Thread: A Victorian Tale... Innocence Corrupted (Silvamoon and ThomasWaller)

It had been an eye opening experience to live in London, but Josie had been enjoying their time more then she thought she would. The town was so diverting, and Smithers had constantly been introducing them to noble families and procuring invitations to lavish parties. The shy country girl had felt uneasy at times, but everyone they met had been so welcoming and pleasant that she had soon warmed up. The young couples plans had been to spend as little time as possible in London until they found an estate that could serve as their new home, but they had been enjoying themselves so much that theyd barely had time to send out inquiries about land for sale. That night Smithers was coming to dine with them, and although she still felt there was something peculiar about the man Josie was determined to impress him. Do you think he will enjoy this, David? I feel we still may be too plain for this exciting town. She fretted for a moment before Smithers arrived, although his appearance and that of two other men with him made an unpleasant feeling settle in her stomach. Welcome to our home. She murmured, no other pleasantries passing between them until he bid her and David to sit down. Josie was becoming more anxious, wondering if something terrible had happened to one of their parents. Her hands clasped together in her lap as she waited to hear whatever news the spider man had brought. David had already sprung up by the time her mind had processed the vulgar words coming from Smithers, her hand covering her mouth in a shocked gasp. What?! She cried, her heart speeding up in fright as her husband squared off against the mans two bodyguards. David, no! Josie cried, her hands rising to grip his bicep as he was roughly shoved back down on the sofa. The thought that she could easily be a widow was a terrifying one. She had always felt as though there was something sinister about Smithers, but she had kept her opinions to herself because of everything the man had done for them. Now she could see it was only for his personal benefit. Josie turned bright red as the man described in detail the intimate moments he had witnessed between her and David, and a disgusted chill ran down her spine at his intention to join them. The young bride felt physically ill at the knowledge that he had been watching them, her grip tightening on Davids arm as his ire rose. W-why would you do this to us? She finally asked, although also afraid to hear the response. Her query was answered when Smithers began to explain what sort of business he was in, and the embarrassed flush that had lit her cheeks soon drained away to a sickly white pallor. The majority of the pleasant people they had met in the last month had been evaluating her and David as though they were for sale like a suckling pig at a market, and now according to Smithers they actually were. This was too incredible for her to comprehend, and Josie was beginning to feel faint at the new knowledge that someone had joined Smithers voyeuristic tendencies and had already viewed her and David in their marital bed. Her blue eyes squeezed shut tightly, as though she would suddenly wake up from a dream. There was no way she and David would play along with this mans terrible scheme, and Josie was readying herself to tell him that. Then the spider man played his trump card and brought up the situation of Davids parents fortune, and spun a tale about her own parents and a heinous crime they had committed. Josie sat on the sofa in shock, no words able to form in her mind over the sheer weight of the information Smithers had relayed. She was relieved when he announced his leave, but the young woman flinched at his crass use of the term prostitute and the knowledge that he would be returning soon. As soon as the door shut behind him Josie shot up from the sofa, her skirts swirling around her as she turned to face her husband. David, what are we to do? There were too many thoughts swirling around in her head, it was hard to concentrate. This is absolutely terrible, I knew there was something devious about that man. And to know that he She couldnt even finish the thought, that he had been watching them. We must flee back homewe can protect our parents, cant we? Pleadingly she looked at David. We cant let this happen to us.