She gave him a surprised indignant glare that he would dare to even question her integrity.
‘You had me convicted and sentenced before you even heard my side of the story. I was always guilty whenever any woman took any notice of me,’ he gave her a shake as snow began to fall heavily around them. ‘All because you believed you weren’t worthy of me or my love. You never thought you were good enough for me,’ he told her in a tone laden with disbelief and confusion. Frustrated, he caught hold of her face and held it tightly. ‘Look at me,’ he ordered.
Sabrina’s eyes jumped to attention and stared into his pained eyes. ‘Tell me, Sabrina, what the hell do I have to do to make you believe I love you? There never has and never will be anyone good enough or worthy enough for me than you.’
Tears sprang into Sabrina’s eyes. His angry words about her character struck an unwelcome chord. A familiar fear of insecurity twisted her insides. It was confirmation of all that he spoke. God knows she wanted to believe him, but she was so afraid of the way her safe comfortable life was being pulled apart and dissected. Until she knew what was going on, she would remain guarded.
He seemed to read her thoughts in her eyes. He nodded and cursed. He let go of her face but tightened his grip on her arm.
‘I see. This . . . this distrust of me is not going to end any time soon,’ he said with contempt. He took a deep breath. ‘Well, I guess I am just going to have to keep working on you until that cruel memory of yours decides to come back to its senses,’ he said with distaste.
Raoul pulled her across the ground towards him until her face was mere inches from his. Sabrina’s heart pounded in her chest as he bent his head unsure if he was about to kiss her or issue another hurtful jibe. He studied her lips, lowering his voice to almost a whisper. Sabrina felt her body begin to shake not sure if it was with the cold snow falling damply onto her face or the potent mix of desire and fear she felt for Raoul when he was close.
‘You trusted me enough before when you let me touch you, Sabrina. I know you still love me. I can feel it. It’s brimming underneath all of that deception you cower under. It’s time you woke up to yourself.’
‘I am not a bloody coward,’ Sabrina snapped desperately trying to move his arm. ‘Maybe you should realise that you can’t get away with your deception. Wake up. This fantasy marriage you go on about never existed anywhere but in your head. Go back to Cressida. It’s over.’
Raoul’s eyes swirled with anger.
‘You are pushing me, Sabrina. None of this is over. Deal with it and stop running.’
‘Pushing you like the night of the ball . . .?’
‘I told you not to question me on this again. I never hurt you. Now go back to the car,’ he demanded.
Sabrina shrugged his arm off and glanced around her. Raoul was watching her every move. There was no way she would get out of the wood without him stopping her.
‘There is nowhere to run, Sabrina. You have to face what is happening. No more running.’
Still she stared, her mind frantically working on a means of escape.
‘Sabrina, don’t try it. Even if you made it to Paris, I would have you picked up by the police the moment you got there. If you regain your memory and you still want to leave, then we will talk about a divorce.’
‘And if I don’t regain my memory?’
‘Then you are stuck with me. Call it an incentive. Get your memory back, prove me innocent, lawyer, and uncover your love for me that’s sleeping inside your subconscious. I know it’s there. I see it in your eyes when you look at me. Then we can pick up where we left off and move on from this damn nightmare,’ he urged.
Sabrina stared. Her mind buzzed with a hundred different thoughts. Once again she considered escape. Raoul shook his head and caught her arm again.
‘Sabrina, start walking back to the car or so help me I will carry you there,’ he ordered making her jump.
She didn’t dare refuse. No way was she letting him humiliate her by carrying her back kicking and screaming. She would just have to accept his challenge and win his game. Then she would get her revenge. Without speaking they walked back to the car, Raoul’s restraining hand tight on her arm.
‘I’ve invited some people for the weekend, and they will arrive this evening,’ Raoul told Sabrina in the car as they travelled home. ‘Don’t worry, these people are very close to you. You’re best friend, Amelia Newman, you have known since your school days in England, is dying to see you. You are both like sisters. I didn’t want to tell you straight away, especially this morning when you seemed so distressed.’
Raoul was carrying on conversation as though the whole argument in the wood had not occurred. He had no right to call her stubborn, he was just as bad. Sabrina felt uneasy at the prospect of meeting more people who she called strangers. But she looked up at Raoul.
‘I’m ok. I will deal with it,’ she assured him coldly.
She turned away and pretended to be preoccupied with watching the French countryside. She didn’t want to talk anymore. It always seemed to end in a row.
Was our marriage always like this? One continuous row and competition for control?
She felt tired. It seemed to creep up on her like it had done the night before. She closed her eyes and allowed the motion of the car to lull her into a gentle sleep as she wondered what her guests would be like.
* * *
Sabrina woke just before the car made its descent along the narrow road that led to the Chateau. She found a blanket tucked around her body.
‘Did you have a good sleep?’ Raoul asked gently.
‘Yes, broken with dreams or memories. I can’t seem to tell the difference these days.’
She glanced out of the window.
‘The Chateau is so beautiful in the snow. Why do we live there?’ she asked sleepily. ‘I would have thought we would have lived in the centre of Paris for work.’
‘We do, correction did, during the week. Since you left I have spent more and more time in the Chateau. I always felt close to you in the house,’ he told her gently. ‘We have a few properties,’ he continued. ‘One in London as well. I bought the Chateau for your wedding present. It’s your home, Sabrina.’
‘What? You’re joking right?’
‘No, I am perfectly serious. Your passion was history. What better wedding gift to give you. It seems even more appropriate now.’
‘You’re mad,’ she laughed, putting her hand to her mouth in shock.
He grinned. There was relief in his eyes every time she smiled.
‘I wanted you to see the Chateau first because it’s where we spent most of our time together. We lived there every weekend when we didn’t go away.’
‘This has to be a dream,’ she laughed again.
Francine greeted them at the door.
‘Marie-Claire is running a bath for Madame Valoire.’
Inwardly Sabrina groaned. Damn it, I can run my own bath and anyway I prefer showers.
The housekeeper continued, ‘Monsieur Valoire, your guests are on the way. All the rooms are ready. Oh, and your friend Maxim is waiting in the study. He urgently wants to speak to you before the other guests arrive.’
‘You better go and get ready, Sabrina. Our guests will be arriving soon,’ Raoul instructed.
‘That is if they can make it in the weather, sir,’ Francine added. ‘It is closing in. The snow is falling heavily again. I thought you might not make it back. You know how the roads get blocked with snow in the winter.’
Still Raoul remained positive.
‘They’ll make it. Wild horses wouldn’t keep them from seeing Sabrina.’
‘You make me sound like some kind of freak show.’ Sabrina felt uncomfortable again.
‘You aren’t a freak show. They are your friends and family. They’ve missed you. We all have. Please go and get ready. Oh, and I hope you like the present I have waiting for you on your bed,’ he told her stealing a quick kiss on her cheek. Then he was gone before she coul
d say anymore.
Raoul hurried down the stairs and straight to his study.
‘Maxim.’
Raoul shook hands and hugged his oldest friend Maxim Tissier.
‘I can’t believe she’s back. How is she? You must be ecstatic.’
‘I’m not sure I really believe she is here. I’d just about given up hope and was ready to have her legally declared dead. She’s distressed, confused, emotionally tired and afraid. She isn’t very sure of me either. But I am doing everything in my power to make the transition back into her old life as easy as possible.’
Raoul sat down in his chair behind his desk and leaned back. He looked wistfully up at the ceiling and eased his feet onto the end of the desk. He suddenly swung round in his chair and stared up at the extravagant portrait of himself and Sabrina. His mother and father had insisted they have the painting done to compliment their history in the Chateau next to the previous owners in years and centuries gone by.
‘She hasn’t changed a bit, apart from being in more control of her life. She was always feisty. But I don’t know, she’s stronger somehow. She’s more confident with herself. Sabrina has achieved so much on her own. She has direction, purpose and doesn’t….’
‘Take you bossing her around as much?’
Raoul frowned as his friend laughed. Raoul turned back around to face him. Maxim laughed again and swirled the warm cognac in his glass he helped himself to whilst waiting for Raoul.
‘What about Cressida? Does Sabrina remember her?’
‘We ran into her today. Oh yes, Sabrina remembers her,’ he said with a heavy sigh. ‘And Cressida is already causing trouble.’
‘I see,’ Maxim grimaced. ‘Good luck with that one,’ he said taking another gulp of his drink.
Raoul thought for a moment and then addressed Maxim again.
‘You know that I didn’t just ask you to come to see Sabrina again as a friend.’
‘I gathered as much. So I am here in my official capacity as well?’
‘Yes. The police are eager to talk to her, and I would rather it was you. There is also the matter of her safety this weekend. I have increased the security on the Chateau since Sabrina’s arrival. I have men at the gate, and the police are watching the Chateau, but I trust you more. Whoever could have taken Sabrina from the Chateau had to be on the inside. I thought it could have been one of the staff. But none of them left. Whoever it was will be in this house tonight. They all left around the same time as she disappeared.’
He took a key from the top drawer in his desk and opened the drawer beneath it. He handed Maxim a letter that came by courier this morning for Sabrina. Thankfully, Francine had found it suspicious and had wanted to inform Raoul of its arrival straight away. Her ruse that it was business papers had stopped Sabrina finding out about it.
‘He knows she is here, Maxim. I tried everything to keep Sabrina safe when she was stalked. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do . . .’
‘I remember. You threatened to lock Sabrina away in one of the towers when she tried a jail break,’ he murmured as he read the letter made up of letters cut out of newspapers.
‘I wish I had, then she mightn’t have been kidnapped and raped.’
Maxim gave his friend a look of sympathy.
‘I will do the same this time. I am taking a big risk by inviting everyone to the Chateau this weekend. But I have to do it. I know one of them is the stalker and responsible for everything that happened to Sabrina. I want him caught. This is the only way I know how to get him,’ Raoul told him with determination.
‘By using Sabrina and her lost memory as bait to flush him out?’ he sounded disapproving.
‘Yes. I know it’s dangerous. But I don’t know what else to do. I want Sabrina safe and not afraid for the rest of her life. Don’t worry, I will lock her in that tower and keep her well out of the way if he tries to do anything to her. I know we will get him this weekend.’
‘By the looks of this letter, he’s going to try and take her again. We will have to watch Sabrina round the clock,’ Maxim gave a sigh and shook his head. ‘I’m not sure I like this. But I agree we have to do something. Trapping him here and forcing him out of the shadows is the best way to catch him. I will have this analysed to see if we can get a lead. Does Sabrina know about this letter? I am wondering why he has sent her just a letter and not rang as well like he used to.’
‘I had all of the outside land lines cut when I tried to stop Sabrina leaving yesterday.’
Raoul grinned at Maxim’s raised eyebrow.
‘You know how stubborn she gets. She wanted to leave and work it all out on her own. I don’t think she realises just how much danger she is in. I have had to threaten her with everything to keep her here.’
‘I can imagine. Sabrina really doesn’t like being told what to do,’ he smiled. ‘I will need to speak to her about all of this at some point, she is our star witness. Does she remember anything at all?’
Raoul sighed.
‘She remembers being attacked in her study, but she can’t hold on to the memory, and she never sees his face. I’m not sure she will be able to help you.’
‘You will be surprised. Any little detail may help.’
‘I just wish she could remember me and our marriage.’
‘I’ve seen this thing before. She will remember just give her time.’
Raoul nodded. His eyes blackened like a night storm, a hurricane of anger blowing inside him that was threatening to destroy everything in its path.
‘I want her protected Maxim and that man caught. You better get to him before I do or I’m not sure I will be able to control myself.’
Chapter Nine
Sabrina tied the towel around her body after stepping out of the bath and sat down on the bed only to jump up, realising that she was sitting on top of something. Casting her eyes downwards, she found herself looking at a dress elaborately laid out on top of the bed.
It was a deep scarlet red, her favourite colour. Skimming her hand lightly across its surface told her the garment was made of silk and chiffon. There were shoes to match and tiny droplet ruby earrings encased in diamonds. She giggled, the man thought of everything. She quickly put on what little make-up she wore and smoothed the dress over her curves. The dress was off one shoulder and reached the ground. A small train from a gathering at the front of the dress at the level of her thighs dropped to her side on the ground. It swished elegantly as she walked across the floor to admire herself in the full length mirror.
Sabrina was startled by the telephone ringing. She had checked all of the phones and found that she could not get an outside line, just as Raoul had promised.
It must be an internal call. Perhaps, Francine wants to ask me something.
‘Sabrina.’
She knew the minute the man said her name that it was him. The man who took her from her home, raped her and held her captive somewhere dark for endless days and beat her when she tried to escape. It was a disguised voice, but she knew it was him. The memories clouded her mind making her head spin and her legs turn to jelly. The pain and fear were almost too much to remember, but she steadied her voice.
‘Who are you?’
‘I am the man you really belong to. You shouldn’t have run away. I will have to punish you.’
‘Who are you?’
She persisted trying to ignore the deep sinister voice that was frustratingly unrecognisable.
‘You really can’t remember. That’s good. It will make it all the easier for me to take you away again. And this time, Sabrina, I won’t ever let you leave me again.’
‘I’m not afraid of you. Who are you? Why are you doing this?’
‘You should be afraid of me, and if you aren’t, I will make you.’
The line went dead and a terrified Sabrina could hardly put the phone down for shaking. She didn’t have to, Raoul was taking it from her trembling hand. He held her arms, his eyes searching her face for comprehension.
‘Who was that on the phone? It was him wasn’t it?’
She nodded.
‘I can’t remember who it is. But that voice. I feel sick. That was an internal line. It means he is somewhere in the house,’ she said frantically.
Raoul guided her to the bed and sat her down, soothingly rubbing his hands up and down her arms.
‘I know, my love. I am very sure he is one of our guests. This is the only way I can find out who he is and protect you from him. I want you to stay close by my side,’ Raoul’s voice was gentle but urgent.
Sabrina looked at him shocked.
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