anything in the world, and he’d allowed her to be hurt by a monster.
Less than a week later, he’d found Annabelle, lying dead on the ground outside Mr. Long’s window. She’d been beaten all over her body, and her virgin’s blood was on her inner thighs. He’d known in his heart what had happened immediately, but he’d taken the time to ask around.
Everything he was told confirmed his suspicions. His daughter had been raped and beaten by Mr. Long, something he had been doing to the maids of the household for years, but Higgins had been too blind to see. Annabelle hadn’t been able to bear the harsh treatment and had jumped to her death.
He’d thought about killing Mr. Long, but had decided to stay on. He wanted to find proof of the way the man treated women and see him locked up for the rest of his life. Killing him would end his misery too quickly and the man needed to pay for what he’d done to his baby girl.
Less than a month later, Mr. Long had announced he was marrying in just a few short weeks. Higgins had decided then and there he would be the new Mrs. Long’s protector. If he could save just one woman who Mr. Long was hurting, then it would make up, in some small way , for the way he’d let Annabelle down.
He looked up when the door to the parlor opened and Mrs. Farmer stepped into the room. “The maid told me you were here waiting for me. What did you find out?” She walked immediately to the sofa and sat down, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees to listen to him.
Higgins took a deep breath, pulling himself back to the present. “You were exactly right as always. Mrs. Anderson is being beaten by her husband. I saw him hit her with my own eyes, but he wasn’t hurting her enough that I, as a stranger, felt like I could step in. I’ll continue watching the situation.” He’d wanted to step in, though. He’d wanted to break down the door and stop the man from hitting his wife.
Mrs. Farmer nodded once. “Please help her if you can. Maybe approach her when she leaves and become her friend and confidante. She’s going to need someone like you in her life, Higgins. Being hurt by the one who should love you more than all others is a terrible way to live your life.”
Higgins nodded his face sad. “I know.” He looked down at her, examining her with knowing eyes. “Is Mr. Farmer still treating you well?” He worried so much about his employer, because she’d come to mean so much to him.
Harriett’s eyes lit up. “He’s wonderful, but I’m going to have to tell him about my first marriage soon. He’s becoming suspicious of my relationship with you and wondering what’s happened between us.”
“You have my permission to tell him everything you deem necessary.” Higgins knew that his new employer could easily fire him and want him out of his house, but he believed he was a good enough man that he would want him to stay with Harriett once he understood the bond between the two of them.
Mrs. Farmer laid her hand on his forearm. “Thank you. I wouldn’t have told him your part in it without your permission.”
He smiled slightly, still sad from what he’d seen that evening and the memories it had brought back to him. “I know you wouldn’t, and that’s why you have my utmost trust, loyalty and devotion.” He patted the hand resting on his arm.
She smiled up at him. “And why you have mine as well.” She turned to leave the room, “Max will wonder why I’ve spent all this time with you again. I’ve told him repeatedly you’re like a father to me, but he is still having a hard time understanding.”
Higgins nodded briefly. “Of course he is. And he should. Our relationship would seem odd to anyone who hadn’t lived through our lives with us. It would appear very strange.” On one hand he understood exactly what Mr. Farmer’s problem was with their relationship. On the
Less than a week later, he’d found Annabelle, lying dead on the ground outside Mr. Long’s window. She’d been beaten all over her body, and her virgin’s blood was on her inner thighs. He’d known in his heart what had happened immediately, but he’d taken the time to ask around.
Everything he was told confirmed his suspicions. His daughter had been raped and beaten by Mr. Long, something he had been doing to the maids of the household for years, but Higgins had been too blind to see. Annabelle hadn’t been able to bear the harsh treatment and had jumped to her death.
He’d thought about killing Mr. Long, but had decided to stay on. He wanted to find proof of the way the man treated women and see him locked up for the rest of his life. Killing him would end his misery too quickly and the man needed to pay for what he’d done to his baby girl.
Less than a month later, Mr. Long had announced he was marrying in just a few short weeks. Higgins had decided then and there he would be the new Mrs. Long’s protector. If he could save just one woman who Mr. Long was hurting, then it would make up, in some small way , for the way he’d let Annabelle down.
He looked up when the door to the parlor opened and Mrs. Farmer stepped into the room. “The maid told me you were here waiting for me. What did you find out?” She walked immediately to the sofa and sat down, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees to listen to him.
Higgins took a deep breath, pulling himself back to the present. “You were exactly right as always. Mrs. Anderson is being beaten by her husband. I saw him hit her with my own eyes, but he wasn’t hurting her enough that I, as a stranger, felt like I could step in. I’ll continue watching the situation.” He’d wanted to step in, though. He’d wanted to break down the door and stop the man from hitting his wife.
Mrs. Farmer nodded once. “Please help her if you can. Maybe approach her when she leaves and become her friend and confidante. She’s going to need someone like you in her life, Higgins. Being hurt by the one who should love you more than all others is a terrible way to live your life.”
Higgins nodded his face sad. “I know.” He looked down at her, examining her with knowing eyes. “Is Mr. Farmer still treating you well?” He worried so much about his employer, because she’d come to mean so much to him.
Harriett’s eyes lit up. “He’s wonderful, but I’m going to have to tell him about my first marriage soon. He’s becoming suspicious of my relationship with you and wondering what’s happened between us.”
“You have my permission to tell him everything you deem necessary.” Higgins knew that his new employer could easily fire him and want him out of his house, but he believed he was a good enough man that he would want him to stay with Harriett once he understood the bond between the two of them.
Mrs. Farmer laid her hand on his forearm. “Thank you. I wouldn’t have told him your part in it without your permission.”
He smiled slightly, still sad from what he’d seen that evening and the memories it had brought back to him. “I know you wouldn’t, and that’s why you have my utmost trust, loyalty and devotion.” He patted the hand resting on his arm.
She smiled up at him. “And why you have mine as well.” She turned to leave the room, “Max will wonder why I’ve spent all this time with you again. I’ve told him repeatedly you’re like a father to me, but he is still having a hard time understanding.”
Higgins nodded briefly. “Of course he is. And he should. Our relationship would seem odd to anyone who hadn’t lived through our lives with us. It would appear very strange.” On one hand he understood exactly what Mr. Farmer’s problem was with their relationship. On the
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