An Enchanted Evening

Part VI

PART VI

 

            Several hours later, William approached me for another dance, a waltz this time. How he knew which dances were to be waltzes—in which he could hold me close in his arms—was a mystery to me. I wondered if he had become friendly with the musicians.

            Being in his arms was sheer heaven as we twirled and floated across the dance floor, gazing into each other’s eyes as if the truth of all life on earth was within our human reach.

            Unfortunately, the waltz came to an end, and I needed to excuse myself to use the powder room. On my return from the elegantly-appointed room set aside for such personal necessity, I had to walk along a long hallway in order to return to the ballroom. Most of the guests had either left or were in the process of thanking their hosts prior to leaving, and the footman I had noticed standing at the entrance to the ballroom on my way to the powder room had disappeared as well.

            For some reason I could not explain, I felt unaccountably nervous. As I quickened my steps back to the ballroom, a hand shot out from a partially-open doorway, grabbed my arm, and yanked me unceremoniously into a strange room—a library, by the looks of it. Before I had realized what was happening, I was backed against a wood-paneled wall, a large hand pressed over my mouth to prevent my screaming. 

            “You little bitch,” growled Lord Neville in my ear. His face was flushed bright red, and despite the speed and effectiveness of his attack, he seemed to be having trouble remaining upright. His eyes were strangely unfocused as well.

            Then it became obvious…Lord Neville was severely intoxicated.

            “Since you injured me—you made me bleed with that damned shoe, y’ know—it seems I owe you a similar favor,” he smiled lopsidedly. Once again his eyes lowered to my chest—which was rising and falling rapidly with my attempts to breathe with his hand pressing hard against my face.

            “V-very nice,” he leered, moving the other ungloved hand from my waist to my modestly-cut décolletage.

            My head was beginning to swim from the lack of air, but unfortunately I was all too aware of the heat of his hand on my breast. Due to his other hand over my face and my too-binding corset restricting my breath—blast that thing!—my struggles were rapidly weakening. I needed to do something—anything—and I needed to do so quickly before I lost consciousness.

            I could only guess what atrocities this man would visit upon my person if I fainted….

            An idea occurred to me, and not taking the time to consider the possible consequences, I managed to open my jaw just enough beneath his large, clumsy hand—and I bit down on the tender skin between his thumb and forefinger with all of my quickly-waning strength.

            Cursing loudly, Lord Neville pulled his hand away from my mouth just long enough for me to scream for William as loudly as I could. A blow to the side of my head cut off my scream, the force throwing me sideways onto a nearby sofa. Quickly I drew what breath I could and screamed a second time.

            Once again my scream was halted as Lord Neville threw his not-inconsiderable weight on top of me, his hot mouth on mine as he kissed me. The sudden and unexpected pressure of my chest knocked the wind out of me, which, along with his smothering kisses, caused my surroundings to dim before my eyes as I felt him fumbling for the hem of my skirt….