“You will behave likethe lady you are.You willrepresent the House of Derryman withchastityanddecorum.You will not cause scandalto my House.And you will treat your fatherwith respect.”
His fingers bit in deeper and his despicable face gotcloser.
“Remember, I can reward your mother, Maxine, or I can punishher.It’s your choice.Choose wisely,” he spat, literally, his words landingdots of spittle on my face.
He let me go so roughly, I flew back into the vanity, theedge of it digging into my spine, and I heard at least one lovely bottle crashto the floor.
“I’ll have a tray sent up, aspareone.You carrytoomuch weight.A man wishes to bed a graceful doe, not a chargingheifer.And I will tell the duke and his son that you, sadly, will not be able to gracetheir table tonight, you’ve caught a chill.”
You’ve caught a chill.
I felt his presence move away.
You’ve caught a chill.
Emeralds scattered over a coffee table.
Don’t worry about me, baby,Mom, eyes wild,pretending to have it together, whispered through the bars at me,Keepyourself safe.
“She’s had a tumble, bring her a cold compress, or a pieceof meat,” Edgar ordered someone.
“Of course, milord,” Idina breathed apprehensively.
I will settle a curse on you and your mother, a bittercurse so powerful, you’ll rue the day the words left your lips.
I reached out, curling my gloved fingers around the edge ofthe vanity, feeling the soft satin encasing my skin, as well as the harsh burnenflaming my cheekbone.
Woodenly, I turned to face myself in the mirror and reachedfor the top of a pile of crisp, ironed linens that sat in a sterling silverbed, what passed for tissues in this world.
I dabbed at small spots of spittle on my face.
My father was a liar and a cheat, but he’d not once hit me.
Mom either.
I’d never been struck in my entire life.
I set the linen down and reached for the powder puff,carefully righting Idina’s artistry.
Do not fear, Countess, I’m changing my mind about themanner in which I’ll allow you to address me.
I had to have sex with him.
I sensed I would enjoy this.
I also sensed, once I was gone, he’d know me as nothing buta woman who used him, then threw him away.
I had nothing.No money.I didn’t even know where the hell Iwas.I didn’t know how to drive a carriage.I’d been on a horse exactly once inmy entire life, on a docile trail ride in a state park on a date with aboyfriend.I didn’t even know the name of the city we left three days ago, muchless how to find my way back there.
My mother was eatinggruel.
“Countess, come to bed, let’s get this on that cheek,” Idinaurged from my side.
I turned my head and stared at the large slab of red beefheld on a coarse piece of paper in her hand.
It felt like I’d sat theremeremoments, but while I did she’d been down to the kitchen and back up.
“I don’t want meat on my face,” I said tremulously.
