Chapter 4
Chapter Four
He was large, and she knew the kinds of pain he could inflict upon her.
He held up his hands. “I’m only here to make sure you’re safe. Are you injured?”
Her body shook violently, fear and confusion disorienting her. Why was he just standing there? Did he enjoy making her beg?
“Are you hurt?” he asked quietly.
Sobs ripped from her, but he didn’t come any closer. Instead, he slowly lowered himself and sat down on the ground. She didn’t understand. Why wasn’t he forcing himself on her, or at the very least, dragging her back to the house?
She cried for a long time and he never moved. Never said a word. He didn’t tell her to stop or to be quiet. Slowly, her fear of him diminished. If he was going to hurt her, he would have by now… presumably.
“What are you doing out here, Brennan?”
He shrugged. “I don’t get to come to the country very often. The air is fresh, and look at all the stars you can see.”
“That’s not what I meant. Why are you here, just sitting on the ground?”
“Because you are.”
“But… I don’t understand.”
“I saw you leave the house, in obvious distress, alone, running into the dark. If I had just let you go and something happened to you…” His cheeks puffed as he blew out a breath.
“Let’s just say Ash would not have been happy with me.
Not to mention your brother. Apparently, he’s more dangerous than his stature would lead you to believe. ”
Was he making a joke? She was lost, as if her mind were stumbling through a maze.
“The maid said someone who was facilitating fake marriages worked here. I don’t want that again.
” She could barely see his eyes through the darkness but tried to look into them as she begged.
“I’ll do anything you want. I know all the best ways to please you.
Just please don’t do that to me again.” She sucked in a shuddering breath.
“That’s not going to happen. Not a single bit of it.”
How could she possibly trust that he was telling the truth?
He sighed and shifted, brushing his palms over his thighs. “I’m going to tell you about something I probably shouldn’t, but I think it will do you good to know.”
After a moment, she nodded.
“I was with Ash the night he doled out punishment to one of the men involved in that scheme. I can promise you, he won’t allow anyone to hurt you like that.”
“What did he do to him?” She probably shouldn’t ask, but she needed to know.
For a moment, he didn’t say anything.
“I won’t tell anyone you told me,” she assured him.
“He flogged him, nearly to death.” He hesitated before continuing. “And I held the man down while he did it. None of us will ever hurt you. Nor will we turn you over to someone who would.”
So these men were all capable of violence, and yet, they never used it against the women in their care? Simon was the only man she’d ever known to be that way, but he was her brother. These men weren’t.
“Thank you for telling me, Brennan.”
“Samantha!” She recognized Trent’s voice from somewhere in the distance. He sounded panicked.
“Is it alright if I let him know you’re here?”
“Is he going to be angry with me?”
“No. He’ll just be relieved to see you’re safe.”
She nodded, even as her stomach clenched.
“Over here,” Brennan yelled.
Trent was out of breath when he reached them. “Why are you on the ground?” he asked Brennan, his tone accusatory. “Did you hurt her?”
“He’s on the ground to make me feel safe,” Samantha explained, feeling so conflicted. On one hand, she was grateful for the gesture, but embarrassment prickled in her neck and cheeks. She was broken, and they all knew it.
As understanding dawned, Trent crouched. “Are you hurt?”
“Nothing serious. A few scrapes on my palms, and I think I twisted my ankle.”
He nodded. “Do you wish to stay out here for a while? Or do you want to go back up to the house?”
His words stunned her. She looked around, and tears welled in her eyes again. He wasn’t making her go back. It was her choice.
“You’d allow me to stay here?”
“Of course. I’ll sit here with you for as long as you’d like.”
She’d never had a choice before. Slowly, she nodded. “I’ll come back.” As she moved to push herself up, pain burned in her palms and she flinched, pulling her hands back.
“If we each take an arm, we can get her up without hurting her hands,” Brennan suggested.
“Are you comfortable with that?” Trent asked. “Or would you rather I go fetch some maids to help you?”
She closed her eyes for a moment. It was time for her to stop being afraid of these men.
Or at least, to try. Even if she still struggled to believe it, they quite clearly weren’t going to hurt her.
She lifted her arms and they both helped her gently to her feet.
She winced as she tried to take a step and pain shot through her ankle.
“Do you want me to carry you?” Trent asked.
Even though she understood he wasn’t going to hurt her, it was still hard to ask for his help. It would only put her even more at his mercy. She wasn’t going to be able to walk all the way back, though. She breathed in deeply to quiet her fear. “If you wouldn’t mind terribly.”
He reached his arms behind her knees and back as she rested hers around his shoulders. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
He scooped her up and cradled her in front of him as he strode toward the house. She could feel his strength, but he was so gentle with her.
A group of servants were gathered there. They’d probably been sent to look for her. The entire house must think her completely mad. And perhaps she was. Perhaps all she’d been through had shattered her sanity along with her soul. She held him a little tighter as he climbed the stairs.
“I’m not going to drop you, Samantha.”
“I’m sorry, Trent. I didn’t mean to create problems.”
“You’re safe now, which means there are no problems.” He set her on the edge of her bed. “Let me see your hands.”
He looked at each one for a moment. “Don’t move. I’m going to fetch what I need to clean those up.”
“I can manage, Trent. You don’t need to trouble yourself.” She hadn’t meant to turn herself into a burden.
“It’s no trouble, whatsoever. I’ve cleaned so many scraped hands and knees I could do it in my sleep.” He left, and Sandra hovered silently in the corner.
“This isn’t your fault, Sandra.”
She nodded timidly. “I’m sorry, miss. I shouldn’t have spoken of such things.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s me. I’m…”
Trent walked in then, saving her from having to decide how to finish that sentence. He knelt before her, placing a basin of water on the floor. As he gently washed the blood and dirt from her palms, he spoke over his shoulder to the maid.
“Will you please find a pair of gloves that will work to hold bandages in place?”
“Yes, sir.” She gave a quick nod and scurried from the room.
“Did you reprimand her?” she asked when Sandra was gone.
“For what?”
Even though he was gentle, it burned as he cleaned the wounds. “For mentioning the fake marriage scheme.”
He stopped and sat back on his heels with a sigh. “Is that what sent you running?”
She nodded. “I didn’t really think through her words. She said the man was arrested here, which should have made me realize it wasn’t what was happening to me. But I just panicked.”
He closed his eyes for a moment. “Your brother told me you were a victim of that.”
That word shocked her. She’d never thought of herself as a victim. At first, she’d just assumed all wives must go through what she did. But then, when Simon appeared and told her the marriage had never been real, she thought she must have done something to deserve what had happened to her.
Perhaps she hadn’t been a good enough daughter.
“Hey.” The soft word pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts. He was looking into her eyes. “You didn’t deserve whatever happened to you, Samantha.”
How did he know where her thoughts had gone?
Sandra rushed into the room and handed him a pair of gloves.
“Thank you.”
Please and thank you, even with a maid.
After wrapping her hands with bandages, he slid the gloves into place. “There. I told you I could manage it.” He winked, but she continued to stare into his dark brown eyes.
His throat bobbed with a swallow, but he got to his feet. “I think you’ll still be able to manage a knife and fork. Would you like me to carry you down to the dining room? Or would you prefer I have a tray sent up for you?”
“Which is less burdensome?”
“Neither is a burden.”
It would be so easy for her to simply hide away in this room and close herself off from the rest of the world. But everyone else was working so hard to help her, she needed to put in her own effort, as well. She owed them that much. “If you're certain, I’d prefer to dine with you.”
A smile turned up his lips. “I’ll be glad to have another adult at the table.” He waited for her nod before scooping her into his arms.
“Mantha!” Maggie’s eyes grew wide as Trent settled Samantha into the chair across from her. “What happened?”
“I took a little bit of a tumble.”
“Did Trent give you special kisses to make it all better?”
Trent choked on a laugh, as he walked around the table, and when he sat down, his cheeks were stained with scarlet. So were her own, if the warmth that filled them was any indication.
“No, Little Mouse. Those kisses only work on you because you’re my sister.”
Plates of food were placed in front of each of them.
“I have finally convinced them to simply plate the food in the kitchen, instead of bringing each dish up here separately,” Trent explained. “But you are always welcome to more of anything.”
She nodded. “Thank you. It looks delicious.” Venison wasn’t usually her favorite, but the cook had done something to make even that palatable, and the potatoes and green beans were delicious.
Trent was good with Maggie, laughing and teasing her, but also keeping her focused enough to eat her meal. His gaze frequently looked across the table to check on Samantha.