She turned to Livy. “And she wants your dowry for Lord Curston, Livy, for he and his son are very expensive, too. I think they gamble a lot. Mama, too. Uncle Horace told her he will pay for her servants and her clothes, but not for her card parties.”
Tears filled Beryl’s eyes. “She says they are debts of honor, and she has had to borrow to pay them. If she does not pay the loan people, we will be out on the streets. I don’t want to be out on the streets, Livy, Cilla. Where would we sleep? Where would we keep our gowns?”
Beryl had no idea, obviously. If Livy could have spoken, she would have told her that she and her sisters, without Pa’s help, would be working for a living—as governesses, perhaps. Of very young children, for none of the three had much of an education. Working in a respectable position, and fighting of the advances of an employer or an employer’s son. Or worse. Working in a non-respectable position, where accepting advances was part of the job.
Gentle Cilla was instead explaining that, even if Pa withdrew his support from Aunt Ginny, as he had from Jasper, he would continue to keep his nieces fed, clothed, and housed. “It is foolish, what your brother is doing,” she pointed out. “He won’t get his hands on my dowry by forcing me to the altar. I am not of age, so the marriage is invalid even if I consented, and I do not. Anyway, without Papa’s consent, he is under no obligation to pay the dowry to my husband or to Livy’s, for that matter.”
Beryl shook her head. “Mama said he will have to pay the dowry, once people know that you and Jasper have been alone together. For days!”
And nights.Livy shuddered.
“He will not do it,” said Cilla, firmly. “Not to mention that, if for some reason I am unsuccessful in getting the marriageannulled, I shall very likely finish up smothering my unwanted husband with a pillow. I know he is your brother, Beryl, but I really do not like him.”
Perhaps not so gentle Cilla, then. Livy heartily approved of the sentiment.
“Oh dear,” said Beryl.
“Can we count on your help, Beryl?” Cilla insisted, “Or must we fight you as well as those two villains?”
“Oh dear,” Beryl said again. “Oh, very well then. Yes, Cilla. You and Livy can count on me.”
Not, Livy thought,without our eyes wide open. Beryl had always been the most suggestible of their cousins, and she was frightened of her mother and brother both.
“You and Livy can count on me” lasted until the carriage stopped outside a little cottage surrounded by trees. Jasper untied Beryl so she could walk. The coachman, another servant who appeared to be Curston’s valet, and the fifth man, who was obviously a groom, were sent off to rooms above the stables. Jasper and Curston carried the sisters inside.
“Beryl, you can have the cook’s room,” Jasper said. “It is off the kitchen. There are only two other bedchambers.”
“Can I not share one of them with Livy and Cilla, while you and Lord Curston share the other?” Beryl asked.
Jasper rolled his eyes. “I am sharing with Cilla, and Curston is sharing with Livy, you silly girl.”
“Cilla says she will not marry you, and that her father will not give you her dowry even if she does,” Beryl reported. “She said if she cannot get an annulment, she will smother you with your pillow.”
If looks could set one on fire, Cilla would have gone up in smoke from the glare that Jasper shot at her. “Youshallmarry me, Lucilla Wintergreen. If you do not, you will be ruined. You will have to retreat from Society, and everyone will shun you.You’ll never find a decent husband. As for your father, Mama says he will not wish to see you living in poverty. He will have to give me your dowry, or you will suffer.”
Cilla snorted. “Do you think I care what a lot of spoilt aristocrats think?” she said. “As for a decent husband, Jasper, do you think you will be one? For I do not. You are a spoilt brat with no talents or self-control, who only wants his own way.”
“Why, you…!” Jasper took an angry step toward the couch on which he had deposited Cilla, but hitting a bound woman was apparently a step too far, even for him.
“Lock your sister in her room and let’s get to it,” Curston said. “The sooner they have no choice, the better.”
“You can bed me,” Cilla commented. “You are stronger than I am and you can force me. But you cannot force me to consent to marriage with you. Perhaps I shall suffer, Jasper, as you say. But you are facing hurt that you have never conceived. And this applies to you, Curston, too. Force us, and my father shall destroy you. The Sanderson brothers, too, shall not cease until they have taken everything from you, and you are forced to dress in rags and beg in the streets.”
“Gag her again,” Curston advised. “I certainly do not plan to take Olivia’s gag off. Indeed, I daresay she would like to unman me with her knees, so I shall tie her to the bed. In fact, if you want to help me tie Olivia, I’ll help you tie Lucilla.”
A spark of unholy excitement lit his eyes as he made the proposal. He clearly liked the idea of making Livy immobile, unable to resist, unable even to participate.
“That is horrible,” said Beryl. “Jasper, you mustn’t. It is wicked.”
“Shut up, Beryl,” Jasper told her. “You should not even be here.”
“I need to use the chamber pot,” Cilla announced. “Livy? Do you need to use the chamber pot?”
Livy nodded. Delay. That was the best bet. Give any pursuers time to catch up.If they are coming. If they have not lost our trail.
No.She must not let herself despair. Hold on to anger. Delay as much as she could. Besides, she reallydidneed to use the chamber pot.
There followed an unpleasant interlude. Curston refused to allow their arms to be untied or for any of the women to leave the room. Jasper baulked at either man attending the ladies in such an intimate task. So Jasper had Beryl untie Cilla’s legs, and hold the chamber pot for her, while arranging her gown to protect her from the men’s view—Beryl told the men that they must turn their backs, and Jasper did, but Curston leered until Jasper noticed and punched his arm.
