My apologies for missing a day without notice. Real life has bitten me in the butt, literally, and everywhere else. We've had an infestation of invisible biting mites, and it's like taking on a full time job trying to get rid of the darned things!
Brace yourselves, as this chapter gets mighty angsty!
xx Elise
~I~
Ruse
With less than a week to the wedding, Bella found herself torn between excitement that it was finally going to happen and anxiety over the public nature of the event. With Edward busy preparing for the upcoming antislavery vote, her father off visiting Penelope, and Emmett and Rosalie due to arrive at any moment, she was in desperate need of a distraction. Since baking wasn't an option, she hoped some sketching would help calm her nerves. But after her third failed attempt at achieving a reasonable likeness of the Cullen House cat, Bella threw down her pencil in disgust.
"You seem a little out of sorts." Esme's smile was sympathetic. "Would you like to accompany me and Alice on a shopping expedition?"
Bella hesitated to say yes, as there were only so many fripperies one could possibly need.
"We're visiting a bookstore," her future stepmother-in-law added, and Bella's reluctance disappeared.
Returning to the charity home several times since their first visit, she had discussed with Miss Wright ways in which she could be of more direct assistance. While females of the lower classes were almost never given the opportunity to learn to read and write, the charity home director was of the opinion a basic education could open up a world of opportunities for the girls, an opinion Bella shared. When young Seth, the kitchen-hand-cum-stable-boy who had defended her in the markets of Worthey, learned of Bella's intentions, he volunteered to be her first student. Since he was keen to better himself, and she was determined to develop her teaching skills, they made a good team.
When Esme sent word for Ben to bring the carriage around, Bella asked if Seth could accompany them. Twenty minutes later, they were ensconced in the bookstore, Bella with an eye to adding another Jane Austen novel to her collection once Seth had finished making his selection from amongst the children's books.
"Excuse me, Bella." Alice approached from where she had been studying the latest fashion journals. "There's a quaint little shop just two doors down that sells parasols and fans. Would you mind if Esme and I go take a look and meet you back here when we're finished?"
"Of course not. Take as long as you need."
With Seth engrossed in the pages of an illustrated copy of One Thousand and One Nights, Bella looked forward to exploring the shelves without interruption, or so she hoped. Recognised from the drawings of Edward and her that regularly appeared in the papers, she was having to adjust to being somewhat of a public figure, anonymity now a thing of the past. So, it was with a resigned sigh she turned to face the red-haired young woman, a commoner by her plain attire, who approached her a few moments after Alice and Esme departed.
"Are ye Lady Isabella?" The woman's gaze flitted from side to side. "The one the paper says is 'elping young girls wot need rescuin'?"
To Bella's dismay, word of her involvement with the charity had escaped after a canny reporter followed her to the home on one of her recent visits. The man had promised not to disclose the location of the home—having been threatened with dire consequences if the news was leaked and paid a generous bonus for his silence—but she couldn't help worrying.
"I am she." Bella stepped closer to the young woman. "Is there some way I can be of assistance?"
"It's me sister, my lady. She was taken by some men to work in one of them 'orrid places, but she managed to escape. She's 'urt real bad, and I'm afraid they're going to find 'er and take 'er wiv 'em again."
Bella's hand rose to her chest. "Where is your sister now?"
"Hidin' in the alley out back of the shop, my lady. I need yer to take 'er to one of 'em places wot keeps girls safe."
"How did you know where to find me?" It wasn't the first time someone had asked for help in response to the newspaper articles, but the others had approached the servants' entry at Cullen House.
"A friend of mine saw ye with the other ladies out the front of the shop and ran to tell me. I was tryin' to think 'ow to find ye before it was too late, knowin' the likes of me would never be granted an audience with a grand lady like yerself. It's like God answered me prayers."
Although Bella would have been glad to speak with her if she had come to the house, she could understand the young woman's apprehension. Convinced of her sincerity, she called for Seth, who put down his book.
"There's a young girl who needs our help waiting at the rear of this shop," she said. "Could you ask Ben to bring the carriage around to the alley to collect us, then go and tell Her Grace and Lady Alice we shall meet them out front in a few moments. I'm going to wait with . . ."
"Veronica. Me name's Veronica."
"I'm going to wait with Veronica and her sister."
"Why don't ye just bring the girl through the shop, my lady?" Seth eyed the woman warily.
"Because she's been hurt, and I don't want to draw attention to her plight."
The shopkeeper, while not wanting to offend a lady, was hesitant when she requested permission to pass through his living quarters. Bella chafed at the time it took to explain the situation, her thoughts with the injured child waiting frightened and alone in the alley.
"What's your sister's name?" she asked Veronica as they entered the dingy lane.
"Beth," she replied, grabbing hold of Bella's wrist and pulling her along.
"Where are we going?" Bella tried to prise the woman's fingers loose, but her grip was too tight. "I thought you said your sister was waiting behind the shop?"
"She's 'iding further down behind those rubbish bins."
Bella's alarm subsided, as she could only imagine how terrified the poor girl must be. But when they reached the bins, there was no one there. Glancing ahead, she caught sight of what looked like the rear of a vehicle protruding into the alleyway, her instincts belatedly warned her there was something amiss.
"Oh, look. There's yer carriage waitin' for us," Veronica said.
"No, it's not." Bella tried to pull away. "My driver couldn't have possibly arrived already. Let me go!"
"Not till I'm paid me doss," Veronica muttered, and Bella began to struggle in earnest.
"Help! Somebody he—" Her words were cut off when a man stepped out of the shadows and clamped his large, sweaty hand over her mouth.
"Ye be quiet, missy, or the master will 'urt ye bad." Her captor grabbed her around the middle, squeezing the air from her lungs. "Well, worse than 'e's already plannin'."
No match for the man's strength, Bella was soon bundled inside the carriage, landing heavily on her knees. The door slammed behind her, the shrouded carriage lurching into motion before she had a chance to get her bearings.
"Reunited at last, Lady Isabella."
A voice she had hoped never to hear again came out of the darkness, and Bella's blood ran cold.
"Lord Hunter?" She whimpered.
A match being struck sounded loudly, and a lantern attached to the wall illuminated his face. Scrambling backwards, Bella came up hard against the bench opposite before lunging for the door handle, crying out when she found it was locked.
"Oh, don't carry on so," Lord Hunter scolded. "The journey's not overly long, but you may as well make yourself comfortable . . . while you can."
With her heart racing, Bella rose shakily to take a seat. "What can you possibly hope to achieve by abducting me?" Huddling in the corner, she kept as far back as she could from the man who had already caused her so much misery.
"Let me see." He rubbed his chin. "I want revenge for all the trouble you have caused me, recompense for the fortune I was denied, and oh yes, your complete and abject ruin. Your father should not have rejected my offer of marriage. It was meant in quite good faith . . . well, other than the fact I was more interested in getting my hands on that priceless pearl necklace of yours, and whatever benefit I could gain from your illustrious heritage, than marriage to a little country miss. If the royal connections I suspected you possessed—rightly, it would seem—hadn't panned out, I planned to sell you on to one of my less gentlemanlike acquaintances. Oh, how droll." He laughed. "The outcome for you is much the same."
"You're insane," Bella whispered. "Lord Masen, my father, even the King . . . they will not rest until they've found me. You cannot possibly get away with this."
"I must beg to differ. Less than twenty-four hours from now, you'll have been smuggled out of the country and we'll both be on our way to meet our destinies, mine a life of ease and yours as a rich potentate's concubine or the star attraction in one of the more exclusive Oriental establishments. There are those who will pay a very pretty price for the privilege of bedding a sweet English rose, especially one who just happens to be cousin to our King. The novelty value alone will send the selling price through the roof, not to mention your glorious red hair."
Bella stared at him in horror.
"You can have my pearl necklace, and more. My mother brought a treasure trove of jewels with her from France. They're worth a fortune."
"So, I've heard." Hunter glared at her. "But I have no intention of being snared in a trap. You needn't worry about my financial well-being, Isabella. When I was forced to flee these shores—thanks to you—I stumbled upon some like-minded individuals and am now engaged in a very lucrative trade, one you're about to become all too familiar with. You're older than the other girls I have collected, but your unique status should more than make up for your advanced years."
A sob rose in Bella's chest, but she stifled it, silently praying for a miracle. She should never have gone into the alleyway alone, but Veronica had been so convincing.
A movement above Lord Hunter's head caught her attention, and she glanced up to see Seth had lifted the flap over the rear window of the carriage and was peering in at them. Her breath hitched, but her captor was too busy gloating about how easily she had been fooled to notice her reaction. Seth signalled Bella's silence with a finger to his lips, then he mimed plucking something from his wrist and letting it go before pointing to Bella's lap. While Hunter droned on, she brought her right hand to the pearl bracelet Edward had given her. The clasp had broken, catching in the sleeve of her pelisse, and she could feel by the gaps in the strand that a few pearls were missing. Blinking slowly, she acknowledged Seth's plan and carefully freed the remaining pearls, capturing them in her hand. Each precious bauble reminded her of Edward's love, giving her hope Hunter's plans would be thwarted. He would move Heaven and Earth to find her . . . she just prayed he wouldn't be too late.
The carriage lurched to a halt, and Hunter hauled her against his side, clasping a hand over her mouth.
"I considered drugging you," he murmured close to her ear, "or a blindfold, but you have no possible chance of escape, and I rather like the idea of you observing every single step along the path to your humiliation. Now be a good girl and don't struggle. We wouldn't want to bruise the merchandise . . . not yet, anyway."
With no chance of overpowering him, Bella pretended submission born of abject terror, a charade that took little effort on her part. Loosening her fingers, she dropped a couple of pearls as they alighted from the carriage and heard them skitter away. Lord Hunter took no notice of the faint sound, hurrying her towards the entrance of the building opposite. Before she could catch sight of more than brick walls in another dark alleyway, Bella was forced through a narrow doorway and up a flight of stairs. Pretending to stumble, she placed another pearl in a crevice next to the wall, accomplishing a similar feat at the top of the landing.
Cursing her clumsiness, Lord Hunter gripped her tightly around the middle, preventing her from leaving any more of a trail until they had made another turn. Taking a risk, she dropped a pearl, glancing over her shoulder to see it roll against the wall. After yet another turn, he stopped outside a doorway, and she quickly placed a pearl on the nearby windowsill, slumping against it while he unlocked the door. Once it was open, he shoved Bella inside, and she landed on the floor beside the large bed that dominated the cheerless room. No longer focused on attempting to leave a trail, she clutched the remaining pearls in her hand, her fear returning with a vengeance.
"Don't worry. I'm not planning on robbing you of your virtue . . . just yet." Her captor walked over and hauled her to her feet. "I shall await the doctor's verdict before making my final decision. Virgins collect the highest price, so if you're intact, the honour of your deflowering will be granted to your new master. He'll pay handsomely for the privilege, I assure you. But if, as is rumoured, your Lord Masen has already had the pleasure"—he chuckled evilly—"you can expect to spend the time from now until your sale pandering to my every desire. Actually, I think that's going to happen regardless, as there are ways around every obstacle."
Tears stung her eyes, but Bella refused to cry in front of him, raising her chin in what defiance she could muster.
"You will regret your actions this day, Lord Hunter."
The sound of his mocking laughter stayed with her after he had exited the room. Before Bella could attempt an escape, the door opened again, and Veronica entered, her features twisted with contempt.
"Yer to undress for the doctor," she ordered.
Bella refused, but her resistance was limited by her desire to keep her fist full of pearls in case they could be of use. Holding onto her dignity as best she could, she was left quivering with both cold and outrage, dressed only in her thin chemise.
"His Lordship wants me to leave ye in 'ere, but I don't see why ye should get a room to yerself." Veronica scowled. "Ye can wait with the other girls. Maybe ye can stop their bloomin' caterwaulin' . . . wot wiv ye bein' an angel of mercy an' all."
Bella went willingly, dropping a couple more pearls along the way. By the pitiful sounds of weeping, she knew when they had arrived at the room where the girls Lord Hunter had "collected" were being held, a burly-looking man standing guard outside.
"Ye sure the master wants 'er in wiv this lot?" he asked Veronica while eyeing Bella's barely clothed form.
"I'm 'is woman, regardless of all the others, and ye better remember that." Veronica clenched her fist at the guard who raised his hands.
" 'Or, right, 'or, right," he muttered, unlocking the door.
While they were distracted, Bella took the opportunity to drop a pearl, which landed a couple of inches from the edge of the door frame. Nudging it with her bare toes, she pushed it against the wall where it would hopefully be visible to a searching eye but not easily spotted. Once inside the room, she stumbled to a halt. A dozen or so girls, some little more than infants, sat huddled together on the floor of the cold, bare room. Uniformly pretty, they were all fair with varying shades of blond or red hair, some wearing clean dresses, while others were clothed in little more than rags.
"What sort of people are you?" Bella turned on her captors. "They're just little girls. Don't you know what's going to happen to them?"
The man shrugged and returned to his place outside the door, while Veronica laughed.
"Oh, I know all right. Same as wot 'appened to me when I was their age, and same as wot's goin' to 'appen to ye, miss 'igh and mighty. Now keep 'em quiet, or I'll send someone in to shut yers all up."
The door slammed behind her, leaving the shuttered room in semidarkness.
"Don't be afraid." Bella cautiously approached the weeping girls. "I'm not going to hurt you."
One of the older girls, though she was surely no more than eight or nine, stepped forward.
"Can ye get us out of 'ere, miss?" She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands. "Me mam's goin' to be so cross wiv me for gettin' took, but the man offered me and me sister a whole bag full of toffees."
Bella's mind reeled at the depths of Lord Hunter's depravity, but she tried to keep her horror from showing.
"I'm going to do my very best to get us all out of here," she said. "But I need you to be very brave, and you must be ready to run at a moment's notice."
"How ye gonna do that, miss? Get us out?"
Crouching down so she was at their eye level, Bella whispered, "Can you keep a secret?"
The girls nodded, their eyes like saucers.
"I hope to be rescued shortly by my betrothed, the Marquis of Masen. He's a very good man and will stop at nothing to find me."
Bella stifled a sob, the possibility he wouldn't arrive in time almost robbing her of breath.
"Does he know yer 'ere?" the first girl asked.
"No." Bella shivered. "But a young friend of mine followed me when I was taken, and I'm sure he's on his way to alert the authorities at this very moment. As soon as I'm rescued, I promise to come for you."
"Couldn't ye just stay wiv us?" A little urchin of not more than five or six stepped forward. "I don't feel so scared wiv ye 'ere, miss."
"I would love to stay with you, but I fear the men will come to collect me soon. Whatever happens, I want you to be very brave and take care of one another. I'll be back for you as quickly as I can. In the meantime, I have a special gift for you."
Smiling to mask her fear, Bella showed the girls the remaining pearls, passing out one apiece to the frightened but now curious girls.
"If Lord Masen or his friend, Lord Whitlock, should come looking for me, you can show them the pearls and they'll know I was here." To the older girl, Bella added in a quiet aside, "If someone comes to rescue me, let them know I have left a trail of pearls in the corridor. It will help them know where to find me."
"Ye will come back for us?" Tears welled in the girl's eyes.
"I shall do my very best." She gathered them all close for a quick hug, her heart sinking when she heard the door open.
"How touching," Lord Hunter drawled. "Now get over here, Isabella."
Not wanting him to harm the girls, she obeyed without hesitation.
"What the hell was Veronica thinking bringing you here?" He grabbed hold of her arm. "With that hair, you're far too recognisable. I'll have to take you the back way."
Bella had hoped to drop her few remaining pearls where they might be spotted, but Lord Hunter took her through a different door at the back of the room. Locking it behind him, he dragged her with him down a narrow corridor that led to the room where Veronica had stripped her of her coat and gown. Two men were waiting inside, one short and balding, dressed in an ill-fitting suit, and the other . . . Lord Edgeley.
"You!" Bella recoiled in horror.
Without preamble, Edgeley walked up and slapped her across the face.
"That's for costing me Lady Alice's dowry," he snarled while Bella cradled her stinging cheek. "A damned maid, and Masen valued your virtue over the wishes of a friend. I bet he knew all along who you were, though why he wants to marry you after you behaved like a trollop is beyond me."
"I'd say that's exactly why." Hunter laughed.
"The fool shouldn't have threatened me," Edgeley continued. "And he should have kept paying. If your protector wasn't such an arrogant sod, thinking he could get the better of me because he's a marquis while I'm only a baron, I would have left the arrangement in place. It was a nice little earner, but he had to rock the boat, and now I'll be exacting payment out of your pretty hide instead."
"I don't know what you are talking about," Bella said, her heart in her throat. "But if it's money you are after, Edward would pay a king's ransom for my return, as would my father."
"She has a point." Edgeley turned to Hunter, his eyes shining with greed.
"We've been over this," the older man snapped. "The risk is too great. You might not value your neck, but I have no desire to have mine stretched. Don't worry. We'll make a fortune on her sale as well as having some fun beforehand, whatever the verdict. You have given me all sorts of ideas with that slap."
Picking Bella up, Hunter threw her onto the bed. As soon as she landed, she scrambled to the far side, but Edgeley grabbed hold of her ankle and wrenched her back, holding her legs while Hunter stretched her arms above her head and tied her wrists to the headboard, pulling the rope tight.
"Leave me alone!" she yelled, earning another slap.
With tears blinding her eyes, Bella watched the doctor approach, her breath coming in harsh pants. She'd intended to be brave, to endure whatever they did to her with stoicism while focusing on being rescued, on being reunited with Edward. But with the feel of her attackers' hands on her body, fear and revulsion overwhelmed her.
"Please, don't do this" she heard herself beg, knowing her words were futile.
"Silence!" Edgeley squeezed Bella's leg so tightly she cried out in pain.
"Don't bruise her too badly," Hunter ordered. "And as for her making noise, I'm rather looking forward to the sound of her screams."
The doctor, who'd made no comment and done naught to help her, caught hold of the hem of her chemise and began to lift it higher. With the two lords leering down at her, Bella closed her eyes and tried to picture Edward's face.
~I~
This is a truly evil cliffie, probably the worst one I've ever written! So, I'm off to have pizza and watch a movie with hubby . . . and then I'll be back to post the next chapter. Waiting a whole day is too much to ask of anyone!
xx Elise
