Chapitre 15: Chapter XIV
Robert lived in a continuous state of turmoil. He knew he would have to face his step mother eventually but what was he to say? He remembered how it had been five years ago... She had been his sole reason of waking up in the morning. He had professed his undying love and what had she done? She had married his father when there had been even the slightest chance that he would not inherit great wealth. She had become a duchess and he had had to resign himself. He had realized in that moment that love was little more than a facade. There was no such thing as unconditional love and Isabella had proven him right. He thought about her son... Last year he had received a missive saying that he had a little brother. He had laughed at the absurdity and gotten drunk. Besides being a gold digger, Isabella was an unfaithful bitch. He knew from credible sources that his father could not sire anymore children, so it stood to reason that she had had lovers.
Robert tried to close his eyes, but the image of her would not go away. His sweet Isabella, the girl he would have given everything for and the girl who had forsaken and betrayed him. He had been a fool to get himself so infatuated, but he was older now, wiser. Never again would he fall prey to the wiles of a woman. He had sworn that the night she had married his father.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Eva was still concerned about her husband. She did not know what he thought of her now... especially since he had had doubts before and she had just proven them. She had tucked Gabriel in the bed from the nursery after the maids had cleaned it and now she did not know if she should go to her husband or simply go to sleep. Uncertainty won so she went to his office, worried a little bit about him, since he had spent the whole day locked inside.
"May I come in ?"
""Yes." His voice did not have its usual warmth so it worried her a bit...
"Are you alright?"
"Define alright." He said mockingly. He was staring at the fire in the hearth, with his back to her.
"I... I am sorry. I know you did not sign up for this when you married me but..."
"But?" He turned slightly.
"I will make it up to you, I swear I will. Gabriel will not be a problem, I will keep him out of your way. You don't even have to know he exists."
"Oh but he does..."
"..." Eva did not know how to placate him.
"How do you suppose to make it up to me?" He asked, his voice sending shivers down her spine. She had a vague idea of what he was thinking.
"Give me a month..." she whispered.
"What? I could not understand you."
"I said... give me a month." She clenched her fists and repeated. Christian turned to face her and he looked at her from head to toe.
"A month ? For what? " he asked, feigning innocence.
"At the end of one month...I shall be your wife in the truest sense. I vow it."
"Interesting" he said in a tone that seemed somehow belittling.
"Did you not wish to know each other better? I recall that those were your very words."
"I know my lord." She strained herself to get the words out.
"In exchange for sharing your bed... Please let Gabriel stay with us and have a normal childhood. God knows he hasn't had much of it so far."
"You strike a mean bargain. I shall accept" his mouth curved in a satisfied smile.
"But..." he added as she was about to leave.
"I would have considered him family even without your promise. And no, you cannot renege now. He is a child and he has no fault whatsoever for having been born. He will be well taken care of. I do admit that I was quite... shocked at the news but that does not mean that I am that cruel to let a small child, your child" he emphasised " without protection."
Eva sighed in relief at his words.
"Thank you... I shall take my leave"
"Good night Eva. I look forward to when the month is over." She heard him say as she exited the office.
She had done it. She had struck a deal with the devil.
She hurried to her room and closed the door behind her. She had one month. One month to get over her fear of being touched... One month.
She was scared witless, she had to admit. But she would have had to let her husband in her bed at some point... At least Gabriel would be safe.
She racked her brain about how to deal best with her husband. She knew nothing about the marriage bed besides... She shuddered when she thought about that man. She had done a great job to put him out of her mind in the last days but.... He was still there, lurking.
Weren't five years enough? She wondered. She had suffered too much for something that had not been her fault at all...
Five years ago
"If Lord Rochester tells you to do something you do it, are you clear" Eva ' mother was sternly telling her daughter.
"He is your best option right now and we don't want to see all those effort your father and I have put in you crumble to nothing. You are going to snag a proposal from him, you hear me girl?"
She had just nodded, thinking that if she could please her mother and father that way she would. After her sister's death she had been trying without results to make them happy by being obedient. She thought that she finally had the chance to make them proud... all she had to do was bear Lord Rochester presence. He wasn't that bad... She told herself. He was handsome enough, even if he was twice her age. But there was something in his gaze that she could not quite place. For all his looks, he always made her a little bit uncomfortable.
That night they were supposed to make an appearance at the Whitmore ' ball and she had to keep Lord Rochester attention riveted to herself. She could do that couldn't she ?
They danced a waltz after which he politely invited her to stroll about the gardens. She was a bit reluctant because there was something in the way he looked at her, but then she remembered her mother's admonishment.
"You are to do whatever he tells you to. "
So she smiled and accepted his arm.
They had strolled for ten minutes when he had asked they go further away in the garden. She had nodded, although a little apprehensive.
"You are stunning." He said to her, raising her chin with his fingers to get her to look into his eyes.
"Tell me, with how many men have you gone into the gardens?" He asked in a lascivious tone and she did not understand the meaning being his words.
"A few." She answered what she thought was an innocent question. She had, in fact, gone a few times with some young gentleman in the gardens, but she did not understand why he was asking this...
"Oh, is that so?" He said and he brought her head closer for a kiss. His lips were hard and demanding and Eva did not like it. He sloppily continued to kiss her and he let his hands wander to her breasts.
"Stop.." she said meekly.
"No!" He answered her in a demanding voice. He unfastened her bodice and had her naked from waist up in a matter of seconds.
"Stop, please" she cried and tried to hit him. But when her palm was about to connect with his cheek he caught her hand. She reeled, tripping on her skirts and falling on the grass with him over her.
"Oh so you like it rough?"
He took of his cravat and bound her hands above her head.
"I'll show you rough."
She struggled within his hold but he was the stronger of the two. He tore her at her skirts until the cold air hit her skin like a lance. She was panicking and tears were falling down her face.
"Stop!" She screeched
"Somebody help me!"
He hit her to shut her up and proceeded to tear at her drawers until she was bared to him.
"No, please don't hurt me" she cried again, her bloodied lip making her wince as she formed the words.
"Whore" he muttered under his breath.
He started to handle her roughly, biting her breasts and touching her between her legs. She could not believe what was happening. She started fighting again but he held her even stronger than before.
"Stop" she said once more but to no result . He rose above her and fumbled with his pants, letting them fall down to the ground. Her eyes wide with fear, she tried to hit him with her legs but he caught them.
"You bitch. I'll show you! " he spat out and dragged her closer.
"No!" She screamed again and bit his cheek.
"Agh" he screeched in pain but she did not let go. She bit even harder and felt liquid pour out of the wound. He hit her once but she still held on, but the second time he hit her she went down. She still had his flesh between her teeth when he started to yell frantically, but she could not hold it together any longer so she passed out.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone