Page 49 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Persephone
London, England March 1813
Being back in a ballroom was not what she expected. And the excitement she once had, was long gone.
She just wanted to get out of here and go wallow in the despair that was her life.
Since her deception to get her back to London was found out, Bruce and Kitty decided they had enough and moved up the wedding.
She hated it all but voiced no protests. Just went along with everything they wanted with a dead heart.
She was too upset to smile or have any sort of emotions when they were around, and she knew that they did not care.
They did what they wanted with her life, they had her, and they knew it.
Threatening Cole and Eden was the last straw that broke her remaining hope and so here she sat, Reginald at her side and hating every single moment of the godforsaken ball they were attending.
She knew that Kitty planned on going to things that Cole and Eden would not attend because of Cole’s status as a Marquess and knowing that Bruce had no title at all.
So, she knew the chances of seeing her friends again were very slim.
They had no idea she was even back in London and Persephone missed them dearly.
She wished to see them one last time to explain why she left and try to tell them what was happening, but it was not to be.
She had to use the necessary and leaned over to Kitty, “I have to go to the retirement room. Will you take me?”
Kitty’s face grew sour, but she nodded, and then Persephone was wheeled from the room.
Kitty pushed her into the room, “Do your business. I am not your maid and will not help you.”
Persephone nodded, she could handle things on her own, and after getting back to London had been alone from the start.
They were not going to hire another maid to help her talk to anyone and so she spent endless days alone.
Not that it mattered. She lived with the silence before, she could again.
Kitty left the room and Persephone stood from her chair, and on shaking legs walked to where she needed to go.
They knew she knew how to walk, but they needed to keep up with the appearance of their helpless, sick girl, and they wanted the praise of raising their daughter through the pain that she brought them. So, the appearances were kept in place and she just did what was needed.
She finished up, washing her hands and when she looked in the mirror of the vanity, she saw what everyone else did.
Someone who was dead inside. Her hair may be done in the latest style and she wore the latest fashions, like tonight, but her eyes were dead and lifeless, and she had lost more weight she couldn’t afford to lose.
Her cheekbones stood out even more than they did before and she tried to give a smile, but it did not reach her eyes.
Sighing, she turned away from the mirror and gasped when she saw someone standing in the room with her.
Lily. Persephone tried to rush to her side, but Lily shook her head and came to her, hugging her.
“We don’t have much time; Kitty is being occupied by someone in the hallway and has forgotten about you momentarily.”
Persephone nodded and Lily went on, confusion and anger in her grey eyes, “Where have you been Seph? What happened? Brooks said you were going to leave to be with him, and then you were gone, and we had to tend to your injured maid.”
Persephone sagged against Lily, “Is she all right?”
Lily nodded, “Yes, she is well.”
