Page 24 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Brooks
Whitechapel, January 1813
He needed to see his wife. It had been too long again, and no matter what he tried, he could never see her. Her father would not allow him to even come into the house at all.
He tried over and over, but the man would not even entertain him, and their butler did not allow him in the front door.
So he resorted to this. He would do what was necessary to see her, damn it.
He was sick and tired of her parents never letting her out of their sight and never letting her be.
They had continued to pressure her to marry the man they had chosen for her and Brooks would not stand for it.
She knew how he felt, and she agreed with him, but could not do anything about it.
She had not been allowed to do any sort of society things in the few weeks since they had gotten back from the country and Brooks was done.
He wanted to see his wife and he was going to damn it.
Riding to her house in the dead of night, Brooks left his horse tied up and walked in silence up the walkway in the back and to the servant’s entrance.
The door was unlocked, and he was grateful for that small mercy.
Sneaking in the house, Brooks was watchful of everything around him and kept vigilant as he moved through the quiet house.
He made his way up the servants’ stairs and to her floor, then he snuck down the dark hallway to where her bedchamber was situated.
She had told him once where it was located, and he had remembered it.
Her door was locked, but that did not stop him. Kneeling in front of the door, he picked the lock quickly and slipped into her room.
She was not sleeping, as he thought she might be, but was sitting up in her bed, brushing her long length of her light brown hair.
When he shut the door, she started and whirled around, fear written on her features for half a second, and her eyes widened when she saw it was him.
“What are you doing here?” She hissed in a whisper, and Brooks smiled.
“I came to see my wife. It has been too long my love.”
She softened and whispering to him said, “I know it has been too long. I have missed you so. But if my parents find you here it is all over.”
Brooks shook his head, “I don’t care Persephone. Come with me. Please. Let us just leave and go away where they won’t find us.”
He had made his way to her side and her eyes shone with unshed tears, “I wish I could. I just do not know how Brooks. I am scared for those I am leaving behind. I am afraid what they will do to you and I am terrified they will not go easy on any of the staff and I worry for their safety. Not that any of them would help me. I just do not know how to get away.”
He snarled, “I know you are worried and don’t want to leave anyone at your parents mercy either. I will help them I swear it my love. If I can do anything, I will. You are my top priority, and your parents should not have any more power over you. Not any longer. They have done too much as it is. Hell, they still think to marry you off to that man. They cannot make you marry another when you are already wed, and our vows were consummated. I cannot abide letting him near you, let alone thinking he could touch you.”
She blushed and looked down, “I know that Brooks. I do not want him to touch me either, but they do not know about our marriage. If they did, I do not know what will happen. It terrifies me if they found out. They have made my life miserable as it is, and I hate it. But no one will help me escape, they are all loyal to my parents and someone is always watching me constantly. This is the only time I am alone, and even then, I am worried they will discover you here.”
Brooks gave a small growl, “Come to my house tomorrow night. We will leave. Find a new place to go. I have it all set up. I know you can do it. Promise me.”
She nodded, “I will try. I promise I will try.” He kissed her. “I have missed you for far too long. Your touch, your taste. Everything.”
Persephone sighed into his kiss, “What if I can’t leave tomorrow?”
He shook his head, “I know you can. I just know it. I will do all I can to protect your staff if something happens, you just have to get out of here. You are strong and that is all that matters. You just need to remember that you are more capable than you know.”
She looked up at him, “You are right. All right, come tomorrow, I will meet you at your salon. And we will leave. Now, you said something about missing my taste and touch?”
