her expression grim.
Anna moved toward the woman with purpose, praying her steps wouldn’t falter. She reached Matron and came to a stop before her.
“I have been told you are breaking the rules, Browning. My rules,” emphasized Matron. She studied Anna a moment and then said, “I suppose I was wrong about you. You caught on quite well your first day here. For a week, you have been submissive and compliant.”
“I merely wished to take some exercise,” Anna said, her voice quaking.
“Ah, so the queen wishes for exercise,” Matron said, her tone mocking. “A turn about the room. So you shall.” She glanced at the servant next to her and said, “Bring me a scold’s bridle.”
As the man hurried away, she heard a few gasps and glanced out. Still, every head remained bowed. Anna returned her gaze to Matron, whose malicious smile caused a trickle of fear to run along Anna’s spine. The two women stared at one another until the attendant returned with something in his hands that she couldn’t make out.
“Seize her!” Matron cried suddenly.
Two other men had sneaked up behind Anna and latched onto her. As she tried to shrug them off, Matron took the object from the servant’s hands and held it up for Anna to view.
“This is a scold’s bridle. It gets its name from the nagging, scolding females it is used upon. I place it on troublesome patients, Browning. Such as you.”
Matron lifted it over Anna’s head and locked the cage around her head, shoving something into her mouth that was attached to this iron muzzle. She had seen—and now her tongue felt—the tiny spikes in it as cold fear filled her.
“I’ve slipped the curb-plate into your mouth,” Matron continued. “It is like a bridle bit for a horse. It will compress your tongue and prevent you from speaking. If you try to say anything, the spikes will pierce your tongue and fill your mouth with blood.”
Anna could already taste the tinny blood in her mouth from Matron jamming it in and held herself perfectly still.
“You will suffer mild discomfort,” the older woman said nonchalantly. “While you are taking your exercise, of course.”
Matron raised her hand, her palm open. The attendant placed what looked like a leash in her hands. The woman attached it to the cage that surrounded Anna’s head.
“You are so eager to move about, Browning, that I will be generous and allow you to do so. Notice I said allow. I am in charge here. Nothing happens that I am not aware of. Everyone does my bidding.” She smiled brightly at Anna. “You will now be walked as a dog. All day. All night. We will revisit the issue twenty-four hours from now and see how you feel about . . . exercise.”
With that, Matron handed the leash to the closest attendant. The ones restraining her stepped away.
“Walk!” barked the man.
Anna did as bid, moving to the end of the corridor. She turned and came back toward Matron, who stood with her arms crossed over her chest. Anna turned again, parading endlessly up and down the corridor, humiliation filling her as much as the saliva and blood that flooded her mouth. Matron remained watching for a few hours and then left but the constant walking continued.
For the rest of the day.
Her mouth and jaw ached something fierce. Fatigue set into her limbs. Yet she still was led up and down, over and over, as not one head raised to see her pass. Eventually, evening must have fallen for the patients were removed from the benches. Another attendant replaced the current one and Anna continued walking up and down the corridor throughout the night. Weariness blanketed her yet she knew she couldn’t falter. If she did, Matron would win. She drew on a well of bravery she didn’t know she had, knowing Dalinda—and Dez—would have been proud of her resolve.
Finally, a new day must have dawned and the patients were brought back to their benches. A few glanced at her in pity before they took their spots and lowered their gazes to their laps.
When Anna made another turn, she caught sight of Matron standing in the middle of the hallway. Though she had been shuffling along, barely able to move, she now picked up her feet and marched to the older woman, halting in front of her.
“Well, Your Majesty, I hope you enjoyed your bit of exercise.” Matron barked out a laugh and the attendants nearby joined in nervously.
Anna met the woman’s gaze.
“This