She blinked back tears. “No, I’ll not go! I’ve worried sick and will not now?—”
“Gerald!” He barked, the butler snorting awake. “Take her away. I want her gone.Now.”
And Gerald, standing quickly, took Elizabeth in hand to drag her from the room.
“Why are you doing this? Gerald, let me go! Why do you not wish to see me? Jasper, I wish only to?—”
But he averted his gaze, refusing even to look at her, as Gerald ushered her back to her chamber and locked the adjoining door behind him.
Elizabeth stood alone in the middle of her bedroom.
Her husband did not want her. Had he ever?
Naked and chained, like a dog on a leash. Worse. Treated worse than a bloody dog.
Milton brutally berated himself for walking straight into Finch’s trap. He’d grown soft in wealth and foolish at that—a fool, as well, to think marriage to a blueblood might achieve a blasted thing. He’d endangered his wife, her sister, and Ginny. Three women at Finch’s bleak mercy all because of him.Fuck!
He strained at his irons until the shackles bit his wrists.
“Feels like home, don’t it, Jasp?” Finch’s voice rang out in the cave’s echoing darkness. “Like y’ never left, eh?’Cause y’ ne’er did, boy. An’ now, thanks t’ you, I’ll have meself a fine wife, with yer own fine missus to do me every biddin’.”
His laugh sent a shudder down Milton’s taut spine before that voice hissed sudden and low in Milton’s left ear. “I couldn’t ask fer a better whippin’ boy, Jasp. Missed yer somethin’ awful when y’ left. Though y’ didn’t leave politely, didya, lad? Y’ left me fer dead.”
The slow drag of Finch’s blade dripped blood down Milton’s hip. He knew this course of torture, knew exactly how Finch toyed with flesh. He prayed for death. Harris would marry Bella, and Li would counsel Elizabeth as his widow, ensuring Ginny and the rest of staff remained employed, secure. He wasn’t needed. He’d failed them enough.
“Jasper…” Finch’s lips brushed his ear, the man’s breath hot as hellfire. “Where’d y’ go, boy? I want yer here, with me. ’Tis what makes this so delightful. Remember all the good times we two had? Remember how y’ screamed so loud y’ begged me fer a gag?”
Milton panicked like a child. Anything but?—
Too late, a stale rag was shoved into his mouth and knotted tight behind his head. He thrashed and strained and?—
“Jasp!” A hand shook Milton’s arm, puncturing the scene. “Jasper, you’re dreamin’. Wake!”
Milton’s eyes flew open to Gerald’s concerned face.
“’Twas but a dream. You’re safe, lad. Safe.”
Sweat poured down Milton’s cheeks, or were they tears instead? He lifted his hands to his face and saw they shook.
“Rest now. Go on, sleep.”
“Gerald, how long have I been sleeping?”
“Drink this.”
Milton took one sip of the bittersweet liquid and thrust the glass back. “No laudanum, damn you! I do not wish to sleep!”
His butler frowned but set aside the glass.
“Don’t let her see me like this.”
Tears. Bloody tears streamed uncontrolled down his face.
“I couldn’t bear it, do you hear me? Keep her away, Gerald. Whatever it takes, keep her out.”
Death would be a better fate.
Annabelle shivered beneath the bedclothes, terrified to be alone with her thoughts. Arthur had tucked her into bed atThe Leafafter shooing Janie’s curious self out—You’ll get yer missing frock back, woman, off with you now,’tis late!—butthe specter of Finch, gutted by her own hand, ate at her conscience.
