Free Jo Goodman by My Steadfast Heart Page B

waiting for you."
    Mercedes was silent.
    "The smudges on your neck would lead one to believe your attacker's hands were dirty, yet where the material of your gown was split there was no sign of dirt. That neat tear on the skirt of your gown wasn't made by running into a branch." He paused a beat. "Talk to me, Mercedes."
    She found she couldn't. His hand was on her shoulder, plucking at the strap of her camisole. The point of the dagger was under her chin.
    "Is your uncle involved in this?" Colin asked. Her stricken look was answer enough. "Did he ask you to come here this evening?"
    Her voice was only a pathetic whisper. "Please," she said. "Let me go."
    "Did he force you?"
    "No!" There were some truths that could not be told.
    Colin's eyes narrowed darkly. "You said before that there would be consequences if the earl died... something about someone coming after you."
    Mercedes felt the last vestiges of color drain from her face. She didn't want to think about it. Beneath her chin was the cool length of Colin's blade and she concentrated on that. Her clenched hands ached and her knuckles were white from holding the edges of her camisole together. It was suddenly borne home to her that his interest had never really been personal; everything he did was to bring her to heel.
    "Tell me what you meant by that," he said.
    Mercedes finally understood that she didn't have to tell him anything. It didn't matter if he saw her naked because his own arousal wasn't his purpose. Taking away her garments one ribbon at a time was only a tactic to keep her off balance. He couldn't shame her if she wasn't ashamed.
    It occurred to her that her hands weren't tied or even restrained. He had accomplished the same outcome by keeping them busy. In order to use them she had only to give up her modesty. Staring down the length of Colin's dagger, it was an easy choice.
    Mercedes let go of her camisole and slapped at Colin's wrist. The blade missed nicking her throat by a fraction of an inch but she was successful in pushing it sideways. She ducked and kicked out swiftly, shoving him away. He lost his balance on the edge of the bed and before he could recover, Mercedes scrambled to the opposite side.
    Colin straightened. "So what are you going to do now?"
    The bed was certainly between them but she was on the wrong side to reach the door. Her brow furrowed as she considered her predicament.
    "Or hadn't you thought that far?" Colin deliberately allowed his eyes to wander to the level of her gaping camisole. "Take your time."
    Mercedes fought the urge to close the material. She had better uses for her hands than to protect her modesty. Keeping her eyes on Colin and the dagger resting lightly in his palm, Mercedes sidled carefully toward the dresser.
    "Don't pick up that knife," he warned her.
    "I'm getting my stockings." Her tone made it seem a perfectly reasonable thing to do.
    Colin couldn't fathom her intention. "Are you going to flail me with them?"
    "No," she said sweetly, reaching the dresser. "I'm going to tie you up with them."
    He didn't think that was possible. That's why he was still looking at her breasts when she flung the drawer at his head. One corner caught his temple and Colin Thorne went down as if he'd been felled. He was groaning, trying to raise his head and clear his vision, when Mercedes clobbered him with the whisky bottle.
    His last thought was that since she had promised to tie him up, she probably wasn't going to kill him.

 
     
     
    Chapter 3

     
    Mercedes let herself in the tradesman's entrance at the rear of the manor. She was relieved to be able to do so. She had no wish to face her uncle immediately upon her arrival. Using the back stairs, Mercedes reached her room in the north wing without being accosted.
    A great cheval glass with an elaborately scrolled walnut frame was one of the few amenities left in her room. Mercedes did not pause in front of it or even glance in its direction. She had no wish to see the wretched