Chapter 12 - Photo of Celeste

Chapter Twelve

Henry held Celeste tightly, not allowing an inch of space between them, as he carried her back through the corridor where a hyperventilating Mrs Young resided. The women who worked in the establishment were nowhere to be seen, and Henry was glad they had all fled when they had the chance.

Both William and Connor still stood beside the unconscious thugs and they looked happy when they saw the tiny girl in Henry’s arms.

“Let’s go,” William announced.

“You won’t get away with this,” Mrs Young hissed at them as Henry walked past her, followed by his brother and brothers in law. “He will not rest once he learns that you have stolen his property.” Celeste’s little head turned timidly to look at Mrs Young, before she quickly hid in the collar of Henry’s shirt. “He’ll kill you, he won’t hesitate,” she continued. “He’s killed men like you before. He will do it again. He will come for you.”

“Let him come,” Henry sneered. Mrs Young could tell Vernon that Celeste was gone, though he would never know who took her, or where she was. He would not know before Ebony was safe and Henry could look him in the eye and tell him it was over and he had lost.

The six men and their new companion all made their way out of the brothel with extreme haste. Henry climbed in the first carriage, followed by his brother and Harrison. Joseph climbed atop to drive and William and Connor took the second carriage.

“When did you develop such gumption, Henry?” James asked, seeming very proud.

“I suppose I’ve found something worth fighting for,” Henry replied. Henry wanted Harrison to begin treating Celeste. Her weak breathing and terrible cough told him that she was one sick, little girl.

“Celeste,” Harrison said carefully. “My name is Doctor Gray, is it alright if I take a look at you?”

Celeste didn’t retract her arms from around Henry’s neck. She merely looked up at him with her wide, frightened blue eyes, as if she was asking him if it was safe. He nodded reassuringly. Celeste, in turn, nodded at Harrison. Harrison changed his seat, switching from sitting opposite Henry to sitting next to him. Celeste released Henry and simply sat on his lap, allowing Harrison to treat her. He produced his stethoscope once more, as he hadn’t listened to her heart properly before. Harrison reached over to unbutton her dress in the front but Celeste flinched – she didn’t want to.

“Do you know what my daughters like doing?” Harrison asked. Celeste shook her head. “They like playing with my instruments. Here, listen.” He positioned the stethoscope on his chest, over his heart. “Place your ear here,” he instructed, motioning to the earpiece.

Celeste leaned forward and positioned her ear at the stethoscope. Her eyes widened with wonder as she heard Harrison’s heartbeat. “That’s my heart,” he explained. “Do you mind if I can listen to yours now?”

Celeste nodded quickly, causing a violent cough to shake her body. She helped Harrison by unbuttoning the front of her dress and exposing her chest for Harrison. Henry resisted gasping. The poor child was skeletal. When was she last fed? Harrison listened for a few moments before smiling. It was fake though, as not to alarm Celeste. “She has a serrated pulse,” he said to Henry. That was not good. He pressed his fingers to her forehead and then simply said “Fever.” He then placed a hand in front of her mouth. “Breathe for me, darling.” Harrison could feel Celeste’s short, raspy breaths. He then began feeling down her sides, specifically around her ribcage. “Does that hurt?” he asked.

Celeste nodded. Henry could see the pain her eyes.

“It’s pneumonia,” Harrison concluded.

Henry closed his eyes and did his best to mask his fear and disappointment. Pneumonia was deadly if caught too late. “It’s alright, Celeste,” Henry said after a moment’s silence. “Let us button you up and keep you warm.” He quickly fixed her buttons closed and then tightened his coat around her. Her little toes were like ice so he warmed her feet between his hands. “You can sleep now. Everything will be alright,” he promised. After ten or so minutes, Celeste’s body relaxed and she fell asleep. “What do we do?” he asked Harrison.

“I can give her laudanum for the pain but all we can do is nurse her until she is well,” Harrison said regretfully. “We shall reach Catherine’s in a few hours so she can be fed and warmed.”

“What is the likelihood of her recovering?” James queried, looking at the helpless Celeste with sadness. Henry presumed he was imagining one of his own children in her position.

“I couldn’t tell you. Because she is so malnourished it is not good,” Harrison replied honestly. “Generally four in ten cases are fatal. I will do my best, rest assured. We will break her fever and keep her strong with food. We just have to hope we have not caught it too late.”

After what felt like the longest five hours in his life, the carriages finally stopped outside his grandmother’s home. It was strange not to see the large cottage covered in snow. The newer additions to her home were obvious as the bricks were different but it still looked like a warm, country home.

“Celeste,” Henry said soothingly, gently shaking her. “We’re here.” Celeste’s eyes fluttered open and she peered out of the window.

“Where are we?” she whispered.

“Somewhere safe,” he replied.

Harrison and James both climbed out of the carriage and Henry followed, carrying Celeste in his arms. Connor, William and Joseph were all securing the carriages.

“Grandmamma!” Henry called out as they walked up the garden path. The door hadn’t opened by the time they reached the house so Harrison knocked on the door quickly. “Grandmamma!” Henry called again.

A minute later the door swung open and Catherine stood before him brushing flour off of her hands. “What are you all doing here?” she exclaimed. “I was not expecting you. I’m terribly sorry but I’ve just been elbow deep in pastry … but, who is this?” Catherine’s questioning, hazel eyes surveyed Celeste in Henry’s arms. “Henry, did you have a child out of wedlock?” she hissed angrily.

“No, grandmamma, she is the sister of a dear friend and she is very sick. Please, we need help.”

Catherine immediately believed him. “Yes, yes, of course,” she said hurriedly, opening the door wider for them. “Come in, come in.”

Henry didn’t hesitate. He immediately brought her inside and took her directly up the stairs to his father’s childhood bedroom. It was a clean, moderately sized room with a large bed and a fireplace. He placed Celeste down on the bed and then tucked her in underneath the blankets. “I’m going to get you something to eat and then we’ll start the fire. How does that sound?” he asked her.

“I’m quite hungry,” she replied timidly. “This bed is really soft. I haven’t had a bed in a long time.” Her little hands pulled the covers up around her chin.

“I’ll be right back,” he promised. He exited the bedroom and came downstairs where his family had congregated in the sitting room.

“– and then we took Celeste from this cell they’d made in the attic,” James informed Catherine.

“But she’s very ill,” Harrison added. “Pneumonia. I’ll give her some laudanum in a moment.”

“Poor, sweet girl,” Catherine exclaimed. “Oh, Henry!” she said as she noticed Henry’s entry into the room. “What does she need, tell me, anything?”

“Food,” he replied. “She hasn’t eaten in a while. Do you have anything cooking on the stove?”

Catherine nodded. “Yes, I have some soup left over from my luncheon. I’ll warm it up and bring it to her. I have some bread and cake as well. Harrison, go and give that poor girl that laudanum. I don’t want any child in pain.” She quickly made her way into the kitchen to retrieve the food.

Harrison obeyed and immediately left the sitting room, medical bag in hand.

“What can we do?” James asked Henry.

“Go home.”

“What?” Joseph furrowed his eyebrows.

“I concur, we won’t leave now,” William added.

“I don’ have to be anywhere at the moment. Sabine runs our business jus’ as well as I do. We’ll stay,” Connor concluded.

“No, I need you to go home. I need you to send word to Ebony telling her to return from France immediately. I need you to collect her at the docks and I need you to keep her safe at Ethridge until I return. I’ll stay here until Celeste is healthy.” ‘Or she dies,’ he internally thought. “I need you to make sure she is safe. I need you to keep her hidden and away from Vernon. When I get home I’ll make sure he’s arrested.”

“Alright,” William agreed.

“We’ll depart immediately. You will send word of Celeste’s recovery?” James checked.

“Yes, of course.” Henry nodded.

James, Joseph and William left for London once the horses had been watered and rested. After a lot of protesting and persuading, Connor had conceded to return home to Sabine with the promise of Henry sending him word also.

Harrison had remained behind to monitor Celeste’s progress, not feeling comfortable with leaving her in the care of the town doctor who would have to trek back and forth between visits.

Celeste had been fed properly and Catherine had brushed her matted hair out until it felt like silk between one’s fingers. After she’d bathed her, Catherine had dressed Celeste in an old nightgown of his Aunt Jane’s.

She was sleeping soundly after receiving dinner and Catherine, Harrison and Henry were eating a dinner of roast chicken at the dining table.

“Tell me about the girls, Harrison, are they much grown since Christmastime?” Catherine asked casually.

“Yes, Clara is walking properly now, no more of the toddler waddling. Georgiana and Victoria are about the same but I am sure you will notice the difference next winter. Victoria will be preparing to enter the schoolroom this time next year.”

“Oh, time goes so fast, does it not?” Catherine shook her head. “I can’t believe my children have children and their children have children. Am I really so old?”

“You do not look a day over thirty, grandmamma,” Henry promised.

Catherine smiled, causing her aging skin to crinkle. “You’re a sweetheart, darling. I’ve no doubt in my mind that this Ebony will not be able to resist you. If she does then she is a fool.”

Over the next fortnight, Celeste continued to improve. As each day passed her breathing became less raspy and she ceased to wheeze. Her fever broke on the second day, her heart beat regulated after five days and she stopped complaining of pain in her sides after a week.

With regular meals, one could see the change in her appearance quite quickly. Her face was no longer gaunt and her ribs were no longer so pronounced. There was a little more to her arms and legs and she had the strength to hold herself up, and even walk about her bedroom.

Celeste was more talkative also. She had developed a close bond with Catherine and she had become very attached to Henry. She’d told Henry all about what she remembered from Suffolk. She never told him any stories to do with her father, Bill. She only every told him about things that Ebony had done for her. She talked about how Ebony would give her a sweet on Sundays and how she would do her hair all lovely for church. She mentioned the fact that she used to pinch from people and she seemed to realise how wrong it was. Mainly she was excited to see her sister again. She asked for Ebony constantly and Henry couldn’t tell her anything. He hadn’t received word from London on the developments regarding Ebony’s return but then again it would take more than two weeks for everything to come to pass.

If Henry learned anything from Celeste’s company, it was that Ebony was a more remarkable woman than he had ever thought. He couldn’t wait to see her again and get to know her properly. She just hoped that she liked him as much he did her.

A few days later, Harrison decided that Celeste was well enough that she did not require his constant attention. Henry too decided that he too would return to London to see what was happening in regards to retrieving Ebony. Celeste would be safe so long as Catherine was there to watch over her.

It was the middle of April when both Henry and Harrison chose to depart Yorkshire. Celeste had come outside to bid them farewell with Catherine. She was wearing a dress that Catherine had made for her – bright, checked yellow, with matching ribbons in her straight, blonde hair. Henry thought Catherine enjoyed having someone to take care of again.

“Will you come back?” Celeste asked Henry, holding onto his hands tightly.

“Just as soon as I can,” he promised. “I have to go and collect Ebony.”

“Will you tell Ebbie that I love her?” she asked him.

Henry smiled. “I will, don’t you worry. You will behave for Catherine, won’t you? Eat all your food and make sure you get plenty of rest.”

“I will be good,” she promised.

Henry knelt down and gave her a hug, giving her one last confident smile. The hard part was over. Rescuing Ebony would be the easy part. Vernon did not suspect him. Though something in the back of his mind told him that Vernon, in person, would not relinquish what he deemed his ‘property’ so easily.

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Hope you liked it! Photo on the side is how I imagine Celeste! I think you all know how big of a Les Mis fan I am :) It's coming to Australia next June and my mumma said we can go - whooo!!!!

So today my best friend and I were having a catch up at our local shopping centre and we decided to see a movie. We chose 'About Time' because I love romantic comedies and I have a new love for Domnhall Gleeson who is my dork crush at the moment. About 10 minutes into the movie, an alarm starts going off. It started at a time where the main character started freaking out so everyone in the cinema thought it was part of the movie. After about 5 minutes of this blaring alarm we realised it wasn't part of the movie and it was actually the fire alarm. We were then told that it wasn't a drill and we had to evacuate!!! So we all go out into the foyer and all these hot firemen in uniform come streaming in. Apparently an exhaust fan short circuited and set off the fire alarm so it was all fine so we could resume our movie, but for out inconvenience we receieved a free ticket :D My best friend and I immediately decided to use it to see Thor 2!! Oh, Chris Hemsworth, Australia's finest export <3 I remember when he was a teenager on Home and Away which is our soap opera, and any Aussie readers, don't judge me, I've watched home and away every day since I was about 6 years old. Everyone knows not to disturb me between 7 and 7:30pm as my show is on ;) Did anyone watch tonight's episode? I hate that new teacher and I was like 'Right on Bianca, stick it to her!'

But the funniest part of my day was when we were driving home. I was blaring 'Bohemian Rhapsody' once more because we ALL know the words and somewhere between 'I'M JUST A POOR BOY, NOBODY LOVES ME!' I was going around a roundabout and this guy didn't indicate and nearly crashed into me and I had right of way so I'm singing the opera part of the song and the guy nearly hits me and I stop singing and scream 'NICE INDICATOR YOU F**KTARD! F**KING W*NKER!!!!' And my best friend was filming me the whole time!! So that'll be interesting when it ends up on Facebook #roadrage #dontmesswithme #bestdrivereva

I'm weird, you don't have to tell me ;)

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