wrinkles.”
So Pip went to Aldgate and returned filled with awe at the spiritualist’s powers. She had communicated with his dead mother, Pip told Nellie, and his mother had assured him she was at peace. Nellie was relieved, but her relief was short-lived when the following day he announced he was attending yet another session with Madame Olga. They argued once more. They were almost penniless, and Nellie knew the only solution was for her to seek work at one of the hospitals. But Pip obdurately refused, and a warm exchange ensued, which left neither party satisfied. As if to press home his views, Pip pointedly returned to the spiritualist. When he came home, he was contrite but not remorseful, and though they were reconciled, Nellie was deeply troubled by the course their relationship appeared to be steering. The following morning she decided to seek employment at one of the hospitals without Pip’s knowledge or approval. If she was successful in her quest, then she would address his criticism. She put on her bonnet and jacket, told him she was going to the market and left the house. When she returned, Pip had vanished, and he remained gone for the rest of that day and the next.
“This husband of yours,” Julian said with a cold glare. “Is he a man or a mouse?”
“No, you’re too hard on him. Who wouldn’t be damaged by a parent like Sir Thaddeus? I myself know…” She trailed off just in time. The memory of her own father’s abandonment of her was too raw and fresh to share with anyone just yet.
“He is a mouse, then. No man continues to lay the blame for his conduct on his father.”
Nellie shook her head. “He’s a gentle soul caught in the most trying circumstances.” Even as she spoke, she wondered why she leaped so quickly to Pip’s defence. Was it because she secretly shared Julian’s low opinion? No, she cared for Pip. She was his wife. She loved him. Didn’t she?
“Hmpf. He’s a weak weasel who abandoned you as soon as your back was turned and ran squealing back to his dear papa. Isn’t that what happened?”
She winced and twisted her fingers together. Such brutal words, but she refused to believe them. “I don’t know what happened, but I suspected his father was involved. I thought perhaps Pip had gone to see his father and taken ill while he was there. So I returned to the Ormond house, but the footman wouldn’t let me in.” She paused, breathing harder as she recalled the humiliation of standing on that doorstep, pleading with the supercilious servant to allow her entry.
A glimmer of compassion showed in Julian’s dark eyes. “What did you do?” he asked more softly.
“I was furious to be treated like a mere street peddler. I banged on the door, but no one answered. I was so incensed I picked up a handful of gravel and hurled it at the windows.”
Julian’s eyebrows shot up. “Never! I’d liked to have seen that.”
She gave a rueful laugh. “I don’t know what came over me to turn me into such a hellion, but a few minutes later a Peeler came by, attracted no doubt by the commotion I was causing, so I desisted and returned home. That night an urchin knocked on my door and said a gentleman in a carriage was waiting for me downstairs. I went down and saw it was Sir Thaddeus.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed. “So that was the night I was following Ormond.”
“Yes.”
He groaned. “Deuce take it, Nellie. You’re an intelligent woman. Why the devil did you get into Sir Thaddeus’s carriage? After the way he treated you, surely you must have been cautious.”
“It’s all very well saying that now, but at the time I didn’t know how ruthless he could be. I was desperate to find Pip again, and Sir Thaddeus was my best hope, so I went with him.”
“And?”
An icy shiver crept down her spine. “And it was not long before he revealed his true colours.”
As soon as the carriage lurched off, Nellie turned to the man sitting opposite her. He was dressed in black, his head covered by a felt cap. In the rocking dimness of the carriage, he was all but invisible, but his inimical presence filled the interior, stifling Nellie’s throat with trepidation.
“Where is Pip?” she asked loudly, determined not to be cowed by his menacing aura. When he didn’t reply, she continued, “Have you kidnapped him? Prevented him from contacting me? Answer me, Sir Thaddeus. Where is my husband?”
“He is not your husband,” Thaddeus suddenly snapped. “He is engaged to another woman. Has been for the past two years. He had no business running off with you.”
Nellie gaped at him as the carriage jounced over the rough road. The blinds were shut, and she had no idea where they were going. “What nonsense. Pip would have told me if he was affianced to someone else. He wouldn’t have hidden something as important as that from me.”
“Wouldn’t he?” Sir Thaddeus arched one of his thick eyebrows. “You obviously don’t know my son very well, or you’d be aware that he can say or do anything to please himself, including forgetting the childhood sweetheart he is bound to marry.”
Engaged to a childhood sweetheart? Could Pip have concealed such momentous knowledge from her simply to persuade her to run away with him? “No, it’s not true. It can’t be true.” But her protest was fainter this time. Pip
“The marriage contracts have already been drawn up. The nuptials are planned for this spring.” Sir Thaddeus’s relentless voice drove home each point.
“He cannot get married,” she protested. “He’s already married to me.”
“It appears my son would have done anything to get into your petticoats, but why he would stand up in front of a vicar with you beggars belief.” He sneered at her in undisguised disgust. “No matter. Every error can be solved if one has sufficient determination. You are one mistake who will not be allowed to blight my son’s future.”
“No, no, I’m no error.” She gouged her fingernails into the upholstery of the seat as nausea spiralled through her stomach. No wonder Pip had been slow to arrange their wedding and had only done so at her repeated requests. At the time she’d thought he was merely worried about the extra expense of procuring a marriage licence, but now she knew there was a solid reason for his reluctance—he had not been free to marry her. He was promised to another. He had lied to her most grievously…
“My son had suffered a mental collapse when he eloped with you. He cannot be held accountable for his actions. A divorce will be easily obtained.” His basilisk eyes held her captive. He was so contemptuous, so sure of himself. He had her beaten, and he wanted the sadistic satisfaction of watching her squirm.
“I’m sorry for the woman he was engaged to.” She cleared her throat. “But—but everything has altered. Pip and I are married, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You must accept that.”
Thaddeus drew back. “I accept nothing from a brazen hussy. You think I’ll let you bring shame upon my family? What kind of imbecile do you take me for?”
The threatening hiss in his voice ought to have been sufficient warning, but hot anger flooded her veins, loosening her tongue.
“Not an imbecile but a bully, Sir Thaddeus. An oppressor of the worst kind. You’ve been persecuting Pip all his life. Why do you think he ran away and suffered a nervous collapse? Because of you, because of your constant bullying and hectoring. Pip is afraid of you, but I’m not. I shall stand by Pip, no matter what, and I’ll help him to break free of you. He did it once, he can do it again.”
“Insolent slut! You dare to defy me?” Flecks of spittle flew from his mouth. “Phillip wants nothing more to do with you. He waited until you were out before running back to me, pleading with me to help him out of this mess. He’s tired of your coarse manners and vulgar behaviour.” The corners of his lips lifted in a sneer. “I’ll admit you’re a toothsome wench, but my son requires more when it comes to choosing a wife. Now, I’m prepared to give you a generous sum of money if you cooperate with my lawyers in the divorce and never bother my son again. Fifty pounds should be more than sufficient to compensate you for any inconvenience.”
Nellie sucked in a breath. Her head reeled as though she’d been struck with a hammer, but her anger seethed.
“Take me to Pip. Let me talk to him in private.”
“He has no wish to see you.”
“So you say, but I’ll not agree to anything until I’ve spoken with him.”
Thaddeus expelled a derisive hiss. Under the brim of his cap his eyes took on a sinister sheen. “Foolish ninny, I knew you’d be too greedy to go quietly. You leave me no choice.” Lifting his cane, he banged on the roof of
