Robert, please do not look for me. I think we have already said enough things, and that has sufficed to let us realize that it will not work. Your actions towards me say it all.
We are different. We do not want the same things for the future. I could never be a good wife, nor that sweet and willing woman you want to have in your life, no matter how you keep her locked in a golden cage. A life like that would kill me slowly.
The opportunity to have my freedom was presented without even looking for it and I take it as a divine sign. Leopold will help me. He is a good man, and he understands me.
Let me be happy that’s all I’m asking. You can say that I’m dead if you want to and try a marriage with a woman who wants to live the way you want.
Thanks for understanding,
S.
Robert wanted to scream with anger and despair. She had left with the worst man in the world. He was sure that Leopold would give Sonia a worse fate because all that Leopold wanted was to hurt him and he knew that in hurting her he would succeed. How could he have been such an idiot not to tell her what he felt for her when things could still be fixed? Why didn’t he stay a little longer with her? Tried to earn her trust? She could even be dead now because of that bastard.
He looked at the butler
“When did my cousin arrive at the house?”
“Almost a week ago, sir.”
“And why the hell did nobody tell me?”
“Sir, it’s your cousin, and the marchioness let him in and gave orders to prepare a room for him. We did not see the danger in that. However, I sent you a letter several days ago, but I had no answer.”
Robert remembered telling his valet that he did not want to be shown the correspondence that day because he was busy. That he would look at it that night, and then he forgot about it. It must have been the day when the letter arrived.
“Tell the groom to prepare a horse and I want four men to accompany me to look for her. We will leave right away.”
The butler bowed his head and went out to carry out the order. Robert looked in a cabinet, a locked box, opened it and pulled out a gun. He would kill the son of a bitch for taking his wife.
*****
Robert suspected that his cousin had seduced Sonia. He remembered her kisses, caresses, the nights of passion and knew in his heart that she felt something for him and that the only reason for her running away was Leopold. He used fear to increase her desire to leave. Leopold had always been a lying, envious rat who wanted what Robert had, but the time had come for him to pay for his misdeeds.
“Lord Wilmington.” One of the men who accompanied him approached him. “It seems that they passed through here, but no one knows which direction they took. A man says they went north, but a boy says that when they fixed one of the horseshoes, he heard the coachman say that they were going to stay in a nearby inn.”
“Let’s go then.” Robert rode his horse faster. He hoped to find them soon. He was afraid of what that crazy man could do to Sonia. Especially if he tried something, and she rejected him.
Meanwhile, Sonia was stuck in a carriage on its way to an unknown destination and Leopold didn’t want to tell her where they were going. He had also begun to drink, which made his way of looking at her impertinent and shameless. God help me. Sonia mentally prayed to heaven. What if I’m in danger because of this imprudent act? She was startled when the carriage stopped unexpectedly. She looked out the window and saw that they had just arrived at an inn.
“My dear, I think we have to get down here,” Leopold said half drunk.
Sonia did it because she thought she could get help. Upon entering, she saw that it was a clean and even cozy place, which made her imagine that the owner would be a good man who could help her.
“Good evening,” Sonia said in front of a counter. A plump man came out the back door and smiled.
“Good evening, milady.”
"Give us a room," said Leopold.
“A single room lord?”
“Yes, the lady is my wife.”
Sonia tried to protest. Leopold took her arm hard to shut her up and put a gun to her back. She went cold at that and did not make a single noise. She looked at the owner of the inn asking for help with her eyes, but the man did nothing. Leopold pulled her toward the room.
Upon entering, he looked around and smiled. “Look how pretty.” Leopold was drunk. “I do not think the bed will be uncomfortable for the both of us.” He locked the door.
Sonia swallowed hard. “Where will you sleep?” Sonia asked as she grabbed a bottle that was nearby.
“With you of course.” Leopold pounced on her and Sonia hit him with the bottle on his head.
When she saw him lying on the floor she went out through a window and risked her life due to the height. Sonia ran to ask the owner of the inn for help but he did not pay attention.
“I do not interfere with things that are not my business. My inn is known for the discretion with which we serve our customers.”
“You intend to leave
