Just as I make my way back upstairs, thoughts still on the enigmatic man who came to my rescue, I suddenly freeze when I notice a familiar rotund figure lurking in the hallway.

Master Gerald.

My blood turns icy and the small hairs rise at the back of my neck. The degenerate has found some excuse to leave the dining room, and is now loitering in the corridor, seemingly laying in wait for me.

I take a deep breath, square my shoulders and carry on walking as if I haven't even noticed him. But just as I draw level with him he reaches out and grips me around the waist roughly.
I let out a startled squeal as he shoves me back hard against the wall, and the force of it causes my neck to whip back and bump against the oak-panels.

"Ah, little (Y/N) you thought you'd gotten away from me didn't you? Naughty girl. Methinks you need to be taught a lesson." His face comes closer and I turn my head away. His breath reeks of brandy and it makes me feel sick.

I struggle against him but he has me pinned with his lumbering body. If only I'd have been fetching a knife and not a spoon I don't think I'd hesitate to use it against this vile, predatory man.

"Stop trying to fight me, you won't win.....stupid, impudent girl!" He growls into my face, and I accidentally drop the fresh spoon onto the floor. It slips from my clenched hand with a clatter but it doesn't deter him.
His grabby-hands seem to be everywhere at once and I suddenly feel like I'm fighting an octopus.

"Stop it! No! You have no right to do this!" I cry helplessly, no longer caring if we are overheard. In fact, I want to be overheard and to hell with the consequences.

I'm just about to call out for help at the top of my lungs, when suddenly we hear rapidly approaching footsteps followed by a stern voice shouting "Take your hands off her immediately!"

Stunned, Gerald turns around and whilst he's temporarily distracted I take the opportunity to arch my leg up and knee him squarely in the crotch.
He lets out a pained howl but has no time to recover, as the person who's come to my rescue grasps him roughly by the back of his shirt collar and hauls him away from me with surprising ease.

I'm breathing erratically, adrenaline pumping through my veins, so it takes me a moment to regain my focus and realise that my saviour is once again the dark stranger.
I decide there and then that this man, whoever he is, must be my guardian angel. Sent to watch over me and keep me safe from all the horrors the world might throw at me.

"Bloody bitch!" Gerald sputters, still in pain from having been kneed in the groin.

"Do not speak to her like that, Sir!" The guest snaps.
He's still got a hold of Master Gerald's collar and by the looks of things he isn't about to let go anytime soon.
The pathetic Gerald doesn't put up any fight, even though his robust stature is far heftier than my rescuer. But he on the other hand has height as his advantage. Now he's standing, I notice just how incredibly tall he is.

"She assaulted me, Sir Thomas!" Gerald protests in his defence.

"Good, it saves me from having to do so myself!"

I blink rapidly, shocked by this dramatic revelation.
My rescuer is none other than Sir Thomas Sharpe, the mysterious Baronet. And incredibly....he seems to be angry on my behalf.

"How dare you manhandle me, Sir!" Gerald is saying now, sounding deeply offended.

"And how dare you manhandle your staff in such a way. You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

The commotion has caused quite a stir now, the noise of the two men shouting draws the other curious guests out into the hallway.
There's much excitable chatter and gasps as Major Cecil comes marching over, his bristly face a mask of outrage.

"I say, what the devil is all this ruckus about?" He demands gruffly. "Sharpe, unhand my son at once! Who the blazes do you think you are?"

Sir Thomas obligingly lets go, but not without giving the slimy Gerald a rough shove forward as he does so.
"With all due respect, your son is a disgrace, Sir." He proclaims boldly.

A collective gasp ensues from the other guests, and now a woman, a tall, thin woman with dark hair and a striking red dress steps forward. Her eyes are small and there's a visible coldness in them that makes me shiver when she fleetingly casts a look at me. Then she turns her attention to the Baronet.

"Thomas...apologise to the Major and his family." She instructs as if addressing an unruly child. She looks to the Major and adds, "Forgive my brother, he is not himself. I fear the journey has left him feeling somewhat overwrought."

I hold my breath, and half-expect Sir Thomas to obey the commands of his stern sister. If her hard, cold-dagger stare alone isn't enough to make even the steeliest of men wither, then her cutting tone of voice would make her impossible to defy.

However I'm rendered surprised when Thomas tilts his chin upwards in defiance and announces in a firm voice of his own, "No, Lucille. I will not apologise. Not until the Master apologises to this young lady."

I feel myself sway slightly as he gestures toward me and all eyes follow.
I want the floor to just magically swallow me up right now. I don't like having everyone looking at me, although I can't deny that I'm flattered by Sir Thomas' act of kindness.

"Apologise to a servant girl?" Major Cecil snorts rudely. "Why you must be raving mad, man!"

"Thomas!" His sister hisses, shooting her brother a warning look, which he promptly ignores.

"She assaulted me!" Gerald pipes up again haughtily, sounding much like a broken gramophone. "The wretch ought to apologise to me!"

Sir Thomas takes a half-step toward Gerald and he shuffles backwards like the coward he is.
"Your treatment of the staff is appalling. As are your manners, Sir!"

Again another gasp, and the Major points an indignant finger rudely in the Baronet's handsome face. "You Sir, have overstepped the mark. I've never been so insulted in all my life!"

The Baronet eyes Major Cecil Handbrooke steadily, his expression blank and unreadable. But his tone of voice has changed. It is no longer velvety soft, but barbed and sharp. His eyes flash with anger, and his nostrils flare slightly as if he's just caught the smell of something rancid.
I realise then that his anger is the still kind. He's remaining calm, and it's barely suppressed beneath the surface, but he's still in complete control. Which makes it all the more unnerving.

"That surprises me, Major." He retorts coolly. "Given your son's abhorrent behaviour and lack of morals, I am surprised you both haven't been reprimanded over it before."

"Because he's just as bad!" I hear myself cry accusingly.
The words just fall out of my mouth before I can stop them. I didn't mean to say it, but it's as if all the suppressed frustration and anger comes bursting out of me like an erupting volcano.

Everyone is staring at me again, including Sir Thomas, and his sympathetic look gives me the courage I need to vent my grievances.
"You Major, are just as bad. The both of you. You're filthy pigs. Touching-up us girls just because you can, and you know we're too afraid to do anything about it. Well it's not right!"

There's yet more gasps from the assembled bystanders, and the whispering increases feverishly. There's no doubt that the Major is completely floored, his ruddy face has turned puce from either anger or embarrassment. Possibly a mixture of both.
And the foolish Master Gerald is voicing off, vehemently and loudly declaring me to be an attention-seeker and a liar.

"Get out of my house girl!" The major roars at me, spittle flying from his mouth. "You are hereby dismissed. Your services no longer required. I will not tolerate such insolence from my staff!"

I back away nervously as he advances on me rapidly like a raging bull. Everything seems to happen at once as Sir Thomas side-steps in front of him, protecting me from his wrath.

"Major, I suggest you calm yourself. This need not escalate any further-"

"And I suggest you remove yourself out of my house also, Sir Thomas!"

The burly frame of the Major is still advancing on me, and in a blind panic I rush for the front door. From behind me I can hear the distressed voice of Miss Agnes begging her father to relent on banishing her intended fiancé from their home.
But he's clearly unmoved by her pleading, as I stumble outside and the well-dressed figure of Sir Thomas follows close behind me.

I clutch a hand to my chest, my heart beating frantically. I can barely get my breath and my mind is still struggling to process what has just unfolded.
I hear the Baronet sucking in deep, calming breaths as though steadying his own nerves as he tries to regain his composure.

A moment later the door opens again and the fearsome-looking Lady Lucille comes barrelling outside, radiating blistering fury. She's wearing her coat now, and carrying her brothers' in her hands, along with his top hat, which she promptly hurls at him unceremoniously with tremendous force.

"Have you lost your wits?" She spits, impaling Sir Thomas with her glare. "You've ruined everything!"

He catches the coat, but fails to catch his hat and it rolls along the floor. Sir Thomas bends swiftly from the waist to retrieve it. He's flustered as he heaves the great coat on and fiddles with the brim of his hat.
"I know. I'm sorry, Lucille. But I couldn't just stand by and-"

"And what?" She cuts in fiercely. "You felt compelled to act chivalrous and come to the aid of....of this lowly creature."
She looks at me as if I'm something she's stepped in, which stokes my own anger further.

I'm already rattled, and could quite easily give this haughty, pinch-faced woman a piece of my mind, but as I open my mouth Sir Thomas cuts in quickly..

"She is still a person, Lucille. And I cannot simply just look the other way when I see wrongdoing....it's....it's not in my nature."

"Oh?" She raises a pointed eyebrow at him. "Is that so? Why is that I wonder...especially when you've rarely had any difficulty looking away before when you see wrongdoing."

Sir Thomas visibly bristles, but does not respond. Instead he stomps away, calling out to a stable boy who's been standing idle, to fetch their carriage.
All the while I can feel Lady Sharpe's eyes burning into me, as I stand shivering on the cobblestones in my lace-fronted, maids dress.

It's only now the full impact of what's just occurred finally hits me and panic sets in, hitting me in the face like a bucket of water.
I have no things, not even my shawl, and I've nowhere to go.
My parents cottage is miles from here, and it's cold now and so dark you could scarcely see your hand in front of you.

What am I going to do?

Thomas returns, he walks over to his sister but then turns to look at me pityingly. "What is your name?"

I bite my lip, feeling suddenly shy and nervous in his presence. To have the full attention of this man seems so utterly unbelievable. After all, I'm nothing more than a servant.

"It's (Y/N) Sir." I say, and do a little curtsy.

"Do you have anywhere to go, (Y/N)?"

I ponder this for several moments, trying to work a plan out in my head but I can't think straight.

"Do you have family we could take you to?" He asks patiently, and I'm slightly taken aback by his caring nature.

"They live far from here, Sir. It's a few miles drive away. I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble."

Unexpectedly, he walks slowly over to me and shrugs out of his thick, woollen great coat. "It's no trouble, (Y/N). I'm not going to leave you alone here, abandoned in the cold."

My eyes round as he slips the coat around my shoulders. It's heavy and warm, and even though it's far too big on me and trails across the floor, I pull it tightly around me. Taking in a deep breath, I inhale the scent of him. The outside of the coat smells spicy, like cinnamon and whiskey, but the collar smells clean and fresh like lavender soap.

As he places it around my shoulders, my stomach does a little flip due to the brief physical contact and the closeness of his proximity.

Just then the carriage comes rattling around the corner and Lady Lucille beckons him over. As he steps away, I allow myself to breath again, the air whooshing right out of my lungs.
I hadn't even realised I'd been holding my breath.

"She is not our problem, Thomas. We are not obliged to escort her anywhere." I hear her fume as the carriage draws up.

"Lucille, please." He implores her. "I cannot help but feel responsible for her dismissal. What harm is there in taking her into town? Tomorrow we can see she's safely delivered home to her family."

"And what of tonight?"

Sir Thomas looks momentarily uncomfortable as he responds. "Well she.....she can lodge with us at the Inn. I'm sure they'll be a free room for an extra guest."

The coachman hops down from his seat and opens the door for Lady Lucille to enter first. She does so begrudgingly, and I don't miss the icy look she throws at her brother before she climbs gracefully inside.

He turns to me expectantly but I hesitate. Unsure.

"Is something the matter, (Y/N)?"

I walk towards him reluctantly, chancing a small smile.
"I really appreciate your generosity, M'Lord...truly. But, but I...."

He raises an eyebrow at me expectantly. "But?" He urges.

"But, I don't want to impose on you and your sister. I can see I'll be an inconvenience to you and-"

"(Y/N) you are not inconveniencing us in the slightest. Save perhaps for keeping us here, delaying our journey by putting up an argument." He says playfully, which makes me giggle and just like that, all my reservations are suddenly dispelled.

What other choice do I have? I'd be mad to stay here where I'm not wanted. Or to try and walk all the way back to Thaxted village in the dark.
Nope that really isn't a plausible option.
Besides, to be in his presence for a little while longer is too good an opportunity to pass up on.

He smiles warmly at me as I approach the carriage, and before I know it he's offering his hand to help me up. I take it shakily, but to my horror I trip over his long coat, and almost fall.
But then those elegant, capable hands catch me, and I blush ferociously as I find myself practically embraced in his strong arms.

He chuckles softly as he holds me, my arms having instinctively wrapped around his broad shoulders.
"Ehehe, oops. It's alright (Y/N), I've got you."

He seems just as embarrassed by my blunder as I am, but as I lift nervous eyes to meet his, our gaze instantly locks.
He's staring at me and I'm staring at him, and the world seems to stop spinning. Time stands utterly still.
I feel a fluttering sensation in my chest, and my pulse has suddenly sped up.

"Thomas!" His sister growls from within the carriage, shattering the intensity of the moment.

"S-sorry, Lucille." He stammers and hastily manoeuvres me into the carriage, before joining us inside.

He sits next to her on the seat across from me, and as we set off I can see he makes a point of not looking directly at me again. Instead he stares out of the window into the pitch-blackness of the night, whilst Lady Lucille sits staring at him.
It's like she's scrutinising his every move, and he's well aware of it.

Odd. I think to myself.
But it's none of my business. So all I can do is sit back, and try to make myself comfortable.