Love's Savage Bonds by Jeb Read Free Book Online

thought.” For all that he tried
to maintain his smirk of triumph; Philip allowed a wave of relief to cross his
face, an expression so profound that Catherine knew that Charles had been
right: that book would prove her husband a thief and a scoundrel, and she had
allowed it to be taken from her.
     
    “Bind her hands,” Philip instructed
Mrs. Williams, with as little emotion as if he'd been asking her to clear up
after tea.
     
    The efficient housekeeper ripped a
piece of the tie-cord from her apron, stepped behind Catherine, and the girl
felt her arms pinioned, then yanked behind her back. She suppressed a gasp of
pain and faced Philip as defiantly as she could manage.
     
    Mrs. Williams' fingers worked quickly
and smoothly, crossing Catherine’s wrists over one another, then using the
stout cord to tie them together. Each turn of the rope was accompanied by a
painful wrench, as Mrs. Williams made certain to discomfit the woman who,
Catherine now realized, was her rival.
     
    “Now, the question is, what do we do
with you?” Philip posed the question smugly, as though he were soliciting
Catherine’s opinion.
     
    Catherine felt her head yanked back as
Mrs. Williams tangled cruel fingers in her long tresses. “I say we cut off all
this pretty hair and sell it to the gypsies—and her into the bargain!” She
shook Catherine’s head cruelly, then released her with a laugh.
     
    Philip laughed. “No, my dear, I am
afraid we still need some information from Lady Catherine.” He stepped closer
to his helpless wife.
     
    “Now, my dear,” he stroked her cheek,
smiling as she flinched away from him. “Who is looking for my book? Is it my
brother? Is he in England? Where were you taking it?”
     
    Catherine gave him nothing back but the
determined set of her face.
     
    Philip frowned at her reluctance; then
his hand lashed out, whipping against her cheek, snapping her head to the side,
long hair flying. Catherine drew herself to her full height, straightening her
shoulders, emphasizing the fact that she had no hands with which to protect
herself, and curled her lips into a sneer...
     
    “Perhaps I would answer that question
if it were put to me by a man .”
     
    She braced herself for the next expected
blow. Instead, Philip smiled thinly. He reached out and gathered her long hair
in his hands. He began to slowly wrap the soft tresses around his left hand as
he spoke quietly.
     
    “You know my friend Colonel Lefanu,” he
murmured. “I expect you imagine him to be a soldier-- most people do.” His hand
was now closing into a fist around her hair, his knuckles tight against her
head; his familiar scent was powerful and suddenly revolting. The muscles in
her neck ached from his tight grip in her hair.
     
    “He is not a soldier,” Philip hissed
into his wife's ear as he bent her head back. “He is a… ‘policeman’, of a sort.
His task is to hunt down those that would endanger the security of his
government. He is very adept at obtaining information from them.” His voice dropped
to a whisper. “He hurts people; he is very good at it. I do believe that he
enjoys it.”
     
    Catherine felt the pulse in her neck as
Philip’s grip tightened further, and her stomach churned at the thought of
being placed into the Frenchman’s hands.
     
    “I will ask the Colonel to visit us in
the morning.” Philip’s mouth was now at her ear, and she sickened at the
feeling of his saliva on her flesh as he pressed his mouth upon her “He will
put my questions to you. If you are in league with my brother, the Colonel will
learn his plan, and his hiding place.” Then, by the hair, he turned Catherine
to face him, and savaged her mouth with a wet parody of a kiss. With snort of
triumph, he released her, and as Catherine tried to suppress the tears of fear,
pain, and loathing, Philip spoke to the housekeeper.
     
    “Mrs. Williams-- please gag my wife,
then take her to her room and secure her for the night.”
     
    The