1. My Aunt. Chapter 18


    Date: 4/26/2017, Categories: First Time, Author: Annamagique, Rating: 7, Source: LushStories

    My heart began pounding with fear. I struggled to breathe, but I had to be strong. "Why are you here?" I whispered. The words seemed unwilling to pass my lips as I looked around, looking for an escape. There was only one entrance and he was beside it. I had gone in too far to make a run for the archway so I stepped back a few paces. "I ain't goin' to 'urt you, Miss. You don't need to fear." I repeated my question. "Then why are you here, Private Manston?" "I din't do it, Miss 'arcourt. I promise you, I din't." I moved back a little more. "Didn't do what, exactly?" I was trembling violently now, scared to death of what he might do. "I din't kill Maggie, Miss. I couldn't, I loved her." He stepped towards me and I let out a little squeal of panic and held up my hands. He stopped, his eyes pleading. "Miss, 'arcourt, please. I din't kill Maggie and I ain't goin' t' 'urt you neither!" I didn't reply but remained standing, shaking, staring. I looked down at his hand, hanging at his side. The bandage was loose and dirty and he held the unravelled end in his fist, preventing it coming off. It was stained with dried blood. He lifted his fist and looked at the dressing. "I know 'ow it looks, Miss...." He looked at me once more, "But I wouln't 'ave 'urt 'er. Never in a million years." "I saw you strike her, Charlie," I managed to say through lips as dry as paper. "I saw you knock her to the ground." "Then you saw what she did about it. I was drunk and stupid." Again he looked at the ...
    floor for a moment then back at me. "I regretted that as soon as I did it but Maggie ain't... " he checked himself, "weren't no shrinkin' violet, Miss, you must've seen what she did." "I saw her the next morning. Her face was black and blue!" I said, my courage slowly returning. I was still trembling inside but I had stopped shaking. "She said one of the maids had left a cupboard door open and she had walked into it!" Manston seemed to physically shrink as his shoulders sagged forwards. "Strange as it may seem, Miss, she loved me too. She would protect me even after I did that to her. I've been such a fool. It is no wonder you suspect me of killing her." I looked again at his hand. He saw where I was looking and once again raised his hand. It seemed to dawn on him, all of a sudden, what I was thinking. His eyes opened wide. "You think I did this by 'itting her, don't you!" I did not reply but held his gaze. "Oh Lord," he mumbled, "What a mess." Then again he looked at me. "If you you don't believe me, no-one will." "Why should I believe you?" I asked. "Just because you say it wasn't you. I heard what you told her about why you had so much money. You said people pay you to tell them things. Are you a German spy too?" "Spy, Miss?" his mouth wide open now. "No, 'course I ain't. Maggie told me about things what went on in the 'ouse. She told me about the maid what got caned and she 'ad to soothe. You know, Miss, you were there." "You told complete strangers about the private things ...
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