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Don’t breathe, Sophie. Don’t breathe. Don’t breathe in the chemical on the handkerchief.
Don’t…
Breathe…
* * *
Zach felt better than he had in days as his coach made its way to the Brighton estate. Defying his doctor’s orders, he had left his home. His head was feeling fine, and he had his energy back. He needed to see Sophie and make sure she was all right. She had not been allowed to visit him in the hospital, and he would not have wanted her to see him that way anyway. But now all was right with the world, and he was coming to see the woman he loved. He pushed his feet against the floor of the coach, willing it to move faster. When they finally arrived at the manor, he alighted quickly and nearly ran to the door and knocked.
Graves answered, his lips in a stern line.
“Mr. Graves,” Zach said, a smile on his face, “I have come to see Lady Sophie.”
“Of course,” Graves said. “I will see if she is able to receive you.”
Zach stood in the foyer, waiting for Sophie. His feet wanted to dance a jig, so elated was he to be able to see the woman he loved.
A few moments later, Graves returned. “I’m afraid Lady Sophie is not receiving visitors today.”
“Did you tell her it was me?” Surely Sophie would want to see him.
“I did indeed. She said to please forgive her, but she is not feeling up to visitors today.”
“How very odd. I was sure she would want to see me.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Mr. Newland. Perhaps tomorrow.”
Very odd. Zach’s neck chilled. Something wasn’t right. “What about Lord and Lady Brighton. Are they here?”
“I’m afraid no one is receiving today, sir.”
Zach left, sadness embracing him. He had so looked forward to seeing his lady.
Well, she would be at rehearsal tomorrow. Although his understudy would be performing the next two shows, Zach would still oversee the rehearsal, and he would see Sophie then. As he rode out, the summer sun was setting over the horizon in radiant rainbows of pink, violet, and orange.
He returned home, ate a small supper prepared by his chef, and retired to his chamber, his head hurting a bit. The doctor said he would have headaches for a few weeks. He took a headache powder, lay down, and fell into slumber. He would see Sophie on the morrow at rehearsal.
* * *
Sophie awoke in darkness, trembling with icy fear. She had been abducted once before, when a group of zealots against obscene literature had mistaken her for Ally and had taken her because they thought she was writing erotica. In truth, Ally had been the one writing the erotica. Evan and Ally had rescued her, but not without Evan getting shot. He recovered fully, thank God, but here she was in the same peril again. Someone had taken her.
She searched her mind. Yes, she had been on her way to the livery to have a coach take her to Zach’s house. She desperately needed to see the man she loved. She waited while her eyes got used to the darkness. Soon, a window drew her gaze, moonlight streaming in. So it was nighttime. She had no idea what time it was or even if it was the same day.
Footsteps shuffled in the other part of the house. For this was a house, wasn’t it? She was lying on
a bed. Her hands were bound together, as were her feet. She couldn’t move.
Her mouth was dry and parched. Perhaps they would give her some water?
“Hallo? Is anyone here?”
The shuffling came nearer.
“I…I am quite thirsty. May I have a drink of water?”
“We should have blindfolded her,” a voice said.
“He didn’t say to. He told us to bind her hands and feet, which we did,” another voice said.
