Chapter Five #2
The creak of the vestry door echoed through the silent interior of the church.
Annie stepped inside and inhaled the cool, stale air that somehow suggested the passing of many years.
The opening of the door prompted the few guests to rise to their feet, and Annie’s veiled gaze went straight to the altar where Leo stood waiting.
He turned as they entered and inclined his head, as if acknowledging their presence.
The Reverend Talbot, standing before the altar with a prayer book clasped in his hands, shifted on his feet as they approached.
It suggested the man’s impatience, perhaps prompted by the slow pace of her father.
Not that they were late arriving, but there would undoubtedly be another marriage ceremony after this, and probably one or two more after that.
Saturday mornings, at this time of year, were busy for the clergy.
Too bad, Annie thought. The vicar had long known of her father’s illness and, as a godly man, should surely make allowances.
Besides, it would be but a simple service, a quiet exchange of vows before God and the blessing of the church.
In less than an hour from now, she would have set aside her Fairfax name, and become Mrs. De Witte.
It was the most important day of Annie’s life, thus far at least, and she was determined to enjoy it.
In her peripheral vision, she became aware of Hattie and Bridget standing quietly in their pew on the right side of the church.
Then another figure came into view; a dark silhouette, that of a woman, standing in shadows on the other side of the nave.
A stranger. Annie gave her but a brief glance.
A church volunteer probably, or maybe an onlooker who’d wandered in from the street to watch the proceedings. Such a thing was not unknown.
Leo had not once taken his eyes off Annie as she approached.
As she drew near, his shoulders straightened slightly and a faint smile appeared.
He looked as immaculate as ever. The dark tailcoat accentuated the broad lines of his shoulders, his gray trousers complimented his long legs, the silk cravat at his throat matched the pale blue of his eyes, and not a single blond hair on his head was out of place.
At that precise moment, the fear—the doubt—Annie had encountered mere minutes ago dissipated like smoke in the wind.
Her future—their future—surely held much promise.
As they arrived at the foot of the altar steps, Annie’s father released her to her husband-to-be.
“You look beautiful, Annie,” Leo whispered. “I’m a very lucky fellow.”
Annie opened her mouth to respond, but didn’t get the chance.
“Let us begin.” Reverend Talbot’s voice filled the cavernous church and cut off Annie’s reply.
At that same moment, she heard the now familiar groan of the church door being opened and wondered who it was.
Leo gave but a half-glance over his shoulder and shifted on his feet as if irritated by the interruption.
The reverend lifted his gaze, his expression unchanging as he regarded whoever had entered.
Then, as the door groaned shut, he turned his attention back to his prayer book.
“Dearly beloved,” he began. “We are gathered here in the sight of God…”
Annie listened as the introductory part of the ceremony continued. Then came the preamble to a moment of meaningful silence.
“Therefore, if any man can show any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together,” the reverend said, “let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.”
The moment of silence came and went without interruption and the reverend continued.
“I require and charge you both, as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it. For be you well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful. ”
There followed a brief, calculated pause, then the reverend’s gaze came to rest on Leo.
“Leopold Harvey,” he said, “wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?
Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thyself only unto her, so long as you both shall live? ”
Leo gave Annie a fond glance. “I will,” he replied, the resonance of his voice rivaling that of Reverend Talbot’s, who nodded his approval and turned his attention to Annie.
But before the man could speak, the sound of a slow but emphatic handclap came from somewhere behind them.
Annie gasped at the intrusion and turned to see a man—a stranger—standing half-way down the aisle.
With the exception of a stark, white collar, he was clad entirely in black, from his top-hat to his polished boots.
Leo turned also, sucked in a breath, and muttered something Annie didn’t quite catch.
She glanced up to see an expression of fury on his face.
“Very convincing delivery, De Witte,” the man said, moving closer. “Though I’m not too happy about the ‘forsaking all others’ part. Would you care to elaborate on that?” He spoke with a pronounced foreign accent. German, Annie thought, as she regarded Leo once more.
“Leo, who is thi—?”
“I’m waiting.” The man halted, widened his stance and put his fisted hands on his hips.
“Come on, you blackguard. Explain it to me. Where will this sham of a marriage leave my sister, eh? Or, more accurately, the innocent young woman you first ruined and then abandoned, along with her unborn child. Your bastard.”
Annie gasped and pressed a hand to her chest, her mind stumbling over what the man had just said. Sham? A child? “Leo,” she began again. “Who is this man, and what is he talking about?”
“That’s what I should like to know.” Pale-faced and frowning, Annie’s father looked from one man to the other. “Well, Leopold? Are these accusations valid? Have you done what this fellow is accusing you of?”
“I have done nothing.” Leo’s mouth lifted in a sneer as he regarded his accuser. “This dummkopf is lying. The girl is no innocent, and the child is not mine.”
The man gave a soft, bitter laugh. “You know damn well it is, you worthless piece of shit. It is fortunate for you I am not armed, for I would be tempted to shoot you where you stand.”
“I must remind you that this is a house of God, sir!” The reverend’s voice thundered over Annie’s head.
“What is your purpose here? Are you declaring a legal impediment to this marriage? If so, state it now that I might proceed accordingly. If, however, no such impediment exists, you will cease this blasphemous interruption and leave this house immediately.”
“My sincere apologies, Reverend, to you and the Almighty.” The man removed his hat and came closer still.
Annie, her mind reeling with confusion, lifted her veil to better see him.
Of similar height, he also looked to be of a similar age to Leo, clean-shaven with an unruly head of brown curls, his dark clothes elegant and finely tailored.
“And my answer to your question must be no,” he continued, eyes narrowing as he regarded Leo.
“What this scoundrel has done is reprehensible, but not illegal, so there is no impediment in the eyes of the law. However, I find I cannot, in good heart, allow him to continue with this charade of a marriage without exposing him for the snake he is.” He moved his gaze to Annie, clicked his heels together, and bowed.
“My name is Karl Hoffman, Fraulein. Please forgive the intrusion, but I feel it is my duty to warn you that the charming boy you once knew no longer exists and it would be a mistake to continue with this…” He gestured with his hand.
“This farce. I notice there is no one here from his side of the family. Have you not asked yourselves why?”
Leo hissed through his teeth. “Shut your mouth, Hoffman.”
“I’ll tell you why. It is because they want nothing more to do with him. De Witte is a charlatan and a liar. A man without honor who will undoubtedly take all he can from you and then cast you aside while he moves on to—”
Leo parted with a throaty roar and launched himself at his accuser. Annie barely stifled a cry, unable to do anything but watch as the two men grappled with each other in the aisle. Other cries of alarm from Hattie and Bridget echoed around the church.
“Stop,” her father shouted and moved toward them. “Stop this at once. Good Lord.”
“Papa, no, leave them!” Annie reached out to grab his coat, but he pulled away. “Please, you might be—”
Leo’s elbow, crooked to throw a punch, struck her father hard in the face. He staggered back a step, then another, yet remained upright, body swaying slightly, arms hanging loose at his side. The fight stopped, the subsequent silence disturbed by Annie’s hesitant voice. “Papa?”
He didn’t reply. Like a man seeking mercy, he fell to his knees, his upper body remaining rigid for a moment before he toppled, face-down, onto the cold, stone floor.
The silence endured a moment longer, and then someone screamed; a high-pitched, blood-chilling sound, like that of an animal snared in a trap.
Only when Annie felt the harsh burn of it on her throat did she realize the sound had been of her own making.
Dropping her bouquet, she stumbled to where her father lay and fell to her knees beside him.
His head was half-turned toward her, the left side of his face visible, the left eye wide open and staring.
Blood trickled lazily from both nostrils, forming a dark, viscous pool on the floor.
There was no other sign of injury that Annie could see, yet a shiver of apprehension set her teeth chattering.
With trembling fingers, she brushed several strands of hair from his face.
“Papa, please,” she said, tears blurring her vision. “Can you hear me? Say something.”
A shadow fell across her, accompanied by Leo’s voice. “This is entirely your fault, Hoffman,” he said, his tone as cold and hard as the church floor. “Not mine.”
There followed a scoff as someone knelt at Annie’s side. Karl Hoffman, she realized. “Christ have mercy, De Witte, you are beyond despicable,” he said. “Fraulein, allow me to examine your father. I do have some medical knowledge.”
Shivering, Annie nodded her permission and sat back slightly as the man turned her father gently onto his back.
There was no resistance, no sign of movement.
No sign of life at all. Clarence Fairfax simply lay there, staring up at the ceiling.
The trickle of blood from his nose seemed to have slowed.
Was that not a good sign? Annie prayed in silence and reached for a semblance of hope.
At that precise moment, shafts of sunlight tumbled through the stained-glass windows, glinting off a ringed finger as Karl Hoffman probed beneath her father’s jaw. Annie held her breath when Hoffman winced briefly and gave his head a slight shake.
“Papa, please,” she whispered, willing him not only to breathe but to blink, for his eyes remained wide open, yet somehow horribly bereft of life. “Please stay with me.”
“Someone fetch a doctor,” came the wail from Hattie. “Quickly.”
“I fear it is too late for that.” Heaving a sigh, Karl Hoffman sat back on his heels. Annie felt his gaze upon her and dared to meet it. “I am very sorry, Fraulein, but he is gone.”
“No, that is…” Unable to grasp the truth of the man’s words, Annie shook her head. “That is not possible, sir. You must be mistaken. Please, check again.”
“There is no mistake, dear lady,” he replied. “I only wish there was.”
Teeth chattering, Annie regarded her father. “Are you sure?”
“I am certain.”
“Then may God rest his soul,” the reverend said. “This is outrageous. Outrageous, I say!”
Someone, either Hattie or Bridget, began to sob. Leo muttered something under his breath and his shadow, looming over Annie, drew back. There followed a fading echo of hurried footsteps on stone and the familiar creak of the church door opening and closing.
In Annie’s bewildered mind, it seemed as though every detail was somehow enhanced, like a terrible nightmare from which she could not awaken.
She took hold of her father’s hand, the fragile flesh still warm, and pressed it to her cheek as grief swelled like a stone in her throat.
“No, Papa, not today. Not like this. It should not be like this.” She then turned to Karl Hoffman.
“His eyes, sir. Please. Can they be closed? I cannot bear it.”
He nodded and brushed his hand lightly over her father’s eyes, closing them. “Es ist geschafft, Fraulein,” he said, a moment later. “It is done.”