Bat out of Hell (10 page)

“
Martha,
please
see
this
young
lady
to
the
red
guestroom.
”
Gabriel
let
her
go,
and
the
angular,
pock
faced
woman
let
her
lean
against
her
arm.

“
This
way.
”
Her
voice
was
firm
but
gentle,
and
it
made
Ava
long
for
home
and
her
parents.

Why
did
I
ever
do
this?
Will
I
never
learn
what's
best
for
me?

After
what
seemed
ages,
they
made
it
up
the
winding
staircase
and
down
a
drafty,
dim
hallway
to
a
room.
The
woman
slowly
cracked
the
door
open,
as
if
something
might
be
waiting
for
her
behind
it.

“
You
will
find
a
nightgown
and
other
clothing
in
the
chifferobe.
Master
keeps
them
there
in
case
he
has
guests.
”
The
woman's
lips
drew
into
a
thin
line,
and
her
gaze
shifted
away
from
Ava's.

“
Yes,
thank
you.
”
Ava
tottered
the
few
steps
to
the
bed.

“
Will
you
need
me
to
dress
you?
”
Martha's
voice
was
frosty.

“
No.
No,
thank
you.
That
won't
be
necessary.
”
To
prove
her
words,
Ava
took
a
deep
breath
and
pushed
herself
off
the
bed
toward
the
chifferobe.

Just
a
few
more
steps.
.
.

The
door
closed
as
she
made
her
way
across
the
hardwood
floor
and
what
seemed
like
an
ocean
of
distance.
Ava
grabbed
the
knob
and
pulled
the
chifferobe
open,
gasping
at
the
large
collection
of
garments
hanging
there.

She
pulled
a
few
off
the
hangers.

“
They
all
seem
to
be
my
size.
”
She
marveled
for
a
moment
and
then
thrust
her
hands
into
the
bunch,
looking
for
a
nightgown.
Her
eyes
drooped,
and
she
knew
sleep
was
coming
to
claim
her.

Her
fingers
found
a
filmy,
blue
gown,
quite
demure
and
proper,
but
with
lovely
lace
edging,
the
sort
she
longed
to
have.
Her
parents
were
too
conservative
with
money
to
spend
such
an
amount
on
frivolities.
Education
was
another
matter.
They
spent
dearly
for
it.

The
thought
brought
a
frown
to
Ava's
face
as
she
stumbled
back
to
the
bed,
dragging
the
gown.

Ava
leaned
against
it,
trying
to
keep
her
balance.
For
some
reason,
she
loathed
the
thought
of
calling
the
servant,
Martha,
back,
so
she
twisted
her
dress
until
it
came
up
over
her
head.
Not
having
to
fight
with
a
corset
was
a
mercy.
She
had
quit
wearing
one
along
with
her
peers
a
year
ago.

Ava
pulled
the
silky
gown
on
with
some
trouble,
enjoying
the
slick
feel
of
it
against
her
skin.

Why
am
I
so
disoriented?
Could
it
only
be
the
wine?

She
hoped
so
as
she
fell
into
the
bed,
the
covers
already
turned
down.
Sometime
during
the
night,
a
voice
called
her
name.

Ava
struggled
against
exhaustion,
trying
to
decide
if
she
were
awake
or
asleep.
The
voice
sounded
like
one
from
a
dream.

“
Ava,
I've
come.
Let
me
in.
”

She
pulled
the
covers
over
her
head,
ignoring
the
sound.

I'm
dreaming.
It's
only
a
trick
of
the
wine.

“
Ava,
please
let
me
in.
”
The
voice
demanded
a
response.

Ava
sucked
in
a
breath,
afraid.
She
recognized
the
timbre
of
it.
It
is
Gabriel
Dunning.

“
No,
this
can't
be
happening.
”
Her
whisper
was
muffled
by
the
blankets
over
her
head.

He's
trying
to
seduce
me.
What
a
fool
I
am!

“
Come,
Ava.
Make
this
easy
on
us.
”
An
edge
came
into
the
call
this
time.

“
Easy
on
us?
There
is
no
us,
and
I
won't
let
you
in.
It
wouldn't
be.
.
.
proper,
”
she
whispered.
She
burrowed
under
the
covers,
and
the
voice
cajoled
her.

“
Just
say
yes
and
I'll
come
in.
”

“
No.
”
She
spoke
loudly,
meaning
it.
If
he
were
at
the
door,
he
would
just
have
to
leave.