suppose. We rarely are in control of our destinies.” Then her eyes welled with tears. “You will be going away, Anna.”
“Where? To wed Lord Needham.”
A knock sounded at the door. “It’s time, my lady.”
“Just two more minutes,” Mama shouted harshly.
The lock turned and the door swung open. Their butler appeared in the doorway, two large footmen behind. “No, my lady. Now.”
Anna looked to her mother, who said, “Go along with them, Anna.”
“Let me get my reticule,” she said weakly. “And if I’m to go to Lord Needham, I should at least change my gown.”
“That won’t be necessary, Anna,” her mother reassured her. “Just go along. Everything will be fine.”
But Anna saw the haunted look in her mother’s eyes. “You’re lying,” she accused. “No. I am not going anywhere until I know—”
“Bring her,” a voice ordered and she saw her father standing in the doorway.
Suddenly, Jessa dashed past him and ran to Anna, throwing her arms about her sister. “Don’t go, Anna,” she pleaded.
She absorbed Jessa’s warmth, drawing a small bit of comfort from it. Then she looked at the murderous look in her father’s eyes and pulled Jessa away.
Kneeling, she clasped her sister’s shoulders. “It’s all right, Jessa. Don’t worry.”
Then Anna rose and walked from the room. The two footmen latched on to her elbows and began dragging her quickly down the hallway. Suddenly, fear seized her, not knowing where she was being taken, and she began struggling. She fought and kicked the entire way down the stairs and across the corridor, where their stern housekeeper looked at her with pity before hurrying away.
The butler opened the door and she saw the carriage waiting. Anna broke free, dragging her nails against the face of one of the footmen. Blood sprouted on his cheek.
“Bind her,” her father said.
A cord appeared and one of the footmen wrapped it tightly about her wrists. She began screaming and saw her father nod. Quickly, a gag was placed over her mouth, silencing her shouts. Her fear now turned to panic as she was taken to the carriage.
Her father said, “This is what happens to disobedient daughters.” With that, he turned his back on her and entered the house again.
The footmen forced her into the carriage and slammed the door. The vehicle immediately began moving. She struggled, pulling on her wrists, which only made the cord tighten. Tears streamed down her face.
Where was she being taken?
The carriage rolled on for what she thought must be several hours until it began slowing. Anna’s heart beat wildly in her chest as it came to a halt. The door opened and she was removed from the vehicle.
“Had a bit o’ trouble with her?” a man asked, cackling.
“Some,” one of her father’s servants admitted.
“Wouldn’t be the first,” the man said, looking her up and down, making her flesh crawl. “Hand her over.”
She was shoved and then caught by the stranger, who latched on to her elbow and marched her inside a house. It had a small foyer and worn carpet. No paintings adorned the walls.
She tried to speak but the gag only made grunts come out. The man laughed again as he led her up the stairs. He sobered as they began walking down a long corridor. Anna heard screams in the distance and shivered.
Pausing before a door, he said, “Behave yourself with Matron,” and then pushed open the door.
A woman dressed in gray looked up from the desk where she worked. She had iron gray hair and a dull complexion. She could have been anywhere from forty to sixty.
“This the new one?” she asked.
“Yes, Matron.”
Anna could tell this man was afraid of the woman before her.
“Get the dress off her. Be quick about it but careful,” the woman warned. “You know I like to sell them.”
She was appalled that a stranger—and a man—would see her without her gown and she began struggling, trying to protest behind the gag.
The woman stepped to her and slapped Anna hard. Stars appeared in her vision. She had never been struck before and was dumbfounded by the pain.
“You’re not to speak. Is that understood?”
Anna blinked back tears and nodded.
“Good. You’re learning.”
The man pulled out a knife and cut the cord restraining her wrists. Immediately, the blood rushed through her, bringing pain. She bit back her gasp, afraid of being struck again, her hands and arms in agony as if hundreds of pins jabbed them.
Without speaking, she stood there as the man stripped her gown from her, handing it over to the woman called Matron.