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Feeling tired and drained, Scarlett pulled into the drive of Terini Manor nearly three hours later. She was surprised to see catering vans parked around the side, before remembering today was Halloween. They always threw a lavish Halloween party, complete with decorations and resplendent costumes. Scarlett’s dress should still be hanging in her wardrobe.
She limped her way into the house and surprised Marcia into dropping a vase of flowers on the floor. The water soaked into the carpet, and the maid hastily bent down to dab at it. “Where’s my father?” Scarlett asked.
Marcia looked up. “He’s at the golf course, but your sisters are upstairs.”
Scarlett suddenly realized there was fear in Marcia’s tone when she spoke to her, and she was uncomfortable when she remembered Carter’s remarks.
She limped up the stairs, grimacing at the pain in her foot, and found her sisters in Lecy’s suite. They flocked around her. “Has he let you go?” Chrys asked as she hugged her sister. “Has he released you from that awful deal? Did Father take care of everything?”
“I left,” Scarlett said. “I couldn’t stand to be there another moment. He’s terrible, simply terrible. He’s cruel and abrasive, and he treats me like a pariah.”
Lecy patted her sister on the shoulder. “You did the right thing in coming home, sister. We’ve missed you so much.” She hugged Scarlett once more, and then said, “Perhaps you can help us with the caterer. We can’t understand a thing he says, and he just gets impatient with us.”
Sighing, Scarlett sank onto Lecy’s mattress, sprawling on her back. “I’ll do my best,” she promised around a yawn, “But first I need a nap. It was a long drive, and my ankle is hurting.”
“What did he do to you?” Chrys asked at the same time Lecy said, “Why didn’t you fly?”
Scarlett chose to answer Lecy first, “My card was declined.” She was almost amused at their looks of horror. “Either there’s been a billing error, or Father hasn’t paid the bill in two months.”
“No.” Lecy gasped. “It can’t be.”
Chrys burst into tears. “Are we poor now, Scarlett?”
Scarlett tilted her head, searching for a pillow, “We might be.” It didn’t matter much to her either way, though she would miss some of the advantages of being wealthy.
“If you go back to that man, will we be rich again?” Chrys asked, worriedly gnawing at her lip. She was older than Scarlett by a year, but she often turned to her for comfort, as Lecy was not the nurturing type. “I don’t want to be poor,” she wailed.
“Are you suggesting she go back to that monster?” Lecy demanded. “He’s already beaten her once. Is your comfort worth her sacrifice?”
Chrys cried harder. “I didn’t know he’d beaten her.”
“He didn’t beat me,” Scarlett interjected around her sister’s hysterics. “I fell in a stream and twisted my ankle. Carter had nothing to do with that.” Sitting up, she turned her attention to Chrys. “He is not giving Father money for me,” she corrected gently. “He’s only allowing Father an extension on their deal, so we won’t be rich again if I go back to him. Only Father can make that happen.”
“Of course you aren’t returning to that man,” Lecy said firmly. “It’s absolutely ridiculous.” She shook her head. “I won’t allow Father to send you back.”
Scarlett allowed their words to wash over her and lull her into sleep. Her last thought was of Carter, marching in to claim his property. His virgin sacrifice...her eyes blinked momentarily, but she was too tired to let that disturbing thought keep her awake.
She awoke to the sound of arguing and her heavy eyes slowly drifted open. “You can’t send her back, Father,” Lecy screeched.
“So you’re finally awake,” Rocco said grimly, leaning over Scarlett. “I hope you know what a precarious position you’ve placed us all in now.”
“I couldn’t stay there.” Her voice was more scratchy from her nap. “He was cruel to me, Father, and he tried to tell me lies about you.”
A peculiar change happened to Rocco at those words. His face paled, great beads of sweat popped out on his forehead, and his eyes bulged. He staggered back. “What’s he been telling you? None of it’s true.” He sounded half-hysterical. “It was all just business.”
Scarlett frowned. “All he said was...” She shot a look at Lecy and Chrys. “Well, never mind what he said. I knew it wasn’t true.”
“Has he harmed you?” Rocco asked after calming down a bit.
Shaking her head, Scarlett admitted, “He’s not laid a finger on me.” She blushed, remembering who had initiated the kiss. “Carter Braxton is not a nice man,” she said rather lamely.
“I realize that,” Rocco said dryly. “But you must go back. Call him and let him know you’re returning tonight.”
“It’s a three-hour drive, Father,” Lecy said. “The party...can’t she please stay tonight?”
Rocco ran a hand through his hair. “I suppose, if Carter will allow it.”
“I don’t want to go back.” Scarlett firmed her shoulders. “I refuse to go back.”
