Saving Simona (Alone In The World Trilogy) (8 page)

Gia shook her head, still gaping at her reflection. There were not enough words to ever express how she felt.

Once Gia had removed her dress, she changed back into Alexandria’s frock before glancing back into the closet. Once she had selected three more dresses, Lucie and she took the garments back to Lucie’s room before making their way to the parlour to talk. 

“What was Simona like?” Gia asked as Lucie and she sat down on the cushy mulberry chairs in the parlour. It was next to a large black piano. Gia looked longingly at the piano as she sat down. She had always wanted to play the piano, but never gained the chance when she was a child. Her mother had promised her that she would be allowed to learn
when she was fourteen, if she was good, and if there was enough money after the crops were done, but seeing as Gia was taken at twelve… Gia shook her head. There was no used mourning what never was. She shifted in her seat, switching her focus back to Lucie.

“What
is
she like.
Is.
She is not dead yet,” Lucie chided her, her eyes narrowed. Gia nodded. Lucie took a deep breath, looking grim as she remembered her sister from before. “Simona is only twelve… she is so young. She has experienced so little in the world…” she shook her head. She took a shuddering breath and wiped quickly at her face as a lone tear ran down her cheek. “Simona was a dancer. My mother started her out when she was two, and she has been dancing ever since. She is rather good.”

“Are you a dancer?” Gia asked.

Lucie shook her head again. “No, I never had the grace. I am a painter, however. Hold on, I will show you.” She got up and left the room.

After a moment, Gia stood up as well, walking over to an oval-shaped mirror that sat above an end table near the white stone fireplace. She looked into the glass, playing with her hair. She loosened the
tight bun, positioning it so that the crown of her hair puffed out around the knot. Once it was styled correctly, she dropped her hands and took a deep breath. Combined with the high neckline of her dark purple dress, Gia really looked like a proper lady. She sighed. If her life with Owen had pulled through, she could have had something close to this. Granted, Owen did not have nearly as much money as Lucie and her family did, but she would have had a much more elegant life than the one she was still forced to have.

Gia looked up as Lucie came back into the room, a large square canvas nestled beneath her arm.  She propped it up on her easel, which was next to a floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the grounds. Gia sauntered over to the painting, her eyes widening at the realism of it. “Impressive,” she said, nodding at the painting. It was of a lark in midflight, flitting across antiqued green birdcage. Gia recognized the background of the painting as being the same paintings that made up the walls of Lucie’s bedroom.

“His name was Henry.”

“Pardon?”

Lucie nodded to the painting again. “The bird. His name was Henry. My father got him for me for my seventeenth birthday, a few years back. Simona let him out of his cage month or so after I finished that painting, and the cat got him.” She shook her head, looking back at the painting before turning to Gia. “Ah well, what is done is done. What about you, Gia? Did you have any hobbies before you came here?”

Gia shook her head. “I have always like to look at the stars, but I have never had a hobby other than that, no.”

“That is a shame.” Before Lucie could say more, a young maid came into the parlour. She held out a slip of paper to Lucie.

“You have a visitor, ma’am. He says it is urgent,” she said. She curtsied in turn to both Lucie and Gia before slipping back out of the room. Lucie followed behind her. She returned only a minute or two later, after a door loudly slammed shut. Gia assumed that the sound was the end of an angry visitor’s visit.

Sure enough, when Lucie entered the room, she was shaking her head and mumbling to herself. “That irritating man,” she was saying, “so jealous, all the time. Thinks the world revolved around him.”

“Was that Solomon?” Gia asked. Lucie glanced up and nodded before rolling her eyes.

“He is still angry that I refuse to bring him along with me to try and find Simona, so he refuses to spend the afternoon with us.” She rolled her eyes again. “I told Sally to tell the chefs that we were ready for dinner at their earliest convenience. While we are waiting, however, do you want to see my favorite room in the house?”

Gia nodded. She followed Lucie out of the room, down a hallway, up two levels, and down another hallway. Finally, Lucie stopped in front of a glass wall. “Here we are,” she said, waving her hand towards the room. She smiled as she walked forward and entered the room. Gia followed her, shocked to find that the room was much warmer than the rest of the house. The air was sticky and smelled sweet, and left a light film all over Gia’s body. She looked around, seeing that the room was filled with flowers of all types, many of which Gia had never seen before. There were tables of differing heights, each taking in a different amount of sunlight. That was why the room was so warm, Gia realized. Everything was made of glass. It was
like being outside, without the hazardous weather. The sun beat down through the panes, allowing the plants to grow without worry of being killed by frost, wind, or excessive rain.

“Lucie, what is this room?” Gia asked, walking towards the largest of the flowering pots. She wrinkled her nose as the smell of rotten meat filled her nasal cavity. She squeezed her nostrils together and screwed up her face as she stepped all the way up to the flower. It was a dark purple in color, and bloomed outwards in an arc. The center of the flower was a light yellow in color, and extended upwards, towering above Gia’s head. The flower appeared to reach around two meters in diameter, and six meters tall.

Lucie walked over to the plant, cocking her head as she looked at it. “Oh, I forgot how pretty this plant is when it blossoms. It only happens once every several years, you know.” She glanced at Gia. “This was one of my mother’s gardens. She was always so sad every year when it grew too cold for her to sit outside in her gardens, so Father built her this garden indoors when she was bedridden with Simona. It was such a pleasant surprise for her, once she could see it.” She gestured back to the plant. “This is the corpse flower, or
Amorphophallus titanium.
Father brought one back during his travels. He thought Mother would be excited to see a flower so vastly different from any she had ever seen before.”

Lucie lead Gia over to another section of flowers that Gia had never seen before. “These are all flowers from Mother’s homeland. They were her favorites.”

“Where was she from?”

“Sicily,” Lucie said, leaning down to cradle the petals of one of the flowers in her hand. “That is where Simona and my names come from. Granted, Simona was named after my father, Simon, but mother only agreed to it because she had had a friend with the same name when she was a girl.”

Gia stared at the flowers for a moment more before she heard a bell ring from somewhere off in the distance, presumably still in the house. Lucie glanced into the hallway. “Dinner is ready.”

***

The girls reached the dining room at the same time that Rosamond and Winnifred came in. The each took their seats at the table, patiently waiting for the hired help to bring in their meal. Gia’s stomach rumbled loudly, and she realized that she never actually ate the breakfast that Solomon had provided her with that morning. Granted, he had been so angry that he had more or less tossed the food in her direction, not really caring if she picked up the nourishment or not.

“Thank you,” Gia said as a man placed a plate in front of her. She smiled at him before eating a spoonful of the stew in front of her. Gia was not sure what it was made up of, but it was warm and filled her stomach pleasantly. She took a sip of her punch, happily washing down the stew. The second course came out just as Gia spooned the last bit of the course into her mouth. It was potatoes with roasted Salmon, something that Gia could remember having only once in her life, when she attended her cousin’s wedding as a child. Much like the stew, it was delicious.

The room was quiet as the girls ate. Once the plates were cleared, however, Winnifred smiled at her sisters, leaning forward on her elbows. “Adelaide brought me my wedding dress this morning. She said that she finished it late last night, and wanted to bring it to me before one of her boys could stain or somehow otherwise maim it.” She chuckled. “Charles and Alexander are so rambunctious! I do not know how she handles those two with her business. I can barely sew for pleasure when there is anyone else around.”

Lucie leaned forward onto the table as well, her face lighting up with excitement. “Oh, Winnie! That is so exciting! What does it look like?”

Winnie took a sip of her punch before pointing a finger, gesturing for her sister to wait a moment. “Mm. Let me show you.” She slinked off to her room before coming back a few minutes later, a silk bolt of fabric resting over one arm. She moved to the section of the table that was not used for eating, laying the silk down. She folded back the fabric, sighing happily as she looked at the dress. Gia and Lucie both stood to get a closer look at the dress. Rosamond, who had already seen the gown, remained seating, sipping at her tea.

The dress was stunning. Even without any petticoats or a crinoline, the skirt was full. It was a champagne-colored satin, with a pale pink tulle overlay. It sparked in the candlelight, the tulle shimmering as the hanging candelabra swung
slightly overhead. The bodice of the dress was also champagne in color, but did not have the tulle to hide its beauty. The top ducked down in the center in a sweetheart neckline, arching to the armpits were two short cap sleeves were puffed out with a dusty pink ribbon. Winnifred shifted the dress to pull out a thicker sash the same color of the ribbon. She laid it over the top of the skirt, smiling as she stroked the beading of the bodice.

“You will look beautiful in this,” Gia said, smiling at the blonde. Winnifred smiled back, her ice blue eyes glinting happily. Gia turned to Lucie. “Do you have your gown yet, for your vows to Solomon?”

Lucie shook her head. “I have requested Adelaide to make me one, but she has not finished it quite yet. She has been working dutifully on finishing Winnifred’s dress. Mine will be next.” She returned to her chair. Gia walked back as well as Lucie’s younger sister took her gown back to her room. She turned to Rosamond.

“When is your baby to be born?” she asked, nodding towards the woman’s thickened waist.

Rosamond patted her stomach, letting her hand rest against her left side, her wedding ring glinting. “Ten weeks time. Would you like to hear the names we are considering?”

“Yes, please.”

“If it is a girl, we like Allie, after my mother, Lillian, or Minnie,” she said, listing the names off on her fingers, “and Harrison, Levi, and Rudolph for a boy.”

Gia shuddered as the name “Rudolph” was mentioned.
Rudolph… one of Isaiah’s men. He is one of the reasons that I am here in the first place.

Lucie turned her eyes to Gia, concern coloring her face. “Are you alright?”

Gia nodded. “I am fine, simply caught a bit of a chill.” She turned back to Rosamond. “Allie and Levi are my favorites.”

“Mine too. However, William likes Harrison much more than Levi,” Rosamond responded. She winked at Gia. “Do you have children of your own? Any little boys or girls running around your feet back home?”

Gia shook her head. “No, none yet. No beau, either.”

Rosamond nodded. “Well, that is all right. You are young, yet. There will be plenty of time for you to have little ones of your own.” 

Gia did not respond, but there was only one thought echoing through her mind.
I sure hope so.

8

The rest of the night passed in a blur. Gia learned a lot more about the upper class than she had ever expected to know, and spent her evening in the guest room that Rosamond’s clothes were occupying. The most interesting of these luxuries, however, had to be the water closet that Lucie explained had been installed six months previously. Gia had never heard of a room such as this and, quite frankly, felt rather intimidated by this indoor privy. As Lucie and she made their way down to the dining room for an early dinner while waiting for Solomon to arrive to pick the girls up, Gia excused herself to the facilities.

She stepped into the small room, slowly shutting the door behind her and pressing her back
up against the wood, her eyes wandering around the room once again. The walls were surprisingly plain for being part of such a luxurious home, as was the decor. The only items adorning the room were the eggshell claw-footed bathtub that rested against the wall, and the flushable…
thing
that resided in the corner.

Gia walked forward, narrowing her eyes at the patterned porcelain. Lucie had
claimed
that this was basically an oversized, indoor chamber pot that carried waste away without pouring out the basin, or covering it with dirt. It didn’t make sense, though. Gia could see that there was some sort of cylindrical object that went from the porcelain to the wall, but it did not make any noise! She expected it to sound like a waterfall or rain or
something,
but nothing like this immaculate silence that filled the room. The only sound that it emitted was a quick burst of water after she pulled that odd chain that dangled from the box that sat half a meter above the circular bowl with the polished wooden seat.

Gia lifted the hem of her skirt and her crinoline enough that she was able to crouch down to get a closer look into the bowl. It was filled with water
and, when she pulled the chain, emptied before refilling back to the midway point with fresh water. She shook her head and stood up, turning around and lifting her dress, and positioning herself over the porcelain. Lucie had instructed her to use this “toilet” in the same way that she would a normal chamber pot: lift her dress over the bowl, squat down so the slit in her pantalets would spread apart, and go. It took Gia several minutes, however, before she was comfortable enough to do so but, with nature screaming at her, Gia had no choice but to comply.

Once Gia had finished her business, she quickly stood back up and righted her layers, stepping away from the porcelain and pulling the chain before going to the basin near the door and rinsing her hands, using the homemade lavender bar of soap that Lucie had shown her when she
had shown Gia the room. She dried her hands on the bit of fabric that hung beneath the basin and went back out into the hallway, walking to the dining room where Lucie was waiting for her, two plates of thick, light brown bread, three bunches of grapes, and a hard-boiled egg in front of her. Gia made a please sound as she sat down and began to eat. She smiled at Lucie.

Minutes after Gia sat down, the butler came back into the room, a rectangular gold-and-white piece of paper in his hand. “You have a gentleman caller, Madam,” the man said, placing a hand behind his back and bowing before holding the card out to Lucie.

“Thank you, Miles. Tell him to come in, please.”

Miles did as he was asked, bowing his head with his hands behind his back before crispy turning on his heel and walking out of the room. Solomon entered the room, a look of fury still residual in his eyes.

“Are you ready to depart?” Solomon asked, his words tight as he focused his eyes on the wall behind Lucie, refusing to look directly at her.

Lucie took a sip of her tea before wiping at her mouth with her napkin. “Solomon, do join us in our meal. I will have Maggie bring out another plate for you.” She opened her mouth to call for the maid in question, but was silenced when Solomon interrupted her.

“I will do no such thing, Luciana,” he ground out, his eyes flashing as he finally looked down to her. “We are on a timed schedule, and if you expect to make your train, we must leave as quickly as possible.” He, too, turned on his heel, storming out of the room. Lucie sighed as he slammed the door shut behind him.

“I suppose we better get going, then,” she said, pushing the chair back and standing up. Gia did the same, following Lucie out of the room and down the steps that lead to the front pathway, where Solomon was pacing next to a horse-drawn carriage, mumbling nonsense at the horses and gesturing angrily with his hands as he impatiently waited for his fiancée and his past-ward to finally come out.

Gia cocked her head as Lucie and she approached the horses. She reached out and patted one on the neck, letting her fingers tangle in the black mane that rested against the horse’s chestnut neck. “Your horses are beautiful,” Gia said, kissing its neck. “These are different than the ones that you used to bring us over here, right?”

Solomon nodded, answering with a curt, “Yes.” He helped Lucie and Gia into the carriage before going back into the house, returning a few minutes later with the small trunk that Lucie had packed for the journey. He climbed into the front seat after
making sure that the doors on either side of Lucie and Gia were clamped tightly shut, ensuring their safety. As the carriage started to move, Gia focused her attention on the window, falling prey to her thoughts as she remembered the last time that Owen had taken her on an outing in a carriage.

             
It was a beautiful morning in late summer the last time that Owen and she had taken a carriage ride. The sun was shining, the flowers were in full bloom, and the breeze was blowing lightly enough that it was simply air brushing against Gia’s face, not the dust and dirt that the wind normally picked up this time of year. Owen looked dashing in beige trousers and a dark blue waist coat, his light brown hair ruffled ever so slightly from running his hands through it nervously every few minutes. He had told Gia that he would not be in contact for several months that he was going to work as hard as he could, as
often
as he could, so that he could finally have enough money to buy her freedom. He wanted one last joyous day with his love before he lost contact. However, he was obviously nervous that something would happen that would disallow his desires for her to pull through.

As the sun was rising, Leander had delivered
Gia to Owen’s hotel himself, which was a rarity. Leander normally had one of his men take care of all of his business when it came to transactions, even if it was for one of his luxury girls. Owen had made it very clear when he requested Gia that he was getting close to having enough money, and that a conversation with Leander was necessary so that plans could be properly made. Gia had waited in the hotel lobby when Leander and Owen went up to the room to talk, Leander storming out only minutes later. Owen followed him out, straightening his waistcoat and clearing his throat, his eyes holding an unusual glint. Gia was unable to tell what it was.

“Ready?” Owen asked, his voice tight. He held his hand out to Gia, who took it and stood, leaning in to place a swift kiss to Owen’s cheek. He sighed and embraced her, pulling her close to his chest. He rested his cheek against the top of her head. “I am going to miss this over the next few months while I earn enough to make you mine,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. Gia nodded against him, the rough fabric of the waistcoat irritating the side of her face.

“I will, too,” she responded just as softly, hugging him tighter. Owen sighed in response, tightening his arms as well.

The couple continued to embrace for a moment longer before Owen pulled away, leaning down to kiss Gia gently. “I love you,” he murmured against her lips, moving his hands to gently caress the bare skin of her forearms.

Gia scoffed, her heart sinking. How could Owen truly love a woman such as herself? Sure, men fell for her good looks night after night but, when the night was over, she was truly just another whore slinking around the streets. Owen could have any woman that he could ever want, so why would he ever choose used goods like her?

Owen pulled back, his icy blue eyes locking with Gia’s grey orbs. “Gia, I am serious. You are so beautiful, and I have loved every minute that I have been lucky enough to spend with you. Yes, it started out as a business arrangement, but you are so much more than that now. I want to make you my wife, the mother to my future children. Do you understand?”

The sincerity and gentleness in Owen’s voice choked Gia up, filling her with more emotion. She leaned her head against his chest again, breathing in his scent. She took a deep breath before whispering, “I love you…” Her heart began to pound. She had never said the words aloud before.

Owen kissed the top of her head again. “I love you too, my beautiful Georgiana.” He pulled back and smiled at her before turning and holding his arm out. “Now, my love, if you please, I have planned a carriage ride and a picnic in the park for us.”

Gia came back to herself when the carriage hit a rock, jostling Gia and making her bounce in her seat. She glanced up to see that they had reached the station, the towering windows glistening as the sun bounced off the glass. The roof of the building formed an arc, bending high into the sky. There was a large sign welcoming the trio to St. Pancras Station. A wave of butterflies filled Gia’s stomach, and she blanched at the sight of tracks exiting the station beneath a gaping archway. Solomon unloaded the trunk and took it inside, checking it in while Lucie and Gia waited in the carriage. He returned a few moments later, sliding back into his seat.

Lucie noticed her apprehension. “Hey, Gia, are you all right?” she asked, cocking her head at Gia, who had begun to dig her nail
s into the seat of the carriage, her knuckles turning white with the force of her nerves. Gia nodded, but remained silent. Lucie’s face softened as realization hit her. “Oh. You have never been on a train before, have you?”

Gia shook her head. She was too nauseous to speak. Solomon clicked his tongue at the horses as he pulled their reigns tightly, the carriage stopping near the visitor’s entrance. He turned and looked at the girls, still saying nothing.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake beneath the carriage, and a loud rumble filled the air. Gia could see the glass of the windows shaking as some sort of great black beast burst through the station, grinding to a stop just as it passed through the archway. It screeched with some sort of whistle, a great burst of steam erupting from its top like water from a whale’s blowhole. “What is that?” Gia whispered, leaning over to Lucie. Her eyes were wide, and her voice was quivering as she stared at the creature. Her heart raced and her breath quickened as she waited for Lucie to respond.

Lucie looked back and forth between Gia and the train before chuckling. “Gia, that’s the train. That is what we are getting on,” she said, her amusement growing as Gia shook her head. She
laughed and nodded. “Yes, Gia, that is a train. Haven’t you ever seen one?”

Gia shook her head. “I have only traveled by horse.” Gia had heard of trains, sure. They
were
traveling to her town. It was just she had never had the opportunity or need to get near the train station. Leander kept his girls as far away as possible, so that they would not get any ideas of trying to leave the town. She had never imagined that it would be nearly this big.

“You will be fine,” Lucie assured her. “I have done this at least fifty times, and I am still here, aren’t I?” Gia nodded stiffly. Lucie smiled back. “See? It will not be so bad.”

“I guess.”

Solomon jumped down from the front of the carriage, coming by and opening the door for the girls. He helped Lucie and Gia step down. Once they were safely on the ground, Solomon handed them their tickets. He kissed Lucie on the cheek and nodded at Gia before getting back in the carriage and leaving the station. 

“Well, come on, then, let’s get inside.” Gia followed Lucie into the station, her hands growing damp. She anxiously wiped them on her dress, her butterflies getting worse.

The girls had barely stepped inside when they were approached by a young man with curly sandy blonde hair, light hazel eyes, and a lot of freckles. He was wearing tan trousers, a light green shirt, a tan vest, and a tweed cabbie hat, and looked to be no older than twenty two or twenty three, at the oldest. He bowed to the girls. “Hello. You must be Luciana Dickens and Georgiana Fletcher, am I correct?”

“Yes…?” Lucie answered, narrowing her eyes. “And you are…?”

The man bowed again. “
My name is Oliver Harding, ma’am. I was asked by your betrothed to look after you during your journey to Leeds. I work for the train, you see, but I am to keep a special eye on you.” He held his arms out. “May I accompany you to your seats?”

Lucie nodded and took the boy’s arm. Gia took the other. He led them to the steps and stood on the second step, bending down and holding his hand out to help pull them up. Once both girls
were in the compartment, he led them to a set of seats next to a window. He smiled at them before saying, “Can I help either of you with anything else before I go back to my other customers?”

After both girls shook their heads, Oliver nodded and bowed again before leaving the compartment to go and help more passengers. Gia looked at Lucie as she settled into her seat, still trembling slightly with nerves. She wondered how long it would take before the train left the station and propelled Gia to what could very well be her death.
No, you mustn’t think like that,
Gia scolded herself.
People travel like this all the time, and they all make it to their destination alive.