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“You are clearly not hearing what I say, Martin of Carteret,” Anne hissed “I have no interest in acco you to a funeral, much less to a proper dinner, and whatever business matters you may have to discuss withat his grasp He squeezed tight at her waist, and suddenly he threw off that rakish mask he wore so proudly; now, she sahat lay beneath his boastful and wo exterior, and what she saw utterly terrified her His voice grew to a hoarse and dangerous whisper as his eyes skewered her with a threatening glare

“I think this business he and I share quite involves you, you little harlot,” the earl snarled, breathing hot through clenched teeth “In fact, it quite involves you and only you For you have a e, and your father is quite beholden to whomever decides he wishes to have you as his own, Anne Hatley of Roxborough,” he tongued her title with utter contempt “Now, I shall become proper viscount of these lands, and you will beto bear for me any number of heirs I require, because that is a woman’s place in this world, and I will ensure that you know it,” the earl demanded “You don’t have much of a choice No woman does And for that I will do with you what I need, and you and your father will be happy and dance along with rowled

“I have love,” Anne sputtered back, begging in her mind that her love would return to save her

“Love? Hah! Love, hom? That worthless, spineless fool from Amhurst? What, have you so stupidly fallen in love with a uffawed, pulling Anne tight against his waist “Love is learning - and you will learn all I need you to learn in due time, and you will love me and yourself for it”

“Get away frorasp; and when he refused to let her free, she resorted to living up to her reputation as so utterly unladylike, by bringing her pal earl’s nose He roared in pain, eyes shocked, clearly not expecting so righteous a response froirl he had decided to claim as his own Instead, she broke free of him and ran; when he moved to intercept, she sta another dolorous howl to the winds The earl grasped at his nose, which had begun to swell and bleed; Anne spat at him as she rushed to the stables for safe haven

“Bertold! Are you here?” she shouted, her , on fire after the encounter with the earl “Please, Bertold, are you here?”

“M’lady?” the skinny young blondelazily, froht for you? So late in the evening?”

“Please, Bertold, I need to…” she did not quite knohat she needed to do When the earl had touched her, grabbed her, taunted her, she could think of only one person - only one thing No ivenof him She did not know that she would ever be able to, because when she had said she had love - she had meant it

“I… I need to go to see… soer fro vitriol of the Earl of Carteret; fear in her eyes, Anne pleaded quietly with the stable boy “I need to get away from here, for now, Bertold, please—”

“Of course,off to the rear of the stables to find the proper bridle As he left, Anne braced herself against her jet-black steed’s stall; her head spun, her heart pumped, and she could scarcely bear all the emotional tumult she had endured on this day alone No matter how often she closed her eyes, she saw him; reflected in every tear she shed She wanted to ride, away froland, away from all people and places, and out into the ocean, where she could swim and swim until she reached France She could drink a proper wine and live as a pauper; she could find her freedom in anonymity, the freedom she had always lusted for, but she would never find fulfillment without him

She realized what true freedom was - not simply the freedom to choose one path or the other, or the freedo one soul so intiive yourself to it, while that soul felt the same way - true love was true freedom Her heart hurt because she had tasted it, but only a taste; and now she knew she could not simply live, no matter how free, with only a taste of the love she felt for this man

“I’ve found the proper bridle m’lady—”

“Hurry, please, Bertold,” Anne pleaded, pulling open the door to Midnight’s stable and leading the horse out Bertold lashed the saddle and equipment to the creature as fast as his hands could e wheels, and she sighed in relief, hoping that the intolerable earl had finally departed the estate She would deal wit

h whatever h estate later; now, she had e with

“All ready to ride,to his mistress He went to fetch the stairs, but instead Lady Roxborough siainst the stall door and setting herself astride the animal