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Shazza
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Banned
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09-29-2009, 05:27 PM
Blood. All I could think of was blood. How it seeped from the wound deep in his skin, how it spread across the white tiled floor, dark and accusing. What was I to do? Should I stay, wait for them to find me, or should I run, back to my family. My kids. My life.
I shakily took one step backwards; his outstretched arm looked ready to grab me. I stayed and watched him for a minute. The room was silent; my breathing seemed oddly loud, like it was echoing around the clinical styled room.
My mind was swirling round my head like angry wasps. Thoughts buzzed in my brain, making my head buzz. I thought of Susannah, of Laurence and of John. What would they do once they found out? What would they say? Would they still love me, or would I be tossed aside, left to rot?
I turned smartly on my heel, the thought of desertion had sealed my fate and I knew what I had to do. It would be easy I was prepared. People did this sort of thing all the time. If they could, I could!
I quickly checked my uniform, the starched apron still white and my leather boots pristine. I gave my face the once over in the big crystal mirror that hung by the table. I looked fine, a little paler, but fine none the less. I took a deep breath and forced a smile onto my face; I picked up the dinner tray and went through into the dining hall.
I tapped across the wooden floor and entered through the hall doors. The Mulholland’s were sitting at the table, laughing, joking and drinking. They didn’t even acknowledge I was there, they probably didn’t even know my name. I walked over and placed the tray onto he table and began to pass out tea things.
A cup and saucer to each, sugar cubes and milk in the centre and a selection of biscuits on each saucer. I had to use tongs though, in case I “gave” them anything. The way they treated people was awful, acting as if the help were germ ridden street callers, not lower class people with feelings, families and dreams!
“There you are Miss Mulholland,” I said sweetly with a bow ad picked up my tray, ready to leave.
“Ah girl, wait a moment. You did not happen to see Bernard on your travels did you?” Miss Mulholland asked me, she said it slowly and clearly as if I was deaf. I was fuming inside, but on the outside I kept my placid exterior shield up. My heart began to race though, how stupid was I, of course she was going to ask!
“No Miss I am afraid I haven’t seen Mr Mulholland.”
She looked at me, they all did, as if they never expected me to see or know anything of the master of the house. She waved her hand at me as a signal to leave.
“Tray in the kitchen and I want you here for five tomorrow.”
“Yes Miss.”
Last edited by Shazza; 09-29-2009 at 06:36 PM..
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Shazza
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Banned
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09-29-2009, 05:49 PM
I put the tray into the kitchen and practically ran out of the houses back door, towards the small group of shacks that was built right at the edge of the Mulholland estate, for us “lesser” people to stay. Basic and primitive the shacks were, the communal outhouse was just a hole in the ground surrounded by wood.
I only stopped when I was a few feet away from the shack that my family and the cook’s family shared. I pushed my hair behind my ears and opened the creaky door. The twins were asleep along with Maxwell and Rosa, the cook’s children. The adults looked up at my arrival.
“Late tonight Sheila.”
“Worked you to the bone girl?” Frances the cook asked cheerily she got of after desert was made; all I had to do was serve.
I nodded and shakily sat down. I looked around at the bleak surroundings.
“I think I want to go to sleep, we all should, need to save on the gas. That’s got to do us till Master refills it next month. We want light then eh?” I said.
There was a murmur of agreement and as we all settled down, my husband and myself sharing a fraying blanket when a loud, blood curdling scream could be heard, quiet from where we were but deafening in the manor.
“What was that?” John asked, putting his arm around me. I knew exactly what it was, but I kept quiet.
“Maybe they got confused trying to work the tea pot?” Frances suggested with a laugh. We could hear rushed footsteps and tapping at the shacks doors, murmuring, and squeals. Soon it would be here.
John hopped up and rushed to the door, prying it open just as the tapping reached us. Edna, the scullery maid was standing there, frightened and grey.
“It’s Master Mulholland!” She said loudly. “He has been murdered! They want everyone up at the manor for questioning! The police inspector will be there!”
Everyone had stopped. I stayed where I was; Frances and Robert grabbed their children and rushed past Edna, urgency in every movement. John snapped into action as well, grabbing Susannah and Laurence and then pulling at my arm.
“We have to go! Grace, come on!” He said, every syllable shaking with fear. I nodded and stood up, my words lost in my throat. I wasn’t expecting this I Was expecting him to be found in the morning. I knew I should have told them I was fired, that we had to leave. Servants work was not hard to come by! Now this was blown up I couldn’t leave, they would know!
We ran up to the manor, the clapping of hooves could be heard in the distance. The police inspector was nearly here. I was shaking like a leaf by the time we emerged, gasping in the kitchen. The grim sight of Master Mulholland greeting us!
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Shazza
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Banned
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09-29-2009, 06:11 PM
“Everyone is in the dining room, be warned, Miss is in an awful state, along with Cedric and Louisa,” Edna said, ushering us into the packed dining room where the whole Mulholland family, dinner guests and staff were crammed in. Whispers reverberated around the room; I caught some snippets of rumours.
“It was the nanny, she wanted house access”
“He stabbed himself when the cook denied his advances”
“I heard it was that assistant to the family, I heard she were last to see him!”
John heard this and looked at me, he studied me. Frances looked. I suddenly burst into tears, everything was unravelling around me. I wanted John to put down the children, to hug me, to tell me everything would be fine. He stayed where he was, looking at me with disgust.
Frances gave me a hug. She stared angrily at John. “This is your wife! You believe her over rumours! She is sweet and kind and lovely and---” Frances said before she was cut off by Miss Mulholland’s shrieks.
“And a Murderer!”
Everyone was looking at me, then, to my horror I noticed the police inspector was in the room, surveying the scene before him. He stroked his bushy moustache and walked towards me.
“I guess I shall start by speaking to you.”
I whimpered as he walked through to the drawing room, I nervously followed. He was sitting at a chair, in front of the big oak desk and signalled for me to sit in front of him. I shakily sat down on the red leather and waited for him to speak.
“So, Miss…” He said. I looked at him and replied quietly.
“Phelps, Grace Phelps.”
“Ok Miss Grace. This is a pretty wrapped up case. I know who did it, I can see guilt a mile away. It stands out like a pimple. Now, I want you to tell me exactly what happened from last month until tonight at seven. Now, only the things involving you and Mr Mulholland. Though you know we were good friends so I know a lot of what happened. Especially on June 16th.”
I gasped, this man really did know! I wanted to be truthful, but I wanted to have someone kind to tell it to. “Get me my husband, so I can explain. Then you can do what you must.” I said simply.
He looked at me, sadness in his eyes. “I am sorry Miss Grace, no can do. This must be kept private; you can converse with him at a later time, for now it’s only you and me within these four walls.”
I looked at him, I sat back in the comfortable chair and sighed. He already knew, I was going down whether I wanted to or not.
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Shazza
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Banned
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09-29-2009, 06:35 PM
I uncoiled my hair from its bun and le it hang loose round my shoulders, I took off my apron and threw it on the desk and I helped myself to some of Mr Mulholland’s whisky. I was ready.
“Mr Mulholland was a powerful man. He always got what he wanted, he always wanted women, all different women and is help was the easiest thing to get! I knew he was unfaithful, I knew but I never commented. I always thought that since I knew we had some unspoken vow, a sacred trust. I would never tell Miss Mulholland if he left me alone and for two years he did. Though a month ago it was all too much for him. He would call me into rooms for help in which he was alone and knew he would not be disturbed.”
I took a sip of whisky as the inspector watched me.
“He made advances upon me,” I continued. “Advances in which I tried to stop. I am a married woman, I have only lain with one man and one man only and that man is my husband! I have always been faithful, never have I strayed and it’s something I am proud of! Or was. Every time I refused the next time he would get more and more impatient and more and more violent. June 16th was the day he lost his temper.”
Tears began to slip down my face, I didn’t want to do this but it was hard, I never spoke about this and never wanted to.
“It’s Ok.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered and dabbed at my eyes with a handkerchief. “He pushed me to the desk, he became forceful and before I knew what was happening he was getting dressed. I was left lying there, naked and violated. I composed myself and got dressed. I felt so ashamed, like I had done deep and shameful acts on my own accord!”
“He raped you?” The inspector asked, looking shocked when I nodded.
“I found out I was pregnant a few days ago. I couldn’t live with the fact I was having his baby! I couldn’t live with the fact that there would soon be evidence of my misdeeds! So I came up with a plan. I would catch him on his own, I would then begin to kiss him, make him think that I wanted a second adulterous act to take place. Then, I would pull a knife from my pocket and stab him, in the chest through the heart. Where I knew I would find emptiness!”
The inspector looked at me as I drank.
“So tonight in the kitchen, you stabbed him?” He prompted. I looked up, shocked.
“No.”
He raised an eyebrow; I could see his brow sweating a little.
I continued. “When I went into the kitchen tonight I never thought he was there. I was getting tea things for the dinner party, the Mulholland’s always entertain on a Friday. Well when I entered I saw him, lying there, bleeding. Someone had stabbed him, beat me to it. Kudos to whoever did though, they are braver than I.”
He looked at me, really sweating now. Did he believe me?
“Look, my apron, its still white! If I killed him it would have blood on it, so I couldn’t have!”
He pulled a gun from his pocket and rested it on the desk.
“I know you never killed him.”
I smiled, he believed me!
“You do? But how?” I said.
With that he picked up the gun and pointed it to his temple before murmuring “Because I did!”
An almighty bang rumbled through the room and the next thing I saw was the inspector, covered in blood, his own and Mr Mulholland’s slumped over the chair.
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