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“Ashley, hail that cab over there,” John instructed.
Ashley did so and informed the cabbie of the situation. The cabbie helped John get Maddie into the conveyance; he cracked the whip at his horse and they took off at a canter.
Geoffrey sat with his wife in their front parlor reading one the financial papers to which he subscribed. Maureen worked at a particularly difficult piece of needlework. She sighed and Geoffrey looked over at her and smiled.
“If it frustrates you that much, why not quit it and work on something else?” he asked.
She flicked an annoyed glance at Geoffrey and said, “When have you ever known me to give up on something just because it was difficult? If I did that, you and I would not be married.”
Geoffrey laughed at that. “’Tis true, lass. It’s lucky for me that you didn’t cease your pursuit of me.”
“You weren’t the only one being pursued, if you remember correctly. We led each other on a merry chase,” Maureen responded with a smirk on her lips.
“Right again. You have to admit that there were a lot of fun moments involved, though.”
“Yes, there were,” she agreed.
The front doorbell chimed, and they looked at each other. It was nearly eleven, and they wondered who could be calling at that time of night. Mrs. Duncan had been sent home for the night, and they’d also given the butler, Richard, the night off. Geoffrey answered the door and was surprised to see a police constable standing on the stoop.
“Hello. Can I help you?” Geoffrey asked.
“Are you Mr. O’Connor?” the man inquired.
“I am.”
“Might I come in, sir? I have something of a serious nature to discuss and I don’t think you want to talk here,” the policeman explained.
Geoffrey stood back and motioned the man into the foyer. Maureen came out of the parlor.
“What’s happening?” she asked.
“Well, ma’am, I’m sorry to inform you both that your daughter, Madelyn, was attacked tonight in the park,” he said, shifting from foot to foot. He was obviously uncomfortable at having to impart such terrible news.
“What?” Geoffrey said, stunned.
“Attacked? By whom?” Maureen said.
“Apparently, it was a family friend. Theodore Wilson,” the policeman told them.
Maureen put her hand to her bosom. “Theo? But, they’re friends. Why would he do such a thing? Never mind that right now. We need to get to her.”
Geoffrey asked, “What is her condition?”
“Very serious, I'm afraid. It was a brutal assault. I have a carriage out front to take you to the hospital,” the policeman said.
Claire came down the front staircase. She’d heard the conversation from the landing at the top. “I’m coming, too.”
Geoffrey turned to his youngest daughter and said, “No, Claire. I’m afraid not. You need to alert the staff for us.”
“But, Papa—”
Geoffrey cut her off as he gave her a forbidding look. “Claire, this is not open for discussion! Now, do as I say!”
Claire looked down at the floor. “Yes, Papa.”
Geoffrey instantly regretted being sharp with her. He hugged her and said, “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m just upset. Forgive me?”
“Of course, Papa. I shall do as you ask,” Claire said.
Geoffrey kissed the top of her head and said, “That’s my good girl.”
Maureen kissed Claire’s cheek and said, “Try not to fret too much. Maddie will be fine.”
As soon as they saw Madelyn, Maureen realized how wrong her words to Claire had been. The policeman had told them to prepare for how bad Maddie looked, but her parents were still shocked. Their daughter was barely recognizable. Dark bruises and nasty cuts covered her face, and her left eye was swollen shut.
Maureen had to turn away at first to regain her composure. Geoffrey hugged her close as a fierce anger took hold of him. He vowed that Theo would pay for what he’d done to their daughter. The doctor came to talk with them and informed them that although Maddie’s injuries were severe, she would heal.
“Dr. Spencer, was she, did he...?” Maureen couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
Dr. Spencer looked at her with sympathy and said, “No. He didn’t get the chance. There was another couple in the park who saw what was happening and intervened. I believe they are still here. They’ve been very concerned.”
“I should like to thank them,” Geoffrey said. “I’ll be right back, Maureen.”
Maureen nodded and sat in the chair beside Maddie. She picked up Maddie’s hand.
“I’m here, Maddie. Mama is here and you’re safe,” Maureen said. She kissed Maddie’s hand and held it against her cheek as tears made their way down her face.
Maddie’s right eye opened slightly as she located her mother. “Mama?”
“Yes, darling. I’m right here.”
Maddie squeezed her mother’s hand even though it hurt. Her mother’s comforting presence caused relief to surge through Maddie. Sobs began to wrack her battered body, and Maureen moved to sit on the bed so she could gather her daughter close. She rocked Maddie as she had when she was a little girl. She uttered words of comfort and tried to soothe away her daughter’s misery.
Geoffrey entered the waiting room and spotted the couple who’d saved Maddie right away.
“Are you the ones who brought Madelyn O’Connor here?” he asked.
They both rose from their seats.
“Yes, sir. I’m John Heath and this is Ashley Brooks,” John said.
Geoffrey shook hands with them. “We owe you a huge debt of gratitude for saving our daughter from an even more horrible fate. How can we ever repay you?”
John shook his head. “There’s no need, sir. We’re just sorry that we didn’t happen upon them sooner, so that she might not have been hurt at all.”
“How is she?” Ashley asked.
Geoffrey was touched by the young couple’s concern. “She is in a bad way, but Dr. Spencer is confident that she’ll make a full recovery.”
“That’s good to hear, indeed,” John said.
Geoffrey thanked them again and gave them his card. He told them to call upon him if he could ever help them in any way, and then returned to his wife and daughter.
Maureen softly closed the door to her daughter Madelyn’s room. She walked down the long hallway in their family home located in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Point Breeze. Her deep distress was apparent to the head housekeeper, Mrs. Duncan, as she passed her mistress. Mrs. Duncan didn’t speak because she could tell Maureen was deep in thought.
Mrs. Duncan was as upset as Mrs. O’Connor over the horrible events that had taken place two months prior. Maddie had healed well physically, but her mental condition was still tenuous.
As Mrs. Duncan continued on her way to the kitchen to
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