Sleeping Love (Work In Progress)

Hi Everyone,

I'm still editing like crazy but here is part I of chapter two from my romance suspense novel, Sleeping Love.

Hope you like it.

Sara


Chapter Two


Sabrina instantly halted her struggle to escape Raoul's hold, shocked to her core by his words.

"Sabrina, its true. I've played this charade far enough." There was an impatient brewing storm in his tone. "I know the doctors told me to be careful with you but you are my wife. I have been without you for too long."

The Butler brought in a lit candelabra, momentarily ceasing their conversation. He sat it on the middle of the table without speaking and quickly left. Raoul's face came back into view It was filled with love. Confused and fearful Sabrina began to struggle again, desperate to free herself from his grasp.

"What the hell are you talking about? Let go of me. I've never been married. You heard about my lost memory didn't you? You aren't the first man to try and make me think that I was his wife. Perhaps, you can replace those memories I lost with ones of your own for your own amusement," she shouted.

There was a shake to her voice she fought hard to control. She felt exposed, vulnerable. She'd lost ten years of her life, lost her family, lost her identity. When she'd woken up in that hospital nobody knew who she was. No one came to claim her. Afraid and alone she managed to set up a new life for herself, going to University to study history, afterwards a PhD. Then she became a lecturer and wrote a book, gaining a reputation in the academic field. She'd given up trying to find her family. They didn't appear to want to know her.

"Sabrina, don't say those things. I love you, you are my wife."

"You're lying. My family have made no effort to find me. Why would my husband want to claim me as his own now, after all these years? He would be remarried by now..... This is a cruel, sick joke . . .'
Sabrina's eyes filled with angry tears.

'Enough. I won't listen to this. I will prove it to you,' Raoul snapped, reaching down to scoop the candelabra off the table. He tightened his hold on her wrist with a grip that would have been better suited to a vice making her squeal. He led her out of the room. Sabrina made every effort to drag her heels, pulling at his hand to force him to let go. Raoul only tightened his hold further and dragged her along.

Sabrina's eyes could see nothing but what the candles allowed her to see. They travelled through the dark rooms, the wooden floors creaking and groaning with centuries of use under their feet, highly audible in the ghostly silence that settled on the house. Finally, they reached a room that she presumed was Raoul's study by the elaborate desk and leather chair he dragged her behind. He came to a stop in front of a large framed canvas and raised the candelabra, directing her to look at it.

Sabrina gasped out loud. There was no mistaking her own image. She was seated in a chair in a black velvet ball gown cut away seductively across the breast. Her hair was longer, and her eyes twinkled with a happiness. It was breath taking and a shock to the system. She tried to take a step back and found herself half falling to the floor, half fainting with shock. Raoul caught her waist skilfully and pulled her up close to him. It was then that the lights came back on.

'Now do you believe me, Sabrina?' Raoul demanded, a note of triumph and vindication in his voice.

She glanced around the room. The place was littered with photographs of herself and Raoul very much in love. The room began to spin with a carousel of broken memories, a hundred swirling images that were there in a second and gone in a heartbeat. She didn't know what to believe anymore. Her body began to sway alarmingly as she looked up at the canvas again. Raoul slipped his arm under her legs and swept her up into his arms to deposit her onto a chair. He quickly moved away and poured her a glass of cognac from the drinks cabinet.

"I know you don't like cognac, Sabrina, but you will drink it. You need it for the shock you have just experienced. Now drink."

He was right. She didn't like it. She wasn't keen on alcohol apart from wine. Sabrina obediently took the glass too dazed and confused to pass comment on his correct knowledge. But her trembling hands made her clumsy and he took control holding the glass to her lips, instructing her to sip slowly. She coughed as the fiery liquid hit the back of her throat and tried to push the glass away, but he was firm giving her no choice but to continue drinking. He watched her anxiously when frustrated tears gathered in her eyes once more.

He knelt at her feet, gently cupping her face with his hands.
"There is no Martin Valoire, is there?' she asked already knowing the answer.

Raoul shook his head and smiled.

"No there isn't. It was just a ruse to get you here. I knew I wouldn't be able to get you to believe me until I brought you home. I saw they way you looked at the chateau. You remembered it. I knew you would. You love this place.' He smiled at her again. There was relief in his eyes. 'This is going to be difficult for you, Sabrina. I am a stranger to you at the moment but in time I hope I can help you remember our life together."

"I don't know what's happening. I just want to leave," she heard herself say before she could even think. 'I'm confused. I can't trust all of this . . .I . . ."

He sighed.

"You're afraid. I understand that. It's a lot to take in but I can't let you leave. You are my wife, you belong here and I am never going to part with you again, whatever the outcome."

His thumb caressed the light satin of her cheek as if to soften the impact of his revelation. She rubbed her eyes.

"Am I a prisoner here?"

Did he intend to hold her here against her will? She wouldn't put it past him.

"I would hardly call you a prisoner, in your own home, Sabrina," he told her with affront. But there was something in his tone that told her if she pushed him with her threats to leave he would keep her a prisoner.

"What happens if I leave?" she challenged.

He smiled.

"You won't. You have too many reasons to stay."

Sabrina's heart began to pound. He wasn't giving her a solid answer.
'How far will you go to stop me leaving?' she asked nervously, seeing no point in hiding her blatant concern any longer.

Raoul's seductive black eyes narrowed a fraction as a frown burrowed in his forehead. Sabrina found herself holding her breath as he captured her face in his hands once more. There was no mistaking his resolve or his authority when he spoke in a low soft velvet voice.

"You have amnesia, Sabrina. That makes you unwell. A doctor might say that you were unable to make decisions for yourself and I as your husband should make them for you. A court of law would most likely see it the same way. . . "

"You wouldn't dare . . ." She was outraged.

She watched him study her trembling lips with longing then look up at her with dark possessive eyes.

"I will go as far as I have to. You are my wife. Don't you remember your vows?