Lydia rolled over to the sound of her maid stirring the fireplace. She opened her eyes a crack and sighed. She’d dreamed about Keith the entire night. Some could only be described as lewd while others were glimpses into a future as an old married couple. They were all vivid. She wished she could roll over and return to her slumber wonderland.
“My lady, this arrived for you.” Ellie handed Lydia a folded piece of parchment. Lydia recognized the Duke of Dorset’s insignia. She wondered if Keith sent her a love letter. She pulled the wax free and read it. Her heart sank as she realized he’d left to see Rajesh. She knew it meant her cousin and his family were in danger from the East India Company. While she could appreciate Keith going to his friend’s aid, she found her stomach roiled at the idea of him being in danger.
She threw back the covers and hurried to dress, selecting a mid-thigh lengthkurtaandchuridar.She glanced toward the door, a scowl emerging as she considered Oliver sleeping a few doors away. She chose her clothes purposefully. She would make herself as unappealing as she could. She’d found something that deemed her unworthy in Oliver’s eyes, so she would play it to her advantage. She’d done her best to convince her father Oliver was a horrible choice without disclosing what she knew about the man. She prayed something so trivial as clothing would dissuade her suitor. Otherwise, she feared what Keith would do to his cousin and that she would have to disclose the truth to her father. One thing of which she was certain: she wasn’t marrying Oliver Gwyn.
She sat while Ellie brushed her hair and tied it back with a ribbon that matched her tunic and trousers. She glanced in the mirror once she’d washed her face and cleaned her teeth. She was ready to face the day. She made her way to the dining room, pleased to see her parents already at the table. She filled her plate from the buffet and slid into her seat. When she heard Oliver approaching, she returned for more food than she needed, but she would make certain he saw her in her full ensemble. She plastered the same sugary smile she always wore as she turned her head toward him. She watched his gaze skim her, his displeasure clear in his eyes even if the rest of his face remained neutral.
“Good morning, my lord.” Lydia dipped a curtsy before turning her back to him and returning to her chair.
“Good morning, my lady. We shall take the air when we finish our breakfast.” Oliver’s pronouncement irritated Lydia. She cast her eyes toward her father, glowering, while Oliver couldn’t see her. She noticed her father appeared wearier than usual. He shot her a quelling glance before greeting their guest. The meal progressed with banal conversation until Oliver came to stand beside Lydia’s chair. When she rose, he held out his arm. “Come along, my lady.”
Lydia wanted to bare her teeth and snap them, annoyed that his tone was the same someone would use with a dog or horse. She accepted the proffered arm but didn’t move. “We won’t be long, Mama. I know you wish to go into the village. I won’t keep you waiting.”
They had no such plan, but she knew her mother wouldn’t contradict her in front of their guest. Lydia would find a reason to leave their home and escape Oliver. Knowing Keith left ratcheted her fear. She’d felt more at ease when she knew he was returning a fortnight after his last departure. She had no idea when he would return from this voyage.
Oliver guided her out of the house and along the path toward Forde Abbey. Lydia wondered for what purpose. She didn’t fight her escort, but her senses were on alert. Something felt amiss. There was no reason for them to wander this way, and they hadn’t in the past. Just the opposite. Oliver had always studiously avoided drawing close to his cousin’s home. She remained quiet, her eyes scanning their surroundings. They skirted the front drive and walked toward the garden. She searched for any of the servants who might be near the stables or working among the flora. She saw no one.
“Come, Lydia. Don’t make me drag you.” Oliver’s voice held a new degree of threat. He’d called her by her given name without her permission countless times when they were walking. She tried to glance over her shoulder to Ellie, who trailed a discreet distance behind her, but Oliver yanked her arm.
“You may release me, Oliver.” She tried to pull her arm free, but his fingers of his free hand bit into her flesh. He increased their pace, and he drew her closer to the beach path. They were nearly to the sand when she heard a muffled scream. She pushed Oliver’s chest and spun around. A man had his hand over Ellie’s mouth and a knife to her throat. “Ellie!”
Lydia glanced at Oliver, expecting him to move to her maid’s defense. Yet, it didn’t surprise her when he did nothing. She made to run to Ellie’s aid, but Oliver’s arm wrapped around her waist and hoisted her off the ground. She flailed her arms and legs, striking him in the shins with her heels and his ribs with her elbows. She thrust her head backward, her skull cracking his nose. When his hand went around her throat and squeezed mercilessly, she ceased her struggle. She needed to conserve the air in her lungs and her energy.
“You shamed me last night, and I will not tolerate a whoring wife. I know you went to him before that. How you got in, I don’t know. But I saw you come and go. I know he lurked all night, but he shouldn’t have assumed daylight would deter me.” Oliver put her on her feet, but he kept one hand around her throat, and the other fisted her hair, pushing her forward. He steered her to the shore, where three dinghies full of rough-looking men waited. She knew if she got within arm’s reach of the men, she wouldn’t have any chance of escape.
She redoubled her efforts to break free. She reached back and gouged Oliver’s eyes with her thumbs. He released her, and she bolted. She knew she couldn’t make it back up the path faster than the men, so she ran toward the cave. She prayed it was close enough she could enter the secret tunnel before the men caught her. If they followed her in, she trusted they would get lost before they could grab her.
Unfortunately, the sand and her slippers made it difficult to run. She let them fall from her feet, allowing her to pick up her pace. Three men emerged from the cave, clearly prepared for her to run toward it. One snagged her around the waist and hauled her over his shoulder. She continued to fight, but to no avail. When Oliver told the man who carried her to put her down, he approached with a malevolent smile.
“You may as well stop resisting, Lydia. I will see you tomorrow. Once I convince your parents the bastard absconded with you, I will join you. We will marry tomorrow afternoon, and I’ll plow you tomorrow night. Make no mistake, my dear. You are as good as my wife and my property. I will do as I please with you.”
“Like you did with Kelsey?” Lydia spat.
Oliver’s gaze hardened as he stepped forward and lashed out at her. Except she was ready. She ducked her head and kicked out her foot. She drove it into his groin and watched him double over. He roared with rage, but he could do nothing to retaliate, his discomfort too great to straighten. The man who’d carried her flung her back over his shoulder. She was without recourse as she landed first in a dinghy, then on the deck of a ship that had already weighed anchor and had its sails hoisted. They were underway the moment the men secured the last dinghy.
Scrambling to her feet, Lydia didn’t hesitate to charge toward the rail. She was nearly over the side and free when someone snatched a handful of her hair and tugged. She landed hard, sprawled across the deck.
“My lady, you will be dead before you’re off this ship.” A dark-haired man with a grizzly beard and missing teeth stood over her. “Make your choice about how you travel. Do I grant you the freedom of being in a cabin where my men can’t touch you? Or do I tie you to the center mast and let them do as they please with that mouth of yours?”
“You’ll have a crew without cocks if they come near me. My bite is far worse than my bark.” Lydia parroted a grin as she showed her teeth. But wisdom told her it wasn’t the right time to continue her fight. She didn’t resist as the captain thrust her into a cabin and locked the door from the outside. She was certain it wasn’t his, since it appeared like little more than a storage room. She surveyed her surroundings and her situation.
There’s little you can do now. Oliver shall spin a tale this is Keith’s doing, but I pray my father understands it isn’t. But what can he do? It’ll take him two days to ride to Rajesh’s. Who knows where we will be by then? Wherever it is can’t be far if Oliver plans to meet us and drag me before a priest tomorrow. He meant his threat about forcing me, and I know he won’t wait until we’re married. He’ll be convinced bedding me will force me to marry him. I won’t. No priest will marry an unwilling bride, not even at a viscount’s insistence. Keith, where are you? I need you.
Lydia slumped against the wall, resting her head against it as she slid to the floor. Time wasn’t on her side, but she believed, despite the captain’s threats, none of the men would touch her. Oliver wouldn’t allow it, and they were pirates who worked for coin. Money they wouldn’t receive if she arrived soiled in Oliver’s eyes. He was already fuming about Keith. He was liable to be lethal if he thought another man touched her. She closed her eyes and determined to wait out the time until she knew the next event in her fate.
* * *
Keith greetedRajesh on the cliffs above where he’d docked his ship. His friend appeared even more exhausted than the last time he’d seen him. This time, Keith was certain it wasn’t entirely Charlie’s pregnancy.
“What’s happened?” Keith asked as they shook hands.
“They attacked Ben during his last run. He shot one and wounded two with his sword. They didn’t expect him to have it buried beneath the hay. Before they made their move, they told him the East India Company sends its regards. They demanded the gunpowder they believed he carried. He’d already delivered it to Theo and only had brandy on his wagon.”
“Was he hurt?”
“A sliced shoulder, but that’s it. It was deep enough for stitches, but he hasn’t developed a fever.”
“How’s Charlie taking this?”
