He chuckled and did as she requested. “All right, my dear Rissa. So now what are you going to do?”
She didn’t speak, but he heard the rustle of her dress and light footsteps moving close by. Then another sound came. He was sure he was wrong, but it sounded like chains.
Within seconds, cold steel slid around each wrist. Panicked, he jumped and tried to move out of them, but she clamped them hard in a lock. He gasped and looked at her, then moved his focus to his arms. Each wrist had a thick band of steel wrapped around them, hooked to chains that connected to the wall.
His heart sank. What had she done? Was she insane?
“What’s this?” He yanked his hands, but the chains wouldn’t budge from the wall.
He swung his gaze back to Clarissa. No longer did she wear a beautiful, playful expression. Instead, she glared at him in the same disturbing manner she’d done earlier today. He was peering into the face of a woman he didn’t know. How could he talk to her when she was in this condition? But more importantly, would he be able to talk her into releasing him?
“Clarissa? What is the meaning of this? Take these things off me now!”
She gave him a pathetic smile and shook her head. “I can’t, Ryder. You are now my prisoner.”
TEN
Clarissa couldn’t bemore pleased. Her plans had gone smoothly, and she had Ryder exactly where she wanted him.
“What do you meanI’m your prisoner?” he huffed.
“Well you see,” she shrugged and moved away from him to the only window in the tower, “I couldn’t have you around bothering me any longer, so I decided to bring you here and lock you up.”
“Bothering you?” His voice rose. “Why would you think I was bothering you?”
She scowled and folded her arms. He couldn’t be serious! He knew very well he was bothering her. “You are trying to stop me from falling in love with Prince Ormond. I just don’t know why you want me to be unhappy. Can’t you see that Prince Ormond makes me happy?”
He shook his head. “Clarissa, you don’t understand. You’re really not in love with him. You’re under a spell—”
She gasped. “How dare you tell me I don’t know my own feelings! Of course I’m in love with him. Do you think I’d want to marry him otherwise? You know I didn’t want to get married in the first place, but now that I’ve found him, I cannot figure out why you and my parents can’t see what I see.”
Ryder’s jaw tightened and he seemed to be breathing through his nose...slowly. That’s how she usually controlled her temper, too. Ryder really was attractive.No.Clarissa shook her head to clear those thoughts. No matter what tactic he tried, she just needed to remain strong and not let him sway her. She was doing the right thing by keeping him here. He’d only be in the tower until after she and Prince Ormond were married. And it’s not like she’d starve him. She’d bring him food—and books to read—during his stay. So it wouldn’t be like a prison. Not really.
“Clarissa, I’m sure you are in love with him; however, I learned some information tonight that you might find very interesting.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Is it about Prince Ormond?”
