Daughter of Satan by Jean Plaidy

hair . . . You have been a most immodest creature . . .’ He yelled suddenly, for she had dug her teeth into his hand. ‘So you would bite me, eh? It will be the worse for you if you try those tricks . . .’
    She spat out his blood.
    â€˜I hate you . . . I hate . . .’
    â€˜Keep still, you little Devil’s imp. Keep still.’
    With all her strength she kicked him wildly, but the kick went home; she scratched his face and, seizing his nose, she twisted it as though she would wrench it off.
    He cursed her, but momentarily she had the advantage, for her violence had had the effect of making him loosen his holdof her. She was up. He caught her ankle, but she swung herself free. Her chance had come. She picked up her gown and sped across the grass in the direction of the cultivated gardens. She had had a good start and she reached them first. Relief filled her heart then, for there, examining his shrubs, was Richard Merriman.
    Panting, she threw herself against him.
    â€˜Save me!’ she cried. ‘Save me!’
    Bartle had pulled up and stood still, breathing heavily and looking like an angry and frustrated bull, while Tamar buried her face in Richard’s coat.
    â€˜What the devil’s this?’ began Richard. But there was no need of explanations. One look at Bartle was sufficient to see what he was after, and the child was none other than Luce Lackwell’s girl, for whom the witch-pricker was making a search.
    â€˜Don’t let him . . . get me . . .’ panted Tamar. ‘Don’t let him . . . please . . . Hide me.’
    â€˜Why have you come back, Bartle?’ said Richard, trying to gain time, wondering what he was going to do with the child.
    â€˜I found her on your ground . . . trespassing, the young devil! She was lying naked on the grass. She saw me come here and she knew I’d go back that way. She was waiting for me.’
    â€˜I wonder why she took such pains to wait for you and then run away?’ said Richard lightly.
    â€˜He lies!’ cried Tamar.
    â€˜Put your gown on, girl,’ said Richard; and he put her from him.
    She blushed and stood behind him while she put on the damp gown.
    â€˜Pray, sir,’ said Bartle with an attempt at a swagger, ‘there is no need for you to look so shocked. I doubt if I’d have been the first.’
    â€˜You lie!’ flashed Tamar.
    â€˜The girl repulsed you – that much is evident,’ said Richard. ‘I wish you would not bring your buccaneering manners into my gardens.’
    â€˜It was just a bit of sport,’ said Battle sullenly.
    â€˜And after you had had your sport, I suppose you would have handed her over to the witch-pricker.’
    â€˜Good God, no! I should naturally have hidden her.’
    â€˜Providing she had been your willing slave! That was your noble plan, I doubt not.’
    â€˜Oh, she would have been well enough. If she is a virgin, as she protests she is, that state would not have lasted long. And why should not I have been the first?’
    Richard looked down at Tamar. ‘Do not tremble so,’ he said.
    â€˜Give her to me, sir,’ said Bartle. ‘I swear I’ll hide her. I’ll put her somewhere where she can’t be found till Simon Carter has gone.’
    â€˜
No!
’ cried Tamar.
    â€˜She seems to be as much afraid of you as of Simon Carter. You have been guilty of most discourteous and ungentlemanly behaviour.’
    â€˜Damme, sir, the girl would have been all right. A little reluctance at first is natural. Many’s the time I’ve found it so, and then it’s all hell let loose to turn them off.’
    â€˜I repeat that you have been unmannerly. Would you like a chance to mend your ways? You know how distasteful to me is the violence of low-born creatures such as this man Carter. Moreover, this one is only a child. I do not think she should be handed over to the pricker.’
    â€˜I have no wish to