Pricing The Heart

Chapter 2

He stopped, and so did Eloise's heart. Silence settled over the room. Trembling from the fear that coursed through her veins, she watched his rigid back.

He did not want her.

Common sense scolded her for choosing to belittle and offer herself up so cheaply to a man she knew nothing about. But she couldn't help herself. This man, although mysterious, was a light. He was the only flicker of light to appear in her very dark life in such a long time. His light beckoned to her, pulling her in so that she was powerless to resist.

Besides, she would be sold tonight. Eloise felt it in her weakened limbs she would eventually give in to James' demands. She didn't think she could bear James' abuse for much longer, and this stranger who was about to walk out the door seemed to be the only decent person in this room.

She wondered if his hesitation to take her stemmed from the fact that he was already married. She turned her attention to his hands. His gloves concealed his status.

Her hope dwindling, she raised her gaze to his rigid back and silently willed him to turn around—to help her.

"I guess you're worth nothin'," James laughed, tightening his grip on her arm. "Completely useless!" he hissed. He dragged her across the room, and gritting her teeth against the pain, she fought to keep up with his long strides. When he paused behind the stranger, she shoved aside the tear that slipped down her cheek. "How about a penny? A penny, my good man, and she's all yours."

Fully expecting the stranger to walk out the door, Eloise was stunned when he turned around stiffly. Rage clouded his eyes as he stared down at her, but his rage didn't make her cower, for she knew she was not the object of his wrath; James was. She saw in the stranger's eyes a desire to hurt James. Yet, his fisted hands told of his ability for restraint.

"One shilling," she murmured, stepping forward, as far as James' grip on her arm would allow. She held his gaze, silently pleading for help.

Silence stood between them for what felt like a lifetime. She watched the rage in his eyes slowly dissipate, his Adam's apple disappearing in the collar of his white shirt as he tore his lips apart and let out a shaky breath. When he nodded, Eloise felt her lungs fill with air as relief flooded her.

"One shilling." With his gaze still holding her captive, he extracted a coin from his pocket and tossed it at James.

James released her then, bending quickly to retrieve his coin.

With the support of James' arm gone, a wave of dizziness washed over her as she staggered forward and gingerly placed her hand in the stranger's. His fingers swallowed hers. "Can you walk?" he asked quietly.

She forced a small smile to her aching lips. "I shall try."

"Here." Leaning down, he scooped her in his arms, his cologne teasing her senses once again as his warmth wrapped around her. Turning to face the door, he carried her through the parted crowd, out the door.

Her heart drummed in her chest as they made their way up the dingy stairs of the modest tavern. Eloise knew there were rooms in the building, but she couldn't help the sudden fear she felt at the thought of being alone with a complete stranger. Perhaps she made a terrible mistake! Perhaps she must insist his money be returned, and she be returned to James!

But what good would that do? James would never concede to taking her back, especially now that he was rid of her; now that the responsibility of caring for a wife was off of his shoulders.

James had always been a selfish bastard. It was greed that forced him to propose marriage to her, and when he realized she wasn't worth half the money he thought she was, greed pushed him to sell her.