1.

The summons came at midnight.

“He demands your presence, milady.” With the door between us, Cedrik’s voice was muffled.

“I will wait for my maid to bring my clothes. Tell him I will be there when I am properly attired.”

“Forgive me, milady. He said for you to come at once.”

“Surely, he does not expect me to leave my chamber in my night clothes.” I protested.

“I apologize, milady. I have my orders to drag you if need be.” I heard the distaste in his voice. Until two days ago, he had been one of my guards, showing me fealty, taking orders from me.

Then the Devil came to our home, requesting shelter for the night. My sisters and I extended him generous hospitality, including quarters and nourishment for him and his men, the use of our stables for their mounts. We never had excess but have always supported ourselves, maintain our land and those who tend it. And we prided ourselves in sharing what little we have with those in need. He was charming, acting the gentleman and praising my sisters’ talents when they entertained him with music and song.

However, when we woke the next morning, the three of us learned that our guards had been locked in the guard house, and his men were now patrolling my castle, our home. Without being given the courtesy to let us dress, we were escorted to the Great Hall. He made us stand before him, as if we were mere servants, while he lounged in our late father’s chair.

“I am master of these lands now,” he announced.

“Is this how you repay our hospitality, sir? You spit at generosity. You overpower where you perceive weakness. You plunder where you imagine riches. And when you are sorely disappointed or have taken what little there is, you leave ashes, death, and despair in your wake. Is that who you are?” I railed.

He regarded me impassively and waited till my tirade ran its course.

“Yes.”

Then he stood and walked toward us. Slowly he circled my sisters, pushed them aside and told his men to lock both girls in the North Tower.

The girls cried in protest as they were taken away. One of his guards restrained me to keep me from following them. Once we could no longer hear them, he dismissed his guards, till only the two of us were in the Great Hall.

He stopped so close before of me that I had no choice but to tilt my head back to look at him, allowing him the advantage. Though stepping back would have equally played into his hand.

“Your sisters are safe. For now. Whether they stay safe is up to you.” He then gleefully pointed out my current predicament and gave me two choices, making sure I understood the consequence of each decision.

“I’ll be generous. You have two days to consider your answer.”

Without another word or look my way, he called his guard to take me to the South Tower.

The top chambers in the towers have been rarely used and enjoy few luxuries. For two days I was not allowed my usual routine of managing my estate. I had nothing to do but to worry about my sisters and fruitlessly rail against the inequity of the situation in which I found myself.

I assumed he would have waited until mid-morning, but a few hours, some of which would have been spent in fitful sleep, would not make my decision easier.

Cedrik ushered me down the spiral stairs of the South Tower. We crossed the Great Hall, where a few half-drunk, idle guards ogled me and sneered and climbed the central staircase to the private rooms.

“My apologies, milady.” Cedric whispered once we crossed the Great Hall.

“I do not blame you,” I assured him. “It was I who put everyone in danger by inviting the Devil among us. It is I who needs to apologize to you and the rest of my people.”

The half-light from the few torches along the wall added to my sense of unease. The long, drafty hallway, normally so familiar to me, felt menacing. My nightrail was not intended for warmth. My bare feet slapped against the cold stone floor.

We stopped at the library door. I did not give Cedrik time to knock but opened the door and entered unbidden. This room, my father’s study, and more recently my place of work and sanctuary. Although the fire in the large hearth, flanked by two tall wingback chairs, was welcoming, the room was in disarray with estate books and ledgers strewn across my father’s desk.

The heat in the room contrasted with the bone chilling cold in the south tower. Suppressing my fear, I chose to vent my anger. “What, pray tell, could not possibly wait until the morrow?” I shouted.

“Yes, do enter.” Did I hear amusement in his voice? Was he mocking me?

I stopped near the fire. He sprawled in one of the two chairs, legs stretched toward the fire. His black hair, smoothed back from a high forehead, showing his widow’s peak, was secured with a narrow ribbon at his nape. Black eyes assessed me, while I regarded him. He wore a black wool coat over a white loose-fitting blouse. Black buckskin pants were tucked into tall, black boots.

“Do you approve?” his voice was rife with biting amusement.

I shrugged. “I was led to believe that my opinion, let alone approval, was neither requested nor required.”

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Astutely surmised.” He handed me his empty glass and nodded toward the sideboard that held the brandy decanter. “Refill mine and pour yourself a finger as well.” He was so very generous with my supplies.

When I handed his replenished glass, he nodded toward the other chair. I perched on the edge of the seat.

“You had ample time to reflect on your future. What is your answer?” he asked casually and took a sip of his brandy.

“Do I have a choice then?” I took a sip as well and let the brandy warm me.

“Of course. Though all choices have consequences. I thought I had made myself clear. But perhaps you are dimmer than I calculated.” His chuckle was mirthless. “Do I need to repeat myself?” He held up a finger silencing me. “Before you say yes, let me warn you that the odds will change in my favor, each time I do,” he taunted.

I paused, stalled. Though I knew that my only option was to accept the bargain, to decline might mean banishment, poverty, or death. I would be in no position to protect my sisters if I were absent. Though I shuddered at the thought of what accepting would mean.

“Come now. You have had nearly forty-eight hours to contemplate your response. It’s either yea or nay. Even a woman can make that decision,” he sneered.

I swallowed the rest of my brandy and rose.

“You do not think much of women in general. And obviously not much of me, sir. So why the offer?

“Yours in not to question, milady,” he bellowed the honorific with contempt. “Yours is to answer.”

I sighed. “Yes. I accept.”

“Very well. You may go.”

When I passed by his chair on my way toward the door, his hand snaked out and grabbed my wrist. I froze, stifled a gasp. Other than my father, no man had ever touched me. He tugged on my wrist till I looked at him.

“You may think I’m the Devil, but I always keep my end of a bargain. Make sure you do the same.” I wondered if that threat was supposed to reassure me. A sudden chill ran down my spine as I fled the room.

2.

Rushing down the dark hallway, I trembled and was breathless with both fear and anger. What in the Devil’s name had I just agreed to? I stormed away with Cedrik on my heels, up the stairs to my own quarters. I was still enraged at the outlandish offer he made after my sisters were taken to the North Tower.

“Allow me to introduce myself properly,” he hissed while crowding me. “You have the pleasure to make the acquaintance of the Earl of Downs-Barrows.” He paused, smirking down his nose at me.

I gasped at a loss for words.

“It appears that I, as wretched a specimen as I may be, am the sole heir to your late father’s title and his holdings.” He stepped away, circling me. I tried to absorb the news. Father had told me there were no heirs, that he had petitioned for me to be Countess Downs-Barrows in my own right.

When he stood in front of me again, he continued. “I give you a choice, Lady Gwinnett.” He smirked when he said my name. “You may become my wife or leave these lands. Should you choose the latter, you and your sisters will live off the charity of others, or earn a living as chamber maids or serving wenches in a tavern.” He shrugged as if it were of no concern to him. “Should you choose the former, I will find suitable matches for your sisters when they come of age.”

I gaped at him. “Your wi...!” His smirk became a smile, though joy did not reach his eyes.

My trembles were from fright, the heat I felt was due to the recently stoked fire in the large hearth, my knees were weak because I had not broken my fast yet. At least that’s what I told myself.

“I see that you are overcome with emotion.” His mouth twitched with barely controlled satisfaction. He turned away and ordered me escorted to the South Tower.

When I, at last, reached in my own chambers, I rushed through the connecting door to my sisters’ apartment. They were not there.

“Cedrik!” I called.

“Milady.”

“Where are my sisters?”

“I shall enquire, Milady.”

Left alone, I took a closer look at the room. My sister’s personal belongings, needlework, watercolors, hairbrushes, a shawl, were missing. In their place were manly things, such as a shaving brush, a bootjack, and the odd cravat negligently thrown over the edge of a dressing table. My heart pounding with consternation, I slowly, careful not to touch anything, backed away from the room and closed the connecting door between the rooms, wishing I had a key to lock it.