Dawn's eyes widened. "He hasn't?" she said, looking puzzled. "I heard that Frederick Heinmarch was keeping a girl who was supplying him with all his manly needs. I wasn't sure. I hadn't seen him around. When I became madam of my house, I refused to let him come inside. I had thought he had probably started frequenting some of the cribs. They would do such kinky things as he wanted. But then when I heard about this young, red-haired girl, and what he was making her do to be able to live with him, I thought I should check thinking it might be you, knowing you were homeless when you arrived in town—and remembering the brightness of your red hair. Isn't any of this town's gossip true?"
Eugenia felt as though she was going to be ill. She sat her saucer and teacup down and stood up close to the warmth of the fire, clutching her arms, shivering. "I can't believe Frederick would be capable of spreading such rumors," she said, in almost a whisper. "And I can't believe he would be capable of doing such twisted things. It's all too sick."
Dawn went to Eugenia and touched her delicately on the arm. "But it is true, my sweet," she said. "Maybe not the part about him spreading the tale personally. Tales can get started by themselves. By stable hands, cooks, maids. But Frederick Heinmarch is capable of needing kinky sex. When I thought of him doing this to you, if it was you living here, I grew fighting angry inside. I just wanted to set you free from such vileness."
"But you said that you needed me because you were ill," Eugenia said, covering Dawn's hand with her own. "Please tell me about it." She just had to change the subject from Frederick, and what she might have to fear from him in the future if she didn't get away from this house of "crazies" as Kiyomasu had called it. Had that only been the day before? It seemed so long ago to her.
"My health has been going steadily downhill since I had a terrible chest cold," Dawn said, moving away from Eugenia, stooping down in front of the fire, rubbing her hands together. "My lungs. They ache all the time. I'm not sure why."
"Have you been to a doctor?"
"No. I've never believed in doctors. I just stay on pretty heavy doses of morphine now to get by each day. The pain is never-ending."
Eugenia's heart ached, hearing such news. "I'm so sorry, Dawn," she murmured. "But you should get to a doctor. It's foolish of you to not go. Maybe he could do something."
Tears began to roll down Dawn's cheeks, making a path through the powder and rouge. "Truly, my main reason for not going is because I'm afraid. I'm too young to think of dying. And I'm afraid he might tell me that's what's happening to me."
Eugenia sank down onto a cushion once again, cupping her chin in her hands. Life could surely be filled with heartache. All one had to do was turn around to find it knocking at their heart. "What do you want of me?" she asked.
"I want you to return to the Old Homestead Parlour with me," Dawn said, sitting down on a cushion beside Eugenia, grasping onto Eugenia's hands. "I could teach you all I know. You could run the business for me. Especially on the days when I feel so bad. I don't trust anyone else. Even though we only met for a brief moment that one day, I knew then what kind of person you were. I've never met anyone else like you while in Cripple Creek. Won't you please return with me?"
The thought of Drew waiting in the tower room entered Eugenia's mind once again. She did not know what his decision would be about her. Would he take her, or would he not? But still, even if not, could she actually be a part of such a place as Dawn's establishment? Always, when she thought of it, and Madam Valerie, she would feel something encompass her similar to what probably felt like dying. It grabbed at her insides, twisting them.
She turned her gaze to meet Dawn's. The blue eyes were pleading, hazing over with the wetness of more tears. "I don't think I would be the right person for the job," she said, brushing some curls from around Dawn's eyes. "I can only remember my one night there. It sets my blood cold remembering how I was abused."
"But don't you see, Eugenia? Madam Valerie is no longer alive. Only myself and my girls are part of my house. You would be safe. You could live there, untouched. Just run the place like it was your own. And, if I did die it could be yours. To keep. I would see to it. I would have a lawyer make this so."
"I just don't know," Eugenia said, her eyes going to the window, seeing some activity around the stable. She rose and watched as Clarissa entered the stable, then exited again in a huff. She had to wonder what the reason was. But no matter. She had troubles of her own right now. Should she tell Dawn about Drew? No, she knew that she shouldn't. It would be too long a tale to disclose. And she knew that Clarissa had a way of bursting into a room unannounced.
"Will you consider it? Think about it seriously?" Dawn asked, suddenly coughing in short, raspy hacks.
Eugenia turned and faced her, seeing how red Dawn's face had become while coughing. She also noticed Dawn's hands covering the area where her lungs lay beneath. Eugenia ached inside for her. It could be her own sister. Possibly dying. What should she do?
"And you must remember Frederick Heinmarch, Eugenia. If he hasn't pushed himself upon you, he will. Believe me. He will. Once he's used you for whatever purposes he's brought you here."
Knowing that fear was etched all over her face, Eugenia turned from Dawn once again, feeling the trembling in her knees. She hadn't ever thought Frederick could be capable of such twisted ways.
He seemed so refined, only living for his music, and possibly his opium that she and Drew had seen in one of the tower rooms.
"I will think about it," she said quietly, putting her hands to her cheeks, then her mouth, trying to hide the trembling that was also in her lips. It all seemed to be ending for her, her life of grandeur, with her dresses of silk and satin. Yet, if she lived with Dawn she would also have those kinds of dresses. She swung around, smiling. "Yes. I will think about it," she repeated. But she first had to see what Drew's plans were for her. He would always come first. With him, she would need no dresses of silk and satin. His hands and mouth would be a welcome replacement.
Dawn arose and placed her
black velveteen cape back around her shoulders. "I'm glad, Eugenia," she said. "Think hard. I could give you a life of leisure you never dreamed possible. It could all be yours. You wouldn't have to account to anyone for anything you did. You would be your own person. I would only be there, observing, a good friend."
Walking toward the closed double doors, opening them, Eugenia stood aside to let Dawn leave the library. "I'll get in touch with you soon," she whispered, looking around her, making sure Clarissa wasn't in hearing range.
"Please do," Dawn whispered back.
Eugenia began to kiss Dawn on the cheek, but Dawn withdrew, shaking her head. "I'm afraid you might catch my illness if you give me the faintest tap of your lips. I hope you understand."
That thought hadn't occurred to Eugenia. Maybe what Dawn had could be contagious. But for now, she wouldn't worry about it. She had plans to make. And the most important on her list of priorities sat waiting above her. "Please take care of yourself," she said, then watched as Dawn entered her carriage. She waved to her, then started to go up the spiral staircase, taking two steps at a time.
"In a hurry?" Clarissa shouted from behind her, standing at the foot of the stairs.
Eugenia swung around and looked at her, seeing something in her face, her eyes.
"What?" she mumbled.