Page 38 of A Marriage of Necessity

She looked at Matthew, who nodded toward the light. Anne nodded acknowledgement and they crept to the door. She knocked lightly. Silence followed. With a deep breath, she grasped the knob and slowly twisted it. To her surprise, the knob turned. Why would they leave the door unlocked if they were keeping the girl prisoner? If Rose had lied—or if Matthew had lied—then she was making a huge mistake by being here.

Her hand shook, but she forced calm and eased the door open. First, she caught sight of a table and two chairs that sat before a hearth wherein a low fire burned. A tea pot and two cups sat on the table, along with a sugar bowl and cream. No one cried out, and Anne stepped into the room. To the left, sat a fourposter bed. A young woman lay in the bed, the blankets pulled up beneath her arms.

“Excuse me,” Anne called, but the girl didn’t reply.

Anne whispered to Matthew, “This is a lady’s room. You remain here while I wake her.”

Thankfully, he nodded agreement this time. She crossed to the bed and drew a sharp breath at sight of the bruise on the girl’s cheek. Matthew hadn’t lied. Anne set her taper on the nightstand, then grasped the girl’s shoulder and gently shook her.

The girl’s eyes fluttered open and her brow knit. “Rebecca?” The word was slurred, as if she had ingested laudanum.

Anger shot through Anne. Here was the reason they hadn’t locked the door. The girl couldn’t stand, much less escape.

“I am Kennedy’s wife,” Anne said.

Her frown deepened. “Kennedy? Is he here?” A tear slid down the side of her face.

Anne’s heart constricted. “Can you tell me what has happened?”

Rose squeezed her eyes closed and more tears fell.

“Are you being held against your will?”

Her eyes shot open. “Rebecca will return and she will be angry.”

“Shh, I am here,” Anne soothed. “You have nothing to fear.” Anne wasn’t at all certain that was true.

Rose began to whimper.

“Matthew,” Anne called, “bring me a cup of that tea on the table.”

While he did as she ordered, Anne pulled the covers back, swung Rose’s legs off the side of the bed and pulled her into a sitting position. Matthew appeared with the tea.

“I’ll hold her upright while you get her to drink the tea,” Anne said.

He complied, and they forced half the tea down her throat before Rose twisted her head aside.

“Come on, love,” Anne coaxed, “drink more.”

They got another couple of good swallows into her with the rest dribbling down her chin. Anne had no idea how much laudanum this Rebecca had given her, but she gave thanks that wasn’t enough for the girl to be unconscious. She had seen people given enough laudanum that they didn’t wake for twelve hours.

Anne grasped Rose’s chin, forcing the girl to look at her. “Can you walk?”

Her brow knit as if she were trying to understand Anne’s words.

“Do you want to leave this place?” Anne asked.

Understanding lit her clouded eyes and she nodded.

“Good.” Anne whipped off her cloak and swung it around Rose’s shoulders, then fastened the clasp. “Come on, let’s see if you can stand.”

Anne pulled her to her feet. Rose swayed. Anne feared she would topple back onto the bed. Matthew grasped her arm and steadied her. The lad had been more right than Anne realized. She needed his help—Rose needed him. She was thankful when he slipped an arm around Rose’s waist and took most of her weight. Anne picked up the taper and they walked with her across the room and out into the hall. How would they get her down the stairs without all of them falling and breaking their necks?

Anne came to an abrupt halt at the sound of approaching footfalls behind them. She twisted and looked over her shoulder. Light flickered around the bend up ahead and a woman rounded the corner in the next instant. She took three steps before seeing them, then shrieked and tossed her candle aside as she raced toward them.

Anne faced forward. They were too far from the stairs to have any chance of outrunning her. “Matthew, can you get Rose safely down the stairs?”

“Aye, my lady. I am very strong.”