Page 112 of Bride of the Midnight Prince

So why didn’t I?

Her wide, frightened eyes return to my memory. I will never forget the way she turned her face into my arm and begged me not to give her back to them.

I clench my jaw hard.

The carriage finally comes to a stop. My foot is on the ground the next second. Edvear rushes out to greet me. He reads my expression and falls back a step.

“My lord! What has happened?” He looks behind me. “Where is Nat?”

“Go get Mrs. Finch,” I order.

He obeys at once. When the cook meets me in my study, I tell her, “Go immediately to Vandermore Manor.” Then I lay forward all that I require of her.

Chapter 34

Kat

“KatherineEleanorVandermore,Ishould have you beaten!” Agatha, earrings shaking, skin reddened to the hue of a cherry, looks nothing like her normal self. “I should have you horsewhipped! Anthony—”

“She mustn’t be touched, my lady,” Mary interrupts, bobbing a curtsy. “Lord Rahk made it clear he won’t have her if she is damaged.”

I sit in the parlor, huddled in Rahk’s cloak, shaking with wrath I can barely contain.

Bridget hangs beyond the door, a hand over her mouth. She watches the spectacle, but ducks out of view whenever Agatha turns around. Edith came when she heard the shouting, muttered, “No, thank you,” and left again. I wish I could have fled with her.

Agatha rounds on Mary. “You were part of this, weren’t you?”

“I had no role in the matter,” she replies, clearing out the tea dishes.

“If you are lying, Mary, you will share Katherine’s punishment with her.”

Mary curtsies. “Yes, ma’am.”

“She didn’t do anything!” I cry, finally finding my voice. “It was all me. You must not punish her for my wrongdoing!”

“So, you admit it was wrong of you to run away, disguised like a common servant boy, to avoid your duty of marrying Lord Boreham?” Agatha sticks a shaking finger in my face.

I try not to look at Mary as she makes her escape. I breathe easier once she is gone. Swallowing my pride and stubbornness, I take the route of placation and nod.

“Then you will submit to whatever punishment I deem appropriate?”

The blood drains from my face. I do not reply.

“Since I cannot haveyoubeaten, you will watch as Mary takes your punishment. Do twenty lashes sound appropriate?”

I’ve never seen Agatha like this. I never liked her, but part of me always believed if the circumstances of our sharing a family had been different, we might have loved each other. Now I cannot believe I ever thought such a thing. I jump to my feet. “You willnotlay a hand onanymembers of this staff! Not to punish them, and certainly not to punish me. If you do, I will take every cent of my fortune and apply it to your ruin!”

Agatha raises her hand to strike me across the face. I flinch, bracing myself, but the blow doesn’t come. Instead, she barks to her favored servant: “Sylva! The slippers.”

Sylva comes silently, bearing the once-pink velvet box. Cold fingers close around my heart. I watch as she hands the box to my stepmother. Agatha takes the lid off and moves aside the fabric to take one of the slippers.

“Agatha—” I plead.

She smashes the slipper to the floor.

“No!” I scream, diving for it. I’m not fast enough. The slipper shatters.

Except—itdoesn’t.

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