She couldn’t place his voice. Gruff. But then he was likely doing that so she didn’t recognize him.
“Now, you’ll forgive me for this, but needs must I’m afraid.”
“What are you—”
“We can’t have you taking in your surroundings,” he said, pressing a blindfold to her eyes. She couldn’t stop him, as her wrists were bound before her. Her wits may be slow, but her feet still worked. Evie lashed out with one and heard a satisfying grunt.
“Bitch!”
“Quiet!” a second voice said.
She was dragged out of the carriage and thrown over a shoulder. Then jostled as he walked. Nausea roiled around in her belly, and she could do nothing to stop the retching.
“Keep walking,” a voice said.
“She’s emptying her stomach down my back!”
Evie kept retching. She loathed being sick, but right then was rather happy to be doing so all over this horrid man.
She wasn’t sure how long they walked, but it felt like at least an hour. Finally, Evie heard a sound, like a bolt being opened, and then the squeak of hinges. More walking and then another bolt, and soon Evie felt herself falling. She landed with a thud on something hard. Someone then wrenched the blindfold from her eyes. Leaping to her feet, Evie struck out with her bound hands. Raising them, she connected with the man’s jaw, sending him backward. Unfortunately, he stumbled back out through the open door.
“Close it!”
It slammed, and she heard someone secure the bolt.
Evie slammed her fists on the wood, which only resulted in them hurting and the door remaining shut.
“Damn you!” she roared. No one answered.
Her head felt clearer now, and her belly less queasy, likely due to the fact it had nothing in it, but the desperation clawed at her throat.
She had to get out of here, and back to Prue and their father.And Anthony.
Taking in her surroundings, Evie walked around the room. A narrow bed with a thick green coverlet. There was a dressing table with a hairbrush and ewer on top. A narrow wooden chair was pushed up to it.
Moving closer, Evie plunged her face into the water. The cold was a shock, but she needed that. Rising, she grabbed the drying cloth and blotted her face.Where was she?
There was a folded pile of clothing on a chair, and several shawls thrown over the back of it.
What was this place, and why did they bring her here?
Light coming through the window told her it was daylight, so she must have been in that carriage for some time. Evie sawnothing but the sea below her. The Hampton estate had been a three-hour trip by carriage to the sea. For those interested, there was a trip planned there for tomorrow. Prue had been so excited.
Evie pressed a hand to her mouth as she felt an overwhelming need to sit on the bed and weep. But there was no time for that now. She would give in to that later, when she had escaped.
Did anyone know by now that she was missing?
Anthony.
“No. I will not think about that cowardly man,” she said. But the pain of last night nearly dropped her to her knees. He’d touched her like she meant something to him. Held her as if she was made from spun glass and then pushed her away.
Damn you for a coward, Lord Hamilton.
The last words they’d spoken to each other were angry and hurtful. He would have to live with that, as would she… for as long as these people allowed her to.
No!
Even if Anthony was not brave enough to love her, she needed to survive this for Prue and their father. They relied on her, and she would not let them down. Her focus had to be on them.
