Page 45 of Hooked

“But he is not her husband yet!” James yelled, and I could see the effort it took for him to stand down even as much as he was. The helplessness he must have felt when there was nothing he could do to save me from this. “Cecily, go fetch your things.” He stared down the magistrate and Captain Huckley.

“Very well,” the magistrate agreed, then turned to me. “I will escort you upstairs. I’m sorry, but you tried to run once, and I must uphold the law.”

I moved my head in a weak imitation of a nod and walked to the stairs.

A numbness was setting in and I welcomed it, allowing it to drive me into completing my task without having to think much about it. I had just finished filling my small bag when Emeline and Beatrice burst into the room.

“Cecily!” Emeline cried before wrapping her arms around my waist and burying her face in my shoulder.

My numbness cracked in the face of her pain. I looked to Beatrice for support, but she too had tears shining in her eyes. She shook her head. “This cannot be,” she said in a fierce whisper. “They cannot make you.”

“That’s what I thought too…but they can and they are.”

“Not with that man!” she insisted.

Anger reared up. “Yes, with that man! I’ve been living on borrowed time as it is. It’s my own fault for thinking that I could escape the dictates imposed upon me. So yes, I will go with that man, because I have no choice.”

Emeline’s wracking sobs against my chest were chastisement enough for my outburst. “I am sorry, dear,” I said as I kissed her head. “I will be fine. I am sure I will be fine,” I lied. Nothing would be fine. I looked to the window. Could I crawl out of it? I didn’t think there was anything to hold on to.

“They will figure something out,” Beatrice said with conviction. “Sir James and Princess Marilee, they will not leave you to this fate. I know it.”

This time I was better at controlling my anger at her useless optimism. “They don’t have a choice either. So don’t be angry when they give up and realize they can’t save me. It’s not their fault.”

It was my uncle’s fault. It was my own mother’s fault. And ultimately, it was my father’s fault.

If only I had run in a different direction. If only that constable hadn’t been waiting for me to run. If only I had run earlier.

“Then Falstone,” Beatrice insisted. “He won’t stand for this.”

Falstone. I closed my eyes, mourning his loss. If only he had been here. Not that he could have done anything. On second thought, perhaps it was better that he wasn’t here. I would hate for him to get himself into trouble with the magistrate. If only the lawman wasn’t waiting outside my door right now, I could have looked for another way out. A closet to hide in. Anything.

“I love you both so much. You are my family,” I said past the giant knot in my throat. “Take care of Marilee. Don’t let her blame herself.”

“I’m sorry,” Magistrate Phillips’s voice came from the doorway.

My heart sank. I was out of time.

“The captain is getting impatient,” he said. “It’s time.”

Helplessness welled up inside me. They would make me go. This man of the law would force me to go. I wanted to blame him for being complicit, but I knew he had no choice. And it was clear he hated having to enforce the contract. So I just nodded even as his words washed me in bitterness.

As much as I wanted to turn and run, I drew myself up, searching for some sort of dignified armor to put on before I had to be in Huckley’s presence again. I reached back to remove Emeline’s arms from around me, but she fought it, clinging to me. “Please don’t go. Please don’t go!” Her adamant words tore at my heart, her wailing reminding me of just how young she was.

“I have to. I’m sorry,” I said, trying to fight back tears. “Beatrice, help, please.”

“Come here, dove,” Beatrice entreated, pulling Emeline away and wrapping her in her arms even as Emeline reached out for me, trying to break free of her great-aunt.

I picked up my small bag of belongings and left the room, refusing to look back as Emeline’s wails filled the halls, louder than I’d ever heard her before.

I was vaguely aware of the sound of the magistrate’s feet following along behind me, but I kept my eyes straight ahead. Captain Huckley awaited me at the top of the stairs, checking his watch once again before snapping it shut. He looked to me as he tucked it away in his pocket, looking puffed up and satisfied, and more than a little bit vengeful. I did not want to think of the ways in which I would pay for the freedom I had enjoyed the past nine years.

Huckley fell into step behind me and I fought not to let my step falter. I did not allow myself to stop or even slow down as we descended the stairs and crossed the entry where Marilee and Falstone now stood, arguing with Sir James and Constable Reeve.

I averted my eyes and fixed them on the door. If I were to meet Falstone’s gaze, I would be undone.

“Cecily,” Falstone called, his voice filled with tension, but I ignored it.

Captain Huckley took hold of my arm, no doubt to ensure my continued compliance, but I was already resigned.