Romance Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Away ❯ Childhood ( Prologue )

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Hidden Away

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prologue

Manchester, England 1884

 

The little girl with sandy blonde curls had loved her parents dearly. She was suddenly orphaned on a cool summer night after which she was put under the care of her father's brother and their maid. Her parents had been killed in a fire at their vacationing house in the country on the east coast.

It was the middle of that night when little Naomi Foster had been lifted from her bed by the maid, Jolie.

 

When the pair entered the hallway, they met smoke and overwhelming heat clawed at their skin on the cool summer night. They stopped at her parent's doorway, who shouted at the maid to get their daughter out of the house. With a frantic nod, she did as told, expecting that the parents were close behind her.

 

When Jolie and Naomi finally met fresh air after their rush to the lawn, her parents were nowhere to be seen.

 

It had been too late.

 

Naomi looked around to see that there were people gathering to help in the attempt to quell the fire, but Naomi didn't know why. Her parents were already gone; lost to the bright orange and red flames swallowing the house.

 

~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~

 

“Naomi, dear, are you going to daydream all day, and have me do the laundry by my lonesome?” Naomi's beloved young maid from that day only months ago snapped her out of her stupor with her question. With unshed tears coating the 9 year old's eyes, she turned.

 

“I am sorry, Jolie. It will not stop coming back to me. I miss them so much.” She replied shakily. Naomi reached for another clothespin, and handed it to Jolie's outstretched hand.

 

“Well, Naomi, I know it is hard, dear heart,” she took the clothespin from Naomi, “I miss them dearly, too,” Jolie comforted her. She hung the garment in her hand to the clothesline when a thought struck her, “I know! If it would make you feel better, I could take you to the stables today. There is a new foal out there that was born just last night,” Jolie said, trying her best to cheer up her beloved charge. She missed seeing the sprightly nature in Naomi that she knew before the fire.

 

Naomi sniffled, holding back the tears that always made her nose stuffy, “Okay what's her name?”

 

“His name. The new colt does not have a name, yet. He is to be named by the new lord of the manner just today.”

 

“Uncle Rufus won't name him right,” Naomi said with a scrunched face, “I like Charlie!” she said, excited with twinkles swimming in her eyes.

 

“Maybe we can suggest the name to him before the colt gets named today?” Jolie suggested.

 

Just as Jolie finished her sentence, Naomi's uncle walked up to them from the direction of the house. Upon hearing her words, Rufus snorted, “Not likely, my dear. The colt has already been named Thunder Bolt, and his name is not to be changed. Are you ever going to finish your chores, or do I have to take away your dinner rations again?” ?” he addressed Jolie while looking down his nose at her as best he could from his short stature.

 

"No, please, sir. We will have the laundry hung shortly, and then we will start on the dinner you have requested.” Jolie stated, clearly nervous of Rufus' gaze.

 

“You are preparing dinner on your own, tonight, Jolie.” Rufus then turned to Naomi, “The bankers handling your father's accounts are to join us for dinner tonight, and we will be finalizing the paperwork that will hand over your father's estate to me,” he said in a smug manner, “Go and get changed for dinner, girl. I can't have you looking like a little beggar girl,” her uncle yelled at her, strutting back to the house.

 

Naomi went to do as she was told.

 

 

 

“Naomi, sweetheart, these nice men are Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Baker. They will be joining us for dinner tonight.” Rufus cooed to his niece later that night when the bankers had arrived. Naomi looked at her uncle, confused at the words coming out of his mouth. Why was he being so nice?

 

He was scaring her more than usual.

 

“Our wonderful maid Jolie had made one of her specialties tonight,” Rufus faked.

 

“It looks very delicious, Mr. Foster. Your maid indeed seems to be a wonderful cook,” one of the bankers said, looking predictably impressed as they entered the dining room to see the spread of dishes that Rufus had told Jolie to make that night.

 

Everyone sat in their places and Jolie began to serve the beverages. The conversation stayed light during the meal, and Naomi only spoke when she was directly addressed; the way she was always instructed by her uncle. The bankers finished with their meals, and Rufus was first to break the after dinner quiet.

 

“Well, I'm sure you gentlemen are quite tired. I know my Naomi is,” he looked down at Naomi and smiled at her, “Aren't you, sweetie?”

 

She looked at him funny again for the endearment. He was looking directly at her with a look that she had come to fear, so she answered him appropriately, “Yes, uncle. I am quite tired.”

“Shall we retire to the study, gentlemen? It is nearly Naomi's bedtime.” Rufus prompted the bankers, sounding for all like the dutiful guardian.

 

“Yes, of course, Mr. Foster,” one of the bankers answered him.

 

Naomi had been included in the group, since she was the sole heiress to the late Mr. Foster's estate. Naomi's uncle quickly signed on the dotted line that sealed her fate, making her uncle her legal guardian until her marriage to another man in the future.

 

“It was grand doing business with you, sir. You have a lovely niece and you'll surely do a good job raising her to a fine young woman. Good day,” Mr. Baker said, tipping his hat on his way out the door.

Rufus turned to Naomi, “Now go change and help Jolie clean up,” Rufus said on an exhale before walking away to the study whistling. Naomi went upstairs to change into her normal clothing, which looked out of place with her hair still done up. She returned to the dining room to find it was empty. Going into the kitchen, Naomi went over to Jolie for a warm hug.

 

“Jolie? Do you suppose uncle could have started that awful fire?” Naomi asked carefully.

 

Jolie looked down at her thoughtfully, then looked up to assure that they were alone, “I think that could be very likely. You're uncle is a mean man, and he was awfully nice to you in front of those bankers. He acts as if he is happier about gaining the estate than he is sad that he has lost a brother.” Jolie replied. She put a hand on Naomi's head to comfort her, “But don't you worry, honey. I'm here with you.”

 

Naomi nodded to Jolie with a half-hearted smile. Once clean up was completed, Naomi trekked back to her room and lay on her bed with her hair falling from its confines. She stayed quiet, eventually falling to sleep with tears drying on her cheeks.

 

 

The next day dawned bright with sunshine, and found young Naomi woken harshly by the toe of her plump uncle's boot.

 

“Get up, girl,” came the voice of the boot nudging her in the side. Naomi blinked away the sleep from her eyes and looked up. No, not a boot, it's Rufus…

 

Her vision finally focused upward to see a particularly smug Rufus move in for another shove from his foot, “Time to get to your chores. Today you will be moving to the servant's quarters with that servant girl. I will be having guests in on the morrow and there will not be any room for you up here,” Rufus nearly chirped to his little niece.

 

Naomi had somehow known that this day was coming, but it still hurt to be kicked out of her family's house after running its halls for 9 years.

 

“Yes, sir,” Naomi answered him quickly when he looked as if her were contemplating nudging her roughly again, “I will pack a few items and inform Jolie of the move.”

 

Rufus grunted his response, the only indication that he'd heard her, before he left the room in a flurry of pompous disdain.

 

When he was out of sight, Naomi rolled her little green-gold eyes at the antics of her uncle. Really. Does he have to be so high-and-mighty?

 

Acting quickly so that she wouldn't have to suffer punishment, Naomi gathered the few belongings that she would want to keep with her, and left the main house with them. She was soon trekking over to the servant's quarters to join her only friend in the world. Honestly, she didn't mind the move since she would have the safety of Jolie in the same house with her instead of Rufus.

 

Seeing Jolie come out to greet her, Naomi ran the remaining distance to her.

 

“Hello, dear. What are you coming over here so early for? I thought the Master would have chores for you before you could escape to see me.”

 

Naomi giggled at the word `escape' when Jolie uttered it. It seemed Jolie felt trapped as much as she did.

 

“Well, Uncle said that I will be living over here now. He says that it's because he will have company, but I think he just wants to play house all by himself.”

 

Jolie responded with a sad smile as she studied her charge. Through all of her turmoil, Naomi was already beginning to come back out of her grieving shell with remarkable resilience.

 

“Whatever his reasoning, I am thrilled to have some company now,” Jolie welcomed Naomi as she took the bag of memoirs that Naomi chose to keep among her many previous belongings.

 

After all, when one needs to relocate and start over, there is no need for so many material possessions.

Manchester, England 1893
9 years later

 

Naomi shoved her long hair out of her face to continue hanging the laundry on the clothesline as she thought back over the last 9 years of her life since her parents had died. Rufus had quickly used up all of the assets from the estate to feed his rich way of life, treating her as a slave all the while. They had moved out of the home that Naomi had lived her childhood in 3 years after that horrible day so long ago because of her uncle's lavish spending. That house had been her only remaining link that had mattered to her to remind her of her parents…even if she hadn't lived in it when Rufus took hold.

Naomi yawned, and stopped hanging laundry long enough to stretch her back. She was always so tired these days, she thought as she hung another stained shirt of her uncle's. Jolie was no longer around, and Naomi was sure she had her uncle to thank for that, among other things. The beloved maid from the long-lost days of her careless childhood had died in childbirth exactly 1 year after her parents had died in the fire. The babe died with her, and when Naomi confronted her uncle and blamed him for it he had quickly denied it, calling Jolie a whore. He hit her soundly for accusing him, and then ordered her to hurry up and get rid of `the body', or so he'd called it. She had buried Jolie in the dying garden behind the family's mansion and said a long prayer for her and her babe with sobs racking her words. `What do I have left now?' She'd thought over and over as she lay in the same spot to sleep the rest of that night.

Naomi quickly came out of her daydreaming to continue hanging the laundry so that she wouldn't have to skip dinner if Rufus caught her sitting still. He seemed to love depriving her of food for minute reasons. It was almost as if he was always looking for reasons to punish her with hunger. Twice last week, he had denied her dinner for doing the chores in the wrong order, and then promptly ate her portions. He was gaining a bit of girth, to say the least. Naomi didn't mind missing her dinner too much, though, being the caretaker of the vegetable garden. Those vegetables were what most of her diet consisted of, though she often stole some meats from her uncle's pantry. With all of her daily chores to do, she would be verging on skinny, were it not for the muscles that had resulted from said chores. She wasn't bulky, but she was solid and had become quite strong.

She had finished her task of hanging laundry, and was in the process of easing the tension from her shoulders when she heard a noise behind her. She pivoted to see that it was only her uncle, who had come out to inform her that he was about to have a meeting with his former employer's son, who had now taken over his father's place, since he had recently died.

“I cannot have you trying to distract the man, as women like to do. You have a particular liking of distracting men, anyway,” he sniffed, inspecting his nails. Naomi rolled her eyes toward the sky. She knew he was referring to incidents that had occurred several times in the last few years as Naomi had begun to grow into a woman, taking on her feminine forms of adulthood. He had always accused her of catching attention on purpose, though she had always tried so hard to stay out of anyone's sight. One such incident happened only yesterday when a man had tried to trade for her, thinking her a slave.

…

“I have this fine silk, sir. A gift from a queen,” he added for emphasis. The boy licked his lip in a nervous gesture before continuing, “And this crystal whiskey decanter set. I will give them to you for that woman that I saw outside,” he finished proudly, confident that the greedy man would trade her for the valuable items offered to him.

“She isn't for sale. She is my niece and I love her dearly,” Rufus answered the young merchant in a bored tone. He was getting awfully tired of having to say this every time some horny merchant man saw Naomi working outside. The man who was presently trying to trade for her gave him a look that said: “I don't believe that for a minute,” Clearly not taking the hint.

“Okay, I get it. How about…” he paused, debating on what he might be able to offer him to obtain the beautiful woman, “How about half of my stock, your choice.”
Rufus raised his eyebrows at that. That was the most that had been offered for her yet. And this merchant in particular had a very large cart filled with one-of-a-kind items. Still, Rufus had no intention of voluntarily giving up Naomi unless someone offered him an estate for her.

“Be gone, already. I won't buy anything, nor will I trade my niece for anything. Don't try it again or I shall never buy anything from you again.”

“Fine. Keep her then. You know, she looks like a slave,” He said, pointing in her direction, “Don't use that `I love her' line if you're gonna dress her like that. It doesn't work.” He turned and hauled his cart down the road as he looked back longingly at the woman working in the vegetable garden outside of the little shack he frequently stopped at. He'd never seen her before, though. He knew he hadn't, or he would have remembered her. He sighed and turned back to the road to watch where he was going. That merchant never came back after that day.

…

Rufus reminded her of that incident now, “So you must keep yourself hidden from sight until I call you back to the house. Do you understand me girl?” Rufus instructed her, knowing that the soft face that looked so much like her mother's would distract any man, including himself. His sexual interest in his niece had grown rapidly in the last few years since she had begun to grow into a woman. A very fine woman. He'd decided then that it wouldn't at all be proper to lust after one's own blood. But since his initial decision not to touch her, Naomi had grown to look more and more like her mother; the stuck-up woman who was his brother's had never looked twice at him. Thus, Rufus had greedily decided that he had grown so poor, no one would care what he did with her. He would have her soon.

Looking hungrily at Naomi, he continued, “He will be here in mere minutes, so I will let you off of your chores that you may stay out of sight until I say. Do not come near the house,” he shook his finger at her as he had when she was still a child.

He turned to walk off, motioning to the wooded area behind the small cabin that she shared with him. She watched him walk away, disturbed by the looks she had begun to receive from her uncle with more frequency lately. Naomi frowned darkly. That, and she was damn close to breaking that stupid finger of his off if he continued doing that.

 

She sighed deeply. It seemed she was not going to eat tonight after all, she concluded. With that, Naomi went to her gardening shed to retrieve an apron to use as a blanket, for she intended to use her free time sleeping.

A short while later, Caldwell Cokrain was walking around the small living room of Rufus's cabin, picking up and inspecting random items with distaste as he passed by them, “Well, Mr. Foster, it seems that you have not yet paid your debt to my father for his aid in your time of need. I believe that I should inform you that upon his death, everything his became everything mine. Therefore, the debt that you owed my father, your former employer, you now owe me, your current employer.” he said despairingly. His pacing stopped and he looked over when Rufus started speaking.

“But, Mr. Cokrain, I have no assets to speak of. What I have is what you see, sir. How could I possibly pay such a debt back?” Rufus was visibly sweating, quite sure as he looked into Cokrain's bright violet eyes that he was going to be killed for lack of repayment.

Cokrain smirked at the waves of fear rolling off of Rufus, “Actually, I do know how a man in your position could pay me back,” he stated evenly before taking a languid breath, “You see, I have seen that beautiful morsel you have been hiding from view,” Rufus began shaking his head as Cokrain continued on, “I believe she will do nicely as your payment. You give her to me, and we will consider your debt to be paid in full.”

“You mean Naomi? When did you see her?” he asked hurriedly, not believing that she was not his own secret anymore, to be taken at his leisure. She had been seen by a man powerful enough to take her away from him, and he started panicking, “She is my niece, sir, and I need her here to help with the chores, I won't be able to do them alone, you see. I have begun to weaken in my age…” he began to plead in a feeble attempt at keeping her for himself. He really did need her to do the chores, too, but that wasn't what was making him panic. He hadn't indulged in her!

“I expect you to have her ready for me by the end of the year.” Caldwell told Rufus sharply, interrupting the man's plea. He knew that Rufus didn't want to keep her here just for the chores. Obviously. She may be the man's niece, but that wouldn't stop him either if he had a grown niece who looked as she did living under his roof.

 

As Cokrain watched the sniveling old man barely holding himself together, he narrowly avoided sneering at him. He really didn't like it when people begged; it was so degrading, “And for your sake, you had better hope that she is untouched,” he added before he left the sad shack. He hadn't been inside but 20 minutes when he had left Rufus' cabin.

Rufus had never been one to beg for anything, but now had nothing that could be done about it. Naomi was again off limits. He didn't bother calling Naomi back to the house, having decided that he would leave her outside. Then he wouldn't have to deal with her that night. He couldn't even think of touching her, now, or Caldwell Cokrain would retaliate without hesitation if she were spoiled when he received her. For that reason, he didn't even want to see Naomi's beautiful face.