‘I meant no insult. Ah, I deserved that, I suppose.’ He grinned, spotting her own smile. ‘So, tell me, where did you learn such things?’
‘Everywhere, really.’ Rebecca shrugged. ‘I have always enjoyed learning about the world, and... Well, I did not have a privileged upbringing, but by the grace of the Lord, I was given a second chance. Oh, look,’ she exclaimed, pointing towards the skies, her eyes briefly alight with childish excitement. ‘Your fireworks, my lord.’
‘A most worthy display,’ Liam admitted after a moment. ‘And I dare say it is most pleasant to watch them from the comfort of one’s own home. So...you taught yourself, then?’
‘Everything I could,’ she said, and Liam saw that darkness pass over her eyes again. ‘Taught myself to read, and my sums, even embroidery, languages, sketching... All so that I might improve my station. I also worked for some good employers. Mrs Chealton, for instance, she was a lovely woman. Taught me the pianoforte so that she might hear music every night... She would lend me books, too, and then we would converse for hours about them... She first had me readFrankensteinwhen it was published.’
‘Ah, I see... And your family? What do they think of you now, I wonder?’
Liam instantly knew he’d asked the wrong question, recalling that she had no family, and cursed himself inwardly as she turned away, wringing her hands. He made to place his own hand over hers, but stopped himself in time, and instead raked his fingers through his hair.
‘I am sorry.’
‘There is nothing to be sorry for, my lord,’ she said with a strained smile. ‘I like to think they would’ve been proud.’
‘I’m sure they would,’ Liam said gently. A thought occurred to him. ‘What Mrs Ffoulkes said, that is, you speak like a southerner, but...’
‘I am from here. Something else I taught myself,’ she sighed. ‘Born not thirty miles away.’
‘Something which you have been careful to keep secret. It’s why you didn’t go to the village tonight. You never go, do you?’
Rebecca looked over to him, as though calculating odds. Liam’s eyes narrowed, questioning, and she nodded sadly.
‘You don’t have to tell me,’ he whispered, sensing she was ready to tell him her tale.
‘And if I wish to?’ she asked tentatively.
‘Do you?’
‘Yes... I do.’
Liam nodded, and waited, her demonstration of trust touching him deeply.
She took a breath, preparing herself to speak of whatever haunted her. He wondered for a moment how wise this was, to encourage such revelations, but he also wished to know. Wished to be there for her, as she had for him. Wished to know her better, no matter the danger.
‘I was born a farmer’s daughter,’ she began, crossing her arms as though shielding herself. ‘A rather improper young girl. Running amok around the countryside, fishing, climbing trees, generally causing mischief... My father said it was because I had no mother. She died giving birth to me. When he passed, my uncle took me in. He was the only family I had, and he was... Well, suffice it to say I only got worse, spending more time outside than in. This once, I got stuck up a tree. My dress tangled in the branches and I couldn’t free myself. I never believed in fairy stories, not until that day... The son of a neighbouring lord passed by, and heard my cries. Rode up on a white horse, if you can believe it. Really did have the air of a prince.’ Rebecca raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. ‘He got me down, took me home. I was so scared—my uncle would be furious—but my prince offered to speak to him, calm him... How could I have imagined?’
‘Your uncle, he was a brute?’
‘Oh, yes,’ Rebecca said flatly. ‘Drunkard, gambler. Horrible licentious swine. Wasted away everything my father had built. But he was nothing compared to my saviour. When he took me home, I rushed to clean myself up, before my uncle could see and tan my hide. I was quick, though—I wanted to see my prince again—and that’s when I heard them. Discussing my price, and the details of my collection.’
‘Your uncle sold you?’ Liam asked, aghast.
Of course he’d heard of such things happening, but the knowledge did nothing to assuage his anger at the idea of it happening to her.
‘He needed the money, and had little love for me...’ Rebecca shrugged, as though the pain were not as fresh as it had been, which it undoubtedly was. ‘They agreed that my prince should return in the morning to collect me, once he’d made arrangements for mykeeping. I knew I had but one chance—knew well what would become of me should I stay. That night, I ran. Walked for days until I made it to the city. I was lucky again, found a place as a scullery maid...’
Taking a deep breath, Rebecca scanned the flashes of colour in the sky, unseeing, lost in her memories. Liam clenched his fists, a strong desire to wring some necks rising.
‘I thank whatever powers above daily for the chances that were given to me. So many things might’ve been different if I had not been so fortunate, and so many are not. What if he had taken me in the woods? What if I hadn’t heard them, or if I’d been found? What if I had succumbed to the trials of living on the streets?’
‘How old were you, when...?’ Liam asked after a long moment of silence, the simmering rage in his breast somehow contained. ‘When this happened?’
‘Fourteen, my lord,’ she said, finally meeting his gaze again.
‘Dear God... Animal,’ Liam blurted out before he could stop himself. ‘And you continue to change places, to run, but...’
‘Why should I? It’s all right,’ Rebecca said with a faint smile as she heard him curse himself, very audibly this time. ‘Why still run, when I was nothing more than a peasant a lord once tried to buy? For one thing, I had to remain hidden until my majority, lest my uncle drag me back.’
