Quick, Amanda by I Thee Wed Read Free Book Online Page A

Crane, I beg you, don't do this to me. I'm to be married, I am." Well then, you'll have good
    reason to thank me for teaching you a few things about the pleasures of the marriage bed, won't ye, gel?"
    No, please, you must not. I'm a good girl, I am, sir. Please don't hurt me." Shut your mouth. If anyone
    hears you and comes to investigate, you'll be turned off without a reference. That's what happened to the
    last female I tumbled in a linen closet." Polly's small shriek of fear and desperation was cut off abruptly.
    Emma did not wait to hear any more. A white-hot rage poured through her. She rolled off the bed,
    vaguely relieved to note that her head was no longer spinning. She seized the handle of the heavy iron
    bedwarmer and ran to the door. She stepped out into the hall, just in time to see a door halfway down
    the corridor closing. A little white muslin cap lay on the floor where it had fallen. She picked up her skirts
    and rushed forward. When she arrived in front of the chamber, she heard muffled thuds. Bedwarmer held
    on high, she twisted the ancient iron knob. It turned easily in her grasp. She took a breath and prepared
    to open the door as quietly as possible. She did not want to give The Bastard any time to react to her
    presence, if she could help it. Everything depended on timing. She waited until she heard a particularly
    loud thud and Polly's moan of despair. Then she pushed hard on the door. It swung silently inward to
    reveal a small, dingy storage room illuminated by a single narrow window set high in the wall. Crane's
    back was to Emma. He had already managed to pin Polly to the floor and was working on the fastenings
    of his trousers. He did not appear to hear Emma enter the closet. She moved forward, bedwarmer
    raised. Stupid little bitch." Crane was breathing very hard. His voice was tight with excitement. You
    should be glad enough to have a gentleman bother t o lift your skirts." Polly's wild, terrified eyes swept to
    Emma's face. Desperation and despair glistened in her gaze. Emma knew exactly what she was feeling.
    Rescue from her present dire straits might well mean dismissal, an equally disastrous fate, given the
    shortage of decent occupations open to females. Glad to see you've got some fight in you." Crane used
    his weight to hold Polly hard against the wooden floor while he opened his trousers. Makes it more
    interesting." I trust you'll find this equally interesting," Emma whispered. She brought the bedwarmer
    down hard on the back of his head. There was a sickening thunk. For an instant, time seemed to stand
    still. And then without so much as a gasp or a groan, Chilton Crane crumpled silently. Dear God, ye've
    killed him," Polly breathed. Emma looked uneasily at Crane's motionless body. Do you really think he's
    dead?" Oh, yes, I'm sure of it, ma'am." Polly scrambled out from beneath
    Crane. The flicker of relief in her eyes was quickly overwhelmed by an expression of congealing horror.
    Now what will we do? They'll hang us both for murdering a fine gentleman, they will." I'm the one who hit
    him," Emma pointed out. They'll blame me, too, I know they will," Polly wailed. She might very well be
    right. Emma shook herself free of the panic that threatened to freeze her where she stood. Let me think.
    There must be something we can do." What?" Polly asked, clearly frantic. What can we do? Oh, ma'am,
    we're both as good as dead, we are." I refuse to hang because of The Bastard. He's not worth it."
    Resolutely, Emma bent down to grab Crane's ankles. Help me drag him to the staircase." What good will
    that do?" Nevertheless, Polly leaned over to grab Crane's wrists. We'll push his body down the stairs and
    say that he tripped and fell." Polly brightened. Do you really think it will work?" It's our only chance."
    Emma heaved on Crane's ankles. Oh dear. He's awfully heavy, isn't he?" As big as the plump new pig me
    pa bought at market last week." Polly shoved hard against Crane's weight. The body