“Look,” she said, her voice hoarse as he drew her into his arms. “Look, Jack. The first fireflies.”
He took his time with her, exploring skin that never saw the light of day: the backs of her knees, the soft crease between thigh and buttock, the small of her back. He pressed his face to her belly and slid up to nuzzle her breasts, suckling with a wet and greedy mouth until she gasped and tried to twist away. He would have none of it. He held her down to take what she wanted to give him, and here was another shock: she liked being at his mercy.
With some small part of her mind she realized that the fireworks had begun. Colors fell like rain in the whispering dark.
22
NEW YORK SUN
Friday, May 25, 1883
BELMONT HEIR TO MARRY CREOLE
There is great agitation among the upper classes of this city about a wedding to take place this morning at Trinity Chapel. The groom is Peter Verhoeven, Esq., son of Anton Verhoeven, a prominent Belgian architect, deceased, and Clarinda Belmont of this city, also deceased. Through his mother Mr. Verhoeven, an attorney, inherited a large portion of the Belmont fortune as well as a fine home on Park Place.
The bride is Sophie élodie Savard, a beautiful mulatto lady, highly educated and refined in person and habit. The couple have known each other from childhood.
According to the city clerk, a marriage license has been issued. In light of this fact, members of the Belmont and related families declared the intention to disown Mr. Verhoeven should the scandalous and unnatural union go forward.
Both bride and groom have declined to be interviewed, but the Sun has learned that they plan to leave for Europe after the wedding ceremony and luncheon. They will travel to Switzerland, where Mr. Verhoeven will be admitted to a private sanatorium for treatment of advanced consumption. His new wife, who is a qualified physician, will attend him there.
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NEW YORK SUN
Friday, May 25, 1883
MOTHER’S TRAGIC DEATH
FOUR LITTLE BOYS LEFT BEHIND
MALPRACTICE SUSPECTED
Mrs. Janine Lavoie Campbell, aged 26 years, of 19 Charles Street, died yesterday afternoon at the New Amsterdam Charity Hospital as a result of possible medical malpractice.
Originally from Maine, Mrs. Campbell was employed by the Bangor post office until her marriage to Mr. Archer Campbell of this city. The marriage was a fruitful one, producing four boys in five years.
Yesterday morning a neighbor called on Mrs. Campbell and found her to be very unwell. A police ambulance was summoned, and Dr. Neill Graham of that service examined Mrs. Campbell and declared her to be in danger of her life.
In accordance with her wishes, Mrs. Campbell was transported to the New Amsterdam Charity Hospital to be delivered into the care of Dr. Sophie Savard, who was not present. Instead Mrs. Campbell was seen and operated on by Dr. Anna Savard. She did not survive the surgery.
The coroner was notified by the hospital, and an autopsy was arranged with all speed. The report of the postmortem examination carried out yesterday evening has not yet been made public.
Confusion in this case stems from the fact that two female physicians with the surname Savard were involved in treating Mrs. Campbell. Dr. Anna Savard and Dr. Sophie Savard are reportedly distant cousins who studied together at Woman’s Medical School. Dr. Sophie Savard is a mulatto. How she came to have a white lady of good family as a patient is a matter still under investigation.
Mr. Archer Campbell, a senior postal inspector and husband of the deceased, directed that his wife’s body be taken to his home. This young mother of four was by all accounts a virtuous woman beyond reproach.
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JACK STOOD OUTSIDE Trinity Chapel watching a couple dozen people, Bonners and Ballentynes, Scotts and Quinlans and Savards greeting each other. Small groups would drift together and then apart, but nobody ever strayed very far from Anna’s aunt Quinlan. The old lady stood holding the Russo girls by the hand, both of them too excited to do anything but bounce in place while she talked to daughters and grandchildren, cousins and nieces.