Before She Ruled (Before Series, Book 1)

Chapter Sixteen

When Addie's eyes opened, it was to see Theo's concerned face hovering over her own. It was still dark out, the candles in the room illuminating him, changing his hard features into soft ones. She was momentarily confused why he would be in her room. She moved to sit. The pain that ripped through her as a result brought her back to the present.

The memories of that night came flooding back. Adam's face as he leered over her in the dark. The feel of his knife glinting against her pale flesh. Seeing Theo's face in the hallway. His reassuring arms carrying her to his bed.

Theo's hand was instantly on her shoulder. "Don't sit or move, Addie. I have sterilized and bandaged the wound. But you must keep still, or I am afraid that the bleeding will begin again."

Addie peered down her body to see that she was tucked into his bed, still wearing the servant's garb that she had hastily thrown on before leaving her room.

"Do not worry," Theo said very softly, " I didn't disrobe you, I just cut away the fabric by the wound."

Addie shook her head. "I wasn't worried...but thank you."

Addie's attention switched to Andrew as he came up behind Theo. She gave him a weak smile.

He returned it, but only very slightly.

"Who did this, Addie?" he asked.

Addie lay her head back against Theo's pillows. And she thought. She thought of how often something similar happened to other maids, other servants. She thought of how no one ever knew. No one ever cared. Because a maid's life was of little consequence. Employers did not care for what went on below stairs as long as it did not affect them.

Addie was still a servant. It was her guise, her mask, the thing keeping her alive. And she did not wish to bring question to that. An employer such as Theo should not care for the pleas of a maid. Because such was the way of the world. What would it reveal when the Duke of Kingfield sought revenge on behalf of inconsequential Addie Singleton? And so she murmured, "I'm not sure I should say."

"Addie," Theo began strongly, but Andrew cut in.

"We need to know if you are still in danger so we can protect you. We cannot do any of that if you do not tell us what happened." Andrew spoke with a quiet force. He wasn't coaxing the information out of Addie. No, he was telling her, in his own way, that he demanded to know.

Addie knew that he was attempting to help, but still she wasn't sure if it was best for Theo to know the truth of it.

"If they did this to you, they could do it to others." Andrew's soft voice hit Addie hard.

Of course.

She closed her eyes for a long moment and then muttered, "Adam."

"The footman?" Theo questioned, the incredulity clear. "Is he the one that has been bothering you?"

"Yes," Addie whispered. She paused momentarily and then continued. "He came into my room tonight. He accused me of having...relations." Addie peeked upward, and upon seeing Theo's tense face, decided to concentrate on her hands instead. "Particularly with you. He..."

She shook her head, not wanting to go on.

Theo's expression was thunderous enough without saying the rest. "God, Addie did he—"

"No." But Addie still couldn't bring herself to look at him.

Theo wasn't satisfied with that answer.

"I swear to God if he did..." he said, his threat fading away as he studied her face. Theo took her chin in his hands and tilted it towards him, making her peer up at him. His eyes were dark, intensity pouring from them.