Dinner… I understand that, but rapists don’t send little old ladies to prepare their victims for sexual assaults. “Did Kieran leave the compound?”
“Yes. He and the other Mr. Hendry had a meeting to attend.”
A spark of hope ignites inside me. Perhaps they were contacted by Thane to negotiate for our return? He and Sin and Jamie won’t leave Ellison and me with these people. I know they won’t.
Mrs. Bruce uncovers the smallest of the three plates on the table. “Mr. Hendry wants you to have oysters.”
“Why in the world would that man care anything about what I eat?”
“Oysters get the juices flowing.”
“What juices?”
She lifts her brows and looks downward. “Those juices. The womanly ones that put you in the mood for loving.”
What. The. Hell?
“Eat up, Miss Breckenridge. He’ll expect you to be ready when he returns.”
I’ll be ready. Ready to leave.
“Please, Miss Breckenridge. I don’t want Mr. Hendry to be angry with me because you aren’t ready when he returns.”
These aren’t logical people. They might physically harm this old woman because I didn’t eat these damn oysters. “All right.” I lift the shell and swallow the first of the half-dozen oysters on the plate. Mmm… nice and briny. One of the best oysters I’ve ever had.
“You’re a lucky girl. Mr. Hendry could have had his pick of girls, but he chose you. Not everyone is pleased about his decision, but I for one couldn’t be happier. It’s time this happened.”
Someone has lied to this poor woman. “I don’t think you understand why I’m here.”
“I understand perfectly.” She uncovers a plate of duck confit and risotto. “Eat up. You’ll need your strength.”
I eat what I force down, only because I don’t want this woman harmed, and Mrs. Bruce covers the dishes when I finish. “You didn’t eat much.”
“Nervous stomach.”
“No need to be nervous. Mr. Hendry is going to make you a very happy woman tonight.”
Happy? I don’t think so.
“Come with me. It’s time for your shower.”
Mrs. Bruce goes to the bed and fetches the gown, frowning when she holds it up for inspection. “He’ll be back soon, so there’s no time to iron it. I’ll hang it on the back of the door, and we’ll hope that the steam loosens the crinkles.”
She goes into the bathroom and turns on the water but doesn’t come out. “Time’s wasting. Get in here, lass.”
I go into the bathroom, and she still doesn’t leave.
“Go on. Turn around.”
I do as she says and she lowers the zipper of my dress. “I’ll launder your clothes for you if you wish to keep them.”
Of course, I want to keep my clothes. What else would I wear home? “I don’t think you’ll have time to launder them.”
I slide the dress down my body, and it takes my ripped knickers to the floor with it. Mrs. Bruce bends down and lifts them from the floor. “Oh dear.”
“He ripped them.”
“I see that. Would you like me to throw them out?”
“Yes, please.” I want no reminders of any interaction I have with Kieran Hendry.
I cover my breasts with one arm while using the other to hold out my bra.
“No need to be timid with me. It’s my job to assist Hendry women as needed.”
But I’m not a Hendry woman. “Do you know anything about my friend, Ellison?”
“I prepared a meal for her, but someone else delivered it to her room.”
“Is she okay?”
“I have no reason to believe she isn’t.”
Mrs. Bruce flicks her hand toward the shower. “Get in, lass. Mr. Hendry will be back before we know it, and he’ll be angry if you aren’t ready.”
Kieran Hendry is an even bigger monster than I thought for making this sweet old lady prepare me for the things he’s going to do to me.
God, I hope there’s a negotiation in the works for Ellison and me.
I stand beneath the hot water and imagine what it will feel like to have him on top of me, between my legs. He’s well over six feet tall. Every bit of fifteen stones. He lifted and carried me over his shoulder in what felt like one smooth motion. He tossed me onto the bed as though I weighed nothing. No part of him that I’m able to see is small. I’m guessing that includes his cock as well.
I wonder if he’ll be violent. “Have you done this before?”
“Done what, dear?”
“Prepared a woman for Kieran?”
She looks confused by my question. “Of course not; you’re the first.”
“Will you tend to me afterward?”
“No. That’s for Kieran to do.” She giggles. “You truly are an innocent lass, aren’t you?”
“I’ve never been with a man.” By force or voluntarily.
“Maybe I should ask Mrs. Hendry to come in and talk to you? She might be able to ease your nerves a bit.”
Kieran’s mother might listen to me. I could plead with her, woman to woman, to stop her son from violating me. “Yes. I would like to see her. Will you go get her now?” Before Kieran comes back.
“Let’s finish with you first so that you’re ready when Mr. Hendry returns, and then if there’s time, I’ll have her come in.”
I quickly rinse the conditioner from my hair. “I’m done.” I turn off the water and step around the glass door to where Mrs. Bruce is standing with an outstretched lush white robe for me. Reminds me of the way my nanny, Iona, would wrap me in a towel after my bath when I was a child.
I tie the belt around my waist and twist a towel around my wet hair. Mrs. Bruce removes the white gown from the hook on the back of the door and shakes it. “The steam helped. Good thing because I certainly wouldn’t want Mrs. Hendry to see that I put you in a wrinkled mess.” She returns the gown to the hook. “Let’s comb your hair and dry it. Mr. Hendry won’t like you coming to bed with wet hair.”
I don’t have time for this. I need to speak to Kieran’s mother before he comes back. I snatch the comb from her hand and all but rip out my hair as I drag it through the tangles. I lean over and dry my hair on hot and high as I shake it out with my fingers. It’s a wild, bushy mess when I stand upright. “Miss Breckenridge… I think we should smooth your hair.”
“It’s fine.”
“Kieran won’t like it… so big.”
Fuck Kieran and what he likes. “Do you have a flat iron?”
“Miss Hendry does. I can get it.”
“Please do. And bring her with you when you return.”
“The Miss Hendry I was referring to is Shaw, Kieran’s sister.”
How many Hendrys are there? And will they all be in this house doing nothing while I’m being assaulted?
“We should probably hurry. Don’t want to keep Kieran waiting because I’m not ready.”
“Yes, Miss Breckenridge.” She holds out a brush. “You should probably try to tame that while I’m gone.”
Mrs. Bruce returns, and she straightens my bushy hair. She’s slow as fuck. “I bet Mr. Hendry loves your long hair. He’s never been fond of short on women.”
Again, fuck Kieran and what he likes. “Can you go get Mrs. Hendry now?”
Mrs. Bruce smiles. “Yes, but let’s get you into your gown first. Arms up.”
She dresses me as though I’m a toddler and can’t do it for myself. It would be completely annoying if I had time to be annoyed.
“It’s endearing that you’re so nervous.”
Endearing? I’m about to be brutalized. What the fuck could be endearing about that? “Can you please hurry, Mrs. Bruce? I’m afraid Kieran will be here any minute.”
“Of course.”
This is my last hope. If Kieran’s mother has no mercy on me, it’s over. I’m his to do with as he pleases.