Chapter 22: Unmasked

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​⁠Dainty fell back, sobbing, on her hard couch, her frame shaking as with an ague chill.

The horror of her position was enough to drive her mad.

It seemed to her that she was entombed alive, and left to her fate—left to die of darkness, terror, grief, and starvation, the wretched victim of a most cruel persecution; she who had so much to live for; youth, health, beauty, and a loving young husband!

Her