Page 100 of An Inconvenient Vow

“But o’ course she could do no such thing,” he said with unconvincing heartiness. “Instead, Mistress Isemay, she came back to Tipton Hall and fetched me and a bunch of provisions to fortify him with.”

Isemay hunched a shoulder and let it fall. “We set him up in the old shack with blankets, bandaged his hurts, and barricaded him in against any wild beasts for the night.”

Sabina turned to the burly manservant. “And in your opinion, what ailed him, Samuel?”

“He had been beaten, milady and beaten badly. Some might say to within an inch of his life.”

Sabina shuddered. “And you did not tell anyone where he was?”

“I swore Samuel to secrecy,” Isemay said quickly. “The responsibility was all mine.”

“I see. And from that day, you have visited him, bringing him food and medicine?”

Isemay nodded. “His recovery has been slow and… my revenge has now taken a curious turn.”

Sabina frowned. “And that is?” she asked when Isemay started wordlessly drawing patterns on the tabletop with her fingertip.

“He don’t remember nothing,” Samuel put in eagerly when his mistress did not speak, “for the beating emptied his head. He believes whatever Mistress Isemay sees fit to tell him.”

Sabina’s mouth fell open. “And what is it that you tell him, Isemay?” she asked with mounting alarm.

Isemay tossed her head. “Nothing that he does not deserve! Do I not hold him now in the palm of my hand? I chose to preserve his life. It is for me to mete out his punishment; that is my right.”

Sabina regarded her gravely. “You have told him you are lovers? But why?”

Samuel shifted uncomfortably on the bench as Isemay’s color heightened.

“I had to tell him something. This way he will mind me and do as I say.”

“And what will you do if he recovers his memory, Isemay? This plan is foolhardy and ill-thought out!” Sabina’s voice rose with each word and her sister shushed her, whipping around to check the door was still closed.

“I will have my revenge before that point,” Isemay said turning back hurriedly. “Only keep your voice down for surely your household must be up and about by now!”

“My household currently consists of two servants only,” Sabina admitted. “Jeffree and his man Osborn are currently at Ganford Chase.”

“Oh.” Isemay relaxed. “Well, pray do not concern yourself, sister, I know what I am about. I will have my revenge forthwith, and until then, he is wholly at my mercy.”

Sabina let her troubled gaze rest on Isemay’s face a moment, searching her expression. “You are sure you know what you are about Isemay?” she asked with misgiving. “I have a terrible presentiment of disaster.”

“Quite sure!”

“Sir Charles is frantic about his son’s fate…”

“He need not be,” Isemay said serenely. “Once my revenge is secured, Sir Charles will learn his son yet lives. Thanks to me.”

“And you are sure, are you not, of his recovery?”

“Quite sure,” her sister repeated with supreme confidence.

“Only if his health was to take a turn for the worst…” She noticed Samuel turned an alarmed look upon his mistress, but Isemay was not phased one whit.

“I have not the smallest doubt,” Isemay insisted, rising from her seat. “Now, if that is all, sister, then Samuel and I must return to Tipton Hall before our absence is noted.”

Sabina jumped up as well, but nothing she could say could convince her sister to delay their departure. “We have the wagon tethered further down the lane and must not leave it any longer lest anyone happen upon it,” Isemay said clinching the argument. Not long after, Sabina stood at the window, watching them hurrying back down the lane.

“Where the bloody hells have you been?” a furious voice asked from the doorway and Sabina whipped around with a gasp.

Jeffree stood there, a thunderous frown on his face. “I rode back early, and you were nowhere to be found!”