WM02 - Texas Princess by Jodi Thomas Page A

wife needs discipline, and we might as wel get a few things straight tonight. I’ve invested too much time in this quest to give up now. We’re a ne match, even the president says so. You’l thank me for this one day when I’m in the White House and you’re rst lady.”
    “I’m not your...” She thought she must be losing consciousness for she barely felt the next slap, or the next. She tasted blood and watched as crimson drops fel on her pale green gown.
    She thought of screaming for help, but Samuel had chosen the one place in the house were no one would hear her.
    He didn’t turn her loose when she wilted, but pul ed her roughly up and laced her captured hand over his arm. “Now, love, we’l have no more of this discussion.”
    His grip was crushing as they crossed to the door, but when she looked up she saw no anger left in his face. He’d calmed as quickly as he’d red.
    “We’l talk more later.” He bruised her arm with his hold as he opened the door with his free hand. “And we wil have no more talk of delaying the wedding.”
    He didn’t bother to wait for her answer. Quickly pul ing her up the stairs, he said in a caring voice, “I’l tel your cook that you are too tired from riding to have dinner downstairs. Your father leaves for town in a few minutes, so I’l have her x us a tray and I’l bring it up myself to join you. By the time he realizes your carriage didn’t fol ow, it wil be too late for him to return to the house.”
    Liberty tried to pul away. Her ears were ringing with the pain. Her hair had tumbled from the bun. She didn’t know or care if it was her nose or her lip that continued to bleed.
    When she jerked hard, he released his grip. She fel across the railing, almost tumbling back down the stairs.
    As she gasped, he lifted her into his arms, then carried her to her room, looking very much like a caring ancé. No one could see the bone-crushing grip he had on her arm or the red marks already bruising across her face. In the shadows, if he were seen, he would appear to be helping.
    “Clean yourself up,” he whispered as he reached her bedroom door. “You look disgusting.”
    She thought of screaming, but the maids would be half the house away helping with dinner. What could she tel them? That she’d fal en in the study? And on the stairs, he’d hurt her by merely letting go.
    He had slapped her. But slapping one’s wife, though frowned upon, wasn’t a crime. If her behavior on the porch were known, some would say she deserved it.
    Liberty needed time to think.
    “If you leave your room tonight, I’l tel everyone you fel ,” he said as he dropped her on the rug. “I’l tel them now that you’ve suffered an accident. I’m sure everyone wil understand if we have a smal wedding. We’l be married by dawn. With al his troubles, the senator wil be happy to leave early for Washington. The guests wil be disappointed, but accidents can’t be helped.”
    Samuel fought down a laugh.
    She didn’t say a word, but she wished Samuel dead. No one in her entire life had ever struck her in anger. She’d been unprepared. Unarmed. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
    He bowed slightly and turned toward the door. “I’l be back as soon as I’ve seen to your father.”
    Liberty heard him laugh as he closed the door. She didn’t breathe until his footsteps tapped their way down the stairs. Al she could think of was that she had to run. But where? His soldiers were probably at every door. The bedroom window would be a death drop. Samuel would see her go down the front stairs, and everyone would see her if she went down the back ones.
    Forcing herself to take deep breaths, she fought back tears. She wanted to go to her father.
    One dark thought overcame al others. Once her father left for town, she would be alone with a madman. Scrambling to her knees, Liberty pushed aside pain and stood.
    She had to nd him before he left, assuming she’d be right behind