by Maggie Ryan
“Hit me again and I’ll thrash you until you can’t stand,” he warned.
The look in his eyes terrified Lucy. Her handprint was vivid across his cheek. Not believing that she had actually struck him and fearing that he wouldn’t hesitate to do as he had threatened, Lucy moaned deeply. “Please, just let me go,” she begged, and then screamed loudly as the switch attacked her legs with a vengeance. Seeing Lucy struggling within Walter’s hold, Frannie turned and ran as fast as she could, ignoring his calls for her to halt. She met Ellie, who had heard Lucy’s scream and was trying to find them. Frannie grabbed Ettie’s hand, pulling her towards the house, screaming her brother’s name. As they stumbled into the entry, they met Lucas running towards them.
“Please … please, he’s hurting her,” Frannie managed before she collapsed, sobbing hysterically. Ettie pointed to the proper path and Lucas ran. Bea and Frank had heard the commotion, and after Frank instructed Bea and Ettie to tend to Frannie, he too ran down the path.
“Please, let me go,” Lucy said. “I … I won’t hit you again. My Papa will …”
Walter laughed and though it was an evil sound that chilled Lucy’s soul, at least the switch stopped descending. “Papa? So that is why you are dressed like a child, as well as wear no ring,” he said. “You are just his little plaything …”
“No … no, he gave me a …” she attempted, but he interrupted.
“Your marriage is a farce, little girl. If your Papa did truly wed you, I promise it was just so that he could legally do whatever he wishes. Despite your atrocious behavior, you are indeed a little beauty. Tell me, does your Papa only spank you or does he fu …”
“Get your hands off my wife!” Lucas bellowed as he rounded the hedge and saw Lucy struggling against Drakemore’s hold. He drank in the fear on his wife’s face, as well as the switch in the man’s hand.
“Papa!” Lucy shouted, her heart pounding in both fear and relief. Walter saw the look on Lucas’ face and shoved Lucy from him, causing her to stumble into her husband. Lucy clung to him, her entire body shaking.
“You should teach your wife some manners. Or perhaps you don’t expect your child to know better than to spy on adults or kick and slap your guests.” He looked at Lucy again, his lip curling. “At least I used a little switch on your little girl instead of a cane,” Walter said, throwing the switch away.
“Go to the house, Lucy,” Lucas ordered, gently setting her away from him, though his eyes never left Walter.
“I … I didn’t …”
“Go!”
Lucy began to sob as she turned and ran along the path. When she passed Frank, she didn’t even pause and continued running until she was in her nursery. She hadn’t meant to kick him; she only meant to get him away from Frannie. Had she misinterpreted Frannie’s response? Had she enjoyed being kissed by Mr. Drakemore? He was her suitor and Lucas’ guest as well. She thought about the dark look in her husband’s eyes. His intense anger reminded her of how he had looked the day she threw a horrid tantrum on the train platform. He had ordered her to her room that day as well. Remembering what had happened when he had finally joined her, she forced herself to stop crying, taking deep breaths as she attempted to prepare herself for when her angry husband entered the room.
“You god-damned bastard,” Lucas said once he was sure Lucy was safely away. “Get off my property and don’t ever come back. If you ever touch my wife or my sister again, you shall answer to me.” Frank had finally reached him and stood ready to assist if needed. Walter calmly brushed his clothing as if to free it of lint before speaking.
“I suggest you think about your decree, Huntington. After all, you already have one sister who married beneath her station, causing gossip as to the reason why.” Frank pushed past Lucas in an attempt to defend his wife. Lucas grabbed him, pulling him back. Walter foolishly continued. “As I said, beneath her station. Do you really wish my father, as well as society, to learn that your marriage is a farce?”
“I believe your father will be much more intrigued by why his son is in prison for assaulting my sister and my wife,” Lucas said.
“Nonsense,” Walter chuckled. “You wouldn’t dare attempt to bring charges. I’ve already staked my claim, and Frances is desperate to become my wife. As for your little girl, while your peers will see that she is quite the beauty and can understand your need to bed her, the decent people of society simply do not accept a marriage like you claim. So, Lord Huntington, feel free to fuck her, but don’t ever think that you can …”
Any further words were cut off as Lucas’ fist slammed into Walter’s nose, followed by a second vicious blow that snapped the man’s head back. Lucas would have struck him again, but Frank pulled him off, holding his arms behind him.
“Get out before I let him kill you,” Frank said, as Lucas strained against his hold.
As if only now realizing the situation he was in, Walter turned and walked away, his steps quickening once he had turned the corner. Frank continued to keep Lucas’ arms pinned for several minutes.
“You can let me go,” Lucas finally said. Frank did so and stepped back. Lucas rubbed his arms and shook his head. “You did the right thing; I truly might have killed him. If I find what he said was true about Frannie, I swear he’ll wish I had.” Frank nodded and they both turned to return to the house, hearing the clatter of a carriage departing down the drive.
“Don’t let his words hurt you, Frank,” Lucas said as they neared the house. “Beatrice loves you dearly.”
“I know,” Frank said. “I’m blessed she saw beyond titles and agreed to marry a lowly man.” Both men chuckled as the adrenaline dissipated in their systems. While it was true that Frank would not carry a title unless both of his older brothers and their sons died, Frank was more than able to provide for his wife and future family. The only reason Drakemore would inherit was his luck in the birth order. He had four younger brothers, and though his personality was obviously twisted, the law would give him the title once his father died, unless the current Lord Drakemore came to his senses and publicly disowned his eldest son.
They entered the house and found his sisters embracing Frannie. She looked up at their entrance and rushed to throw herself into her brother’s arms.
“I’m so sorry, Lucas,” she sobbed. “I … I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t get away … I tried to scream but he … he wouldn’t let me go. Thank God Lucy came when she did. I … I don’t know why he …”
“Shhh, it’s going to be fine, Frannie,” Lucas assured her as he held her close. “You will never be bothered by that man again. We will discuss this when we’ve all calmed a bit.” She nodded against his chest and took his proffered handkerchief when he released her, wiping her eyes. Lucas gave her a smile before his eyes searched for his wife.
“Where’s Lucy?”
“I think she is upstairs,” Bea said. “She ran into the house after Frannie, but didn’t stop.”
Lucas had already turned to find his wife before Bea finished speaking. He took the stairs two at a time, calling her name. When he pushed open Molly’s door thinking she might have gone to her nanny for comfort, he found the room empty and remembered Molly was gone. He looked in his own room, thinking to find her curled up in the chair where he held her but found it empty as well. Becoming concerned, he flung the door to the nursery open so hard that it banged against the wall. What he saw stopped him in his tracks. His wife, his love, his precious Kitten was not curled up in a chair waiting for him to come tell her she was safe. His little one was bent over the punishment bench, her skirts up, her drawers at her ankles. Even though the sight of her position shocked him, what she was holding behind her shocked him further. A thin rattan cane was clenched in her hands, her knuckles white from her grip.
“Lucy, oh God, Kitten,” he cried, reaching her in two strides and having to pry her clenched fingers from the cane. He threw it away from him, hearing it strike the wall before clattering to the floor. He swept her up into h
is arms and strode from the room, kicking his own door open. He sank into his leather chair, holding her tight. He buried his face in her curls, his tears soon wetting her hair.
“Papa?” she said softly when she realized he was crying. “Oh, Papa, don’t,” she said. “Don’t cry … please, Papa, I’m … I’m sorry …”
“Oh God, Kitten, no,” he said, lifting his head and cupping her face between his hands. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m sorry. God, forgive me. I … I should have killed him.” “No, oh no,” she said, reaching up to cup his cheek. “He … he didn’t really hurt me. I knew you’d come for me.”
Hearing the absolute surety in her voice, his heart ached with his failure to protect her. The fact that another man had struck her, had caused her pain, consumed him. Her own eyes filling, Lucy bent forward to kiss him softly. He responded and savagely pressed his mouth against hers, kissing her with every fiber of his being, branding her lips to assure her that he was there, that she had nothing more to fear. He’d never forgive himself for what had happened, but he would find a way to make her forget and to feel safe again.
It was much later when he calmed enough to simply cradle her, her lips very tender from his repeated kisses. “Why?” he asked softly.
“Frannie looked …”
“No, Kitten, not that,” he said. “God, you were so brave. I am so proud of you for standing up for your sister. I’m so grateful you had the courage to intervene. Why did you go to your nursery and not stay with your sisters?”
“You … you said go, and I thought you meant to my nursery. I … I thought I’d be in trouble for kicking and slapping Mr. Drakemore,” she confessed. “He was your guest, and … and I shouldn’t have …”
“No, Lucy, you shouldn’t have had to do anything. I should have listened to my gut. I knew something was wrong. I should have spoken to Frannie before today. I knew she was hiding something. It is not your fault. It is mine, and I accept all the responsibility. You thought I was going to punish you, didn’t you? That’s why you bared yourself; that’s why you had the cane.”
“Yes,” she said. “I … I thought you were angry with me when you yelled at me to go.”
“I just wanted you safely away, Kitten,” Lucas said, smiling down at her. “I didn’t want you to see your Papa like that. I’m so sorry you misunderstood.”
“It’s all right,” she said, and then shivered. “He … he won’t come back?”
“No, he will never return. I’m sure he is even now at home, trying to explain his broken nose,” Lucas said, and saw her eyes widen. “No, little one, you didn’t break his nose, I did.”
“I’m glad,” she giggled, and then looked a bit ashamed of herself.
He smiled and kissed her again, “That makes two of us.” He helped her to stand and unhooked her dress, patting her bottom before pulling up her drawers. She shivered and turned back to him.
“Thank you,” she said.
“No, Lucy, thank you,” he said softly. “Come, let’s go find the others. I know Frannie wishes to thank you herself.”
They went downstairs to find that no one had eaten. Everyone had wanted to wait until the entire family was gathered. Edith served a portion of the meal herself, bending to embrace Lucy and then Frannie, not saying a word, just reassuring herself that her girls were indeed safe. The meal was a quiet one; they were all relieved and feeling grateful for their family. It was only after the meal, when they gathered in the library, that Frannie attempted to explain her confusion on what to expect when her season began.
“You were gone overseas,” Frannie said, softly. “I … I had danced with Richard Drakemore, but Miss Browning told me that it wasn’t proper to accept another dance. Walter had already asked for a place on my dance card, and she said that, as the oldest in his family, he would be the only acceptable suitor. I … I couldn’t ask Bea because she had been ill, and she stayed home. I had begged Uncle Frank to allow Miss Browning to chaperone, and I didn’t want to disobey her. I … I am so sorry. Walter told me that, since Bea had married a man that wouldn’t inherit, it was my responsibility to make sure I wed a man that would become a Lord and have his own lands. I was so stupid. I believed him when he said our family’s status and reputation would suffer unless I obeyed him. He told me that you went to America in an attempt to gain investors in the folly of raising racehorses—that Hunter’s Ridge was failing. If I cared for my family, I’d spurn all other suitors and wed him. If … if I didn’t, he’d make sure Hunter’s Ridge would continue to fail.” She paused for a moment and wiped her tears away. “Lucas, I am so sorry. After the ball, when Frank and Bea kept asking me what was wrong, I was afraid that they would be hurt if I told the truth. You … you were gone again, courting Lucy, and … and then you wed and came home. I could tell you were happier than you’ve been since Father and Maman passed. I … I didn’t want to cause trouble. You’ve always done so much for us, sacrificed your own life until we were grown … I didn’t want to be a burden. Miss Browning told me that I was being just a silly girl—that I should consider myself lucky to have captured his attention. She … said that I’d learn to love Walter. I … I tried but … but when he … he …”
When she was unable to continue, Lucas went to his sister, wrapping her in his arms. “Frances, I’m sorry you’ve been made to shoulder a burden that is nothing but a lie. I should have come home earlier. It was my responsibility to introduce you to society, to be here to help guide you,” Lucas said. “Let this be a lesson to us all. We are a family and love each other. It is not your responsibility to worry about such things, Frannie—and I assure you that Hunter’s Ridge is in no danger of failing. With the expansion of the horse breeding, it will continue to prosper.” He lifted her chin with his hand and looked down into her eyes. “Sweetheart, I need to ask you something, and I want you to tell me the truth. Did Mr. Drakemore ever attempt to … to force you to do anything …”
“No!” Frannie gasped, “he ... he’s only kissed me, I swear.”
The relief Lucas felt was evident to everyone as his entire body relaxed. “Thank you, Frannie. I want you to understand that your heart is your own. I don’t care whom you marry, as long as you truly love him and he is a good man and returns that love. Marriage is too important to bind yourself to a man who is not worthy of you, one who doesn't thank God every day that you’ve chosen to spend the rest of your life as his wife.”
“Oh, Lucas,” Frannie said, once more throwing her arms around him. “I want to marry someone like Papa or you or Frank. I want to be loved like I saw Maman and I see Bea and Lucy loved. If I can’t find that, then I guess you’ll just be stuck with me forever.”
“I don’t ever want to discover you keeping such fears inside again, Frances,” Lucas said, his tone soft but firm. “I’ve very rarely had to take you in hand, but little sister, I shall not hesitate to remind you of what happens when little girls don’t obey. If you have doubts, just ask your sisters.”
Lucy, Bea, and Ettie all smiled and nodded, and Lucy realized she felt no embarrassment or shame admitting Lucas meant business. She felt safe among her family and knew that, while Walter had no care if he physically harmed her or Frannie, her husband only used his strength to discipline in love, never once raising his hand in anger.
Returning her sisters’ smiles with her own, having no doubt that her brother meant every word, Frannie nodded, “Yes, Sir.” He gave her a kiss on her forehead and then made her squeal and giggle by tickling her, as he had when she was a young child.
“I have no fear that I shall be stuck with you, Frannie. I promise this house will soon be full of suitable young men vying for your hand,” Lucas said, happy to hear her giggle and see the smile that lit her face, realizing it was the first time since he’d returned home that her face showed no sign of tension. He turned to look at Ettie and smiled. “As for you, little sister, God help us all when you are presented!” Ettie giggled, and the evening ended on that note. Hand in hand, Ettie and
Frannie were both laughing and visualizing possible suitors as they retired. Bea and Frank left the library arm-in-arm as evening descended over Hunter’s Ridge.
***
Since Molly was still out, Lucas helped Lucy change for bed. Lucas took her hand and drew her to him, bending to kiss her softly. Her body instantly responded as his arms wrapped tightly around her small frame. With one motion, he picked her up and walked across the hall to his chambers and sat in his favorite chair, cradling her on his lap. With a very contented sigh, Lucy snuggled into him, the day’s tension disappearing. Lucas dropped a kiss on her head and then reached for a small box that was on the table by his chair. Inside a ring was nestled against purple velvet.
“This belonged to my mother,” Lucas said as he took the ring out and slipped it onto her finger. “No one will ever question our marriage again.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said softly, but then looked into his eyes: “Papa, I don’t need a ring. I have your necklace, and I cherish it. I don’t care what other people think. I know I’m yours.
“And I’m yours, Kitten,” Lucas said, bending to give her a kiss. “It is my wish for you to wear my ring as well. I was wrong when I thought doing so might confuse your roles. We both know the roles you’ve vowed to assume. Let your necklace remind us both that you are my heart, my life, and my love. My ring on your finger will tell the world that you will always be my wife.” Lucy lifted her face to accept his kiss, her eyes bright. Satisfied that no one would dare make the same accusations as had Drakemore, he stood and laid her on the bed, joining her as they shared their deep love that no one would ever be able to destroy.
Chapter 19
Lucy’s eyes widened when Molly led her into her nursery after her morning bath. Instead of her normal, childish attire, she was dressed in one of her dresses that she had forgotten had been packed away. As Molly brushed out her hair, deftly pinning the curls up instead of allowing her hair to remain loose, Lucy finally found her voice.
