Unfortunately for Jessica, Major Ridding was just as determined as her sisters had suggested. However he managed it, he discovered them almost at once, greeting them each in turn as his eyes twinkled with delight from behind his rather unadorned mask.

“You are not particularly difficult to recognize, Major,” Jessica said, mildly, taking in his military uniform and small mask. “Anyone would think you wish to be recognized, long before the unmasking.”

“Whereas it took me some time before I recognized you,” Major Ridding replied, with a wide grin. “I was watching the entrance line with great focus and dedication, I must tell you. I thought that I might identify your papa first and then to have three such beautiful young ladies follow straight after him told me that I must have found you!”

Jessica tried to smile, disappointed that he had been so eager in his desire to find her. “I had thought my mask of peacock feathers would have made me a little more difficult to seek out,” she murmured, still keeping her arm looped with Harmonia’s as they walked into the ballroom – aware that her father had already gone to the card room, just as they had predicted.

Major Ridding chuckled, shaking his head at her. “You wanted to be a little bit more of a mystery, is that it? Well, my dear Lady Jessica, I could not permit you to hide amongst the crowd, not when I wish to dance with you!”

So saying, he seized her dance card and wrote his initials on not one, but three separate dances.

“Major!” Jessica exclaimed, tugging the card from him. “You cannot write your name on three. That would be most improper and would suggest….” She trailed off, hearing Harmonia’s gasp of surprise. To dance three times with the same lady suggested a deep attachment and whispers of betrothal and matrimony often began flying around soon after.

“What of it?” he shrugged, not in the least bit upset. “After all, this is a masked ball and no-one will know it is I who has danced with you these three times. At least, not until the unmasking.”

Jessica swallowed and lifted her chin, determined that she would hide herself from him for one of the dances. “Major Ridding, I – ”

“Ah, the orchestra is already beginning!” Major Ridding exclaimed, catching her hand. “Come now, I do not want to miss a moment of your company.”

Throwing a helpless look towards her sisters, Jessica had no choice but to allow Major Ridding to lead her onto the dance floor, relieved that it was not the waltz this time. She went through the steps with little interest, keeping her mouth closed and conversation entirely non-existent, although Major Ridding continued to try to speak to her.

When the dance came to an end, he caught her arm and led her away from her sisters towards another part of the ballroom. Suddenly aware of just how strong the man was, Jessica began to tug her arm back, a wave of anxiety rushing over her.

“Major Ridding,” she exclaimed, aware that she was drawing some attention from the other guests. “My sisters are this way.”

“I will not take no for an answer,” he replied, firmly, turning to face her and catching her other hand with his strong one. “I must speak to you, Lady Jessica. In private. Now.”

She shook her head but he did not listen, simply grinning at her before pulling her in the direction of the French doors.

Jessica began to panic, knowing that she could not scream for a scandal would soon follow and she could do real damage to, not only her own reputation, but that of her sisters also. Her father, her rather fragile father, would not do well at all if such a thing came out, but she simply did not want to go anywhere with Major Ridding. His insistence and strength frightened her, making panic claw at her nerves.

“My dear Jessica,” Major Ridding began, the moment they stepped outside. “You cannot try to hide your affection from me, no matter how much you pretend to struggle. I know you wish for this just as much as I.”

He hurried her down some steps and began to walk away from the ballroom, his hand tight on her arm. Stopping at a small alcove, he turned her into it and stood directly in front of her, blocking her exit. Jessica was forced to look up at him, her breath quickening in her chest as she saw the gleam in his eye, lit only by a few faint lanterns and the light of the moon.

“Jessica, my love,” Major Ridding crooned, his hands now soft on hers. “I have long wanted to tell you of my adoration and affection for you. I feel as though we are two hearts that beat as one. Our dreams, our hopes are the same. I know you have an urge to explore more of the world and I can give that to you!”

“Major Ridding,” Jessica replied, trying to keep her voice calm as she pulled her hands out of his grasp. “You are much too forward. What can you be thinking, pulling me out of the ballroom with such a lack of decorum?”

This did not seem to stop him at all, for he simply laughed softly and shook his head. “You must forgive me, my dear Jessica. My ardent love for you forced me to speak to you for I could not wait another moment – and I could hardly tell you of my affections when I was within the confines of the ballroom! Someone might have interrupted us and this moment ought to be one of the most romantic, the most wonderful moments of our lives.” His hands reached out towards her face and Jessica stepped back, only for her back to bump into the trellis behind her.

“You are such a beautiful creature,” Major Ridding whispered, untying the ribbon of her mask and letting it fall to the ground. “I can hardly believe that you will be mine.”

Jessica cleared her throat, folding her arms over her chest so that he could not take them again. “Major Ridding, I do not love you.”

His hands dropped to his sides, his eyes widening.

“I have never loved you, nor do I believe I could ever come to care for you,” Jessica continued, aware that she was being callous but finding that she did not care whether or not she hurt his feelings. “Whatever it is you wish of me, I will tell you now that I cannot give it to you.”

“I want you to marry me,” he said, reaching for her, which forced her to turn away from him, desperately wishing to find a way out. “I need a bride and you are the one I have chosen. Love does not matter to me and nor should it matter to you. After all, most alliances such as ours will be do not require love. Whilst I will declare here and now that I love you with all of my heart, it does not matter to me whether or not you return it. My offer still stands. I will make a wonderful husband, I assure you.”

Jessica shook her head. “As appreciative as I am of the offer, Major Ridding,” she said, firmly. “I cannot accept. I do not think we would have a happy union.”

“Of course we would!” he exclaimed, grasping her arm as she made to move past him. “I love you and, in time, I know you would love me. You will forget about Lord Warwick in time. He is not the man for you, and I have made certain that nothing will ever blossom between you. You and I are destined, Lady Jessica, can you not see it?”

Jessica’s throat constricted with fear, her eyes focusing on Major Ridding’s face. There was something behind the earnest expression, a determination and almost a hint of madness that frightened her. “What did you say to Lord Warwick?” she whispered, suddenly afraid that he had said something to turn Lord Warwick away from her. “Did you send him to London? Did you tell him I did not care for him?”

Major Ridding’s faint smile dropped from his face, his eyes darkening with anger. “I did what I had to,” he snarled, shaking her just a little. “Lord Warwick thinks you are in love with me and he will not be returning to you!”

Jessica fell against the trellis, her legs trembling as her free hand pressed against her mouth. All this time, she had believed Lord Warwick to be the one who had turned from her, but the truth was that Major Ridding had been behind it all. Whatever he had done or said, he had achieved his aim of separating them, with the intention of having her to himself.

“You will forget him in time, once I have taken you on a great many travels to a great many lands,” Major Ridding continued, leaning closer to her. “All you need do is agree to be my bride.”

Jessica shook her head firmly, her mind screaming at her to get away from him. “I will never consent,” she whispered, pushing against him, hard. “I will never be yours, Major Ridding, not after what you have done.”

His expression grew dark, his other hand reaching for her shoulder and grasping her tight. “I will force you to be mine, then,” he breathed, tugging her hard against him and wrapping his arms around her waist. Lifting her bodily onto the path, he began to drag her back towards the terrace, with an evil glint in his eye. Jessica, aware of exactly what he intended, began to scream, only for him to turn and slam his lips down on hers, his teeth snaring her lips painfully.

This was what he intended to do. He intended to have someone see them, someone who would then tell the rest of the ton what they had seen and therefore forcing her into marriage to avoid a scandal. Even if she refused, the scandal would touch her sisters and bring her father’s name into disrepute. It was a very well thought out plan, but Jessica was not about to be treated so disparagingly. Lifting her knee, she brought it up against him, hard.

Major Ridding howled in pain, the sound caught up by the noise of laughter and dancing emanating from the ballroom. His hands left Jessica’s arms and, as he collapsed on the stairs leading up to the terrace, clearly in a significant amount of pain, Jessica did the only thing she could think of and ran past him, heading away from the ballroom and further into the gardens. She wanted to return to her sisters but that would mean trying to get past Major Ridding who was still lying on the stairs back to the French doors, and she simply could not risk him putting his hands on her again.

Seeing a dim light coming from some buildings nearby, Jessica hurried forward, lifting her skirts high. It was the Ridgley’s stables and, for a moment, Jessica hoped she might be able to secure one of the groomsmen’s protection from Major Ridding, who was surely by now on his way towards her – but there was no-one to be seen.

“Do not panic, do not panic,” Jessica whispered to herself, drawing in long, unsteady breaths as she tried to think what to do. She knew she had to put herself as far away from Major Ridding as possible and could not risk returning to the ball when she was so clearly in a state of disarray. Tongues would wag, especially if Major Ridding were to return soon after, also rather untidy. That meant she would have to hide somewhere until someone, somewhere, came to find her.

The stables were no hiding place, however. Major Ridding could very easily find her and compromise her here, which meant that she would either have to find another place to hide or, instead, take a mount and ride in the direction of London.

“Do not think you can hide from me, Lady Jessica!”

Major Ridding’s scream made her tremble and, without deliberating another second, Jessica began to approach the horses. A mare was standing just outside her stall, the saddle still on her back. It was not a side saddle as Jessica was used to but it would have to do. Finding a mounting block and praying that the horse was as gentle as she looked, Jessica climbed onto its back and, just as Major Ridding stepped inside the stables, urged her horse out of the door and into the night.