Abi shook her head. ‘No, I don’t want there to be secrets and lies between us any more otherwise I will never be able to mention Grace. It will be as if she had never been here and I don’t want to forget her. One day, if I ever have other children, I want to be able to tell them about the big sister they never met .?.?. Can you understand that?’
With tears glistening on his lashes, he nodded. ‘Yes, I think I can. So, what are you going to do now?’
‘I’m going to see my aunt then I’m going home to make my peace with everyone and apologise.’
He gulped as he gently took her hand. ‘Do what you must. But just remember – if ever you want to take me up on my offer .?.?. I’ll be here waiting .?.?. for always.’
She stood on tiptoe and gently kissed his lips. ‘I’ll remember.’
Chapter Forty-Six
The sparse light that had struggled through the window in the cellar was now gone again and once more Emmy found herself in total darkness. All around her she could hear creatures scuttling across the floor and, taking deep breaths, she tried not to panic. She knew that this must be at least the second night she had been imprisoned there but the hours were running into one another and she had lost all sense of time. Her wrists were so sore now that she had stopped struggling; the blood where the rope had chafed her skin had dried and she felt weak from lack of food. She desperately wanted to use a toilet too and tears of humiliation began to course down her cheeks as she squirmed in her damp underclothes. And then she heard a sound upstairs. Someone was up there and she began to shout.
‘Help! .?.?. Help meplease! .?.?. I’m down here in the cellar.’
There was no response and her shoulders sagged. It sounded as if there was more than one person up there but if they had heard her, they were turning a deaf ear.
At last, when she had almost given up hope of Jasper ever returning, there was the sound of the door at the top of the steps opening and a shaft of dim light spilled into the dank room. She saw the flare of a match as someone paused to light a candle they had placed ready. As it wavered towards her, she saw that it was Jasper. He was holding a newspaper-wrapped parcel that smelt delicious and from his rucksack he produced a bottle of ginger beer.
‘I got us a pie,’ he informed her cheerily as if they were on a picnic.
‘I need to go to the toilet .?.?.now,’ she spat furiously and he instantly looked remorseful.
‘Oh yes, yes of course you must do by now.’ Without argument he came to stand behind her and undid the ties on her wrists, then he did the same with her ankles and she sighed with relief, although the pain in her arms when she straightened them was horrendous after being tied in one position for so long.
‘Where is it? The toilet?’ she demanded.
He waved towards a far corner of the cellar. ‘You can go over there.’ Seeing the look of horror on Emmy’s face, he grinned. ‘It’s all right. I won’t be able to see you from here.’
Knowing that she had no option, she tentatively picked her way across the filthy floor until she came to the far wall. As quickly as she could she lifted her skirts and relieved herself, keeping her back to him the whole time. When she returned, he had undone the food and placed the pie on the chair for her, but hungry as she was, she swiped it off with a single stroke.
‘I won’t eatanythingyou bring me,’ she snarled and turning she headed towards the cellar steps.
She had only taken a few paces when Jasper had her in a firm grip again and she began to struggle and kick out as he manoeuvred her back to the chair and slammed her into it.
‘I was hoping you’d have calmed down a bit by now,’ he grunted as he struggled to tie her again. It took every ounce of strength he had as she put up a fight but eventually, she was trussed again and she began to scream.
‘Carry on,’ he told her nonchalantly as he lifted the pie from the filthy floor where it had fallen and bit into it. ‘None of them up there will take any notice. They’re all off their heads with drink or opium.’
Emmy’s chin drooped to her chest and she began to cry, great heaving sobs that shook her body.
Clearly upset to see her so distressed, Jasper rose and began to pace up and down the room, his eyes wild. ‘It’s your own fault. You don’t think I like having to do this to you, do you?’ he said peevishly. ‘If you’d only calm down and see sense, you’d see what a wonderful life we could have together .?.?. look!’ Upending his rucksack, he let the money he had stolen from his father’s safe flutter to the ground like confetti at a wedding. ‘We’re rich; this could keep us for ages and we could go anywhere you like. Just name the place!’
Once again, she saw that strange gleam in his eyes and suddenly she realised what she must do if she were to have any chance of getting out of there. She had no doubt that her aunt would have a search party out looking for her by now but the chances of them finding her here were very remote.
‘I .?.?. I’m sorry, Jasper,’ she forced herself to say through her tears. ‘I didn’t realise we had so much money to give us a start. Perhaps we could make a go of it after all?’
‘What? Do you mean it?’ His face lit up.
She forced a smile and nodded. ‘Yes, I suppose I was just frightened of going so far away from everyone and everything that I know. I am .?.?. er, fond of you. But will you please untie me now? My wrists are so sore.’
‘Of course, my darling. And then I shall go straight to the docks and find out when the next ship out of here is leaving. The world is our oyster from now on and when we get wherever we’re going we’ll be married. Who cares about children, as long as we’re together.’
Once more the ties that bound her were undone and she rubbed at her wrists, making them bleed again.
He took her hands in his and stared down at them. ‘Oh, my poor love, look what I’ve done to you.’ He lowered his head and she cringed as his lips grazed her sore wrists but somehow, she managed to keep her smile in place. It was clear now that he was unhinged and living on his nerves and she knew that if she were to stand any chance of escaping, she must humour him.
‘You get off and find out when we can be on our way,’ she said encouragingly. ‘In fact, why don’t I come with you?’
