Night of Eden 84

Chapter 84

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Sponsored chapter by LC. Thank you ❤️ (2/2)

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Like Dorothy, Noah was willing to go where Dana wanted to go, no matter what.

Her happiness was more important to him than his own success, and he was confident that he could find a job anywhere.

But when she pulled out the paperwork.

"Dodge?"

Noah couldn't help but frown.

He'd read about it in the newspaper, and it was a dismal city of smokestacks, smog, and poverty.

That wasn't the only problem.

"The tax collector's wife... Nanny?"

This was what tax collectors were like.

It was a job where extortion and embezzlement was the norm, and it was no secret how they treat their employees.

He squinted as he read through the paperwork and finally let out an exasperated, "Ha!" It was the salary with conditions.

Dana chewed on her lip, having realized earlier what was wrong with him. Dorothy did the same.

"You know why I didn't go to the employment agency in Ponoa? This is why. Pat Patterson, he's a very bad man who takes advantage of naive people like you."

Setting the papers down, he winced a little as he realized Dana's face was pale.

She must have taken the job out of desperation. She might have felt proud at the time.

But now that he told her so bluntly….

But Dana needed to know the reality before it was too late. He had better alternatives. Lots of them.

"I think it's a good experience. It's like an initiation."

Noah said lightly, but it was little comfort to Dana. Dorothy, who had been so insistent that Dodge was a good place, even though she didn't know it, couldn't even look up.

"But Noah... now that you've come... We have no choice..."

He looked back and forth between the two women.

"Dana, and Dorothy."

Dorothy's brow creased at the overly bright voice. Noah ignored her and continued.

"Are you sure it doesn't matter where you are, no matter how far away?"

Dorothy looked up, wide-eyed.

"I, uh... I... Don't mind... I... I'm fine anywhere... I can do anything and... I mean... I don't care."

Dana squeezed Dorothy's hand.

"No, Dorothy. We're going together, not following anyone. And your opinion matters."

Dorothy's hand trembled. Something hot welled up inside her eyelids. But crying would ruin the mood, so she held it in.

Noah stifled a laugh as he watched her.

Unlike the first time, his chest swelled with hope.

This was good.

Whatever Dana had done with Edwin Hastings, it was all in the past.

The fact that she'd abandoned him first was all that mattered. If she hadn't run away from him like this, he might never have been able to muster up the courage to stay friends forever.

"Okay, then."

Noah put his arm around both of their shoulders.

"Do you think you can make it to the other side of the world, across the ocean, to that faraway land of freedom?"

***

Extortion, rape, molestation.......

Words too horrible to utter swirled in Isabella's mind.

She was the eldest daughter of an honorable and loyal family in the Duchy of Haman. Her ancestors had been pious for generations and followed chivalry like a bible.

Her husband, Anton, was a clean-cut gentleman when it came to women, if nothing else. He didn't go to brothels like other men, and he didn't even think about having mistresses.

Despite their long engagement, they maintained their premarital virginity.

Marriage was sacred to them. Both families placed a high value on it, and family customs didn't change overnight.

So she believed. Theodore, like his father, would do the same.

Of course, that didn't mean she expected her son to live like a monk; that was beyond her control, and Isabella knew it.

His debauched friends would have plenty of women to choose from, and it was not a blemish on a man's character to go in and out of brothels. After marriage, he could have a mistress like any other man.

Isabella had no reason to be picky or interfere in her son's affairs with women.

But she was forced to...

A woman he didn't like...

He was about to marry...

And a maid at that...!

Isabella sprang to her feet. When she was at a reasonable distance from him, she wasted no time in raising her hand and slapping him across the face with a resounding thud.

It was the first time she had ever hit her son. No, it was the first time she had ever struck a human being.

I swear to the gods, it was not an act of weakness; it was a punishment that I, as a mother, as an adult, had to inflict.

Theodore didn't resist in the slightest. The tilt of his head along the slapped hand held no sign of defiance or protest.

"Disappointing. I am so....... disappointed...."

Isabella said, her voice trembling.

"How could you.... How...."

Her voice rang with bitterness and resentment.

"If your father knows, he won't let this one slide."

"I will gladly accept any disposition."

The answer was so immediate, Isabella couldn't keep her mouth shut. Her teeth chattered as she stared at his impassive face.

 "I can't believe it. I know men say it's possible, but...... It's not even close to your standards......."

 "......" 

"I can't lift my face in shame. It's really......."

 "...."

 "This will be a huge blow to our family's credibility. Not to mention what you've done. How immature and irresponsible of you to do such a thing......." 

She paused, searching for the right words, the right sting to bring her son to his senses. A shocking, ominous premonition suddenly hit her.

 "Do you think... You... Are you......" 

Theodore raised his lowered eyes to meet his mother's.

 "You ... That... that you forced her... that she..." 

It felt strange to hear her voice trembling. 

"Is she... pregnant or something? Pregnant?" 

For the first time, his calm demeanor cracked. It was a very unexpected and shocking inference, not only for Isabella, but for Theodore as well. 

***

"Recently, the Federation has seen a rise in horse racing as a new form of entertainment. I've heard that horse farms and racetracks have sprung up in competition, and that trainers and undertakers are in short supply."

It wasn't just those directly involved with the horses that were in short supply. 

"There's also the obvious need for more maids and housekeepers."

Dana and Dorothy looked at each other, eyes narrowed.

"Dana, you'll be treated much better than you are in Dodge, especially since you're from a prestigious mainland maid-no, maidservant family."

Of course, he was confident he could support her with his own earnings. But he didn't want to burden Dana with that.

"Well, it would be a lot easier to get a job if you had a reference, but I don't think it would be any harder without one."

Dana closed her gaping mouth and turned to face Noah.

"Is this too sudden?"

He tried to sound as casual as possible.

"Then we can just go to Dodge as planned. We'll figure out our future as we go. Whether it's Dodge, the Federation, or some other new place, there are plenty of roads, and a surprising number of jobs."

Fortunately, he had enough money saved up.

It was also fortunate that he hadn't hidden his paycheck under his bed like most workers, but had left it in the hands of a sophisticated institution called a bank.

That made it easier to leave in a hurry.

"You know, maybe Dodge is surprisingly heavenly and the tax collector and his wife are angels, and there's a boat to the Federation there anyway, so let's go."

Noah sounded very confident, and Dana nodded eagerly.

Dorothy thought for a moment.

Noah Miller didn't seem to know anything about Theodore Macmilan. Maybe she should let him know that the man might be looking for Dana and coming after him.

But how?

She couldn't just blurt out the truth because of a possibility she wasn't sure of. She was also reluctant to tell Noah the story without Dana's permission.

'I'll think about it once we're on the boat!’

Dorothy concluded.

There was still time; their ship would have many stops, and it would be easier to evade detection.

‘I’ll convince them to go to the Federation.’

Dorothy was a little surprised at herself for making a plan.

She feared that Dana would be forced to return to Belvida, willingly or unwillingly, and that would mean another separation from her dear friend.

Call it exclusivity, call it obsession, call it whatever you want, but Dorothy was afraid that Dana would let go of her hand.

Meanwhile, Noah went to the ticket booth and scrambled to find a seat. Luckily, there were still seats available in third class.

"Just remember, we're not running away. This is a challenge, an adventure."

Dana smiled for the first time.

Okay, this wasn't running away, and it wasn't evading.

It was time to put into practice what her grandfather always talked about: courage.

And when they finally stood in front of the 100-yard-long arc of the Great Lobby, all Dorothy and Dana could do was close their mouths, wondering if their jaws would fall off.

"Wait, wait, wait."

Before boarding, Noah had one last thing to do.

He had one last job to do before boarding: deliver the cargo to Belvida. The delayed ship had arrived three days ago, and he'd loaded all the cargo onto the wagon.

He needed a trustworthy man to transport it to Belvida, and he wasn't hard to find. It was Jackson, a dock worker he'd known for years.

"I don't know about you, but it's nice of you to pay me so much."

Jackson stared at Noah and the two maids behind him, especially Dana. He couldn't help but think of the woman Noah had always talked about, the one he wanted to marry.

"Is that her?"

Noah laughed instead of answering.

"Is that why you've been looking so hard for a job, so you can move back home together?"

Jackson poked him in the side. Noah didn't answer, just laughed again.

"Anyway, come hang out when you get settled, maybe we can play a game at the tavern in Lausanne?"

Noah nodded.

Jackson quickly climbed into the carriage. Just before the carriage pulled away, Noah handed him a letter.

He had always thought of leaving, but there were many people in Belvida that he liked.

He had always liked butler Stan. There were others who had become like family, like Kenneth, Chef Rowalski, and his daughter Penny.

He had to at least say goodbye to them.

"You can tell the butler there."

They smiled and waved goodbye.

With the letter in his pocket, Jackson headed straight for Belvida. It took him a full day to get there.

When he found butler Stan and handed him Noah's letter, the place was turned upside down again.

[I got a new job and is leaving with Dana. Dorothy is coming with us. I'm sorry to leave without saying anything. Please say goodbye to my dear friends for me. I’m sorry]

Tilly sank to the floor in a heap.

****

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