“Shall we take a turn in the gardens, my shweet?”
Fallon’s first instinct was to refuse, but she slowly got to her feet. Thankfully, Eliza did the same. “I think I’ll go with you. The night air will do me some good.” She looped her arm through Fallon’s and ignored the perturbed look her mother shot her direction.
Locklyn, however, gave a lopsided grin andwinked at Eliza. “Two lovely ladies at my dishposal. I’m a lucky man.”
Eliza walked slightly behind Fallon and Locklyn, to allow themsome reluctantprivacy astheirchaperone. Although Fallon would have preferred that they switched places, she kept her thoughts to herself and humored her“fiancé.”
He paused beneath a tree and pulled her into his arms. She set her hands on his chest and frowned at him. “What are you doing?”
“Don’t you think you’ve played the coquette long enough?” he whined. Fallon wanted to roll her eyes, for he sounded like an upset child who was denied his favorite toy. “Surely I deserve something for offering you my protection?”
“We aren’t yet married,” she returned firmly.
“What does that matter?” He slowly raked his gaze from her head to the tips of her toes and back up. “A man can tell when a woman is no longer pure and I can almost taste the scent of your—”
“Sir!” She interrupted hotly. “I would remind you to remember yourself. You’re supposed to be a gentleman.”
He snorted. “When one senses a mare in heat—”
The crack of Fallon’s palm against his cheek was satisfying to say the least. Although, when his eyes darkened with malicious intent and raised a hand to her, itwas Eliza’sfirmvoice intercedingthat savedherfrom a tremendous blow.
“I think it’s time for you to depart, Mr. Durmor.” Eliza rushed over to Fallon’s side. “And perhaps sober up before you think about returning.”
His mouth curled into a snarl, but he offered a mocking bow before he turned on his heel and left.
Once he was gone, Eliza released a heavy breath and turned to Fallon. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Fallon said evenly. “It will take more thanthatbully to get me down.”
Her cousin shook her head. “I shall speak to mother about this. I can’t, in all good conscience, stand by and allow you to wed such a monster! I honestly don’t know why you accepted himin the first placewhen it’s obvious how much you admire Mr. Clare.”
“Mr. Clare’s affections lie with Josephine,”she pointed out.
“And you don’t think he could be persuaded to change his mind?”
Fallon yearned for just that, but after her interlude with the Raven,even if she believed that Atticus felt the same toward her, she wouldn’t dishonorhimby becoming his wife now that she was no longer pure. “It doesn’t matter now, Eliza. Even if I wished to secure his regard, there is too much between us.”
“But, you can’t justmarryLocklyn!” her cousin cried.
Fallon lifted her chin. “I don’t intend to.”
Eliza stilled, her face paling slightly. “What does that mean?”
Instead of replying, Fallon kept her lips tightly closed as she brushed past Eliza and returned to the house, fists clenched tightly as she shut out the sound of her name and told herself she was doing the right thing.
***
Fallon’sheart was heavythat she would beleaving things as they werewith Eliza, but perhaps somedayher friendcould forgive her actions this night, and that the next time they met they could make amends.
Dressed inthe samedark, concealingdisguisethe night she’d met the Raven,Fallon threw a pack over her shoulder filled withher most prized possessionsand what little funds she had been able to set asidefor her journey. She threw a leg over the balcony railing outside of her bedroom window andtooka deep breath,thinking of the last time she’d snuck out late at night—and what had occurred.
Quickly pushing such disturbing thoughts aside, shebegan the descent down to the ground. She made her way across the lawn and entered the stables where she hastily saddled Honey.As she led her outside, Fallon looked to the heavens and saw that the moonwas aslightsliver in the sky, but it shown upon the ocean beyond the cliffs with a sparkling glow, like a beacon leading her home.The crashing waveswereurging her away from this miserable placewith each retreat to thesea.
Determination giving her the courage to continue, Fallon set her heels against Honey’s flanks and leftShawsea Hallbehindin the distance, relief and anticipation flooding her veins as she took the road to Hythe.
She arrivednearthe Hythe dockswithout incident anddismounted at the local inn. A young lad scampered out of the establishment which was gaily lit with some rather raucous merriment coming from inside. Fallon withheld a shudder as she handed Honey’s reins over. “What’s going on in there?” she asked, making sure her voice was deeper than usual and adding more of hergaeilgelilt to her tone.
“Sailors on shore leave,” the boy returned.
