Page 28 of The Fighter who Needed Me
She looked up at him, and her good eye widened. He dropped to one knee in front of her, “What happened?”
She shook her head as if trying to clear her thoughts and said, “I saw you leave Persephone’s room the other night. I did not tell her parents because I know how you feel about her. I saw it at the country. Not that I said anything, I just knew that you were in love with her. I wanted nothing more than to help her escape and I think her parents have too much control over her and have tried in small ways to help her.”
Brooks waited and she went on, “Her parents have some sort of weird knowledge of her and the things that happen in their house. I swear someone watches me and her at all times. Somehow, they knew you were here and when I would not tell them about you, they beat me, broke my hand and locked me in here. They took Persephone away when she finally gave in and told them she was leaving.”
He sucked in a breath and nodded at her to continue, “They packed everything they could in an hour and were on the road before she could even try to find you. I would have helped her escape. I have been trying for a while, but if her parents had gotten wind of it, I would have been fired long ago and put out without a reference.”
He waited again and she went on, “And I didn’t want anything happening to her. Someone needed to protect her from them, so I gave her water instead of medicine most days and have tried to help her gain back her strength. I know she can walk; I have seen it. I know how strong she really is, and I have wanted to see her use that to stand up to her parents, but they are determined to believe she is ill.”
She looked up at him with sad eyes and said, “They believe that she will always need their constant care and that she will still have it after she weds Reginald. She is unprotected and I was supposed to be with her, but now she is alone and who knows what matter of torments she will be put through. Reginald is a horrible man and has tried to touch her, to make her let him see his prize. A few of the staff and I stopped it and I have been wary of him ever since. I worry for her and now I have no way to be there at her side. To help protect her. I do not even know where his country house is. No one ever said and they didn’t tell us.”
She looked up at him, “I don’t know what to do. She needs me. She needs you and now she has to deal with their anger and hurt all alone. I know they will hurt her, drug her and make her life miserable. And I cannot stop it this time. I can’t protect her.”
She started sobbing and Brooks lifted her from the floor and into his arms. “I will do everything in my power to find her. I promise you this.”
She looked up at him as he brought her to his horse and rode through the streets to Whitechapel. “We have a room you may stay in while you recover. Lily will tend to you.”
The girl nodded her head and when he brought her into the salon, Burk was teaching a lesson and immediately had Billy take over.
He hurried to Brooks’ side and the two ascended the stairs together.
“Who is this?” Burk asked quietly and Brooks said, “This is Persephone’s maid.”
Burk raised an eyebrow, “Her maid? What in the world happened to her?”
Brooks shook her head, “I need Lily.”
Burk hurried ahead, and into his rooms. Moments later, Lily rushed out the door, her medicine bag in hand.
Brooks laid Anneliese out on the bed that had not been in use in months.
Lily ushered him and Burk from the room and he turned toward the stairs, but Burk stopped him.
“Brooks, what is happening? I have not seen you for days and now you bring Persephone’s maid to our door, bruised and beaten? What is going on?”
Brooks snarled, “What’s going on is that my wife is gone. Her parents took her from me right when we were supposed to run away to start our lives together. And now, I have no way to find her. She is being abused as we speak, being treated how she always has, and I have no clue how to help her. I wanted to steal her away and when I went to find out what happened to her and why she would not come to me, her horrible parents stole her from me. They will try to marry her off to a man that is old enough to be her father and one she is afraid of. One who has tried to touch her against her will. But she and I wed months ago. And we have consummated our marriage. I am going to do what I can to find my wife before more harm can befall her.”
Burk stood there, his mouth open in shock and his eyes wide. “I don’t know what to say. You are wed?”
Brooks let some of his anger leave, and he gave a quick nod. It was not Burk’s fault Persephone’s parents were the worst humans that ever lived.
He shrugged, “I need to find my wife and I will.”
Burk nodded, “I will come with.”
Brooks tried to stop him, but Burk stared him down. “You can’t stop me. Brooks, this is important to you and therefore is important to me. Don’t try to fight me on this.”
Brooks gave a slight nod, “Lets go.”
Burk nodded and followed him down the stairs.
They let Billy know what was going on and then the two of them went back to Persephone’s house and looked through it room by room, trying to find any clue as to their whereabouts, but came up with nothing.
There were no documents in the desk, none in the library or in the master suites and as they searched each room and came up with nothing, Brooks got even more discouraged.
As the sun sank in the sky and it got dark Burk stopped their search, “It’s no use. They must have planned something like this for a while. There is no trace of them.”
Brooks tried his best to hold in his snarl and did it anyway. “They just didn’t vanish into thin air! They have my WIFE! They are going to torture her and hurt her and have already. I need to find her Burk.”
