“He’s all yours,” I tell her.
Her sneer has me looking up. “I clearly remember you saying that to Vicky and then you threw yourself at him.”
My heart thrashes against my chest like a trapped animal.
“You’re just jealous because we can all see how he looks at Ella.” Hannah speaks up for me and I’m so tired. Her words aren’t true.
“Yes, Hannah, I will admit I’m not blind.”
Sandra stands now, Mary and Bernie mimicking her movements. “He looks at you with lust, but he looks at me as an equal. As his wife. His love.”
Saliva pools in my mouth. Is she right? Is he with me just so he can sleep with me and now I am disposable? Pain tears through me at how naïve I’ve been.
“Lady Ella.” I turn to Mark, unsure how long he has been standing there listening to us.
“She’s hardly a lady.” Sandra’s words are low but I hear them and now I wonder, if Lucas told her I’d slept with him. My face grows hotter by the second.
“Henry is ready for your date.” He gives me a look from my toes to my head. I’m wearing a simple white summer dress and flip flops. I’m not dressed for a date.
“I’m ready,” I say, wanting to get away from the carnage of this conversation with Sandra.
My date with Henry is surprisingly in the gardens too, only he has set his up at the mouth of the maze. He’s facing the maze, his back to me as Mark leads me right up to the blanket.
“Sit.” Henry points at the space across from him. I do and am aware of how boxed in I feel to have the maze at my back and Henry in front of me. He smiles and I can’t return it.
“Eat, Ella.” He chews on a sandwich but my stomach is too sour. I pick up one small one and just hold it in my hand.
“I’m going to pick you because I feel like we already have a connection.” My hand tightens around the dough. This is what I wanted for Hannah and Jessie so they could live their lives. But being tied to Henry while I watch Lucas with someone else is a new kind of pain.
“Don’t look so sad. It’s an honor.” He smiles and my fingers touch each other as they break through the bread. I release the squashed sandwich and swallow the pool of liquid in my mouth.
He eats several sandwiches and I hate the sensation I’m feeling of falling. Like the ground is shifting under me. I steady myself with one hand before filling up a glass of water. My hand shakes, if Henry notices he doesn’t say.
“Now with the matter of your friends, I still need that box …” He moves his head from side to side. “Or I’ll hurt them.” He settles on.
How much more could they suffer? They still had to go on a date with him. Isn’t that torture enough? I keep my words to myself, but I want to lash out and hurt him.
“I have the box,” I say.
Surprise flitters across his eyes that already dance with madness. “Where?”
It’s my turn to smile. “It’s safe, that's all you need to know.” I want to ask a hundred questions about the finger, but I don’t want to look eager or he will surely use it against me.
“Don’t play games with me.” He flips easily, just like a switch. He’s hunched, his lips tugged down into a frown. It feels like a long bony finger moves up my spine causing me to shiver.
“If you test me, I will make our wedding night very painful for you.”
It’s like I’ve been slapped. Did he just threaten me with rape? My chest burns.
He smiles in victory. “I will only be taking what’s mine.” He sounds so smug.
My heart slams against my chest as my anger boils over. “You’re too late, your brother already had me. So I’m soiled goods. Second best for you, Henry.” I slam my hands across my mouth once the words pour out. I’ve made a terrible mistake.
One that I can’t take back. One that I will pay for if I base the outcome on the look that Henry sears me with.
I’m aware of Mark standing close to us, no doubt he heard me and I need to take it back, I need to make this right.
“I didn’t…” I’m shaking my head.
Henry’s face is red, every part of it looks like he’s going to explode. He reaches across and grips my arm, dragging me to my feet.
“Henry.” Mark calls and Henry doesn’t hear him as he drags me away from the maze and towards the house. His grip is like iron and fear tightens across my chest.
What have I done?
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
LUCAS
I don’t move after Ella leaves. I try to control the need to chase after her. I didn’t think she would be that angry. I knew it would hurt her, but deep down, I thought she would see past my words and remember what we had together. She had looked so innocent and beautiful in the white dress.
I move around the hot tub wondering what she had been doing out here. At first I had been overwhelmed with relief when I thought she had come to speak to me, but that faded quickly when I could see her eyes. I stand where she had. She had been touching the tarp. I lift it and look in.
I don’t know why I’m smiling as I lift out my black t-shirt. I feel the box before I see it. I knew she had taken it. But why is my real question and why is she getting it now? What trouble is she in?
I take the box back into my room. I can only hope she hadn’t opened it. Placing it on a different shelf, I lean my head against the shelving. Having Declan’s finger didn’t really matter. Did I really care who killed him? A part of me wants to take it back and wait to see when she returns, what she intends to do with it. I leave the wardrobe and the finger in it. George is someone who I haven’t seen much of and I need to ask him of his involvement in all this. I am avoiding it; I don’t want Henry to be right.
My bedroom door bursts open, surprising me.
I reach for George. “What’s wrong?” He looks ghostly white.
“Henry has taken Ella to your father. You need to get there.” I’m moving through the halls. I can hear Henry’s hysterical shouts as I enter my father’s lair.
“I want her strung and quartered.” He’s pointing at Ella, who’s kneeling on the floor, her head is bent. I’m beside her and squat down, not caring anymore about who’s looking. I’m praying that he hasn’t hurt her.
“Look at me.” Dread plunges into my stomach as Ella looks up. I’m searching her face. She seems unharmed, her eyes are wide and filled with fear. I touch her face and she leans into my hand, like it might take this all away.
“Get away from my wife.” Henry’s words bounce off me. I’ll deal with him in a moment, right now I need to take this pain away from Ella. Her eyes stare up at me.
“I’m so sorry.” Her voice wobbles with fear. Shaking my head, I force a smile. I want her to know it will be okay. I will fix this. I stand and help her rise slowly. She leans into me once we are standing and I look up and into my father’s eyes. He shows no emotion as he stands and stares at us.
“Get your hands off her.” Henry is still wailing, his voice shrill with rage.
“That’s enough Henry.” My father barks and silence falls across the room. Ella’s tremble shakes her body and I tighten my hold on her.