The American Bride (17 page)

Cara crouched before the fireplace blowing on the dying fire. A flame flicked out, curling around one of the small pieces of kindling she had just added. She blew once and the flame disappeared, then as she continued blowing, it flared out stronger, catching on the tinder. Despite the heat of the day, Cara relished her fire at night to combat the slight chill from the exterior stone walls. She frowned in annoyance at the fire. She had been reading and had let it get too low. After a few , more pokings and proddings the fire crackled briskly and she curled up in a chair with her book. Her eyes stared at the pages but her mind was far away, unable to comprehend the words she saw. Her time at Weathersfield was almost up. She could expect a summons from her grandmother to end the masquerade at any time. When she had begun the charade she had planned to be an observer. It was evident that her character did not permit such a passive role. She had hurled herself into the affairs of the children, confronting Julian when she felt he was in the wrong. It seemed she made a very poor employee. Not only did she become totally involved with her charges but she had also fallen in love with her employer.

Soon, she would go back to her grandmother's and resume the role of Caroline Leland, young lady of fashion and bride of Julian, Lord Wilton.

For the hundredth time Cara wondered if Julian would recognize her. She hoped with proper clothing and with her red-gold hair curling around her face she would be a far cry from the dowdy governess. If she had stayed in the background he might not see any resemblance but her own actions had doomed that from the outset. Would he feel betrayed? Would he disavow the marriage? She would count on her grandmother’s iron will to make sure the marriage stood.

It would however be awkward. She wondered how he would deal with her. She did not know what Julian expected from their relationship. He had agreed to the marriage but would it be in name only? How could she explain to him that she already loved him and she was prepared to be more than just the mother of his heir? This thought brought the blood rushing to her cheeks and she turned her mind into safer channels.

The candles flickered on the table beside her at the opening of the schoolroom door.

Edward Tallworth lounged in the doorway, a smug satisfied smile on his face. The silence in the room and in the rest of the Hall made Cara conscious of the lateness of the hour and the inappropriateness of his visit.

"May I help you?" Cara asked coldly.

At Tallworth's leering expression, Cara hastily rose from her chair. Even standing, she felt at a disadvantage as the man loomed in the doorway. It had never occurred to her that she might be in danger in her own rooms. There was an air of menace around Tallworth that had frightened Cara in the garden but now it was even more powerful. Although her nervousness had increased at the silence of the figure in the doorway she tried to keep her voice even and unemotional.

"I suggest you see me in the morning, Sir Edward, if you have a question for me." Her tone was dismissive but Tallworth made no move to leave.

"Thought we ought to get better acquainted. After all I am the children's uncle and I like to keep appraised of their progress."

Tallworth entered the room, closing the door behind him. Although no expression crossed Cara's face she felt a jolt of fear along her spine. Her eyes darted to her bedroom door and she debated whether she should make a break for it or hold her ground. Her heart hammered, filling her ears with the sound. Her lips trembled and she had to moisten them before she was able to speak.

"I'm very sorry, Sir Edward, but it's late and I am tired. We'll have to continue this conversation in the morning. I'm afraid it would be hardly suitable at this hour."

She had tried to speak crisply but her voice quivered with the fear engendered by the presence of the man. She felt trapped, wanting to run but afraid that any overt action would trigger immediate violence in the tense figure across the room. Her eyes began to search the room for a weapon as she realized she would need to be able to defend herself.

"Please call me Edward, Miss Farraday." His tongue had trouble with the syllables of her name indicating that he had been drinking most of the evening.

"If you will please leave, Sir Edward, we can talk at another time." As she spoke, Cara was edging closer to the door of her room but Tallworth had already ascertained her direction and cut her off.

"After all, Miss Farraday," Tallworth continued as though she had not spoken, "You have been here almost a month and I feel we should be able to work out a closer relationship."

"I can see no possible reason that we should have any relationship at all," Cara snapped in anger. Although she managed to speak bravely her whole body began to tremble.

"Despite your pathetic wardrobe I feel you have great potential." Tallworth leered at her, leaving little to her imagination as to his intentions. As he spoke he staggered toward her, devouring her with his eyes.

"I beg your pardon, sir."

Cara was terrified now but tried to portray dignified outrage. She knew instinctively that if she showed her fear he would cease the cat and mouse game and pounce on her immediately. All she could hope for was to play for time, trusting to chance for an opportunity to outwit his attack. As he circled around the chair toward her she tried a bold maneuver.

"I can no longer remain in this room when you insult me."

With racing heart Cara stalked toward the door into the corridor. Her movement caught him by surprise and for a moment she thought she might be able to escape. As Tallworth's look of surprise turned to fury, he charged after her, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward him. Cara struggled but was afraid of precipitating anything worse.

"You're hurting my arm," Cara cried, her voice shaking with a combination of anger and hysteria.

"Now, my dear, pray give over the coy maidenly act. I'm sure we can come to some agreement."

Tallworth spun her around and his lips swooped down to capture hers in a punishing kiss. His liquor-laden breath gagged her as she struggled within the embrace. As his kiss deepened Cara began to struggle in earnest, fighting down her panic and rising faintness. Loosing one of her hands she swung and caught him heavily on the ear. As he staggered away she broke loose and ran toward her bedroom door. Her hand touched the knob, but with a leap, Tallworth was on her before she could gain entrance. With a wrenching pain, he threw her against the door reaching for her.

"For that, my dear, you will pay dearly," Tallworth snarled.

Cara cried out before he could kiss her again and raising her foot kicked him in the leg. Her soft slippers made little dent on his leather boots. An evil smile lit Tallworth's face as he pulled her toward him. She moaned in fear and pain as his grasping fingers bit into her shoulders.

"Excuse me, Edward. I am sure you can find entertainment elsewhere."

Julian's ice-tinged voice was startling in the stillness of the room. Tallworth's grip loosened and Cara staggered back against the wall. Shaking with relief, she was unable to make a sound as she fought to catch her breath.

Julian's eyes blazed with anger as he watched the girl fighting for self-possession. He was startled by the purity of lines in her face, seen in the shimmering light of the fire. Her blue-green eyes were dilated, a glowing counterpoint to the whiteness of her skin. Staring into the luminescent face of the frightened girl, he ached for the wounded vulnerability he saw etched on her soul. His eyes swung to the discomposed Tallworth and it was all that he could do not to bolt across the room and beat the man into insensibility for causing this innocent even one moment of pain or discomfort. He had always thought that Tallworth was contemptible and blamed himself for permitting the man anywhere near Miss Farraday. With the man's unsavory history, the girl should have been protected from this sort of savagery.

Shaken by Tallworth's aborted attack and Julian's providential arrival, Cara could only stare mutely at her rescuer. She watched the mix of emotions mirrored in his eyes. Concern for her, anger at Tallworth and another more intangible expression that Cara could not put a name to. Unable to voice her appreciation and aware that once more Julian had found her in another untenable position a blush of color swept up her throat and with a swirl of skirts she threw open the door of her room. Inside, she leaned against the wood and shot the bolt for additional safety.

The soft crackling of the fire was the only sound in the schoolroom as Julian flung a blazing scowl at Tallworth who was rearranging his clothing in unconcern. The muscles of one of Julian's eyes twitched as he fought to control his temper. "After Miss Corday's precipitous departure," Julian remarked coldly, "I would have thought you would confine your dalliances to somewhere other than the schoolroom."

"I feel your arrival was less than welcome, Julian," Tallworth bluffed, retying his cravat with the utmost care.

"Let me make myself perfectly clear. Governesses are very difficult to find. I do not enjoy interviewing a new one every few months. I will not have you taking advantage of this one." Julian bit off his words in surpressed fury.

"Hah! Taking advantage indeed," Tallworth snarled back. "I would say the reverse was more likely. The chit was waiting for me in the corridor."

For some reason this statement ripped away the last vestiges of Julian's control and he grasped Tallworth by his newly tied cravat almost lifting him from the floor.

"I don't care if she comes to you without a stitch on. If you touch her again I will break every bone in your body."

The quietly spoken words were all the more threatening. Shrugging off Julian's hands, Tallworth straightened his neckcloth. His facial expression mirrored a trace of fear along with a calculating leer. Squaring his shoulders he strolled toward the door, conscious of Julian's eyes boring into his back.

"If you wanted her for yourself, old boy, you only had to tell me," Tallworth drawled as he disappeared through the door into the corridor.

Julian stood rooted to the floor, clenching and unclenching his hands. He wanted to tear after the other man and smash his fists into Tallworth's smirking face. He trembled with emotion as he fought to control his rage. He turned toward Cara's door wanting to assure her that she was no longer in danger. He would offer his protection for as long as she needed it. He would hold her in his arms and promise to keep her safe from harm.

"Damn," Julian swore turning away from the bedroom door. Storming down the corridor he wondered at his own innocence where Miss Farraday was concerned. He was a married man and could offer neither protection nor sanctuary to the little governess. Is that what he wanted to give the girl or was he as guilty as Tallworth in wanting to caress the lithe body beneath the dowdy clothes? His mind conjured up a picture of the girl spread naked in front of the fire, skin glowing in the flickering light. Groaning, Julian slammed into the library. He reached for the decanter of brandy. Hurling himself into a chair he poured a liberal portion into a glass and downed it quickly.

It was obvious that Tallworth would have to leave Weathersfield. The man had imbibed for the better part of the evening. Julian had watched him, knowing that his debauched habits and continued interest in the little governess would lead to trouble. When Tallworth disappeared Julian knew without conscious thought that he would find him in the schoolroom.

"It will give me the greatest pleasure to throw the bastard out!" Julian snarled pouring another glassful of brandy.

After bolting the door Cara's knees gave out and she sank to the floor beside the bed. Her whole body shook in relief at her narrow escape. Eventually her trembling gave way to a bone-jarring anger.

"How dare that man touch me?" Cara raged.

She had done nothing to encourage Tallworth. He had attacked her for his own sexual gratification. She ground her teeth remembering how casually he had appraised her body and how he had taken it for granted that she would accept his advances, even welcome them.

Having been raised in a sheltered environment Cara was unprepared for the realities of an unprotected female. In dawning awareness she wondered if other female servants were the objects of the lustful advances of their employers. It was only now that she realized the true dangers of her situation. As a member of the gentry she had always been safe in the company of gentlemen. She had been chaperoned in public but the idea that she might be subject to an attack on her person in private was inconceivable. She wondered in confusion if her grandmother could have any conception of her vulnerability. Cara doubted it, for if she had, her grandmother would never have countenanced this masquerade.

Tiredly Cara stood up and staggered toward the washstand. She poured water into the basin with trembling hands. Stripping off her clothes she scrubbed her body until her skin reddened and still she felt violated by Tallworth's touch. Her teeth chattered as she curled up into a tight ball beneath the covers. As warmth began to creep into her body, she relaxed and fell asleep.

Chapter Ten

Despite her nightmare-broken sleep, Cara was up before dawn. She lay wide-eyed in the feather bed watching as the first rosy tint of light fell on the silk wallpaper of her room. Her body felt loggy; her mind whirled with uneasy and half-thought ideas. Her first instinct was to escape back to the safety of her grandmother's presence. Tallworth's attack had disoriented her, shaking the foundation of security she had held to be an inviolable part of herself. Up to now her life had been a sheltered one, she realized. She had never been in physical want for any of the basic needs, never had to call on her own character strengths before, never been tested.

Cara had known sorrow at the death of her mother and then more recently with her father's death. She had felt frustration with the marriage that had been arranged for her. She had felt anger and the burgeoning of passion in her relationship with Julian. But she had never known fear. The attack in the schoolroom had frightened her out of all proportion to any other emotion. But with that fear came a realization of her own inner strength. She did not have to run away; she would stay until her grandmother sent for her. With that resolution made, Cara jumped out of bed to don her riding habit.