“What?” I can’t quite understand the words I’m hearing. They don’t make sense to a brain, which is untuned to such horrors and has been laced with alcohol and drugs.
“It was horrible, Theo. I don’t know how she survived. She’s so thin. We gave her a steak when we got her back here to try and revive her, but as you saw on the floor when you married, she brought it straight back up. Her stomach is not used to it. We’ve had a doctor examine her. She’s been repeatedly violated. She’s not pregnant, thankfully, but…”
My father places his brandy down and slouches forward in his chair. His head’s held in his hands, and he’s shaking it.
“I’m sorry, son. I’m so sorry. I panicked when I saw her that way. All I could think about was what my own daughter will be going through. I needed to make Joanna safe, and this was the only way I could think it would work.”
I slide from my chair and come to sit at my father’s feet. It’s a position my sister and I used to take when we were younger, and we wanted to offer him comfort.
“It’s all right. I understand why. As my wife, Joanna is safe from the Cavendish brothers. You’ve told me they have eyes and ears in the police, so we can’t go to them. Indeed, Nicholas and William are the reason why the police are investigating you for Elsie Bennett’s murder. This was the only way of making sure they can’t take Joanna away again. We’re married, now, and she’s safe.”
My father shakes his head.
“She needs to be your wife in all ways. If you don’t consummate the marriage, they’ll figure out a way of annulling it. I know they will.”
I hold my hand up to my father.
“I can’t think about that yet. After what she’s been through, I’m not going to force her into anything.”
“You need to bear it in mind though, Theo. They have Tamara on their side with all her fancy education and knowledge. She’ll do everything possible to get the girl back for them. William Cavendish has turned her against us. I fear Victoria will never trust us again, either. Nicholas has poisoned her brain, and she doesn’t see what he’s doing is wrong. I’ve lost my daughter and her best friend. I can’t lose Joanna. She’s the only one left to save.”
“I know. I’ll talk to her. Just not tonight.”
My father nods—lines of worry are etched on his face. He’s aged so much in the last few months with the stress of everything. I resolve then and there that from this moment on I’ll no longer sit back and allow him to take the burden of his fight alone. I’ll stand by his side in battle.
“I’m sorry about the drugging. The man who did it shocked me as well. He said it would be the quickest way to get you here, rather than having to take time out to explain it to you. I had to go along with him in the end. I pay him to know what’s best in these situations.”
“I understand.” I’ve never had any reason to distrust my father, and I won’t start now. I’m terrified for the future of our name and the society we operate in, but what I do know is I have a wife now, and it’s time to step up and fulfill my destiny.