Edward Cage frowned as his wife entered his private bed chamber. Assisted by her maid Zettie, Corliss Cage was clearly not ready to be walking after her near-fatal bout with the Yellow Fever. Despite Zettie’s pleading to stay abed, Corliss knew she’d best obey her husband’s order to come to his room—especially after having shot him two days earlier.
“Leave us, Zettie,” Edward barked after the maid helped Mrs. Cage into an armchair beside Edward’s bed.
Corliss nodded.
Zettie sighed and grudgingly left, still worried about her mistress.
“How are you feeling, Corliss?” Edward gruffly asked his wife.
“I’m improving, Edward.” Corliss whispered.
“Do you wish to know how I am?” Edward growled.
“Of course.” Corliss nodded weakly.
“I’m in a damned lot of pain. Why? Why is it that I’m in pain?” He paused, watching—as he had hoped—his wife’s growing discomfort.
“Well?” He demanded.
“Because you were shot.” Corliss rasped.
“Because I was shot.” Edward smirked. “By whom?”
“By me.” Corliss mumbled.
“Because I was shot. By you—my obedient wife.”
“I was mad with fever, Edward.” Corliss responded nervously.
“No you weren’t.” Edward snarled. “For a decade, my dear wife, I have suffered for your weakness. And when you finally find a modicum of strength, you use it to make me suffer more. You’re a disgrace.”
“I know.” Corliss replied. “I’ve always known. You’ve made your disappointment with me abundantly clear for ten years now, Edward.”
“You are a vile creature. You deny me a son?”
“You have a son. Orman.” Corliss replied softly.
“Orman is a lost cause.”
“He’s a child. How can you be sure?” Corliss asked, her eyes wide.
“I can tell. You’re unable to bear me another son. And, yet, you deny me the adoption of another as well.”
“It was not an adoption, it was a theft!” Corliss spat, surprised by her own passion.
“Who are you to tell me how to run my household and family?”
“I’m your wife. Were it not for me you’d have nothing. All that you own—the plantation, this fine town house, your wax works! All of it came from me!”
“So it’s come to that, has it?” Edward coughed.
“You know it to be true.”
“And as such, don’t you wish for your wealth to be looked after well into the next century?”
“I do.”
“Do you think Orman is going to grow into the man to do that?”
“He might.”
“Don’t you think it would be wise to ensure it with another child?”
“Not one that is stolen from loving parents.” Corliss responded plainly.
“Loving parents? A mad aristocrat and a middleclass doctor? You’d rather see that child raised by in a home without a mother by a lunatic and a butcher than have him here with me?”
“They love the boy and will give him a fine home.” Corliss replied.
“And you feel so passionately about this that you would shoot your own husband?”
“Apparently.” Corliss smiled—pleased with herself for standing up to Edward for the first time in their marriage.
“Very well.” Edward sighed. “So be it.”
Corliss looked at him with puzzlement.
“What can I do? As you say, you provided me with all that I have. I suppose I’d best not argue with you.”
“I’m glad.” Corliss nodded.
“Now, the very least you can do is help to make me comfortable. My back hurts. Can you adjust my pillows?”
“Yes.” Corliss said. She tried to raise herself from the chair and found that she was took weak. Several attempts later, she was on her feet—rocky, but up.
She reached for the pillows which were stacked behind her husband’s head. As she bent forward she felt a sharp slap across her face.
Shocked at first, and unaware of what happened, she slowly reached up and placed her palm on her stinging cheek. Before she knew it, Edward was out of the bed.
He pushed her down. She landed on her back so hard that the wind was knocked out of her lungs.
Crying, she pleaded. “Edward, don’t hurt me!”
“Never!” Edward seethed, standing above his wife. “Never contradict me again! You sow! I’m you’re husband. You are and have nothing! Do you understand?”
“I do.” Corliss trembled as Edward raised his leg as if he intended to kick her in the throat.
“Good!” Edward roared. “Now, you listen to me. I’m going to get that child back from the Duke of Fallbridge and you will be silent. You will not interfere. And when he is here in this house you will love him and raise him as your own. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, I do.” Corliss sobbed. “Please…please. Don’t hurt me.”
Edward sat on the bed and laughed cruelly. Reaching over, he turned the bell pull and waited for Zettie to collect her mistress.
Did you miss Chapters 1-481? If so, you can read them here.
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