The Burlington Arcade was filled with Christmas shoppers and the crush of people made it difficult to move. Despite Alice’s instruction to take Rose with her, Carina was alone. Footmen, their arms stacked high with parcels, followed customers to their carriages, while her purchases would be delivered to the house the next day. The arcade was sparkling with Christmas decorations and she was content to make her way slowly towards Piccadilly where a queue of people were waiting for Hackney cabs.
The thin gauze veil of her bonnet fluttered against her cheek as she searched for one that was free. It might be quicker to walk, but she was without a chaperone and the pavements were wet with snow. It would be a shame to ruin her new boots. As she deliberated, a familiar voice spoke from behind her.
‘Miss Temple! This is a fortunate coincidence.’
A hand dropped on her shoulder and she was spun round to find herself facing Robert Danby. Carina saw at once he looked dreadful. He was unshaven and leaning heavily on his cane.
‘I’ve been trying to call all week.’
‘I have been greatly occupied.’
‘Too occupied to read my letters? They’ve all been returned, don’t you know.’
‘I cannot delay, sir. My aunt is waiting for me—’
‘How very strange.’ Danby’s expression darkened. ‘My cousin, Mrs Vere, told me she was accompanying your aunt to a remembrance service this afternoon. I believe she invited her for tea afterwards.’
‘You may believe whatever you like! I don’t want to talk to you or to stand here all afternoon.’
‘Dear girl, I’ve no intention of keeping you here. My carriage is at the north entrance and I will drive you home.’
‘I told you my aunt is expecting me—’
‘And you, Miss Temple, are a very poor liar.’
Robert Danby released her shoulder and tucked her hand under his arm. Carina was obliged to walk with him back up the arcade. He elbowed his way through the crowd and she noticed people turning their heads and whispering behind their hands. She could imagine what they were saying and kept her head low until they came to the north entrance. The landau, drawn by the famous Danby matching greys, stood waiting and group of young men in greatcoats were admiring the equipage.
Their encounter was no accident, Carina thought with a twist of alarm. Robert Danby had followed her to the arcade and had been waiting to catch her on the way out. His subterfuge infuriated her. She wanted to shout at him and throw off his arm, but didn’t dare risk a scene. If she wasn’t careful, news of this latest debacle would wing its way across London and Alice would come to hear of it.
The monkey boy unfolded the steps and she had no choice but to let Robert Danby escort her to the carriage. He gave instructions to the coachman and Carina lifted the side of her cloak to cover her face as she climbed in. The distance to Mount Street was no more than ten minutes’ drive and she could handle Lord Danby. She would tell him exactly what she thought of him and that would be the end of it.
When he joined her, Danby sat down clumsily, ignoring the fact he was crushing her skirts. He knocked on the roof with his cane and then slumped back and stretched out his legs. He was staring into the middle distance and Carina stole a glance in his direction.
Grey light from the window fell on his face and the dark stubble on his chin. He had taken off his gloves and her gaze was drawn to the thick hairs on the back of his wrists. Robert Danby was a big man and everything about him displayed the arrogance of inherited wealth. He wore the best clothes, owned the best horses and gambled his money away. Looking at him now with his florid complexion and full red lips, Carina couldn’t think how she ever thought him attractive. Then Danby turned his head. His gaze swept boldly over her as it had the first time they met. Recalling that occasion and her own unaccountable reaction, her heart missed a beat.
‘I believe you owe me an explanation, ma’am.’
‘And you, sir, owe me an apology.’
‘Do I now? And why is that?’
‘Because you are no gentleman! You lied to my uncle and defamed my name! Is it true you told him that I pursued you shamelessly?’
‘I don’t deny it. And I’ll lay a hundred to one it was that upstart uncle of yours who stopped you seeing me.’
‘Your behaviour is contemptible, sir. You have caused myself and my family the greatest distress.’
‘Well, there’s a thing! You never cared tuppence for your family before.’ Robert Danby’s mouth twisted in a smile that did not reach his eyes. ‘What’s your game, Miss Temple? Do you have ambitions to become the second Countess Danby? Are you playing fast and loose in order to ensnare me?’
Carina was struck dumb by the question. She could smell brandy on his breath. Danby was drunk and she stiffened as he shifted closer.
‘I hoped our relationship might be different. But one way or another, I will have you.’
There was a gale blowing through her head and Carina struggled to keep calm. Robert Danby had discarded his air of sophistication and she sensed violence beneath the surface. Any provocation might be dangerous. She was terrified she might laugh – the shocked, hysterical laughter that comes with panic. Her pulse raced so fast it was difficult to breathe and she pressed her hand to her heart to slow its frantic pace.
‘It was never my intention to mislead or encourage you, sir.’ Her voice was husky with nerves. ‘If I have led you to believe otherwise, then I apologise most sincerely.’
She hoped to pacify him, but Danby did not answer. He was looking out of the window and, following the direction of his gaze, Carina saw they were in Berkeley Square. Thank heavens, she was almost home. Then, just as she expected the landau to swing left into Mount Street, it swerved in the opposite direction. She was thrown back against the cushions and, by the time she leant forward, exclaiming that the coachman had missed the turn, they were increasing speed.
‘I’m not taking you home yet.’ Robert Danby leant across her and pulled down the blind. ‘You and I shall enjoy ourselves first.’
‘Turn around at once, do you hear! You—’
She was silenced as Robert Danby’s hand went for the ribbons of her bonnet. He undid them roughly and tossed it to the floor. One arm went around her shoulders and she let out a cry as his hand grasped her chin. His fingers squeezed her jaw and his mouth smothered her lips. As Carina clawed wildly at his face, she felt herself being bent over backwards. Her cloak was caught beneath her and Danby’s weight bent the hoops of her crinoline until they snapped.
‘I know this is what you want …’
Danby began combing his fingers through her hair, mumbling wild, incoherent sentences until he bent his head again. This time his kiss was indescribably worse. His wet mouth traced a path across her cheek and his tongue pressed her lips apart. He had broken the frogging of her jacket and reached inside for her bodice. Carina grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled, hard. Danby groaned, but did not lift his head. She pummelled at his shoulders and arms. She would kill him rather than let him do this! She would kick and bite until he was forced to let her go, but Danby was too strong and she could not get free.
Her arm thrashed outwards. If she could reach the strap, she might pull herself up and get to the door. Her hand touched the cane lying on the floor. She tried to get hold of it, but Danby caught her arm and trapped it by her side. He attempted to kiss her again and Carina sank her teeth into the side of his cheek. As his neck jerked backwards, she flung out her hand. Fumbling along the floor, her fingers closed around the cane. She raised it above his head and, using all her strength, brought it down across the back of his skull.
Carina hit him so hard that the cane cracked in two. A look of astonishment crossed Danby’s face, but, for a moment, the blow seemed to have no effect. Then the pupils of his eyes rolled upward and he slumped forward. His body was a dead weight on top of her and Carina struggled to get from underneath him. She pushed with her hands and knees until a final shove sent him to the floor.
Lord Danby lay so still she thought he was dead. Violence had answered violence and she had killed him! Carina was close to hysteria, half laughing and half crying until she saw the fingers of one hand twitch. Not only was he alive, Danby was already regaining consciousness! There was no time to lose and she scrambled over his legs and banged on the front partition with her fists. They were travelling at such a speed no one could hear, so she picked up the broken cane and hammered on the roof. At last, there came a shout from above and the landau began to slow down.
Carina found the catch and swung the door open. Hanging onto the straps, she glanced back. Robert Danby lay sprawled on the carriage floor but his eyes were open, the glassy look in them changing from bewilderment to rage as his gaze came into focus. He moved his hand in a feeble attempt to grab her skirts and, before the carriage came to a halt, Carina jumped.
She landed awkwardly, falling onto her knees in the snow. The monkey boy leapt down and tried to help her up, but she shouted at him and pushed him away. Seconds later, she was on her feet and sprinting down the street. She had no idea where she was going, no thought but to get away. Her hair fell across her eyes, half blinding her, and when her petticoats caught between her legs, Carina hitched her skirts above her knees and ran on.
Danby would come after her and she could hear a carriage travelling fast behind. Carina pressed back against a wall, terror squeezing her heart until the vehicle went past. It was only a Clarence cab, but she had to dig her fingers into the palms of her hands to control her panic. For a long time she stood motionless. Then she plucked up her courage and looked back.
Dense fog thickened the night and there was no sight or sound of the Danby landau. Gas lamps spread soft pools of light onto the pavement and at the far end of the street she made out the skeleton of trees. Was it her imagination or were they the trees of Berkeley Square? By some miracle, had her flight led her in the right direction?
Coming closer, Carina recognised the houses that led into Mount Street. She was safe, but the cramp in her side made her bend double. As fear and revulsion gave way to shock, she began to shake so violently she had to cling to the iron railings for support. She kept her neck bent until the nausea and faintness passed. Then she straightened up. Her jacket was torn and there was no sign of her bonnet. She must have left it in the carriage or dropped it along the way. With trembling hands she looped her hair into a knot at the back of her head before she turned her attention to her dress. There was nothing to be done about the broken frogging of her jacket. The snapped bones of her crinoline stuck through her skirts like knitting needles – but now her only thought was of Alice.
Her aunt must never discover what had happened! Carina had lost all track of time. Alice might not yet be home. If she was lucky, she might get upstairs before her aunt returned. She would enter by the basement door and swear Thomas and Rose to secrecy. She would say she had been attacked by pickpockets and Carina didn’t care that she lied. She would do anything to prevent Alice finding out what a narrow escape it had been.
You damned fool, she swore under her breath. You stupid, stupid fool! Why, for once, couldn’t you do as Alice asked? It was madness not to take Rose with you this afternoon. Flirtation is not a game and you brought this on yourself! Incensed by her own folly, blood coursed through her veins and strength returned. She could see the house and light from downstairs rooms shining onto the street. There would be time for self-recrimination later. The only thing that mattered was to reach her bedroom without meeting Alice. Cold flakes touched her cheeks and Carina realised it was snowing. Pulling her hood over her head, she picked up her skirts and broke into a run.