Chapter Eight
A week had passed since their return to Geneva, and Joey hadn't seen Jacob at all. She was worried silly, and still didn't have a solid plan about breaking him out of his cell. Although the welcoming party was tomorrow night, she couldn't keep her thoughts together.
"I wish to see the filthy prisoner. Now." She barked to the prison guards.
"But my..." one of them began.
"Do not but me, Now please unlock the cell and let me in. the creature is chained up, and believe me I can very well handle him." Joey cut off.
The guard gulped and opened the large wooden door that led into the cell. Joey walked in and the door closed behind her. When she heard it lock she turned her gaze, to Jacob who was sitting on the floor, with his wrists chained together above his head.
"Oh Jacob." She whispered and hurried to kneel beside him. She lifted his face and stared at him. There were deep purple bags under his eyes, bruises on his cheeks, but his eyes were remarkably green. He smiled weakly at her and tried to speak, but the pain in his ribs prevented him from doing so.
"Don't speak. They beat you didn't they?" she asked, not really needing an answer for she knew full well that they did.
"You know," he began, gruntingly, "you're a tough woman to get a hold of." He joked.
"Shut up." She replied and kissed him softly. "Now you bastard, you will truly know the meaning of pain. I do so long to see you dead. I hope that you enjoy hell!" she yelled. She kissed him once more, quickly, and rose.
She pounded on the door and was let out. She made her way back in to the upper chambers of her castle, and into her library. She sat down and gazed at the documents in front of her. So long had she worked to find him, the very man she hated, turned out to be the very man she loved.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in." she said and looked up. A dark brooding man with handsome features entered. She remembered him form the night of her rescue but never got a chance to talk to him. "Please be seated." She said motioning to one of the chairs in front of her desk.
The man sat and leaned forward. "My name is Brent Lackey, I was one of the men who helped rescue you from that bastard. I was hoping that I would get the opportunity to meet you in person."
Joey smiled. "Was it you that I punched?" she asked looking at his slightly bruised jaw.
"Yes my lady. Not that I blame you one bit, you were rather drunk, and if I were in your shoes, well I would have punched myself to." He replied with a small smile.
"Well I thank you for your efforts, no doubt my father will be singing your praises for the rest of his days."
"I must say that I was told about your friend, Lady Livisay, and I am quite sorry about what happened. I made it one of my personal goals to get the bloody bastard and bring him to justice." He added. To Joey's relief, there was no pain at the mention of Lauren. During her weeks with Jacob, she had put that ghost to rest. "It is all right. Her death is nobody's fault. I do not blame him for it. Not anymore." She said then quickly regretted what she said.
"You care for him?" Brent asked.
Joey thrust up her chin, "I do. I respect him very much, and admit that he is the man who has broken me. I trust that you will keep this bit of information to yourself." She said with a touch of warning to her voice.
"I will, you may not doubt that. But I do wonder as to what you are going to do about his upcoming trial and hanging."
"I do not know yet, my plan still has some flaws, but I always accept help if offered." She replied raising an eyebrow in question.
Brent smiled at the young woman before him, she was a spirited one. Passionate, ruthless, and very smart, he thought. He didn't know why, but he felt an urge to help this person. "I am at your service, my lady." He said, bowing his head.
Joey smiled. "Thank you. First off, I would like to know if you have any friends who would be willing to help out?"
"Unfortunately no. I really haven't trusted anyone. But I know that Lord Terence would help us." He replied.
"Yes I know that as well, but, it's getting a solid plan that I worry about more." She said propping her elbows on her desk.
"Well, let us plan away shall we." He replied leaning back in his chair and crossing his ankles.
Two nights passed and it was soon the night of the Joey's welcoming ball. She dressed in a beautiful gold gown that revealed her back. It had ties that laced down her back and flowed to the floor, swaying as she walked. Her hair was pulled up and curls spilled down onto her shoulders. Tonight, she thought, was the night she would get Jacob out of here.
"You look absolutely lovely. What jewelry do you want to wear?" her maid Polly asked, walking to her vanity.
"The gold bracelet and my grandmothers ring." She replied.
When everything was right, she walked downstairs. The guests had already arrived and she was announced into the ballroom. All conversation stopped, and everyone turned and stared at her. With a graceful wave, everyone resumed conversation. She stepped down the stairs and was immediately drawn into conversation. She looked about the room and saw Brent with Terence.
After a few moments of tolerating Lady Dodgfry's boring jokes, and monotone voice, she mad her way over to Brent and Terence.
"How are you gentlemen enjoying the party?" she asked with a sweet smile on her face.
"We are having a wonderful time. I hope you are as well." Terence replied bowing.
Joey nodded her head, "I am." She paused and looked around a smile still plastered on her face. "Is everything ready?" she asked.
"Yes my lady, we just await your signal." Brent answered.
"Alright, go now. I bid a farewell to both of you, I hope that you enjoy Sicily. Please send word of your arrival Terence you know how I fret." She said and hugged him. She pulled away and held his hand. He felt a piece of cold metal against his hand and smiled. He kissed he cheek lightly and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"And you Brent, take care my best friend. And enjoy Sicily, there are many adventures that abound there." She added and hugged Brent. She slipped a key into his pocket and smiled. "Shall I escort you two out?" she asked.
Brent stuffed his hands into his pockets also and felt the key. "No my lady, this is your party after all. Goodbye." Brent replied.
Terence and Brent made their way through the crowd and outside. Joey watched them walk through the entrance hall and turned back to listen to more gossip.
"We'll go around through the back entrance, everyone will be to busy to notice us." Terence said as they creeped around the side of the castle.
"I'm surprised there aren't any guards. The place should be swarming with them." Brent replied looking around for anything out of the ordinary.
"You'd be surprised. Edward really hasn't used any of his guards, plus even if he did, they would all be drunk and sleeping by now." He replied as they neared a closed door.
"I hope Joey did all that was required to do." Brent said as they opened the door.
"Don't worry, she did. She probably went above and beyond our expectations." Terence replied.
Brent shut the door, and looked around the dark room. It was a storage room, lined with shelves of food and linens. He followed Terence out and down a dark corridor. They made their way down a spiral corridor of stairs. There were torches held up on the walls, lighting their way down. Terence paused and listened for voices. There were none.
"Silent as a tomb," Brent said, "I hope that it stays this quiet." he added.
They stepped off the stairs and looked down at the sleeping guards on the floor. There were at least five of them, snoring loudly, stretched out everywhere. Terence tiptoed over them and looked in each cell until he found Jacob's.
"Right here." He said and motioned for Brent to come to him. He pulled his key that Joey had given him from his pocket and stuck it into the keyhole. The rusty latch opened and he pulled the door open.
Brent followed him into the cell and they found Jacob sleeping, with his arms secured above his head. Terence walked over to him and shook him gently.
"Jacob," he whispered, "Hurry up and wake up!"
Jacob opened his eyes and could barely make out the two men standing in front of him. "What?" he said groggily.
"We are here to get you out now shut up and just do as we tell you ok?" Brent said as he pulled his key from his pocket. He unlocked the bindings that secured Jacobs wrists, and set them quietly on the floor.
Brent helped Jacob up and they made their way out of the cell. Terence looked at the guards and asked, "Why don't we lock them up?" a devilish grin on his face.
Jacob shrugged his shoulders, "Why not?"
"Joey probably put enough drugs in their wine to keep them out for a week." Terence added as they pulled the guards into the cell.
When all five guards were inside, Terence closed the door and locked it. He slipped the key into his pocket and they made their way out. He stopped them at the foot of the staircase and waited.
"What are we waiting for?" Jacob whispered.
"Joe's signal, should be coming any minute." He answered.
Not less than ten seconds later there was a loud scream and a thud. Terence turned and smiled then quickly ran through the corridor and out the side door, Jacob and Brent at his heels.
Joey screamed loudly before collapsing in a heap at Brett Mathew's feet. All had done was dance with her, he told himself. Before he knew it, there was a rush of people around him pushing and shoving to see what had happened.
"What the hell happened?" the king asked making his way to the group.
He saw his daughter on the floor and he paled. He looked up and roared for everyone to get back. He dropped to his knees and lifted Joey. He shook her gently and her eyes fluttered open. "Joe, sweetheart, are you ok?" he asked.
She nodded dumbly. "Yes papa, I guess I was out of breath, forgive me." She said her eyes blinking innocently.
Edward smiled and pulled her to her feet. "All is forgiven, love. Now why don't you sit down and relax for a minute, you have been through much excitement and I don't want you to hurt or over extenuate yourself." He said, leading her to a couch, next to the dance floor.
"Thank you father." She replied and smiled innocently at him.
A week had passed since their return to Geneva, and Joey hadn't seen Jacob at all. She was worried silly, and still didn't have a solid plan about breaking him out of his cell. Although the welcoming party was tomorrow night, she couldn't keep her thoughts together.
"I wish to see the filthy prisoner. Now." She barked to the prison guards.
"But my..." one of them began.
"Do not but me, Now please unlock the cell and let me in. the creature is chained up, and believe me I can very well handle him." Joey cut off.
The guard gulped and opened the large wooden door that led into the cell. Joey walked in and the door closed behind her. When she heard it lock she turned her gaze, to Jacob who was sitting on the floor, with his wrists chained together above his head.
"Oh Jacob." She whispered and hurried to kneel beside him. She lifted his face and stared at him. There were deep purple bags under his eyes, bruises on his cheeks, but his eyes were remarkably green. He smiled weakly at her and tried to speak, but the pain in his ribs prevented him from doing so.
"Don't speak. They beat you didn't they?" she asked, not really needing an answer for she knew full well that they did.
"You know," he began, gruntingly, "you're a tough woman to get a hold of." He joked.
"Shut up." She replied and kissed him softly. "Now you bastard, you will truly know the meaning of pain. I do so long to see you dead. I hope that you enjoy hell!" she yelled. She kissed him once more, quickly, and rose.
She pounded on the door and was let out. She made her way back in to the upper chambers of her castle, and into her library. She sat down and gazed at the documents in front of her. So long had she worked to find him, the very man she hated, turned out to be the very man she loved.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in." she said and looked up. A dark brooding man with handsome features entered. She remembered him form the night of her rescue but never got a chance to talk to him. "Please be seated." She said motioning to one of the chairs in front of her desk.
The man sat and leaned forward. "My name is Brent Lackey, I was one of the men who helped rescue you from that bastard. I was hoping that I would get the opportunity to meet you in person."
Joey smiled. "Was it you that I punched?" she asked looking at his slightly bruised jaw.
"Yes my lady. Not that I blame you one bit, you were rather drunk, and if I were in your shoes, well I would have punched myself to." He replied with a small smile.
"Well I thank you for your efforts, no doubt my father will be singing your praises for the rest of his days."
"I must say that I was told about your friend, Lady Livisay, and I am quite sorry about what happened. I made it one of my personal goals to get the bloody bastard and bring him to justice." He added. To Joey's relief, there was no pain at the mention of Lauren. During her weeks with Jacob, she had put that ghost to rest. "It is all right. Her death is nobody's fault. I do not blame him for it. Not anymore." She said then quickly regretted what she said.
"You care for him?" Brent asked.
Joey thrust up her chin, "I do. I respect him very much, and admit that he is the man who has broken me. I trust that you will keep this bit of information to yourself." She said with a touch of warning to her voice.
"I will, you may not doubt that. But I do wonder as to what you are going to do about his upcoming trial and hanging."
"I do not know yet, my plan still has some flaws, but I always accept help if offered." She replied raising an eyebrow in question.
Brent smiled at the young woman before him, she was a spirited one. Passionate, ruthless, and very smart, he thought. He didn't know why, but he felt an urge to help this person. "I am at your service, my lady." He said, bowing his head.
Joey smiled. "Thank you. First off, I would like to know if you have any friends who would be willing to help out?"
"Unfortunately no. I really haven't trusted anyone. But I know that Lord Terence would help us." He replied.
"Yes I know that as well, but, it's getting a solid plan that I worry about more." She said propping her elbows on her desk.
"Well, let us plan away shall we." He replied leaning back in his chair and crossing his ankles.
Two nights passed and it was soon the night of the Joey's welcoming ball. She dressed in a beautiful gold gown that revealed her back. It had ties that laced down her back and flowed to the floor, swaying as she walked. Her hair was pulled up and curls spilled down onto her shoulders. Tonight, she thought, was the night she would get Jacob out of here.
"You look absolutely lovely. What jewelry do you want to wear?" her maid Polly asked, walking to her vanity.
"The gold bracelet and my grandmothers ring." She replied.
When everything was right, she walked downstairs. The guests had already arrived and she was announced into the ballroom. All conversation stopped, and everyone turned and stared at her. With a graceful wave, everyone resumed conversation. She stepped down the stairs and was immediately drawn into conversation. She looked about the room and saw Brent with Terence.
After a few moments of tolerating Lady Dodgfry's boring jokes, and monotone voice, she mad her way over to Brent and Terence.
"How are you gentlemen enjoying the party?" she asked with a sweet smile on her face.
"We are having a wonderful time. I hope you are as well." Terence replied bowing.
Joey nodded her head, "I am." She paused and looked around a smile still plastered on her face. "Is everything ready?" she asked.
"Yes my lady, we just await your signal." Brent answered.
"Alright, go now. I bid a farewell to both of you, I hope that you enjoy Sicily. Please send word of your arrival Terence you know how I fret." She said and hugged him. She pulled away and held his hand. He felt a piece of cold metal against his hand and smiled. He kissed he cheek lightly and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"And you Brent, take care my best friend. And enjoy Sicily, there are many adventures that abound there." She added and hugged Brent. She slipped a key into his pocket and smiled. "Shall I escort you two out?" she asked.
Brent stuffed his hands into his pockets also and felt the key. "No my lady, this is your party after all. Goodbye." Brent replied.
Terence and Brent made their way through the crowd and outside. Joey watched them walk through the entrance hall and turned back to listen to more gossip.
"We'll go around through the back entrance, everyone will be to busy to notice us." Terence said as they creeped around the side of the castle.
"I'm surprised there aren't any guards. The place should be swarming with them." Brent replied looking around for anything out of the ordinary.
"You'd be surprised. Edward really hasn't used any of his guards, plus even if he did, they would all be drunk and sleeping by now." He replied as they neared a closed door.
"I hope Joey did all that was required to do." Brent said as they opened the door.
"Don't worry, she did. She probably went above and beyond our expectations." Terence replied.
Brent shut the door, and looked around the dark room. It was a storage room, lined with shelves of food and linens. He followed Terence out and down a dark corridor. They made their way down a spiral corridor of stairs. There were torches held up on the walls, lighting their way down. Terence paused and listened for voices. There were none.
"Silent as a tomb," Brent said, "I hope that it stays this quiet." he added.
They stepped off the stairs and looked down at the sleeping guards on the floor. There were at least five of them, snoring loudly, stretched out everywhere. Terence tiptoed over them and looked in each cell until he found Jacob's.
"Right here." He said and motioned for Brent to come to him. He pulled his key that Joey had given him from his pocket and stuck it into the keyhole. The rusty latch opened and he pulled the door open.
Brent followed him into the cell and they found Jacob sleeping, with his arms secured above his head. Terence walked over to him and shook him gently.
"Jacob," he whispered, "Hurry up and wake up!"
Jacob opened his eyes and could barely make out the two men standing in front of him. "What?" he said groggily.
"We are here to get you out now shut up and just do as we tell you ok?" Brent said as he pulled his key from his pocket. He unlocked the bindings that secured Jacobs wrists, and set them quietly on the floor.
Brent helped Jacob up and they made their way out of the cell. Terence looked at the guards and asked, "Why don't we lock them up?" a devilish grin on his face.
Jacob shrugged his shoulders, "Why not?"
"Joey probably put enough drugs in their wine to keep them out for a week." Terence added as they pulled the guards into the cell.
When all five guards were inside, Terence closed the door and locked it. He slipped the key into his pocket and they made their way out. He stopped them at the foot of the staircase and waited.
"What are we waiting for?" Jacob whispered.
"Joe's signal, should be coming any minute." He answered.
Not less than ten seconds later there was a loud scream and a thud. Terence turned and smiled then quickly ran through the corridor and out the side door, Jacob and Brent at his heels.
Joey screamed loudly before collapsing in a heap at Brett Mathew's feet. All had done was dance with her, he told himself. Before he knew it, there was a rush of people around him pushing and shoving to see what had happened.
"What the hell happened?" the king asked making his way to the group.
He saw his daughter on the floor and he paled. He looked up and roared for everyone to get back. He dropped to his knees and lifted Joey. He shook her gently and her eyes fluttered open. "Joe, sweetheart, are you ok?" he asked.
She nodded dumbly. "Yes papa, I guess I was out of breath, forgive me." She said her eyes blinking innocently.
Edward smiled and pulled her to her feet. "All is forgiven, love. Now why don't you sit down and relax for a minute, you have been through much excitement and I don't want you to hurt or over extenuate yourself." He said, leading her to a couch, next to the dance floor.
"Thank you father." She replied and smiled innocently at him.