Alexander-Fyn-Sanguinarian

tried to kick at him with her bare Sanguinarian 93
    heels, but he neither remarked on it nor seemed to notice. Unwilling to repose against him, she held her body stiff until her muscles ached.
    The soft upholstery and excellent suspension of the carriage made the drive smoother than it might have been, considering the speed at which they began to travel once they were outside the city. But it was cold. Raven felt cold to the touch and the air in the carriage was frigid since the windows were open several inches.
    Her feet were numb by the time she finally swallowed her pride.
    “I am very cold.”
    “Cold?” he queried, finding the remark strange. “Oh, yes, I suppose you must be.”
    “Could you close the windows?”
    “If I did that, I would have to let go of you.”
    “Please, I’m freezing, my feet are numb, and I cannot possibly leap from the carriage at this speed. Really, my lord, what do you think I am going to do?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t trust you.”
    “I might just freeze to death in your arms, would that please you?”
    “Oh, I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he said with maddening calmness. “Still, I suppose I could close the windows.”
    From his pocket he pulled a length of rope and began to bind her hands. Evangeline was too cold and tired to bother trying to fight with him.
    “You brought rope with you?” she questioned.
    “I came prepared. I thought I might need it.” With her hands bound securely, he released her and laid her on the seat opposite him before closing both windows. From beneath the seat he pulled out a heavy wool rug which he arranged over her.
    Evangeline tucked her feet underneath her, shivering uncontrollably in the darkness. Raven sat opposite, silent, but it was too dark to see him. The moon clouded over, a strong wind rocked the carriage periodically and only after a long time did Evangeline begin to feel warm. He made no attempt to touch her again or molest her in 94
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    any way and her courage came creeping back.
    “Why have you gone to such effort to get me back? You don’t love me.”
    “That’s quite correct, I don’t love you. As for the rest, you know I need to marry.”
    “I will never love you, never.”
    “That’s irrelevant. I have no wish to have you love me. Had you obeyed me you could have been very comfortable with me. I will have a great deal of money at my disposal after I marry. You could have anything you want. Aside from that there will be little or no need for us to see each other after the nuptials and the consummation.”
    Evangeline shuddered. “I will not come to you willingly. You will have to take me by force.”
    “You did not fight me in the dining room while I pleasured you, but I will do whatever is necessary to get the job done. And it will be done. The wedding will be made legal. I want no questions asked later as to my rights to my estate.”
    “You disgust me.” Her tone was filled with loathing.
    “Don’t go too far, Miss Rutledge. You are not my ideal woman either.”
    “What is?” she demanded. “The sort of women I saw in the Black Cross with their black gowns and white bosoms? They looked like women of the night.”
    “I’m warning you,” he said quietly.
    “You are hardly human, Lord Ravenscroft. You are a monster, a yellow-eyed, sinister monstrosity.”
    “If you wish to hurt me then you have, Miss Rutledge. Does that content you? I apologize. I have never been handsome.”
    Evangeline fell silent, though it was not his words, but the hurt in his voice that gave her pause. He did not speak again and she fell asleep, exhausted.
    Torrential rain rocked the carriage when they stopped at last in the courtyard of Castle Haven. Evangeline was stiff, her feet numb with a Sanguinarian 95
    prickling sensation in the soles. Struggling to sit up, she found her wrists still bound together, and sank back helplessly when she attempted to rise. Raven lifted her out and carried her. Rain beat down heavily upon them, soaking them to the skin before they could get to the castle door where Munk stood watching and waiting. It was near to dawn with a few faint streaks of light in the eastern sky. Once inside, Raven set Evangeline on her feet and then turned and bolted the castle door.
    “Munk, Miss Rutledge will not stay in her own chamber for the time being. Until after the wedding she will remain in the East Tower.”
    Munk looked at Evangeline, disapproval in every line of her long