Page 33 of Legacy of Succession

“Not really. I’m guessing they’re celebrities, but I didn’t really have a chance to follow all that growing up. My father made sure I was prepared for being Nicholas’ wife.”

“You knew this would happen?” I ask.

“Yes. Didn’t you?” I shake my head. “It must’ve been such a shock.”

“Just a little. I’ve always been kept hidden away, but I didn’t know why, until I came here. Makes perfect sense now.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Yes, evidently, as women we’re sexually wanton. Even allowing us to go to the library on our own will risk our virginity because of all the orgies we are likely to have on the way.”

I laugh again — it hurts.

“Oh don’t make me laugh.”

“Sorry. The tasks are all prescribed in the documentation of this society — my father made me practice them, all my life. I went through every alternative.” She goes quiet and looks at the striped rug on my bedroom floor.

“You’ve had this done to you.” It hits me. “Every alternative. No punishment, locked in your room without food and water” ?I gulp? “hit twenty times with a birch and the bridle?”

“He didn’t use a birch. We didn’t have one. He had a cane, though. It’s only one stick instead of a few.” She holds my hand.

“Still doesn’t stop it from hurting any less or make it any more right. It angers me that these men think they can get away with doing this.” I want to jump up from the bed and rant and rage. I want to storm to the nearest man with a horse whip, whack him across the back hundreds of times, and see how he likes it.

“Stay calm,” Amelia pleads.

“We'll get through this. They won’t always win.” I move my hand so that it wraps around hers.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I know what comes next. You don’t.”

Shit, I hadn’t thought of that.

“Amelia?”

“We're lucky because we only have to do one task, but the original wife had to do all three. Fire, sex, death.”

“Fire, sex, death,” I repeat.

She looks up to where the camera is and shuts her eyes. I shuffle forward, ignoring the pain. If I can get some insight into what happens next, then I might be able to plan for it.

“You’ll be fine. He won't give the one to you that’ll destroy you. He loves you too much.”

“What?” I’m baffled by her comment. “Amelia, what do you mean?”

She doesn’t have a chance to answer me as the secret door in my room opens, and William appears from the shadows. His face is flushed red, and he is carrying a torch.

“You have to come now.” He makes a grab for Amelia’s hand.

“William?” She shakes him off.

“There’s no time for arguments,” he commands. “He knows she’s awake.”

Both of them look at me.

“What? Who knows I’m awake?”

“Good luck.” Amelia allows William to lead her into the secret corridor.

“Good luck? With what? With whom?” I shout at them and wish I wasn’t trapped in this bed, but my battered body won’t allow me to move.

My bedroom door bursts open, and there’s Nicholas. His brows are furrowed, and he looks like he’s about to explode with anger.

“Cowards,” I whisper to myself about William and Amelia and say a little pray to the pain gods to let me pass out again. I curse them in the next breath when I’m still awake. Oh well.

“Earl Lullington. What can I do for you?

---