Cinderella and the Lady (17 page)

Mina curved her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “Mama, what’s the matter? You’re trembling.”

The baroness cleared her throat as she traced a finger over her papers lying on her lap. A tear dripped on the top sheet. “I can’t keep it a secret any longer. Yvonne has succeeded in getting everything she’s ever wanted while I’ve suffered.”

“Secret? Suffered?” Mina asked, staring up at Simon in confusion.

Simon sat down on the other side of the baroness. “Is there something you want to share with us?”

Kristina lifted August up on her shoulder to stop from lunging and shaking the older woman who talked nonsense. She tapped her foot and waited impatiently for the baroness to continue.

The baroness squeezed the bridge of her nose. Strain lines riddled her mouth and she looked a good ten years older. “We’re in dire straits. We’ve run out of money and have been relying on the countess for too long. Ever since Louis fell ill, Yvonne has been paying off the doctor bills and the mortgage on the house, as well as funds to feed and clothe us. For her kindness toward us, there was only one thing she asked in return.”

“Ellie?” Mina asked.

The baroness nodded. “Yvonne always liked Eleanor, even when she was a little girl. She reminded her of Angelica. It wasn’t right for—”

“It wasn’t right for Ellie to wait on you hand and foot!” Kristina lashed out, enjoying the mortified look on the baroness’s face.

“I won’t deny I was selfish, but I couldn’t let Eleanor go off with Yvonne at such a young age. I had hoped Yvonne would lose interest.”

“Mama, I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t you want Ellie to work for the countess? We could have found another servant of some sort for cleaning the house and cooking—”

Kristina couldn’t hold back her rage any longer. Placing August on the floor, she slammed her hands down on the table in front of Mina and her mother. Both women jumped while Simon crossed his arms.

“Mina, you can’t be this clueless!” Kristina spat and rapped her knuckles on the table. “Countess Tremaine wants Ellie because she lusts for her. She wants access to Ellie, much like a man would want a woman he desires.”

Mina’s eyes shot up into her forehead and she stared at her mother in shock. “Tell Lady Kristina she’s wrong! The countess would never do something so—”

“Devious or diabolical?” Kristina asked snidely and pointed her finger at the baroness. “You are quite the piece of work. You’re just as vile as the countess who could be hurting Ellie even as we speak.”

“She wouldn’t do that. She adores Eleanor in her own way,” the baroness said in a shrill voice.

Simon slapped his hands on his knees and stood. “Enough! The ride to London takes eight hours. If they left after sunrise, they have a good four hours’ lead time. I say we leave now and try to meet up with them. Maybe we’ll get lucky and the countess and her party will take a short rest at some inn along the way.”

“Yvonne and Robert always stop at the Barley Arms. It’s halfway between here and London. They’ll want to freshen up and have a meal. I hear it’s a proper establishment and they always give Yvonne the best room,” the baroness rambled on, wrinkling her papers.

The papers the baroness had were aged and yellow. For some odd reason Kristina had a feeling they might be of some importance regarding the countess or perhaps Ellie. But for now they had more pressing matters to deal with: stopping the countess from forcing Ellie to cater to her sexual needs. And if the inn had a private room, nothing could stop her from seducing Ellie or worse. Ellie would be powerless to stop her, especially if Lord Robert was involved.

Kristina shuddered at the thought of both the countess and Lord Robert forcing themselves on Ellie and raping her.

“Let’s hurry, then,” she said to Simon, then faced the baroness. “You’re coming with us even if I have to drag you.”

The baroness stood, clutching her box. She tossed the papers back inside and shut the lid. “There are some other things I should mention about my relationship with Yvonne and why Eleanor is stuck in the middle of all of this. I can’t live with myself if anything unfortunate happens to my stepdaughter.”

Kristina didn’t know if the baroness was putting on an act to gain sympathy. She wouldn’t be surprised if she was. It appeared to have worked on Mina, who held her mother close. She, on the other hand, wasn’t going to fall for it, and so she stalked out of the room.

“Mina, it would be best if you stayed here in case Ellie didn’t go with the countess and eventually returns home. We’ll take good care of your mother,” Simon said in a placating tone.

Mina nodded in agreement. “I’ll go check with Noah and his father. Perhaps they know where Ellie is,” she said brightly.

Kristina tapped the side of the door. “This is ridiculous. We know where Ellie is and with whom. We need to hurry.”

Simon pulled the baroness along, who clutched onto his arm. She whispered something to him, and as he walked out with her, he spoke in a low, soothing voice.

Kristina started to follow them when Mina touched her arm.

“What?” She didn’t bother to hide her frustration.

“Please bring Simon and Ellie back in one piece. Whatever the countess has planned for Ellie, it can’t be good, based on my mother’s reaction. I fear the worst.”

“You and I are both in accord.” She gave Mina a terse smile. “Simon and I will find Ellie. I’m planning on making her very happy for the rest of her life, if she’ll have me.”

August circled around Mina and meowed. Mina picked him up and nuzzled his head. “Good luck.”

With one last stroke on August’s back, Kristina walked out of the room. Simon waited by their carriage with the door open. When she hopped inside, the baroness sat across from her. Sobs rose from her mouth.

When Simon was settled in, he handed the baroness his handkerchief. The baroness wiped away her tears and told them about Yvonne’s obsession with Ellie’s mother that led to her death and how she ended up being an accomplice in order to get what she thought was rightly hers—Louis de Saltin.

A footman set the trunk in front of the bed. With a bow in the countess’s direction, he left, leaving the two women alone.

Ellie wiped her palms down the front of her borrowed dress. Even though it was one of the countess’s maid’s, it was still a better one than she usually wore.

“Eleanor, dear, you look like you’re going to drop!” The countess
tsked
and rested her palm against Ellie’s cheek.

She stiffened. During the carriage ride, she had suffered the countess’s touches and far-too-friendly overtures while Lord Robert dozed, unaware. She actually didn’t mind Lord Robert, who had been very kind since finding her last night. She wished he was here now instead of downstairs having a drink in the tap room.

“I didn’t get much sleep last night, and with the bumping of the carriage I couldn’t nap, my lady,” Ellie explained.
I didn’t want to take the chance of falling to sleep and having you touch me without my permission
.

The countess pursed her lips, a sign she was not amused. “One of my first rules is I expect you to call me Yvonne in private. I won’t have it any other way.”

Ellie nodded and covered a yawn, wishing she could rest. But then the countess might join her, seeing as there was only one bed to share.

“We’re in no rush to get to London. With Robert downstairs drinking, it will be hours yet before we leave. I’ll order us a light repast, and after we eat we can lie down.” The countess stretched her arms overhead, thrusting out her chest and showing off the globes of her breasts. Ellie averted her eyes and stared down at the floor.

When the countess fiddled with her hair, she glanced up again. The countess stared at her in sympathy, her touch unnerving. The only person she wanted to touch her in such a manner was Kristina. She backed away and sat down on the mattress, cutting off a weary groan.

“I’m going to order us food. I’ll be gone a short while.” The countess gave Ellie a wink and left the room.

Ellie lay back and stared up at the canopy. She missed her tiny bedroom, and August and Jack. The slippers she wore that pinched her feet made her wish for her plain clogs. She turned on her side and closed her eyes. Kristina had probably thrown away her shoes or burned them by now. Her chest tightened as memories of Kristina and their time after their lovemaking— rushed over her. What if she hadn’t overreacted, and forgiven Kristina for lying to her? Right now they could be together at the beach or experiencing more breathtaking passion in the cottage where she had fallen in love—

Love. She loved Kristina and it got her nothing but heartbreak and misery. Now she was stuck with a woman who would eventually expect her to engage in the same intimacies she had shared with Kristina.

Hiding her face in the pillow, she covered her sobs. After one final cry she would put aside all her feeling for Kristina Perrault and welcome the Countess Tremaine to do whatever she’d like to her without complaint.

* * * *

Yvonne hurried back after she requested a meal be brought up to her suite. She almost had a fit when she didn’t find Eleanor in the room, but then she heard noises coming from the water closet. She composed herself and directed one of the servants to set out their meal. With a slip of a coin, the servant left and she was alone again. She locked the door while humming under her breath and took out a small bottle filled with clear liquid. For the next few hours, she planned on keeping busy with Eleanor in bed. She would show her such pleasures, much like the ones she had always wanted to practice with Angelica but never did.

Tender memories of her deceased friend came over her as she poured two glasses of wine. She then poured a small amount of the opiate into Eleanor’s glass and swirled it around with her finger. In less than a half-hour, Eleanor wouldn’t shy away from her touch like she normally did. Soon enough they would both be naked, and she sucking Eleanor’s virgin flesh.

She had just taken her first sip of wine when Eleanor emerged from the water closet. Her eyes were red and her lips chapped. She cut off a sigh, loathing how wan Eleanor looked. Soon enough her young ingénue would be smiling and crying out in joy.

She waved at the table. “Join me in a glass of wine.”

Eleanor folded her hands in front of her. “Thank you, I don’t want any—”

“One glass won’t do you any harm. I ordered the most expensive bottle in your honor.” She gripped her glass tight as Eleanor took her seat. The next time Eleanor wouldn’t refuse her, and if she did, she would be punished. She hid her displeasure and drank more of her wine. Eleanor stared down at her plate.

“Take a few sips. It will calm your nerves.”

Eleanor lifted the glass up to her mouth, taking a tentative swallow.

Yvonne’s breath caught in anticipation. All it would take was a few sips and Eleanor would succumb to the effects of the drug.

Eleanor sniffed the wine and wiggled her nose. “This isn’t half bad.” She tipped her glass and took a big gulp.

Yvonne didn’t bother to point out Eleanor’s lacking manners. Elation spread through her body for what was to come. Her hands shook and she placed her glass back down on the table.

She bided her time, dishing out food until one of the signs she was waiting for took its notice. Eleanor’s head dipped forward. She lifted her head back up and stared up at the ceiling, wide-eyed.

“The room is spinning. Do you feel it?”

Yvonne rose from her seat and approached Eleanor. Her breasts grew heavy and her body damped in preparation for Eleanor’s sweet mouth. “Dear, you should lie down. You look like you’re ready to fall asleep.”

Eleanor almost buckled to the floor while Yvonne helped her up. She led Eleanor over to the bed and laid her down on the mattress. She unbuttoned the front of Eleanor’s dress, taking her time to run her fingers across her pale skin.

“So soft and all mine,” she crooned, and reclining on her side, she circled her tongue around Eleanor’s breast.

“That tickles.” Eleanor’s sluggish giggle hit Yvonne low in her stomach.

“I love hearing your laugh,” she whispered and scattered more kisses across Eleanor’s skin. Eleanor stared above at the ceiling, dazed.

When she unlaced her corset and tugged down the top of Eleanor’s chemise and licked her nipple, Eleanor moaned.

“Feels strange…Kristina,” Eleanor whispered and lifted her arms over her head.

Yvonne lifted up, offended.
She dares to say another woman’s name? I’ll erase this Kristina from her memory. The only name she’ll call out will be my own from now on!

Swallowing a growl, she pressed her mouth back down on Eleanor’s breast, sucking on a nipple. Her hands crept under Eleanor’s skirt and her nails scratched along the inside of Eleanor thighs when she squirmed. She bit down hard on the distended nipple and dug her nails in deeper as a warning for Eleanor to behave.

* * * *

The moment the carriage came to a halt, Kristina threw open the door and jumped out, ready to barge into the inn and tear it apart.

“Be patient and remain calm. It’s better if we don’t cause a scene. For all we know, the countess and Ellie could be in the dining room, sharing a meal together,” Simon said in a rational voice as he descended from the carriage.

Kristina inhaled deeply though her nose. She didn’t believe for a second the countess would eat with Ellie in public. The deranged woman wouldn’t want any witnesses for what she had planned.

Without waiting for Simon to accompany her, Kristina marched inside the inn and straight into the dining room. It was half filled with patrons eating and drinking. The one man she hoped to find was sitting at the end of the bar, chatting up the bartender.

Instead of confronting Lord Robert, she marched back into the foyer and waited for Simon and their footmen to join her. Soon enough three footmen came in with Simon and the baroness. She looked faint and clutched her box holding the incriminating evidence against the countess.

Kristina tugged Simon off to the side. “Lord Robert is at the bar.”

“Good,” Simon nodded. “I’ll have one of the men locate the constable and then we’ll see to him.”

“I’ll take the footmen up with me to the top floor,” Kristina said, anxious to find Ellie.

“Don’t go rushing into anything until I talk to Lord Robert,” Simon warned.

“By then it may be too late!” Kristina said and sprinted up the stairs.

She ignored Simon when he called out her name. Two of the footmen trailed behind her. She moved swiftly, with the urge to get to Ellie before all was lost.

By the time she reached the third level, she was winded. But she didn’t stop to catch her breath. She hurried over to a wide door, unlike the others on the floor, and turned the knob. It was locked. She pounded on the door. When no one answered, she motioned for one of the footman to step forward.

“Lady Kristina, what if this is the wrong room—”

“It’s not the wrong room. Break down the door. I’ll pay for the damages.”

The footman gave her a doubtful look but did as she ordered. Along with his associate, they used their shoulders to push in the door. After a few seconds, the door cracked and flew open.

She shoved aside the two men. A scream rose in her throat. The countess lay across Ellie, half-naked. Ellie’s dress was up around her hips and the countess’s hand moved in between Ellie’s legs.

“You witch! Let Ellie go!” she shouted and ran over to the countess, seizing her by her hair.

The countess screeched. Kristina dragged her off the bed and slapped her hard against the face. The countess crumpled to the floor, staring up at her in hate.

“Secure this woman,” Kristina ordered her men. She climbed on the bed and hauled Ellie into her arms. She pulled down Ellie’s skirt and righted her bodice, covering the bruises and red marks on her skin. Ellie’s eyes rolled in back of her head and she moaned.

“Everything will be all right now. We’re here to save you,” Kristina ran her hands around Ellie’s hair and face. She shook with rage over the redness marking Ellie’s throat and the swelling of her lips. She looked like she had been ravished.

The countess cursed and fought between the two men. Kristina held Ellie tighter. Her poor darling acted as if she was drunk or—drugged! For this, the countess would pay dearly.

Simon and Lord Robert walked into the room. The baroness stood in the doorway. Her mouth trembled and her eyes widened as she took in the room.

“How is she?” Simon asked Kristina.

Kristina shook her head. “I think she’s been drugged and abused. We need a doctor.”

“Eleanor hasn’t been abused!” the countess yelled and tried to escape the footmen. Simon pointed to one of the empty chairs near the table. She was thrown into a chair and held down by one of her guards.

“Are you going to deny you drugged her?” Kristina yelled, wishing she could slap the horrid woman across the face again.

The countess curled her lip and crossed her arms.

Ellie whispered Kristina’s name and rubbed her cheek against her arm. Kristina rested her mouth against the top of Ellie’s head. She didn’t want to think what the countess had done to this precious bundle.

A tall man with a salt-and-pepper mustache dressed in black with an air of authority walked in.

“You’re the constable?” Simon asked.

The man nodded. “Yes, your grace. Peter Brauns, chief constable at your service. Now before we jump to any conclusions, can you tell me what type of crime might have been committed here?”

“No crime has been committed!” The countess jumped up from her chair and rushed over to her brother. “Robbie, explain we’ve done nothing wrong and Eleanor isn’t a prisoner, but a new addition to our family.”

Lord Robert stared down at his sister, visibly uncomfortable. He squeezed the back of his neck and stepped toward the bed. Kristina curved her arms protectively around Ellie. He wiped his brow before facing everyone in the room.

“Yvonne, what did you do to the poor girl? She looks as if she drank too much. This isn’t sign of a fatigued woman,” he said in suspicion. “Did you give Eleanor something to make her more receptive to your favors?”

A look of disgust crossed the constable’s face. “Madam, what did you give this young woman?”

“I only gave her wine. How is it my fault Eleanor can’t hold her liquor?” The countess lifted her chin. “I was helping her into bed when we were rudely interrupted.”

“You lie!” Kristina snarled. “You had your hand in between her legs and your face near Ellie’s…” She stopped and glared.

The countess lifted her nose in the air and turned away to find the baroness behind her.

“Geraldine, what are you doing here?” the countess asked in a high-pitched voice.

The baroness ignored her and placed her box on the mattress. She brushed aside the curls away from Ellie’s forehead before Kristina could stop her.

“Explain to everyone in the room what you told me and my brother on the ride here,” Kristina ordered and lifted Ellie on her lap. She rocked, rubbing Ellie’s back.

The baroness and twisted her hands, looking lost.

The countess hissed the baroness’s name but was hushed by Simon, who came over to the baroness’s side.

“I’m tired of keeping secrets. Angelica’s spirit haunts me while I sleep.” The baroness clutched Simon’s arm. “I was forced to remain silent because of Yvonne’s threats and blackmail.”

“You can’t believe a thing she says! She’s a liar,” the countess cried out.

The baroness gave her a smile. “Think what you will, but your good name will be ruined and the investigation into Angelica’s death will be reopened.”

The countess pressed her lips together. “If I’m ruined, you will be also.”

The baroness released a combination sobbing laugh. “I’ve been ruined for years. Now it’s finally caught up to me.” She crossed the room and gazed out the window. “The moment I met Angelica, I was jealous of her. Louis loved her deeply and I wanted the same love they both shared. I had just lost my husband a year before and was left to fend for myself. After the de Saltins were introduced to me at church, of all places, I became so enamored of Louis and wanted him. I purposely befriended Angelica in the hopes of getting close to Louis. I was so stupid, and confided in Yvonne, who wanted to help me. Why she did, I had no clue, but then she revealed she desired Angelica as much as I did Louis.”