“I came here to be a governess. Nothing else.” She attempted to pull free, but his grip tightened.
“I can make life exceedingly difficult for you.”
She yanked her arm once more, but his grip was firm. “Release me, sir.”
His other arm slipped around her waist. This was escalating quickly. She had to get away. Far away. She couldn’t break hisgrip with her own strength; she needed another way to force him to loosen it. Sophia could think of only one way.
She slammed her boot onto the top of his foot. The surprise sent him backward a step. Sophia jerked her knee upward with all the strength she had.
He doubled over, moaning in pain. But he’d released her wrist. Sophia waited not even a moment. She ran, not slowing her pace all the way down the stairs and to the back corridor. She pushed open the doors to the terrace and ran the length of the topiary path. Her lungs burned with the effort. The weight of her full skirts pulled heavy on her.
Where am I to go?She had no money, no possessions, no family to turn to. But she had a friend, one who had only two days earlier made her promise to turn to him in precisely this scenario.
The paddock was as busy as ever. The staff were putting a few of the horses through their paces. Sophia didn’t see Duncan. He was likely inside.
She hurried around the side of the paddock, continually glancing back to make certain Mr. Haddington hadn’t come after her. A stable hand led a horse out, momentarily blocking the stable doorway. Sophia tried to glance around, hoping to catch sight of Duncan.
She slipped inside, behind the exiting horse and into the warm, damp air of the stable. The smell of horses and hay washed over her. Duncan kept his stable mucked and cleaned, so the other less-pleasant smells weren’t nearly as strong as they might have been. Stable hands filled every imaginable space. Horses nickered and moved about their stalls. Where was Duncan? The business of a working stable didn’t usually bother her, but in that moment, she felt trapped.
She stopped halfway to the back of the row of stalls then turned around to see if she’d missed him. Again and again shespun, hoping for a glimpse. Into her thoughts, unbidden, came Mr. Haddington, his humiliating and infuriating expectations, his clawing closeness, his painful, possessive touch. Her wrist still throbbed.
She needed to get away from Haddington House. The view no longer held any pleasure. The land she’d fallen in love with had betrayed her.
She took a shaky, thick breath. The threat of emotion squeezed every drop of air from her lungs.
“Miss?” Aiden stepped into her blurry line of sight. “Are you unwell, miss?”
She didn’t know how to answer. “Where is Duncan?” The question broke as she spoke it.
His expression changed from curious to concerned. “This way, miss.”
She followed him back outside and around the side of the long, stone building. “I’m sorry to pull you away from your work.”
Aiden shook his head. “Duncan’d have m’ neck if I’d left you there looking about, ready to cry.”
They came around the back side of the stable to a small, enclosed paddock. Duncan was inside with a young filly, leading it around and talking softly. Some of Sophia’s panic eased simply at the sight of him. She felt less alone.
When Aiden called his name, Duncan turned. His gaze moved quickly to her. She felt her chin quiver, so she firmed her resolve to remain strong and collected. He led the young horse to the paddock gate.
“Aiden, walk the filly about for a few minutes more.”
He and Aiden switched places, Duncan’s gaze not leaving Sophia for more than a moment. “What’s happened?”
“Mr. Haddington—” She managed nothing more than that. Fear, humiliation, exhaustion, all conspired against her. The weight was nearly crushing.
Duncan set his hand on her back and led her to the far side of the small paddock, out of view of the house and stables. Sophia focused on walking and breathing, and not thinking about all that had just happened and, worse still, might have happened if she hadn’t escaped.
They stopped behind the stables, and Duncan turned to face her fully once more. “Now tell me what’s happened. Did he hurt you?”
“My wrist.”
He took careful hold of her hand and inched back the cuff of her sleeve. “He’s left marks.” Duncan looked up at her once more.
“He held it so tight. I couldn’t break free. He—” She pushed out a tight breath, attempting to fully calm herself. “He said that you weren’t the only one who ought to be permitted a taste of my ‘nectar.’”
Duncan’s expression hardened. “He said that to you?”
“I knew what he wanted, and that he’d insist upon it. I kicked him and struck him with my knee.” The enormity of what she’d done slowly washed over her. “He may very well be coming for me or sending the squire to drag me back. No one would ever believe I was defending myself, not if he says otherwise.”
