Bound by Bliss (Bound and Determined #2)(96)

Was it possible to be more miserable than she already felt?

A single tear slipped down her cheek.

Her dreams were over before they had even begun.

Another tear.

And then her head snapped up.

This is not who she was. Stephan wanted her because of her sense of life and vitality, not because she was a passive child who would give up at the first challenge.

She was a Danser, and Dansers were never to be defeated.



If only there was something she could do. She pulled again on the chain, listening to the clank of the lock.

Pirates. Playing pirates. Her brothers had not only tied her with ropes, once they’d tried with old chains from the attic and on several occasions they’d locked her in various empty rooms about the house. Her long-ago lessons in escape came back to her. She’d taken full advantage of the magicians and circus performers who had visited her father’s house.

Could she do it?

She wasn’t even clear if she could reach the lock on the cuffs, much less pick the lock.

No, she would not think that way.

She could do it. She could.

Pushing up on her toes as far as she could, while at the same time pulling on the chain with her fingers, she managed to bring herself into position, her fingers playing with the spot where the lock clicked closed.

Now she just needed something to slip in and turn.

Her eyes fell on the evil pinchers. How could she get them? They weren’t that far away, but with her hands locked above her head it might as well have been a mile.

Her eyes swept the room and then came back to the pinchers. If she couldn’t get to them, there was nothing else that could possibly be within reach. She looked down at her feet, then, using one foot upon the other, pushed slippers off. Bare toes would be best.

Standing on one leg she did her best to reach out with the other.

Her toes brushed the edge of the bed, but she could get no closer.



Hell. Blast. Damn.

A dozen of her brother’s curses filled her mind.

Bloody hell.

Witches’ tits.

Blue bollocks.

Blasted, f*cking shit.

She tried to hop closer. No.

She tried again.

Could she swing? She had tried the ballroom trapeze on several occasions. It might be possible.

Tiptoeing as far back as possible, she jumped back and then let herself swing forward, pumping her legs with her.

Almost.

The pain in her shoulder sockets was worse than anything that had happened this night, although not worse than that which she feared might happen. Her eyes watered, but she pushed back, swinging harder.

She could do this. She would do this.

Her foot made it to the top of the bed. Her shoulders and wrists screamed.

Once more. There. There. Her toes touched.

She had them.

She pushed the pinchers farther away, farther across the bed.

Bloody hell. Her head fell forward, her feet catching her weight, bringing some relief to her arms.

What now?

Even as tears spilled down her cheeks, she refused to be conquered. If only she could find the quiet within herself, find that spot of peace that Stephan had brought her to. She could do this.



She shook her head, trying to clear it, and watched in disbelief as one of her hairpins flew across the room.

She was an idiot.

Straining upward once again, she managed to grab hold of the end of another pin and pull it free. Her hands were damp with effort and she almost dropped it, but by the grace of God did not.

To say it was easy after that would have been a gross overstatement, but she did manage.

A few moments later, wrists bleeding, fingers cramping, she was free.

A moment to slip her feet back into her slippers, then pulling up her bodice and grabbing her cloak from where it lay fallen, she made for the door.

She slipped through the door, whispering thanks that Temple had not locked it, and crept into the hallway. Which way to go? Left led to the great stair, which she had come up each time, but surely there must be a back stair, another way down. But did she wish to risk meandering about without a clear destination in mind? No, she would just be careful. Even if Temple saw her, what could he do once there were others about?

Stephan. She could go back to Stephan.

—

“What do you mean you haven’t seen her? She must have left the room in the last hour or so. You claim to keep an eye on everything here and yet you missed her?” Duldon knew he was close to shouting and did not care, not in the least.



“I admit that it sounds strange. I miss very little of what happens here. I will ask the footmen again and any of my girls who were not occupied. Someone will have seen her. Although perhaps she did not wish to be seen and crept out? Are you sure she was wearing a deep green colored cloak?” Ruby was clearly trying to keep her temper. She smiled gently and patted his arm.

He fought the urge to shake her off. Where was Bliss? “Do you really think she attempted to brave the streets of London at this hour? What time is it, by the way?” He stared out into the oppressive dark of the night.

Ruby sighed. “It is about five, I believe. The dawn light will just be slipping over the buildings and maids will start to light fires for those who never feel warm enough or dry enough.”

“And she’s been out there at least an hour. Anything can happen in an hour.”