Faith wanted to crawl into a corner, put her hands over her ears and cry. Watching that monster Jean-Claude torture and maim Nick was killing her from the inside out.
Each time she looked away, Joseph turned her head to face the horror. “Do not turn away, Lady Faith. You will not want to miss this.”
And part of her thought he was right. If Nick had to endure the pain, the least she could do was bear witness.
When she’d first seen the salon with none of its cozy warm furniture in place, it had given Faith pause. The stones held none of the warmth of the room where she had sat waiting for Nick’s arrival.
She hadn’t understood the meaning of the ropes until Nick had been bound to them. Nick’s blood dripped down his ribs in a slow ribbon, staining his tan breeches.
The monster made small slices on different parts of Nick’s body and then waited for Nick’s pain to subside before moving on to another spot. He dug his knife into the healing wounds on Nick’s back.
Faith couldn’t see what damage was being done, but she imagined his agony and wished she could absorb some of what he suffered.
“Tell us where the English troops will invade?” Jean-Claude kept his face close to Nick’s, taking pleasure from the misery he inflicted. He walked to the fire and placed his knife on the hearth close to the flame, then returned to Nick and kicked his legs out from under him.
The ropes pulled tight and a heartrending groan pushed out of Nick’s mouth.
Faith’s suffering couldn’t compare to his, but she’d have sworn her own back had been torn open with the strain.
Nick got his feet under him and his gaze met hers. Strength and defiance poured from his bright blue eyes even as sweat beaded along his skin. “Send the girl away. She has nothing to do with this.”
“She is insurance of your good behavior, Nicholas.” Joseph toyed with Faith’s hair.
She jerked away from his touch. Nick had told her to ignore what Joseph said, and she did her best. It was not speaking that became the hardest part when she wanted Nick to know she was with him. Not only present in the room, but with him in every way. Did he know? Would thinking it be enough to show him their connection? There were so many things she should have told him and last night had been her chance, yet she’d failed.
Pulling on his glove, Jean-Claude walked back to his blade and picked it up. The heat moved the air around the knife.
Faith bit the inside of her cheek. It was too much.
In three steps, Jean-Claude pressed the heated blade against Nick’s side and the skin seared, filling the room with the stench of burning flesh and Nick’s wailing protests.
Nick collapsed against the ropes, and while the burn did not bleed, blood ran down his arms from where he was bound. The ropes had cut into his flesh.
The burn blistered and charred.
Tears fell from Faith’s eyes; though she tried to blink them away, she couldn’t stay the flow.
Even Charles stood from where he’d perched on the windowsill. “For the love of all that is holy, Jean-Claude. Must you stink up the entire castle with the penchant for pain?”
“He knows things, Charles, and he owes us all for what he’s done. Do you want to take over the job? We would be here a month and then you would bore him into submission.” Jean-Claude sneered and circled Nick like a beast about to kill his prey.
Joseph pulled a lace handkerchief from inside his coat and placed it over his mouth and nose. “In this, I must agree with Charles. It does stink, and we’re not out of doors, Jean-Claude. Find another method to gain the knowledge in Nicholas’s pretty head.”
“Perhaps that is the answer,” Jean-Claude said. “Maybe I should cut the information out of his head. I could take an ear first.” He held the cooled blade up to Nick’s left ear.
Instead of removing the ear, he ran the tip of the blade from just under his ear down his neck and stopped at his collarbone, leaving an angry, bleeding cut in its wake.
Nick gritted his teeth but didn’t cry out. Perhaps the pain of the burn was still too severe to pay the slim cut much note.
Gut clenching, Faith could barely keep her seat as blood dripped across his chest. Not so much that he might die from the slice, but enough that the cut should be bound. She didn’t know how deep a cut needed to be for a man to bleed to death, but the vein pulsing in Nick’s throat loomed terribly close to danger. She held her breath and prayed for the miracle.
A distant and rolling noise sounded like thunder, but the sky was clear. It grew louder, but it was not thunder. The fall of many hooves on the wet roads pounded out the hope of salvation.
Charles spun toward the window facing down the lane in front of Parvus. The blood drained from his cheeks. “We are discovered.”
The other two rushed to the window.
Faith was not at an angle to see what was coming. She ran to Nick’s side, pulled the knife from the mantel, and cut through one binding before Jean-Claude turned around. Unable to free Nick’s other hand, she held the knife in front of herself and guarded him.
“I will kill you both before those troops ever reach the door.” Jean-Claude approached.
“Stay away. Run before they lock you up in an English dungeon. I can tell you from experience, you will not like it.” Faith sliced from the fiend’s chest to his abdomen before he could jump away.
Looking down at his bloody hand where he’d grabbed his cut blouse and bleeding flesh, Jean-Claude’s face twisted with surprise. “You bitch!”
“There is not time for this!” Charles grabbed Jean-Claude’s arm before he could drive a killing blow. “We must get to the horses.”
Joseph was already running toward the door. He stopped and turned toward Nick. “Another time, Nicholas.”
“Go,” Charles commanded. As soon as the other two were out the door, Charles turned back and glanced from Faith to Nick. “My debt is paid, old friend. I imagine it will be difficult even for Joseph to return to England after this. Stay safe.”
Nick managed half a nod.
Charles left at a run. The sound of his boots followed the other two out the back of the house.
Turning, Faith let her tears loose. She could barely see as she cut his other arm from the rope. Holding him around the middle, she did her best to keep him from hitting the floor as they both collapsed in a heap under Nick’s weight.
Hooves and carriages approached with the sound of men hollering.
Faith let the knife fall to the stone floor and pressed her hand to the bleeding cut under Nick’s ear. “Help!” She’d meant it to be a full scream, but it came out strangled. “Help!”
Dragging her leg out from under Nick’s, she grabbed the bottom of her dress and tore off the flowered detail that decorated the bottom few inches. She pressed the cloth against the wound. “Stay with me, Nick. Help is coming.”
Shallow breaths puffed against her neck. “I will try, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”
The front door banged open and boots stormed through Parvus.
Jane’s screams filled the room.
Faith saw the stricken maid at the threshold with her hand over her mouth.
Geb stood beside Jane looking nearly as shocked, but he recovered first. “Go and send for a surgeon.”
Relief flooded Faith and mingled with her panic that Nick’s injuries were too severe. The images blurred with more tears as she held him tight.
“They had horses.” Faith caught her breath. “They were French spies. They left a few minutes ago.”
Geb gave orders to a man in a red coat who was clearly an officer, but the man surveyed the scene and then followed them without question.
More boots on the stone floors and then silence.
A tall shadow fell over Faith. She gazed up into the kind face of Geb’s butler, Kosey.
He knelt beside them. “You will have to let him go, my lady.”
She understood the words, but she couldn’t comply. Nick had nearly died, might still die, and all he wanted was to protect her. Pressing her cheek to his, she wished for half the strength of Nicholas Ellsworth. He knowingly had decided to die for her, and she was not worthy. “I should have done more.”
Kneeling beside her, Geb said, “He is alive, my lady. That is a miracle.”
“He said it would take a miracle.” Faith glanced at Geb through watery eyes. “How did you know?”
Warmth swept through Geb’s dark eyes. “There is much to tell on both ends, but you need rest, and His Grace needs a doctor.”
Jane helped her stand while Kosey lifted Nick into his arms like he was a child. A head taller than any man Faith had ever seen, the Egyptian servant was formidable yet gentle as he carried Nick away.
“I should be with him,” Faith said through more tears that she had no explanation for, other than relief and exhaustion.
Jane wrapped her arm around Faith’s shoulders. “Come, my lady. Let’s get you cleaned up and in bed. You will be of no use to His Grace if you fall ill.”
Safe and unharmed, Faith let Jane take care of everything. She didn’t remember changing into a nightgown or getting in bed. One moment she was climbing the stairs and the next she woke from a nightmare. Everything was a blur.
Jane rushed to her bedside. “Are you all right?”
Kosey stood near the door, his eyes bright with concern. The moon shone through the window.
Lying back against the pillow, Faith yawned. “Just a bad dream. But it wasn’t a dream, was it, Jane?”
“I’m afraid not, my lady.” Jane took her hand.
“How is His Grace?” She yawned again, her eyelids heavy.
Kosey’s deep voice filled the room. “He will need much time to heal, but he will live and I believe it is thanks to you, my lady.”
As hard as she tried to deny any credit, her eyes closed and she fell into darkness.
* * * *
Blood covered Faith and Nick, or was it wine? They were drowning in it.
Faith woke, gasping for air as she sat up in the bed. The white coverlet was crisp and clean with not a sign of blood. The sun shone defiantly through the clouds and streamed through the window in shards of color.
“It’s all right, my lady. You’re safe.” Jane folded Faith’s clothes into a trunk but her eyes filled with worry.
“You’re packing.” Faith brushed her hair from her face but it tumbled back an instant later. She pushed herself to sitting, with her back against the headboard. “How is Nick? I mean, His Grace.”
“He sleeps with the help of a draught the doctor gave. He is in much pain and the burn is quite serious. I think even the doctor was shocked at the damage he’s survived. But he is alive and strong.” Jane looked up from her task and failed at an attempt to smile.
“We are being sent home?” The answer was obvious, but she asked anyway.
Jane nodded. “Mr. Arafa has arranged a carriage, and the giant will accompany us to ensure our safe return to London.”
“He is not a giant, Jane. Just a very tall man.” Faith swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Is it morning or afternoon?”
Rushing over, Jane said, “Go slowly. You have been asleep for nearly eighteen hours. It’s morning.”
Pushing to her feet, she let Jane steady her until she was sure she could manage on her own. “Help me dress so that I can go down to breakfast, Jane.”
With a resigned sigh, Jane did as she was told and helped Faith into a dress suitable for travel.
Stepping into the hall for the first time as a free woman, she stopped and surveyed the dim upstairs hallway with only one small window at the end for light. The stairs were to the left, but Faith turned right and found Nick’s door open, with a nurse and Kosey inside, watching him sleep.
“Miss, you shouldn’t be in here.” The nurse stormed over to push Faith out of the room. Her white cap fluttered as she hurried, as did the white apron tied over her blue dress.
Pulling herself to her full height, Faith put up one hand. “Do not touch me, madam. I will see him and I will do so alone.”
The nurse toyed with a ribbon of dark hair that had escaped her cap, before tucking it under the fringe. “But, miss, he’s not properly clothed for a lady to see him.”
Faith sighed, unable to muster a laugh at the ridiculous statement. “I have seen worse. Leave us. I will call you back in a few minutes.”
Kosey bowed before shooing the nurse from the room.
“When did you become so formidable, sweetheart?” Nick had appeared asleep. His eyes flickered open and his voice was rough and weak.
The white covers were pulled to just above his waist, and a mountain of pillows had been stacked behind his back. Faith stepped beside him. “I believe I have always been thus, but in private. The events of the past six days have made me see that holding back one’s true self is stupidity.”
“How will you ever forgive me?” His eyes were half closed, but his sorrow shone through.
“There is nothing to forgive. I arranged our meeting here at Parvus and tricked you into coming. Then I gave you no way to leave without acting ungentlemanly. This is my own doing, and it was you who paid the price.”
He closed his eyes.
Whatever the doctor had given him, he fell back to sleep.
Faith leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I will leave you now, Nick. I suppose this was inevitable from the start. Get better and be happy.”
Dashing away more tears, Faith took a deep breath and one last look at his face. Though swollen and bruised, he was still handsome and more importantly, kind and loving. Turning her back, she walked away.
She refused to cry anymore and strode down to the dining room. It would do no good and she had to be stronger than tears.
Geb sat reading a newspaper and drinking coffee. He looked up and grinned when she entered. “You are looking well rested, Lady Faith.”
“Thank you, and thank you for rescuing us.” She sat to his left and thanked Jamie for the cup of coffee he poured.
Thea made her a plate of sausage, toast, and jam and set it before her.
Faith smiled but then turned her attention to Geb. “Mr. Arafa, how did you get here so quickly? It’s not that I’m ungrateful, I’m just curious as to how you managed it. Nick believed it would take a day or two at a minimum before anyone could reach us.”
Nodding, he folded the paper and placed it on the table. “MacGruder nearly killed himself to get to me in two days. He is recovering in my home near London. After that, it was only a matter of convincing your government I needed a small army to leave immediately. Kosey and I set out with them and it was three days’ hard riding to get here.”
The servants’ door squeaked open and Rumple pushed his head through. Glancing around, he spotted Faith and bounded the rest of the way in. He barked and jumped until Faith pushed out of her seat and met him on the carpet.
“Look at you. I think you’ve grown bigger again.” She scratched the puppy behind the ears and hugged him to her chest.
Rumple whined and licked her chin enthusiastically.
“You know, I missed this little dog more than I realized. So much has happened, I’d almost forgotten he was here. I suppose I was afraid the worst would happen to him.” She pulled him onto her lap and hugged him tighter.
Geb laughed. “He obviously missed you as well.”
Having thought joy would never return to her life, the bundle of energy and fur was welcome. Faith sighed. “Jamie, come and take him back to the kitchen, will you?”
“Yes, my lady.” Jamie picked up Rumple and rushed out of the room.
Faith brushed out her skirt and returned to her seat. She let out a long breath and pushed aside her feelings. “Did you capture them?”
Geb’s scowl said it all. “No. The enemy spies managed to get away from Colonel Whitman and his men. I assumed they had an escape route planned all along. They’ll be on their way back to France by now. I would pay an enormous sum to get my hands on the monsters who tortured Nicholas.”
“Do you think they will try again?” A shudder ran up Faith’s spine.
Placing his hands on the table in front of him, Geb cocked his head. “I doubt it. It was a huge risk to come here to take revenge on one man. Especially when lying to each other is what they all did, still do, I imagine. Nick told me what he could. The laudanum has made a full accounting difficult, and I don’t wish for him to suffer so I can hear the story a few days earlier.”
“Shall I tell you?” The thought of recapping the past few days made Faith’s stomach roil, but she was strong and made the offer with her chin up.
Geb shook his head. “It would ruin your breakfast and you need to eat. You must be quite a woman to have survived. Did they hurt you as they hurt Nicholas?”
Sipping her coffee, she observed him over the rim of her cup. “No. I was not tortured. I was left in the wine cellar for several days and I did what I could for Nick after he was beaten.”
Saying nothing, Geb examined her as she ate. He drank more coffee and occasionally asked if she needed anything. When she put her fork aside, he said, “You will return to London. I will see to Nicholas while he recovers. It will take a long time for him to heal.”
Sighing, Faith rose and put her napkin on the chair. “I do not wish to leave him.”
“It will take much time for him to heal. It would be unseemly for you to remain. I promise he will be well cared for.” Geb’s smile was warm and reassuring.
Her heart ached at the idea of abandoning Nick after all they’d been through, but she was not his wife. How could she stay? “Thank you again, for arriving when you did. A few moments longer and this might have been a different day, Mr. Arafa.”
He rose with her and bowed. “May I give you some advice, Lady Faith?”
“Of course.” She placed her hands on the back of the chair.
“When you are home in London, these days at Parvus will not go away. Talk to your friends. Tell them what happened. Keeping horrors locked inside allows them to fester and eat away at a person’s soul. Let those nightmares out and they will heal with time.” A thousand memories flashed across Geb’s eyes and left them solemn.
“Will you listen to Nick’s stories and horrors?” she asked.
Geb held his hands out to the side. “I will be here for him should he wish to talk. He can be quite stubborn on such matters. However, you should not follow his example, my lady. Take my advice.”
“I will try my best.” Faith turned and walked to the door.
“It is all any of us can do. You are, I think, very resilient, Lady Faith Landon. I think you will do well.” Geb’s voice followed her out of the dining room.
She stopped. “I will leave the puppy here. Perhaps he will bring some happiness to Nick. Tell him that he may deliver Rumple back to me when he is well enough, should he wish to.”
“As you wish.” Geb bowed and his counsel followed her on the four-day journey back to London.