The old woman smiled at her kindly. As she attempted to rise from her chair, she groaned. At once, her husband, Christopher’s uncle, was by her side, assisting her up.
Her heart swelled at the sight of it.
I can only hope Christopher and I will be like this when we reach their age.
Once the lady was standing, leaning on her husband, she placed one hand on Rowena’s wrist.
“I am ever so grateful my nephew has found a wonderful girl to marry. My brother would be ever so happy.” She sighed deeply. “If only he had lived to see it happen.”
“Now, now, my Dove. No reason to be sad. He is always with us, your brother. You know that,” the Earl patted her hand and then faced Rowena. “I shall retire as well. You are more than welcome to remain here for a while longer. It is a lovely night.”
“It is indeed, my Lord. And I may well remain here for a little while. I have found myself rather vexed today and it is ever so peaceful here.”
He nodded at her. “Very well. I shall see you in the morning, to break the fast. And do not fret, should anyone come back to look for you, we will tell them all the same. That you have not been seen.”
With that, the Earl and Countess departed, leaving Rowena on the porch alone.
Rowena leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She felt a sense of peace at last. She wasn’t sure why. Betsy was not back as yet, and she was still in danger of being forced into a marriage she didn’t want. But, she felt at ease.
She’d spoken her piece to the Duke of Thornmouth. Used words and a force she’d never dared use before. It had felt good to stand up for herself, and for Betsy.
A yawn overtook her, and she rose. She’d planned to stay awake until Christopher returned, but she knew that would not be until the early morning.
Perhaps I ought to rest. The hours will pass much faster if I am asleep.
She blinked and stretched her arms when she spotted movement on the road up ahead of her. She frowned and tilted her head.
“Oh, aren’t you lovely!” She exclaimed at the sight of the small orange and white kitten that was sitting by the bush up ahead. She’d always longed to have cats, but her mother was opposed to them. She’d always been a dog person and Pugsley, her mother’s pug, did not care for other animals. Rowena slowly made her way toward the cat, bending over and sticking her hand out for the cat to smell.
“Good baby, can I pet you?” She was almost close enough to do so. One more step and she was next to the kitten. The kitten cautiously sniffed her hand and cautiously stepped toward her, allowing her stroke its soft fur.
Rowena wondered if it belonged to anyone. If it did not, she would gladly take it to wherever home was going to be next. Now that she had broken out of her role of the perfect lady of theton, she was determined to do the things she’d always wanted. And having a cat was one of them.
“Shall I take you in? I’m sure the Earl’s cook has a cup of milk for y–”
She got to further for darkness fell upon her. The last thing she saw were the cat’s white feet, rushing away as something was being lowered over her head. She was yanked backward and fell hard onto the ground.
She kicked her legs out as hard as she could and tried to scream. Alas, it was futile for the bag which had been placed over her head muffled her sound, it being so tightly pulled over her mouth.
She felt herself lifted high off the ground, perhaps over somebody’s shoulder, and then dumped into the back of a carriage. As she hit the floor of the carriage, she heard a muffled, male voice call out “Not so hard!” but it was too late, she bumped her head so hard on it that darkness swallowed her up.
* * *
Rowena’s eyes fluttered open. Darkness appeared to surround her. She scanned the room she was in and found there to be no windows, and no light except for a small tallow candle at the other end of the room.
She sat up, letting her legs dangling over the side of the bed as she found her feet. She slid forward and the moment her feet touched the bare wooden floor she realized she did not have shoes on.
Standing up, she made her way across the room toward the candle, taking care not to bump into anything.
Where am I? What has happened to me?
Rowena’s hand traveled to the back of her head where a small bump had risen. She recalled behind tossed into a cart or carriage.
She took the candle holder with the candle into her hand and shone it around the room. It was an attic chamber; she could tell by the size and the way the roof sloped. It was small and dreary looking.
She staggered toward where she believed the windows would be but found there were none. Running a hand along the brick wall, she soon felt the outline of where once a window had been. It was now bricked up.
She took a few careful steps and confirmed that another window, on the other end of the room, had also been bricked up.
