Chapter Two
Thunder boomed around her. She ran hard, but could not seem to reach the gate.
The headstones loomed large around her as if to swallow her whole.
With one fierce push, she jumped and finally landed at the foot of the gate.
Evelyn reached for the latch, but could not grasp its cold iron promise of release from this place.
Each time she tried it seemed to hold tighter to its position.
Icicles of dread crept into her heart as she realized she was trapped inside the cemetery.
“I can help you if you help me,” a voice said from directly behind her.
Evelyn turned to find the woman from the afternoon before. She remained in the same state, but now her voice was clear. Rain poured heavily on her, drenching her from head to foot. The cold seeped into her bones without mercy.
“W-what do you want?”
“I only want to help you,” she said with a twisted smile as she tilted her head to the side.
The storm settled and the clouds slightly parted to reveal a bright full moon.
In its illumination, the woman transformed into a beautiful young woman with delicate features and neatly coiffed hair.
Her white gown showed no evidence of stains or tearing but rather was elegant, though it seemed from another time.
Everything about her seemed from a long-gone time.
“Can you help me lift the latch on the gate?”
“You wish to leave? But it’s so lovely here.”
Evelyn looked around. The headstones were as they always were. A soft breeze passed through making the overhanging ivy and wisteria dance in its wake. The silvery hue of the moonlight cast across the pathways covered everything with an ethereal glow. It was beautiful.
Evelyn’s heartbeat steadied as she drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Though the place was not so terrifying anymore, she only wished to return to her home not even realizing how she’d gotten here in the first place.
“Please. I only wish to go home.”
“May I visit you there?”
Evelyn was at a loss. A proper house call usually occurred by formal introduction followed by an invitation. She didn’t know who the woman was and it was her parents’ choice with whom they extended that invitation.
“I-I don’t know.”
“That is disappointing, Miss Evelyn. I only wanted to have a friend. I become so lonely at times, you see. I was wronged and would not want the same to happen to you.”
“How were you wronged?”
“It is a long story that involved a man who promised love and a future. But he was false, like all men and like all society. Together they destroyed me and because I took my own life, I cannot leave this place. I would only wish to shield you from them if you will let me.”
Evelyn did not share that sentiment entirely. Sure, she’d encountered some with whom she would not engage, but surely they were not all bad. Her father was a kind man. She was sure her younger brother would be a good man too. No, she would not consent to this.
“I wish to return to my home.”
Evelyn turned to leave and waited. The latch lifted and the gate opened. As she stepped forward the woman grabbed her arm.
“You are certain?”
Turning her head, she said, “I am.”
Evelyn woke with a start and bolted upright.
Her breathing was ragged and she was bathed in sweat.
Tossing the covers, she hopped from the bed as though it contained burning cinders.
She flung open the windows and drank in the cool night breeze.
Gripping the windowsill, she drew deep breaths to settle herself.
After several long minutes, her heartbeat slowed and she calmed.
Realizing it was just a dream was not enough.
She paced the room as she struggled to make logic overtake her turmoil.
How long she did, she was not sure, but as the sky turned from inky black to gray, she climbed back into her bed and hoped for slumber.
When it came, there was no dream. Just blackness.
Evelyn was quiet throughout the day and into the early evening as she made to ready herself for the evening at the Clinton ball.
Heaviness had settled into her heart as though she bore the burden of some great tragedy.
Only her mother’s cheery nature kept her going as she chose a heavy, high waisted dark-blue gown “to match her eyes.” As she helped her into her gown, she touched the upper part of Evelyn’s arm.
A stinging sensation began where she touched making her wince.
“What is this?” her mother asked. “You are bruised.”
Evelyn looked down to see four dark streaks across her upper arm near her shoulder. A flash of the dream lit behind her eyes and she shuddered.
Trying to hide her thoughts from her mother, she said, “I stumbled last night and fell on some books.” It was a lame attempt at a falsehood, but she was caught off guard.
“Then you must be more careful. These marks will be covered by your gown, thankfully, but if we had chosen the other blue one they would not and that would not be very becoming.”
Thankfully, her mother did not press the issue any further. Now at the steps of Clinton House, she remembered the man from the other night. Would he attend this evening? Might he lighten her melancholy?
She didn’t have to wait long to find out. Once inside and announced, Lady Clinton ascended upon them with the man in tow.
“Ah there you are, finally, my dears. I wish to introduce you to my sister’s nephew by law, who has lately joined us from Mayfair.
Mr. Henry Shaw, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Bramston, and their daughter Miss Evelyn Bramston.
Mr. Shaw has made a particular point in asking for an introduction to your esteemed selves. ”
It was all very strange. Evelyn was taken with this Mr. Shaw immediately.
All thoughts of anything else vanished as they observed one another.
He was much taller than she and from what she could glean, quite muscular.
He was cleanly shaven, unlike the majority of the men she’d encountered who seemed to revel in finding new and unusual ways to wear their beards and sideburns.
She much preferred his clean look. Now up close she could see that his eyes were green.
Piercing was an apt way to put them, and she was captivated.
“Miss Bramston, might I have the honor of the first dance?” he asked, in a voice that was deliciously deep.
“The honor is mine, Mr. Shaw.”
He bowed to her parents and to Lady Clinton, who wore a smirk as though she’d just orchestrated the stratagem of the season. Evelyn didn’t mind in this case. She was pleased as punch at the moment.
They took their places on the dance floor as the music struck its first notes.
They moved together in time as if they’d been doing this dance together for years never taking their eyes from the other.
Evelyn was captivated by him; every part of her wanted to be in sync with him.
When he smiled, she did as well. They danced as if they were tethered by some unseen force.
They didn’t exchange much conversation, rather gave over to the intensity of the moment and the feelings growing.
Was it possible to fall for someone so quickly?
As it turned out, she danced all but one with him all evening, having promised her father one dance. The break from him was almost painful, as if she would not survive being separated from him.
“You are smitten with our Mr. Shaw I see,” her father said.
“I have enjoyed dancing with him, yes.”
“Shall I call the vicar in the morning?” he said with a grin.
Evelyn was well aware of her father’s penchant for a jest, but this one was not so funny.
If he could tell there was a growing attraction, what would everyone else think?
She recalled the woman’s words from her dream about how men and society had destroyed her.
It was true, a woman’s virtue was a delicate thing and if in question would ruin not only her, but the reputation of her family as well.
She must be more careful in revealing her true feelings.
“Miss Bramston, would you join me for a libation?” Mr. Shaw asked.
“I would, but you see my family are ready to retire and I must join them. I thank you for an enjoyable evening, Mr. Shaw.”
“Might I call on you tomorrow?” he asked.
She had hoped he would ask that and had hoped he wouldn’t.
“I would like that. Good night, Mr. Shaw.”
What else could she say? With that she followed her mother and father to gather their cloaks and returned to their home. She prayed she would find peaceful slumber this night, but she was wrong.
In her dream she was in the arms of one Henry Shaw.
He kissed her passionately and she succumbed to their desires.
Their passion was fully unleashed so much so that as she woke, her body shook as a delicious sensation washed over her stemming from her womanhood.
She lay panting and staring up at the ceiling wondering how the vision of their lovemaking could be so vivid.
She knew very little of the relations of a husband and wife, but in her dream she knew it all.
Her body still pulsed as the sensations waned.
She rolled to her side and tucked the quilts between her legs as she usually did to find a comfortable spot to sleep.
Eventually it came as did the blackness.