Page 71 of Molly Boys

Everett sat at the boy’s bedside, his heart breaking as he looked at Jack’s swollen and bruised face. How could anyone do such a thing to a child? He couldn’t fathom wanting to hurt anyone that way, let alone someone as tiny and defenceless as Jack.

The boy whimpered, making a sound of distress. Ev reached out to soothe him, stroking his thin arm gently so as to not cause him any further pain. Suddenly, the boy jolted, trying to scramble away from Ev’s touch, but as he moved in blind panic he cried out in pain.

“Sssh, it’s alright, Jack. You’re safe, I won’t hurt you.” Ev rose from his chair and pinned the boy as carefully as he could so he didn’t harm himself.

He could only imagine the terror and suffering the boy was feeling. His eyes were still swollen shut, not allowing him to see his surroundings. To see he was safe. This was the first time he’d woken, and the last thing he probably remembered was being viciously beaten by that brute Rackstraw, who was most likely three times his size.

“Jack, it’s alright, calm yourself. You’re safe,” he crooned again.

Jack stopped struggling and breathed heavily, his chest still wheezing, although not quite as badly as the night before. The boy seemed to be listening to the sound of Ev’s voice, but he was almost unnaturally still, as if trying to sense danger.

“I can’t see,” Jack finally answered, his voice a hoarse whisper.

Ev’s gaze dropped to the boy’s neck and the huge finger-sized bruises there. Once again he felt a flare of anger.

“The skin around your eyes is swollen.” Ev continued to speak softly, trying to keep the fury from his voice. “Once it heals, the doctor says you should be able to see again just fine.”

Jack’s hand moved slowly at his side, his small fingers stroking the bedcovers. “Soft,” he murmured. “What is it?”

Ev’s heart broke all over again. “It’s a bed,” he replied, his voice shaky. It wasn’t even a comfortable bed, certainly not of the quality he slept in every night. How hard must this child’s life have been that he’d never even slept in a bed, warm and safe?

A sickly feeling churned in his stomach; in the dirty dockside pub Ev had been shocked to find the boy had gone without food and now… he shook his head. Ev was just starting to understand how privileged his life had been. He’d never even considered what the reality of life was for not only the poor but also the orphans and lost children of the city’s darkened alleys and streets.

“I know your voice,” Jack croaked. “The fancy lord. You were with Inspector Franklin.”

“That’s right.” Ev nodded. “My name is Lord Stanley.”

“You bought me food.”

“I did,” Ev replied quietly, although now it seemed like far too little.

“I frew it up.” His damaged face screwed up as if he was deeply distressed by the thought. “I was running and I was scared and it came up.”

“Don’t worry about that now,” Ev soothed him. “I’ll make sure you’re not hungry again.”

“You ain’t sendin’ me to the poor house, are yer?” He became agitated.

“No, boy.” Ev reached out and grasped his hand. “You’re going to stay here.”

“Where am I?”

“My home,” Ev answered. “You’ll stay here with me. I’m going to make sure you’re taken care of.”

“Why?”

It was such an innocent question spoken from true confusion as to why anyone would want to help him, but honestly Ev didn’t know how to put it into words. He wasn’t even sure he understood it himself. He just knew there was something about Jack.

He wanted to help the boy, but more than that, he wanted to protect him, to keep him safe. Maybe it was because he saw himself in the boy, which was fairly ridiculous considering they came from different worlds. With Jack, it wasn’t just the blonde hair and blue eyes that were so similar to Ev’s own, but Ev recognised the sad, lonely boy. It was the boy Ev used to be. He may not have gone without food or shelter but he’d felt lost, adrift… not wanted.

“Lord Stanley?”

“Hmm?” Ev looked up, realising he’d been lost in his thoughts.

“Why would you help me?”

“Honestly, Jack, I don’t know,” Ev sighed. “But I do know that, now we’ve crossed paths, you’re my responsibility. If you want, you can stay here with me. You’ll have a warm bed and food. Once you’re recovered, we’ll see about getting you some new clothes that fit properly.”

The boy had gone silent.