squelched the now-familiar panicky feeling stirring in her breast, submerging it in the same dark place as her memories of that awful night. True, she still had no idea what she going to do, but she wouldnât tease herself any further about it at the moment.
Perhaps in the same âlater,â when the whole episode no longer made her feel so humiliated and hopeless, a reviving anger would come, and with it a compulsion to finally discover who or what, beside her own naïveté and vanity, had brought her to this. For now, she pushed that speculation aside like the lump of glass in her pocket.
Like she should her curiosity about the man who, so soon after her disgrace, was already tempting her to forget that no man could be trusted.
Sheâd just turned from the harbour to set off for the vicarage when she heard the womanâs scream.
Chapter Eight
T he cry resonated deep within herâ¦an echo of the one sheâd heard issuing from her own throat that infamous night. Praising the Lord it was still full daylight and certain there must be other people about, she looked around wildly, trying to find the source of the scream.
Hearing a second cry, she looked down the hill toward the port and spotted a girl outside a small stone hut, struggling in the grip of one man while another loomed close by. The girl, she realized suddenly, was Laurie Steavens, little Evaâs sister.
Honoria looked quickly up and down the street again, but found it deserted. She might run back into the draperâs shop, the closest dwelling to the spot where she now stood, but could she persuade the merchant to come with her to the girlâs aid before the man holding her, with the help of his accomplice, carried her off?
Honoria didnât think so. All the pain and anguish of struggling vainly in a determined manâs grip flooded back, and she knew she couldnât simply turn away and abandon Laurie.
Wishing herself back on the beach where she might find some wreckerâs driftwood, or back in wooded country, where some convenient nearby tree might offer up a limb she could use for a club, after a momentâs hesitation during which shedebated whether or not to proceed with no weapon at hand, Honoria charged down the hill.
There were only two men, she thought as she hurried closer, and there must be sailors about somewhere in the port below. If she halted a safe distance away and added her screams to Laurieâs, surely they could rouse someone to come to her aide.
âYou, there,â she yelled as she approached. âRelease that girl immediately or Iâll have the magistrate on you!â
Though the man didnât loosen his hold, he did turn toward her. âWhatâs it to you, wench, if we want a little sport?â he called back in slurred voice. âPrepared to pay âer for it, ainât we, Hal?â
The fact that one of the reprobates bore her beloved brotherâs name incensed Honoria even further. âSince she does not appear to be interested in accepting your offer, let her go.â
The man called Hal, tall and skinny, squinted at her appraisingly. âGolden-haired gel looks mighty fine, Davy. Howâs about I take her ân leave you this one?â
The second man sounded as bosky as the first. In fact, he swayed on his feet when he turned, almost falling over.
If they were both cast away, a good shove on this steep slope might be enough to dispatch them. With no help yet in sight, Honoria took the chance of coming closer. âItâs the two of you that will be leaving. Come, Laurie!â She darted to the side of the girl away from the ruffian, grabbed her other hand, and jerked hard on it.
The first man held on with surprising strength, while Hal lurched in her direction. âYou come along, too, sugar-tit. Olâ Halâll make you happy.â
âMiss, step away afore they grab you!â Laurie cried.
But Honoria hadnât grappled
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