Footsteps sounded on the stairs, so Carina hastily closed the door again. She wasn’t quite sure why she was hiding, but it seemed to be quite important, as though Durward—whether Lord or plain Mr.—were some kind of threat.
Only to my peace. Stupid, stupid...
Pacing, refusing to look out of the window as she heard other arrivals below, she instead stared at the clock while the minutes ticked by. After ten, she recognized she would not be paid today at all. Her head drooped. Either she would run out of food or her carefully hoarded emergency coins would diminish into nothing...
She straightened, giving herself a little shake. She would waste no more time on what couldn’t be helped. She would just have to come back tomorrow morning, beard her ladyship at breakfast...
The door opened abruptly, and she spun around to face it.
Sir Hugh strode into the room, smiling with the oily delight that made her flesh crawl. “Oh good, you are still here. You werewaiting for me.” At least he didn’t bother to close the door he had thrown so wide.
“I was waiting for Lady Mansel,” she said coldly.
“She is busy with her guests. She sent me to take care of you.”
“Thank you,” she said. “It is a shilling to cover yesterday and today.”
His smile broadened. “A shilling,” he marvelled. “You sell yourself short. I’ll give you another for a kiss.”
“That wasn’t my agreement with your wife,” she said woodenly, while she considered the possibilities of rushing past him to the open door. If someone—James, perhaps—would only walk past, she could time it to perfection.
Sir Hugh laughed softly. “Don’t be a little prude, my dear. My wife has nothing to do with you and me.”
“On the contrary, she asked you to pay me my shilling.” She knew bandying words would not help. It only amused him, fed his reasonless lust.What is the matter with men? “However, if the matter is beyond you today, I shall speak to Lady Mansel some other time.”
Was that not the click of a door in the distance? It was now or never. Holding his smug, mocking gaze, she moved suddenly, saying loudly, “Good day!” as she stormed past him.
Or tried to. He recovered from his surprise just in time to snake out one hand and catch her by the elbow, swinging her to such a sudden halt that she stumbled and fell against him.
His hand was at her throat, half threatening, half caressing. “Such soft skin...I’ll give you jewels to adorn that pretty neck and splendid bosom. Gowns of finest silk... What do you say, my proud bird?”
“I say the shilling Lady Mansel owes me suffices. Along with immediate freedom from constraint.” She meant it to be proud and disdainful, but of course her voice shook and threatened to break, making her sound only desperate and frightened.
His loathsome eyes gleamed with triumph, and he bent his face to hers. “You won’t regret your submission...”
In panic, she raised her foot to stamp and kick.
“I say, Mansel,” drawled a voice behind him. “Where do I find a retiring room?”
Oh, dear God, it washim.
Abruptly, she was released as Sir Hugh spun around to face the door. Belatedly, she stormed out of the room, only vaguely aware of the man in the doorway stepping aside and bowing though she did not look at him. Head high, she marched to the staircase and fled.
Damn, damn, damn and hell!she swore to herself, furious with the whole world. Any relief at escaping was lost in the knowledge that she had lost any chance of receiving the money owed her, and of any future employment at the manor. Sir Hugh would blame her for this humiliation and never forgive her. He might even tell his wife Carina had set her cap at him.
Seizing her shawl from the hallstand, she threw it about her and clapped on her old bonnet. She didn’t wait to tie the ribbons before throwing open the front door and leaving.
For once, the clean, fresh air did not revive her. But anger was better than collapsing into tears of despair, so she whipped it up as she strode through the garden to the footpath that was the shortcut back to Harwich. If she cried now, it would be from sheer fury with everyone from her father to Durward who had witnessed not only her own humiliation but Mansel’s.
She wanted to scream out loud. No one would hear her. She only refrained because she was afraid that if she began, she would never stop. And it was just as well she didn’t give in, for after a quarter of an hour or so, she heard the soft thud of approaching hooves and the faint clatter of a vehicle.
Frowning, she moved off the path to let it pass.
It didn’t. It slowed and drew to a halt beside her. Fury mixed now with definite fear as she continued to walk on without even glancing at the vehicle. There was no one to hear, let alone help her on this lonely path. She would do him some damage, but it was not a fight she could win.
“You keep a spanking pace, Miss Jasper, but won’t you let me take you up?”
It was the voice rather than the lightly spoken words that halted her. She turned her head, blinking rapidly. Two very fine grey horses, harnessed to a smart curricle, driven by the elegant Mr. Durward.
