Page 14 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Persephone
London, England Nov 1812
After their ship had docked in the Thames, and they had disembarked, Persephone thought she was safe.
That her parents had not known the ship had returned and brought her with.
How wrong she had been. Brooks had gone back to the ship to get her meager belongings and to get his, when she was accosted by her parents.
She had been sitting on a crate, waiting for him to get back and the next thing she knew, she was being hugged and lifted into her father’s strong arms.
“Mother! Father! What? How? How is it you are here?”
Her mother gave her a small hug, and they started walking toward their carriage.
“We have been at the docks for weeks, just waiting for you to return. Hoping against hope that you would. And here you are, safe and sound. We are so grateful that you were found and have come back to us. Reginald will also be thrilled at the return of his wayward bride. He has been very anxious to have you return.”
Persephone wanted to choke, that man did not care if she was here. Not really. And neither did her parents. They only wanted the money Reginald had promised them in exchange for her hand.
She did not know why they would want her to marry someone, not with how overprotective they were, but she had a feeling that they would not really be going far.
“Mother, I, um, I do not wish to marry him. I have been gone for so long and have changed. I know it was our agreement, but I do not want to wed a man that is old enough to be my father.”
Her parents stopped walking and her father glared down at her, then over at her mother. “Would you listen to this Kitty? She has been gone from our side for a short time and thinks she can speak to us this way?”
Persephone shook her head, “I did not mean…”
Her father cut her off, “You listen to me young lady. Your mother and I know what is best for you. You are ill and weak and should never have been away from us at all. And who knows what diseases fill your body from this little trip? Who you have been in contact with? We do not know how your body will react now that you have been away from your medicine for too long. If we had never come to London for the season this would have never happened, and I let my judgement be clouded by you. Well, it will never happen again. We are going back to the country and you are going to marry Reginald as soon as we think you are fit.”
“But father, you promised I could finish the season. It is not over. And I did not ask to be taken. Please do not punish me over this. Please. Let me just finish the season.”
Bruce looked down at her, “I think you have had too much excitement. Getting taken from us, and from the medicine you desperately need every day has made you go insane. We need to get you home. Now.”
“But,” she started and Bruce hissed at her, “Not another word. You have become insolent since you have left. And I will not tolerate it. You are under my care and I will not tolerate your disobedience any longer. We are going back to the country. And that is final.”
Persephone tried not to cry and tried not to look around. She knew Brooks would be coming to find her and when he saw she was missing would not be pleased.
She heard a yell and knew deep down it was her husband. She knew he had wanted to protect her from this, but knew it was in vain. Her parents would have their way regardless of how she felt or what she wanted.
Squeezing her eyes shut, her father placed her in their carriage and Persephone had to once again act like the sickly girl she knew she was not.
She could only hope that her mother would listen and let her finish out the season.
It was their agreement after all.
The carriage started moving and she heard her name carry over the crowd of bodies on the docks.
She turned away from the sound and could feel her heart breaking in her chest.
This was it. She would possibly never see her husband again.
Just last night, she was in his arms, the woman she always longed to be, the woman she knew she was.
She wished he was here, but she knew it was impossible. If her parents ever found out about him, she would be taken far away, never to return again.
She did not know what they would do to him if they found out about their marriage, and she was terrified to find out.
That would be the worst thing she could imagine. She just needed to figure out how to get away from her parents.
To figure out how to not let them give her the medicine that made her sick, that made her sleepy and acquiescent.
She needed to keep her bearings around her at all times.
She would get back to him if it was the last thing she did.
