Part 40 (1/2)
Rachel burst into tears.
”For that,” Neal hissed, ”I just might visit you in in the pantry. You're nice and motionless when you're trapped in the dark. It'll be much easier to get what I want.” the pantry. You're nice and motionless when you're trapped in the dark. It'll be much easier to get what I want.”
He tore through a row of bushes, laughing as the brambles scratched Evangeline's exposed face and ripped one of her slippers from her feet.
”Evangeline!” came Susan's panicked voice from somewhere across the fields. ”Evangeline! Come back! He's out there! He'll kill you!”
Too late.
Chapter Twenty-Seven.
Gavin's relief at seeing the true murderer taken into the constabulary's custody warmed him throughout the long ride home, but his euphoria disappeared the moment Blackberry Manor rolled into view.
His sister, his nieces, the Stanton chit, and quite possibly every single one of his servants crowded the front lawn and ruined porch. As his homecoming never previously heralded an all-hands-on-deck welcoming party, Gavin doubted his afternoon was taking a turn for the better. Particularly since Evangeline wasn't present.
He leapt from the horse a few seconds too early and almost took a header into a clump of rocks. He hauled himself upright and ran toward his porch.
”What happened?” he shouted, trying not to fear the worst. Which would be what? That Evangeline had left forever? That would be the worst for him, him, but surely not cause for his servants and houseguests to await him out-of-doors, hands wringing, faces drawn. but surely not cause for his servants and houseguests to await him out-of-doors, hands wringing, faces drawn.
”It's Evangeline,” the Stanton chit stammered, eyes watering.
No.
”What happened?” he demanded again. Instead of sounding fierce, the words came out...scared.
”The bad man cut her,” Rachel said, voice quivering. ”Then took her.”
Gavin's hands convulsed into fists. No No.
”Neal Pemberton,” Jane confirmed. ”Her stepfather.”
He was wrong. This This was the worst possible scenario. He'd sworn to protect her. And failed. was the worst possible scenario. He'd sworn to protect her. And failed.
”I'm sorry,” Rebecca wailed, and threw herself into her mother's arms. ”I'm sorry!”
”What happened?” he said again, wis.h.i.+ng the blackguard was right in front of him so he could tear the son of a b.i.t.c.h apart with his bare hands.
Jane took a deep breath. ”When I went to see my miniature, the twins snuck outside to play hide-and-seek. We hunted for them right away-servants glimpsed them heading to the blackberry fields-but we could only find Rachel. She thought Rebecca was hurt, but Rebecca was just still hiding.”
Rebecca's sobs grew louder.
”Miss Pemberton said if she could talk to Rachel, she'd find Rebecca, so I took her to the gazebo. Except when we got there, he had Rachel captive. Miss Pemberton sent me to get help.”
”The bad man cut off my b.u.t.ton.” Rachel's lower lip trembled. ”Miss Pemberton made him take her instead of me, and he poked her with his knife two times.”
Gavin's lungs seized. Oh, G.o.d. Why hadn't he been here to save her?
”He...” the Stanton chit began, then faltered.
”Just tell me,” Gavin growled.
”She was trying to get away, so he hit her. In the face.” The Stanton chit swallowed and pushed up her spectacles. ”She stopped struggling and went limp. He shoved her into his carriage, and that's the last we saw of her.”
Gavin whirled to face his staff. ”Ready my carriage,” he ordered his coachman. ”We're leaving in ten minutes.”
He stalked up the porch steps, pushed through the crowd of people, and headed toward his front door. Neal Pemberton had included his home's exact location when he'd requested Evangeline's immediate return. It was twilight now, but if he rode all night, he'd be able to make it by dawn.
”What are you going to do?” the Stanton chit asked.
Gavin stared at her over his shoulder. ”What the devil do you think I'm going to do? I'm going to kill kill him.” him.”
”You can't just...kill him.”
He snorted. ”I'm fetching my pistol and a swordstick. One is bound to do the trick.”
Rose stepped forward, one hand on each twins' shoulder. ”He's her legal guardian, Gavin.”
”Not if he gives her to me...or dies.” He flashed a lethal smile. ”His choice.”
Evangeline drifted in and out of consciousness during the long ride back to the Chiltern Hills. Every b.u.mp, every rut jarred her until the vicious thudding in her skull swallowed her completely into darkness.
She hated hated the dark. the dark.
It wasn't until they arrived and her stepfather dragged her from the carriage that she realized, at some point during the journey, he'd bound her at the wrists and ankles. She had to hop from the carriage to the house. Each awkward landing clacked her teeth together and set her brain pounding anew.
Her stepfather laughed and tugged her along faster.
He shouldered open the front door and shoved her inside so hard her chin bounced against the dusty wood floor. She lay there, tongue coated with blood from the impact, and fought the overwhelming sense of helpless desolation brought on by the unwelcome sight of her childhood home. After a moment, she pushed up with her bound fists and struggled to her knees.
Neal ignored her in favor of locating his bottle of whiskey. Evangeline spat blood on the floor. She watched him until he disappeared from view just behind her.
How could she have ever believed Gavin to be a monster? This This was a monster. Gavin was...Gavin was...wonderful. Although he'd made his fair share of mistakes, he'd risen above his past. He was capable of both change and love. Was she? She'd told him once that all wives were subjugated. Perhaps that wasn't so. Perhaps it depended on the men they chose as husbands. She'd lost a very, very good man. was a monster. Gavin was...Gavin was...wonderful. Although he'd made his fair share of mistakes, he'd risen above his past. He was capable of both change and love. Was she? She'd told him once that all wives were subjugated. Perhaps that wasn't so. Perhaps it depended on the men they chose as husbands. She'd lost a very, very good man.
Lost forever, because by trading her freedom for Rachel's, Evangeline had surrendered herself to her stepfather's custody. His legal custody. He'd never let her out of the house again, unless it was in a casket.
His footsteps prowled up behind her. Slow, precise thuds of his leather soles against the wooden floor. The footfalls stopped. His fingers twisted in Evangeline's hair, yanked upward. An involuntary squeak escaped her throat as several strands ripped from her skull.
She clamped her mouth shut tight. She hated to show pain. It brought him too much pleasure.
He let go, smacked her on the back of the head, circled into view. Smiling, of course. He'd always found moments of physical mastery both amusing and arousing. The latter scared her far more than his laughter.
Neal cast a slow, lascivious gaze over her body, beginning at her feet, up the length of her bound legs, lingering on her thighs, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, her mouth. When his eyes met hers, he gave her a deliberate, mocking wink.