CHAPTER FIFTEEN
VICTORIA
I’m naked underneath a gown again. I’ve learned enough to know, that doesn’t end well. Elizabeth, Amelia, and I stand in front of the members of the society. The Duke and Nicholas are at the head of the group. They both wear tailored dark suits, white shirts, and matching ties. Nicholas fiddles with his ever-present cufflinks. He hasn’t looked at me once since he entered the room. It’s like he’s brought a shutter down on what happened between us last night. I should step forward and shout at the Duke that William came into my room last night. I’m angry enough to do it because Nicholas is so damn stubborn. If only he would end what’s going on, then we could all leave. He won’t, though. His father controls him like a puppet on a string, and that’s the reason why I won’t tell on William. Feeling an intensity wash over me, I look toward Nicholas, his eyes are everywhere except on me. William, I look up at a balcony toward the top of the high ceiling. I can’t see him although I know that he’s there. He hides in the shadows. I can’t help but envy him. I wish I were up there hiding with him. I look back down and toward Nicholas, and he’s scowling at me. It’s a warning — he must’ve seen me looking up. I shut my eyes and let out a long breath before mouthing,
“I promise.”
I don't look at him again, for the Duke starts his speech that will lead to today’s torture.
“Welcome again, gentlemen. I trust you all slept well. It’s been a few days since we conducted the last trial, and I’m sure you’re all as excited as I am to continue with choosing a wife for my son.” A few of the men murmur their eagerness to continue. I want to scream that they’re all freaks, but I know it’s better to hold my tongue. I shuffle my bare feet against the cold of the stone floor and wait to hear my fate.
“As the wife of a Duke, the chosen woman will need to take discipline and thank her husband for it. She’ll be expected to be impeccably behaved and subservient to his needs at all times, but by nature, they’re women and thus prone to faults. This task looks at how well the women before us will take the discipline that Nicholas will give to them, and it will probably set a precedent for the future of their marriage.” The Duke laughs. I find myself beyond caring at this point. I thought I was getting somewhere with Nicholas, last night, but when he pulled away, it all crumbled, and I was the one who realized that my fate and his are intertwined forever. Until he understands the hold that his father has over him and stops lying to himself, there’s nothing I can do to save either of us.
“Ladies. Would you remove your cloaks and form a line in front of Nicholas? He’ll ask you a question, and you should answer it as you feel he would want you to.”
I can’t help but think that sounds a little too simple for a task. Where’s the humiliation? I suddenly fear the question he’ll ask. I remove my gown, as do Elizabeth and Amelia, and we stand as ordered. Nicholas walks the line. He stops in front of each of us and looks us up and down. I notice no interest on his face with Elizabeth and Amelia, but when it comes to me, the way he looks between my legs has me rub them together at the memory of his head in between my thighs. His nostrils flare as though he’s aware of the arousal pooling between my legs. Fuck. I can’t get horny for this monster. I’ll become the freak then. I look down at the floor, and he walks back to Elizabeth.
“Miss Sandford, if we’re out at a social function, and I ask you to get on your hands and knees, bark like a dog, and crawl around the room, would you?” Some of the assembled crowd laugh at his question, but it just confirms to me how insane this is.
Elizabeth pulls on a strand of her jet black hair and pouts at the question. She’s pretending to mull it over? I can see the look on her face. I really haven’t warmed to this girl. She seems to actually be enjoying what’s going on. I, on the other hand, want to just gag. When she gets to her knees and barks like a dog, I’m pretty confident that I’m going to be sick.
“I’ll do whatever you ask of me. As my husband, you’ll be my master, and I’ll obey your every command because you need to be satisfied in all things.”
Yep, definitely feeling queasy.
“Thank you, Elizabeth.” Nicholas smiles at her and offers his hand to allow her to get back on her feet. He kisses it and moves onto Amelia. The blonde haired girl seems to be stronger today. She’s been dealing with the situation the worst of all of us. I’ve been desperate to get to know her better — I might be able to help support her, but we haven’t had the opportunity to talk amongst ourselves. She turns her head to look at me and smiles with reassurance.
“Keep your eyes on me, Miss Rushbrooke, not Miss Hamilton.”
“Apologies, Lord Lullington,” she whispers, and I see her hands start to shake. Even though he isn’t looking at me, I frown at Nicholas with utter scorn. He doesn’t need to be such an obnoxious bully.
“The same question. What’s your answer?”
“Yes, I would, My Lord.” She doesn’t hesitate in her answer, but there’s no feeling in the words. They’re said only because she needs to give an answer, and that’s the one she thinks Nicholas wants to hear.
“Thank you, Amelia,” Nicholas replies and comes to stand in front of me. He keeps his stare focused on my face, and I’m glad for that. The last thing I need is to have my thoughts muddled by lust.
“Miss Hamilton, what’s your answer to the same question?” My survival instincts tell me to say yes and be done with it. Move on to the next task without torture, but the passion that burns inside me screams for me to tell him to go to hell. I find my own hands shaking. My legs feel like jelly. I just want to run and hide from the question. Why is it so difficult to answer? I swallow deeply and press my hands to my side to calm the tremor in them.
“Yes…” ‒ I pause. Nicholas smiles‒ “should be my answer, but my father raised me not to tell lies. If I said yes and forego any punishment you are about to give me, then it would be deceitful to the truth of this situation.” My last point’s a sarcastic dig at what happened between Nicholas and me last night. He knows this is wrong but won’t do anything about it. “My answer is, no, Earl Lullington. I wouldn’t get to my knees and be a dog if you asked me to. Because you keep me here against my free will, you don’t deserve my respect enough to do what you ask of me.”
Nicholas’ face reddens, and a vein in the side of his neck pulses furiously. Its beat matches that of the thundering tempo of my heart. He doesn’t speak, though. He turns away from me and faces his father.
“Elizabeth Sandford was the most honest. She won’t be punished as she doesn’t need it. Amelia Rushbrooke, though she answered ‘yes’, I feel would be hesitant in obeying the order. Therefore, she’ll be locked in her room for twenty-four hours with no food.” He pauses, and my heart leaps into my mouth. “Victoria Hamilton was insolent and rude. She wouldn’t obey my order and will get a harsh correction. She’ll be whipped, here and now, twenty times. That would be my right as her husband.”
I can barely take in his words. I expected a punishment but this? Whipping? It’s cruel and degrading, not to mention will leave me scarred for life and in so much pain. Is this the sort of man Nicholas truly is? I was a fool to believe he might have kindness in him. He’s lost — lost to the devil that is his father. I’m going to die. I’m twenty-one years old, a baby, and my life’s over.