Sixteen

Edward stood on the fringes of the music room, trying not to listen to the way Miss ford was mauling Scarlatti at the harpsichord.

But her musical endeavors were not responsible for the sick feeling in his stomach.

Funny how one's conscience surfaced at the damnedest of times.

He'd spent the last few days dreaming about ruining Sarah.

He hadn't been sure which he would enjoy more—the actual ruination, which promised to be a

most heady affair indeed, or the simple knowledge that he had brought her low.

But that evening something had shifted in Edward's heart.

He didn't want anyone ever looking at Sarah with the kind of lecherous derision he'd seen in

Joy's eyes.

And he wasn't particularly enamored with the polite interest he'd noticed in the good captain's expression, either.

And he knew that he wanted her with him.

If the last some years were any indication,he didn't do very well without her.

He might not trust her entirely, but he still wanted her in his life.

But first there were other matters to attend to. Joy.

The fact that the other man had sought her out in the drawing room was a bad sign, indeed.

Edward had to make certain that Joy understood he was very serious about protecting Sarah from vicious rumors.

The two men had known each other for

years, ever since they'd attended Eton together as young boys.

Joy had been a bully then, and he was a bully now.

Edward glanced around the room.

Lady Fairy's incessant chatter had made him late to the impromptu recital, and now Joy was nowhere to be seen.

Edward pushed himself away from the wall and headed into the great hall.

He'd find the bastard himself and make sure he kept quiet.

Sarah tried to work on her lesson plans, but she couldn't concentrate.

Damn him.

She now believed that Edward had been serious in his courtship of her some years ago, but his actions of late were deplorable at best.

He'd tried to seduce her.

Worse,he'd done it in a stranger's room, aware that they could be discovered at any moment. Then he'd had the audacity to bait her in front of her employer and her employer's guests. And then finally he had put her in an impossible position, forcing her to accept him as a dinner partner.

Lady Fairy would never forgive her for that. Sarah might as well begin packing her bags that night.

But the worst part of all was that he'd made her desire him again.

With an intensity that startled her.

Sarah shook her head, trying to change the direction of her thoughts.

She turned back to her lesson plans, determined to get at least a bit of work done that evening.

John had enjoyed their color exercise the previous afternoon.

Perhaps she would continue with blue for tomorrow.

They could have tea in the blue salon.

They could discuss azure and cobalt and midnight and sky.

Perhaps she would bring a mirror so they could compare the colors of their eyes.

Sarah's were dark blue, while John's were light, rather like Edward's.

She sighed,wondering if the man would ever be far from her thoughts.

She lifted her notebook again, preparing to read over the previous days' entries.

She spent ten minutes looking at the words without actually reading a thing, and then a knock sounded at the door.

Edward.

It had to be.

She had half a mind to ignore the summons, but she knew that he wouldn't go away. Wrenching open the door, she said,"I'm all aquiver to hear your excuse for your behavior, my lord."

Lord Joy stood on the threshold,his eyes mocking but his mouth amused.

I see you were expecting someone else.

Lord Silicon Valley, perhaps?"

Sarah flushed red, mortified.

No, I am not expecting him.

But I—" He pushed his way past her, leaving her standing by the door.

Close it," he ordered in a low voice.

"I beg your pardon, my lord."

"The door."

She did nothing but blink, slowly becoming aware that she was in a very bad position.

She took a tentative step toward the hall, not certain where she could run to escape him but willing to give it a try.

He moved like a cat, though, and before she knew it, he'd slammed the door closed and was leaning insolently against it.

You're a very beautiful woman," he said.

"I think you have the wrong idea, my lord," she said quickly.

He moved forward, stalking her.

I pride myself on always having the right idea."

"No, what I mean is…

Lord Silicon Valley …

He and I…We…"

He touched her cheek.

Does Valley find such protestations of innocence endearing?

I assure you there is no need to play act on my behalf.

I am quite pleased with you the way you are. Spoiled goods can be so very tasty."

Sarah shuddered with revulsion.

My lord," she said, attempting to reason

with him.

I beg of you—"

He chuckled.

I do like to hear a woman beg.

I believe I'm going to enjoy you,

Miss Sarah."

He reached out and pulled her harshly against him.

Just a taste of what you've already given so freely.

I promise you won't regret it.

I'm a most generous man."

"I don't want your money," she ground out, twisting her head to the side.

I just want you to leave."

"We can do this two ways," he said, his eyes growing menacingly dark.

You can stop your pretending and have a bit of fun, or you can fight me all the way.

I don't particularly care which you choose. Either way, I am assured a good time.

She slapped him across the face.

"That," he bit out, was a mistake."

He threw her onto the bed and then pinned

her there with the weight of his body.

Sarah began to fight.

And then she began to scream.

Edward tried Joy room first, but he wasn't terribly surprised when he didn't find him.

He then searched the guest wing, thinking that Joy might be entertaining himself with a female guest.

No luck, although he did discover that Lord wife happened to be having an affair with the husband of Lord mistress.

Edward didn't even bat an eyelash.

Such behavior was common enough among

his set, much as it was beginning to sicken him.

He then tried the card room, knowing that Joy had a fondness for gambling.

"Joy?" one of the players said.

He was here earlier."

"Was he?"

Edward asked, trying to ignore the speculative glances from his friends.

It was common knowledge that the two men were not friendly.

Do you know where he went?"

"I saw him heading upstairs," someone said.

Edward stifled a groan.

He would have to search the entire guest wing again.

"Most odd," someone else added.

He used the servants' stairs."

The sick feeling that had been rolling around in Edward's stomach all evening exploded with blinding terror.

He ran from the room, taking the steps on the

servants' stairs three at a time.

And then he heard the screams.

Sarah.

If he failed her now…

Edward couldn't even complete the thought.

Sarah refused to resign herself to her fate. She fought like a mad woman,

clawed like a cat.

She knew that her actions only made Joy angrier, but she could not allow herself to be raped with nary a protest.

But he was strong.

Much stronger than she was, and it wasn't difficult for him to hold her down while he tore at her clothing.

He lifted his hand from her mouth to yank at the neckline of her gown, and she seized the opportunity to scream.

Loud.

Shut up, you bitch," he hissed, twisting her head sideways and forcing her cheek into the pillow.

Sarah bit his hand.

"Goddamn, you little whore!

He yelled.

He grabbed another pillow and jammed it over her face.

Suddenly Sarah couldn't breathe.

Good Lord, did he mean to kill her?

Her terror increased until she thought she might go mad.

She kicked and scraped, but she couldn't see a thing, and she was growing weaker.

And then, just when the world began to turn black around the edges, she heard

a splintering crash, followed by a cry of rage unlike anything in her comprehension.

Joy was abruptly lifted from her, and Sarah immediately threw the pillow aside and scrambled off the bed.

She ran to a corner, her lungs burning with every breath and movement, but she had to get off that bed.

She had to.

The room filled with noise.

Something crashed, someone yelled.

There was a sickening sound that could only be flesh against bone.

But Sarah didn't look up.

She couldn't even open her eyes.

All she wanted to do was block out the terror.

Finally, however,she forced herself to face her demons, and when she did she saw Edward.

He had knocked Joy to the ground and was straddling him, beating his fist mercilessly into Joy face.

Edward" she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Thank God.

Edward made no indication he'd heard her.

He just kept pummeling Joy.

Edward," she said, louder this time.

She was still in a daze, and she couldn't stop shaking, and she needed him.

But Edward was beyond communication.

He said nothing, just grunted and

yelled, and when he finally looked up at Sarah there was something wild and primitive in his eyes. Finally, still straddling the now unconscious Joy, he paused for a moment to catch his breath and said,

Did he hurt you?

Her mouth opened a fraction of an inch, but she couldn't say anything.

Did he hurt you?

Edward's eyes burned with rage, and Sarah realized in that instant that if she said yes, he would kill Joy.

She shook her head frantically.

It wasn't a lie.

Not really.

Joy hadn't hurt her.

Not in the way Edward meant.

Edward dropped the unconscious man and rushed to her side.

He crouched down beside her and touched her cheek.

His hand was shaking.

Are you all right?"

She shook her head again.

Sarah, I—" He was interrupted by a groan coming from the middle of the room.

Edward cursed under his breath and then muttered a quick Excuse me.

He stalked back to Joy, picked him up by his collar and the seat of his pants, and tossed

him into the hall, where he landed in a crumpled heap.

Edward closed the door gently and made his way back to Sarah's side.

She was shaking violently, the tremors rocking her entire body.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she didn't make a sound.

Edward felt panic rise up within him a new.

What had that bastard done to her?

"Shhhh," he crooned, having no idea what he would say that could make her feel better. Shhhh."

Edward" she gasped. Edward.