“I will make you pay,” she hissed. “I’d advise you to kill me, sir, for I shall do so to you if you do not!”
Perhaps not the right choice of words, but Dimity always went on the attack when she was vulnerable. Her vehemence startled him. His feet halted just inside the door, and the smile on his lips fell away. Realizing that of course her threats were empty, as she was tied up, he moved to stand beside the bed.
“Why have you done this?” Dimity snarled at him. She would show him no fear. “If you think to violate me, I will make you pay.”
She saw in his eyes he was not prepared for her fight. He’d thought she’d be cowed by the bonds at her hands and feet. She cowered before no man.
“Lovely though you are, I would never do that.”
“Then why have you done this?”
“I know you have a mark on your thigh, Miss Brown, and this was the last piece of evidence we needed.”
“You touched me?”
“We needed that confirmation.” His smile was strained.
“We?”
His eyes shot to the door. “I meant I.”
She lunged at him, making it to a standing position and grabbing his lapel. He yelped, which gave her little comfort, as in seconds she was flat on her face. She rolled onto her back.
“I’ll tell you why I have spent time making you trust me, Miss Brown!” He glared down at her. “I know your family… your real family, and they are going to pay me a great deal of money for your return. Plus, your earl will die to save you, and that will make him happy!”
“What are you talking about? Who are my family? What does the Earl of Raine have to do with this?”
“I have said enough. Only know that your life is worth little to him, so it would be in your best interests to behave, and then perhaps you may live.”
Dimity rolled several times until she reached him and sank her teeth into his leg. He shrieked and kicked her.
“Bitch!” He dragged her to her feet and pushed her onto the bed. His hand dug inside her bodice, and she felt a small sting as he took her locket with a sharp tug.
“This and that mark on your thigh will see that I have enough money for the rest of my life!” He spat the words. “And your precious earl will die, Miss Brown, and you will be forced to watch, I will ensure it now!”
“Leave him alone!”
He slammed the door behind him.
He knows my family. Is Gabriel’s life really in danger?
She lay there thinking about that for a while and could find no reason why Diard intended to harm him. Clearly there was someone else involved and Dimity did not have all the facts. She needed to do that, and fast. His boot had connected with her jaw, making it throb. But the pain was a reminder for her to stay strong.
“I’m not lying about here for however long it takes you to get what you want,” she whispered. If Gabriel was in danger, then it was up to her to warn him.
She reached down, attempting to undo the bonds at her ankles, but they were too tight. Patience was not a strong suit of Dimity’s, so she crawled to the only other piece of furniture, a chair beside a window, and looked below. There were only trees as far as she could see. Even if she could get the window open and her hands and feet free, she’d likely break her neck if she jumped.
There had to be a way to get out of here. The rattle of the door handle had her tensing; she was ready to attack Mr. Diard with whatever means she had at her disposal.
“I am not Diard, Miss Brown, so be warned if you bite me, I shall hurt you.”
“Mr. Allard!” Dimity wasn’t sure why she was shocked; he was after all Diard’s assistant. But the man had seemed so shy, almost withdrawn while at the duchess’s house.
He lowered the tray to his feet where he stood inside the door.
“As you managed to crawl to the window, you can do so to get your food. Whores do not mind being on their knees.”
Dimity could do nothing to stop the gasp.
