Page 67 of Loving an Earl
“Thank you. I will think on it. Meanwhile,” she took the last sip of the brandy-laced tea and winced, “if you will excuse me, I’m going to rest. I’m not ready to talk about it.”
*
As soon asshe was gone, Emmeline said, “Tell us what happened. I was so afraid for Lilly. I drove mother and Blackstone mad as I paced the floor.”
Edmund told them what he knew. As he said the words, he was thrown right back to the moment they’d caught up with the coach. His heart had pounded inside his chest and he found it hard to hear anything. All he had wanted to do was get Lilly and never let her out of his sight again. He would profess his love and beg for her forgiveness for being an utter arse.
However, when he finally saw the horror on her face and in her eyes, he’d almost vomited. When he held her trembling body in his arms while she sobbed, his heart had broken for her. He knew at that moment he would do anything for her. He should have shot Redford on the spot. Or, at the very least, beaten him to within an inch of his life. It would have been no more than he deserved.
The vacant stare in Lilly’s eyes just now as she exited the room tortured him anew. He would do everything in his power never to see that look in her eyes again.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Daisy was waitingfor Lilly when she dragged her feet inside her chambers.
“My lady,” Daisy said as she hurried to her side. “You must be exhausted from staying out all night. Would you care for a bath?”
Lilly would love a bath but didn’t trust herself not to fall asleep in the tub. “Perhaps later. Right now, I’d like to change into my night rail and sleep the whole day away.” After Daisy helped her with her clothing and tucked her in bed, Lilly lay on her back with her eyes open. Tired as she was, she was afraid to close them, afraid of what she would see.
Sleep called to her, though, and she succumbed to it. At first, she slept peacefully, her body and mind recovering from the night’s ordeal. Then, out of nowhere, her peace became turbulent.
The carriage she rode in bounced her around, causing her entire body to become bruised and battered. The darkness inside the carriage was oppressive and didn’t leave space for even a breath of air. Across from her sat a man dressed all in black. The hood of his cape covered his features. When he abducted her she never got a glimpse of his face. Who was he? And why had he taken her? Afraid to voice her questions, she stared at him, hoping he would speak and ease her fears.
Unfortunately, when he spoke, her fears were anything but eased. He spoke with a deep, guttural, almost animalistic voice. She couldn’t see him doing it, but she could hear him repeatedly smacking and licking his lips. The sound made her stomach clench with sickness. He reached up to his hood with gloved hands that looked deformed, and she gasped and then held her breath.
When the hood fell back, a scream tore from her throat. He had the face of a gargoyle. Was it a mask? After all, she had been attending a masquerade ball when he abducted her. Of course, it was a mask. Gargoyles were not real. With wide eyes, she continued staring at the man, and when he removed his mask, another scream escaped her lips.
The face staring back at her was Langford.
No. No. No. Her mind silently screamed out. Not Langford. He would never hurt her. He began laughing. Deep, deranged laughter shook the carriage, bouncing off the walls and entering her ears. She covered them with her hands and shook her head from side to side, praying the noise would stop.
When it was finally quiet, she cracked open her eyes and fainted dead away as the insane face of Redford flashed before her eyes instead.
“Lilly, wake up.”
She bolted up, almost crashing into Emmeline, who was right beside her, her hand covering her pounding heart. “Why are you here?” Lilly’s head swirled with fog, similar to when she overindulged on sherry with Henry when he still lived.
Emmeline’s worried expression softened. “You were having a nightmare. I could hear you down the hall.”
“Oh. What time is it?”
“It’s half past one. Langford is downstairs worried sick about you. He left briefly to clean up and change his clothes after that long ride, and now that he’s returned, I don’t think he’ll leave until he sees you. Are you up for a visit?”
“No, but there is much to discuss. Please send Daisy up, and then Langford at two.”
One of Emmeline’s brows shot up. “Do you think it is wise to meet with him in your room alone?”
Emmeline did not have to come right out and mention what had happened the other times he’d visited her chambers, but it was implied. Indeed, it was not wise, but Lilly didn’t have the energy to go downstairs, and she’d promised him at the masquerade they would talk. And honestly, the sooner they did, the sooner she could look to her future, whatever it held.
“No. But I am nonetheless.”
Emmeline hugged her close. “I hope you know what you’re doing. And I’m here for you when you are ready to talk. Please don’t think you have to deal with this by yourself. You have family and friends worried about you.”
“I know. I just need time.”
*
Daisy helped herdress quickly and finished doing her hair just as a knock sounded on her chamber door. Lilly’s hands shook as she pinched her pale cheeks to give her a healthier glow. “Please let Lord Langford in on your way out, Daisy.”
