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Edwards temper burned It had taken every ounce of self control he possessed to stand back and allow the events in the office to unfold A surge of unfah hi rabbed at her breast was enough for Edho himself had slammed the door with more force than was necessary

He had stood in the protection of the shadows and watched Eliza take advantage of the respite she had been given and was intensely proud of her for her fortitude and quick thinking in kneeing the s to do to him The look of horror on her face as she left the room increased his unfamiliar protectiveness towards her While he had breath in his body, Eliza was not going to be whoring herself, especially to the patrons at this hell-hole

With a glint of retribution in his eye, Edward carefully closed the door and waited for the lecherous Bernard to reappear

Desperation clawed at her as she stunored the catcalls and lewd suggestions from the tap room’s occupants that followed her and quickly sla laughter Unfortunately it didn’t have a lock – Bernard refused to allow them, so she knew the risks were still very real

Her stomach quivered in fear as she frantically collected a ss fro she wasn’t sure They certainly didn’t have any sentimental value, most were just small items she had picked up while on her travels with Jemima But they were still hers and she was loathed to leave them behind for Bernard or her replaceave her so to do with her hands while she considered how best to get out of the building

She couldn’t sleep with anyone She sihts when the tap roo froh stories froirls orked there to know she couldn’t face the prospect of being subjected to such degradation She knew Bertraht in using her as well, most probably as brutally as possible

She ignored the bawdy dress lying on the bed, obviously left by one of the girls at Bernard’s co, its days of being attractive were long gone It was gaudy and cheap and a stark reet herself away from the current threat Her ht to suppress the fear that clawed at her She quickly snatched the dress up and lifting the sash , threw the horrid iteround,way Even if she could hit the ground on her feet, there was nothing to say she wouldn’t end up with broken bones and at the lanced frantically around the roo for inspiration

She was busy folding the small bundle into a knot, when there was a soft knock on the door Eliza’s stomach dropped She didn’t want to answer it in case it was Bernard and he had decided he was going to be her first custo at the door Frantically she glanced around the roo the heavy candle stick off the rickety wooden dresser Quickly she extinguished the small flame and tucked the stick into the pouch beside the bed

A seed of a plan began to tentatively grow and she sucked in a deep breath to cal nerves Another knock at the door had her lowering the front of her dress suggestively before s at her feet She didn’t know if her plan had any hope of working, but if it failed she could at least make use of the candlestick

Takin

g in another deep breath she called for her ‘client’ to enter

She briefly considered using the candlestick there and then as she watched the scarred wooden door slowly open The loom within the tiny unlit room and she could see little of the man who entered but could feel his presence as he slowly entered and closed the door behind him

Eliza stood quivering with sickening nerves and waited for him to approach She kneasn’t Bernard, or any of the drunken regulars downstairs They would have stu as much noise as possible Despite her fear, her innate curiosity was piqued at just who had decided to avail themselves of her ‘services’ first

Her heart hammered in her throat so loudly she was certain the men downstairs could hear her trepidation as she stood and watched the shadows in the far corner of the room She are that he hadn’t moved or spoken for several moments and wondered if he had indeed entered, when he slowly separated froht

Her stonised the man in the tap room who had asked so many questions about Jemima Every nerve within her was locked on his silent approach, as rippling awareness scattered her senses