AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Your brother deserves revenge,” Keyon said calmly.
“You are both out of your minds! You did not seduce me. I—”
“I did,” Keyon protested. “And I understand. When my sister was seduced by a man, I ordered her to stay at home, too. I locked her in her room and refused to let her out. And now she’s dead.”
“Are you threatening Eloise?” Ford growled.
“On the contrary. I shall defend her with my life. Whether she is with me or not.”
“But it is I who decides where I want to be, is it not?” Eloise asked. “Please, Ford. Put the gun away and let him… let us leave.”
“Let you leave?” Ford repeated, astounded.
“I am cold. He is injured. We need to be taken care of. Please, Ford. Do not let your pride or-or sense of revenge get the better of you. I love him. And no matter what you say or do, this will not change.”
“I, for one, would love a cup of coffee,” William said from the side and walked toward the horse, not paying the armed thief-takers any heed.
Ford studied Eloise’s face before handing his shotgun to Jamison. He stripped off his coat and covered Eloise’s shoulders with it. “Why in the devil are you wet?”
Eloise let out a chuckle. “Now you are asking.”
Ford threw a sidelong gaze toward Keyon. “Did he abduct you again?”
Eloise shook her head. “No, dear brother. I escaped again. I am sorry. But you won’t be able to keep me from now on. I belong to him.”
* * *
Keyon woke up to a soft female singing voice.Mama?
His mother used to sing to him when he was little. But his mother was long gone.
This melody sounded familiar, but Keyon’s hazy mind could not remember where he’d heard it from. He shifted on a soft mattress and felt his entire body ache.
What happened? Where am I?
He groaned as he shifted again. His limbs refused to listen to him, and his eyelids were too heavy to open.
The melody did not cease, and he was glad it didn’t. It was lovely.
“I see you are awake,” the voice sang and brought Keyon out of his musings. He knew that voice all too well. Grace.
“Here, drink some water.” She handed him a glass and watched him take a few sips.
Keyon fell back against the pillows, his strength abandoning him. Grace took some salve and rubbed it onto his lips.
“You haven’t eaten or drunk anything for days. It’s so your lips don’t crack,” she said.
“Eloise,” he croaked. The last thing he remembered was diving after Eloise into the murky waters of Thames. Had he succeeded in retrieving her? Had she survived?
Grace sat on the bed beside him and patted his hand. “I suppose my mission here is over. The curse is finally broken, so you do not need me anymore.”
The curse?Keyon’s panicked mind tried to grasp at any bit of information, but he couldn’t concentrate. What did the curse say? That only the death of his true love could break it? Keyon gripped Grace’s hand.
“Eloise,” he repeated.
A slow smile appeared on Grace’s lips. “She is resting in another room. And you should rest too.”
“I need to see her,” he croaked again, although his eyes were already closing.
