Page 92 of The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth
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Charlotte paced in her cell. Six days. Six long, boring days of pacing, crying, cursing, and telling Lord Barton at least once a day that she would rather go to the worst jail in all of England than grace his bed with her presence.
She dropped to the cot and held her head in her hands. Her beautiful wedding gown was a wrinkled mess. She’d been given cold water once a day to wash. Her food had started off being appetizing, but the last two days she’d been given no more than stale bread. He was trying to break her, and with no one to help her, fear grew that Lord Barton would win.
He’d visited her every day, and every day she’d told him to leave her alone. It had reached the point where she was almost afraid of him. He did not like to be crossed, which was why he had the entire town under his thumb. The few people over the years who had tried to stand up to him had met with unfortunate accidents. Nothing that could be proven, of course, but a burned-out barn, a crippled horse, and water supplies diverted from much-needed plots of land, had taught intended lessons.
“Mrs. Pennyworth, you have a visitor.”
She continued to hold her head in her hands and shake her head. “Go away. Tell Lord Barton I do not wish to see him. Just leave me alone.”
“I am not Lord Barton.” Her head snapped up at the familiar voice.
Her heart thumped and she had to grip the sides of the cot to keep from flinging herself into Elliot’s arms. He looked as bad as she felt. He appeared to have suffered many a sleepless night. His hair was in disarray, as though he’d endlessly run his fingers through it. His normally perfect tie was askew, and his clothes were as wrinkled as her gown.
He eyed her with caution, almost as if he were holding his breath. She bit her knuckles as she returned his regard. Oh, how she’d missed him.
The cad.
“What are you doing here?” She raised her chin, glorying as he cringed at her icy tone.
Elliot turned to the guard. “Leave us, if you will, please.”
“Since his lordship said it was all right, it’s fine with me.” The man turned and headed down the corridor to the main room. The sound of a door closing told her he’d left them completely alone.
“How did you do that? No one does anything without Barton’s permission.”
Elliot took two steps into the cell and attempted to reach for her. “Charlotte.”
She stood and raised her hand, her palm facing him. “Don’t. Don’t come any closer.”
He stopped, his hands dangling at his sides. “Just let me say, before we talk about us—”
“—there is nous.” She hugged her middle and turned her back on him. “Just go away, Elliot.” But she didn’t want him to go away. Not really, and that was frustrating. She still loved him and hadn’t realized that fact until he walked into her cell. Damn his hide.
She jumped as he touched her shoulder.
“Before we talk about us—and yes, my love, there is anus—I want you to know that all charges against you have been dropped, and you are free to go.”
Just like that.
She’d spent two years worrying about being found, had been dragged off to jail on her wedding day, sat here for six days while that vile man had attempted to coerce her into his bed, and then Elliot appeared, and the charges were dropped.
She turned to face him. “How?”
He rubbed the back of his neck and stared at his feet. “Once I realized what a bloody arse I was to send you off with the inspectors, I met with Scotland Yard, and got more information about your so-called charges.”
She raised her eyebrows. “So-called?”
“Yes. It was obvious from the start that you were set up.”
A very unladylike snort escaped her. “You certainly didn’t think so when I was dragged away on our wedding day.”
“Yes. And I told you I was an arse.” He took her by the shoulders, and stared at her, his eyes full of pain. “If you had only told me about this, it could have been cleared up a long time ago.”
“How dare you say that!” She drew back and walked away from him. “You didn’t believe me when I summoned you to my house to help. Why should I think you would have believed me if I had told you before then?”
When he didn’t answer, she said, “Then I am free to walk out right now?”
