Page 51 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Knowing how badly Brooks was suffering after she left hurt, and she hated that he had ever had to go through that.
Sending up a prayer that he would forgive her, she shut her eyes, hoping it would work.
* * *
The next few days were nothing but medicine and being watched constantly.
Kitty wanted to make certain that she had no ill effects from the ‘coughing fit’ and until she was certain that there were no more, and that she wasn’t going to get even more sick, Persephone had to stay in her room.
She was going stir crazy and trying hard to not get her hopes up over seeing Lily again.
Reginald had come in again today and she had not acknowledged him at all.
He did not like that. He had grabbed her chin and had made her look at him.
“I hope you are ready for our marriage. I am thrilled it was moved up. If you had not it would have been harder for me. I have not been with a woman in much too long and seeing your body daily has made it hard to wait. Kitty made me promise though, or I would have been in your room every night.”
She fought a gag, and he went on, “I cannot wait to show you the art of pleasure.”
He kissed her lips hard and she recoiled back, shocked he had touched her that way.
He laughed and tried to kiss her again, but she wrenched her face out of his hands, “Until we are wed sir, I will thank you to keep your hands to yourself.”
He laughed again and walked out of her room and she scrubbed the feel of him off her lips.
She sat back against the chair she was in and fought back tears. She wanted to get out of here.
To never see Reginald or Kitty or Bruce again.
She sat all day quietly, just watching the flames of the fire and trying to read a book, but it was hard.
As soon as it was time for bed, she readied herself and climbed into the large bed, pulling up the covers and closing her eyes.
She slept fitfully for a few hours until she heard something moving across the floor in her room, and she sat up quickly, pulling the coverlet with her and covering her to her chin.
But when she saw who was in her room, standing next to her bed, she let out a gasp.
Burk. She would recognize his large frame anywhere.
He grinned down at her, and whispered, “Do you need anything? Or are you ready to leave right now?”
She nodded her head, and whispered, “I just need a few dresses and underthings. How did you get in here?”
He gave a small chuckle as he went around and helped her pack a small bag quickly, “Lily told me everything. I had to watch your house for a few days to see how many men wander the halls. And their routines. It was easy and predictable.”
She stared up at him and he held out his arms, “Are you ready? The next rotation should be now, and we will have five minutes before the next one.”
She nodded and held her bag, while he picked her up in his arms.
She let him carry her from the room and he navigated through the dark house until they made it outside.
He stayed against the dark shadow of the house while a man walked by them and they held their breath.
She could have sworn someone would hear the beating of her heart, but the man did not acknowledge them at all.
He yawned several times and picked at some lint on his shirt.
He continued on walking and Burk hurried through the dark gardens, stopping every once in a while, and letting another man walk past.
