Say You Love Me

by Angel

  the area, I was looking to see if I could spot the coach there. Wasn’t sure if I should pound on the door and just ask, since something about this whole thing just ain’t right.”

  The blade, which had relaxed against the man’s neck,

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  moved a little closer. “You have about five seconds to make sense out of what you just said, English.” “Wait! It’s my employer, you see, Miss Langton. I’m her coachman. I dropped her off at her dressmaker, but when she come out, this gentleman joined her and took her to his coach and took off with her. But she knew I was there waiting for her. She seen me. So she would have told me what was what, you see, before going off with that man-unless she didn’t want to go off with him. And that’s why I followed them. I think she’s in trouble.”

  The knife was removed and the coachman was helped to his feet. “I think we are here for the same thing, mon ami,” Henry said, offering the man an apologetic smile. “We are?” “Your Miss Langton, yes, she was taken into that house. And no, I am sure she does not wish to be there. The coach that brought her here returned to the city, but I have not been able to determine how many servants are in the house that must be dealt with before your lady can be rescued. My friend has gone for help, but unfortunately, he will lead it to the wrong address.” “Rescued? How do I know you don’t come from that house yourself?” the coachman asked suspiciously. “If I did, I have little doubt you would be lying there on

  the ground with your throat cut.” “She is in that kind of danger?” “Did I fail to mention that?”

  Derek arrived at his uncle’s house just as James was leaving. Derek was already anxious, after that cryptic message he had received that didn’t really tell him anything. And James’s expression only increased his anxiety. “Your man said it was urgent,” Derek called out as he moved to leave his carriage.

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  James motioned him to get back into the vehicle. “I’ll ride with you and explain on the way. Didn’t think you were

  going

  to arrive before I left.”

  Derek had brought his carriage because he’d just come

  home in it when James’s footman found him. James already had had his horse brought around, and directed that it be tied to the back of Derek’s carriage.

  Artie was still in the hack he’d hired when he and Henry had followed Ashford far enough to determine that he was

  heading toward his house in the city. He’d left Henry and headed back to Berkeley Square to let James know what had happened, and James had immediately sent for Derek, as well as for Anthony.

  James ordered Derek’s driver to follow the hack before he joined Derek in his coach. He said, “Looks like Tony won’t niake it in time to join us.” “For what? What’s happened?” “What we were rather certain wouldn’t happen. Ashford has taken Kelsey-at least, the girl he forced into his coach fits her description. Artie hasn’t actually seen her before, so he doesn’t know for sure. The stupid man snatched her right off of Bond Street this morning.”

  Derek blanched. “She was going to Bond Street today to her dressmaker.” “It still might not be her, Derek. I would stop by her residence to be sure, but I really don’t think we have that kind Of time to spare-” “Oh, God,” Derek interrupted. “I’m going to have to kill him.” “I have other plans for him that are much more appropriate for-” “If he’s put even one mark on her, he’s dead,” Derek cut in again in a furious undertone.

  James sighed. “As you wish.”

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  It didn’t take long to reach Ashford’s residence, not with Derek repeatedly shouting up at his driver to hurry. But searching it took too long. Ashford’s servants swore that he wasn’t there, but James wasn’t about to take any of them at their word.

  But then Anthony showed up, having found out where they were headed from Georgina. And Anthony was quick to point out that with that many servants on hand, and Ashford was well staffed, he wouldn’t dare bring a woman he intended to abuse into his own home, especially since she would more than likely be screaming and kicking and generally hollering for help, unless he had restrained her, but then that would draw even more notice from his staff.

  In fact, it would be a good guess that Lord Ashford’s servants didn’t even know of his despicable habits, or they wouldn’t be likely to work for him-unless they practiced the same habits. He might have a few of them in his confidence, but hardly all of them.

  Derek was frantic by then. Every minute that delayed them, Ashford could be hurting Kelsey. And they’d already wasted thirty minutes in searching his house.

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  AT KEPT YOU SO BLOODY LONG?” ASHFORD growled at his caretaker as he rose slowly to his feet, rubbing the back of his head. “Trespassers, m’lord,” John replied as he ambled down the hall with Kelsey gripped at his side so tightly the wince wouldn’t leave her brow. “Spotted ‘em from the kitchen when I was searching it for the wench. They was moving around on the edge of the woods near the back of the house. That was too close for my liking.” “Trespassers? So far from the main road?” Ashford frowned thoughtfully. “Not just hunters?” “Didn’t have the weapons with ‘em for hunters. And there was two of ‘em. Figured I better round ‘em up for ya to deal with.” “What a damned nuisance,” Ashford complained. “Where are they?” “Tied up in the stable. One I hits a might hard, though. Not sure if he’s still alive. The other won’t be coming ‘round for a while.”

  Axshford nodded indifferently, as if this were a typical oc—

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  currence he’d dealt with many times before. “They can wait, then-but she can’t. Excellent. I’ve waited too long for her as

  it is. You did well as usual, John.”

  He finally glanced down at Kelsey and revealed to her for a brief moment just how furious he was over what she’d done. She’d managed to hurt him in that fall down the stairs. He probably wasn’t used to his victims fighting back, or at

  least, not being hurt by them.

  But then he smiled at her, that bone-chilling smile. She didn’t need to hear him say that he’d be getting even, and very soon. It was there in his expression and his eyes, and he was savoring the thought.

  He motioned for John to precede him. Kelsey was dragged down one set of stairs, then another, then the last, where that horrible stench assailed her again. Behind one of the doors, someone started crying pitifully. It sent shivers down her spine. “Shut up in there!” John barked.

  Silence was immediate. John ruled the cellars, and those who lived there obeyed or else-or else what? Kelsey supposed she would find out.

  There was no stopping to chat this time before she was

  seen to. John didn’t wait for Ashford’s orders; he tossed her down onto that bed as soon as they entered the newly built room. She winced, landing on her bound arms. Enough time had passed that her hands had fallen asleep yet again, and yet again the pain shot through them as contact with the bed momentarily brought them to life one more time.

  So it took her a moment to realize that he had immediately grasped one of her legs and was now wrapping leather around it. She tried to stop him, kicking him with her other foot, hard, again, again. He didn’t seem to notice. The strap still went on-and was fastened.

  She paled. She felt sick to her stomach. That strap put an

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  end to whatever hope she had clung to. But she still tried to roll off the bed, panic making her desperate. Her other foot

  was caught, the grip on it so hard she moaned. She guessed he had felt her kicks after all. And within seconds, the other

  strap was in place.

  She noticed Ashford then, standing th
ere beside the bed.

  tie was smiling down at her, and she could almost read his mind. He was relishing her helplessness and her fear, anticipating what was to come. Now? Would it happen now? “The same rules, m’lord?”

  The caretaker’s question drew Ashford’s eyes away from her, and his expression turned almost indifferent again. “Yes,

  you aren’t to touch her until I’ve sufficiently broken her in,

  but then she’ll be yours to do with as you please, just like

  the others.” “And the blonde who’s had yer attention lately?” John asked hopefully. “Yes, yes, you can have her back now,” Ashford said impatiently. “It will no doubt be quite a while before I’ll want

  her again, now that I have this one to amuse me.” “Thank you, m’lord. I have to admit, the blonde was my

  favorite, though I’m sure this one will be-soon as yer done with her. I like the new ones best and trainin”em. Withhold their food for a few days and they’re happy to make old John

  happy, however I wants.”

  Ashford chuckled. “And I’m sure there are many ways to make you happy.” “Oh, aye, m’lord. I thanks the day ya offered me this job, indeed I do. All these pretty wenches that would never have

  let old John even gets near ‘em, they change their tune once

  they’re down here. And this pretty, ya wants me to prepare her for ya now?” “Actually, I’m rather famished,” Ashford said. “I believe

  I’ll have a bite to eat before I initiate her. I’ve been looking

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  forward to this one. I don’t want anything to distract me

  from my pleasure once I begin. I trust the kitchen is still well stocked?” “Aye, ya’ll find all yer favorites there, just as ya ordered.” “Good, good. But you can finish the restraints. I don’t want there to be any possibility that she won’t be here when I return shortly. ” “She’ll be here. You’ve my word on it.”

  Ashford nodded, smiling at his caretaker. “I do depend on

  you, John, indeed I do. I will see to the rest, though. I’m looking forward to that as well. Oh, and fetch my tools for me,” he said as an afterthought. “I don’t want to be bothered unlocking the blonde’s cell to get them.”

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  LS? WHAT TOOLS? THAT SOUNDED TOO MUCH LIKE INstruments of torture, in relation to what went on down here. Or did he just call his whips tools?

  Derek’s words came back to haunt Kelsey. He whips them until they are covered with blood. Apparently, he can’t have sex

  with them without the sight of that blood.

  God, why did he have to tell her? She would have preferred not to know what was going to happen. to her until it happened. Not knowing would have been frightening, but this? Ignorance is bliss. Knowledge, in this case, was absolutely terrifying.

  Ashford had left to go eat his meal. Something so normal as that in the midst of her nightmare. Was he a fast eater? Slow? How much time exactly would she have until he returned to initiate her?

  She’d delayed him only a little while when she had run from him. But he’d wanted her to do that. It was part of his overall entertainment. Since this delay was only for his own comfort, he could actually be back in a matter of minutes.

  JOhn was still there. He’d been told to finish putting on

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  her restraints and he did just that, rolling her to the side so

  he could untie her hands, twisting her actually, farther than her muscles wanted to allow. And he kept her in that position while he strapped the leather about one wrist, because it kept her other arm from interfering, still trapped under and behind her as it was.

  Not that she could have done anything to prevent those last straps from going on. One more time, her hands had gone numb from the tight cords, and her arms as well were sore from being twisted behind her for so long.

  He left the room when he was finished, but he didn’t go far. She could hear him working the lock on one of the other rooms, and the crying that started up just in anticipation of being visited, great wails that didn’t stop until that door was

  locked again.

  Kelsey shivered. Dear God, the terror she had just heard just because one of those women thought that Ashford or his caretaker was going to visit. Kelsey wouldn’t last there, she knew she wouldn’t. She would go quite mad if all she had to look forward to each day was pain and more pain.

  John came back into her room. Across her stomach he laid three whips of different designs and lengths-and a knife. Ashford’s tools. The ones he was going to use on her. She’d lifted her head to stare at them, couldn’t take her eyes off them. She was going to be sick.

  He chuckled at the look in her eyes. “‘There will be enough left of ya when he tires of ya, girlie, to suit me,” he assured her. “I ain’ts particular.”

  Her eyes went to his. She saw that they were blue, actually a pretty shade of blue. It wasn’t easy to notice with his misshapen face.

  She had forgotten about hearing Ashford say that she would be John’s later to do with as he pleased. Would she

  even care by then?

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  The caretaker didn’t stay to gloat. And he closed the door behind him as he left, though he didn’t lock it. The lamp was

  left behind. So she could continue to stare at what he’d L)rought her?

  Kelsey heaved her back off the bed the second that door closed, to knock the whips and the knife onto the floor. But “(@tting them off her body didn’t get rid of them. She shivered I I ,igain, feeling even sicker. And she wondered whether, if she J Idn’t still have the gag in place, she wouldn’t start scream-

  .M1,; herself the next time that door opened. She might anyW@iy—

  The straps wouldn’t give. She twisted and yanked and strained, but there wasn’t the slightest bit of slack. She couldn’t possibly work loose from them, or pull them free from however they were attached to the bed.

  The door opened again, too soon, in what seemed like only a few minutes. It was Ashford. He’d rushed through his meal after all.

  Kelsey’s muscles went rigid with fear. He glanced at his “tools” on the floor and tsked. He sauntered forward to pick one up. It was the knife. Kelsey blanched. It came to her cheek. A tug, and she was able to spit out the sliced-open gag. She didn’t thank him. She knew damn well he wanted it off so he could hear her screams.

  But she wasn’t going to scream. She was going to use her wits and talk herself out of this. It was the only chance she had left. He wasn’t sane-not completely. If she could push him enough to snap the rest of his mind, perhaps he would leave her alone, maybe even let her go. It was a wild hope, but the only one she had. “Release me now, Lord Ashford, before it’s too late. You shouldn’t have taken me, but I won’t say anything about what You’ve done if you-”

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  “I didn’t take you to release you, my pretty,” he said as he walked to the end of the bed. “But why take me at all? You already have other girls here. I heard them…” She managed to refrain from saying “crying.// “Yes, homeless urchins for the most part, that are never missed and don’t have any friends who care what happens to them. Though I do have one other here that I bought at auction, just like you.” “‘Why do you keep them here?”

  He shrugged. “Why not?”’ “Do you ever let them go?” “Oh, no, I can’t do that. Once they come here, they can neverleave.” “But they don’t come willingly!” she cried. “At least I didn’t!” ‘So?/ “Why do you need so many?”

  He shrugged again. “Scars tend to inhibit bleeding.” He said that so dispassionately, yet he was the one who caused the scars. It really didn’t bother him, what he did here. He felt no guilt whatsoever. What she had heard
only confirmed what she had already guessed.

  He stuck the knife he still held under her skirt then and drew it toward him, opening the material. She gasped. He smiled. “Don’t worry, my pretty. You won’t need these clothes anymore,” he said, and ripped the rest of the skirt up to her waist, then moved up beside the bed again to examine the sleeve of her spencer. “You whores are always taking them off, countless times a day, so down here, we are kind enough to save you the trouble.”

  He laughed at that, finding it quite amusing. “I’m not a whore.”

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  “Of course you are, just like she was.”

  There was that mention of another woman again, in a tone

  that implied that particular woman was the worst sinner in

  the world. “Who is she?”

  A cold flame leapt into his eyes just before he slapped her. -JDon’t ever mention her.”

  Her face had been turned away from him with that slap. The knife slipped under her sleeve and began cutting before she turned back to glare at him. “Or what? You’ll beat me? Isn’t that what you already intend to do?” “You think there aren’t ways to make you suffer even

  more, just like she did? I assure you, only these other whores down here will hear your screams.”

  God, they each could hear the other’s pain. But she knew that, had already heard the sounds of their suffering. Only now they would hear hers, too.

  Was that intentional, one more thing to add to the terror of every woman who was brought down there? He did seem

  to do things intentionally, as if he had played the same scene

  on this stage many times before. There was only one servant

  on the premises-and he was wholly devoted to Ashford. There was no one, nor ever would be anyone, to carry tales Of the atrocities that went on there.

  How many years had Ashford gotten away with this? How long had some of these women been down there already? He whipped tavern women so badly that they were scarred for life. That was what Derek had witnessed. But those women still had their freedom after he was done with them. What about the women in the cellar, though, who were never let go to be able to tell? Were even worse things done to them?