Come To My Shelter
1321 Words
Well, it is over now. Richard had submitted to the greatest humiliation one person can inflict on another. For that he hopes Kate forgives him, he's now a changed person now, he claims. If not for everything but for the little boy.
He explained the princess of giving birth to a bastard. That the princess had admitted that she had a lover who got her pregnant.
He also claimed to regret his actions in the past.
But there's one thing about him which had never changed. That was boosting.
He took her hand. And crushed it in his. "I wouldn't harm either of you," he said. "I happen to be very fond of you both. Won't you give me a chance?"
"There is only one way in which you can change my feelings towards you." She softly replied.
"What is that?"
"Stay away from me and my son! And do you want a word of advices?
"From you, Kate, that would be golden, I am sure."
"I had to face a frightening situation. When I discovered I was going to have a child, I did not know which way to turn. I had a good friend and I came through, and now I have come to terms with life. You should do same. You have a son now, you may have more children. You must not blame the princess because she did once what you have spent you life doing. At least in her case it was done by consenting parties."
His face saddened "oh Kate," he said "it does me so much good to be with you. Do you know, I feel more alive just to hear you talk. I really do enjoy being berated by you. Have pity on me. My marriage is a disaster, I hate my wife's sickly bastered, I despise my wife . She cannot have more children. Bearing the bastered did something to her."
~~
The peaceful days were over. Kate was now beset by anxiety because that monster in human form had come back into her life.
She talked it over with Nicole because she was terrified that he will try to take Kendy away from her. But Nicole confirmed that he wouldn't do that.
"Nicole. . Have you seen him? The monster?"
"Yes." She answered.
"You didn't tell me."
"It was only briefly and I thought it would upset you. As a matter of fact, he is concerned about the situation. Everybody is."
"What situation?" Kate asked cautiously.
"We're on the brink of war. The emperor is becoming very unpopular. After what happened to our country at the end of last century we are a sensitive people." She explained.
War at hand, hmm she managed to subdue her fear for kendy, but found it very hard to work while he was out of the house. She arranged that he should go out in the afternoon when she could go with him. In the mornings he should be at his lessons. He is after all nearly five years old.
For a week now Kendy had not seen the Baron on the Gardens but did not mention it. Kate had to realize that children took almost everything for granted . The gentleman was there, he liked to talk to him, and then he was not there. That was life , to Kendy.
She was immensely relieved.
But when she had visitors there was continual talk of what they called the uneasy situation.
"How long is the second Empire going to last?" One of her visitors asked her.
"I don't know? Am from England." Kate answered.
"There are people," the man continued "who have felt they were sitting on the edge of a volcano ever since."
"The emperor has no right to meddle in Danish and Austro-prussian wars,the French army is strong and the emperor himself will lead it," said one.
Kate was too concerned with her own affairs to pay much attention.
Nicole came in one day and breathlessly announced to Kate that war between France and Prussia had been declared.
Kate received a letter that day which completely put the thought of war out of her mind. It was from Clare and the news it contained shattered her.
"My father is dead!!!"
The letter dropped from her hands
Nicole came in immediately "why. . . What's the matter?"
"My father is dead. He has killed himself."
Nicole stared at her as she thrust the letter into her hands "oh God" she whispered.
Nicole had a wonderful sympathetic nature and it always amaze Kate to see her change from bright sophisticated worldly woman into the warm hearted and understanding friend.
They talked about kendel Collison, of his talent, of his life's work and the sudden cessation of that work.
Kate felt better talking to Nicole and once again she was grateful for her presence in her life.
September had come . Who would have believed that there could be such changes in so short a time, gunshots and bomb blast here and there, food scarcity, then a lot of children starts dying of hunger.
The Baron had came to see them.
Kate opened the door and gasped with astonishment, for the Baron came swiftly towards her and taking her hand, kissed it.
She withdrew it quickly and looked reproachfully at Nicole. She had the impression that she had invited him.
But this was not so and he dispelled that suspicion immediately.
"I came to warn you," he said, "you know what is happening." He did not wait for a comment from them. "It's a débâcle." He went on "we have allowed a fool to govern France."
"The Baron is suggesting that we leave Paris," said Nicole.
"Leave Paris? To go where?"
"He is offering us the shelter of his chateau until we can make our plans."
"I have no intention of going to Centerville, nothing would make me come to your castle,I have been there before." Kate replied.
"Do you understand the situation?" He demanded.
"The situation is grim, Kate," said Nicole.
"I know. But I shall stay here. It's my home now, and if it were impossible to live here I suppose I could go to England." -Kate
Kate looked at him steadily and could not shut out the memory of him in that room with triumph in his eyes and the determination to enforce his will. "I shall stay here," she said firmly.
The Baron was regarded her with that quizzical look which she had seen before, he shrugged his shoulders. "Then there is nothing more I can do, Adieu, ladies. And may you have better luck than you have good sense."
With that he was gone.
Those September days were strangely unreal, hazy in the mornings and when the sun rose the city seemed to be touched with golden light. There was tension on the streets as the people waited for news.
They had for some time begun to feel the strain. Food was fast disappearing from the shops. Nicole had said they must get together what they could. They can make leat bread if they have plenty of flours.
The following day, Nicole went out to see what she could buy and while she was gone, the bombardment started.
There was explosion and Kate wondered what it was. She worried about Kendal- the little Kendy, and thought then that she should have listened to the Baron. He was right. We should have left Paris.
There was just that one explosion.
Kendy was in the studio doing his lessons with Jeanne, our neighbor.
"Nicole seemed to have been away a long time." She thought as she heard the concierge calling her.
She ran down. A boy was there "Madame Collison,"he said "will you come at once to the Hôspital st Jacques. A lady there is asking for you.
"A. . . . Lady?"
"Madame st Giles. . . She has been hurt."
- Writer
