through the front door, apologising to the footman for having to wait up for him. He walked up the stairs and turned left towards his room.
“You didn’t stay in the village long.”
He spun on his heel to see Hetty stood in the doorway to what he presumed was her room. While she was still in the lilac dress from earlier, she had removed the jacket part and replaced it with a similarly coloured shawl. Her hair had been taken down from the bun and was hung in a braid over her right shoulder. The effect made her look softer somehow. The arch of her raised eyebrow however, told him he had probably been staring a trifle too long.
“I didn’t feel like staying long,” he replied. Her words seemed to confirm his suspicions that she had spies everywhere.
“Well good night.”
“Good night.”
Trevor watched as she closed the door to her room, before he walked into his room. A small part of him wondered if she had been waiting for him to return. Though he doubted that very much, the idea that someone cared when he returned warmed him a little. Maybe it wouldn’t be too hard to get her to see that he was on her side and that she could trust him.
Notes:
Thanks for reading 💚. More soon.
Chapter 3: Act 1: Part 3
Notes:
Thank you so much for the love and comments for chapter 2, it makes me so happy. 💖
I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but certain parts are necessary for future chapters. Anyway, I hope you like it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
In the two weeks that he’d been at Woodstone, Trevor had never seen Hetty downstairs at breakfast. So it was something of a shock when he walked into the dining room to see Hetty sat at the table being served coffee by a footman, a plate of half eaten eggs and toast in front of her. She glanced over the top of the copy of The New York Daily Times that she was reading and smirked as she noticed his reaction to her being sat there.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning,” he replied as he took his seat opposite her. Almost immediately, a cup of coffee was put in front of him along with his usual breakfast of toast, eggs and half of a grapefruit.
“You have got my footmen well trained haven’t you?” she teased, enjoying the flash of panic in his eyes. “I joke,” she smiled, “they can be such loyal boys,” she added as she gave the footman who was serving them a bright smile. “Isn’t that right Patrick?”
Trevor watched as the young man blushed and turned around to busy himself with the food on the sideboard. He could imagine how that footman must be feeling. The poor man couldn’t have been more than 20. If he had been that age, Trevor knew that that smile of Hetty’s would have had him on his knees begging to do her bidding. Hell, if she turned that smile on him right now he would do exactly the same. He placed the napkin in his lap, as he started on his breakfast.
“The new machinery for the factory is arriving this morning, will you be there for it?”
“I’ll see it tomorrow,” she replied, “I have somewhere else I need to be,” she set down the paper and slid it in his direction before she stood up from the table.
It was then that Trevor realised that she was dressed a lot more plainly than usual. Instead of her usual brightly coloured dress with many layers, she wore a deep brown dress with only one layer. The only jewellery she wore appeared to be her wedding ring. Even her hair wasn’t done up as elaborate as usual. With barely another glance in his direction, she walked into the foyer where Wilson was waiting with her hat, coat and gloves. Trevor turned back to his breakfast and picked up the paper. He wondered where she was going and why she needed to be so dressed down. Still he put it from his mind, he hadn’t earned the right to know where she was going. He hadn’t been hired to keep tabs on her, so really where she went was of no consequence to him. As he studied the front page of his paper, he smiled to himself. It had been nice to briefly see a more playful side to her. Trevor just hoped he’d be able to coax that side out again at some point.
The carriage turned off of the main road and onto a more rickety, stone covered path. Hetty felt every jolt as it trundled down the road and she wondered how long it would be before someone invented a carriage that delivered a smoother ride. She looked out of the window and watched as the thicket of trees thinned and they arrived at a medium sized farmhouse. A few moments later, the carriage came to a stop. The driver got down from the front seat and turned to open the carriage door, before he helped Hetty down the steps. Once she was on the ground, he closed the carriage door and returned to his seat up front. She thanked him as she walked past, and headed up the path to the two men who were standing in the doorway.
As she approached them, the elder of the two stepped forward and bowed to her. “Mrs Woodstone, it is good to see you again,” he said as he took her hand in greeting.
“Come Naxasi, we are friends,” she smiled, “I have told you to call me Hetty. Or at least Henrietta.”
“And yet, it feels too informal,” Naxasi replied, “you saved my son’s life,” he looked over his shoulder at the young man in question, “and helped us find a builder for the barn.”
"How is it coming along?"
"Follow me."
Hetty followed Naxasi around the side of the house, Sasappis at her side. She’d first met the young man back in the early summer when she’d found him at the side of the road after he’d been attacked by a group of men, a serious gunshot wound in his leg. Hetty had instructed that he be taken to the mansion, to recover and for someone to send a message to his family. At the mansion she had paid out of her own pocket for Doctor Griffiths to come to the mansion and check Sasappis over.
While Sasappis had been recovering, she had spoken with both him and his father, about the challenges they were facing. They had set up a little farm a short carriage ride from the village and had started to provide the village shopkeepers with fresh meat and dairy at a cheaper price than they would otherwise have paid. But it was still slow to start up. However, the harvest and then winter on the horizon and they needed a barn for their livestock. As they were still building up their business, it was hard for them to find builders who could help them for very little in return. Hetty had recalled the name of the Norwegian builder she had manipulated Elias into hiring when they rebuilt the gazebo after it had burned down, and knew that he and his son would be only too happy to help. Within a day of Thorfinn receiving her message, he had arrived at Woodstone and had formed a firm friendship with both of the men. Thorfinn’s only question was if they would be able to stay on the land while building. The fee didn’t matter much to them, they just wanted to help. It had been a request that Naxasi was more than happy to fulfill. When Sasappis had fully recovered, Hetty had missed the company that the two men had provided, and so she had taken to visiting once a month. They were two of a very small group of people that wanted nothing from her but friendship.
“So how are things?” Sasappis asked as they walked.
“Elias is on another of his trips. This time he’s hunting in Africa,” she replied. She’d come to find the young man an easy person to talk to. Probably because he was so far removed from any connection to Woodstone, and could usually be counted on to provide a mature viewpoint. “So I get some peace for the moment.”
“Maybe he’ll wander off into the forests and get eaten by a wild animal.”
Hetty gave him a shocked look, which quickly morphed into a wicked grin, “now that is a thought,” she cackled, before she glanced over at the small building that they had come to a stop in front of. “Is that the barn?” she asked as she looked at the new structure in shock. When she had visited last month, Thorfinn and Bjorn had only just started to mark the shape of the building with bits of wood. Now though it looked like an actual building with the walls mostly built.
“Hetty!”
Both turned at the booming voice to see the 6 '4 Norwegian builder come running out of the building, before he swept her into a hug. Normally she’d bristle about being handled with such familiarity. However, Thorfinn was an exception to the rule. He had helped her out of a tricky spot with her previous foreman, and had built many things for her in the two years that she’d been acquainted with him and his son.
“How is gazebo?”
“It's still very beautiful,” she replied with a smile, “far better than the wreck that burnt down before it.”
“Very glad,” he smiled, before he frowned, “and no more factory problems?”
“Not since Mr Russell left our employ,” Hetty replied grimly. Memories of the former foreman came to the surface, before they sunk back into the recesses of her mind.
Trevor sat behind the desk in the office as he looked over the books for all of the Woodstone businesses. Or, rather, that’s what he was supposed to be doing. But for the past hour he had been staring off into space, wondering about where it was that Hetty had gone. It surprised him at how quickly he had gotten used to her showing up at the office under the guise of speaking with Peter about a work issue, as opposed to her actual plan of checking on his capability of managing everything. He had figured that one out a day or two after he’d started. When he had asked Peter earlier if he had known where she had gone, the foreman had just shrugged and said it was the second Wednesday of the month, as if that was supposed to mean something to him. He tapped the end of the pen on the blotting pad. Trevor wondered if he should be worried that he didn’t know her whereabouts. If something happened to her, he had no doubt that somehow he would get the blame, whether the accusation came from Isaac or another quarter.
“Shouldn’t you be working?”
Trevor looked up to see Hetty stood in the doorway to the office. It was almost as if his thoughts had summoned her. He also noticed that she was still wearing the same brown dress from earlier, only now it had a tiny rim of mud and dirt that darkened the fabric around the hem that was no doubt a reminder of the muddy ground she’d walked over. Even in plain colours, he still found her striking.
“Just taking a quiet moment,” he replied, as he stood up. “Was there something you wanted, Mrs Woodstone?”
“I wanted to see this new machinery you were talking about,” she replied as she examined her gloves. “Unless you’re too busy.”
“I’m never too busy for you.”
Hetty rolled her eyes at him, before she stared at him like he was an idiot. It occurred to Trevor that maybe she had interpreted his words as some kind of flirtation which really hadn’t been his intention at all. He walked around the desk and pulled on his jacket, before he led her out of the factory office. He led her out of the factory and across the grounds towards the mill.
Unlike the other times that Hetty had been in the mill, this time it was mostly silent. In anticipation of the new machinery, the mill workers had either been sent to work in the factory while it was all installed and properly tested, or they were on the uppermost level, sewing by hand.
“So this is it?” she asked as she looked up at the machine. “What exactly does it do?”
“I’ll show you,” Trevor said as he removed his jacket once more. He threw it over a table before he uncuffed his sleeves and rolled them up. He picked up one of the baskets of cotton and set it on the shelf before he threaded it through the machine. Once he was certain it was threaded properly, he switched on the button to start the machine and moved back to stand beside her.
It was a little louder than Hetty had expected so at the first sounds, she had jumped back a little, her hand landing on his bare forearm as she steadied herself. Trevor tried not to think about how the silk glove felt against his arm. “It’s a new type of carding machine that uses electricity as opposed to having the workers continually turn the wheel, of course you will still need them to keep an eye on the machine,” he explained as he remembered why they were here. “Mr Martino and I already know which workers we’re going to get to do that job,” he added, “and as for what it does, it will flatten and clean the bundles of cotton faster, meaning you can ship more of it to the factories in the city that you’re in partnership with. And you should be able to increase your output.”
“So we would be putting out more than the Farnsby’s?”
Trevor nodded, “and in a quicker fashion. Bringing in more money, and more business.”
“Good,” she replied. “I’ve seen enough,” she added as she turned away, leaving Trevor to turn the machine off and tidy up.
As she walked out of the mill, Hetty tried to ignore how his arm had felt under her hand and how it could have felt if she hadn’t been wearing the gloves. She frowned at her own line of thought. She could not think that way. It was terribly inconvenient for her.
“How long?”
Trevor paused by the bottom of the staircase as he heard low voices from the library. He could make out Hetty’s distinctive tone, though he was certain he had never heard her speak that softly before.
“Long enough,” Molly replied, her voice sounding more shaky than Hetty’s. “I can’t do it again Mrs Woodstone.”
“I have to take a trip into the village tomorrow. I’ll see what I can do.”
“And you won’t catch trouble for it?”
“I have done this several times my dear,” Hetty replied, “I know what I am doing.”
“Thank you Mrs Woodstone.”
Trevor stepped back into the shadows as Molly exited the library and walked across the foyer towards the kitchen. He watched as Hetty left a few moments later, her posture slightly slouched as though the weight of the world was on her shoulders. In other circumstances he'd admire the way that the sapphire dress draped over her figure, however the sadness that seemed to radiate off of her, sparked his need to console her and tell her that everything would be alright.
He walked forwards, in an attempt to make it look like he had just come down the stairs. The floor creaked under his step and Hetty turned to look at him. For a few seconds, he saw what looked like pain and hurt lingering in the corners of her eyes. However, within moments, he could see the walls had gone back up and the Hetty Woodstone he was familiar with made her reappearance.
“Are you going to stand there all evening? Or shall I tell the cook that you wish to make him wait even longer?”
“What was that about?” he asked, deciding not to pretend he hadn’t overheard part of the conversation with Molly.
“Nothing of consequence,” Hetty replied as she walked away.
Trevor reached out and grabbed her arm. A shock jolting through them both as his bare palm met the smoothness of her bare arm. “You can trust me,” he said, his eyes soft. “If I can help, I will.”
Hetty searched his face as though looking for any falsehoods. The genuine sincerity in his eyes and tone were obvious. She opened her mouth, but the words found themselves lodged in her throat. She snapped it shut again and pulled her arm out of his grasp.
Trevor watched as she walked away without another word. Every time they took a slight step forward, they took another two steps back. He understood why she was probably a little weary of him, but he had hoped he had shown her that she could trust him. Still they had only known each other a couple of weeks, there was plenty of time for a friendship to form.
Notes:
Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it. More soon 💚💚
Chapter 4: Act 1: Part 4
Notes:
Thanks for the continued love 🫶🏻. I only hope this lives up to your expectations.
Also, this story takes place between September 1885 and February 1886. In this particular story, Hetty was born in November 1844 and Trevor was born in July 1853, so they're 40/41 and 32 respectively in this fic. These really have no bearing on the fic itself, it's just I mention the year she married Elias and a few other things in this chapter, so I felt that I should give you the dates I keep in my head.
And as you'll have seen I've updated the tags and they apply to this chapter only. They aren't light topics, and I really hope you can see where I've come from with this. Also the people referenced Madame Restell and Anthony Comstock, were real people. So go and read up on them, if you want to.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
To the untrained eye or a newcomer, the dusty road covered by trees that lay between the inn and general store was just another rambling road. To those that knew the village though, it was a path to take if you needed something that the store wouldn’t sell you, or something that you couldn’t afford to send away for. To all intents and purposes the proprietress had closed shop when tougher laws were brought in. However, it was the one secret the villagers kept. Well, the female villagers at any rate.
Hetty walked out of the haberdashery, putting the receipt into her reticule. She walked towards the inn and glanced around. Even if it was an open secret, Hetty still didn’t want to be seen making a visit. All it would take was the wrong person to see her and it would be all around high society before she’d returned to the mansion. Satisfied that she was unseen, she turned and walked in the direction of the small cottage. It was a path she’d walked several times.
Her Aunt Prudence had first brought her to the cottage, after Hetty had been forced to end her first betrothal. Back then it had been run by Blanche Montero. When Blanche had died fifteen years ago, it had been taken over by her young niece, Susan, who practiced more forms of horticulture than her aunt had done. She had also chosen to go by a different, more appropriate name for her line of work. The only time that she used the name Susan was when she was blending in.
As the tiny cottage came into view, Hetty felt herself relax. She hadn’t come here in a while, at least not for those purposes. But she could still remember the calming effect that the woman had on her. As she approached the front garden, Hetty smiled as she saw Flower in the garden picking up various plants from the flower beds.
“Good morning Flower.”
Flower popped up from behind a rosebush, dirt along her hands, arms and smudged across her face. “Oh, hey Mrs W,” she smiled, “is this a friendly visit or a business one?”
“Business I’m afraid,” Hetty sighed, “I have a maid that needs to be put straight.”
“Is it that maid?” Flower asked, watching as Hetty nodded in reply. Flower gave her a grim smile. “Did she ask you to do this?” she fretted, “I’m not happy with doing it for someone who doesn’t know the risks.”
“Molly asked for help. This is how,” Hetty sighed, “both of us know what Elias would do if he found out.”
“We do,” Flower agreed, “follow me.”
Hetty pushed open the garden gate and followed Flower into the cottage. Every time she visited the cottage, it had gotten a little more cluttered in the interim. As she walked towards the kitchen, her eyes fell upon the corner that Flower kept her art supplies in. She paused and studied the painting, eyes widening in shock as she realised exactly who the subject was.
“Flower?” She turned to look at the woman, who peeked out from around the kitchen door, a slightly manic grin appearing as she saw what Hetty was looking at. “Are you really painting Thorfinn in the nude?”
The other woman nodded. “He helped me out at the general store last month and as he walked me home we started getting to know each other," she shrugged. "He comes by every day or so. I asked to paint him. He has no shame,” she smiled, her eyes glazing over for a moment or two, before she remembered why Hetty had stopped by and beckoned her into the kitchen.
Hetty took a seat at the kitchen table and accepted the drink that Flower offered her. She took a sip and felt the liquid fill her with a cozy warmth as Flower spun and twirled around the kitchen, gathering the items she needed. Hetty watched as Flower plucked a few leaves off of a plant on the windowsill and dropped it into a mortar, before she began to crush it with the pestle. Once she was satisfied the powder was fine enough. She scooped it up before she dropped it into a tiny cloth bag, carefully marking the bag with a ‘P’.
As she watched her work, Hetty could recall watching Blanche do the same preparations twenty one years ago only without Flower's flair. Hetty had been nineteen and terrified of what her father would do if he ever found out. She had seen the effects of the asylum on her mother, and had no desire to be put in a room next to her. She could still remember how bitter the tea had tasted, could still feel the sharp, stabbing pain that had followed, could still smell the blood soaked linen that was quietly disposed of. That had been the first time she’d taken it. She had taken it twice more since then. After the last time, Flower had started to provide her with the means to avoid being in that situation once again. Of course, since Elias had been gone, she had no need of Flower’s remedies. Though the minute she got word he was returning, she’d start up once again.
“I think that’s everything,” Flower said as she looked at the cloth bags on the table. “I’ve also included written instructions,” she added as she held up the bag of crushed Pennyroyal. “She needs to follow them exactly. If this goes wrong...” she tailed off as she shared a dark look with Hetty. Both had followed the story of Madame Restell a few years back. And no one wanted the attention of Anthony Comstock brought down onto the village. “I’ve also included some of the same powdered Queen Anne’s Lace I give you. Should avoid this happening again.”
“Agreed,” Hetty said as she stood up, “what do I owe you?”
Flower rolled her eyes, “you know I don’t charge. Oh wait a minute,” she picked up a small jar, filled with white powder and passed it over to Hetty. “New recipe.”
“It looks like cocaine, what’s new about that?”
“I added a couple of extra herbs to enhance it.”
“And it works?”
“Tested it myself,” Flower replied with a proud smile.
Hetty walked into her sitting room and removed the cloth bags from her reticule and set them on the coffee table. On her return from the village she had instructed Wilson to send Molly up to see her in ten minutes. It had given her the time to remove her outer layers, and prepare herself for the conversation. She sat down and tapped her fingers on the arm of the couch. She looked up at the sound of footsteps and saw Molly loitering awkwardly by the door.
“Stop crowding the doorway and come in girl,” Hetty said with an exasperated sigh, and indicated that Molly should take a seat next to her. She inwardly rolled her eyes as Molly chose to sit at the opposite end, as though she was afraid Hetty would bite her if she got too close. She picked up the cloth bag marked ‘P’ and handed it over to her. “In here is what you need. Flower has included instructions that you have to follow exactly,” she held out the small folded piece of paper.
“And it will definitely work?”
“If you follow the instructions properly.”
Molly still wasn’t certain though. “Can I trust you?”
“Yes,” Hetty sighed, “it’ll take a day or two to work properly. It will also be very painful.”
“Do you speak from experience?”
Hetty gave a short nod. “Flower also gave me this for you,” she passed over the other cloth bags. “This is Queen Anne’s Lace, if you drink this daily as a tea, it will stop anything like this happening again,” she paused, before she stood up and walked to the small desk in the corner of the room. She pulled open one of the drawers and pulled out an envelope. She returned to the sofa and held it out for Molly, “in here, you will find three months wages. When it’s taken care of, take your son, go on a trip somewhere and recover. Your position will still be here should you wish to return. And if you decide to look elsewhere, I will provide a reference for you.”
“Thank you Mrs Woodstone,” Molly said, her eyes shining with tears, before she took Hetty by surprise and stood up to hug her, “but why would you help me?”
Hetty gave her a sad smile, “We have so little control over our lives. We must take it where we can.”
“What will I say when I leave?”
“I have arranged for a friend to send you a telegram,” she replied, “when it arrives, make an excuse of family illness. I’ll manage the rest.”
Molly nodded with a watery smile, before she put the cloth bags into the pocket of her apron and hurried out of the room. Hetty watched as she left and sighed heavily before she sank into the chair by the window. When she’d stood under that tree twenty years ago – not quite at gunpoint, though it had certainly felt like it at the time – she had never imagined that one day she would have to help her husband’s lover quietly get rid of the consequences of the affair.
She pulled out the bottle that Flower had given her and studied the contents. She opened up the small box on the table and pulled out the miniature spoon, before she opened the bottle and dipped the spoon inside. She pulled the spoon back out and snorted up the contents. She placed the bottle and the spoon back into the small box and replaced the lid. Hetty then sank further back into the chair and turned to look out of the window, while she waited for the effects to kick in.
The lamps cast long shadows on the wall as Trevor nursed his drink. Dinner had been a quiet affair. While he didn’t expect Hetty to keep up a steady stream of conversation. He had expected at least a couple of words from her. As it was, she had hardly spoken a word since he’d come down for dinner. Then as soon as the meal was over, she stood up abruptly and left the house. That had been a couple of hours ago and he hadn’t seen her since, and now he was more than a little worried about her. He figured something had happened with Molly as he had overheard a couple of footmen mention that she had gone away. Which Trevor assumed would have made Hetty happy, instead it appeared to have done the opposite and made her more morose. The thought flickered across his mind that she could’ve done something drastic. He set his glass to one side and asked Wilson to get him one of the storm lanterns, while he went up to his room to get his cloak.
*~*~*
Hetty had had to get out of the house. Everything had just felt so claustrophobic. She’d noticed one of the footmen staring at her as though it had been her fault that Molly had left. Even with Molly’s story that she had to go to Boston to look after her mother who had been taken ill, most of the staff believed that Molly had been turned out, without a reference and wouldn’t be seen again. She guessed that Trevor had probably figured out that something was wrong, but she respected that he hadn’t tried to ask her. Though to be honest, she hadn’t really paid that much attention to anything while at the table or before dinner so if he had tried to talk to her she hadn’t noticed.
She shivered slightly, and wished she’d thought of bringing some sort of outer layer with her, but she’d been too focused on needing some air. She had ended up in the gazebo not too far from the monument, which was hardly surprising considering the path her thoughts had taken. She just wasn’t sure she actually wanted to go over to it. Even now it still hurt. She leaned forward and rested her elbow on her knee.
Hetty looked up as she heard someone walk up the gazebo steps. She really shouldn’t have been surprised that Trevor had come looking for her, and yet there was still a brief stutter in her heart that he would care enough to seek her out.
As Hetty met his gaze, Trevor was surprised to see the traces of tears on her cheeks. He watched as she wiped a hand under her eyes to remove the evidence as he took a seat beside her.
“I didn’t think you would be this sad about Molly’s departure,” he said as he broke the silence, hoping to gain a smile from the woman next to him.
Hetty chuckled darkly, “that’s not why I’m sad. There were consequences from Molly’s affair with Elias. I helped her to be free of them.”
“Consequences?”
“Do not be obtuse Trevor,” she replied with a roll of her eyes, and he tried not to react with shock at her use of his first name, “it doesn’t suit you.”
He frowned as he tried to figure out the hidden meaning in her words, before he realised just exactly what she was talking about. “Oh,” he commented, his eyes widening briefly, “and you’re sad because?”
“I know what it's like to be in her position,” Hetty sighed. “When I was nineteen I was one for all the romantic notions,” she added, her tone wistful. “Quite by chance, I met an artist and he was interested in me, what I had to say and what I thought. We fell in love, he asked me to marry him, I accepted. My father found out and made me choose, love or money. I thought logically and money gave me choices I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she paused and looked out in the direction of the lake before she resumed her story. “A month after I had broken the engagement, I began to notice a few changes. My aunt and I both knew that if my father found out I was with child, I would be sent to the asylum, in a room right next to mother,” she paused and glanced over at Trevor, and met his gaze. She was relieved to see that it was free of judgment, and full of understanding and compassion. “Aunt Prudence took me to get the required herbs and the matter was dealt with. I mourned the loss, but I did not regret it. Three months later I was married to Elias.”
“And helping Molly made you remember it?” Trevor asked, assuming that was the reason for her sadness.
“In a sense,” she replied with a rueful smile. She hesitated as to whether to continue her story, but figured she’d come this far, she might as well continue. “Helping her reminded me of another time that I had been in her position,” she turned to look at him, “I was married in ‘65, yet Adeline and Thomas are ten and six. Have you wondered why that is since you've been here?”
Trevor watched as she picked up her lamp, before she stood and walked out of the gazebo. She had been right in that he was curious. It was slightly uncommon for there to be a ten year gap between marriage and children. Especially if the couple were young and healthy. But it had always seemed inappropriate to ask. He watched as she walked in the direction of the monument and followed her.
Trevor had seen it in passing when he’d walked the grounds before, but he’d never really taken much stock of it. Once he had caught up with her, Hetty raised her lamp so that he could see the engraved words across the middle.
James Elias Woodstone 1867 – 1870
Maria Catherine Woodstone 1868 – 1870
In Loving Memory.
Trevor felt his heart break a little for the woman beside him, a lot of his questions beginning to get answers. Especially why she had been insistent about Molly keeping her job to provide for her child, why she tried to limit the dangerous jobs the children did in the factories. He noticed her shiver slightly and set his lamp down before he removed his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. “What happened?”
“Scarlet fever,” she replied, “Their deaths brought Elias and I closer. For a couple of months at least. It seemed as though we'd finally figured it out. Within six months I was once again with child. I couldn’t abide the thought of being a mother again, not that soon. I got what I needed, quietly took care of it, and then numbed the pain with cocaine and opiates,” she shrugged as though it was commonplace. Trevor guessed it probably was. At least in her circles. "Elias returned to his favourite past-time of whores and harlots."
“And that’s why you’re sad?”
“I block it out most of the time. But when I do remember, I come out here to be alone.”
“Would you like me to leave?”
Hetty shook her head, and Trevor took the chance, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She didn’t pull away and he considered it a small victory. After a few more moments, he bent slightly to pick up his lamp and turned them back around. They proceeded to walk back to the house in silence. As they reached the door, she turned to face him.
“I will keep your secrets Mrs Woodstone,” he said. He could guess what she had been about to say, relieved when he saw her smile briefly. He took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it.
“Hetty,” she smiled as he dropped her hand and she passed him back his cloak, “you can call me Hetty,” she added, she leaned in and brushed her lips against his cheek. She’d curse herself for it in the morning, but right now she didn’t care. He’d shown her more compassion in the past hour than she’d had from Elias in a very long time.
Trevor watched as she turned and walked back inside. He also tried not to celebrate the fact that she was finally letting him in. He wasn’t sure he had her total trust yet, but this was close enough for now. He placed his hand against his cheek and smiled, before he followed her inside.
Notes:
Thus concludes Act 1 of the story. Stay tuned for Act 2, coming end of the week probably.
Thanks for reading 💚
Chapter 5: Act 2: Part 1
Notes:
Thanks for the love for the previous chapter. It makes me so happy that you liked it. 🩷
Here we go with the start of act 2, of the story, a little bit later than I originally planned.
The dinner section at the end of the chapter was originally longer, but I couldn't get it to work the way I wanted to, so I rearranged it. I hope you like it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
He can hardly believe that this is real. She had shown up at his door in the middle of the night, still in the dress she’d worn at dinner. The deep red, a sharp contrast to her white skin. Her red curls hang free of their usual confines. Before he can ask her what she is doing here, she grabs his face in her hands and pulls him close before she kisses him deeply. He stands there in shock for a few seconds before he responds in kind. His hands land on her waist, pulling her closer still. Her mouth opens beneath his and as he slips his tongue in to tangle with hers, she moans deeply. The sound goes straight through him, and he instantly feels himself grow hard. He feels her hands slide round and up into his hair, fingers tangling in the strands. It’s hard to know if this is still the first kiss or if there have been others, the whole moment is blurring into one.
He pulls back to search her gaze. When he sees nothing but pure desire in her eyes, he takes her by the hand and slowly leads her towards the bed, he wants to make sure that he gives her every chance to leave. He knows what it means that she is even here. He doesn’t want to make her do anything she doesn’t feel comfortable with.
He sits down heavily on the bed, pulling her onto his lap, rearranging the skirts of her dress as he did so. The feel of her thighs, separated from him by only the fabric of his pants, sends shivers down his spine. He doesn’t know if the desperate whine comes from him or her, or the both of them. Her arms come up around his neck as he kisses down her neck towards the swell of her breasts. Her hands return to their position on the back of his head, pressing him closer. His hand travels up her back to the hook and eye clasp and unhooks it before he swiftly undoes the buttons that line the back of the dress. He slides the sleeves down her arms and helps her pull them out. She stands up from his lap and lets the dress slowly ripple down her body. He helps her step out of it and pulls her back in, his fingers deftly unhooking the stays along the front of her corset.
~~~~~~
Trevor jolted awake. He wished he could say that that was the first dream like that that he’d had about Hetty, but he would be lying. They had become friendlier in recent weeks, and that had led to the dreams. He rubbed a hand across his face and flopped backwards onto the bed, as he tried to calm his body down. He closed his eyes and all he could see was Hetty beneath him, red curls fanned against the white pillows like a halo, her eyes bright and clear as she tried to regain her breath. He sighed and shook his head, he definitely needed to dunk his head in a bucket of cold water.
He reached over and looked at the clock on the table. While it was a little earlier than he’d usually get up, when he considered his plans for the day, it was best that he got up now otherwise he'd be late. And then Hetty would get annoyed at him. Again. And he didn't want that, not when they were finally getting along. It would also stop him from missing the train too. He got out of the bed and walked across to the washroom, very glad that Hetty had given him a room with the washroom attached. He couldn’t imagine awkwardly shuffling down the hallway trying to hide the effect that his dreams had had on him lest anyone actually see him. He walked over to the sink and splashed cold water onto his face, and tried to remember the name of every single person that had been in attendance at his Bar Mitzvah. Once he’d gotten himself under control, he started to get ready for the day ahead.
“Mr Lefkowitz!”
Trevor turned to see Isaac walking toward him as he stood waiting for the train to arrive.
“I didn’t expect to see you on the 9am train,” Isaac commented.
“I have a couple of meetings in the city,” he replied as he fussed with the chain on his pocket watch to check the time.
“Interesting,” he said, though Trevor doubted the man was actually interested. “Well I’m glad I caught you,” Isaac added, “you see it’s Hetty’s birthday next Wednesday, and as Beatrice and I are hosting a little dinner party for her, I would like to extend an invite to you.”
“You would?” he asked, the few times they’d met over the past couple of months he’d got the distinct impression that Isaac didn’t like him.
“I daresay Hetty would’ve asked to invite you along anyway,” Isaac commented as he looked searchingly at Trevor, “she’s been rather complimentary about you recently.”
“Oh more than complimentary I’d say.”
Trevor glanced at the man who had joined them, not entirely sure that he liked the insinuation in the British man’s voice. His slightly confused expression must have shown as Isaac looked between the two, a comical look on his face.
“Oh, yes, you’ve not been introduced,” he said, “Nigel, this is the new manager of the factories Trevor Lefkowitz. Trevor, this is Nigel.”
“Nice to meet you,” Nigel said as he shook Trevor’s hand.
A shrill whistle and the slow chugging as the train pulled into the station prevented further conversation. Trevor nodded at the two gentlemen as they turned back towards their wives. Trevor got into his train carriage and pondered just what to do about Hetty’s birthday and just what he could get her as a present that she would appreciate. He set up straighter as an idea came to him. He just had to figure out where to get it from. He smiled to himself as he thought about her reaction to it.
“So what do you need?” David asked as he approached Trevor, “I’ve got another meeting in ten minutes.”
“Well, it's my mother’s birthday coming up and I wondered where I could get her a porcelain figure like the ones your aunt has,” he replied smoothly, “But the places I’ve looked haven’t got what I’m looking for. I’d ask your aunt, but she terrifies me.”
David looked at him with a raised eyebrow, not believing Trevor’s story for a moment, before he responded. “If you go down to Battery Park, there’s a shop called Brodux, Brouda, some French name’s Cove,” he paused, “it's run by this woman, she can get you what you need, no questions asked.”
Trevor frowned, he wasn’t quite sure that was the right place to go. He didn’t want to do anything that would bring officers to Woodstone Manor. If it was anyone else he wouldn’t hesitate, but Hetty deserved better.
“It's fine, just go,” David commented, correctly interpreting Trevor’s look. “I’ll see you next week at Aunt Hetty’s dinner.”
“Isaac invited you as well?”
“What? No, that sounds awful," he shook his head. "The birthday one, that's actually the day before her birthday. My half of the family are attending, you got a pity invite, since you're staying there,” he laughed, “it’ll be nice to have someone interesting to talk to.”
***
Trevor walked down the street and found the shop that David had mentioned. Boudreaux’s Cove occupied a small shop between a book store and a tailor’s. A random selection of objects decorated the window and the blue door stood out amongst the ordinary. He pushed the door open and walked inside. He noticed at once that it was both the same and different to the other curio shops in the city. It gave him hope that this might be where he could find what he was looking for. He glanced at the shelves and tried to see if there was anything that caught his eye. He spotted a few porcelain figurines but none that he felt really fit the collection that Hetty had in her sitting room.
“Looking for something special?”
Trevor turned to look at the woman behind the counter. The bright red of her dress complimented her dark skin perfectly and she was watching him with amusement on her face. Clearly, she’d seen several of his type there before.
“Uh yeah,” he replied as he walked over to the counter, “I’m looking for a porcelain figure. I don’t know what it looks like though.”
“That’s not helpful,” she smiled. “But I can probably still help you.”
“Do you have any photographs I could see?”
“We ain’t rich enough for that, we do have a few drawings though” she shrugged, “but if you tell me about the woman it’s for, I can help.”
“How do you know it's for a woman?”
“Honey, it’s always for a woman,” she smiled as she walked around the counter. “Name’s Berta, what’s yours?”
“Trevor.”
“And tell me Trevor, what is she like? This woman of yours.”
“Uh,” he frowned as he tried to think of something, “well she’s a part of society. She projects this standoffish nature, but she cares a lot more than people think. She can be slow to trust, but when she lets you in, it’s like you’ve been given a rare prize. She can be so playful, but also cold. She has a musical laugh. There’s a melancholy air to her but it just adds to her ethereal beauty. Why are you staring at me like that?”
“I have never seen someone that infatuated who wasn’t drunk before and without complimenting her looks,” Berta smirked, “she must be something special huh?” she asked, Trevor nodded in reply, “well I think I might know something she might like,” she pulled out a ledger from under the counter, “this is a figurine that’s due in on a shipment from France, Friday morning. Says here that it’s a gentleman and a dog, lots of fine detail on the figures, is that something she’d like?” she asked, showing him a crudely drawn picture.
Trevor studied it and tried to imagine it sitting alongside the others. He smiled when he realised that it would fit right in. “I think that would be perfect. Thank you.”
Berta smiled. “It’ll be $20 and I can send it straight to you, as opposed to you having to make another trip.”
“Done,” Trevor nodded, as he watched her make out the bill of sale, “so do you have a piece of paper where I can write the shipping address?”
By the time his meetings had finished and he’d returned to Woodstone, it was the end of the work day. He headed straight for the factories, looking for Peter. Though it could wait until tomorrow morning, he felt like the good news would cheer his friend up. He’d been looking a little glum the past few days, but wouldn’t share what was on his mind. As he approached the factory, he noticed that Peter was locking up with his shoulders slumped.
“You okay?” he asked as he approached him.
“Huh?” he replied, “uh yeah, I’m good,” he added not sounding it at all, “how were the meetings?”
“Good,” Trevor nodded, “I got a new deal sorted with Wharton for the factory in Brooklyn and the lawyers are drafting up a contract for the new arrangement with Applegate’s.”
“Mrs Woodstone will be glad,” Peter commented as they started to walk towards the carriage waiting for him.
The pair walked in silence with Trevor hoping his friend would share with him whatever was on his mind. Laughter drew his attention and Trevor turned to look in the direction that it had come from. He saw Hetty sitting on her horse, keeping an eye on the two children on smaller horses. He smiled as he took in how regal she looked sat side saddle, all straight backed and graceful. The rich purple hues of her riding attire, vibrant against the late autumn colours of the grounds. He also noticed the man with long dark hair that she was talking to. Trevor felt a pang of jealousy as the man said something that made her laugh.
“Hey, who’s that?”
Pete looked across the grounds in the direction of Trevor’s gaze. “Oh that’s Sasappis. He owns the farm 10 miles away. They’ve been friends for a while,” he replied. “He’s a decent guy. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Trevor answered with the same before he walked in the direction of the paddock. He didn’t like the gnawing feeling in his stomach at someone else making her laugh. Or getting to see her so unreserved and while her children were present. He wanted that to be something that was just for him. Trevor didn’t know if it was just his imagination, but he thought he saw Hetty’s smile brighten as he approached her.
“You’re back,” she smiled, “did everything go to plan for you in the city?”
“My meetings were very profitable,” he replied, before he turned to look at the other man and held out a hand to him, “Trevor Lefkowitz, nice to meet you.”
“Sasappis,” the man smiled as he shook the hand offered. He glanced back at Hetty and shared an amused glance which had Trevor narrowing his eyes again. “I best be getting back to the farm. I hope Thomas likes the horse.”
The trio turned to see the young boy sitting on the small horse while his elder sister trotted a few feet away. After a few minutes, Sasappis turned and headed in the direction of the road, while Trevor continued to study the paddock, completely missing the smirk that appeared on Hetty’s face.
“Were you jealous of Sasappis, Trevor?”
“No,” he lied as he turned to look up at her and noticed the amusement in her eyes.
“My mistake,” she replied, though Trevor knew from her tone that she didn’t believe him. “Also, I feel I should warn you that next week several members of the family will be coming to dinner.”
“David did mention something when I bumped into him in the city,” Trevor commented, not missing the way that her eyes had narrowed at the mention of her nephew. “Do you want me out of the way for the night?”
She shook her head, “it’d be nice to have a friendly face around the table,” she smiled, before she clicked her tongue and guided her horse in the direction of her children.
As he sat beside David and nursed the drink in his hands. Trevor wasn’t sure if he’d ever wanted to punch a man as much as he did Jeremiah Woodstone. Ever since the man had walked in like he owned the place, he had set Trevor’s teeth on edge. He looked like Elias, except a few inches shorter and wider, and with a more pronounced handlebar mustache. Trevor could’ve coped for one evening with the man if he merely looked like his younger brother, but the way he spoke was what really set his teeth on edge. Not only had Jeremiah implied that Trevor had only been good at managing the businesses because he was a Jew, but he’d also spent the evening making disparaging remarks about Hetty and how it was a shame that Elias had been forced to marry Samuel Woodstone’s less attractive daughter. As opposed to the more beautiful Margaret. Trevor had managed to avoid laughing at that comment. He was fairly sure that it wasn’t Elias who had been forced into marriage.
“...what do you think Henrietta?”
“I don’t know, you know I have no head for business,” she replied with a simpering laugh.
Trevor clutched his glass even tighter than he already was. That had been another thing he’d noted on Jeremiah’s arrival. Hetty had automatically shrunk in on herself and Trevor couldn’t help but wonder why she chose to dumb herself down around the man. He knew for a fact that she could run rings around all the men in that room, himself included. However, he refrained from saying anything, not wanting to embarrass Hetty.
“Is he always such a pompous schmuck?”
“Always,” David commented darkly, before he turned back to the conversation he had been having with one of his cousins.
*
By the time the guests had left, Trevor was congratulating himself on making it through the night without committing murder. He set his glass down beside the others on the sideboard, before he walked across the foyer, fully intending to go to his room. As he passed the library, he noticed the light that spilled out from a thin gap in the sliding doors. He pulled open the door and saw Hetty slumped in one of the chairs, her blue dress at odds with the red room. She turned to look at who had disturbed her peace and gave him a lazy smile. He took note of the small vial on the table and realised that she’d had a few nips of cocaine. After the dinner they’d had, he couldn’t blame her for feeling the need to take a hit or two. Though he didn’t recall it having quite the same effect on him when he had last had some of the drug.
“You did well this evening,” she smiled, “and well done on not punching Jeremiah.”
“Thank you,” he replied shortly.
Hetty looked at him searchingly, trying to figure out what had caused his mood, though she supposed she had a good inkling. “You’re wondering why I let him behave like that, aren’t you?” she asked, watching as he nodded. “I learnt long ago that making myself as meek as possible around him is always the best course of action,” she added as she subconsciously rubbed her jaw. “Elias may be a bastard, but he has a better grasp on his temper than his brother does.”
Trevor nodded in understanding, though his need to punch the man reared its head at the implication in Hetty’s words. Not to mention the odd throwaway comment he’d heard David make, and the way that Sophie had hardly spoken a word in her husband’s presence had started to make sense.
“Still,” she stood up, “at least tomorrow’s dinner party will be much more fun,” she added as she walked towards him, “good night,” she smiled as she took his hand briefly. He responded in kind and glanced at the carriage clock on the mantelpiece, noticing that it was past midnight.
“Happy birthday Hetty Woodstone,” he said as he raised her hand and kissed the back of it.
Hetty gave him a small smile, before she walked out of the room, feeling every inch the young girl she had once been.
Notes:
The original ending for this chapter, involved the birthday dinner at Isaac's house. However this was running on a bit long, and it actually works a little better in the next chapter.
Thanks for reading. More soon.💚💚
Chapter 6: Act 2: Part 2
Notes:
Thanks for the love for the previous chapters and this story so far. Writing this has been a great journey so far, so seeing the love you've given it just makes it so worthwhile. 🫶🏻🩷
Also special shout-out to ZettaSerda cos she's been waiting to meet Alice since chapter one and she's about get her wish.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Hetty pushed open the door to her sitting room, there had been a steady stream of people stopping by all day and she had just wanted a moment to herself, before she had to get ready. She was also slightly put out that bar a few moments in passing, she hadn’t actually seen Trevor all day. She had come to find that she definitely felt something for him, something she wasn’t quite sure she knew how to put a name to.
As she walked further into the room, her eyes landed on a small blue box with white ribbon that had been placed on the table. Hetty sat down on the couch and picked it up. She pulled off the lid and picked up the card that was atop the paper inside.
“Happy birthday.”
Though he hadn’t signed his name, she knew that it had to have come from Trevor. She recognised his handwriting from the various bits of paperwork he’d left in the library. Hetty pushed aside the paper and pulled out the figurine. It wasn’t the exact same as the one that had been smashed, but it still fit with the rest of the room. She checked the hallmark and she realised the sculptor wasn’t even American, but French. She felt her heart skip and her breath catch as she realised the lengths that Trevor had to have gone to to find it.
It certainly showed more thought than the diamond necklace that Elias had sent her. Though she knew that necklace hadn’t been something Elias chose personally. He just had a jeweler send something on the important dates so he didn’t have to remember or make any effort. She felt a few tears well up at the thought that someone she’d known for two months would get her a more meaningful present than her actual husband. She stood up and placed it on the shelf alongside the others there.
“Do you like it?”
Hetty turned to see Trevor standing in the doorway, a wide smile on his face. She crossed the room quickly and threw her arms around him.
“I take it that’s a yes,” he commented as he wrapped his arms around her, and tried to ignore the floral scent of her perfume and the feel of her face against his neck.
“It is,” she smiled against his neck, “thank you,” she lifted her head slightly and pressed a kiss to his cheek, letting her lips linger there for a moment.
The clock in the hallway struck five, causing them both to take a step back from each other.
“We should probably change,” Hetty said as she smoothed out imaginary creases in her dress. “Isaac is expecting us at 7.”
Trevor nodded. “I will see you in the foyer in an hour.”
The carriage jolted and lurched as it trundled along the road towards the Higgintoot’s. Trevor kept repeating the mantra ‘get a grip’ over and over in his mind. The cabin of the carriage wasn’t exactly large to begin with but with the wide skirts of Hetty’s dress it had felt rather small. Not to mention the fact that he sat rather close to her. Since their earlier hug, she had changed her scent and it was a little heavier than it had been. That, combined with the soft yellow of her dress was making him think all kinds of thoughts that were not really appropriate. Especially when he thought about the neckline of the dress and how it went just low enough to tease while still being completely modest. It wouldn’t have been so bad if it was just an attraction he felt towards her. That was something he could manage. This though, this felt like it could be something deeper, something that he was not yet able, or even willing, to put a name to.
“Snap out of it,” he muttered to himself.
“What was that?” Hetty asked as she turned to face him.
“Nothing,” he lied as the carriage came to a stop.
The driver opened the door and Trevor got out first before he turned and held out his hand to help Hetty out of the carriage. He looped her arm through his as they walked up the steps to the front door. Almost as soon as they reached the front door it was opened by Isaac.
“Come in, come in,” he said, “Nancy take their cloaks.”
Trevor jumped as a small woman appeared from behind one of the pillars and helped to remove their cloaks before she disappeared back into the shadows. Isaac led them across the hallway towards the drawing room.
“Trevor, you have not yet met Beatrice’s cousin Alice,” Isaac said as he indicated the blonde woman in a purple dress sat beside Beatrice.
“It’s nice to meet you Trevor,” Alice smiled, “Bea has told me so much about you.”
“I hope they were good things,” Trevor smiled, while Hetty’s eyes widened at the implications of Alice's statement.
“Naturally,” Alice replied, “what else could she have said?”
“Plenty I’m sure,” Nigel commented.
“Now, now, Nigel, play nice,” Isaac admonished as he passed Hetty and Trevor two champagne flutes. “Now that the birthday girl is here, I propose a toast,” he smiled. “Dearest Henrietta, I have known you for most of our lives and I can say with complete sincerity that you are my best friend,” he added, “so on this most auspicious of days, I would like you all to raise your glasses to my dear friend, ‘happy birthday Hetty’.”
“Happy birthday Hetty,” echoed around the room and Hetty ducked her head, a blush covering her cheeks. She glanced back up and caught Trevor’s eye. She noticed the soft look in his eyes and hoped that her blush hadn’t deepened. From his spot by the couch, Isaac looked at the pair and smiled. It had been a while since he had seen this side of Hetty, the one who was full of hope. He was glad that her life hadn’t completely snuffed it out of her, and hoped she stayed this way for a while.
Dinner at the Higgintoot’s was a stark contrast to the dinner they’d had last night. No one person dominated the conversation, and Hetty didn’t make herself small at all. For that Trevor was glad. He loved the more playful side of Hetty. He had also enjoyed Isaac regaling them with tales of Hetty’s childhood years, especially the rebellious streak she’d had as a teenager. He would never look at the lake in the same way after learning that Hetty had once thrown Elias’ school books into it after he proclaimed her too stupid to understand the words in them. Mostly because she knew he would be too scared to dive into the lake and retrieve them because he couldn't swim. Every day it seemed as though he learnt about another facet of her personality. Getting to peel away the layers of Hetty Woodstone was becoming something he loved to do.
Trevor walked back from the washroom, wondering how he could sweet talk Beatrice into letting them take a couple of pieces of cake back to the mansion. He wondered if it’d work if they said it was for the children. He was fairly sure that Beatrice would have no way of knowing if he and Hetty would actually be the ones to eat the slices. He could just imagine them sitting in the library, with a cup of tea or coffee, and only the low light from the fireplace illuminating the scene. He turned the corner to walk back to the drawing room, when he heard the sound of low voices and something being knocked in the dining room. He had left Isaac and Nigel in there and he thought they’d been getting along. Trevor made a slight detour and pushed open the dining room door.
“Is everything okay in here, I just…” he tailed off as he walked further into the room to see Isaac and Nigel with their arms around each other, locked in a close embrace that spoke of deep intimacy. “Uhm, I’ll leave you to it,” he added, before he turned and headed back into the foyer and across to the drawing room.
He paused outside the door to the drawing room, needing a moment to collect his thoughts. It didn’t bother him, he’d encountered several men similar to Isaac in his life, and it certainly gave answers to a couple of questions he’d had. Trevor also figured that Hetty must be aware of it, after all she was his closest friend. But the question still lingered as to how much she actually knew. He did recall Beatrice saying that Hetty had been the one to introduce Alice and Nigel. He shook his head and walked into the room. He’d ask Hetty when they were on the way back to the mansion.
“Is everything alright?” Hetty asked as she looked up from her conversation with Beatrice and Alice.
“Fine,” he replied.
“So, Trevor,” Alice said as he took a seat opposite them, “how do you like managing the Woodstone empire?”
“I like it very much,” he replied, “it's a welcome break from the stock exchange.”
“Did you not like it there?”
“I do. It’s just nicer sometimes to have a more sedate work environment,” he replied, “besides this is a useful experience should I wish to make a change at some point,” he added, glancing over at Hetty, “though I very much hope I can stay managing the factories for a while.”
Hetty ducked her head to conceal her blush. His words had warmed her heart. She looked back up and pointedly ignored the amused glances that Beatrice and Alice were sharing. She looked back over at Trevor who looked like he was lost in thought. Though she quickly saw how it changed when he caught her watching him. She wondered just what was on his mind.
“Well, I do hope you stay,” Alice commented, “it’s been so long since we last saw Hetty so…” she tailed off as both Hetty and Beatrice lightly hit her arms to shut her up.
***
“Isaac told me you saw him and Nigel,” Hetty said as the carriage started to move.
Trevor turned to look at her. “You knew?”
“Yes,” she replied, “and before you ask, Beatrice and Alice are aware of it too.”
“They are?”
“It's an arrangement that works for them,” Hetty replied with a shrug. “They all get to be with the person they love and no one pays them any notice,” she added. “Marriage always lends an air of respectability to such matters.”
“So Alice isn’t Beatrice’s cousin?”
Hetty shook her head. “They were childhood friends. There were rumors about them when they grew up about how close they were. Isaac had served under her father during the Civil War, so was already acquainted with her. He made Beatrice an offer of marriage with the understanding that it was in name only. Several weeks after their wedding, Alice joined them up here,” she added with a shrug. “Then a few years later, Isaac met Nigel and introduced him to both Alice and Beatrice. I then hosted a dinner party where Alice and Nigel were ‘formally introduced’. No one was any the wiser as to the nature of the relationships,” she turned to look at Trevor. The hint of moonlight that came through the small carriage window, made her glare look dangerous. “This isn’t going to be a problem for you is it?”
“No,” Trevor replied instantly. Isaac's personal life was none of his business. He also got the feeling that if he had said it was a problem, Hetty would've thrown him out of the carriage while it was still moving. “I’m just surprised that you would facilitate such an arrangement.”
“Isaac is my dearest friend and if I could help make his life a little easier, I would and I have,” she said, “what?” she asked as she saw him smile at her.
“Helping a maid who was in trouble, helping two couples find a way to be together, hiring a foreman with no experience, Hetty Woodstone, you’re all heart aren’t you?”
Hetty blushed. “Well don’t tell anyone, I have a reputation to uphold.”
Trevor smiled and leaned in closer to her. “It’s our little secret,” he nudged her shoulder with his before he moved back to the position he’d previously been sat in.
Trevor walked down the stairs humming a jaunty tune to himself. After last night when she told him the full truth about the Higgintoot’s and Chessum’s, he hoped that it had signaled a turning point in their relationship. One that meant she trusted him. As he stepped out of the front door, he smiled as he saw Hetty sat in the open top horse and carriage with a blanket over her legs.
“Going somewhere nice?”
“There’s a festival in the village, and nanny is graciously allowing me to take the children into the village.”
“I wish I could join you,” he sighed, “but I have to work and,” he lowered his voice. “I want to see if Peter will tell me what’s been on his mind.”
“He has been distracted of late,” Hetty agreed as the front door opened to reveal Thomas and Adeline running out of the door and up into the carriage. Thomas chose to sit close to Hetty and cuddled against her while Adeline sat opposite them.
“Remember to behave,” the nanny said from her position by the front steps.
“Yes nanny,” they chorused as Hetty draped the blankets over their legs.
“Well, I’ll let you get on,” Trevor said, raising his hat. “Ma’am, Miss Adeline, Master Thomas.”
“Bye,” the two children waved, while Hetty just blushed lightly as the driver set off.
Trevor watched as it disappeared down the drive, before he turned in the direction of the factories.
***
Trevor walked into the office and frowned when he saw Peter looking like he had spent the night sleeping in the office itself. He closed the door behind him and walked back over to the desk.
“Okay, what’s been going on?” he asked, “you’ve been all over the place for a fortnight now.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing,” he commented, “it won’t go any further.”
Peter sighed as he removed his glasses and rubbed the back of his hand across his eyes. “I found out that Carol has been having an affair with one of my closest friends.”
“Oh,” Trevor commented as he took a seat opposite Peter. “I’m sorry,” he said, unsure of what to say. “How long exactly?”
“A year,” he said as he held his head in his hands, “and I don’t know what to do about it,” he sighed. “I start divorce proceedings, she loses everything. But if I stay, what does that make me?”
“Someone trying to do the best for his daughter,” Trevor said, “you can’t deprive her of her mother, and however you feel about Carol, you wouldn’t want her to be left with nothing.”
“I’m sure she’d be fine,” he remarked, “especially with Jerry about.”
“But still with adultery on the records, her reputation is still ruined.”
Peter inclined his head in agreement as he put his glasses back on. “Come on, we should get out there.”
Trevor watched as Peter walked out of the office. He couldn’t imagine how his friend was feeling right now. Of course the irony wasn’t lost on him. Here he was consoling a friend while harboring feelings for a married woman himself. Of course he wasn’t going to act on it, no matter how much he would actually like too.
Things had been going so well that at some point something was bound to blow up. Trevor just hadn’t expected it to be over Peter Martino’s marriage. Trevor passed Hetty the glass of wine as he sat next to her on the couch. After dinner she had invited him up to her private sitting room for a drink as opposed to the drawing room. So that no one could speculate about what they were doing in there (though he figured the staff would anyway) the door was kept open and they were sat several feet apart.
“I found out what’s been bothering Peter,” he said after a brief lull in the conversation. “Turns out Carol’s been having an affair with his friend Jerry.”
“How humiliating,” Hetty commented as she took a sip from her drink.
“Humiliating?” Trevor asked, he’d expected her to show some compassion, she had been in the same position. “You’re both in a similar situation, you think…”
“Peter and I are not the same,” she interrupted as she stood up, “wives expect to be cheated on, this is just weird and sad.”
“All heart aren’t you?” Trevor muttered under his breath before he stood up. “You can’t help who you fall in love with.”
“Of course you can,” Hetty insisted. “Socialize with the right people and you can fall for one of them. Everyone’s happy.”
“And was your painter part of the ‘right people’? Were you thinking about his family being the ‘right sort’ when you spent those afternoons in his studio, falling into his bed?” he snapped without thinking, regretting it instantly. He saw the hurt that appeared in her eyes, along with tears and ghosts of the past. “I’m…” he tailed off as she held a hand out to stop him in his tracks before she walked out of the sitting room. He heard her heels walk down the hallway and then the door to her room slam shut.
“Fucking putz,” he chastised himself, before he left the room and walked to his own room. He was already planning how he was going to apologize.
Hetty sat at her vanity and studied her reflection in the mirror. She was relieved to see that the fact that she had spent most of the night sat by the window wallowing in memories wasn’t visible on her face. She usually kept her defenses up, but with Trevor, he just had a way of sneaking in under them. Which meant that he could be relied upon to find the parts that bruised the most. Hetty had to admit he did have a point, the heart always did its own thing. While not as close to Peter as Trevor was, she did consider him to be something of a friend so she supposed she could have expressed a more supportive point of view. Especially when he himself had been supportive of her in the past.
She turned as the door to her room opened and watched as her ladies maid walked in carrying an arrangement of flowers.
“These just arrived for you Mrs Woodstone,” she said as she set the vase on the vanity.
There were only two flowers in the arrangement, purple hyacinths and a couple of yellow roses. She smiled, catching the meaning in the flowers. A reaffirmation of their friendship with the yellow roses, and then the purple hyacinths that conveyed a simple message. It was only two words, but words that held a lot of power. I’m sorry
“I don’t think I’ll wear the blue today,” Hetty said as she placed the card in her keepsake box. “I think I’ll wear the white outfit with the red rose pattern instead.”
“Very good,” the maid nodded.
*****
Trevor looked up from the plans he was studying to see Hetty stood in the doorway. He felt his heart skip as he took in the white outfit she wore. Once again he was amazed that she would choose to wear a color that could easily show up the dirt, but there was not a hint of dirt anywhere. The only color came from the red roses that lined the lapels of the jacket and covered the skirt and bustle. The outfit was finished off by a pair of white gloves and a matching white hat perched on her head.
“Thank you for the flowers,” she said as she walked further into the office.
“Why…” he coughed, “uh why do you think I sent them?” he asked as she came to stand beside him.
“No one else would send me flowers as an apology,” she smiled, “and I’m sorry too. For getting so defensive.”
“You had your reasons.”
“Perhaps, but I could’ve been more sensitive to the situation,” she replied, “like you said, I do have that in common with him,” she added, “so what are you looking at?”
“It's the expansion plans for the factory down in Brooklyn,” he replied, “Augustus Wharton wants us to sign off on them first. Since they will be a part of the Woodstone empire.”
Hetty nodded as she looked over the blueprints. Not one other person, save for Peter, had actually taken the time to explain the minute details of the businesses to her. The tumultuous feelings she had begun to feel around him in recent weeks made an appearance once again and she wasn’t entirely sure what to do about them.
“Mrs Woodstone, I didn’t expect to see you here,” Peter said as he walked into the office.
“It was rather spur of the moment,” she replied as she walked around the desk. “Mr Lefkowitz was showing me the plans for the new factory,” she added, “the pair of you make a good team,” she smiled before it fell, “I was sorry to hear about your wife, is there anything that I can do to help?”
“Oh, uhm, thank you,” he replied, “but it’s fine,” he pushed his glasses back up his nose.
“Well let me know if that changes,” Hetty said with a small smile, “I’ll leave you two to your work,” she said before she turned and walked out of the office.
“Did you really have to tell her?” Peter asked as he turned to look at Trevor.
“It came up in the conversation,” Trevor replied with a shrug, as he turned to look out of the window.
Peter walked over to see what he was looking at. He watched as Trevor’s eyes followed Hetty as she walked down the path. He noticed the softness in his friend’s eyes and shook his head. While he knew that you couldn't help who you fell in love with, that the heart didn't think logically, he just hoped that Trevor wasn’t about to do anything stupid.
Notes:
Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it 💚
Chapter 7: Act 2: Part 3
Notes:
So when looking up something for this chapter I learnt that while they were black opera singers in 19th Century America (the most prominent being Elizabeth Greenfield) they wouldn't have been allowed a principal role in an opera at the Met (that didn't come until Marian Anderson in 1955), however I'm choosing to ignore that for the opera visit at the beginning of the chapter. The Italian lyrics are a loose translation of lyrics from 'Never Enough' from The Greatest Showman.
Also, another shout out to ZettaSerda whose pictures of the Palais Garnier actually helped to inspire parts of this chapter.
Hope you enjoy it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Trevor stood outside the Metropolitan Opera House feeling like a fool. He wished he had taken Hetty up on her offer of staying at the Woodstone townhouse. However, he had chosen to stay in the room he’d occupied before he had taken up his managerial post. He had missed the Finlay family while he’d been upstate and had wanted to catch up with them. Now though, he just felt awkward as he waited for Hetty to arrive. He wished he could have been in the carriage with her. He turned at the sound of carriages approaching. The first came to a stop and Isaac and Nigel got out before they joined him in waiting for the second carriage to come to a stop.
Nigel walked up to the carriage first and helped Alice out. She had chosen to wear a dress of vivid purple with a silver collar. Her blonde hair was tied back in a chignon and a dainty diamond tiara was nestled delicately on the top of her head. Beatrice got out of the carriage next, in a dress of sapphire blue and a matching cape. While she wore her hair pulled back, her tiara was placed around her forehead. The two women gave Trevor an amused glance before they walked inside the building.
Trevor walked over to the carriage and took the white gloved hand that Hetty held out to him, to help her out of the carriage. Unlike the other two women, Trevor couldn’t tell what color she was wearing as it was completely covered up by the floor length black brocade cape with gold accents. Her hair was piled atop her head with a few loose curls framing her face. A gold and ruby tiara nestled against the bun. A pair of ruby teardrop earrings hung from her lobes and a black choker with a ruby in the centre was wrapped around her throat.
“You look beautiful,” he said as he escorted her up the stairs.
“You haven’t seen my full outfit yet.”
“True, but I know you’ll look beautiful regardless.”
They walked into the foyer and Trevor looked around in awe. It was every bit as expensive as he’d heard. Everything was gilded in gold. The marble floors, the winding staircases were every bit as exquisite and luxurious as they could possibly be.
Trevor turned back to look at Hetty and his mouth dropped in awe. She wore a sleeveless dress of bright crimson. The bustle trailed around into a sweeping train with a couple of black rosettes stitched on. The upper left of the neckline was decorated with black and red rosettes. She raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for his response.
“Beautiful,” he breathed, before he passed his own cloak and top hat to the attendant. He quickly hurried up the stairs to join her and the throng of other people in attendance. He let her loop her arm through his as he escorted her up the staircase.
“You could almost pass for a gentleman,” she murmured as they swept through the crowds towards the box.
“I’ve always been a gentleman,” Trevor said with mock offense.
“Hetty!”
Trevor watched as Hetty paused, and plastered a fake smile on her face, before she turned around.
“Mamie, how nice to see you again,” she said, voice dripping with bitter sweetness, “how was Europe?”
“So beautiful,” Mamie replied in the same tone, “not that you would know,” she added. “And who’s this?”
“This is Mr Lefkowitz, he manages our factories,” Hetty replied as she introduced the two, “yes I decided that it was time to make sure he got some culture,” she added, giving Trevor an apologetic side glance.
“Well, I must go. Mrs Astor has asked me to join her in her box.”
“How nice,” Hetty smiled. She watched as Mamie walked away before she turned back to face Trevor, “dreadful woman,” she added as they started walking once again.
“So that was Mamie Fish?”
“Yes,” Hetty replied through pursed lips, “she’s always had it out for me. I never knew why,” she shrugged.
“Probably because you outmatch her in every way,” Trevor replied, with a playful raise of his eyebrows. Hetty turned her head and gave him a wicked grin.
“I think I might have you escort me to a lot of functions from now on,” she said as an usher held open the door to their box.
Isaac, Nigel, Beatrice and Alice had already taken their seats. Two at the front of the box had been left for them. Hetty swept her bustle to one side and took a seat, while Trevor sat in the seat beside her.
While Hetty picked up her opera glasses, Trevor glanced around the auditorium. He looked at the other boxes, both those on the same level and above them. Each box had the same decorations, red walls and carpet, red chairs with gold frames, glass lamps on the walls with a gently flickering flame. The tiny barriers that separated the boxes were the same red velvet that made the curtains at the back of the box. The front of the box was carved out of white marble and gold leaves decorated it in an intricate pattern. He glanced a couple of boxes over and caught sight of the box that belonged to the Vanderbilt’s. Naturally, it was that little bit more fancy than the others, due to the fact that they were partially responsible for the funding of the Metropolitan Opera. Trevor glanced at the singer on the stage and frowned. He recognised her from somewhere, but he couldn’t put his finger on where from. However, when she turned in their direction, he let out a low gasp of recognition. It was the same woman he’d purchased the figurine from. He had no idea that she was also a talented opera singer.
Trevor had never really understood the point of opera. He much preferred other forms of entertainment. However, he had to admit he was starting to see the appeal of it. Even if the majority of the reasons he’d started to develop an appreciation of the genre revolved around the fact that he had gotten to see Hetty all dressed up. The reasons also included the way he’d admired every minute change of her face as the emotion of the music got to her. He still didn’t understand what the plot of the opera was, but then he wasn’t certain that anyone actually did. He figured that they were mostly there to keep their positions in society.
He glanced over at Hetty and noticed the glistening tear tracks down her cheek. He pulled out the handkerchief from his top pocket and wordlessly passed it over to her. She swiped it under her eyes and gave him a grateful smile. He watched as the same singer from earlier returned to the stage as the music for the next aria started up.
'Prendi la mia mano, condividi questo con me?'
He felt the silk from her glove brush his hand and glanced down to see that Hetty was attempting to take his hand. He loosened his fist and took her hand in his, noting the way she was keeping her eyes trained firmly on the stage.
'Tutto lo splendore di mille faretti, tutte le stelle che rubiamo al cielo notturno, non saranno mai abbastanza'
As the music swelled, Hetty turned her head and locked eyes with Trevor. Both shared a glance that seemed to speak of many things. Even those that they had yet to realize for themselves. She squeezed his hand before she turned back to what was on the stage. Trevor continued to watch Hetty, the kernel of a feeling starting to grow. He looked down at their hands still clasped together and wished he could be holding her hand without the fabric between them.
~*~*~*~
After the show was over, they mingled amongst the others in attendance. Trevor had seen Hetty hold her own on a business level, but now he was getting to see Hetty on a grander social scale. She already secured an invite to a dinner with the Astor’s the following week, as well as dropped a few hints about her New Years Eve Masked Ball, which had several people eager to know when the invitations would be sent out. She had already confided in Trevor that Mamie Fish’s invite would be in the second batch sent out as opposed to the first batch.
After making the rounds, they once again found themselves standing beside the Higgintoot’s and Chessum’s. They were talking to the Prima Donna of the evening, Alberta Haynes. Trevor hoped that she would not bring up the fact that she had been the one to help him find the figurine he’d brought for her birthday. He didn’t want everyone to know that he had feelings for a married woman. Even if he got the impression that several people were already aware of it.
“Hello again,” Alberta said as she caught sight of Trevor, “and this must be the lady who the figurine was for.”
“Yes,” he replied as he turned to look at Hetty, “I was just looking in her shop and she gave me some advice,” he said hurriedly, hoping his tone conveyed the fact that he didn’t want what he’d said to be revealed.
“Well thank you for helping him,” Hetty said as she turned back to Alberta and tried to figure out why Trevor was acting oddly. “It really was a beautiful piece.”
“You get to know what people want in my line of work,” Alberta commented, “of course this is what I really love,” she added as she indicated the opera house interior, “but I don’t make enough to make this a full time gig,” she added with a resigned tone.
“Maybe that will change one day,” Alice commented with a smile.
“Lord, I hope so.”
~*~*~*~
“I wish you were returning to Woodstone with us tomorrow,” Hetty said as they stood outside the opera house. “I’ve gotten used to having you there.”
“I’ll be back to annoy you in ten days,” Trevor replied with a smile as he took her hand and helped her into the carriage.
“I hope you have a peaceful Hanukkah, Trevor,” she said as she finally let her hand drop from his. Both feeling the loss of the hold. “I’ll see you soon.”
“See you soon,” he smiled, before he closed the carriage door and sent it on its way.
~*~*~*~
“You’re smitten,” Alice commented as the carriage trundled down the road towards fifth avenue.
“What?”
“We saw you holding his hand,” Beatrice chimed in, “you’re infatuated with him.”
“You could do worse,” Alice pointed out, “technically you already have, by virtue of your husband.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hetty huffed, before she turned to look out the carriage window, missing the amused looks shared between Alice and Beatrice. If she wasn’t ready to admit it, they weren’t going to push the topic.
Despite the fact that a small part of him was starting to consider Woodstone mansion home, there was something comforting about walking down the street he’d grown up on that made it feel like he was coming home. Every inch of the street held a memory for him. The small park where he’d had his first kiss, the barn he’d ran away to and hid inside of when he didn’t want to attend his lessons. He walked up the front steps and before he could knock on the door, it was flung open and he was pulled into his mother’s embrace.
“Oh let me look at you,” Esther said as she pulled back, “you look so much more like yourself now,” she added, “getting away from those colleagues at the stock exchange has been good for you.”
“It’s been two months, I doubt I have changed that much,” Trevor said as he walked into the house.
“You have,” Esther commented, “a mother knows. Now go put your things in your room, your father’s gone to get your grandparents.”
“Where’s Jeremy?”
“At the store. Your father’s made him assistant manager.”
“Good for him,” Trevor smiled, glad that his younger brother was starting to find his way.
~*~*~*~
Trevor looked around the table and smiled. He couldn’t remember the last time it had been more than just him, his brother and parents. The past few years, there had always been something that prevented a full family get together. Of course they were missing his aunts, uncles and cousins that hadn’t been able to make it, but this was still nice. Though he would never tell another soul about getting teary eyed when his grandfather had read the blessing over the first candle lit on the Menorah. It took him right back to his childhood. Even the way his bubbeh had hugged him, made him feel like he was five years old.
“So bubbeleh, have you found a nice girl to make your wife yet?”
Trevor had chosen that moment to have some of his drink and had ended up choking on it. “Not yet,” he replied, looking over at her, as Jeremy clapped him on the back.
“I think you’re lying,” Jeremy commented, “you just don’t want us to know that you’ve got a shiksa in the city.”
“We do not use that word in this house,” Esther said as she smacked the back of Jeremy’s head, “if she’s good to my boy, I don’t care,” she added, leveling a glare at her mother-in-law who could be conservative in her viewpoint.
“I agree,” she said, shocking them all. She’d always talked about her grandsons marrying respectable Jewish women.
“But is there someone special?” his grandfather pressed.
“No,” he lied. He was harboring feelings for someone, but he didn’t think they’d approve of it being a married woman. He bent his head and turned his attention back to his dinner, missing the looks sent his way by his mother.
Despite the sun having barely risen, the entire house smelled of the holiday. Rachel had gotten them all up early, preparing everything for the big dinner that evening. While Lenny and Seth had gone out to collect the goose from the butchers, Rachel had put the other three to work. If they weren’t cutting up vegetables or preparing the babka’s they were cleaning or setting the table. It was well known that Rachel Lefkowitz liked to go all out for the eighth night of Hanukkah, and this was shaping up to be one for the ages.
As Trevor looked around the room, he wished that he could have brought Hetty with him. He could show her what a proper family dinner looked like, and not the mess that had been that Woodstone dinner last month. He smiled as he thought of Hetty, sat at the table sharing stories with his mother, while his bubbeh snuck sweet treats to Adeline and Thomas, and Jeremy taught them all of the curse words that Hetty would definitely not approve of. He rubbed his chest as he felt a pang of sadness. There was no way that image would ever come to pass. The only way it would was if something drastic happened, but even then, they would presumably still be hounded by worry. Hetty deserved more than a life of looking over her shoulder for Elias.
“Who is she?”
Trevor turned to see his mom looking at him with her patented ‘don’t lie to me boy’ look on her face. “Someone extremely out of my reach.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do,” he said with a sad smile, “even if she felt the same way, it would take a miracle for us to even be together.”
“Well,” Esther said with a thoughtful smile, “this is a holiday about miracles, maybe you’re due one,” she added as she kissed his cheek before she headed back into the kitchen.
Trevor smiled, his mom always had a way of making him, and other people, feel hopeful. He heard the front door open and hurried out into the hallway to help his father and grandfather. He took the wrapped bird from his grandfather’s hand and put it in the kitchen.
“We need to say an extra prayer over dinner tonight,” Seth said as he sat at the kitchen table.
“Why?”
“There was a fire at a factory up-state,” he replied and Trevor felt his blood turn to ice. “There were a few unfortunate souls that lost their lives.”
Trevor gripped the edge of the counter so tightly, his knuckles turned white. He couldn’t think that way, but his mind wouldn’t let up. “Where up-state?”
“Ulster County,” Lenny replied, “isn’t that where you…” he tailed off as Trevor rushed out of the kitchen and up to his room.
As he flung his stuff into his suitcase, Trevor tried to ignore that tiny voice in the back of his mind that spouted the darkest thoughts. He didn’t want to give it fuel, but the idea that Hetty could be seriously injured or worse, was like a dagger in his heart. The thought that he would never see her again, hear her laugh, see her blue eyes sparkle whenever she would tease him, caused a deep sadness to rush through him. He shut the suitcase, locked it and hurried back downstairs.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he quickly hugged each of them, “but I’ve got to go. If…”
“It’s okay bubbeleh,” Rachel said as she patted his arm, “we understand.”
“Though surely if it was a Woodstone factory they would’ve sent you a telegram by now,” Jeremy pointed out, getting another smack from his mother.
“Let us know that everything is okay.”
Trevor nodded at his mom before he hurried out of the front door and towards the train station.
The carriage had barely come to a stop, before Trevor was climbing out of the cabin and giving the driver double his fee for making it a quick journey from the station. As it turned and headed back down the drive, Trevor let out a sigh of relief as he saw Hetty walking towards him. She was in her purple riding outfit, and pulling off her gloves.
He watched as she frowned when she saw him, clearly wondering what he was doing here, a couple of days earlier than he said he’d return. He dropped his suitcase by the fountain and rushed over to her, wrapping his arms around her. She hesitated for a moment before she wrapped her arms around him in return. As he breathed in her floral scent, he felt tears well up. Seeing her unharmed was reassurance enough that she was still here, but actually holding her. Literal, tangible proof that she was alive was overwhelming.
“Please do not take this the wrong way,” Hetty said as he pulled back, “but what are you doing here?”
“I heard about the factory fire and I had to know that you were okay,” he replied as he took her hands in his. Aware that for the first time, their bare hands were actually touching.
“What factory fi…” she frowned before the realization hit, “you mean the one at the Farnsby’s?”
“The Farnsby’s?” he repeated.
Hetty nodded somberly. “Something to do with some of their machinery rusting and being a hazard,” she shrugged, “all their remaining factories have been closed. We took on many of the workers, but there are still numerous unemployed and they have to pay a very large fine.”
“You could look less gleeful.”
“I’m sorry for those without employment and those who died,” she replied, “but the Farnsby’s brought it on themselves,” she added. “So you left your family, on the last day of one of the most important holidays in your religion, just because you thought I was injured or worse?”
“Well when you say it like that,” Trevor replied, with an awkward laugh.
“Why?” she asked, “why would you do that?”
Trevor sighed softly and stepped a little closer, studying her face closely. The black lace veil that hung from her hat, made her eyes look even more blue, and he felt his pulse pick up a little. ‘That was the question wasn’t it?’ he thought to himself. The one question he’d been trying to answer, all the way back here. The answer had hit him the moment he’d seen her walking towards him. The one thing he’d been denying to himself for the past few weeks.
“Hey!”
The pair turned to see who had interrupted them. Trevor frowned as he saw Sasappis and another man, who he was fairly sure was a viking of old. The taller of the two men was pulling a cart with several packages bundled up on it.
“We bring meat order,” Thor said as he approached them. He looked Trevor up and down, as if sizing him up and noted how the pair were holding hands. “This him?” he asked Sasappis who nodded. Trevor dreaded to think what had been said about him. “Thor watching,” he said, before he took the cart round to the back door nearest the kitchen.
“Don’t mind him,” Sasappis said with a smile. “He’s mostly harmless,” he added. “Unless you hurt someone he cares about then he would chop you in half.”
“Sasappis, do not tease him like that,” Hetty smiled, “now come inside, you and Thorfinn should get a warm drink before you head back,” she added as she dropped Trevor’s hand, before she walked inside.
Trevor watched as Hetty walked inside, not sure if he hated Sasappis and Thor for interrupting them, or if their interruption was fate intervening to stop him making a big mistake. Either way there was no way he could hide the truth from himself anymore. He was in love with Hetty Woodstone and it was simultaneously the best and worst realization he had ever had.
Notes:
So now Trevor's admitted to himself what he's been denying for a while. Guess it must mean Hetty's due her revelation soon.
Thanks for reading. More soon 💚💚💚
Chapter 8: Act 2: Part 4
Notes:
Thanks for the love for the last chapter. 💚💚
As far as I'm aware we never knew the name of Hetty's artist beau, so I've christened him Henry. It's not important to this chapter, I just make a passing reference to him and felt I should explain in advance so you weren't all "who's that?" Also, there's a passing reference to the name of the character played by Christine Baranski (Agnes Van Rhijn) in The Gilded Age, who I think would be good friends with Hetty.
Anyways let's crank the tension up a notch shall we?
Oh and happy Ghosts season 3 finale day.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The season’s first snow fell two weeks later. The inhabitants of Woodstone mansion had awoken to find the lake frozen over and the grounds covered in snow. Trevor looked out of the window as he finished getting ready, and thought about how hard the workers would have to trudge through the snow to get there. Still maybe he could figure out a way to let them go early. They deserved to spend some time with their families. Especially those with young children. He had fond memories of playing in the snow with his parents when he was younger.
He walked out of his room, and smiled as he caught sight of Hetty coming out of her room. She smiled back as they reached the stairs and descended them together.
“Are you going to the factory today?”
“Of course,” he replied. He frowned as he watched her face fall, “did you not want me to?”
“Well, the children and I were going out on the lake later, and I was rather hoping that you would join us.”
“You want me to join you?” he asked, and watched as Hetty shrugged, clearly trying not to show how much she would actually like him to join them.
“Well, I’m sure that Peter can manage without me,” Trevor mused, “for a few hours at least.”
“Wonderful,” she replied with a bright smile, as they walked into the dining room and took their seats.
~*~*~*~
Trevor stood at the edge of the lake and looked out over the frozen water. It had been a while since he had last ice skated. He just hoped that he wasn’t going to make a fool of himself and trip over his own feet on the ice leaving him with a bruised behind, ego and a lot of embarrassment. He sat on one of the small chairs that the staff had put out for them, and proceeded to swap his shoes for the skates and lacing them up. He turned his head at the soft crunching of snow and watched as the young boy came to stand beside him, a nervous expression on his face.
“First time on the ice?”
Thomas nodded. “Mama said I was too young last year,” he looked out over the lake, then back at Trevor. “Is it scary?”
“Not really.”
“Show me,” Thomas said imperiously. Trevor smiled at that. Already the kid had his mother’s attitude. He hoped that the kid would keep it and not have it snuffed out by his father and be forced to become a mini Elias.
“Okay, but first you need to put the skates on.”
~*~*~*~
Hetty walked down towards the lake, her hand in Adeline’s as she chatted away about what she’d been learning in her lessons. Hetty felt a pang of sadness as she realised that soon they would have to get a governess in for her. Her daughter was growing up and she didn’t know that much about her.
“Do you think we could go to Paris one day, mother?” Adeline asked.
“That would be nice wouldn’t it?” Hetty smiled. She chose not to break her daughter’s heart by telling her just how unlikely it was that they would get that far. Elias could take trips abroad, but God forbid Hetty did.
“Look at Thomas!” Adeline cried as they reached the lake’s edge.
For a moment Hetty thought the worst, that he’d fallen through ice or that he was injured. But as she turned her attention to the lake, she smiled and her heart skipped a beat. For all the nerves that he’d had earlier, Thomas was skating almost like a natural, holding onto Trevor’s hand as he patiently explained what to do. The fact that Trevor was being so patient with him, where Elias was always snapping at Thomas for being too inquisitive, warmed her heart.
Adeline broke free of her mother’s hold and rushed to change her shoes for skates before she quickly skated over to her brother and their new friend. Hetty watched as Trevor wordlessly made space for her in the little circle and allowed her to help him show Thomas what to do. She watched as Trevor skated a little bit away from them, starting up a game of chase. She sat on one of the chairs, removed her boots and replaced them with the ice skates, before she joined them out on the lake. She tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach when she saw Trevor’s face brighten as he saw her skating towards them.
“Finally decided to join us then?”
“Couldn’t let you have all the fun.” she responded, before she skated over to join her children. Hetty skated round to face Trevor and give him a smirk, challenging him to come chase them.
The sounds of laughter rang out as a game of chase was played. Hetty couldn’t help but smile as Thomas grew in confidence on the ice. She had to thank Trevor for that one. All month, Thomas had been scared of the ice, especially of falling through it. Of course that particular fear had been born from Thomas overhearing Adeline read Little Women out loud. A loud screech had her spinning round, only to see that it was because Thomas had caught his sister around her waist. As Hetty turned back around, she slipped slightly. She braced herself to land on the ice, however she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist.
“I got you,” Trevor said, his voice soft against her ear. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good,” she replied, as she righted herself. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” he said with a smile and Hetty felt the butterflies take flight again.
By the time they’d finished on the ice, the snow had started to fall once again. Adeline and Thomas had quickly swapped their skates for their usual shoes, before they had run off to build a snowman. Hetty and Trevor were walking the grounds. Trevor had filled her in on the changes he and Peter were planning on making to the factory so that they could avoid an incident like what had happened at the Farnsby’s. Even though she had no actual power in the businesses and couldn't make any actual decisions, she still appreciated being kept abreast of what was going on. It made her feel like she had some actual value.
“So how are the plans coming for the Masked Ball?”
“They’re going great,” she smiled, “I just received word this morning about the entertainment for the ball.”
“Beyond the string quartet?”
“That’s the entertainment for inside,” Hetty replied, with a roll of her eyes, as if he should’ve already been aware of that fact. “This is to entertain the guests outside before they come in.”
“And do I get a hint?”
Hetty leaned in, “one word. Barnum.”
“How’d you manage that?”
“Money talks,” she shrugged, “it’s only going to be a couple of his performers but it's going to be spectacular,” she added, “have you got an outfit yet?”
“I was going to go into the city tomorrow to get it.”
“Don’t bother,” Hetty said with a smile, “I’ll sort it for you,” she added as she walked over to where the children were.
She smiled to herself as she walked away. It had always been a secret dream of hers to wear matching costumes to a masked ball, but Elias had always laughed at the suggestion. So she was going to have her fun, while he was away and give Trevor an outfit of a matching or similar color. No one would know as they would all be wearing masks. It felt rather thrilling to her, to be able to do something so defiant to Elias, even if he wasn’t there to see it. It was all about having fun, and pointedly ignoring what her traitorous heart was trying to tell her.
From her spot by the bottom of the staircase, Hetty surveyed her domain with smug satisfaction. She could hear the cries of amazement from outside and smiled. It had certainly been worth paying Barnum as much as she had for an exclusive performance by his fire eaters. Both Mrs Astor and Mrs Vanderbilt had sought her out separately to congratulate her on her triumph. She had felt a thrill that she had been able to lure them away from their usual New Years Eve parties.
She raised a hand to check that her mask was in place. Unlike some of the other guests, Hetty had chosen a Colombina half face mask. The idea of having her full face covered hadn’t sat right with her. The mask itself was a deep green with swirling gold accents. Gold leaves sat underneath the eyeholes, gold leaves had also been incorporated into her hair, which was in a half up, half down style. Her dress was emerald green with long bell sleeves and a ‘v’ neckline, made of the finest velvet. Threads of gold were woven into the skirt, and created delicate patterns across the bodice giving the illusion that it was sparkling in the light. The cuffs of the sleeves were also gold. The seams of her gloves were also threaded with gold. An emerald choker adorned her throat. Diamond and emerald earrings finished off the look. She pushed herself away from the staircase and melted into the crowd.
“What a glorious party!”
Hetty turned to see Agnes Van Rhijn behind her in a dress of red velvet, a full face mask in red and gold. “Mamie Fish is practically eating crow.”
“That was the intention,” Hetty replied smugly.
“Excuse me,” came a voice from behind them, “might I have a word with the host?”
“Of course,” Hetty nodded, as she recognised the voice, “Agnes we’ll catch up later,” she added as she allowed Trevor to steer her away.
“So what do you think?” he asked, indicating his outfit.
The suit was made out of a deep bottle green velvet. Like Hetty, his mask only covered the top half of his face and was also green and gold. She let her eyes trail over him before she nodded.
“Very nice,” she said as she stroked the lapels of the suit jacket.
“So, will I have the honor of a dance later?”
“I suppose so,” she replied, trying to ignore the butterflies and failing, “Come find me later,” she added, as she walked away.
She could feel his eyes following her and she fought the urge to look over her shoulder at him. Hetty could feel that she was on the cusp of a big revelation and she wasn’t quite sure that she was ready to let those waves crash into her.
~*~*~*~
As she stood in the gazebo, Hetty was glad that her dress had long sleeves and was made of velvet to ward off the chill of the cold December night. Her mind replayed every interaction with Trevor over the past couple of weeks. The gentle way he’d had with her children when they were ice skating. He’d treated them with kindness and like they were actual people and not just something to be kept hidden away until they were adults. Then there was his quiet acceptance of her wanting to know what was going on with the businesses and the way he appreciated whatever advice or insight she could offer him. The glances, the small smiles, all their interactions since that first meeting now being recontextualised and understood on a deeper level. It was…
“Oh,” she breathed as the realization hit her and she admitted that she’d been lying to herself, “ oh no .”
“So this is where you’ve been hiding?”
Hetty turned at the sound of Trevor’s voice and gave him a small smile, the recent realization still on her mind. “It’s only hiding if you don’t want to be found.”
“Do you want to be left alone?”
“No,” she replied, “you know you can take the mask off out here,” she added as she indicated her own mask-less state. She watched as he removed his mask and set it down on one of the benches. “I do believe I promised you a dance.”
“But there’s no music here.”
“Does it matter?” she asked as she held out a hand to him. She watched as he looked between her face and her hand, before he took it and pulled her into a waltz hold. She raised an eyebrow at him.
“My mother always said I should know how to waltz if nothing else,” he replied. Hetty wasn’t surprised that he’d already learnt to recognise her silent questions. As they started to move around the gazebo, Trevor began to hum a gentle tune that was reminiscent of the waltzes that had been played earlier in the evening.
Hetty couldn’t remember the last time she’d danced at a party. Elias preferred to make deals and flirt with other women. And she knew exactly what his reaction would be if he had caught her dancing with someone else. She felt tears well up as she thought about all the parties that she’d basically been a wallflower at. The men she could’ve danced with. She blinked rapidly to try and clear the tears, not wanting to think about the past when she was finally getting to dance at a ball with someone she loved.
“Are you okay?”
Hetty nodded as they came to a stop. “I’m fine,” she tried not to shiver as he placed a hand on her cheek.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course,” she replied, her usual biting tone non-existent, as she tried to not pay attention to how close they were standing.
She noticed the way his eyes kept flicking between her eyes and lips. She knew hers were doing the same. She took a deep breath and placed her own gloved hand on his cheek, gently stroking the skin. She searched his eyes, as if looking for any signs that she shouldn’t do this.
“Hetty I…” he tailed off, as she moved her hand to rest against his mouth. She felt his breath against her fingers and a shiver ran through her. “Cold?”
“No,” she shook her head.
Hetty moved her hand away from his mouth, before she placed it back against his cheek. She stepped closer so that there was practically no space between them, their breaths mingling as their hearts pounded, her free arm wrapping around him. Before she could second guess herself, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his. Almost immediately he responded, pressing back with equal pressure as her eyes fluttered closed. Her mouth opened beneath his and his tongue entered her mouth.
She moved her hand from his cheek and slid her fingers into his hair as she felt his hands move to land on her waist pulling her close. The feel of his hands holding her tight, sent further shivers through her and she felt herself sinking into the kiss.
They pulled apart after a few more seconds, their bodies still close, breaths still mingling. Hetty couldn’t remember the last time she had ever been kissed like that, not sure if she ever had. Even with Henry, she couldn’t remember it ever being so intoxicating. And it terrified her.
“I should get back to the party,” she said as she stepped away from him and picked up her mask.
She put it back on before she hurried back up to the house, trying to make sense of everything that had happened over the past half hour. She’d only just processed the fact that she was in love with Trevor, now she had just experienced the most dizzying kiss she’d ever had. It was more than a little overwhelming.
~*~*~*~
“There you are Hetty,” Isaac said as he walked over to her. His bright blue outfit stood out amongst the crowd. “I thought you’d retired before the midnight hour,” he studied her closely, noting the color in her cheeks. “Henrietta, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she replied as she avoided his gaze in case he could deduce what had occurred out in the gazebo. “How long until midnight?”
Isaac consulted his pocket watch, “half hour away.”
Hetty nodded, “well I’m going to go circulate.”
As she watched Wilson close the door after the last guests had left, Hetty couldn’t help but smile. It had been a triumph. Especially since it had ended at four am. As she had been leaving, Mrs Astor had said – within earshot of Mamie Fish – that she hoped Hetty would be able to make the Masked Ball an annual thing.
“Is everything alright Mrs Woodstone?”
“Of course,” Hetty smiled at her butler, “I’ve left Mrs Reynolds, Monsieur Robért and yourself something to say thank you for all of your help in this whole event.”
“Thank you ma’am.”
“And make sure the staff know that they can sleep in a little,” she added as an afterthought, “I doubt myself or Mr Lefkowitz will be up before midday.”
Wilson nodded as he walked in the direction of the kitchen.
“Oh, and tell Isabella I’ll be ready for her in about ten minutes,” she added, before she headed upstairs.
Hetty walked into her room and pulled off her mask. She set it atop the vanity, before she stood in front of her mirror and studied her reflection. She brought a hand up and traced her lips. That kiss had sparked something inside of her, something she hadn’t felt since she had been nineteen and spending hours in an artist's studio. And yet, this felt different somehow. Stronger even, she looked down at her wedding ring and not for the first time felt the full weight of it as she twisted it between her fingers. She glanced at the back of her bedroom door in the mirror, it would be so easy to walk out the room and down the hall. To listen to what the little voice in the back of her mind was telling her to do.
*
Trevor sat on the edge of his bed, running his hands through his hair. He’d headed upstairs as the ball was coming to an end. He’d fully intended to change into his nightwear, but had only gotten as far as removing part of it, leaving him in just his shirt and pants. His shirt sleeves were rolled up and the mask sat on the bedside cabinet. He had sat on the bed and just hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss. The feel of her lips against his, her soft moans, the feel of her dress beneath his fingertips, the way her body had sunk into his as the kiss had deepened. The way that his hands had itched to explore further.
He stood up and walked over to the window. He couldn’t keep thinking about this and yet he knew he would. Clearly something had spooked her, he just hoped it hadn’t been something he’d done that had caused her to run. Trevor spun around at the sound of a knock on his door, before it creaked open. He felt his heart take lodging in throat as he watched Hetty walk into the room and close the door behind her. This was just like the dream he’d had several weeks ago. Except this time, she had changed out of her dress and was now in a simple white nightgown covered up by a peacock blue robe. Her hair free of any confines. The only sound came from his own beating heart.
“I shouldn’t be here,” she said as she walked further into the room.
“Then why are you?” he asked as met her halfway.
She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. “Because for the first time I’m doing something that I want.”
“And what do you want?” he asked, scarcely daring to breathe.
“You.” she replied before she wrapped an arm around his neck and kissed him.
Unlike the tentative and hesitant nature of their earlier kiss, this was all heat. It didn’t take them long to regain the rhythm they’d been building in the gazebo. As their tongues met, Hetty moaned and tightened the hold she had on him. She could feel the heat from his hands seeping through her nightgown, as it seared his touch onto her skin. His lips moved from hers and started to kiss her neck. She tilted her head back, directing his lips to the hollow of her throat. His tongue occasionally darted out to trace small patterns against her neck. She moaned deeply, feeling the heat rush through her.
After a few more moments, they broke apart and Trevor took her by the hand and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand before he led her towards the bed. He searched her eyes for any sign that she had changed her mind, knowing how much it must have taken her to even come to his room this late. Trevor sat down on the bed and pulled her onto his lap causing her to rock against his growing erection. His hand slid under the robe, up her sides and slid it off of her shoulders, casting it one side. Hetty began to undo the buttons of his shirt and pulled it off of him, leaving him in only his trousers and under shirt. That was also quickly removed as Trevor fell backwards, pulling her with him.
He looked at her above him, her blue eyes shining in laughter. He smiled up at her before he slid his hands into her curls and pulled her in for another kiss. As it deepened, he flipped them over so that she was beneath him.
“Are you sure that you want to do this?” he asked as he hovered above her.
“I am,” she nodded, before she pulled him down to kiss her once more.
Notes:
Guess it was actually a case of "let's have the tension boil over" instead, but I don't think you'll complain.😏
End Act 2. More soon, thanks for reading.💚💚
Chapter 9: Act 3: Part 1
Notes:
Thanks for the love for the previous chapter, it makes this all worthwhile. 🫶🏻💚
This chapter was a monster to write, and at one point, I very nearly scrapped the whole chapter and started again. I'm still not 100% about it, but it is what it is, hope you like it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Soft winter sun filtered through the window. As the sun fell across her face, Hetty stirred, eyes blinking for a moment as she came to. For a moment she fought disorientation as she realised she wasn’t in her room. But once that was gone, she breathed out a satisfied smile, it hadn’t been a dream after all. She leaned back against the pillows, enjoying the feel of Trevor’s breath against her bare shoulder, occasionally causing her curls to brush against her cheek. Hetty smiled as she felt the arm wrapped around her waist, holding her close. It made her feel safe and protected. She couldn’t recall ever being so cared for. Even in the depths of passion, Trevor had taken the time to check that she was okay.
Hetty raised a hand to wipe the sleep from her eyes and paused mid action. She brought her left hand in front of her face and took in her wedding ring. The diamonds glinted dully as they caught a tiny ray of sun. A cold wave of shame washed over her. What had she been thinking? She’d fornicated with a man who wasn’t her husband. Even if said husband was a known philanderer himself. And not only had she enjoyed it, she’d even allowed herself to fall asleep next to him where anyone could have found them. If it got out she’d be ruined and scorned by all of society. What they’d done to Arabella Huntington was right at the forefront of her mind. Not to mention what could befall Trevor if it ever came out. She carefully removed herself from his hold and pulled her nightgown back on, before she hunted for her robe.
Hetty paused by the door and looked back at Trevor’s sleeping form. She didn’t like that she was leaving him like this, but if she wasn’t strong now, it would just make things harder in the long run.
***
As he slowly woke up, Trevor’s hand clutched thin air. He reached out and patted the mattress. His eyes snapped open and he took in the empty bed sheets. He frowned, he had definitely seen Hetty led next to him when he’d stirred a few hours earlier. He could remember rolling over and wrapping an arm around her waist, before falling back asleep again. Now though, he woke alone. Trevor knew she couldn’t have left that long ago, the sheets still held a hint of warmth. A strand of red hair lay on the pillow, so he had tangible proof that he hadn’t dreamt the whole thing. He sat up on the bed, the covers pooling around his hips. He reached over to the bedside cabinet and picked up his pocket watch to see what the time was. Seeing that it was half-past eleven, he decided that it was time to get up.
*
As he walked downstairs, Trevor ran his hands over his jacket, in an attempt to remove any lint that may be there. This was the first time that he was going to see Hetty since last night and he didn’t want her to see him in the cold light of day and regret anything that may have happened last night. He walked into the dining room to see only one place set. As he frowned, Wilson hurried over to him.
“Mrs Woodstone sends her apologies sir,” he said, “but her presence was requested by Captain Higgintoot.”
Trevor nodded and took his seat. He highly doubted that she had been requested less than twelve hours after the man had left the ball. He could only deduce that she was hiding from him. His mind began to replay the previous night’s events, trying to think if he had done anything wrong. Every time he’d checked that she was okay, he’d gotten an enthusiastic affirmative response. However, just because he couldn’t think of anything he’d done, it didn’t mean that he hadn’t spooked her in some way. He hoped that he’d get the chance to apologize. Or at least speak to her properly. He wasn’t sure he could last these next few months if she hated him or was angry with him for whatever reason.
Isaac watched as Hetty sat on the bench by the small pond at the back of his house. She had arrived earlier looking for him, but he had been out for a morning walk with Nigel.
“Did she say why he was here?”
Alice shook her head. “I guess this is something she would prefer to speak to you about.”
Isaac nodded at her before he walked in the direction of his friend.
*
Hetty watched as the robin hopped across the snow, and she fiddled with the fur of her collar. She knew it had been cowardly to run without speaking to Trevor. However, she feared that if she didn’t get her thoughts straight first it would just make things all the more awkward or ruin everything altogether. She looked up as Isaac sat beside her, before she turned her attention back to the bird. Grateful that Isaac didn’t immediately start speaking to her.
“So are you going to tell me why you stopped by?” he asked after several moments of silence, “not that it isn’t nice to have you here.”
Hetty let out a low breath, dreading what his reaction would be, “after the ball last night, I engaged in amorous congress with Trevor.”
“Dammit. I owe Alice $15!” Isaac exclaimed and Hetty looked at him sharply. “We have eyes Henrietta,” he smirked, “we’ve seen this coming. So why are you here and not back at the manor with him?”
“Because I should not have done it, I am a married woman,” she replied. “If this gets out, Elias will find out and then no one will hire Trevor in case he seduces their wives. That’s if Elias doesn’t kill him first. And I couldn’t bear it if that happened.”
“Oh Hetty,” Isaac sighed. “You always think of everyone else. Never yourself.”
“I am thinking of myself,” she huffed, “there is no version of this story where I get a happy ending. When Elias returns, Trevor will be sent away. He wouldn't keep employing someone who is doing a better job than him at managing the factories. I won't see him again after that. So it is best I end it before it starts.”
“What if you or Peter recommended him?”
Hetty let out a hollow laugh and gave him a look of sheer disbelief. “Because Elias will really listen to me or Peter,” she shook her head. “I have had a glimpse of happiness and that's enough.”
“But what about what your heart wants?”
“I love him,” she replied. It shocked her to actually say it out loud when she'd only admitted it to herself in the past 12 hours. “I can't ruin his life.
“I rather think that that is for Trevor to decide.”
Hetty gave him a sad smile, “he deserves better than me. I am not meant for happiness.”
The quiet tick of the clock and gentle crackle of the fire were the only sounds in the library as Trevor sat looking at the cover of a collection of Poe’s short stories. He wasn’t actually planning on reading it, he just wanted something to help look unaffected when Hetty eventually returned. The sound of carriage tracks rolling up the driveway caused him to look up and out of the window. He watched as it came to a stop and Hetty got out of it. He felt his heart skip as he caught sight of her properly, for the first time since they’d slept together. He opened the book to a random page and turned his attention to it, not really taking in the words.
“I know you’re not really reading that.”
Trevor looked up to see Hetty stood in the doorway and set the book to one side. “Decided to come out of hiding then?”
“I deserved that,” Hetty replied as she removed her gloves and sat down beside him on the sofa. “Last night can never happen again.”
“Okay,” he replied, “why not?”
“It was a mistake,” she replied, “if it gets out, the consequences do not bear thinking about. You cannot tell another soul.”
“I would never do that.”
“I know,” she added with a smile, before it dropped, “look, in three months you will be back at the Stock Exchange, so it’s best that we stop this before it goes anywhere and your life is ruined.”
“What if I don’t care?” Trevor challenged.
“You should,” Hetty stood up, “you might think you don’t care now, but in time you will.”
Trevor stood up and walked over to her, “I think I could withstand it, I’ll have heard worse,” he took her hands in his.
“This would not end well for us.”
Trevor removed one of his hands from hers and placed it on her cheek. He took a chance and leaned in, pressing a light kiss to her lips. “I just want to be with you. I love you.”
Hetty closed her eyes to try and stop the tears. “Then you will do this for me,” she said before she walked out of the library.
As she felt the tears stream down her cheeks, not for the first time she wished her life was different.
The loud hum of the machinery provided the soundtrack as Trevor stared out of the office window. For the past two weeks the atmosphere at Woodstone had been stilted and awkward. With the exception of mealtimes and the occasional meeting at the factory, both he and Hetty had taken to avoiding each other. Trevor hadn’t thought it was possible to miss someone that you actually lived with, but it turned out that not only was it possible but it hurt as well. He had to wonder if she was doing it in the hope that it would make it easier when the time to part came. But if he was honest he doubted that would do anything to help matters. How could he go back to anything like normal now that he knew how it felt to hold her in a lover’s embrace? How could he ignore the fact that he was in love with her? It wasn’t a faucet he could just turn off.
He turned his chair back around and looked through the many pieces of paperwork on his desk. He also hadn’t realised just how much he would miss explaining the finer points of the various laws and contracts they were operating under. There had been a few times when she’d ask a question and it made him realize a mistake he’d almost made.
“What’s wrong?”
Trevor looked up to see Peter stood in front of his desk, looking at him curiously. “Nothing.”
Pete gave him a searching look before he pulled over another chair. “You’ve listened to my problems over the past couple of months,at least let me return the favor.”
Trevor sighed deeply. He’d promised that he wouldn’t tell anyone (though he was fairly sure that Isaac knew from the beginning, why else would Hetty have hidden out at his house the morning after) but he wanted the perspective of an outsider. Besides he knew that Peter was trustworthy and wouldn’t tell anyone else. “Okay, but you will not like it,” he said eventually, before he launched into the story of everything that had happened over the past two weeks starting at the New Years Eve Masquerade Ball. Once he finished his story, he leaned back in his chair and waited for Pete’s reaction.
He watched as a whole range of emotions played out over Pete’s face, before he settled on a cross between disbelief and anger.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said, “you had sex with a married woman.”
“That makes it sound like something scandalous.”
“Isn’t it?” Peter snorted, “she’s married. To a horrible man who will definitely kill you if he finds out,” he added, “but still, married.”
“Admittedly not great circumstances,” Trevor replied, “I love her. I couldn’t fight it if I tried and I couldn’t deny it either. I want however much of her she’s willing to share with me.”
Peter sighed, “does she feel the same as you?”
“I think so,” Trevor replied, “I don’t think she would have sought me out that night if she didn’t.”
“Then give her time,” Peter said, “she’s probably got a lot to think about. It’s more complicated for her than it is for you,” he added, “not to mention that there’s no version of this that can end happily. Short of some tragedy befalling Mr Woodstone.”
“Well I think you’re an idiot,” Alice said as she took a sip of her tea, “you are in love with a man who would literally walk through fire for you. Even Bea wouldn’t do that for me,” she added, “and you basically told him to go whistle. Not to mention you've been happier since he's been around. You might not think it, but it's true.”
Hetty looked over at Alice. She’d always admired Alice for her ability to cut right to the heart of the issue. It's why she’d sought her out as opposed to someone else.
“Look,” Alice said before Hetty could say anything. “I know that you have concerns about how you’ll be perceived if this gets out, what will happen to Trevor as a result and a bunch of other stupid things,” she added. “But I want you to think about this. You got dealt a bad hand when it came to husbands, and for most of your life too. When a chance for even a moment of happiness falls into your lap you need to take it. Not everyone is that lucky,” she reached over and patted Hetty’s hand. “And as for feeling shame about consorting with a man you’re not married to, do you think Elias ever feels shame? No. He just moves onto the next woman, not caring about anything but his own interests because he is a bastard. You care about it, because you, Henrietta Woodstone, are a good person.”
“And when Elias returns?”
“You can deal with that when it happens,” Alice replied, “and you have plenty of friends who will help you in any way they can.”
Hetty frowned. Could it really be that simple? She’d gone after what she’d wanted two weeks ago, but was she brave enough to go for it again? And after the way she’d spoken to him, told him that they should end it before they started, would it even be possible now? “But, after what I said, would Trevor even agree to something like this.”
Alice rolled her eyes and huffed out an exasperated sigh. “Since he has only had eyes for you pretty much since the day you first met. I imagine he will be open to whatever you offer him.”
Hetty paced the floor of her sitting room, twisting her hands as she thought about how she would even broach the topic with him. Their conversations over the past two weeks had been so short and never strayed far from his duties as manager. She wouldn’t dare have this conversation at the dinner table. She would have to invite him up here after dinner and tell him exactly how she felt and that if he still wanted her, she wanted him. In every way that that entailed. She turned around and walked back in the opposite direction to the window, her eyes landed upon the figurine that he’d brought her for her birthday and she smiled as she remembered where it had come from. Even if he had helped in finding it, the thought was there.
A tendril of an idea snaked across her mind. She hadn’t been brave enough when she was 19, but she was brave now. Or at least braver than she had been. She'd long outgrown the cage she'd been forced into, but now that door was open and she wanted freedom. Freedom to choose what she wanted, who she wanted. She had to thank Trevor a little for that. It was a completely mad idea, crazy even and it made no sense, yet she trusted it. A feeling inside telling her that it would be a tough road, but the payoff would be worth it. Of course it would take time to put everything into place, but like Alice said there would be plenty of people who would help. Thor, Flower and Sasappis would be willing to help. Not to mention the Higintoots and Chessums. Though she was unsure if Trevor would actually go for it. Alice had said that there was nothing Trevor wouldn’t do for her, but what if this was a step too far? Could she really ask him to do this?
Hetty turned around again and walked back towards the window as the idea took shape in her mind. Hurried footsteps caused her to spin around to see Wilson walking towards her.
“This note just arrived for you Mrs Woodstone,” he explained as he held it out to her.
She took the envelope out of his hand and opened the envelope. As she took in the words, her blood ran cold. She gripped the back of the chair and steeled herself.
“Is everything alright ma’am?”
“No,” she replied in a moment of unguarded honesty, “have my carriage brought round immediately.”
Wilson nodded, before he hurried off to carry out her orders.
***
“Where is he?” Hetty asked as Beatrice opened the front door. She hastily threw her cape in the direction of the maid. Despite the note being full of reassurances, her mind had been working overtime on every little thing that could’ve happened in the time between the note being sent and her arriving.
“In the sitting room,” she replied as she took Hetty’s arm and steered her in the right direction.
“What happened?” she asked, “and where’s Isaac?”
“Nigel took him to the tavern to calm him down. He blames himself.”
“Why?”
“Because they were attempting to rob him when Trevor stepped in,” Beatrice replied. “Isaac was coming back from the station when a couple of iron workers from one of the closed Farnsby factories jumped him. Trevor saw them and stepped into the middle of it, he got a shallow cut on his arm from the knife,” she added, “they were scared off and Isaac had him brought here because it was closer. Trevor didn’t want us to worry you, but Isaac insisted you knew,” she finished as they reached the sitting room door. She gave Hetty a reassuring smile before she walked off to find Alice.
Hetty took a deep breath before she pushed open the door to the sitting room. She walked into the room and breathed a sigh of relief as she saw him sitting on the couch, studying the bandage on his forearm. She watched as he looked up to see who had entered the room, and she felt her eyes water as she took in the small cuts on his face. She watched as Trevor turned around to face her and hung his head.
“I told them not to bother you,” he said looking up as she walked over to him.
“And how were you going to explain the injuries?” she asked, watching as he shrugged. She sat down beside him, her fingertips inches from his. As if sensing a small part of her hesitation, he reached out and took her hand giving it a little squeeze. “I was waiting for you to come home.”
“Why?” he asked, ignoring the fact that she had just referred to Woodstone as his home.
“Because I needed to talk to you,” she said. She took a few breaths before she started to speak again. “I was wrong to say we should end whatever this is, before anything could really happen. Alice made me realize that I need to take control of my happiness, because not everyone is that lucky,” she paused and looked down at their joined hands, before she met his gaze once again. “So, if your feelings haven’t changed, I want to be with you.”
“You do?” he asked, watching as she nodded, “and you’re not just saying that because I got injured helping your oldest friend?”
“No,” Hetty replied, “I’m saying it because I really want that. I love you,” she added, watching as his face lit up, “and when you leave Woodstone, when your time as manager is over,” she paused, placing her other hand over their clasped ones and took a deep breath, “I’m coming with you.”
“You would give up everything you know? For me?”
“For myself too,” she said with a watery smile, “I know there is a lot we would need to figure out, where we’d go, how to get my children out too,” she added as she placed her hands on his cheeks. “But I know that this is what I want,” she said, “if you’ll have me.”
“Of course I will,” he smiled, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Notes:
Thanks for reading, more soon.💚💚💚
Chapter 10: Act 3: Part 2
Notes:
Thank you for the love for chapter 9. 💚
Look at this chapter as a bit of a breather chapter and a series of little scenes of Hetty and Trevor and their growing relationship. It also moves some pieces into play ahead of the home stretch, so enjoy.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The weak January sun shone down as Hetty walked across the damp grass towards the south side of the lake. Trevor had left a note for her, asking her to meet him at that particular spot. Since their talk a week ago, things had been going great for them. After that first night, they hadn’t fallen asleep together, too concerned that someone might discover them. However, Hetty had found a way around that and was having that resolved this morning. So she was grateful for the distraction that Trevor would be providing her with.
She walked past the tree and frowned when she saw that the bench was empty. The note implied that Trevor would be waiting for her, but she couldn’t see him anywhere.
“Over here.”
Hetty turned around to see Trevor standing in the doorway to a small brick building. She could recall when she was a child it had been used as a little storage shed for the gardener before the main shed had been built. It hadn’t been in use since. She walked over to him and placed her hand in his outstretched one and allowed him to lead her inside.
She took in the fire that was crackling in the fireplace, the slightly out of date chaise that had been pushed against the wall,the blanket that had been laid out in front of it. She turned and gave him a soft smile.
“It’s not exactly luxury,” Trevor said as he pulled her close, “but…” she didn’t let him finish his sentence before she placed her hands on his cheeks and kissed him lightly.
“It's perfect,” she said as she pulled back, before she sat down on the chaise, rearranging her skirts around her. “What made you do this?”
Trevor sat down beside her, “well I saw the workers pulling up and figured that you might enjoy some peace,” he added, “what are they doing anyway?”
“They are doing something at my request.”
“What?”
“Well, the other day I was talking to Mrs Gordon when I visited my dressmaker, and she was telling me all about the bell system she’s had installed,” she explained, “basically when she wants one of her servants, she presses the bell and there’s a box in the kitchen which tells the staff what room they’re required in,” she added. “So I decided we should have a similar system here,” she smiled. “Which means that Isabella won’t come up to my room until I request her,” she finished giving him a significant look.
“Oh,” he smiled as he caught her meaning, “how enterprising of you.”
Hetty preened under the praise before they slipped into a comfortable silence, just enjoying the nearness of each other. Hetty rested her head against his shoulder as they watched the flames flicker in the fireplace.
“You know, Gilbert and Sullivan have their new opera next week at the Metropolitan and I wanted to know if you would like to come with me.”
Trevor knew exactly what his answer would be, but when he saw the chance to tease, he had to take it. “Would I get to undress you after?”
“If you behave like a gentleman,” she replied as she caught his chin between her thumb and forefinger.
“I can do that,” he replied as he brought a hand up to pull out the pins of her hair. He moved his hand to tangle in her curls before he gently pulled her towards him and pressed his lips to hers. She responded almost immediately, bringing her own hands up to rest against the back of his head as the kiss deepened. She moved one hand down to pat the lapel of his jacket before she clasped her hand around it, so she could pull him towards her. He got the hint and gently assisted in pushing her backwards. Both knew that they couldn’t go too far right now as they had other places to be later. For now though, they were content to be wrapped up in each other's arms, in front of the fire, trading soft sighs and delicate touches.
“Anything interesting?” Trevor asked as he watched Hetty read the letter that had just arrived.
“No,” she said, casting a glance in the direction of the footmen. Trevor caught her hidden meaning and nodded. Whatever it was, he guessed that it was not for others to hear.
“I have some new blueprints for the factory if you would like to see them,” he said changing the subject, though he hoped that she grasped what he was actually saying.
“I would like that,” she replied, as she set the letter to one side and carried on with her breakfast.
*
“So what was in the letter?” Trevor asked as they walked towards the factory.
“It was from Molly,” she replied, “she asked if my offer of employment still stood. I sent back a reply to say that she was welcome back anytime. She’ll be back next Monday.”
“So when we’re back from the city then?”
Hetty nodded and dropped his hand as they approached the factory. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten those blueprints that you wanted to show me.”
Trevor smiled in reply. He glanced about to make sure that no one was watching, before he leaned in and pecked her lips lightly. He pushed open the door to the factory and bowed indicating that she could enter. Hetty rolled her eyes at him as she walked into the building.
Trevor looked around the room he’d been given in the townhouse. It was similar to the room he had at Woodstone and yet different too. Here the walls were blue as opposed to red and the bed was a four poster one. He turned at a knock from the door that was at the join of the wall and the window. He walked over to it and opened it to see Hetty stood on the other side.
“How’d you…” he tailed off as he took in the room behind her, the soft peach of the walls, the elegantly carved furniture, “this room is attached to yours.”
“I had noticed,” she nodded as she brushed past him, fingers trailing across his chest, “it’s meant for married couples. Obviously I never used it with Elias, he preferred a room at the other end of the hall,” she added as she sat on the bed, “but if you’d prefer something else…” she shook her head.
“No, I like this,” Trevor smiled as he knelt in front of her. He picked up her hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist, never breaking eye contact. His other hand gently stroked her thigh, through the layers of her dress. “It's definitely convenient.”
“I thought so,” she said as she lightly pushed him away and stood up. “Well, I’ve got things to do, I shall meet you in the foyer at half seven.”
***
Trevor stood in the foyer as he waited for Hetty. His mind automatically went back to when he’d last been waiting for her. At least this time he didn’t feel foolish about it. He looked up at the sound of footsteps on the stairs and felt his mouth drop as he took her in. This time around, her dress was gold with three quarter length sleeves and a square neckline. An embroidered leaf and flower motif was on the bodice. Black tulle was draped over the left shoulder creating the illusion of leaves. White elbow length gloves, a diamond choker with a diamond pendant, diamond earrings and a diamond tiara nestled against the elaborate up-do completed the look.
“Close your mouth,” Hetty said, her fingers landing on his chin and pushing it up. She let her fingers caress his chin lightly before she walked away from him.
Trevor groaned as he caught sight of the back of the dress, the line of little buttons would be a nightmare to undo. And he began to rethink his idea to undress her when they returned after the opera. Some things were probably better left to her maid after all. He watched as she turned her head and looked back at him over her shoulder giving him a smile. He wished they were alone so that he could at least kiss her, but as Wilson brought out their outer layers, Trevor guessed he’d just have to wait until later. Or he could try and sneak a kiss in the carriage.
*
As the carriage pulled up outside the Metropolitan Opera House, Trevor noticed two people stood watching the carriage expectantly. They looked vaguely familiar, but due to the low light from the street lamps it was hard to make them out. He got out of the carriage, and helped Hetty down. As he looped her arm through his to escort her inside, he got a better look at the two people and he let out a gasp of surprise. He turned to look at Hetty who removed her arm from his and gave him a little ‘shoo’ direction. If he wasn’t already in love with her, this surprise would have done it.
“What are you doing here?” he asked as he hugged his parents. Both looked far more dressed up than he usually saw them. His father wore a full tuxedo, while his mother wore a dress of deep green, with her hair pulled back in an elegant twist.
“Your friend invited us,” Esther replied as she looked over at Hetty who was watching the three of them with a fond smile. “Which she didn't have to do.”
“I wanted to,” Hetty smiled, “now we should probably go inside. There's appropriately late and just plain late,” she added as she looped her arm back through Trevor's so he could escort her inside.
Both Hetty and Trevor watched in fond amusement as his parents took in the splendor of the opera house. No matter how much you heard it described or the pictures you saw, it didn't do justice to actually standing there and taking it in for yourself. After a few minutes they handed their outer layers over to the attendant and Hetty led them towards the box. The usher bowed at them as they approached and held the door open for them.
“You did this for them?” Trevor asked, stopping Hetty before she could walk to her seat.
“Well you said it was your mother’s birthday tomorrow, and I know that you invited them to the townhouse for tea,” she replied, “and I thought, why not make it a little extra special for her. I remember you saying that your mother wanted to experience an opera in person,” she shrugged.
Trevor gave her a fond smile before he escorted her to the seat at the front of the box next to his mother. He took the seat behind Hetty and next to his father.
“She's a very beautiful woman,” Lenny whispered as he leaned in so that Trevor could hear him. “I can see why she caught your eye.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Just be careful you don’t end up with a broken heart.”
*
As the interval began, Trevor excused himself and took his father to get a drink. As he passed Hetty, he gently trailed his fingers across the back of her shoulders. She glanced over her shoulder at him and caught his eye. He gave her a soft smile, before he walked out of the box. Hetty turned back unaware of Esther’s eyes on her.
“How long have you been in love with my son?”
Hetty turned to look at her in shock. “How did…”
Esther smiled, “it was rather obvious.”
“It’s a complicated situation,” Hetty commented, “I’m married but…”
“Your heart wants what it wants.”
Hetty nodded. It was a simplification of things, but she didn’t quite have the words to describe exactly what it was. “And in answer to your question, I don’t know how long I’ve been in love with him. It’s a recent revelation.”
“Just promise me one thing,” Esther said, “don’t break his heart,” she added, “my boy wears his heart on his sleeve, and from the looks of it, he loves you deeply. I’m not sure he could survive the heartbreak.”
“I promise I’ll try,” she replied. She knew it wasn’t the promise that Esther was looking for, but it was the best that she could do. However, Hetty guessed the promise was good enough for Esther as the woman gave her a small smile and patted her hand reassuringly, before she turned to look at the opulence of the auditorium.
Hetty sat back in her chair and fiddled with her fan, repeatedly opening and closing it, her mind continually whirring. She supposed she should have expected an ambush of some sort, after all who invited the parents of her lover to the opera if they wanted to keep things completely under wraps?
Hetty fanned herself as the lights dimmed for the second act. So far she wasn’t a fan of The Mikado, it barely matched The Pirates of Penzance in her opinion. She heard Trevor and his father take their seats once again, and leaned back a little bit further.
“Have fun?” she murmured.
“I’ll tell you later.”
Hetty nodded in reply before she turned her attention back to the stage.
**
The two lamps on the bedside cabinets illuminated the room, as Hetty lay on her front, her head on her arms which were resting atop a pillow while Trevor trailed his fingers across her bare back, drawing random patterns. She turned her head to look at him.
“So is it later yet?”
“Oh right,” he said after a moment trying to recall what he’d said when he’d returned to the box, “during the interval, I was talking to Mr Vanderbilt, he asked me about managing the factories, what I thought about it and then he wanted to know when I finished at Woodstone, because he would like to know if I was interested in managing the factory he’s planning to open in California.”
“What did you say?” she asked, sitting up, rolling her eyes as she noticed his eyes drop to her chest before he looked back up to meet her eyes.
“I said that I would need to think about it,” he replied, “it’s not just me that would be going is it?” he asked with a smile watching as she smiled back, “that is of course if you still plan on leaving with me.”
Hetty gave him a small smile, before he pulled her in and kissed her lightly. Trevor’s hand moved up her back pulling her even closer as the kiss deepened. Hetty moved her hands so that they were on the back of his head, moaning as his other hand trailed down her side and wrapped around her thigh as he gently pulled her onto his lap so that she could straddle him. While one hand stayed on the back of his head, Hetty moved one down so that her arm could snake around his neck, pulling him even closer to her.
“You wanted to see me Mrs Woodstone?”
Hetty looked up to see Molly standing in the doorway, looking more than a little awkward. She gave her a smile and indicated that she should come into the room, “I wanted to see how you were.”
“I’m grand,” Molly replied with a smile, “thanks to you,” she added. “You didn’t have to help me but you did.”
“It was the least I could do,” Hetty replied, “and your son, Michael, how is he doing?”
“He’s doing brilliantly,” Molly smiled, “he’s…”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Wilson said as he walked in carrying an arrangement of red roses, “these just arrived for you,” he said as he sat them on the small table before he left the room.
“Secret admirer?” Molly asked.
“Not exactly,” Hetty replied, cheeks pink as she took in the message that Trevor was sending.
Molly nodded knowingly, “good for you,” she smiled, “you deserve it.”
“Thank you,” Hetty replied, “and I hope that one day, you get the happiness you deserve too.”
Molly gave her a smile, before she turned to leave the sitting room. Hetty picked up her needlepoint and wondered how she could also get Molly out when the time came for her to leave. She had no desire to leave Molly to the mercy of Elias. She wondered if Isaac would take Molly in. She put that idea to one side, no decision had to be made now. Not when they still had a month before Elias would even start his return journey.
To maintain an air of discretion and to avoid any suspicions being thrown upon their conduct, Hetty and Trevor had started to constantly have their post dinner drink in the drawing room. They saved the more intimate conversations, for behind the doors of her bedroom.
“Just so you’re aware,” Trevor said as he passed her a drink, “it seems that new laws are set to be announced regarding young children working in factories,” he added, “we’re set to lose at least everyone under the age of ten.”
“How much of the workforce is that?”
“About five percent,” he replied, “but Peter and I were prepared for this and we’ve already got plans ready to cover the loss without reducing the output. And we’ve got our eyes on some new electric operated machinery that should help as well.”
“Glad some people at the factory know what they’re doing,” she teased with a smirk. Trevor knew that if they were behind closed doors that he would be kissing that smirk right off of her face. “Later, later,” she added, correctly guessing the path Trevor’s thoughts had taken.
At the sound of the doorbell, both turned to look in the direction of the foyer. No one arriving this late would be bringing good news. At the sound of a voice from the front door, Hetty felt her blood run cold. Hetty glanced over at Trevor trying to convey exactly how bad this turn of events was. Though she figured he could already guess it for himself. If the look on his face was anything to go by.
“Well, are you going to welcome me back?” Elias asked as he walked into the drawing room, arms outstretched like he was expecting a hero's welcome.
Notes:
Well, that's put the cat amongst the pigeons. 😬
Thanks for reading, more soon. 💚💚
Chapter 11: Act 3: Part 3
Notes:
Thanks for the love guys, it means so much to me. 💚🫶🏻
We're nearly at the end of this story now 😞, so let's pick up where we left off with the return of that man.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Well?” Elias prompted, when neither Hetty or Trevor moved. After a couple more moments, Hetty walked over to him and kissed his cheek.
“Welcome back, dear,” she said, though Trevor caught the ice and venom in her voice. “I wasn’t expecting you for at least another month.”
“Rutherford had a family emergency, we all came home,” he said as he sat down in one of the chairs, “you, get me a drink,” he snapped his fingers at the footman standing in the doorway. “Still at least I got some decent kills before we left. I was the only one of the group to bag a white rhinoceros. Not to mention two lions, a leopard and a cheetah. And several elephant tusks. You best tell the maids to prepare space for them,” he added, “we can get rid of those silly figurines you collect, if we need to.”
Trevor watched as sadness flashed through her eyes. He knew that they were one of the only things Hetty could claim ownership of in the house. He vowed to find a way to rescue as many of the figurines as he could if it came to it.
“Now, Henrietta I expect you to come to my …” he tailed off as he spotted Molly coming out of the library, cleaning equipment in hand. No one in the room could miss the way that she stiffened when her eyes landed on Elias. However, only Hetty and Trevor could see the terror that was on Molly's face. Elias however missed that look, too busy taking in the sight of his favorite toy after several months away. “Never mind,” he said, “I’m sure you can amuse yourself.”
Trevor frowned as he watched Hetty’s shoulders slump at Elias’s pronouncement. Not because she wanted to spend time alone with her husband though, he knew she despised the man. He’d caught the way she looked down at herself. His heart broke a little as he realised that she was comparing herself to Molly. He couldn’t help but wonder how many times Elias had overlooked her in favor of someone younger.
“Well it’s been a long day, I think I’ll retire early,” Elias said as he stood up. He walked out of the drawing room, passing Molly and inclined his head upstairs. His meaning was perfectly clear to all in the vicinity.
As she caught Molly’s eye, Hetty mouthed a ‘sorry’ at her. Both women were well aware of the consequences should Molly ignore the summons. Molly gave her a sad smile before she walked away to get rid of the cleaning equipment and follow through on the command she’d been given.
"If I didn’t already dislike the man,” Trevor said, his voice low behind her, “that would have done it.”
Hetty turned and gave him a wry smile, “it’s the way it’s always been. At least for me.”
Despite knowing how much of a bad idea it could potentially be if they were discovered, Trevor pulled her into his arms, and let her draw comfort from him as he pressed light kisses to the top of her head. He couldn’t believe how much of a putz the man could be. Trevor knew that if Hetty was his wife he would never make her feel worthless. He was a little shocked at the path his thoughts had taken. That was something that was not a possibility at the moment. Though he imagined when they did get to France it would have to be a lie they told others so that no one could draw any improper conclusions from them traveling with children and sharing a house or apartment.
Trevor walked into the factory office not in the greatest of moods. The - much earlier than expected - return of Elias had rather put a pin in any plans that he and Hetty had made. Not to mention that he hadn’t been able to see Hetty privately with Elias around. Both were too concerned that they might be found out. Still, he was hopeful that they might be able to carve a bit of time out, so that they could at least spend some time together. He pushed open the door, well aware of who would be in there waiting. Especially since he had already seen Peter scampering away like a deer that had spotted a hunter.
“Good morning Mr Woodstone." Now that he took in Elias behind the large desk, it definitely seemed as though the man was compensating for many things. The man might have a lot of money, but Trevor knew at least one way that he had Elias beat. Trevor was fairly sure that he was the only one that had heard the sounds that Hetty was capable of making.
“Mr Lefkowitz,” Elias nodded, “I think we should discuss your time as manager,” he added, indicating the chair in front of the desk.
“I hope that everything has been satisfactory.”
“You managed to increase the output without increasing costs,” he said, “it’s impressive,” he added, “I certainly made the right decision to hire you,” he leaned forward, “and I’m thinking it makes sense to keep you here. As manager if that would be agreeable.”
“Of course it would,” Trevor nodded, “and certainly with you here to guide us, the factories would surely become even more profitable,” he added smoothly. He knew from many of his conversations selling stocks that rich assholes like Elias Woodstone always responded well to someone stroking their ego.
“Indeed,” Elias said as he stood up, “well don’t let me keep you.”
Trevor stood and watched as Elias left before he turned and slumped back into the chair. The irrational fear that Elias somehow knew about his affair with Hetty and was waiting to kill him still lingered, though not as strong as before. He let out a sigh of relief that he would be able to stay for a while, it would definitely give him and Hetty some time to plan their escape.
Hetty watched from her sitting room window as Elias got into his carriage before it drove away. She breathed out a sigh of relief and quickly left the room. Once she’d been aware of an appointment that Elias had today, she had quickly made her own plans. She also knew that she had a decent window of time. Elias' meetings with the lawyer usually meant that he was off with one of his many floozies. He only ever met with their lawyer George at the house, not in the city. Hetty really wasn’t surprised that Elias had picked up where he left off the minute he returned from Africa.
She strode across the grounds towards the little hut beside the lake. It had been several days since she’d been alone with Trevor and she missed him. It wasn’t just the sex aspect, it was the closeness, the intimacy, the fact that there was someone who just saw her. She pushed open the door, and saw Trevor stood in the middle of the hut waiting for her. Hetty rushed into his arms, smiling against his neck as she felt him hold her tightly. She turned her head slightly and pressed a kiss against his neck, before she pulled back and kissed his lips. Trevor responded almost immediately, the need to be close to her all the more prevalent after the past couple of days.
“I missed you,” she sighed when they broke apart, though they still maintained their close proximity. “I know you’ve not gone anywhere but…”
“I know,” he said as he cut her off, “I missed you too,” he added as he sat on the small chaise that was in there, pulling her with him so she was sat on his lap. “Elias made me an offer.”
“Of what?” she asked with a frown, she didn’t trust her husband one jot.
“To stay on permanently as manager.”
“What did you say?”
“I accepted,” he replied, “at least for now.”
“For now?”
Trevor nodded, “until we can get a plan in place,” he kissed her lightly. “Put a pin on a map, anywhere you like. That’s where we’ll go.”
Hetty smiled at him, “and if I said I wanted to go to Paris?”
“Then we’ll go to Paris,” he replied as he leaned in and kissed her once again.
Trevor walked towards the tavern where he’d told his father to meet him. While he was certain of the path he was taking, he needed to know that his parents would be supportive of it. There was no telling exactly how long they would be gone, or if they would even come back, and it wasn’t as if it would be quick for them to journey across the Atlantic. He pulled open the door and saw his father sitting at a table waiting for him.
“I’m going to assume that this is not a meeting to just talk,” Lenny said as Trevor sat opposite him.
“I guess ma’s told you about me and Hetty,” he replied, taking a sip of his drink, watching as his dad nodded, “well her husband is back and we’re making plans to leave the country. Me, her and her children.”
“You’re making us grandparents so soon?” Lenny teased, “and outside of wedlock?”
Trevor rolled his eyes at his father, before he sobered, “do you think we’re making a mistake?”
“What would happen if you stayed?”
“One or both of us would probably end up dead,” Trevor replied, “her husband would not wave us off at the docks.”
“Then how could it be a mistake?’ Lenny pointed out, “besides I always figured you’d leave the state eventually one day. Didn’t think it would be the actual country,” he smiled across the table, “I can’t talk, I followed your mother when she wanted a better life for you and your brother. So you’re just following in our footsteps.”
“Thanks papa,” Trevor said, using the name he hadn’t used since he was nine years old.
“Anytime,” Lenny said, touching his son’s hand, “there’s also something else. Your mother and I, we set aside $500 for you and Jeremy. The plan was you would both get $250 when you married to help you both at the start. I suppose this is similar.”
“You don’t have to do that, Hetty and I, we can manage.”
“Let us help,” Lenny replied, “and send us a letter every month, wherever you end up.”
Trevor nodded, giving his father a watery smile.
*
As he left the tavern, Trevor walked in the direction of the post office. There was a letter he had to send. He could easily stop by and visit them, but it ran the risk of too many people overhearing. He wasn’t exactly sure how he would even begin to broach the topic, but it was something that demanded to be done in person.
Hetty walked up the steps of Isaac’s house. She was glad that he lived relatively close by. It meant that she could escape there when it got too suffocating in her house. Of course he was currently in Philadelphia with Nigel checking in on his family's businesses down there. So it would just be Alice and Beatrice that she would be having tea with. Which she didn't mind at all. She adored Beatrice and she had always thought of Alice as a kindred spirit.
Hetty just wished that Trevor hadn’t had meetings in the city, she really could have used sneaking away with him for a few hours. Or at least inviting him to come here with her. No one would bat an eyelid at them sitting close together or holding hands. Their snatched moments had been far and few between recently. She rang the doorbell and was met by Beatrice and Alice who were dressed to go out.
“I thought I was coming for tea with you,” she frowned.
“Oh that was a clever ploy to get you over here,” Beatrice smiled, “we have left a little present for you in the sitting room.”
“And no one else is here,” Alice added with a smirk, “I would say that you’ve probably got an hour or two of uninterrupted time. I hope you make satisfactory use of it,” she winked, “and then give us all the details,” she finished.
Both women gave her matching smirks as they walked past her. Hetty watched them go before she walked in the direction of the sitting room. She opened the door and smiled as she saw Trevor standing in the middle of the room.
“I guess we have a pair of matchmakers in our midst,” he said as she approached him.
“I thought you had meetings in the city.”
“Just the one, but that’s dealt with,” he replied, “but as far as everyone else is concerned, I’m still there,” he added as he wrapped her up in his arms, letting her head rest against his shoulder. “I got everything sorted by the way.”
“You did?”
Trevor nodded. “Four tickets to Le Havre on the SS Florence , followed by a train to Paris. Next Friday we’ll be gone,” he paused, “if you still want to leave.”
Hetty moved her hand so that it was on his cheek. “I am sure,” she leaned in and kissed him lightly. “And we’ve got plenty of people who can help us. I can’t believe I’m actually going to Paris,” she kissed him again. This time letting it deepen naturally and allowing him to back her up against the wall. Alice had told her to enjoy herself, and she was certainly going to.
“What are you doing?”
Hetty turned to see Elias standing in the doorway to her room, looking between her, Molly and the open steamer trunk.
“I’m getting rid of some old dresses,” Hetty shrugged, “like I do every year. I’ll do the same for Thomas and Adeline, they’ll need new clothes too.”
“Yes you are good at spending the money I make us,” Elias sneered, “don’t think I didn’t see the bill for that ridiculous Masked Ball you threw.”
“That Masked Ball got us even more notice from the Astor’s and Vanderbilt’s. Think about the business you’ll be able to do with them now,” she replied with a hard stare. She was the one that kept the doors of society open for them, left to his own devices, Elias’ behavior would’ve seen them slammed shut.
After a few moments, he turned and walked away. But not before he let his eyes travel over Molly. Hetty rolled her eyes, wondering if it was possible for him to look more sleazy.
“How do you think he will react to you and the children leaving?” Molly asked once they were sure Elias was out of earshot.
“Badly,” Hetty replied, “it’s why I’m doing my best to get you another position before I leave. I don’t want to leave you to Elias’s mercies,” she added, sharing a dark look with her. Molly nodded, understanding exactly what Hetty was implying. “Thank you for helping me with all of this.”
“You helped me when I needed it,” Molly smiled, “helping you get away is the least I can do.”
Hetty smiled back, before she walked over to the wardrobe. She pulled out a teal outfit and ran her hand over it. “I was wearing this the day I first met Trevor. I had no idea how things were going to turn out. I assumed he would be a thorn in my side. David’s friends are not usually as nice as Trevor is.”
“And then you fell in love,” Molly sighed happily, as she helped fold the outfit before she put it in the steamer trunk.
Hetty gave her another smile, before she walked over to her vanity and opened up her jewelry box. While she wasn’t going to sell everything, she was definitely selling most of it though. Like the steamer trunks, the jewelry would be sent to Isaac who would transport it to the city when it was time for her and Trevor to leave.
“Not joining us for a drink?” Elias asked as they left the dining room and Trevor walked over to pick his cloak up from the footman by the door.
“Not tonight,” Trevor replied, “I’m meeting David at the inn,” he added.
“Ah, taking advantage of the local scenery,” Elias nodded knowingly. Everyone knew what the inn was a cover for. “Good man.”
Trevor gave him a tight smile, trying not to show his annoyance at the insinuation and the possessive way that Elias had his arm around Hetty’s shoulders. Not to mention that Hetty herself didn’t exactly want to be left alone with Elias. Or being ordered to carry out her marital responsibilities.
“Enjoy your evening,” Trevor said as he turned to leave, wishing he could take Hetty with him and never return. Still he knew that they just had to wait that little bit longer, and then they could leave.
*
“He lives!”
Trevor looked up as he entered the inn to see Ari at the back of the bar area. He glanced over at David who looked both guilty and apologetic. He plastered a fake smile on his face and walked over to them.
“It’s been so long I was beginning to think you’d left the state and changed your name.” Ari said as he clicked his fingers at one of the barmaids to bring a drink over for Trevor. “So how’s private business?”
“It’s good,” Trevor replied as a drink was placed in front of him. He gulped down a quarter of it, at once.
*
“I’m sorry,” David said quietly, once Ari was distracted by one of the barmaids. “He saw me heading this way and wanted to come along,” he added, “what was it you wanted to speak to me about?”
Trevor looked around to make sure no one was listening, “I need you to pull out half of the money from my investment accounts. I’m leaving the country. With Hetty and the children.”
“I figured,” David shrugged, causing Trevor to choke on his drink.
“How?”
“That stupid ‘present for your mother’ excuse,” David replied, “especially as I know that your mother’s birthday is in February. Not to mention the way you were with her when my father was a prick at that dinner.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not really,” David replied, “you’re a good man. That's why I told Elias to hire you instead of Ari.”
Trevor sat back in his chair absorbing this new information. If David hadn’t taken the time to think about who would be the best fit to oversee the businesses, he would never have met Hetty and they wouldn't be planning to leave.
“I don’t need to tell you that it's going to be hard to get away do I?”
“We’re aware,” Trevor replied, “but it will be worth it in the end.”
One of Hetty’s favorite things about the land that her house was built on was the swath of land that she could ride her horse over and just feel the wind in her hair. It was one of the things that she would miss the most about living here. Still she was fairly sure that she could find a place to ride in Paris. She gently tapped her heel against the side of her horse and clicked her tongue, signaling that she wanted to turn around. Once the horse had turned, she gently encouraged her to go faster, until she was riding at a gallop.
“Woah,” she said as she saw Trevor walking towards her. “Good morning,” she smiled.
“Good morning,” he replied as he helped her down from the horse. Hetty looked around to check that they weren’t being watched, before she hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.
**
“I’m sorry that I have to be the one to tell you this.”
Elias turned to look at the man who had shown up earlier today. The information hadn’t been a surprise. It had only confirmed the suspicions that Elias already had.
“Thank you Mr Cantor,” Elias said dismissively, “it’s good to know that there are honest people about.”
Ari inclined his head and gave a bow before he turned to leave. Elias turned back around and looked out of the window. His eyes landed on the pair walking in the distance, Hetty leading her horse. If it had just been a flirtation or an outright affair with Lefkowitz, he wouldn’t care what his wife was up to. He could hardly claim moral superiority. And if she had her own dealings, she’d be less inclined to care about his affairs. But the fact that Hetty thought that she could leave him and take the children with her, that he couldn’t allow. No one could just waltz off with his property. They would both have to pay for that slight. And he knew just the man to help him.
**
“Didn't expect to hear from you again.”
Elias looked over at the man that he had just sat in front of. After he'd fired him over a year ago, Elias would've been very happy if Elijah Russell had crawled away to a sewer and died. “Well after you stole from me and tried to violate my wife, I could've had you killed and people would've thanked me, Mr Russell,” he said, “however, I need your specific skill set, otherwise I would have never set foot in this establishment and gladly never spoken to you again.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“I need you to kill someone for me.”
Notes:
So how about that ending huh? 😱 There's only one chapter (and an epilogue) left now.
Hope you liked it.💚💚
Chapter 12: Act 3: Part 4
Notes:
Well, this is it, the end of the line (well, save for the epilogue), but this is where our main story ends. Thanks for the love you have shown this story over the past couple of months, it has meant so much.💖
And yes I did pull a quote from Titanic, I felt it fit.
Also, as you can see from the updated story tags a couple of people are not making it out of this story alive. So sorry about that...well mostly.
So, enjoy. And I hope it lives up to what you were expecting/thinking of/hoping for, for the ending. 💚
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Hetty got out of the carriage and walked up the steps towards the front door. She and Trevor would be leaving in a couple of days but there was something she needed to do first. She knocked on the door and smiled at Nancy who let her in.
“The Captain, the Lieutenant, and the ladies are in the sitting room.”
“Thank you.”
She pushed open the sitting room door and smiled at her friends. Almost immediately Isaac wrapped his arms tightly around her. She exchanged a look with her friends over Isaac’s shoulder. For her part Beatrice attempted to look sympathetic, but Nigel and Alice were trying – and failing – to hide their laughter. After a few more moments, Isaac pulled away and turned back to look at his friends and partner.
“My oldest and dearest friend is leaving for Paris in two days!” he cried, in response to the looks they were all giving him. “I am allowed to be bereft.”
“I’ve already said that you can come visit,” Hetty huffed as she sat down beside Alice and Beatrice.
“It is a 10 day journey and I get seasick,” Isaac commented as Nancy brought in the tea and cakes.
*
As the carriage pulled away from the house, Hetty pulled out a handkerchief from her reticule and dried her eyes. It had been hard to say goodbye to her friends. She would miss Nigel, Alice and Beatrice naturally, but it was Isaac that she would miss the most. For so long he had been her confidante, friend, and her most ferocious protector.
“Well,” Elias said as he sat back in the chair, “what do you say?”
“I am honored that you would offer me this,” Trevor replied, keeping his voice even.
“You’ve done wonders here, it is only right that you get the same chance elsewhere.”
“What’s going on?” Hetty asked as she walked past the library to see the two men talking.
“Mr Lefkowitz here, has agreed to be the manager of the factory that we’re opening in England,” Elias lied, “I set things in motion with a British landowner I met in Africa, it’s all arranged. He leaves tomorrow.”
“That’s great,” Hetty replied stiffly.
“I thought so,” Elias agreed as he stood up. “Now if you’ll both excuse me, I have some business to attend to.”
Both watched as Elias left the library. Hetty held up a hand to stop Trevor from speaking until they heard the front door open and close. She kept it up until they saw Elias walk past the library window and was definitely out of the house.
“So you’re going to England now?” Hetty asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Of course I’m not,” Trevor replied, “I’ll go to the city tomorrow like I’m going to get the ship to Liverpool, but I’m staying in the city. I’ll meet you and the children, Friday at 11, on the docks, ready to leave,” he watched as Hetty gave him a smile, before it quickly fell. “What is it?”
“We’re so close, what if something goes wrong?”
“It’s a possibility,” Trevor said, standing up and walking over to her, “but, we can’t think like that,” he added, “I am trying really hard not to see this as a trap,” he kissed her softly, “we just have to get through tomorrow then we can leave and never look back.”
Hetty nodded letting him pull her close.
Elias watched as goodbyes were said between Hetty and Trevor with a smile. Even though this one was quite stilted and polite, he had no doubt that they had shared a more private and tear filled goodbye the previous day. He couldn’t wait to watch her face crumble when the months continued to pass with no word from Trevor. Elias was already building a repertoire of comments to share about how she clearly hadn’t been that special to Trevor, if he couldn’t even send a letter across the Atlantic Ocean.
Elias privately laughed at how he would watch her tear herself apart over it all, while he knew that Trevor would have never made it to England. He wouldn’t even have made it onto the ship, but instead would be rotting in a shallow grave. Eventually, he would tell Hetty the truth about what he’d done, just to watch her heart shatter all over again. He just hoped that her own affair didn’t have any lasting consequences that he would also have to deal with. He had no desire to raise someone else’s child as his own.
As he watched the carriage pull away, Elias smiled smugly. He was amazed that Hetty hadn’t realised the driver was their former foreman Mr Russell. This was going to be far too easy to pull off.
As the carriage trundled down the path, Trevor fiddled with his hat nervously. He had seen Elias watching him and Hetty say ‘goodbye’ and had the strangest sensation that the man knew exactly what they had planned, and probably had some nasty surprise waiting. He just hoped that he could get to the city before anything happened. At least that way, there were plenty of places that he could hide if someone was hunting for him. Trevor was glad that once Elias had come back, he had asked Thor to keep an eye on Hetty. While he had no doubt that Hetty could take care of herself should the need arise, it helped him breathe easier. Knowing that there was someone else watching out for her. And if this did end up being a trap, he hoped that Thor would be able to get her out if things worsened.
The carriage turned down a dusty path and Trevor frowned, a strange gnawing feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. His feeling that this whole thing was a trap had been accurate. The carriage came to a sudden stop. He sent a silent prayer upwards that this would all turn out okay, that he could find a way back to Hetty and get her away before any of Elias’ rage was turned on her. Through the tiny window that looked out onto the driver's seat, he saw the driver climb down and wondered if he would have a chance to make a run for it before the driver could open the door.
“Get out,” the driver said as he opened the carriage door, pistol pointed directly at Trevor’s chest.
Trevor nodded and slowly got out of the carriage, his eyes glued firmly to the pistol, weary of making any sudden movements. The driver indicated that Trevor should walk a little way away.
“You don’t want to do this,” Trevor said with his hands up, completely aware of how trite it sounded.
“But I do,” Russell sneered, “you see Elias Woodstone has a plan for you, I have a plan for him and that wife of his,” he added. “I kill you, frame Woodstone for it. Then when he’s rotting in jail, that wife of his will be all alone...”
“You sonofabitch,” Trevor lunged for Russell, punching him in the face. Even if he didn’t know Hetty as well as he did, he would still have reacted the same way. The punch had the effect of knocking Russell off of his feet. Taking the chance, Trevor turned and ran back towards the carriage. He quickly got to work unhooking the horse from the carriage. He wasn’t that skilled at riding but he could probably get a decent distance away. He gagged as an arm came up around his throat, pulling him away from the horse as he dragged him back towards the tree line. The pressure increased around his neck as Trevor fought against his assailant. Trevor reached behind him, trying to get at the man’s neck. Trevor’s hope was that he could get enough pressure to loosen the other man’s grip.
A few seconds later, the arm was pulled away and Trevor stumbled forward gasping for breath. He felt a swift blow to the back of his head and he collapsed forward, face down onto the ground, landing awkwardly across some large rocks. As his vision blurred and dimmed, and he felt the cold muzzle of the pistol at the back of his head, Trevor’s thoughts were of Hetty, the emerald green and gold dress that she had worn at the Masked Ball and the look in her eyes right before she kissed him for the first time. He was glad that he’d got to experience real love for once in his life.
*****
The fleeting pressure of a hand against his forehead, brought Trevor out of the darkness. He blinked up to see Hetty sat on the edge of the bed, smiling softly down at him.
“Where am I?” he asked as he sat up, wincing at the ache in his ribs.
“Flower’s cottage,” she replied, “it was lucky that Thor was following you on my orders.”
“I asked him to look out for you.” Trevor pointed out indignantly.
“Well, be thankful that he was watching out for you,” Hetty chided, “I’m not losing you. Not now.” She leaned down and brushed her lips against his. She was careful not to deepen it, they still had to be mindful of his injuries. She pulled back and stood up, “I’ve got to pick something up from the mansion and then we’re leaving. Tonight.” she said decisively. “My steamer trunks are already with Isaac, Nanny already has the children in the city, so I don’t have to worry about getting them out, Flower’s given me something that I can slip to Elias to put him to sleep long enough that we’ll be gone before he even wakes.”
“You know he was the one that ordered the carriage driver to kill me right?” Trevor asked as he stood up, this time groaning at the aches in his muscles.
“Oh I’m aware,” Hetty replied, her eyes darkening, “Thor recognised him as the previous foreman of the factory, Elijah Russell. I can’t believe Elias would even consider speaking to him after what that man tried to do to me,” she shook his head, and Trevor felt as if his insides had been doused in acid at the implication. No wonder she’d hired someone like Peter as a foreman. “But it's finished now. Thor saw to that.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“Two hours at most,” she replied, kissing him again, “then that will be the end of it. We’ll never have to come back here ever again.”
Hetty closed the front door, and walked up towards her room. She trailed a hand across the wall, she would miss this house. She’d spent her whole life here. Hetty was sad to be leaving, but she was glad to give it up for happiness. She walked into her room and straight over to the small keepsake box on her vanity. She opened it up and pulled out the miniature. It had been a birthday present a couple of years ago from Margaret. She looked at the miniature painting and smiled. It was a woman beside her two young daughters. She had little recollection of how her mother had looked before her various spells in the asylum, so she couldn’t say if it was a true likeness, but it was close enough for her. She traced the image with a finger before she slipped it into her reticule. All that remained was to slip the powdered nightshade into Elias’ drink. That was a tricky mission in itself, but she had a feeling that a couple of the maids would help her. Molly hadn’t been the only one that he’d paid special attention to.
She turned around, only to be met by Elias in the doorway. “Where did you go?”
“To see a friend.”
“You don’t have friends,” Elias sneered, “only people who pity you.”
Hetty’s eyes narrowed, she knew he was just trying to get a rise out of her. Still she’d be gone soon, she had nothing left to lose. “I know about your plan,” she said, “getting that bastard Russell to kill Trevor. It didn’t work. He’s still alive.”
“You think that this is the end of it?” Elias asked as he stalked towards her. “That I’ll just let you take our children and run off to be his whore.”
“I would rather be his whore than your wife a moment longer,” she replied, a surge of bravery rising in her. She raised her hand only for Elias to grip it before she could do anything.
“Nice try,” he spat, “but if you think I’ll let you go, you are mistaken,” he added as he dropped her hand, before he backhanded her, causing her to stumble backwards. Hetty rushed towards him, only for him to give her a hard shove. She gripped the vanity to steady herself, glaring at him with fire in her eyes. Hetty scrambled for something to use as a weapon. Elias grabbed her by her hair and dragged her towards the bedroom door. He pulled her down the corridor, not caring about or hearing her cries of protest. He dragged her up the stairs towards the attic. He kicked open the door, and threw her into the room. “You are not going anywhere.”
Hetty rushed towards the attic door and screamed in frustration as it slammed shut and locked. She repeatedly banged her fist against the door, cursing Elias and wishing she could just send him to hell.
*
From her spot on the back staircase, Molly had watched the whole scene play out, eyes wide in horror. She had wanted to intervene but something had kept her rooted in place. Molly knew that she had to get a message out. She turned on her heel and hurried downstairs. She grabbed a sheet of paper from the cook's recipe pad and quickly scribbled what she knew onto it, before she folded it up and ran off to look for one of the footmen or the hall boy. She walked out the back door and saw the hall boy, Jack sat on the back steps cleaning a pair of riding boots.
“Will you do me a favor?” she asked, knowing that the young kid had a tiny bit of a crush on her. She smiled as he nodded, and handed him the piece of paper. “I need you to take this to Captain Higgintoot,” she explained. Molly didn’t know if that’s where Trevor had been taken, she just remembered seeing Hetty hurrying off with Isaac when she’d been in the village earlier. “Don’t stop for anything or to speak to anyone and only put it into his hands. It’s very important.”
“Got it,” Jack said as he slipped the note into his jacket pocket before he took off running towards the village.
Molly turned and headed back inside. She rushed upstairs, hoping that Elias had disappeared so that she could get Hetty out of the attic and at least hide her until Isaac or someone else came to take them away. As Molly reached the landing, she saw Elias lighting one of the old paraffin lamps on one of the small tables and her eyes grew wide. She subconsciously rubbed at the mark on her hip. Elias liked to heat a signet ring over the flame and ‘brand’ the maids he had destroyed. None of them had ever thought that he would actually consider doing it to his own wife. But clearly that’s exactly what his intention was. Unlike earlier when she’d felt paralyzed by fear, now Molly felt brave.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing that concerns you,” Elias replied as he turned to face her, “and do not think that I don’t know about the part you played in this farce. Facilitating her escape. I'll deal with you later," he added menacingly. "Why would you even help her? You know she hates you.”
Molly glared at him, that might have been true once, but it wasn’t now. “She really doesn’t,” she said, “not anymore. Not since she helped me get rid of the unwanted consequences of you,” she added. Molly watched as his eyes darkened and knew that what she’d said had sunk in. Despite the prickle of fear, she had decided that she wasn’t going to back down. Hetty had been brave in wanting to leave, so she could be brave too. “I wanted nothing that tied me to you,” she spat, “the thought of having a child that was half you was enough to…” she tailed off as Elias slapped her.
Before she could fight back, he grabbed her forcefully by her hair and pushed her so that she was face down over the table just by the top of the main staircase. Molly summoned up what strength she could draw and used her elbow to push him away. She turned around as her hand reached for the antique vase on the table. As Elias came towards her once again, she raised the vase and brought it down over his head.
Elias staggered back and tripped backwards over the runner. He fell to the floor, his head knocking against the table at the wrong angle causing it to wobble dangerously. Molly winced as she heard his neck snap. Molly stared at his prone body for a moment, before walking over to him and searched his pocket for the attic key. She turned and rushed towards the attic steps, unaware that the paraffin lamp had fallen off of the table and was starting to burn the runner.
Trevor paced the floor of Flower’s kitchen. Hetty had said that she wouldn’t be more than two hours and he was starting to grow nervous. Even though the two hours had yet to pass, he couldn’t help but worry that something had happened. He didn’t like the fact that she was in the vicinity of Elias, not now that they were close to escaping and Elias was aware of their plans.
“I’ve got to go look for her,” he said as he made another length of the kitchen. The gnawing sensation in the pit of his stomach making itself known once again. “What if something has happened to her?”
“Then let Thor go,” Sasappis pointed out, “no one is going to get in his way,” he added, “also, he’s not injured.”
“I’m fine,” Trevor winced.
“You look it.”
“The more we stand about, the m…” Trevor tailed off at a pounding on the cottage door.
Flower hurried over and opened it, letting Isaac in. Trevor took one look at his face and knew he wasn’t bringing good news.
“Elias,” he said before anyone could ask him, “Molly got a message to me, he’s got Hetty locked in the attic.”
Ignoring the calls and protests of the others, Trevor rushed out of the front door, quickly followed by Thorfinn, then the rest of them.
As they ran up the lane towards the main street, they saw Nigel running towards them. Before they could ask what he was doing, they saw practically the whole village heading in the direction of Woodstone Manor. None of them needed to say anything, Nigel’s ashen face and the villagers' reactions were enough of an explanation.
After her cries of frustration had gone unheard, Hetty had retreated and slumped down beneath the attic window. She knew that Trevor must be worried that she hadn’t returned yet, she just hoped that Flower and Sasappis would be able to stop him from coming to look for her. She couldn’t bear the thought of what Elias might do to Trevor if he showed up now. Trevor had survived one brush with death today, she wasn’t sure she could cope with him having another one within the space of a few hours. She thought about the miniature in her reticule and cursed herself for not putting it into her trunk sooner. It certainly would’ve prevented this situation from occurring. However she'd always preferred to keep it close at hand and couldn't bear the thought of it locked away in a trunk.
She looked up as the door knob rattled and a key was put in the lock. Hetty figured that it was Elias coming to dole out a further punishment. She stood up, her fist closing around a steel rod in case she needed to arm herself. However she dropped it in relief when the door swung open to reveal Molly.
“Oh thank God,” Hetty said as she rushed over to the door, “are you alright?” she asked, noticing Molly’s torn apron.
“I’m fine,” she smiled, “come on,” she added, indicating that they should leave.
“Where’s Elias?”
He attacked me,” Molly replied, “I brought down a vase on his head, he tripped and broke his neck. He’s dead.”
Hetty stared at Molly in shock. It surprised her that she felt a pang of sadness, he was the father of her children. However, it soon passed as she thought about the past week. "Good riddance."
As they reached the top of the attic steps, Hetty paused, her hand on Molly’s arm. “Can you smell that?”
Molly nodded at her and the pair rushed down the stairs to find the first floor ablaze, blocking the main staircase. Hetty nodded to the back staircase next to them that headed down to the kitchens, it was currently untouched by the fire. Though as they could see that the flames were getting closer, they figured it wouldn’t be too long until it reached them. They raced down the stairs, both hearing the creaking sound that came from above. As a beam fell behind them, Molly pushed Hetty out of the way as another fell right where she had been standing and blocked Molly’s exit in the process.
“Don’t wait for me!”
“But how will you get out?” Hetty coughed as flakes of plaster started to fall like winter snow.
“Don’t worry about me,” Molly replied, wheezing, “just tell Michael that I l..."
Hetty watched in horror as the entire ceiling started to come down, and a large section of wood and plaster landed on top of Molly.
As they drew near to Woodstone Manor, the sky appeared to glow an ominous orange. Despite the burn in his lungs and the bruised ribs, Trevor tapped into his reserves of adrenaline and ran faster, praying that Hetty was already safe. They rushed through the gates to see the entire top half of the mansion ablaze. Trevor caught sight of Peter by the fountain watching as several factory workers tried to get enough water from the fountain in an attempt to contain the fire until the volunteer fire department arrived.
“What happened?” Trevor asked as he ran over to Peter.
“I don’t know,” he shrugged, “I was coming by to meet with Mr Woodstone when I saw the flames, and a hall boy rushing in the direction of the village.”
“Is everyone accounted for?” Trevor asked as he spotted Wilson standing talking to one of the maids.
“All except for the Woodstones and Molly.”
Trevor’s blood turned to ice as he looked at the house, flames now dancing behind the downstairs windows. Someone in the crowd screamed as the fire caused one of the upstairs windows to explode, showering glass over the drive. Trevor felt as though someone had gripped his heart and was squeezing it tightly as he remembered what Isaac had said about Hetty being locked in the attic.
“What are you doing?” Isaac yelled as he grabbed Trevor’s arm in an attempt to pull him back.
“I have got to get her out,” he said as he pulled his arm out of Isaac’s grip and ran inside the building. He ignored the cries from the others as the flames started to reach higher and smoke curled into the early evening air.
“Oh no,” Flower said as she looked over Isaac’s shoulder towards the far end of the house.
The others turned and saw Hetty stumbling towards them, hair coming loose from her up-do, soot and ash covering her face and dress. She reached them and sagged against Isaac, relieved that he’d caught her before she fell to the floor.
“Where’s Trevor?” she asked as she looked at her friends' faces. She saw the way Thor glanced at the house, “no,” she whimpered as her eyes filled with tears and her legs threatened to give out.
“He thought you were still inside,” Flower said as she stroked Hetty’s back comfortingly.
“But…” she cut herself off as everything caught up with her and she dissolved into floods of tears. Isaac tightened his hold on his friend, attempting to console her. His heart breaking to see her in such distress.
From his spot beside Flower, Thor glanced over at his friend and the woman who had been responsible for much of his good fortune since he'd come to the county. He looked back at the house, his resolve forming, he knew what he had to do. He kissed Flower gently.
“Thor! No!”
Hetty looked up as Flower screamed Thor’s name as the Norwegian ran towards the building and into the flames. Hetty turned and wrapped an arm around Flower, resting her head against hers as they watched the flames claim more of the building. Isaac on the other hand kept a firm grip on Hetty lest she decide to try and run in after them. They watched open mouthed in horror as the roof collapsed. Hetty became aware of a pained scream. In years to come when she thought back on this moment, she would later realize that it had come from her. The tears fell faster, her heart breaking at the seams. Happiness had been so close, and now it had been snatched away. There was no way that anyone could survive had they been under the roof when it fell. She turned her head as the village’s fire department finally arrived, but it was too late to save much of the house.
“Look!”
Everyone turned as Sasappis’ yell to see Thor walking out of the building Trevor’s arm slung around his shoulder as Thor helped him walk out of the house. Hetty let out a cry of relief and hurried over to the pair. She flung her arms around Trevor and sobbed in relief against his shoulder as his arms tightened around her. Hetty burrowed herself against him, already planning on not letting him out of her sight ever again. She turned her head to look at Thor.
“Thank you.”
Thor gave her shoulder a pat, “you’re welcome,” he said before he walked back over to Flower who threw her arms around him.
“Never do that to me again,” Hetty said as she slapped Trevor’s shoulder.
“Can’t promise that,” he said with a smile, “I’ll always come to your rescue,” he added as he cupped her face in his hands, and wiped away the tears with his thumbs. “Have I told you I love you?”
“I love you too,” she replied, as she closed the distance between them and kissed him. She didn’t care who saw or what they thought. She was done hiding their relationship in the shadows. She was in love and didn’t care who knew it. And in the shadow of her burning home, she had never felt happier.
Notes:
I do love happy endings! And I am sorry about Molly.
Thanks for reading. 💚💚💚
See you soon for the epilogue.
Chapter 13: Epilogue
Notes:
So here we are, finally at the end of this story. Thank you so much to all of you, especially the new friends I've made as a result. I love all of you so much 💖💖💖.
I'd have never guessed that when I published the first chapter back in March it would generate this much love from all of you wonderful H$ fans out there.
I'm not entirely happy with the epilogue, I think it falls apart a bit at the end with the newspaper extracts, but I hope it answers some of the questions you'll have after the first half of the chapter.
Anyway, enough from me, enjoy.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
September 1886
The September sun shone down as Hetty took in the brick building in front of her. This was the first time she’d been back since the fire. She couldn’t believe how fast Thor and Björn had built the place back up. Though she suspected the number of villagers that now worked alongside Thor had helped matters. Though it was still a grand house, it was just a fraction smaller than it once had been.
Hetty walked up to the front door and placed her hand on the doorknob to open it, but it gave her pause. The last time she’d been inside, the house was burning down around her. Molly’s sacrifice had played on a loop for weeks afterwards. More than once she’d woken up screaming. She was thankful that Trevor had been there to chase away the nightmares. And grateful that none of the staff brought up the screams in the morning. The Manhattan townhouse had them all in much closer quarters than at the Manor.
After the fire, they had put a pin in their journey to Paris. They were no longer running from anything, but Trevor had promised her a trip at some point. For now though, they had their hands full. When Elias’ will had been read, everything (bar an annuity of $300 for Hetty and a sum of $1500 set aside for Adeline when she married) had been left to Thomas. However, as Thomas was only seven years old, David had been selected to oversee the businesses until Thomas was of age. David though had no desire to get involved in private business – he preferred his job at the Stock Exchange – and so had left the entire running of the businesses to Trevor and Peter. Jeremiah hadn’t been too happy about that, believing that only those of Woodstone blood should oversee the business. However, as he’d died a mere month after the will reading, no one had taken any notice of him. David trusted his friend not to do anything stupid, and didn’t bother with the business at all. The way he saw it, Trevor was probably going to become Thomas’s stepfather at some point, so it just made sense that Trevor be the to oversee things.
Hetty turned and walked away from the front door, not wanting to go in by herself. She walked around the side of the house and headed towards the lake. Of course not everything had been easy for them. Once word had gotten around about the fire, all kinds of rumors had started. Thankfully, after some quick thinking from Isaac, and some help from the servants' whisper mill, word had gotten out about Elias starting the fire in an attempt to fake his death to escape a gambling debt. The rumor was given credence by Lina Astor who had never liked Elias. That support had been essential when it came out about the relationship between Hetty and Trevor. Mamie Fish had made a few caustic comments but with the support of other members of society those rumors and comments had withered away. It also helped that there was no obvious evidence that the pair frequently shared a bed.
“Mama!”
Hetty smiled as Thomas came running up to her, flinging his arms around her middle. His face red and eyes bright from the exertion of running. She looked up and raised an eyebrow at Trevor who had been chasing him. “Having fun?”
“Lots,” Thomas replied before he ran off to join Adeline who was sitting on a blanket by the lake, next to Esther and Lenny.
“They really dote on those two,” Hetty said as she looked at the group of four and looped her arm through Trevor’s.
“Well technically they are their grandparents,” Trevor commented as they walked towards the gazebo.
Hetty inclined her head in agreement. Though nothing had been said outright, both were aware of where the relationship was headed. They were just waiting for Hetty to go into half mourning. Even if no one was actually properly mourning Elias, they still had to look the part.
Hetty sat down on one of the benches frowning slightly when Trevor didn’t immediately sit beside her.
“Do you know what happened a year ago today?”
Hetty furrowed her brow as she tried to recall. She smiled as it came to her. “It was the day we met.”
Trevor smiled back, “and my life changed for the better,” he kissed her hand lightly before he paused, “though I did get the impression that you hated me.”
“It wasn’t that,” she replied, “I was annoyed that I couldn’t manage things for myself and honestly I thought that you would be just like David and his other friends. I now know that I was wrong for that opinion.”
“Maybe not entirely wrong,” Trevor commented. Not long after the fire, they had learned about Ari’s part in the whole situation. With the exception of David, Trevor didn’t interact with his old friend group anymore. He much preferred the friends he’d made up here. Hetty placed a hand on his arm to calm him. He smiled at her and kissed her hand, before he pulled her up to stand beside him. The beading on her purple dress sparkled in the fall sun. He took her hands in his as he leaned in to kiss her lightly. He pulled back and smiled at her, before he knelt down in front of her. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
The New York Times, November 30th 1886
The marriage is today announced between Henrietta Marie Woodstone and Trevor Ezekiel Lefkowitz. The wedding took place at the residence of Captain and Mrs Isaac Higgintoot, long time friends of the new Mrs Lefkowitz. Amongst those in attendance were the groom’s family Mr and Mrs L Lefkowitz, Mr J Lefkowitz, Mr and Mrs S Lefkowitz, Lieutenant and Mrs N Chessum, Mr D Woodstone, Mrs S Woodstone, Mr and Mrs R Williamson, Mr and Mrs W Astor, Mr and Mrs C Vanderbilt, Miss S Montero and Mr P Martino. Also in attendance were Miss A Woodstone and Master T Woodstone, the children from Mrs Lefkowitz’s first marriage to the late Elias Woodstone.
The New York Times, October 25th 1887
Mr and Mrs T Lefkowitz are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Victoria Alice. Born at 09:15 am on October 24th, both mother and daughter are in robust health.
Ulster County Daily, August 15th 1893
When the new Child Labor Laws were passed many in the county wondered what would happen next. Like many other factories across the United States, so many whole families are employed by factories, how would this affect the already meager fortunes? Well Woodstone Industries have found a way to comply with laws and ensure that all the children of parents who work in the factories and those children in nearby villages.
Today sees the opening of the Lefkowitz School. Funded by the inheritance left to Mrs Lefkowitz by her first husband, all of the village children and those from the surrounding areas will be able to apply for places. When they finish their education at 15, should they wish to, they will be offered jobs at one of the many businesses that Woodstone Industries manages. Should they wish to continue with their education or find employment elsewhere, they will be supported in this path. While the move was met with criticism from certain quarters, it was met with widespread praise from campaigners for children's rights.
Belfast Times, 15th May 1901
Michael Driscoll, 21, graduated with honors today from Trinity College, Belfast. The young man who lost his mother in a house fire in America 15 years ago and was raised by his grandmother, says that he hopes he has made his mother proud of him and has plans to further study the law in the hopes of becoming a barrister. He also says that he owes much of his start in life to his mother's former employer in America, Mrs Henrietta Lefkowitz who not only paid for his tuition at Trinity College, but also his education at St Columba’s College.
Ulster County Daily, April 1905
Mr Thomas Edward Woodstone was killed yesterday in an automobile accident in Kingston. Further information is unavailable at this time. The family ask for privacy at this time and information about the funeral and memorial service will be provided in due course.
Ulster County Review, August 15th 1923
30 years ago, many believed that The Lefkowitz School would be one of those things that was eventually forgotten. However, today it marks its 30th anniversary and is hailed as one of the best schools in upstate New York. Mrs Henrietta Lefkowitz who opened the school said that both she and her husband were unsurprised that the school had endured and announced a bursary that would help many of the county's underprivileged children attend the school to get the education that they are rightfully owed.
New York Times, August 28th 1937
It is with great sadness that we report on the death of Henrietta Lefkowitz aged 92. She died peacefully and surrounded by her family. She is survived by her devoted husband of 50 years, Trevor, her two daughters Adeline and Victoria, five grandchildren (Matthew, Oliver, Lucy, Alexander and Sophie), two great grandchildren (Penelope and Evelyn).
The funeral will take place next Thursday and she will be buried in the family plot in St Ann’s Cemetery where her late son Thomas is also buried.
New York Times, January 6th 1938
It is with great sadness that we report on the death of Trevor Lefkowitz aged 84. He died peacefully and surrounded by family. He is survived by his two daughters Adeline and Victoria, five grandchildren (Matthew, Oliver, Lucy, Alexander and Sophie), two great grandchildren (Penelope and Evelyn) and his brother Jeremy.
The funeral will take place next Monday and he will be buried alongside his wife Henrietta in St Ann’s Cemetery.
Ulster County Review, 15th July 2021
Sophie Miller died peacefully at her home Ivy Manor yesterday afternoon. She was 96 years old. Born in 1925, she was the youngest grandchild of Henrietta and Trevor Lefkowitz, and inherited the family businesses upon the death of her mother Victoria in 1973. Her only child Sheryl died in 2016. Sophie is survived by her granddaughter Samantha Arondekar.
Ulster County Review, May 22nd 2022
New life was finally breathed into Ivy manor yesterday when the official opening of Hidden Getaway B&B opened to much fanfare. Mrs Arondekar, 31, is the granddaughter of Sophie Miller who passed away last July and left her granddaughter the property in her will. Alongside her husband Jay, she has worked diligently to renovate the property over the past six months. Plans for a destination restaurant in the old barn and the renovation of the hut by the edge of the lake into a small honeymoon lodge are with the local council and preservation society awaiting approval after a ten week consultation period.
Ulster County Review, May 30th 2024
Today sees the publication of Henrietta: A Portrait of Society’s Last Great Matriarch. Written by the subject’s great great granddaughter Samantha Arondekar, it seeks to tell the full story of Henrietta Lefkowitz (nee Woodstone), one of the county’s most notable residents. From growing up with a wrongly and serially institutionalized mother, to her rumored feud with Mamie Fish, to her first marriage to Elias Woodstone, her much happier second marriage to Trevor Lefkowitz, the book promises to lift the lid of someone who witnessed the rise, decline and fall of The Gilded Age. Owner of the Award Winning Hidden Getaway B & B, Samantha Arondekar had this to say when questioned about the book.
“Everything in the book comes straight from the journals and diaries that I found in the attic at the manor when we first moved in. The information in them was just incredible. She witnessed so much during one of the greatest periods of excess in American history. She even helped to provide a respectable cover for her friend Captain Higgintoot so that he could maintain his relationship with Lieutenant Chessum. I even contacted my relatives on the West Coast that were descended from her other daughter Adeline to see if they had anything and they shared a wealth of information including several family photographs. I can’t wait for everyone to see just how amazing she actually was.”
Notes:
Thanks for reading, not just this epilogue, but the whole story, it has meant so much me, I can't even begin to describe just how much.💖💖💖
I hope you liked it. See you soon with some more H$ goodness.
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