As they walked between the guests, Edward had never been prouder. Emily turned heads wherever they went and this evening she seemed to be turning more than usual. Helen and Emily had taken full advantage of Aunt Beatrice's generosity and visited the dress shop in town several times since April. On one occasion Emily had asked Jane to come along and give advice. When Emily had tried on a pastel green dress with dark green edging and a low decollete, she'd thought it inappropriate, but Jane had persuaded her to take it and wear it to this ball.
''You are a beautiful young woman. Time passes quickly, and soon enough you will be married, and nobody will look at you anymore. Take the opportunity now to feel what it's like to be a worshiped.'' Jane's words had persuaded Emily to be daring. Jane had been right; male adoration was beginning to make her feel like a Goddess.
''Who were you talking to?'' she asked Edward as he returned to her. ''I mean the tall man with the large nose and exaggerated sideburns.''
''Oh, that's just someone who pulled me to one side for a moment. Are you going to visit your father soon?''
Emily was taken aback. ''I have booked another coach trip at the end of the month. It's so difficult to get a seat. I asked Aunt Beatrice if her coach could take me, but she told me private coaches weren't allowed within three miles of the prison.''
Edward was sorry he'd asked the question. She'd had such a loving expression on her face, and she was plainly enjoying the evening very much, but the mention of the father had changed that. ''I'm sorry to bring it up now. Let's dance.'' Dancing restored Emily's mood, and as she circled Edward in her daring dress, his desire began to flow. When he suddenly pulled Emily from the dance floor, she wondered why. ''Look,'' he whispered. When she did, what she saw made her giggle. ''You understand now why I couldn't continue,'' he said as he tried to pull his jacket closed. She nodded and began to laugh.
''What is it?'' Emily asked when she saw the expression on Edward's face. His murderous expression frightened her. ''My dear, stay here and talk to Helen and James. I have some business to attend to. I'll be back very soon.'' She nodded and watched him weave between the guests and stop next to a tall man and a shorter bald man, neither of whom Emily liked the look of.
After twenty minutes of Helen's incessant gossiping, Emily decided to see if Edward was alright. She was worried about him, the expression he'd worn had shocked her, she'd never seen him look that way before. As she walked towards them, she wondered who the two men were. They both looked like rogues, one of them had a nasty scar on his face, and the other had a shaven head.
''No, that's not her. That's just some woman from the village I'm friendly with. She's very good in bed, but horrible to talk to. I'm just having some fun with her before I find someone better.''
Emily's legs turned to rubber, and she felt a cold sweat flow over her. Had it really been Edward she'd heard uttering these words. How could he? What was he doing? He was using her and didn't love her after all. She turned away and started to walk away from him as quickly as she could. All she thought of was leaving the room before she was sick over someone.
Edward saw her out of the corner of his eye and wanted to run after her, but he was trapped. He'd convinced the two men her name was Mary Cooper, a girl from a village nearby, who he was using to satisfy his sexual urges. If he ran after he now, he would blow it.
''Emily, wait, stop,'' Helen said as she ran over the lawn. ''Emily what's the matter?'' Emily saw a bush and darted behind it. When Helen caught up with her, she heard Emily's sobbing interspersed with the hideous sound of her retching.
''Oh, my Lord, dear Emily, what on earth is the matter?'' she said as she pushed the bush to one side to get to her cousin. When she saw her, Helen was shocked. Emily was on her hands and knees, her eyes were red, and there were the remains of vomit on her chin.
Emily looked up at her with glazed eyes. ''I want you to take me home, now. And I want you to deliver a message to Mr. Dirksen. Tell him I never want to see him again. Tell him to go to hell.''
''But Emily.....'' Helen was about to ask why.
''Shut your mouth and do as I say,'' Emily growled. Helen nodded and was silent during the journey home.
*****
The journey to the prison didn't seem as long this time. Perhaps because it was more familiar, Emily thought. As they drew up to the huge door, her mind thought over what had happened since the last time she'd seen her father. Edward Dirksen was her first thought, but she was relieved when she was interrupted by the coach driver who swore when he couldn't get the door open. ''Push from inside'' he shouted. The ample woman sitting next Emily pushed against it with her posterior and it sprung open.
Emily waited at the same table as the last time. It was a different warden, he looked kinder. A few gruesome looking men walked into the room and sat down with their wives. When Henry walked into the room, Emily immediately began to cry. Both his eyes were half closed and swollen, and he could barely walk. As he limped towards her, she put her hand over her mouth and bit into her finger.
''Father, what have they done to you?'' she howled. Everyone in the room started across at them.
''Don't be upset Emily,'' he said as he sat down. ''I'm alright.''