The American Bride - By Karla Darcy Page 0,32
we should sit here instead."
Before Cara could react Tallworth pulled her down onto a stone seat beside the path. His arms were immediately around her, imprisoning her with bands of steel against his chest. She struggled against the confinement until she heard the loathsome man chuckle at her helplessness.
"If you don't let me go this minute, I will scream loud enough to wake the entire household," Cara said, gritting out the words through clenched teeth. Although it was true she was frightened, uppermost in her emotions was a furious core of anger that the man would dare to treat her in such a cavalier fashion.
"Do you really want everyone to know that you have been in the garden with me?" Tallworth asked, his eyebrow raised in mockery.
Cara bit her lip in her frustration. She would die before letting Julian find her in another awkward situation. Damning men in general and Tallworth in particular, she began to struggle anew.
In an instant Cara realized that her strength was inadequate against Sir Edward's athletic build. She searched for a way out of this frightening assault. Tallworth pressed her body backwards until she was almost lying on the bench. Taking a chance, Cara let her body go limp. Accepting this as a sign of her surrender, Sir Edward loosened his grip and prepared to conduct his seduction more slowly. As his hands reached for the hem of her skirt, Cara rolled sideways knocking the man off the bench as she sprang to her feet preparing to run.
A rasping cough cut through Tallworth's cursing as he staggered after the girl. The two protagonists halted, frozen by the unknown presence in the garden.
"Begging your pardon, Sir Edward, but Miss Farraday's wanted at the Hall."
"Who's there?" Tallworth snarled.
"Pennyfeather, sir," came the reply.
The giant stepped closer so that the moonlight glinted off his grizzled hair and seamed face. He ignored Cara totally although he was aware of her every breath. The air in the garden pulsed with the tension between the three figures; each of them statues in a tableau.
"It's Belin, Miss Farraday," Pennyfeather mumbled, breaking the spell. "She's woke up with a powerful nightmare and is carrying on somethin' awful. Mrs. Clayton thought as how you would be able to settle her down."
"Of course, Pennyfeather. I'll come back with you at once." Cara drew her cloak around her as she passed the malevolent figure on the bench. "Good night, Sir Edward."
As she hurried along the paths toward the Hall, Cara felt hot tears roll down her cheeks. She wanted nothing more than to throw herself into Pennyfeather's arms and sob out her fear and anger. Almost as though the enormous man recognized her need, he placed a fatherly paw on her shoulder and slowed his pace.
"Just take some deep breaths and it'll be better," Pennyfeather suggested as though to a frightened child.
Cara followed his advice and was surprised that she did in fact feel better. She turned to the older man and smiled. "Thank you, Pennyfeather. I was incredibly stupid," Cara chastised herself. "I thought Tallworth was more of a gentleman. I’m afraid I was mistaken."
"Just remember that there's no animal in the woods that you can ever fully trust." Then the man gave a throaty chuckle as he looked down at the young woman. "'Sides, Miss, you didn't appear to need much help. Once you broke his grip it was clear sailing. You could always outrun him."
At the hint of amusement in the old poacher's voice Cara managed a watery giggle. Her mood lightened and they walked to the Hall in companionable silence. At the door to the children's wing Cara held out her hand in thanks. "Should I check on Belin before I go to bed?"
"No, Miss. The child sleeps ever so soundly now that you've come to the Hall." Touching two fingers to his cap, Pennyfeather slid silently back toward the woods.
Chapter Six
The sun, only minutes old, was visible as a promise above the line of trees as Cara hurried out to the stables. Glum stood in the stable yard holding the reins of a slim-legged mare. Since the beginning of her experiment with Richard and the colt, the wizened headgroom had been eager to set Cara on the best of Julian's cattle. Preferring to ride at dawn before the rest of the household was about, she managed to secure a carefree hour to herself before she had to take on the restrictions imperative in her role as a proper governess. Somehow after the