Chapter 9 - Nine
A sliver of sunlight peeked through the window, rousing Suzy from a sleep that felt both heavy and restorative. Twenty-four hours had passed since the guards released her from the suffocating darkness of the storeroom. Twenty-four hours of much-needed rest.
Suzy pushed herself up in bed, wincing slightly as muscles protested the long sleep. Her gaze fell on Doris, who was curled up in a chair beside the bed, fast asleep. Doris looked exhausted, her usually neat braid coming undone, revealing wisps of hair escaping across her face.
A wave of gratitude washed over Suzy. Doris had stayed by her side, even sacrificing her own comfort, just to make sure she was alright. Suzy knew she wouldn’t have made it through the ordeal without her.
She noticed a steaming basin of water and a washcloth laid out on a nearby table. Doris must have prepared it while she slept.
Carefully, Suzy rose from the bed and tiptoed towards the bathing chamber, the thought of the hot water a sweet temptation. She didn’t want to disturb Doris’s sleep.
The bathing chamber was small but well-appointed, with a large copper tub and a pitcher of fresh water on a nearby table. Suzy started by unlacing the simple nightdress Doris had dressed her in.
The simple act of lifting her arms sent a jolt of pain through her, a reminder of the whip’s cruel touch. She moved slowly, carefully peeling off the nightgown, wincing at the way the fabric brushed against her raw skin. The fabric slipped away, leaving her bare skin exposed to the cool morning air.
She reached for the laces of her undergarments next, her movements slow and deliberate. As each piece of clothing fell away, she felt a sense of vulnerability.
Climbing into the tub, Suzy sighed in relief as the warm water enveloped her tired body. She picked up a bar of scented soap and began to lather it up, focusing on scrubbing away the grime of the past day, both physical and emotional.
With each stroke of the soapy cloth, Suzy’s mind raced. What was to come of her? Marrying this Duke seemed inevitable. There was no way she could defy Count Edmund, not openly. But she wouldn’t give up. She’d find a way to escape, a way to get back to her own world.
Perhaps when the carriage carrying her to Carleton arrived, there would be an opportunity. A crowded market, a moment of distraction – anything could provide the chance she needed. Yes, The journey to Carleton, the Duke’s grand estate, would be her only chance. Suzy clung to this sliver of hope.