ENCOUNTER AT DINNER
Alina looked across at Broderick, wishing she could let him know silently how uncomfortable she felt. Broderick seemed oblivious. Duncan would have understood, but his brother did not really notice. He was deep in conversation with the man beside Amabel – Lord Bron. Since Amabel, Chrissie, and Fergus seemed enmeshed in a lively discussion about walking in the forests, that left Alina as the only person who was free to talk to Camry.
Camry, it seemed, seized that opportunity.
“You seem to visit but rarely, my lady,” he said. His voice felt to Alina as if she was being brushed the wrong way. At once lascivious and probing, she felt every question as an unwanted advance.
“No,” Alina said carefully.
“You spend your days at the castle, I imagine, sewing and singing and dancing.”
Alina felt bile rise in her throat. How dare he assume she had nothing else to occupy her mind? He knew her not at all. “I keep myself busy, my lord.” She clenched her left hand, letting the nails dig into her palm. It was her only hold on sanity.
“I am sure you do. Though I could think of better pursuits for such a lady.”
Alina closed her eyes. His voice teased, and his hand, resting on the table, moved to touch hers. She choked.
Amabel turned to her, worried. “Sister?” she asked. She reached out a hand as if to pat her on the back.
“I am well,” Alina said, still coughing. “If I may be excused?”
“Of course, sister. Of course.”
Amabel watched, looking concernedly after her as Alina hurried to the door.
Out in the corridor she headed to the stairs. She leaned against the wall, breathing out a shuddering sigh.
I have never met such a man in my life. I hope he leaves soon.
She closed her eyes. The darkness of the stairs was safe, the cool evening air blowing in from the hallway below. Here she felt, finally, as if no one could see her. No one could hurt her.
She tensed. In the corridor behind her, she heard footsteps.
“Alina?”
She leaned sideways, stepping to deeper shadow. The voice was not her sister. It was not a woman at all, but Lord Camry.
I am not here, she thought, wishing she could will him to believe it. You cannot see me. Leave now.
As she listened, the feet retreated, heading along the hallway. She breathed out. Waited. Counted to ten.
She stepped slowly out of the gloom and went up the stairs. The light in the hallway wavered as the torch in the wall-sconce blew, gently, with the wind of her passing. She listened to the talk from the solar, hearing the conversation grow louder, the laughter merry. I will say goodnight to Amabel, she planned, and retire early. I am, after all, quite tired.
She stepped across the hallway and towards the shorter corridor that led to the solar. Then she heard the steps.
“Lady Alina. A pleasure to meet you here. Alone.”
Alina felt her heart thud. She looked around, but he was between her and the solar.
“Excuse me, my lord,” she said, turning to step back into the stairwell. If she could reach it, she could head downstairs. Away in to the darkness, hiding there until he left.
“I cannot,” he said, reaching out and grabbing her wrist. She stared at him.
“My lord,” she hissed.
“I cannot excuse you, my lady,” he said. His thin face smiled at her, green-yellow eyes shining. He looked dangerous.
Alina twisted her wrist, trying to break his grasp. “You insult me in my kinswoman's house,” she said in a dangerous whisper. “Do you not think she will know of this?”
“No,” he said, leaning forward. “You would not wish to discomfort her, I think.”
He leaned closer and his lips, hard and wet, found hers.
Alina froze for a moment. She could not think what to do. His hand was on her shoulder, the other still holding her wrist, dragging her close. She could not break the grasp – in fact, she could not quite believe how strong even such a slim man could be. She felt his tongue slipping in between her lips, and fought the urge to bite him. She compressed her lips in a firm line, twisting her head away.
He looked down at her.
“You make me want you,” he whispered. “Your strange resistance. Your offense.”
Alina looked up into the thin, smiling face. She wanted very badly to hit him. The sound of the slap might carry to the diners, and he would certainly have a mark to show them. She lifted her hand, and then let it drop.
“You think it is so easy to harm those more vulnerable,” she hissed. “Mayhap it is. But there is always a reckoning, sooner or later.”
He looked into her eyes, smirking.
“How interesting a suggestion,” he said teasingly. “You have unusual thoughts.”
Alina closed her eyes, wrenched her hand away. This time, he broke the grip, letting her turn from him.
As she walked past him towards the solar, she felt herself shiver. Her heart was pounding and her whole body was crawling with distaste and fear. She felt anger rise, trying to push away the humiliation with rage. She stopped. She could hear the talk now, almost at the solar, and the thought froze her. She could not face the dinner-party. She turned and walked abruptly in the other direction, skirt eddying in the sudden turn as she headed for the small room opposite the solar.
She slipped in and closed the door. It was dark in there. She slit her eyes and could just make out the outlines of some chairs and a long velvet curtain not too far away. She kept leaning on the door, praying he had not seen her veer away from the solar. At length she heard footsteps pass her.
She breathed out and let herself relax slowly. She let her weight lean on the door and closed her eyes, feeling tears run down her cheeks. She was not sure what she felt most strongly – rage, fear, or some combination. All she knew was that she could not see that man again.
She waited until she was sure he had rejoined the party and then slipped silently out of the doorway and back the way she had come. She headed up the long hallway this time, and took the first staircase to the top floor. The wing of the castle where the guests stayed was up there. If she looked, she would be able to find the rooms set aside for her and Chrissie.
She found two rooms with fires lit in the grates and took the first one, not minding any detail other than that it was there. She leaned against the door and then let the locking-bar fall into place. She was safe.
There was a carved chair by the fireplace and she sank wearily into it. She closed her eyes.
Duncan, she thought brokenly. Where are you? I wish you were here, with me, by my side now.