“Well, not quite. I didn’t actually qualify.”
“No, but you have far more medical knowledge than me and if she won’t go to hospital, at least she will have you. I wanted … still want … to ring the Police but she wouldn’t let me do that either. She’s worried about the scandal and her father. She’s worried if he finds out what they have done to her, it will bring on another heart attack.”
“And she’s probably right,” said Ruth through gritted teeth. What a horrific state of affairs if Delia and Barrie were to get away with it. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair but it would do immense harm to Charles. Of that Ruth was positive.
“I’ve done what I can, Ruth,” Alex said ruefully, remembering how Vicky sobbed pitifully as he cleaned her wounds and bathed her gently before carrying her to a guest room and tenderly placing her in a clean bed. He had managed to get some soup down her and a coffee, along with some painkillers and eventually she had fallen asleep while he sat beside her. He had rung down and asked David, the head barman to manage the club for the evening as all three owners were going to be unavailable for a few hours. David, who loved the responsibility, had quickly stepped up to the mark so Alex didn’t have to worry too much about the business and luckily there were no functions booked so it would probably be a reasonably quiet night and as soon as he deposited Ruth at the flat, he would make an appearance.
It wasn’t long before they arrived in Kensington and Alex parked as near as he could to the door to the flat. They entered and ran quickly up the stairs.
“In here,” said Alex, showing Ruth into the room where he had left Vicky, who was curled up in the foetal position, fast asleep. “Barrie’s nothing but a sadist … and as for Delia … they should have locked her up and thrown away the key,” Alex seethed before turning abruptly. “I’ll be in the club if you need me, Ruth. Just press the button on top of the phone if you want to talk to me.”
Ruth nodded silently as he left the flat and standing for a few minutes over Vicky’s inert form, she could understand how angry he was. She felt the same.
“Ruth? Is that you?” whispered Vicky suddenly, her voice barely audible due to her badly damaged mouth. “I’ve been so frightened. When I heard voices, I thought it was them … coming back for me.”
“Oh, Vicky,” cried Ruth, kneeling beside the bed so their faces were level. She stroked Vicky’s hair back from her messed up face. Her eye and cheek were black and her mouth was bleeding slightly. “You poor love. How could they do this to you?”
“I … I thought they were going to kill me. Ruth … it was sick … vile … I feel so dirty and I hurt … everywhere. Alex … he helped me but ….”
“I’m going to examine you. I want to make sure you’re not seriously injured,” said Ruth grimly, peeling back the bedclothes and very gently turning Vicky on her stomach. She surveyed the damage, noting with horror the ugly marks where the whip had slashed the delicate skin. On further investigation, she discovered, as Alex had reported, that Vicky’s thighs and groin were bruised where Barrie had violently raped her and her wrists and ankles were chaffed from being encased tightly in the handcuffs. Ruth covered her up again. “You need a tetanus shot.”
“I had one, a few months ago. I cut myself in the kitchen and had to have a couple of stitches. The nurse at the hospital gave me one.”
“Well, that’s something. Luckily, the wounds from the whip aren’t too deep and Alex did a really good job of cleaning you up. We’ll keep an eye on them but as you are young and have healthy skin there shouldn’t be any problems although you’re going to be pretty stiff for a while. Your face will heal on its own although you will need to see a dentist. In the meantime, you’re going to need quite a few painkillers and a hell of a lot of rest.”
“Ruth … I’m terrified they’ll come back. You won’t leave me, will you? Barrie … he threatened to kill me if I divorced him. He admitted he only married me for my money … and then there’s Father. He mustn’t find out … about any of it.”
“Hush. He’s not going to if I can help it so don’t worry. Barrie and Delia can’t get into the flat. Alex had the locks changed this afternoon and anyway … they are at Canleigh.”
Vicky raised an eyebrow painfully.
“Yes,” said Ruth. “That’s another problem to be sorted. God knows why they went there. I’ve got to get them out before your father comes home.” She grimaced. “Unfortunately, he’s decided he’s had enough of Blairness and wants to return to Canleigh. I’ve managed to persuade him to stay in Scotland until I return but I can’t leave it too long … maybe a week if we’re lucky. He has a dinner invitation from Lord Massingham who recently went up to his estate and as Charles and he are such good friends and don’t see each other very often, he won’t want to cancel it so that gives us a few days.”
“I badly want to go home to Canleigh … for peace and quiet … get out of this flat ... but I can’t go while they are there,” shuddered Vicky, terrified at the thought of seeing her husband and sister. She jumped every time she heard anyone out in the car park; as painful as it was she frequently got out of bed to look out
