The Edge

As we descended onto the lower levels of the house, I began to see signs of life. Servants walked along the hall ways, I saw the decorators in a few rooms but all were like ghostly apparitions, translucent and the rooms about them were visible through their nebulous bodies.

It did not take us long to discover Victoria. She was in the small sitting room that she was using as a private boudoir whilst her mother's old rooms were being redecorated. She was sitting on a sofa, fretfully drinking tea and alternately sniffing at her salts. Apparently her nerves were still shaken from the morning. I could hardly believe it but Bess was right, there was not a single hint that we could be seen. All persons other than ourselves seemed nebulous and strange. They did not react to us, nor appear to even hear us.

There came a knock on the door and Mrs Evans entered. She shut the door quietly behind her and was ordered by Victoria to turn the key in the lock to prevent any servant entering. Once done the nurse came across to my sister and stood in front of her, her eyes boldly upon Victoria's face and her hands folded in front of her.

Victoria looked up at her but seemed to have trouble keeping eye contact. She first asked if Mrs Evans were well, to which the other replied in the affirmative then fell silent again. You do not ask me here to discuss my health, her face seemed to say. Victoria, when she spoke again, spoke in a harsh whisper, too quiet to have been heard outside the room.

"You told me that liquid was harmless!" Mrs Evans smiled broadly.

"And it is, madam, it is. You said that no harm was to come to her Ladyship and none has."

"None has? You call being unconscious and danger to the baby no harm?"

Mrs Evans stood straighter and her smile lost some of its length.

"No harm that will be fatal. The child will be perfectly fine. The medicine only gives the mind a shock, it simply makes the taker seem unbalanced for some while which is the very thing you asked me to arrange." Now Victoria stood up and moved about the room, pacing. Mrs Evans watched her like a snake.

"I never told you to go so far as to drug her in that way. I told you..."

"You told me to provoke a reaction and I did. I provoked one by giving a medicine which, thanks to the interference of others, I cannot give again. I shall simply have to watch her Ladyship more closely and find a weak spot in her." Victoria stopped and looked at her.

"You have not found one yet? What about her son? I tell you, after his death, she has become like a wild animal when he is mentioned." Mrs Evans smiled again.

"That avenue is a possibility which I shall explore however, if I may be so bold, I would like to ask a question. Her Ladyship is at present finishing the final details of a grand doll's house, which she informed me was originally built by a relation?"

"Yes. My great grandmother on my father's side. She was an invalid for much of her older life and she had ample time for such pursuits."

"You are aware of her history then? For I think you are omitting one detail, that of her being kept in an asylum herself." Victoria turned and looked a mixture of shock and unbridled bewilderment.

"What can you mean? I would have heard if this, I am sure, if it were true. Is this some lie you want to tell?"

"No, my lady. If you wish for the full truth, ask your brother. Your late relative was confined in a private house by her husband for a period of some years. It was this that broke her body down and she was released once she was no longer considered dangerous. Your own father was well aware of this fact as are several older members of the community, I am sure." Victoria sat down again. She looked at her hands for some time then back up at the older woman.

"How did you come by this information?" Mrs Evans continued to smile.

"Records are kept of such things. When I am employed to look after someone, I always check the family background to be sure of some facts." My sister nodded but looked confused.

"But this...this sheds no light on Imogen. She is not related to my family but by marriage, there can be no thread of madness running from that unfortunate woman to her!"

At this Mrs Evans fairly laughed. She stepped closer to my sister, bent and approached her lips to Victoria's ear so that not one word would be lost to her.

“There need be no connection of lineage. There simply need be a connection of knowledge. One lady in a vulnerable state might find a painting or a doll's house or some other trifle and it might encourage a connection felt in the mind only. Once that connection is made, the seeds of madness can be stowed. An obsession, one might say. And obsession can lead to some very dangerous acts indeed. Some might say, truly risky and with serious consequence.” As she said these words, Victoria lent back and away from her, she was almost shivering and yet her gaze seemed locked with that other woman, she seemed to not be able to break away. When she answerer, she almost whispered.

“What might happen? What risky things might...” Mrs Evans laid a finger gently upon Victoria's lips.

“My lady, it is best if you do not know. I know my duties and shall do them. This is all you must know.” Victoria persisted somewhat.

“I do not want the child harmed! The mother....I mean it. I do not want any harm to come to the baby.”

“As you say my lady. I am sure none of us wish any harm.” Mrs Evans voice had gone back to its natural level and she stood fully upright, smoothing the skirt of her dress in her hands. She stepped back and bowed her head slightly, her little smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

“I must go now, my lady. I left Mistress alone and I want to see what she has been doing in my absence.” Victoria waved a hand and Mrs Evans left the room.

I pulled hard on Victoria's arm and raced back upstairs to her sitting room. Once there I took both her hands in mine.

“After hearing that, what should I do? Should I get word to Daniel? Or try to talk with...” I stopped, who could I talk with? Mrs Levin? She was an honourable old servant, she would assist me but could she? She was nothing alone. No one else in the house, including Jones, could assist me, they would be too afraid of losing their place. Mrs Levin though, she had money of her own, from Rhiannon's will. One thousand a year, enough to make her independent if she chose to leave. She was highly principled, she was well thought of and....

Bess broke into my thoughts.

“You are right to want to get away as soon as you can but do not do anything reckless! Let Mrs Evans words be a warning to you, she tells it true that lunatics and mad people are rash and do not think logically. You must act as sensibly and as patiently as you can. Let those be your armour against the accusations of insanity. You must do nothing- nothing!- which would make you seem insane.” She was right in this but how could I be calm when I felt a trap closing about me, felt it's terrible jaws almost on me and was being crushed by it? I could scarcely breathe when I thought too closely on what might happen! Bess took hold of me, made me look at her.

“You must do as I say. You must promise me that you will act rationally and with the greatest calm possible. Yes, you must get word to Daniel but you must secure yourself first. Who can you rely on?”

“Mrs Levin? She might aid me and she has enough money of her own that she could live independently if she lost her place or chose to go. She is well thought of in the community, she is a good Christian woman who is mindful of principals and the truth.”

“Well then, make her your ally. In good conscience, she must help you, if you were to ask her to give a letter to the doctor I am sure she would do so. But you must be calm around Mrs Evans! You are so highly strung that I fear you will snap! You must be calm itself. Pray on it, let God fill you with a nun's calm, do what you must but remain as calm and logical as possible. It is the only thing which can save you at this moment!”

I promised her. I truly meant it, I did. Bess called me to order, she knew she was now in the doll's house and not in the glass so she could not aid me unless I were in the doll's house too. I must be ready to go at all times, for Mrs Evans was on her way up. She counselled me to not eat or drink anything that I had not seen my guard eat or drink herself. I must be cautious against further drugging. I nodded.

I could feel a tug on my shoulder which seemed greater than myself, stronger and the walls began to grow dim. I knew I was leaving the doll's house and I clung to Bess and embraced her. I promised I would remember her words, I promised I would try to remain calm. The walls became dim and my head swam. I felt myself being pulled awake and then...

Mrs Evans was shaking my shoulder. Her snake smile was back and her eyes looked at me without pity or remorse. My jailer, my foe. I told her I had grown tired, I wanted some tea and some refreshments. I tried to stay calm and cold to her, to ignore the terror in the pit of my stomach.

Back in my bed chamber I sat by the window, drinking hot tea and letting my thoughts fly far away from the warm room and the malicious woman who sat snakelike and watched me. What had I ever done to Victoria to make her hate me so? Hate me so much that she would have me driven mad and shut up for my entire life?

I had met my future sister in law a month before the wedding. As I had only one younger sister, aged five at the time, I asked Michael if his sister would consent to be my bridesmaid and my younger sister my flower girl. We had met for tea and Victoria had been kindness and friendship itself. We had gone to dress makers shops together, she had helped me chose my trousseau and then warmer clothes for my new home. At the wedding she had been helpful and lovely in a light green gown behind me in my brides dress. She had danced prettily, talked wittily and had given me a beautiful set of silver combs and brushes for my hair as a wedding gift.

After the wedding I remember telling Michael how agreeable his sister was and he had simply nodded. He had later explained that he had expected her to be unwelcoming to me but that she had surprised him. Well she might.

At this time Victoria had been married several years and had two sons yet her waist was still slim and her face pretty. She had excellent manners, a charming way about her and could play, sing and dance remarkably well. She loved to gossip, had a flair for fashion and dress making, she had designed many of her dresses herself and she was known in society for her beautiful creations.

She was a woman utterly unfit for country life, let alone life as the daughter of a country lord who ruled over coal and mountains. She disliked riding ever since she had been kicked by a horse as a young child. She resisted all of her mothers efforts to get her to try riding again and so cut off a large avenue of communication between them both. She did not care for long walks or for walking uphill or in unseasonable weather. She preferred sitting or walking with an escort around prettily planted blooms and pleasure gardens. She liked picnics, outings taken by carriage and she loathed hunting, loathed dirt and loathed getting wet.

Her maid had the misfortune to be discovered by her charge reading a penny romance periodical. In exchange for various favours, the maid allowed Victoria to read all the romances she had. Her youthful mind devoured them and, along with tales of fair maidens and knights and brigands and tales of valour, became obsessed with three things. Her own appearance, her dress and getting a rich husband who would fall on his sword to protect her. In the first two incidences she was lucky. She had good looks as a child and grew into a pretty woman. She was from a rich family and her taste for pretty frocks could be indulged. The area in where she lived was sadly in want of handsome knights, brigands and princes. Since her mother's accident, there were not even balls or parties. When her father had broached the topic of sending her to school, to rid her of the terrible grief she suffered- he thought it was over her dear mother, in fact young Victoria had been teaching herself how to cry at will, it got notice and notice brought presents- Victoria had accepted right away. To be sure, school would not be interesting in itself but it had a certain romance to think of herself as sent away by the family, after a horrific accident. Also, it was away from dirt and coal and mountains.

In her London school Victoria thrived. The other girls made her feel important and she loved to share secrets and gossip- gossiping only with your maids is hardly becoming of a young lady. She was bright enough to pass at her lessons, she excelled at needlework and also at winning invitations to tea at friends homes. Having a sick mother and being from an extremely rich family made her very interesting to other parents and their children. She perfected her performance as the caring daughter who thought it best for her dearest mama if she stayed at school, a tear falling from her lashes as she spoke, that hearts universally melted and she was invited to weekends in the country, holidays at the seaside and trips galore.

Her father allowed her to spend most of her holidays away from home with friends as she had no one to play with at the hall. Victoria trooped about London in fine dresses, went on picnics and trips, spent her pocket money freely and kept her eye out for handsome young men. She found the one she wanted after a few years, the Honourable Mr Thomas Henry Eveleigh, oldest son of a very rich landed man who owned farms in Norfolk, Surrey and Essex. He was older than she was, fond of social gatherings and he was a most attractive man. Fair hair, green eyes, tall and broad shouldered, he was exactly the man for Victoria. Fortunately for her, he felt the same way and they were married as soon as they were legally able. They spent part of their year in a beautiful London town house and the rest at a large manor house in Norfolk where they had many neighbours in the nearby gentry to allow for parties and balls and evenings.

Victoria had chosen her destiny herself and had acquired it through determination, feminine wiles and self interested focus. She was rich, she had a adoring husband and fine children, a place in society and yet she now wanted to come back to Wales where there was plenty of coal and walks and weather to contend with and little else apart from local gossip and farming. Why?

I could see why her husband might not mind it. He might be a society man but he had also been raised to know much about farming as his father's heir. He had a natural interest in country matters, he did not mind weather in any form and he rode well. Not so his wife.

A log fell in the grate and sent up a shower of sparks. I jumped a little, I watched Mrs Evans tend to the fire and thought of how much my sister must hate me to want me dethroned in this manner. Dethroned Perhaps that was the right word after all. I had taken the place of her mother in the hall. I had become the mistress of the house and taken the role that her mother had given up when she became ill. I thought on it and realised that Victoria's determination was possibly the same as the determination I was discovering in myself. As a child she had been lonely, no doubt, much like I had been. She had not enjoyed the same pursuits as her family. She had longed for more. She had buried herself in romances to get away from the world she really lived in. She has no friends, she was as a shut up as I was now. While still a child, her mother had suffered a terrible accident, and could no longer be her mother or not the mother that she wanted at any rate. In order to survive in a house that offered her nothing, she had gone away and set her sights on securing the means of never having to go back. Now.....yes, what now? What had split us apart so much? We had been so close when I first married.

I sat up suddenly and spoke to Mrs Evans. Would she be so good as to ask my dear sister if I might take tea with her on the morrow? Mrs Evans nodded but as she went from the room, I caught her look. It was a look that said 'what is she planning now?' Well, I was planning two things. First to see Mrs Levin and ask her to take a letter to Daniel. The second was to speak with Victoria and try to make her see that I meant her no harm. That we could rekindle the same friendship, even if only to be rid of Mrs Evans. I could not hope to escape with that woman there and I knew that only Victoria could call her off.