Relly slept soundly, all her dancing had taken it toll and she had been very tired. She did not hear the door lock click or the door open. She did not hear the steps approaching Nick's bed or feel the covers being pulled back, but she did feel the pain as the thick leather strap struck her back. Relly woke suddenly as the painful strikes of the strap rapidly landed on her back, her bottom and her thighs. She did not even have a chance to cry out when her hair was seized and she was pulled out of the bed falling onto the floor. She was kicked in the stomach and face as she rolled into a protective ball as more blows from the strap landed on her face, her breast and her ribs. Relly tried desperately to protect her eyes from the strap. Then she was unceremoniously hauled to her feet and she saw Drusilla standing there, her face contorted with hate and rage. "I CAUGHT YOU PHOEBE, YOU LOW BORN LITTLE SLUT!" Drusilla began dragging Relly out of the room by her hair. Relly gained her feet and was shoved toward the attic steps as more blows from the strap hit her. Relly stumbled on the steps as she was forced to climb and she received numerous vicious blows and kicks until she was again climbing. The blows kept coming in a furious assault. Once in the attic she crossed the dusty floor in a run still receiving blows until she reached a punishment room. Drusilla with the strength of a mad woman forced her through the door and locked it. Relly sat on the floor of the tiny dark room with her back to the wall. She flexed her legs huddling with her legs drawn to her chest and her ankles crossed and her arms around her legs. She rested her chin on her knees and wept.
Relly had no idea how long she sat in the dark but a flickering light was visible from under the door as foot steps sounded. "Little Bird it's me Marta and Edith."
"Have you come to let me out?"
"The countess has kept the keys but we got you food and some tea." They slipped the food under the door, "She forbade us to bring you anything but she is asleep now."
"Thank you I'm starving," Relly ate the sandwich and sipped the tea. Edith removed the chamber pot and brought her a clean one.
"Is there anything else I can bring you?" Edith asked.
"Could I have a slip and my kaftan...oh! And one of my fans. And could I have a blanket."
"We are so sorry this happened," Edith said, "just sit tight and I'm sure she will let you out."
"She's quite mad," Relly said softly, "she thinks I'm Phoebe. I'm probably stuck here until Nick or Charles comes home." Edith brought Relly her slip, kaftan and a blanket. She also brought her her bright dragon tessen. Relly passed her now empty tray beneath the door. "Thank you," she whispered. "Don't get caught on my account."
"If your still here tonight we'll bring you another tray," Mari said. "Did she beat you?"
"Yes, but I'll mend. I was in bed sleeping when she started beating me," Relly said. She decided to leave out who's bed she was in and why she was naked in the punishment room. She was grateful they did not ask.
"I have some Arnica," Marta whispered, "I brought you a dose and some cream."
"Yes, I would appreciate that and I appreciate you bringing me food and tea." Relly had silent tears of gratitude running down her cheeks, "thank you again." She heard James whisper, "Edna said it's all clear." Apparently he was stationed at the door and the other servants were risking everything to give her aid. More tears spilled on the floor as Relly realized she was not alone.
The next morning she heard the approach of Drusilla. She would recognize the sound of her steps forever. "I caught you at last Phoebe! Caught you in the act."
"I'm Aurelija, and I was alone when you caught me."
"I've been watching you Aurelija, watching you trying to seduce Charles. Leaving your hair down and dressing immodestly. Showing your feet. Smiling all the time like a harlot."
"Charles?... I do admit to trying to seduce Nick. You can keep Charles." She heard a loud thump on the door as it rattled against the frame. "I hope you broke you hand!" Relly taunted. "Hit it again, harder this time."
"You'll rue the day you came here," Drusilla said, "little sluts like you are always flaunting your bodies to catch a man above your station. But you'll always be nothing but a low born slut."
"I will marry Nick and there is not a damn thing you can do about it."
"We'll see about that, won't we." Drusilla departed after ending her statement with a cackling laugh. Relly was beginning to regret her words but in anger she decided to push it.
"I ALREADY DID MARRY HIM!" she shouted at the retreating footsteps.
"I will kill you both before I let that happen," Drusilla said softly as she closed the door to the attic.
Relly was grateful for the blanket. Nights were cold and the day hot and stuffy locked in an attic closet. The smells were of dust and mothballs. She longed to be able to read or even pace but she could only stand or sit curled up on the floor. With no distractions except of her fear for Nick the minutes stretched on and on for an eternity. At least she had her tessen and she worked with fanning herself in the stifling heat of the long day or practicing flicking it to deploy the sharp steel blades. She again heard footsteps and saw the flickering light of a candle as Marta announced their visit.
"I'm surprised Lord Charles has not yet come home," Marta said, "we brought you more food." She slid the tray under and Relly was surprised to see a small tallow candle on the tray.
"Thank you for the light," Relly whispered suddenly emotional by the thoughtfulness of the gift. Then she saw her tray. It had slices of mutton with mint jelly, potatoes, green beans and a bread pudding. "You brought me pudding!" she whispered as her eyes began to leak tears.
"Don't cry Little Bird," Marta said softy, "it won't be much longer."
"I'm not crying," Relly said as tears continued to flow.
"I put a napkin on the tray for you," Marta whispered. Relly gave a small laugh in response.
"I'm sorry I'm such a blubberer," Relly said smiling as she began eating. "Everything is so good!" She finished the mutton first then started on the pudding. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead, I will answer if I can."
"When I walked around the house barefoot what did you think?"
"You looked so very young and innocent," Marta whispered, "I remembered you as a child always barefoot and your mother struggling to get you to wear a dress. You always dressed like a boy." Relly laughed at the memory.
"I wanted to be a boy. Boys always had fun things to do. I liked to ride horses and climb trees and swim in the ocean. Nick always let me do things with him."
"Do you still want to be a boy?" Marta asked gently.
"No I decided I like being a girl. I want to marry Nick and be a mother to his children. My girls will ride horses, run barefoot and climb trees though."
"Just do your best to hang in there, I don't think this will last to much longer."
"Is Grandmother allowing you to feed me now?" Marta did not respond. "She told me she was going to kill me and Nick if I persisted in trying to marry him."
"I agree that she may be mad, but I'm also sure things will work out for you. You have always been stubborn, no I think resilient is a better word. I am positive you will get what you want. I have always thought that Nick loved you. You could be such a little pest but he did include you in everything until he left for school." Relly finished with her meal and sent the tray back through the opening under the door. "Keep the flask," Marta said, "It full of lemonade."
"Thank you," Relly whispered as she was again left alone in the dark with just her thoughts. The days of confinement and night time meals continued day after day. Relly worked out an exercise regimen she could do to maintain flexibility in her joints if an opportunity for escape presented it self. Every two or three days Drusilla would visit.
"So you're still alive!" she would say. Relly realized that her dragon had promised to return in two weeks or so. She was confident she had excellent chance of escape. But where was Nick and why had he not come for her? And where was Charles? Charles was her best hope for rescue because Grandmother might just imprison Nick too. Having so much idle time on her hands simply led to more worries about Nick. Perhaps Charles would be able to tell her Nick's whereabouts. Relly also longed for a bath or just for the opportunity to wash up. She felt dirty and sore but mostly alone as she sat in the dark attic closet.