Julianna pushed herself up from the seat. Her cheek throbbed but the muddled sensation in her head had cleared. John sat next to her while his man sat opposite. She recognized him as Mr. Gamble, John’s long-serving valet. Both men were not necessarily built for fighting but even given John’s age, he had strength to him, and Mr. Gamble was tall. Both were much stronger than she. With the speed the carriage was moving, she did not much like her chances of escaping unharmed, especially with her hands bound behind her back. Her wrists were already raw from the subtle wiggling she’d been doing.

So she would have to reason with them.

She spoke against the gag in her mouth. John ignored her at first then rolled his eyes when she would not stop. Finally, he nodded to Mr. Gamble.

“Remove the gag. No one will hear her here anyway.” He wagged a finger at her. “Be too noisy and Mr. Gamble here will not hesitate to hurt you. He’s no gentleman,” he warned.

She nodded frantically and felt the blood rush back into her skin as the man removed the gag and fabric filling her mouth. She licked her lips, her tongue drier than sand. “Where are you taking me?”

“You will find out soon enough.”

“Did my father send you? This is kidnapping, you know.”

John snorted. “It is simply retrieving my property.”

“I am not your property!”

“Not yet, no.” He flicked a cold gaze over her and a shiver stole over her.

Julianna swallowed the tangle of fear in her throat. John had always put her on edge. He was one of those men that set all women on alert, whether he had revealed his true colors or not. Her natural instincts always screamed for her to keep her distance from him. When he had pinned her up against a wall and attempted to force himself upon her, she knew her instincts had been right. No doubt he was still sore she had kicked out and escaped him.

“Does my father know about this?” she pressed.

John smiled—an expression that threatened to remove any courage she had. “Your father has little care for what happens to you. He has his payment.”

“So you have bought me?” She licked her lips. “Why...why would you even do such a thing? Surely I am not worth that much to you? There are other women—willing women I am sure. Why risk the arm of the law to kidnap me?”

He turned to face her properly. “I am risking nothing. Everything is signed. All we need is the ceremony and a little squiggle from you and we shall be man and wife. You will be mine by law, Julianna.”

She let out a laugh, aware of the shudder behind it. “I will not sign anything.”

“You will, or I shall break your fingers.” The words were cold and hard as though breaking a woman’s fingers was something he did every day without thought.

She glanced at her lap. She did not doubt he would either. Lord, there had to be a way out of this. Was her father really so cold that he would hand her over simply for money? She drew in a breath and had to admit to herself that it was likely. He cared little for his children—as had been evidenced with how easily he had disowned Knight. If she could provide him with more income to live the lifestyle he wanted, he’d happily dispense with her.

And clearly he had.

“Please.” She had to try again. “Please let me go. Surely you do not want an unwilling wife?”

“Oh, dear sweet Julianna. Sometimes the unwilling ones are the best. It is most satisfying when they break.” He reached out and ran a finger over her cheek.

By some miracle she remained still and peered into gray eyes that sent a tremor directly to her heart. He touched her lips with that finger, and a half-smile curved his lips.

“I have admired you for many years, did you know that?”

She shook her head.

John smirked. “Well, of course you would not. You were too busy enjoying the benefits of being young and beautiful. You always have been an arrogant little thing. Never fear, I shall change that before long.”

Fighting the need to protest such a description of her, she peered out of the window. She did not recognize where they were—which was not surprising considering she did not know much of Cornwall yet—but they had been travelling for at least an hour.

Well, wherever he was taking her, she had not fled all the way south to be forced into a marriage to John. As soon as she could, she’d flee again.

Another hour went by, by her estimation. Her wrists chafed, and she had to try not to wince every time the carriage hit a rut or bump. Her joints ached too. If John intended to wear her down to ensure her submission, he was doing an outstanding job.

The carriage came to a stop, but Julianna forced herself to stay still, fighting the urge to jump up and fling herself out of the door as fast as humanly possible. John leered at her.

“Here we are.”

“Where is here?” she demanded.

“The place where we shall wed.” His valet opened the door first, stepping out and effectively blocking any escape.

John flashed a leering grin at her and motioned to the door. “After you, my dear.”

Fingers of dread made a path up her spine. She paused as she stood. “Am I really worth all this effort? An unwilling wife? Is that really what you wish?”

“As I said, I have had a fondness for you for some time, Julianna. I am used to getting what I want and today shall be no different.” He took her arm and inched her toward the open carriage door. “I have need of a wife—a young, excellently bred wife. You may think that you can fight this, but before long I shall have myself an obedient, meek wife, and you shall be so eager to please, that you will hardly remember what it was like to be anything other than my wife.”

Julianna snorted. “You are a fool.”

He pushed her forward so that she had to race to catch her footing and prevent herself from stumbling out of the carriage. She straightened and eyed her surroundings. They stood at a crossroads with only a tiny church for company. A few gravestones jutted out of the ground at odd angles, their engraved writing worn and covered in lichen and moss. It was hard to imagine that anyone came to this church to worship.

She looked up and down the ill-used road. There were no markers or signs to indicate where they were. If she ran, she hardly knew which direction to go in. Julianna glanced up at the valet then back at John.

Drawing in a breath, she summoned all her strength and darted forward. She might have little idea where she was or where she was going, but it had to be better than whatever fate awaited her in John’s clutch.

Her dash away from the men was short-lived. An arm banded around her waist and Mr. Gamble gripped her so tightly that all the air was crushed from her lungs. She kicked and jerked but struck out only at air. She sagged against the hold and Mr. Gamble deposited her unceremoniously on the ground.

John leaned over her. “Do I need to tie your legs as well?”

She shook her head vigorously. As much as she did not wish to submit to him already, she could hardly summon a way out if her legs were tied. A better opportunity had to arrive, it just had to. The thought of being tied to John forever...her chest tightened. Well, it was almost as bad as the idea of not seeing Drake again.

What would he think when he realized she was gone? Had he even discovered she had? Lord, she should have stayed with him this morning. Then none of this would have happened and she’d be warm and safe in his arms. Damn her for such a foolish decision. Damn her for being lulled into a sense of safety.

“Gamble, go find the vicar.” John pulled a pocket watch from his waistcoat and flicked it open. “We are an hour early. I anticipated more trouble from her. Go to the vicarage and I shall keep Miss Julianna here company.”

Mr. Gamble dipped his head. “As you will, sir. It’s a way down the road, though. I’ll be a while.”

John shrugged. “We have time. The ceremony will be brief.”

Mr. Gamble started down the road toward the vicarage, she assumed. Julianna noted the direction. If there was a building that way, there had to be a village close by. Perhaps she could find some help there.

If she could get away.

John hauled her up by one arm. She gritted her teeth as pain ate into her wrists.

“Let us wait in the church.” He skimmed his gaze down her. “You are hardly dressed for the occasion, but you will have to do.”

He marched her into the church, shutting the heavy door behind him. The thud echoed through the empty confines of the shadowy building. Only six pews sat at either side of the aisle. Two brass candleholders sat at the altar, ribbons of dried wax coating them. There were few other signs of occupation save from the occasional hymn book left laying on the pews. John’s boots echoed against the red floor tiles underfoot.

John stopped by the font and scooped up a handful of water. He splashed it onto her face, making her gasp, then scrubbed her cheeks with a palm, tutting to himself.

“Why you would choose the life of a mere servant, I do not know. Your father should have raised you better.”

“My father who has willingly sold me to another man merely to feed his greed.” She snorted. “But of course a man like you cannot fathom why I would not wish to be near either of you.”

He ignored her and led her over to the front pew, dragging her down beside him. “Most of your sex would do anything for a match with a wealthy man.”

“Perhaps you have then realized I am not like most of my sex.” She glanced about the quiet, cold church. “The vicar will not marry me once he knows I am unwilling.”

“The vicar will have no choice.”

There was such certainty to his tone that Julianna had little doubt that she would be married here if she did not find a way to escape quickly.

“You cannot force me to speak my vows.”

He chuckled. “I can make you do many things.” He grasped her chin painfully and eyed her, lifting her head this way and that. “Do you not see, Julianna? I have loved you for a long time—since you came of age. If you would be but the wife I need, your life need not be one of hardship.”

Julianna tried to swallow the knot in her throat but failed. “I am not sure you know what love is,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Love is not forcing yourself upon another, nor is it kidnapping or threatening them.”

“No doubt that pirate put false ideas into your head.” He grinned when she opened her mouth to protest. “I am no fool. I saw you leave his ship this morning. Were I a pettier man, I would give you up entirely and leave you to your fate. But after you left, I knew that I must find you. That I must have you, regardless. I love you and you shall love me in return soon enough.”

Julianna shook her head as best as she could against the grip he had on her. “You are a fool to believe I could ever love the man who has forced my hand.”

John smirked. “All women need is a strong hand. I will have you for my wife, and I will teach you the error of your ways. You will become grateful for my benevolence and love me for it. Trust me, my dear late wife loved me more than life itself.”

He released her face and rubbed the spots where his fingers must have left marks. She flinched away and this time he let her turn her face to the altar. Julianna peered up at the statue of Jesus on the cross and offered up a silent prayer for rescue. She did not doubt he loved her—in his own twisted way—and that would make escaping this even harder than she had anticipated.