A Father's Love, Chapter One
#1 of A Father's Love
I was only a little girl, barely in my teens, when I first met Mr. Richard Bridshaw. I wanted a fruit tart.
"Where are you going Camile?" Miss Bailie, my nanny, demanded.
She was a tall, thin brown hyena.
"I just want a fruit tart," I said.
"I'll get it for you. You know you're not supposed to be seen," Miss Bailie said.
For you see I was not allowed outside while there were guests present as I was not very pretty, so that's what my Daddy thought, and Mammy and Daddy thought my appearance would offend the guests.
Miss Bailie disappeared through the double doors and came back with my tart. It was a pretty little thing, red cherries nestled in a golden shell with a dollop of cream on the top. It almost looked too nice to eat, I thought to myself as I took a bite. Then one of the doors opened and a tall brown hyena entered. He was very handsome, dressed in a jet black suit, and carried a cane with a gold ball at the top.
"Well hello," he said. His voice was very deep.
"Hello," I said.
"You've got some cream on your nose," the brown hyena said.
And he took out a white handkerchief and gently wiped the cream off my nose.
"I didn't know Mr. and Mrs. Dane had a daughter," He said.
"They don't like people to see me," I said.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Camile," I said.
"Lovely to meet you Camile," he said.
Then he left.
"Who was that, Nanny?" I asked.
"That was Mr. Richard Bridshaw," Miss Bailie said.
I wandered around the grounds. They were vast but surrounded by a tall stone wall, and on the west side was a maze made up of fifteen-foot tall hedges. This was as far as I was allowed to go. If I went outside I had to wear a hood.
The only people who could see me were the birds of the massive birdcage. I'd talk to them, but they'd never answer back.
I wandered into the maze, in the center was a large fountain where in the center stood a bronze statue of a nude hyena female. She carried a pitcher, from which the water poured. I often came here when I was upset or wanted to be alone. I'd sit on the edge of the fountain beneath the statue, like she was watching over me. She didn't care about how I looked.
"I wish you could talk," I said to her.
But of course she couldn't.
"Mammy and Daddy don't like people to see me. They say my appearance would offend company. I hate hiding. It makes me feel like Mammy and Daddy are ashamed of me. But yesterday I met someone, by accident. Mr. Richard Bridshaw. Nanny brought me a fruit tart, since I wasn't allowed out of the house. Then he came through the doors. I think he must have been on his way out, but he was nice to me. He didn't seem repulsed by my appearance at all. I think he was more shocked about finding out Mammy and Daddy had children."
"He was just being polite and didn't want to say anything?" a voice said, as another hyena entered the maze. It was my cousin Josh.
He was tall and gawky, and just a few years older than me. I didn't like him. He was cruel, sadistic and conceited.
"Go away," I said.
"You should give it up, or you'll get a good whipping from Uncle Ben," Josh said.
He crossed his arms.
"Besides, Mr. Bridshaw's too high for you," he said.
"You don't know that," I said.
"We'll see what Uncle Ben has to say," Josh said.
And he turned on his heel.
"No Josh don't!" I cried, running after him.
"Why not?" Josh said.
"Please don't Josh," I said.
He smirked at me.
"I guess I could forget, if you give me a kiss," Josh said.
I hesitated, then pecked him on the cheek.
"Forget it," Josh said, and turned away.
"No!" I said.
"Then give me a real kiss," Josh said.
"But we're cousins, it's wrong to kiss your cousin like that," I said.
"You want me to tell everyone?" Josh said.
I shook my head.
"Then be a good girl," Josh said.
Before I had a chance to speak he grabbed me roughly by my hair and pulled me towards him. He kissed me hard on the lips. Then, still holding me, he put his hand up my dress. I pushed against him.
"No Josh!" I said.
He gave me a firm squeeze. I kicked him, hard, between the legs. He fell back, holding his groin, groaning.
"You little bitch," he hissed.
I scrambled to my feet and ran, heading into the maze. I ran as fast as I could, but my dress slowed me down, making me trip. I tried to pick it up but I was still slow. I heard footsteps behind me. He caught me and knocked me to the ground, pinning me down on my belly with all his weight. He pulled up my skirt, I felt his hands on the insides of my thighs. He unbuckled his belt, then I felt a sharp pain as he shoved himself inside me. I couldn't speak, or scream, I just froze. I felt dirty with him laying on me, grunting above me and thrusting into me. I started to cry.
Why wasn't anyone coming to help me?
Mammy! Daddy! I cried out in my mind. But inside I knew they wouldn't come.
Josh gave a loud grunt and pulled away from me. All was silent but for his heavy breathing.
"Get up," he said, after a bit.
I got up, dusting off my dress. My face was wet, my hair was messy and had come out of its bun.
Josh was busy buckling his belt. I looked over at him.
"Stop crying, you deserved it," he said.
"I didn't do anything," I said.
"You hurt me, so I hurt you," he said.
I turned away from him and started to walk, then Josh grabbed my shoulder.
"Tell anyone, I'll tell your father what you've been up to," he said, and pushed past me.
I walked slowly, between my legs it hurt. I managed to make it home as the sun was setting, but Mammy, Daddy and Miss Bailie weren't so pleased.
"Look at your dress Camile!" Mammy snapped.
I looked down at myself. My dress was a little dark from falling in the dirt.
"I fell down, I'm sorry Mammy," I said.
"Go upstairs to your room and take it off, Miss Bailie will be up shortly to draw your bath," Mammy said.
"Yes Mammy" I said.
I climbed the stairs slowly to my room. I closed the door behind me and pulled off my dress. As I pulled off my underskirt I saw blood on it. I quickly stuffed the piece under my bed just as Miss Bailie entered.
"Good Lord child, put on your robe!" she snapped at me.
I did as she said.
"Now run along, your bath is ready," Miss Bailie said.
She gathered up my fallen dress. I walked down the hall to the bathroom. The water was searing hot! I lay there thinking what would happen if Miss Bailie discovered the bloody skirt, and whether or not Josh would tell anyone what had happened. These thoughts appeared to predict themselves when Miss Bailie threw open the bathroom door and displayed my bloody skirt.
"We'll talk about this in the morning," she said, and then left.