“You will just need to trust me.”
The door opened, and Lord Worthington shoved Ellie into the darkened room. He closed and locked the door behind them, then walked over to the candle on the table and lit it.
Ellie’s eyes scanned the small room. There was a bed along the back wall, a writing desk near it, and a droopy chair that didn’t look like it could even support her weight. It was a far cry from the conditions she was used to.
Lord Worthington huffed. “I must question if this is truly their best room,” he muttered under his breath. “It isn’t even fit for my dog.”
Ellie wrapped her arms around her waist as she watched Lord Worthington sit down on the lumpy bed.
He gave her an amused look. “Your virtue is safe from me tonight, if that is what you are worried about.”
“How can I be certain of that?”
“It matters not, because I will be your husband in a few days, and I will just take whatever I want, whenever I want,” he said with a smug smile on his lips.
She tilted her chin defiantly. “I will not marry you.”
“It is quite irksome that you are still in denial,” he grumbled.
“Perhaps you will finally get it through your hard head.”
Lord Worthington gave her an exasperated look. “I am tired of fighting with you,” he said. “You are more than welcome to come sleep on the bed with me.”
“I think not,” she declared.
“Then sleep on the floor,” he remarked with a wave of his hand. “Frankly, I care not where you sleep.”
“May I have a blanket to rest my head on?” she asked.
He shook his head. “There is only one, and I require the use of it.”
Ellie debated about removing the muff pistol from her reticule, but she knew this was not the time to do so. She would wait until he fell asleep, and then she would sneak out. With any luck, she could convince the innkeeper to help her.
Lord Worthington laid his head on the pillow. “I hope you have no grand ideas of escaping, because I have two footmen standing guard in the hall.”
Drats.
Ellie walked over to the chair and dragged it towards the opposite side of the room. She sat down, and it groaned under her weight. She rested her head against the wall and hoped she would be able to fall asleep.
A knock came at the door, and Lord Worthington sat up. He pointed his finger at her. “You will remain where you are, if you know what is good for you.”
He walked over to the door and opened it a crack. After a moment, he opened it wide, and a young serving girl walked into the room with a tray of food. She put the tray on the writing desk. “Will there be anything else?”
Ellie spoke up. “Do you by chance have any chocolate?”
“We do not,” the serving girl replied, “but I could bring up some tea.”
“That would be nice,” Ellie replied.
The serving girl tipped her head. “I will be just a moment.”
After she departed, Lord Worthington locked the door and returned to the bed. He picked up a piece of cheese and tossed it into his mouth. He was still chewing when he asked, “Aren’t you hungry?”
As if on cue, her stomach growled. “I am.”
“Don’t be shy,” he encouraged. “Come help yourself.”
Ellie rose from the chair and slowly walked over to the bed. She watched in disgust as Lord Worthington chewed with his mouth open, allowing pieces of food to escape.
