Terrified about being seen by some of the servants at this time, Evelyn crept through the corridors, constantly looking back and forth for the slightest hint of movement. When she caught a glimpse of a maid moving between rooms further down the corridor, she hid in the nearest alcove, behind a tall white marble Grecian statue, and waited for the maid to pass. Once she was certain all was clear, she darted for the main staircase and took the steps two at a time.
The duke’s estate was more of a castle than a manor at all, so large and sprawling that she got lost more than once on her way back to her chamber. When she reached the room, she flung herself inside and searched around for her clothes, determined she had to change and be on her way fast.
As wonderful a memory as the night before was, she could hardly face looking the duke in the eye again. She had been weak, succumbed to lust and temptation, one of the many sins a person was supposed to avoid.
“It didn’t feel like a sin,” Evelyn muttered as she grabbed her gown and chemise off a nearby coffer.
A knock at the door captured her attention and she froze. Evelyn looked at the wood, imagining for some wild moment that it was the duke. Had he come to visit her in this bedchamber? Did he wish to repeat what they had done the night before? A wild idea entered her head of being on the bed with the duke above her, the two of them moving together. Would he enter her with his fingers as he had done before? She had no idea that was even a possible thing to cause pleasure, but the moment he had done it, she had been lost in bliss.
The knock sounded again.
Evelyn cleared her throat, hoping to clear her mind with it.
“Who is it?” she called.
“My name is Petra, my Lady. I am a maid in the household,” a voice sounded from the other side of the door. “May I be permitted to enter to speak with you?”
“Yes, of course. Come in.” Evelyn adjusted the tight cord around the waist of her dressing gown, doing her best to look decent as she waited for the maid to enter.
She stepped inside and curtsied deeply. She had a sweet face and had to be a couple of years younger than Evelyn, with fair hair tucked tightly under a white coif so only her fringe could be seen.
“Good day, my Lady.” Petra stood. “I wished you to know that the master has arranged for a late breakfast for you. It’s ready for you in the dining room.”
“Ah, thank you, but that will not be necessary.” To Evelyn’s mind, the fact that Petra hadn’t even blinked at the idea of an unattached woman staying the night in her master’s house, was a worrying thing indeed.
He is a rake. I knew that already.
“Once I am dressed, I shall be leaving the house,” Evelyn explained, gesturing to the screen nearby and showing she was going to dress right away. “I will be on my way as soon as I am able to.”
“Oh, my Lady.” Petra stepped forward, just as Evelyn moved toward the screen, her hand outstretched. “I am sorry, but I do not believe that will be possible.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Have you not seen?” Petra grimaced, clearly feeling for her. “I see you have not.” She moved toward the curtains that were currently open a slither and swept them to the side, revealing the full view through the window beyond.
Evelyn followed her toward the window, abruptly realizing why the light had been so bright in the library when she had woken. It wasn’t so much a bright sunny day, but what light there was bounced off the thick snow that now enveloped the estate.
Trees appeared to be dusted with icing sugar, the green grass completely masked by a blanket of snow, and in the distance, where Evelyn was sure she had seen a lake as she entered the estate, there was now glacial ice.
“No,” Evelyn murmured, her gown in danger of slipping from her fingers as she stared at the estate. There was no chance anyone could pass through this deep snow.
The driveway was currently trying to be dug out by two men, with snow reaching up to their knees. Behind them, a horse stood whining, refusing to walk through the snow, but skittishly driving its nose up and down, making the stable boy beside him grapple to control him with the reins.
“Oh, goodness.” Evelyn sighed deeply. “…It seems I am trapped here.”
There are worse places to be trapped.
The traitorous thought made her angry at herself. She should not be longing to spend more time in the Duke of Ravensworth’s company, yet that was exactly what a part of her had hoped for. Her good sense took over and told her she’d have to find a way out of this house as soon as possible. In the meantime, she’d have to stay as far away from the Duke as she could. If she did not, she feared just how weak she would be when it came to giving him something more of her body.
“Is there anything I can do for you, my Lady?” Petra asked, her voice strained with concern. “You look as if you have seen a ghost.”
“Oh, erm… yes, please.” Her mind worked quickly. She nodded, deciding it was time to be practical. “Could you have some paper, ink, and a quill brought up here for me, please? I’d like to write to my uncle and aunt to assure them I am well. As soon as it’s safe to pass through the snow, I shall have it sent.”
“Yes, of course. Anything else?”
“Yes. Rather than eating in the dining room, may I eat with you in the servants’ quarters?” Her question made the maid’s jaw slack.
“Oh. Yes, if you wish.” Her hands fidgeted together. “Do you not wish to eat with the master, my Lady?”
