“Waiting until Sonya was away from her family with a new lady’s maid in the park, she approached her with the contract. The girl tried to deny it, but she was old enough to know what went on in the household. Smart enough to know Mabel had been hurt by her father and crimes such as those had to be answered for.

“No doubt Percy Weaver had told her about the preposterous contract, laughing with his wife at such a thing. But Sonya, in her wise young way, saw the Debt Inheritance as something strict and serious rather than a joke.

“She didn’t scoff or run when Mabel uttered, ‘The time is nigh to pay your debts,’ and passed her a sealed and signed copy of the agreed contract.

“Sonya didn’t believe she had to answer for her father’s sins and tried to refuse—as anyone would—but she’d witnessed what her family had done. She’d heard Mabel’s screams while lying in her bed. She’d been too young to stop it but not young enough to stop the guilt festering inside for not trying to help.”

“Even as a young woman, she was a good person,” I interrupted. “Not all my ancestors were cruel. You can’t hate my entire bloodline for two rotten people.”

Cut tutted. “No but the same cruelty that ran in your ancestor’s veins runs in yours. No matter how small. We merely keep it at bay by making you pay for what you did.” Marching away, Cut slid back into his tale. “Mabel knew she ran a risky game by approaching Sonya. For weeks, she sat on edge, waiting for Percy Weaver to storm into her sanctuary and drag her from safety. She didn’t venture outside; she didn’t let William leave to play with his friends. He was all she had, now her son was dead, and waited with worry. However, nothing happened. Sonya hadn’t told. She’d proven a worthy martyr and there was no need to enlist the help of her quiet benefactor the earl.”

I rolled my wrists, spinning in place as Cut patrolled the cave. Jethro’s eyes glazed with pain and vexation, the gag and duct tape stretching his cheeks. He looked half in this world and half in the other, fading before my eyes.

No matter his story dragged out Jethro’s discomfort, Cut continued, “In that fateful meeting with Mabel and the first indebted girl, a new deal had been struck. Unbeknownst to Percy Weaver, the new bargain was in favour of everyone involved.”

“What?” I bit back the question, hating I’d become involved in Cut’s story.

He smiled. “Sonya would be spared the long and agonising death by debts if she did two things.” He paused for me to ask him what those two things were, but I refused. He’d tell me without me playing his twisted game.

Cut sniffed. “Those two things bound the women together as another year ticked past. Mabel endured living with the earl even though his affection came with more and more bruising fists, and William grew up, faster every month.

“Mabel was prepared to wait however long it took for Sonya to fulfil her promises. However, she didn’t have to wait as long as she feared.” Cut grinned. “Item number one for Sonya to achieve, to ensure she would be spared, came true without much trouble.”

Cut spun, running his hand over his chin. “The silly girl fell in love, and in a night of passion, ruined the life Mabel agreed to save.”

I shivered. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, the first condition was fulfilled. Mabel wanted Sonya to get pregnant, to give birth to many offspring for William to inherit. He would never be of age to inherit his original indebted. But there would be others. Amendments to be made. New rules to be scratched into parchment. Sonya wasn’t married, but had stupidly gotten with child from her secret lover. Mabel immediately ensured the earl took care of the dowry and married the pair.

“Percy Weaver stood by in shock as his daughter accepted the terms because her name would be disgraced if news got out she’d slept around. He hated that his ex-housekeeper and sex-slave had left his employ and was now protected by a man he couldn’t touch. Mabel wasn’t stupid; she didn’t antagonise the Weavers without putting solid foundations down first. And with the one good deed of marrying Sonya to her lover, she held her life in her hands.

“That very life she offered to give back to her on one condition.” Cut paused for dramatics.

The rhyme of his words wrenched to a stop, leaving the silence in the cave eerily cold. My eyes landed on Jethro. We shared a silent conversation.

I love you.

I love you more.

Whatever happens, I’ll find you.

Whatever happens, we’ll be together.

“What was that one condition, Nila?” Cut asked, coming close enough to run his fingers through my hair.

I shook my head, dislodging his hold. “From what I’m beginning to learn of Mabel, the one condition would be their deaths.”

Hurry up.

I’d listened long enough. I didn’t want to become consumed with past rights and wrongs. I always ended up feeling hatred toward my own flesh and blood and unwillingly on the Hawk’s side.

Despite that, I needed to know. I would never have guessed the story was so tangled or full of deceit and double-cross. I ached to think of Bennett Hawk living such a sad existence only to die unhappy and tormented by his past.

Cut smiled, his goatee bristling. “You’re a fast study. Good girl.” He continued his journey around the cave. “Exactly. Sonya would live a full life with a husband and children…if she agreed to kill her parents.”

My heart raced. A hard bargain but, dare I agree, a justified end?