A Terrible Misunderstanding (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 6)

If he does see it, from the look on his face he thinks it is highly amusing to defy me.

As he always did whenever she objected to his advances, Erasmus began to smirk with an arrogance that made her want to slap him. It was only the thought that doing so would lower her to his level that prevented her. It would be incredibly satisfying but would undoubtedly be something he would take full advantage of in one lecherous way or another. While she wanted to rant at him for being so spiteful, she forced herself to ignore the challenge in his eye. Rather than give him anything more than a dour look, Clara stepped out onto the road and resumed her journey.

But Erasmus clearly wasn’t finished trying to unnerve her. The sound of his boots ringing on the cobbled pavement was familiar enough to assure her that it had been him she had heard moments ago. He had been following her. Watching. Waiting to harass her again, just like he usually did.

“It isn’t safe for you to be out at night,” Erasmus drawled. Despite hurrying alongside her, he made a point of sliding a lecherous look over her.

“I am sure you would be the first to make sure anybody caught out on a night like this would be unsafe,” Clara snorted.

“It is dark, and we are alone,” Erasmus murmured suggestively.

Clara eyed the end of the street longingly. As she walked, Clara found that it wasn’t the man beside her who caused her the most alarm. Something had settled between her shoulder blades and left her with a decidedly uncomfortable feeling that was dark and sinister, and unlike anything she had ever encountered before. She daren’t look behind her though, just in case Erasmus wasn’t alone and had friends to help him.

Strangely, I don’t think this has anything to do with the toad.

“You should know better than to wander around at night all by yourself.”

When Clara didn’t reply, the toad grabbed her elbow in a cruel grip which burned into her flesh even through her thick cloak. Cruelly, he yanked her to a stop and swung her around until she faced him.

“Get off me!” Clara slapped at his hands when he tried to push her against the wall of the house they were passing. She struggled and stepped out onto the street but couldn’t get Erasmus to loosen his grip. “How dare you? Get your hands off me at once.”

Unsurprisingly, Erasmus continued to ignore her.

Clara dug her heels in. She glanced around wildly but nobody else was around to help her. Even if she tried to scream, she doubted that anybody would leave the safety of their houses to race to her rescue, or even hear her in time to do anything about Erasmus, who seemed determined to drag her toward his curricle at the end of the road.

“Get off me.”

“I am going to take you home.”

“Using your curricle,” she spat, digging her heels in to stop him dragging her anywhere.

“If you like,” Erasmus drawled.

“It’s not even facing the right way. Besides, my house is just beyond it. There is no need for me to go anywhere with you. Unhand me at once, do you hear?”

Erasmus smirked. “What are you going to do? Eh? Call for the magistrate?”

They both knew that would do no good because his cousin was the magistrate and tended to make excuses for Erasmus’s criminal behaviour. Everyone in the village knew that the magistrate would do nothing to stop his cousin doing whatever he wanted. Unfortunately, Erasmus knew that too. Even so, that didn’t stop Clara from slamming a heavy fist into his bicep in a way that hit the muscle. Erasmus immediately scowled when pain lanced up his arm. His hold instantly eased, leaving Clara able to twist away.

“Manhandle me again and I shall fell you where you stand,” she snarled. “Your cousin may be the magistrate, but my father is the Secretary of State, and has authority over every magistrate in the land. Do anything to harm me and I shall damned well have you and your disreputable cousin arrested.”

Erasmus’s eyes flashed spitefully, but whatever he intended to say he fought to withhold. Temporarily at least, his face turned a little contrite. Clara would have believed he was apologetic, if she didn’t know how nasty he was.

“There is no need for all of this,” Erasmus soothed. “All you have to do is come with me. I shall take you home.”

The word ‘eventually’ hung over them and left Clara in little doubt about what would happen in the intervening period should she be foolish enough to go anywhere with him.

“I have already said ‘no’, Boyle. Do anything to try to force me again and it is kidnap. I shall have you arrested for it because I shall go to my father,” Clara snarled.

To her horror, Erasmus was more focused on his lecherous attack, and completely ignored her as he attempted to slide an arm around her waist.

“Just one little kiss, that’s all,” he urged, his voice a low murmur.

“Go to Hell,” Clara snarled, pushing at his chest and leaning away from him as far as it was possible to go.

It didn’t stop Erasmus from leaning over her intently, his gaze locked on her lips. Desperately, Clara slapped at his head as she twisted around to avoid the moist sucking motion he was making.

“Jesus, you look like a beached trout,” she snarled.