They were lovely memories, but from a long time ago. Another time. Another life. Everything was so different now. So very different. And a stroll down the bucolic memory lane of her childhood didn’t serve much use in the realm of the harsh reality that was her life now, did it?
Georgina arrived at the oak tree early today. She found it a good place to think. And she intended to be composed this time, too, unlike every other time she was in Mr. Greymont’s company.
He was an intriguing man, and there was a quality to him that soothed her. He was easy to be with. Last night, when he’d comforted her, she’d felt like she could stay in his arms forever. The notion surprised her, but when she thought back on it, she realized that his physical presence was never unwelcome.
She reacted to Mr. Greymont in a way she had never done for anyone else. But then, the way he’d looked at her in the solarium, after he’d kissed her and wiped away her tears, she’d seen a hunger in him, clear as day, and that had rattled her.
She had admired him for years—as the charming friend of her older brother. He had been friendly and complimentary to her as a young girl, taking notice of her accomplishments in a polite, but proper manner.
That was then. Now he looked at her a little differently. His propriety was never in question, but he didn’t look at her like she was a young girl anymore. He looked at her as a man did at a woman. Somehow, the thought of him looking at her like that did not anger her as it should. In fact, everything about Jeremy Greymont, and her reaction to him, felt different—
“There you are!” Clawlike hands and hot breath assaulted her from behind. “I’ve been searching for you again.” He turned her.
“Lord Pellton! Unhand me, sir!” She struggled to free herself from his groping and pawing.
“You tempt me mercilessly, my little rosebud,” he slurred in her ear. His grip held strength despite his years, and he easily pushed her up against the trunk of the tree.
Georgina felt the rough bark dig in to her back and then panic upon realizing he’d trapped her. Pellton had her pinned between his bulk and the great tree. Her struggles to get away from him only served to press her body deeper into his—the very last thing she wanted. Oh, dear God! In horror, she watched as he lowered his head to bury his face into the décolletage of her gown, his movements frantic as he began his assault.
“I have tired of waiting on your resistance, my dear,” he said, slathering his mouth over her skin. “There’s no point to it you know. You will belong to me and need to learn your role. A little taste of what will soon be mine won’t hurt. It shall help to speed things along.” He huffed the words at her chest.
“No! Sir, please let me go. Stop! This is unseemly! Noooo!” She thrashed her head back and forth in an effort to dislodge him.
“Fighting me will only make you taste sweeter,” he crooned evilly, one hand covering a breast and squeezing. “You are a wildcat, my pretty.”
His words, the smell of him, the weight of his body pressing against her, sparked absolute terror in her brain. She remembered words that had been told to her before. I am going to fuck you now, my wildcat. Keep fighting. That’s it. Fight me while I fuck you…
Georgina no longer knew who or what attacked her. She just knew she must fight to get away. Fight or die.
She fought, kicking and scratching and clawing and hitting with all of her strength, thinking the whole time that it couldn’t possibly be happening to her again.
“Get away from her, you bastard!” Jeremy Greymont’s words met their mark with deadly intent. The sound of him alone got Pellton’s attention, but the shotgun bearing down on her tormentor added the extra incentive to follow the command.
Pellton froze against her as she panted against the tree, her face turned as far away as possible, his breath making her want to vomit.
“But she is my betrothed, Greymont.” He slowly turned to face Jeremy, his eyes wide. “I am entitled to her. And how dare you threaten me with a gun!”
“I dare.” Jeremy held his gun steady. “Miss Georgina, have you agreed to marriage with this ape?”
“I have not!”
“Are his attentions welcome to you?”
“By God, no!” She bolted away from the tree to stand behind Jeremy.
“Then be on your way, Pellton. You cannot be assaulting maidens. It is loutish for a gentleman, let alone one who calls himself ‘Lord.’ But then, you’ve never been bothered by the constraints of propriety.”
Pellton flushed red, an ugly scratch welting along his cheek and jaw. “Maiden, you say? Hardly a maiden!”
Oh, please…nooooo! Georgina found herself dropped to the ground, wishing the earth would open and swallow her whole right in this minute, terrified to hear the exchange between the men. Lord Pellton must have heard gossip about her from somebody. Her mind scrambled as she fought for understanding of why he would say such about her. He knows! Somehow, he knows.
r /> “You attack her character as well as her person? God, Pellton, what kind of a monster are you? Be gone—off the property if you know what’s good for you.” He cocked the gun. “Now.”
“You’ll be sorry for this, Greymont!” Pellton sputtered, his voice shrill.
“No, I won’t.” Jeremy threw back his head and kept the gun trained on Pellton. “I am sick of watching you leer at her over dinner. And now this? It’s enough to make me puke!”
“Whyever for, Greymont? She’s got your prick twitching as well. I can see it in your eyes! You can think of nothing but how badly you want to fuck—”