Dark Surrender Read Online Free

Dark Surrender
Book: Dark Surrender Read Online Free
Author: Erica Ridley
Tags: Historical fiction, Gothic, Regency, Historical Romance, Victorian
Pages:
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strange visitor to say her piece so she might close the door and dress herself, the old woman finally spoke.
    “Don’t make deals with the devil for a crust of bread. He may tempt ye to tend that creature of his, but if ye value your life, you’ll run whilst you still can. If ye still can.”
    Without waiting for a reply, the old woman turned and melted into the darkness.
    Violet blinked at the gap in the door where the servant had just stood. What on earth had that meant? Clearly the old woman had meant a warning of some kind, but of what creature did she speak? And who was “he”, this devil with whom Violet was not to bargain?
    She nudged the door open far enough to poke her head out into the hall.
    Nothing. No candles. No windows. No light. The old woman had managed to disappear into the shadows in less than a half dozen steps.
    Unsettled, Violet slowly shut the door, then blinked in surprise when the key rotated clockwise of its own accord. She tested the handle and discovered the door had locked automatically. She tensed. If someone hadn’t left the key behind . . . A shiver chased up her spine and she shook her head. Being held against her will still had the power to paralyze her with fear and panic, and she must keep a clear head. She drew in a breath and forced her trembling limbs to relax by imagining the medieval beauty of the boarded-over stained glass windows. Reds, yellows, blues. Simple. Calming. She set down the chalice and dressed as quickly as she could. She wouldn’t be able to run with a turned ankle, but if she did need to escape, at least she’d be ready.
    What had once seemed an improbable boon—a timely rescue by a kindhearted religious community—now felt much less auspicious. Violet would eat her boots if that gnarled old woman was a nun.
    Which meant what? Who lived in a ramshackle medieval abbey in the middle of nowhere if not virginal nuns and godly monks? Violet swallowed hard. Had she been rescued . . . orabducted?
    By the time a second knock struck the prayer room door, she had worked herself into a shivering ball of nerves. She took a deep breath, forcing her muscles to relax and her frenzied thoughts to slow, then swung open the door.
    A different servant stood in the darkness, this one even less monk-like than the old woman was nun-like. The flickering of his candle sent distorted shadows dancing across his face. A well-muscled build bespoke hours of daily exercise and the scars slashing one cheek indicated he had survived a knife fight. All in all, not the most calming visage to emerge from the shadows.
    “Come. The master wishes to speak with you.”
    She shrunk back. “Wh-who?”
    Surprise fluttered across his face before the servant’s blank expression returned to mask it. “Master Waldegrave, miss. You’re in Waldegrave Abbey.”
    Well. That answered one question, at least. And spawned a dozen more.
    The manservant retrieved the brass key from the prayer room door and beckoned her to follow him into the shadows.
    She sent one last glance over her shoulder into the gilded prayer room, with its boarded-over stained glass and wooden tub of bathwater next to the altar, then followed the servant into the gloom.
    He slowed to match her pace. “Are you injured?”
    “A turned ankle,” she murmured, hating to confess any weakness. She preferred to appear strong. She preferred to be strong.One never knew when one might need to run. Resting had helped, but it would take at least another day before her ankle could fully withstand her weight.
    The manservant offered his arm without further comment. After twisting down a murky passageway, he paused to unlock a dark-paneled door before gesturing for her to enter.
    Panic crept over her once again as he pocketed the key rather than offer it to her. “No. You’re not locking me in any chambers.”
    Once again, the heavily muscled servant seemed surprised at her refusal. “There are those who would say it’s for your own
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