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By the time Dr. Jekyll arrived at the Carew home, it was nine o'clock. He walked up the large front steps and knocked on the door. The butler answered the door rather pleasantly...
"Dr. Jekyll!! Do come in."
"Thank you. Is Emma awake?"
"Yes, she is. She's sitting in the den. I'll go tell her you're here."
"No, no need. I'll go to her myself. We want her off her feet." he answered with a smile...
"Oh yes of course. Go right in, doctor."
Henry smiled and waited patiently as the butler left. He took a deep breath and made his way down the long hallway which led to the sitting room...he turned to look in the doorway and there was Emma...sitting in front of the fire...alone...and extremely quiet...he walked up slowly behind her and gently kissed the top of her head, waking her from her daydream, "How are you feeling, my love?"
"I've felt better. My back is so sore and my head is throbbing."
"Well, you'll be just fine once the baby is here."
"I hope so...what are you doing here at this hour?" she sounded very tired...
"I need to talk to you about something...about the baby..."
"Why?"
"I have to ask you first...are you scared that Mr. Hyde will find you and the child?"
"Of course I'm frightened, Henry...what kind of question is that?" That was the very first time, in all the years that he'd known her, that she ever raised her voice...
"I'm sorry, it was a stupid question."
"Don't you think I cry myself to sleep at night because of my horrible expectations of him coming into my home and taking the baby away from me while we sleep? I can't believe you could even ask such a thing."
"Well, would you do something for me if it ensured the safety of the baby??"
"What are you talking about?"
"That's why I've come here this evening..." he sat down on the foot rest directly in front of her, "I'm just as scared as you are that he will get to the baby. Emma, I have a friend...her name is Lucy Harris...she's a sweet woman and--"
"Who is this girl?"
"It doesn't matter, Emma...what matters is that she's going to help you..but I need you to cooperate with me."
"What is it, Henry...just tell me."
"I want you to go away with her once the baby is born...now, now...let me finish. You have to go, Emma. It's for your own good."
"You can't expect me to go away with a complete stranger, can you?"
"I can...and I do."
"But how do you know her? I don't understand."
"She's a patient of mine."
"She doesn't have anything contagious, does she?" He was beginning to lose his patience. The sweet girl he once knew was turning into such a bitter and stubborn person...
"No!! No...she's not sick with any disease. You're missing my point entirely. Emma...you have to go with her! She'll be able to help you care for the baby...please, just go."
"Where would she be taking us?" He was forced to lie...
"To her cousin's home." Lucy didn't even have any family. Emma would certainly be in store for a surprise...
"Have you met them? Are they good people?"
"Yes, I've met them all. They're more than happy to let you stay with them."
"I don't know about this, Henry. What would I tell my father?"
"Tell him exactly what I've told you, darling."
"I don't know if he'll agree to let me go. And anyhow, how do you know you can trust this woman?"
"I know...I just know." She grew silent, "Emma, I love you...and I love this child...but you can't stay here. At least not for a little while. It's too risky. That man is still out there and if you stay, you run the chances of him finding you and losing the baby. You will be safe with Lucy...and she will be safe, as well..." What have I done...damn..
"What do mean by 'as well'?"
"She was attacked by Edward Hyde not too long ago. That's how I've come to know her. She came to me and I treated her injuries."
"But he'll be after the both of us then! And what if he finds us? All three of us together.."
"Emma! He won't find you!! He wouldn't know where to begin his search, sweetheart...please...do this for the baby...and for me. I couldn't bear to lose you." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and then spoke in a very soft, cold, unfeeling voice...
"Alright...I'll do it. But you have to explain this to my father." Henry wasn't sure as to why she seemed so angry with him for trying to protect her...
"Of course, I will. Emma, I know you're frightened..."
"You can't possibly understand how scared I am, Henry."
"I think I have a pretty good idea, Emma..." She didn't answer...she merely shook her head..."Where is your father?"
"He's upstairs in his study. You can go speak with him now." He rose from the foot rest and touched her cheek...
"Don't be angry with me for this."
"Sir Danvers?"
"Well, Henry...it's a surprise seeing you here tonight. I'd thought you'd be home working."
"I just came to look in on Emma..."
"Speaking of Emma...for the past few months or so, I've noticed such a drastic change in her personality. She cries at the drop of a hat...she's happy one moment and sad the next...she seems so different."
"It's partially due to her hormone level. It's quite normal to have mood swings during pregnancy. Of course, I don't think her nerves are helping much."
"I suppose...then again, I don't know anything about women, really. You're the doctor."
"I need to speak with you about something."
"Sure...here...have a seat."
"Thank you. I've just come from a little discussion with Emma. I'm sure you're well aware of her fear that Edward Hyde will somehow manage to find her and kidnap the baby."
"I most certainly am. The poor girl is up all night at times...crying..."
"I've managed to convince her that the best way to keep the child safe would be to leave for a few months...now, I just need to convince you."
"Do you honestly think that would work?"
"Of course it will work, Sir Danvers. Only I will know where she is going."
"I don't know if I could do it, Henry."
"Look, she'll be safe. A patient of mine...Lucy Harris...a very kind and gentle soul will be looking after her. She's is out of harm's reach if she goes." It took a few moments before Sir Danvers answered...
"Henry...if you think it is necessary..."
"It is the only way, sir."
"And Emma is in agreement with this?"
"Yes, although she isn't very happy about it...but I assure you, she will be in no danger."
"Well, as much as I dislike the idea of her being with a stranger...and away from her home here...if she is safer this way...so be it." Henry let out a sigh...
"Thank you."
After leaving the Carew home, Henry ventured to The Red Rat so he could speak with Lucy. The moment he entered, a young woman frantically grabbed his arm and shouted, "Are you Lucy's friend, Dr. Jekyll?"
"Yes...why? Has something happened?"
"Oh doctor, come with me. You won't be very 'appy when you see what's been done." Henry's heart skipped a beat when he heard the young woman's tone. She pulled him upstairs towards Lucy's room and stopped at the door... "Lucy was with a customer and thing's just got outta' 'and...he hurt her...real bad." She opened the door and the first thing he saw was Lucy lying unconscious on the floor with a woman kneeling beside her, "What has happened here??" Dr. Jekyll ran entered the room like an animal and dropped to his knees beside her, First Emma...now you...I can't take much more of this...
"We 'eard her scream from downstairs...and when we came up to check, he almost knocked us over..." In some sick way, Henry was happy...at least he knew for sure that he wasn't responsible for Lucy's newest ailment. He scooped her up in his arms and laid her down on her bed. The first thing he noticed was the bruise on her left eye...
"She'll be ok...you see this mark here? The man must've struck her. Girls, you really gave me a scare for a moment."
"Well, doctor...when you hear shouting like we 'eard, I bet you'll be just as upset."
"I suppose you're right..." as he spoke, Lucy's eyes began to flutter, "Why don't you two go back downstairs...she's coming to. It's best we give her room." The two girls smiled and made their way towards the door, glancing over their shoulders and whispering as they left the room. Lucy's eyes were open and she looked about the room as though she were lost. He whispered her name as he gently stroked her cheek...
"Dr. Jekyll?" He smiled down at her...
"I guess you must have some terrible headache right now..." She raised her hand to her face and rubbed her eyes...she did have a horrible ache, but how nice it was to wake up to the doctor's beautiful face shining down on her, "What happened?"
"Oh, same old thing. The man wanted me to cater to his every need...and in such dispicable ways. When I refused, he became rather angry...an' he hit me. I'm accustomed to it, really...I am." She went to sit up, but was struck with such a dizzy spell that it took the color from her face...
"No, no...just lay here and rest up. I'll go wet a towel with some warm water for that mark on your face."
"No need. It'll heal eventually..."
"But Lucy, it'll help with--" as he went to press his fingertips against the swelling, she pushed his hand away...
"I said it's alright, doctor. It's not a big deal...I'll live." He was shocked at her refusal of his help...
"Well, if that's what you want, Lucy." She nodded...
"What did those two girls tell you?"
"The younger one scared the life out of me when I walked in here...I thought you'd been killed...heaven forbid it."
"They exaggerate."
"I've noticed."
"But while I have you here...why exactly are you here? I know it's not for company...that's for sure."
"Not the kind you may be referring to...but I did want to see you."
"Did you..." He sat down on the bed next to her...he went to take her hand, but judging by the expression on her face, he knew that he should refrain from any displays of affection...
"I spoke with Emma...she's agreed to go with you. But I have to tell you...she isnÕt very pleased about it."
"I didn't expect her to be happy, doctor. Tell me, did you let her know what I am?"
"I didn't feel the need to share that with her."
"Because she would've completely dismissed the idea...I know..."
"She might have...but I didn't tell her because it has nothing to do with the situation at hand."
"Of course..."
"I told her that you would be going to your cousin's home."
"Now why'd you go and do that for? I ain't got no family...anywhere."
"I know that...and you know that...I had to lie to her, Lucy...I'm sorry...but I had to."
"It isn't me you should be apologizing to." There was a long silence between them...
"I want you to leave sometime within the next few days...I hope you've given some thought to where you'll be going." She wouldn't look at him...she turned her head away and stared through window, "Lucy...please...look at me. What is it?"
"I just feel so stupid..."
"Why??" he seemed confused...
"Because of what I did earlier tonight..."
"Oh...I see."
"Doctor, I hope you don't think any less of me for that...I...I don't know what came over me...I should know better than to go kissin' a man such as yourself. With everything that you have...and all that you stand for...I should know that there'd never be any room in your heart for someone like me."
"Lucy...I should apologize to you. What happened between us tonight...ah,
I can't explain exactly what was running through my mind when I--" he watched
her as she lay there trying her best not to show any signs of tears...but
he heard her quiet sniffles. He kissed his finger tips and then touched
her lips, "I'm so sorry if I hurt you, Miss Lucy...and don't ever think
that you aren't in here..." he whispered, placing her hand over his heart..."Because
you are..."