“Please leave me alone, Lord Crowley,” Isolde replied, doing her best to keep her voice from shaking. Had anyone seen them leave? Would anyone come looking for her?
I can’t believe I’m trapped like this, with him, again.
“I think it is well within my rights to pursue a lady who was so rude as to leave me standing on the dance floor alone.” He took another step toward her.
“I simply did not wish to dance, and I don’t believe that entitles you to chase me into the gardens,” Isolde said, stepping back until her back hit the wall. Crowley moved closer, and she made herself step forward again, away from the wall.
She didn’t want to be forced against it by him like last time. She listened, but she no longer heard any other voices. It seemed she was alone.
Suddenly, Crowley lunged at her. She tried to avoid him and nearly managed it, but he caught hold of her arm, his hand circling her wrist.
“Let go!” she shouted, heedless of who might hear her. She tried to jerk her arm away and run, but he tightened his grip and yanked her back toward him.
“I’m tired of these games, Miss Fairchild,” Crowley spat. “Do you intend to marry me, or shall I marry your sister? Answer me now, once and for all.”
His fingers around her wrist were crushing, and she pulled helplessly at his unyielding grip. She suddenly felt so angry – at Lord Crowley for being so beastly, at her father for putting her in this situation, even at Thaddeus, for confusing her and making her wish for things she didn’t know if she could ever have. It was all so overwhelming.
She turned and kicked Lord Crowley hard in the shin, and he cried out in pain. His grip on her loosened, and she snatched her hand away. Crowley’s face contorted with anger, and he threw himself after her, his hands mere inches from her gown –
“That’s enough,” a male voice said, and Isolde turned toward it, sure it was Thaddeus.
Instead, she saw Henry standing in the gap in the hedge, and Annora just behind him, her face pale and full of anger. Henry strode past Isolde to grasp Lord Crowley firmly by the arm and push him away from her. Annora rushed to Isolde’s side.
“This behavior is beyond ungentlemanly, Lord Crowley. It is unconscionable, and I shall see you escorted from Hartington at once.”
“You misunderstand, I only –” Crowley began to say.
“We heard everything,” Annora said, her voice like steel. She put an arm around Isolde, and Isolde gratefully leaned into her.
“Indeed,” Henry said. “You threatened Miss Fairchild, and from the looks of it, you intended to lay hands on her.”
“He already did,” Isolde said, finding her voice. “I would not be surprised if there were bruises on my wrist.”
Annora gave an angry gasp, and Henry’s face hardened.
“I’m going to take Isolde inside,” Annora said. “Lord Henry, will you be all right alone with Lord Crowley?”
“Oh, indeed,” Henry replied, his mouth set in a grim line. His grip on Lord Crowley’s arm looked ironclad.
Annora led Isolde toward the house, and a wave of relief washed over her. She had never been so grateful to her cousin for being on her side.
***
They slipped in through the front door and up the stairs, avoiding all the prying eyes in the ballroom.
Once they were back in Isolde’s room, Annora rang for some tea while Isolde settled onto a chair by the window. She pushed the window open a little to let in some of the night air, hoping its cool breeze would soothe her.
“Are you all right, darling?” Annora asked, coming to sit beside her. “Shall we fetch a doctor for your wrist?”
“No, thank you,” Isolde replied. “It is sore, but I don’t believe that it’s permanently damaged. I just need to sit a minute and regain my composure.”
“Of course,” Annora said. “We’ll stay up here as long as you like.”
A moment of silence followed, and Isolde focused on breathing evenly, trying to slow her heartbeat, which was still racing. After a few minutes, Annora spoke again.
“I’m sorry, Isolde,” she said. Isolde looked at her in surprise.
“Whatever for? Not Lord Crowley’s behavior! How could you have stopped him? And indeed, you did stop him – you came to my rescue.”
