Page 61 of Until My Last Breath

She was doomed.

He turned his eyes to Wickham and twisted his nose as if looking upon a worm. “You are late.”

Wickham trembled, and before he could reply, the captain raised his hand to silence him.

Then, he turned to Elizabeth again. She held her breath as his exploratory eyes narrowed when resting on the bruises of her lips and cheek. He lowered his gaze to her body, to her décolletage, and sneered, then to her waist, slowly walking around as if checking whether thecommoditywas good enough for his taste. Then he stopped. “Muy bonita, Mr Wickham,” he whispered, still sneering. “You have not exaggerated. She is a beauty. I will keep her.”

Grabbing Elizabeth’s face, he pulled her towards him as his thin lips sucked hers. She gagged and he released her, laughing aloud.

She tried to slap him, but he held her wrist. “You, my dear, will need to get used to that,” said Macedo with his strong accent. “I, on the other hand, cannot abide smelly women. Gonzales, send word for Consuelo.La señoritaneeds a bath and a new gown,” he added, turning his nose. “We cannot allow a beautiful lady to remain like that.Ahora, hombre.”

Elizabeth gagged again, rubbing her mouth with the back of her sleeves as one of the men made haste to leave.

“Jose,” Captain Macedo called to the other man, “take the lady to her cabin. I have business to discuss with Mr Wickham.”

Elizabeth tried to protest, but the widened eyes of Wickham persuaded her not to say anything, at least for now, so she followed the man.

On her way out, she saw Captain Macedo striking Wickham’s face, sending him against the table.

“I am always telling the same thing! I like my women unblemished, and you almost ruined her face…” she heard as the door closed.

Elizabeth shivered at the thought of what those words could mean. After that disgusting kiss, she had no more doubts; death was a far more preferable option. Shutting her eyes, she conjured with all her will the memory of William’s passionate kiss to erase the sour taste on her mouth. God help her, but she would die before kissing another man — especially Captain Macedo.

When they reachedher cabinon the third deck below, Jose took the large key ring from his pocket and opened the door.

What she saw inside churned her stomach. At least five other young women were cooped up inside the small and dirty cabin; bruised and pale faces grew in horror as the door opened, denouncing their mistreatment. Jose shoved Elizabeth into the room and closed the door behind her.

The rest of the day was a nightmare. The young women were scared to death. When one of them calmed, another one would cry, and they would all become hysterical again. Elizabeth tried every possible way to comfort them, but her efforts were in vain; they could not even understand her language and flinched every time Elizabeth extended her hand. She wondered about how long they had been kept there.

Around nine o’clock that evening, a big pan filled with pieces of bread and a bucket of water were shoved inside their cabin. Elizabeth could not hold back her tears as the scene of the beautiful young ladies fighting for a piece of stale bread unrolled before her.

If Mr Darcy could not reach her in time…

The door was opened again, and an old lady came in and shouted out in a very strong accent, “Elizabete.”

Elizabeth assumed she was Consuelo and stepped forward.

The old lady grabbed her by the arm. “Come.”

Cries of panic and despair grew behind her as the door was closed again.

The old woman took her down the corridor to another empty cabin where Jose stood with the key ring. She exchanged a couple of words in their language and the man closed the door behind them. Inside, there was a bath filled with lukewarm water, and a fancy red gown awaited her on the berth. The old woman stripped Elizabeth from her old and dirty clothes and pushed her into the aromatic bath. Consuelo was quick in her task of washing Elizabeth’s body and hair. In less than ten minutes, she was done.

The old woman pulled Elizabeth from the bath, looking at her naked body and nodding in an approving way. Elizabeth could only shiver, powerless. She dried and dressed Elizabeth and, when she had finished pinning her hair, Consuelo called for Jose to escort Elizabeth back to the captain’s cabin.

A shiver ran down Elizabeth’s body at the thought of what was waiting for her.

~ ♥ ~

“My lord, Captain Owen arrived with a message from Colonel Fitzwilliam,” the butler said breathless after opening the door to the drawing room.

“Thank God!” cried Lord Matlock. “Oh, yes, yes, Cason. Bring him in.”

Captain Owen was shown into the drawing room, where all were gathered, with the exception of Mr Bennet, who was still in his room.

“Lord Matlock, ladies. I have a letter for you, sir, if you please.”

“Thank you, Owen.” Lord Matlock took the letter. “If you ladies excuse me, I will read it in the library. But first things first. Cason, please prepare a bath and a meal for the captain. I am sure he is in great need of both.”

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