Page 17 of Wicked Games

Struggling against the thick leather restraints, I shook my head. “None of this makes sense. Please, just let me go. I promise I won’t tell anyone. I promise I won’t call the police.”

Mrs. Higgs laughed. “The constabulary have no authority at St. George’s, child.” Turning to Doctor Swede, she said, “Doctor, we are ready to begin the therapy.”

“Proceed, Mrs. Higgs.”

Not knowing what was about to happen, fear took over. I opened my mouth and screamed in holy terror.

Because of my screams I did not hear the two women approach me from behind. Soon, a cascade of frigid water was poured over my head. My lungs seized as the cold took my breath away. Before I could recover, another bucket of ice water was dumped over my head.

“There is nothing like cold water to soothe an overheated, hysterical mind,” shouted Doctor Swede over my screams.

My whole body was going numb. The leather restraints cut into my skin as I shook uncontrollably. The tip of my tongue was sore from my chattering teeth accidentally biting it. My voice was gone from my repeated cries for help and mercy. Despite desperately trying to keep from passing out, I could feel my mind and body shutting down.

“What is going on here?”

It took extreme effort to raise my head; I could barely see past the wet strands of hair that clung to my face.

Richard had stormed into the room, looking like a vengeful god.

I was saved.

Dressed in some kind of old-fashioned formal tuxedo with a top hat, cravat, opera coat, and cane, he looked extremely out of place in the stark asylum room.

“Release her this instant,” he growled.

“Your Grace, I assure you this is all very humane. Asylums across the country have adopted this treatment as the preferred method to correct your ward’s obvious hysteria and over-action of the mind.”

Richard crossed to the chair where I was restrained. His hand felt blessedly warm as he cupped my cheek.

“Help me,” I whispered.

“My love, I’m here.”

Tossing his cane aside, he worked at the heavy buckles on the restraints. The moment the leather harness across my shoulders was released, I sagged forward. Standing, Richard took off his opera coat and draped it over my exposed body. Immediately I was wrapped in the warmth and scent of him as the silk lining clung to my wet skin.

Lifting me in his arms, Richard carried me out of that dreadful place without another word to the doctor or Mrs. Higgs.

Pressing my cheek against the solid warmth of his shoulder, I started to cry as the terror, danger, and pain began to set in and overwhelm me.

“Don’t worry, my love. I’ve got you,” he soothed as he carried me out into the night.

CHAPTER 6

LIZZIE

Don’t worry, my love. I’ve got you.

I had heard those words from him before… but where? When?

Fuck, I wished my mind wasn’t so fuzzy right now.

Peeking over the high collar of his coat, I noticed he was carrying me out to an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage. Perhaps that explained his oddly formal attire and top hat? He must have been attending some elaborate masquerade ball and left to rescue me.

But how did he know where I was?

I didn’t even know.

A man in livery complete with breeches, stockings, and buckled shoes jumped down from the back of the carriage and raced to open the door. His face wore an expression of professional disinterest as if it were an everyday occurrence that his boss emerged from a hospital with a wet, naked woman in his arms just after attending a costume ball.

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