Luxton Manor - part 4

It took them less then an hour to drag the young woman's body back to Luxton Manor. Covered in sweat, blood and other bodily substances, the two were less then happy.1

' Why do we always end up with these kind of jobs? Why can't we do something nice, like shoot some bird for supper or fish in the lake, catch something for master's tea. Oh no, we have to do these jobs.' George groaned to himself, trying to heave the body off the floor.2

Edd was keeping quiet. Never had he dragged the body of a young women through the woods, shortly after she had given birth. He felt rather ashamed and disturbed at the task he had just completed.3

After some thought he took out his dagger and slit the girl's throat.4

'Hey Edd, what did you do that for?' George asked, astonished5

'You'll see.' came the cryptic reply. And no more was said on the matter.6

'Edd, come on! I need some help here. I can't pick her up on my own.' Looking up, Edd realised the doors were open and they were waiting for the girl inside.7

She brought shame upon this family, he thought to himself trying to justify what he had just done. But it didn't work. He thought of his younger sister and how the body of this lady could easily be hers, if she were to ever get in the position she did.8

' A task well carried out, men. You retrieved the body of the whore, and the wretch of a child?' Master asked, lifting his eyebrow at George's worried face.9

' Well... there wasn't any baby.' George said, looking at his shoes and wishing he were a few more feet away to shield himself from his Master's anger.10

'What do you mean there was no baby? I wanted that little rat. I wanted to take it to him, my disgrace of a son, and torture it in front of his face!' He screamed at the men, showering them with spit, his head turning a distinct shade of red.11

' It wasn't there.' Edd said quietly ' The baby, it was gone. But it wouldn't survive, not on its own. It will be dead by now, I can assure you, sir.'12

'How much blood?' the Master asked, trying to calm himself.13

George looked confused at this question but Edd jumped straight in, knowing what master wanted to hear.14

'Oh there was a lot of blood! It was all over the place. She lost too much to survive, but we caught her in time. Just before she died we slit her throat.' Edd elaborated making the violent gestures of slitting her throat, a malicious glint in his eye.15

Master looked pleased. He drew his own sword and with one quick slash, beheaded the body.16

' That will teach you, you dirty piece of filth!' He spat.17

Edd and George stood still, knowing that he was content with the baby being dead, even though he had not seen the child.18

'Moving on, I need to sort out this business with my...' He winced at the word, 'son.'19

George and Edd knew what was going to happen, and they were so glad they weren't in his son's shoes.20

'So that was it? He just killed them both?' Grace asked in surprise.21

'Yes, he just pulled out his sword, took off her head then went to sort his son out. We don't know what happened there.' Edd told his wife while shovelling food into his mouth.22

' I wish you wouldn't work for such a man, Edd. He will be the downfall of you one day.'23

'Grace. He is the richest man around. It can only help to be in his good books.'24

' I suppose, but still his own son...' She trailed off pulling her little girl onto her lap and hugging her tightly.25

' In his mind, they shamed the family. If anyone found out it could seriously kill his reputation.'26

' So he'd rather murder his own son so not to be embarrassed?'27

' I suppose so. They lost their innocence to each other without committing. He was the Lord's son, she was only a nanny. She was pregnant with his son's child. He couldn't have that. The only way to stop it was to get rid of them all.' He sighed, images of the young girl's panic stricken face filling his head.28

' And the baby?' Grace asked.29

' Not found.'30