Page 121 of Heart of Iron
“Why are you wearing that?”
Adele shook her head.“It doesn’t matter.”
“Tell me.”She reached up, as if to move it, but Adele snatched her fingers and stared at her pleadingly.
“They think I’m anyone’s game now.Colchester found me alone—”
“Colchester?”Lena hissed.“What did he do to you?”
“He said since I liked it so much with Cavendish…I couldn’t stop him.That’s why I need Abagnale.He’s rich and he gives his thralls everything they desire.”
“That’s to make up for the bruises.”
“I don’t care.”Adele’s grip tightened.“If he gives me enough, maybe I can pawn it.Maybe I can get enough money to run away.To America.To New York.”
Lena’s gut clenched.For a thrall to break his or her contract meant execution.“They’ll find you.”
Adele’s shoulders slumped as if hearing the truth had stolen her last hope.“Then I’ll stay with Abagnale for as long as…as I can.”
It wasn’t fair.Lena had found her own sense of freedom, if she could convince the Norwegians to accept the treaty.But Adele hadn’t.And neither had any of the young women fanning themselves in the square, putting on airs as they tried desperately to attract a benefactor.
“Don’t accept him,” she said, tearing her glove off.Grabbing the ruby on her finger, she twisted it off and pressed it into Adele’s hand.“It’s got a concoction inside it that will incapacitate a blue blood.Here.Like this.”She swiftly flicked the tiny thorn out and showed Adele what to do.“It’ll give you a chance to get away if any one of them tries to hurt you again.”
A fierce light flashed through Adele’s eyes.Then faded.“And then what?”
Damn this world.Lena wanted to scream at the injustice of it.“If you need help you can come to me.Or to Leo.Tell him I sent you.”Sudden inspiration hit.A way to protect those like her, who didn’t have any way to fight back.“That’s what I’m going to do,” she whispered.“I’m going to open a house.A place for young women in trouble to come to, where no one can hurt them or force them to submit.A place they can stay as long as they want, until we can find a new life for them.”
Adele stared at her.“And how do they get away?”
“I’m going to start a new fashion,” she declared.“In ruby rings.”
Adele looked down, at the gem sparkling on her finger.“I like it,” she whispered and a tiny hint of hope returned to her expression.
“Adele!”Mrs.Hamilton snagged her by the other arm, shooting Lena a glance she might have given a stranger.“Come.Lord Abagnale wanted to admire your pretty new necklace.”
“Don’t make any decisions,” Lena pleaded.“Not yet.”
Then Adele was swallowed up by the crowd and Lena was left behind, with a new dream smoldering in her heart.
To do such a thing would mean going up against the blue bloods who liked their little game.It also meant surviving the next day.Forcing the prince consort to recognize what Will was doing and hold him to his pledge to change the laws.
Her determined gaze settled on the Norwegians.
They saw her coming, the grizzled old Fenrir’s eye narrowing on her.He’d made little concession to the event, still wearing his stark eye patch and wolf fur pinned over his shoulder.The pair of handsome young men at his side had cast off their own furs and wore matching navy uniforms, buttoned up the left breast, with gold frogging and epaulets.She recognized Eric, with his windswept golden hair and the queue of swarming ladies nearby.
Lena nodded to the Fenrir.“My lord.”
“So you survived,” he growled back.
“Indeed,” Lena replied, ignoring his rudeness.
Turning, she greeted the other members of the party.Lady Astrid wore a slight smile, her pale blond hair gleaming against the silvery ruff of fur over her shoulder.
“Considering how ill I was, I’m quite surprised at the swiftness of recovery.I feel in most excellent health,” Lena said.
“The initial fever is the only danger,” Astrid replied.“Your body’s attempts to repel the virus are what threatens you.Once the fever abates, the virus heals you rapidly.”
“Fast, furious, and rather violently passionate,” Lena mused.“Reminds me of someone I know.”
