Not waiting for her to complain or even answer he tore through the maze and out onto the grass. He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. This was his call for his dogs who no doubt would find their way out to him somehow, but it should also attract any of the outside men who might be lurking in the undergrowth somewhere.
It had the desired effect and four gardeners emerged from various parts of the park. 'Miss Brotherton's stuck in the maze. Bring shears to cut her free,' James yelled.
Two of the men immediately set off at a run towards him. They were closely followed by his hounds who were delighted to be outside with their master for the second time that morning. He'd taken them for a long walk before meeting Sofia in the stables.
Knowing the necessary garden tools would be arriving imminently he returned to the maze. The dogs thought this a great lark and pushed past him. They arrived at the blockage before he did and were whining, barking and ripping at the branches determined to reach the new friend who was trapped within.
*
Sofia did as James commanded and remained still. If she hadn't been wearing an old heavy linen gown with long sleeves and high neck her plight would have been worse.
'Othello, Caliban, get out of the way, damn you,' James shouted at his dogs who were doing their best to rescue her.
'They're only trying to help, don't shout at them and please don't swear,' she said knowing this was a lost cause.
'Are you injured? Do I need to send for the doctor?'
'A little scratched but nothing that requires the attention of a medical man.'
'I'm relieved to hear you say so, my dear.'
She heard other people arriving and he moved away to converse with them so she was unable to hear what he said. Despite her predicament she smiled. James was almost certainly swearing at the gardeners, threatening hell fire if they didn't release her immediately and death and destruction if they harmed a single hair of her head.
He might be irascible, impossible and impolite but he was the kindest man and obviously taking his new responsibilities as her guardian seriously.
'Right, my men will soon have you out. As they'll be cutting blind, Sofia, you'll have to be their guide. Are you ready?'
'Yes, the sooner I'm released the better. I'm sharp set and I'm desperate to go to my rooms as even for such an insignificant occasion as breakfast my appearance would be unacceptable.'
The fact that it was two gardeners with dangerous sharp tools cutting away the entanglement, and not a man she trusted, was making her nervous.
'James, do you think that you could do the cutting? I'd feel more confident with you doing it.'
The brambles, branches and bushes were moving as the gardeners snipped furiously less than a yard away from her.
'Here, hand me those shears, Jethro, the future Countess of Avon wishes me to be the one to rescue her.'
There were mumbled answers and then the voices faded. She was alone in this maze with a man she'd just treated most dreadfully. He didn't sound angry, but she wouldn't blame him if he was.
'The two men I spoke to promised they'd work tirelessly to clear the maze. Why has their work been abandoned?'
He'd been carefully cutting at the entanglement, not rushing things as the gardeners had been. Her frantic heart slowed to a more normal pace now she knew that she wasn't going to be unintentionally dismembered by an overenthusiastic workman.
'I don't have the answer to that question, but believe me, I intend to investigate as soon as I've freed you and taken you to safety.'
'Thank you.' She was silent for a few moments while she gathered her thoughts not entirely sure what to say about the earlier proposal that had put her in this ridiculous situation.
'I behaved disgracefully, I know that, James, but I must reiterate that I've no intention of marrying you. I'd make you a shockingly bad countess, we'd constantly be at daggers drawn, I know nothing about the ton, you really need to find yourself someone more suitable. I'd make a far better farmer's wife.'
When he spoke, she realised he was very close. If the branches were less dense then she'd be able to see him.
'Sweetheart, all those things you mention are easily remedied. Once we're wed, I'll introduce you to society if that's what you wish me to do. However, if you choose to remain at home and not attend parties of any sort then that's what will happen.'
'Fiddlesticks to that! You've just proved my point, my lord. You have a position to maintain, you cannot have a wife who refuses to be your hostess. I know nothing about grand dinner parties, house parties – in fact any kind of parties.'
She stiffened as the thick prickly greenery in front of her parted. He was now inches from her face. He was smiling at her in what she considered to be a rather unnerving way.
'As I just told you, my love, I care not for socialising. The last time I had guests here was for my obnoxious grandmother's seventieth anniversary which was five years ago.'
