Ravished by a Rake : Historical Fiction

Chapter 3

Mr. Spade may I meet with you in Father Timothy's office?' Sybrina calmly requested, her inner turmoil concealed.

Drat! Why do I have to deal with rakes and spades?

'May I offer you some refreshments?' Sybrina stalled for time.

'Nay Sybrina, I've come about me rent, tis due, you know it!'

Her stomach felt like everything inside it was on a rollercoaster ride. She did not have the rent, neither did she have a backup plan. He'd been threatening to shut them down for three months now. Some other business people were interested in turning it into an Inn. She'd begged and pleaded up until now to get a reprieve, but how much longer could she stall? There was no money. There was no way to make this week's payment.

'Mr. Spade_ please,' Sybrina swallowed nervously, wishing there was some windfall that could arrive, but alas there was none. She wondered if her father was behind the constant eviction notices. Where would the children go? Where would she go? She could never return to her father never.

'Could you grant us another week_?'

'No!' he cut her off. 'I need me money. I can make five times more, if I turn this into lodgings,' he snarled.

Not that he needed the money. He owned the brothel down the street that served drinks twenty four hours a day, and provided employment for working women. He owned the General Stores across the road, and the Barber Shop.

'Please I'll do anything__just one more week, please,' Sybrina begged.

She saw his bloodshot eyes light up. A smile start to form at the corner of his lips.

No not that. Pease God not that!

She could not sacrifice her virtue not even for the orphanage. There was just so far she would go, and hell, if push comes to shove, she could ask Claudia, or she could swallow her pride and knock on her father's door, like he was expecting her to. But if she had to sacrifice her virtue, it cannot be to this filthy, obese creature in front of her. Sybrina was certain he had not brushed his teeth, or taken a bath in a week.

'Why I believe you can do something for me lassie,' he licked his lips in a vile way.

Sybrina shut her eyes for a second, felt nausea fill her stomach, felt bile chocking in her throat.

'It appears I've been invited to a gentleman's ball.'

Sybrina's eyes flew open, she stared at the filthy creature in front of her.

'Excuse me!' she murmured.

'Me business associates. Them Gentleman have given me invitation to escort whom I please to the Masked Ball,' he licked his lips again.

The Masked Ball. That's was a premier event the Peers of the Ton hosted. Generally it was strictly for Gentleman only, but occasionally they extended invitations to businessmen. Who could have been insane enough to offer this ogre an invite?

'You want me to accompany you to the Masked Ball?' she echoed, half relieved, that that was all she'd need to sacrifice. And the other half of her reviling the thought of spending that many hours with this toad. On a positive note, she may not need to dance too many dances with him, other Gentlemen may request her to dance, so it may not be all bad.

'So if I accompany you to the Ball, you will allow us a week's reprieve.

'And that's all you'll get miss,' he warned, 'I have people awaiting for this property,' he nodded vigorously.

A masked ball. That meant costumes. And at midnight, all masks to be removed, so everybody could be identified. Sybrina would never want to be recognized, neither would she want a single soul to see her as partner to Giles Spade. The humiliation of it all, she could not let that happen.