“William will have to be punished for his most ungentlemanly conduct.”
Brutus glanced up from the checkers board. “Agreed. If rumour gets out, he stands to lose what ground he’s made amongst the other boys.” His fingers dallied over one playing piece, only for him to decide on another when he finally made his move. Under most circumstances they could have been sure of everyone’s silence, but with that little toad, Forster, hanging around there was no such thing as certainty. Now that Jones was gone, both he and Salomon would have to be found new homes.
Cropper took a sip from his whiskey and moved his piece three spaces, neatly removing two of Brutus’. “Of course there is little point in beating William.”
That attracted Brutus’ attention. Picking up his own drink, he sat back, temporarily abandoning the game in front of him. “How’s that then?” he asked.
Cropper’s eyes burned over the edge of his glass. “I sincerely believe you could do anything to that boy and he would simply bounce back,” he said, the neutrality in his voice belied by his expression. “Thus it makes more sense to inflict punishment on those nearer and dearer, as I suggested in the playroom.”
“Elijah.”
“You have someone else in mind?”
Finding himself torn between concern for the boy he had held in his arms the previous day and his own position as Cropper’s ram, Brutus havered. On the one hand Elijah did need to learn how obedience played a role in his training, but on the other, Brutus would not stand by and see the boy whipped like a hart or some outsider. Eventually he shrugged and answered noncommittally, “He is not well enough to endure a proper beating.”
Laughter sprung from the other side of the gaming table. “Such an idea! Goodness, Brutus, I had never thought to inflict a proper beating on the boy, simply to indulge in a little harmless fun. It has been many months since anyone had a figging.”
Brutus’ face lit with a devilish grin. Now that was always something he wanted to hear. “Tomorrow night?” he suggested.
“Tomorrow night,” agreed Cropper. “And you can spank our little absconder while he watches the fun.”
*
In front of him, William accelerated up the stairs and vanished around the corner, presumably heading for their shared room. Elijah trailed several steps behind, resigned to being ignored. His every attempt to speak to William today had been rebuffed and, frankly, he was getting remarkably fed-up with being treated as though somehow this was his fault.
Jones had been unconscious by the time Brutus and Lyall cut him down. His back a mess of damaged skin with bruises the colour of a stormy sky and the thickness of a finger spreading from his shoulders to his knees. Some wept blood. Others, thankfully only a few, were more like gashes and Elijah had watched in abject terror as William was ordered to administer more blows atop of those. That, as far as Elijah could tell, was what had finally driven William into casting away the switch and fleeing from the basement.
This time no one attempted to stop him, though a significant look passed between the older boys. Too scared to follow his friend, Elijah waited to be the next on the post, certain that William’s precipitous exit would result in Cropper carrying out his threat. But no. Instead he was simply ordered to fetch Craven and Matron, and Jones had been turned over to them. Apparently severe beatings warranted no explanation in this school.
The study door slammed in his face and Elijah cursed mildly under his breath, blushing redly when he recalled the meaning of the words. At one time he would never have… father would have punished him severely for even thinking such things, let alone uttering them aloud.
Cheeks still burning, he pushed open the door and went inside, only to find William struggling to free himself from the grip Brutus had on his coat while Cropper and Brolly looked on.
“What on earth is happening?” Elijah asked. When their morning meal had passed without mention of yesterday’s incident, Elijah had assumed that William’s disobedience had been forgotten.
William’s mouth opened in reply and shut again with a snap when Brutus shook him like a rat.
“Take yourself downstairs, Elijah,” Cropper said his gaze still locked on the wriggling boy. “Brutus will be down shortly to prepare you for tonight.”
Prepare? It was neither Sunday nor Wednesday, and Elijah had suffered the indignity of the table already this week. Why should he have to go again? About to ask, he was forestalled by Cropper snapping, “Now, boy! Or I shall take a belt to your backside.”
Elijah nodded and dropped his books on the desk. When Cropper was in one of these moods, it was best to obey without question.
As he opened the door at the top of the steep steps, Elijah paused, straining his ears to pick up the conversation that had started up in his wake. The only voice he could hear clearly was William’s, pleading, “Please, Cropper, leave him out of this. Punish me instead.”
*
“Please, Cropper, leave him out of this. Punish me instead.”
“Now why would I want to do that when you protest so prettily. Maybe this will teach you to take note when I give you instructions in future.”
Cropper thought his protests pretty? William kicked out at Brutus’ shins as the stress of the previous few days transformed itself into rage. “I shall not stand for this! You’ll see. I can be a wolf-”
“Take him downstairs with you, Brutus,” Cropper interjected, speaking straight over the top of William as though he didn’t care what William had to say. “And secure him. I have no desire to listen to that performance all evening.”
The word ‘secure’ simply made William fight all the harder. Not that there was any point. Brutus held him firmly by the scruff and dragged him downstairs, calling for Lyall as he went. Elijah was already there and on the table, with Lyall hovering over him and tightening the bands which secured Elijah’s hands and feet.
In a last ditch attempt to escape, William twisted in Brutus’ grasp and sank his teeth into whatever flesh he could reach.
“You little bastard!” Brutus bellowed, hurling William headfirst into the corner and nursing his arm. “You’ll bloody well pay for that.”
Somewhat muzzily, William braced himself for the kicks and punches that were sure to follow. They didn’t. Instead his hands were grabbed and twisted up behind his back, and something fastened around them. He tried to roll over, but his arms strained backwards attached to the wall by something he couldn’t see. Secured! Brutus had secured him!
“Let me go!” he shouted. “You have no right! You cannot do this!”
Someone grabbed his hair and yanked his head back. William blinked back tears of pain and stared up at Brutus who was saying, “So much for the vaunted wolf, William. Tell me, did you really think you would get away with such disobedience?”
“I did as I was asked,” William spat. “Jones suffered under my hand, so why should I submit to this foulness.”
Brutus’ finger was gentle as it stroked his cheek and William shuddered, fighting the urge to rub against it and beg to be forgiven. “You submit because Cropper has ordered it. Just as every one of us here from Forster to myself submits. If you do not want this, William, you can always leave. I’m sure your family would welcome you back with open arms.”
There was no trace of sarcasm in Brutus’ voice and, for a moment, William considered doing just as suggested. Running as far and as fast as his legs could take him, home to mama and the unconditional love she represented.
A sharp slap across his face brought him gasping out of his dreams. “Though even if that is your decision,” Brutus was saying, “That will not forestall what happens here today.” The older boy stood and moved away, and William struggled to his knees so he could continue to see him.
“This is as much for Elijah’s benefit as your own,” Brutus continued, his attention now transferred to the boy strapped to the table. William watched as Brutus reached out and touched Elijah’s face in an echo of the touch he’d just bestowed on William. Elijah seemed to fight a similar internal battle, his jaw working around the gag in his mouth.
Lyall approached from the doorway with another gag dangling from his hands,
and William knew it was meant for him. As it was forced into his mouth and the
straps secured behind his head, he heard Brutus say, “Obedience is a ram’s
primary commandment, and Elijah will learn that his role is this and none other.”