Page 15 of Unbound Duchess

Ellen’s eyes flew open, and she looked around. The sprawling mansions and manors of Mayfair had been replaced with single-floor, thatched-roof dwellings on the opposite side of the street. Before her stood the two-story inn, its sign and the single lantern below it swinging slightly in the breeze. There were no words on the sign. Just three symbols. A bed. A bowl. A mug. An inn that served food and ale. An inn that served people who were not raised in good enough circumstances to be taught to read, so they relied on symbols to tell them what place it was.

How long had they been driving? It must have been well over an hour that she became lost in her thoughts, she surmised as Jacob helped her down. She started to feel embarrassed over how quickly she’d fallen into the memory, but then Jacob began to speak as he opened her bag and put a small sack inside it.

“Right, my lady. This is where I must leave you,” Jacob said, the sack in his hands clinking as he placed it inside her satchel. “This was your father’s private coffer. I know it formally belongs to the new Earl of Highcastle now, but I thought God would forgive me if I gave it to you instead. Use it well, and you should be able to afford a small cottage when you get to the coast of Clacton. You will most likely have to find some sort of work at some point, I am sorry to say, but this should at least pay your way for a little while.”

“Jacob,” Ellen breathed, overcome with gratitude and fear for him. “You should not have done that! You risked so much! If the lord finds out you took this, he could have you severely punished!”

Jacob shook his head.

“He has taken up residence in your father’s quarters for over a week now. If he had known about the secret cache, he would surely have taken it before today. He will never know,” he assured her.

Movement stirred out of the corner of Ellen’s eye, and she turned to find a kind, middle-aged woman waving at them from the inn’s side door.

“That is my aunt,” Jacob said, nodding to her. “She is allowing you to stay free of charge tonight. She will have a driver arranged for you by tomorrow evening, but I am sorry to say that it will not be free. Allow my aunt to haggle for you for the best price. As I said, you will have to stretch your father’s coffer as far as you can.”

From behind them, the sound of distant hoofbeats emerged.

“Go now, my lady,” Jacob urged as he bowed his head. “Be happy if you can.”

“Take care of Sarah,” Ellen whispered, stepping back.

“With my life,” he swore, and without another word, he climbed back into the buggy and snapped his reins, sending the horses into a trot and back onto the road.

Jacob’s aunt was kind but quiet as Ellen hurried toward her. She put a hand around her shoulder as the older woman hurried her through the tavern, where a few peasants still lingered and drank their wages away. She led her up the creaky steps to the second floor.

“I do apologize for the plainness, my lady,” the woman offered as she opened the last door at the end of the hall.

Ellen stepped into the room and took in the small bed and table, sparse walls, and small lamp. She shook her head as she turned around.

“It is perfect,” she said, reaching into her satchel. “Please, allow me to pay you for your generosity.”

She held out a coin, but the woman put her hands up in refusal.

“I was where you were once,” the woman whispered, an old pain flaring in her eyes. “I had to rely on the kindness of others to escape. We must keep that circle going, you and I.”

Understanding flooded Ellen’s mind, and she bowed her head in respect.

“I know it will be difficult, but try to sleep,” the woman urged. “This might be your last night in a bed for quite a while. I shall bring you up some wine shortly; it will help calm your nerves.”

Ellen watched the door to her room close, then listened to the sound of fading footsteps. She turned back to the room, and for the first time in nearly a day, she drew in a deep breath. She had done it. She had escaped.

Out of nowhere, a small laugh burst from her lips. She cupped her hand quickly over her mouth, not at all sure why she’d done so. Then another laugh rose, taking over her body as a tear escaped down her smiling face.

She would miss her home and the comforts it had provided, but she knew without a doubt that her father would be proud of her.

A soft knock came to the door as she let out another giggle, and she shook her head at her own strangeness as she went to answer it, thinking it was Jacob’s kind aunt with the wine she had promised. She opened the door, still smiling, and was greeted by a harsh slap that sent her stumbling backward.

“You dare run from me?!” Benedict snarled, rushing toward her as fresh pain bloomed in her cheek.

“Let go of me!” she screamed, digging her nails into his fists that were wrapped tightly around the edges of her cloak.

He let out another feral snarl as he shook her so hard her teeth snapped together, sending more pain scurrying through her already bruised face.

“You do not get it, do you?” he asked through gritted teeth as he dragged her from the room. “You are mine now.”

“No!” she cried, struggling with all her might against his grip as he forced her down the stairs.

“You will learn,” he said, with a dark chuckle as he hauled her past the curious drunkards in the tavern. “One way or another, you will learn to obey me.”