The garden was cool and quiet. Sophia had talked Elinor into joining her for a walk. She needed to get away from the crowds and noise to think. The idea that Daniel had ended the engagement because he questioned his fiancée’s honor continued to roll through her mind. How could Daniel not stand beside her when she’d needed him most? He was no better than every other man. It was almost a relief to know his true character, so she would no longer have trouble dispelling her feelings for him.
“I was not out yet when the earl was engaged. I only know the rumors,” Elinor said.
“And, what was the rumor?” Sophia’s anger burned higher.
Elinor cringed.
Sophia sympathized. “Never mind, Elinor, you need not tell me.”
“I hate rumors.” Elinor’s weepy tone sounded much more a little girl’s than a young lady’s. “They often get exaggerated and none of us really know the truth. Well, except those involved.”
“Yes, of course you’re right.”
The bushes rustled to their right. A young man watched them.
Her heart skipped a beat and she grab Elinor’s arm ready to pull her into a run toward the house.
He stepped into view as soon as their gazes met. He bowed and the firelight shone in his dark hair and bright blue eyes. His fine clothing was rumpled and a leaf stuck to the shoulder of his jacket. “Forgive me, ladies.”
“Michael,” Elinor said.
Sophia’s nerves settled down. At least this was not some kind of attack.
“I was trying to wait until I could speak to Miss Burkenstock alone. I hope I did not startle you.” His fingers clutched and released while he moved from one foot to the other.
Elinor blushed and tears already filled her eyes. “Shall I leave, Elinor?” Sophia asked.
Elinor looked at her as if just remembering she was there. “Thank you, Sophia.”
“Are you certain you will be safe?” Sophia gave Sir Michael a stern look. He smiled. “You have my word I shall not harm her in any way.”
“Elinor?”
“I will be fine.”
Sophia nodded and walked away only looking back once to see the two gazing longingly at each other.
Sophia walked away from the lovers hoping she was doing the right thing. It would be a disaster if they were discovered. Elinor would never recover from two indiscretions.
She walked and admired the torch-lit garden. It was grand and elegant. The full moon and the fine weather made for a particularly bright night. Not at all the dreary, rainy place her mother had described.
A beautiful fountain displayed several cherubs. Planted all around were the most stunning yellow roses. She knelt and breathed in the sweet fragrance when she heard footsteps. She looked up and Daniel appeared as if out of the ether as he always seemed to do.
“You will ruin your dress.” He walked over and offered her a hand up. She hesitated before taking it then she pulled away. “Thank you.”
“You are angry with me again.” It was not a question.
“I barely know you, my lord. Why should I be angry with you? I can have no reason.” The echo of Thomas’s words rippled through her mind.
“I do not know, Miss Braighton but since you are incapable of keeping your feelings from your face, I can see clearly you are angry.”
She stepped away aggravated with herself for not being able to hide her feelings.
He followed and put his hands on her shoulders. His fingers gently rubbed the skin of her neck as he spoke. “I do not recall doing anything to upset you this evening. We did not argue, and my mother liked you very much. Whatever it is that I have done? You can tell me, and I shall make every effort to make it right.”
As gentle as his touch, his calluses surprised her. Why was an earl doing the kind of labor that would create rough hands? It wasn’t gentlemanly. “I don’t wish for you to make anything right with me. You haven’t done anything to me and I have no claims on you. You may do as you wish.”
Her heart pounded. Why did he have such an effect on her? She took a step away and touched a yellow rose climbing up a nearby trellis.
Once again, he was behind her and his scent flooded her senses. Then his lips touched her neck.
Her heart pounded and she struggled to catch her breath. “What are you doing?”
He kissed further up her neck and put his hands on her hips to pull her back against him. “I do not know. Whenever I see you, I lose all rational thought.”
“Then perhaps we should avoid each other.” Her feet were rooted in place.
He caressed her from her hip to just under her breast. The sensation of his touch reached every inch of her body and culminated between her legs. She’d never felt anything so wondrous and frightening in her life. She was afraid, but she didn’t stop him. In fact, she wanted more, more of Daniel and more of his kisses.
“You are right of course. That’s my other problem. I cannot seem to stay away.” He traced the edge of her dress with his lips spreading kisses along the line where it met her shoulder, and he pushed the light fabric aside. His hand crept around her waist until his palm was flat against her stomach.
She couldn’t breathe or think. In three years, she’d never allowed herself to be alone with a man. This was a mistake. She should leave. He was so warm, safe and it felt so right to be in his arms. Safe? A crazy thought to have about a man.
He pressed her more firmly to him. Through the fabric of his trousers and her gown, he was hard against her backside. Her breath caught in her throat. A weight constrained her chest. Nothing about the garden scene was warm and safe. Reality crashed down around her, she shuddered and backed down the path. “No.”
“Sophia, there is no reason to be afraid. I would never harm you.” He stepped forward.
“Stay away from me.” She put her hands out as if that might ward him off. She had to escape, had to get away from him.
He stopped. “I will not harm you. I will not touch you if you do not wish it.”
“Just stay away, Daniel.”
“I will not advance, Sophia, but if you do not watch where you are going, you will tumble into the fountain and then we will really be in dire straits.”
She looked back, and he was telling the truth.
“Do you want to tell me why you are afraid of me?”
She shook her head. Telling him the truth wasn’t an option and her throat was tight with emotion.
“How about telling me why you were so angry with me a little while ago?”
Nothing she could say would make any sense. She repeated her head shake.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you will change your mind at some point but until then, perhaps you had better return to the ballroom.” His voice was kind and soft as if he were talking to a lost child.
Yes, the ballroom would be safe. She sidestepped around him and ran toward the noise of the house. She went several yards before turning.
He sat on a bench near the fountain with his head in his hand. She wanted to comfort him. He was no different from every other man. None of them were trustworthy. She ran.
At the veranda, she sat on a low wall and took deep breaths. It was unfathomable that she had allowed a man to take such liberties. She smoothed her hair, stood, adjusted her dress, and stepped into the Fallon Ballroom. She searched for Elinor, Dory or Aunt Daphne, a friendly face in the sea of strangers.
Someone bumped her then grabbed her arms. She turned about to apologize.
Alistair Pundington, the one person she truly hated, stared at her with angry eyes and a twisted smirk. “Sophia, what a surprise to see you here in London.”
A shiver ran down her spine. Vomiting in the middle of a ball would ruin her. “Mr. Pundington, I’m equally surprised. If you’ll excuse me, I must find my aunt.”
Tall and lean, his musky cologne filled her head with horror. He might be older, but his grip bit into her skin enough he would leave a mark. “Don’t rush away, Miss Braighton. I’m happy to see you. Perhaps we can rekindle our friendship. I’m only in London for a short while but I would make it worth your while.”
She swallowed down the bile rising in her throat. “I’m not a whore, you pig of a man. You will stay away from me, or I will make you sorry you ever lived.”
His beady eyes narrowed under bushy gray brows, but he sniggered at her. The sound haunted her nightmares. Whisky soured his breath as he leaned in. “What can you do to me, little girl? And I assure you, that you are no better than a common whore, just better dressed.” He tore the cap sleeve of her dress.
She gasped and clutched the fabric closed. Panic started deep in her stomach rising fast. She searched for an escape route.
“Oh dear, I am so sorry. What a brute I am.” His smirk was thin and made her stomach turn. The devil who stole her innocence gave the appearance of a perfect gentleman. No one else took notice of his evil.
“Miss Braighton, are you quite all right?” Thomas’s voice was so welcome she sank against him before managing to upright herself.
“I have been clumsy and torn my dress. Can you show me to the ladies retiring room?” She spoke loud enough so people nearby would hear her excuse. She hoped her tone was even and the gossips wouldn’t make more of the incident.
“Of course.” Thomas offered his arm. He nodded in greeting. “Mr. Pundington.”
“Mr. Wheel.”
Once they were out of sight of Pundington, Thomas spoke in low tones. “Sophia, what was that all about?”
“Oh, Tom, please don’t ask me that. Just bring me somewhere where I can have a few minutes alone to gather myself. Will you be my friend and do that for me?” She was close to tears, and she didn’t want to have to explain anything. How could she? She couldn’t.
“Of course.” He took her to a large double door off the central corridor and pushed through. It was the library, an enormous cavern filled from floor to ceiling with books. An arrangement of chairs and a couch filled the center of the room, while a large desk was set off in the back corner.
Thomas led her to the couch, and she sat. He sat across from her in one of the chairs.
She stared at the floor. Pundington was in London. It was a nightmare.
Her nightmare, come to life.
He broke the silence. “Should I stay or leave you? Would you like me to find your aunt? Really, Sophia, I’m not sure what to do for you, but I do want to help. Are you sure you will not tell me what happened out there with Pundington?”
She shook her head. “Tom, would you mind finding Dory for me?”
He nodded, jumped up from the chair and rushed out to search for Lady Dorothea.
She didn’t know how long she sat staring at a spot on the ornate rug. She was lost in the horrible past when the door opened. She didn’t bother to look up. “Oh Dory, I’m in trouble. He’s here.”
“Who is here?” Daniel asked.
Her head snapped up.
His face was a mixture of surprise and concern.
“My…my…lord. I…I’m…sorry. Of course, this is your library. I did not mean to intrude. I was…just…resting a moment.” She stood and backed away.
“Sophia, are you truly so afraid of me, or has something happened since the garden? What happened to your gown? What did you mean when I walked in? Who is here and what kind of trouble are you in?” He advanced on her.
“Don’t.” She held up a hand as if to stop his blow from hitting her face.
He stopped. It was as if all the air had rushed out of the room. “You think I would strike you? You think so little of me?”
The door opened again and Dory entered. She shut the door behind her. “My lord, what is going on here?”
He turned toward Dory. “I am not certain what has happened, but clearly Miss Braighton is upset. I shall leave you ladies. Please take as long as you need. You will not be disturbed. I shall see to it.”
He bowed and left the library.
Sophia couldn’t breathe. Her heart was in her throat and her stomach churned as it had on the open sea.
Dory came close and spoke softly. “Sophia, what happened?”
It was all too much. Sophia’s knees gave way and she collapsed in a heap on the floor.
“Oh, damn.” Dory rushed forward and knelt beside her. “What on earth is going on? Did Marlton do something to upset you?”
“No, he…and then…in the garden…I came in…and he was there… and…tore my dress…” She didn’t get further.
Dorothea’s eyes grew narrow. “The Earl of Marlton tore your dress?”
“No, not Daniel,” Sophia cried.
Dory’s eyebrows rose. “Who then, dearest?”
“Alistair Pundington.” More tears followed.
“Let’s sit down on the couch for a few minutes. You can catch your breath, start from the beginning and tell me exactly what has happened.”
Her legs shook, but she got up with Dory’s help. They moved to the dark red couch and sat quietly until Sophia’s breathing steadied, and she forced herself to stop crying.
“Alistair Pundington is the man I told you about. He is the one who raped me.” She spoke in a whisper but her voice was steady. She was determined to be brave.
Dory nodded her eyes wide. “Start from the beginning, Sophia. Why were you afraid of the earl?”
Sophia told Dory about the meeting in the garden. She didn’t mention Elinor and Sir Michael. That was Elinor’s story to tell and she wouldn’t betray her trust. She also left out a good bit of detail regarding how far the touching had gone with Daniel. She told her she had not initially been afraid. The fear had come later and as soon as she asked him to, he had stopped and not gotten the least bit angry. She explained about the terrible encounter with Pundington in the ballroom and how the monster had intentionally torn her dress. Finally, she told her about Daniel finding her in the library.
“But his lordship did not intend to strike you. You were just frightened because of what happened in the ballroom and you reacted falsely.”
“Yes.” The word came out in an exhausted rush of air.
Dory wrapped her in a warm hug. “Do not worry, dearest, everything will be fine. I’ll go and find your aunt and tell her you tore your dress on the door latch and would like to go home. It’s late and everyone is growing tired. No one will suspect a thing. Now, let’s have a look at you.” She brushed out the lace on the skirt so it looked less wrinkled. There was no help for the torn sleeve, so she tucked the lace under and nodded in approval.
“Your hair has held up quite well considering the events of the evening.” Dory grinned.
Sophia actually giggled at that. “Thank you, Dory.”
“This is what friends do. You must let me use your maid for my hair. I swear she is a wonder. I’m sure all of my curls have fallen.”
Dory was trying to distract her and doing an excellent job. “You are as beautiful as ever.”
“Now, you wait near the door and I will find your aunt and order your carriage brought around.”
Sophia nodded and opened the door.
The butler, a short thin man of perhaps sixty, stood just outside the door. He bowed deeply at the sight of the ladies. “I’m Fenton, my ladies. His lordship asked that I wait to see if there is anything you need.” He then stood stock-still waiting for a reply. He was stylish for his age. It was thoughtful of Daniel to have the library guarded.
“Would you have Lady Collington’s carriage brought around, Fenton?” Dorothea said.
He bowed stiffly. “Of course.”
He walked off but a second later, a footman appeared by Sophia’s side.
Dory raised an eyebrow and went in search of Lady Collington.