Chapter 16 - "Give me Time..."

Clara's PoV

'Amy. I need your help' I begged, pulling her in mysteriously and closing the door.

'Miss Clara. I have a job to do- oh my gosh. What happened?'

'It doesn't matter what happened. I just need you to distract the butler Mr Williams while I run upstairs to get changed. Then meet me up there in 5 minutes. Please' I begged.

'Only if you tell me what happened'

'I promise. Please'

She nodded, opening the door and pulling Mr Williams to the side, allowing me just enough time to slip or and climb the stairs in fits of tears and agony.

Once I was through the door I didn't even bother to light a lamp or a candle. I was just content to sob into my hands, body racking in fear.

'Lady Lilly. Is it possible to have a word?'

'Of course Miss Pond. Won't be a moment Richard' she smiled.

'But the car will be here in 20 minutes' he protested.

'I'll be back in 10' she smiled kissing him lightly and following Amy. 'How can I help?'

'I really wouldn't have bothers you at your own wedding unless I considered it absolutely necessary. It's just I was just ushered into the library by Lady Clara. She was distraught, crying in the dark. Clothes tattered and she looked injured'

'Where is she now?'

'In her room. I promised to help her out and go up. But I don't feel I'm the right person for this business'

'No you did the right thing. Take me to her' Lilly nodded.

- - -

'Miss Clara. I hope you won't mind... But I asked Lady Lilly to come up and see you. You seemed awfully distraught' Amy said to me.

I felt like shouting at her to mind her lien business, and did, I felt awfully bad about that afterwards and knew I would apologise in the morning.

'Lilly you have to help me'

'Clara what happened?'

'It was that scum my Father set me up with. Mr Desmond. But that doesn't matter. You have to help me get to John before he leaves. I told him I'd meet him 20 minutes ago. But I got caught up'

'What?'

'I have to say goodbye if he's going to leave or at least beg for him to stay. Please'

'Clara I leave in 15 minutes' she protested.

'Please' I begged through fits of tears.

'Your in no fit state to go to him. But okay. Clean yourself up'

She turned to Amy.

'Miss Pond. Run down to the farm gate and tell Mr Smith shes be held up but she is on her way. And if you want to keep your job you mention this to no one else' she demanded. 'Please tell me. Your clothes are ruined and your bleeding. I hope to god it wasn't what I'm thinking'

'It was wasn't I swear. He didn't rape me - just attacked me. Just help me in that day dress. Any dress will do at this point. And have a good honeymoon'

'You promise you won't do anything stupid until I get back?'

'Agreed'

'And you'll have to tell Miss Pond. For someone to talk to and to keep a promise'

'I never break my promises' I agreed.

- - -

I didn't even have time to register the fact that I had just been attacked in my own library.

The one place I so love and now so hate. But instead I ran for the gate to the farm. Where no one would expect anyone to be right now.

He was there.

Standing by the gate. A dashing young man waiting for me. Waiting to tell me goodbye.

'Oh god. Miss Clara. I thought you weren't coming, and then Miss Amy came down and I-- you've been crying?'

'I'm fine really' I waved him off.

'Clara? What's wrong?'

'Nothing. I just had to talk to the man my father set me up with but that isn't going to work out. Now please we don't have much time before people realise I'm missing from the wedding' I urged.

'Right this is the thing. I don't deserve you. Your way out of my league and completely higher than me in status... But I really do love you and realised I can't stay away'

'You want to be with me?' I gasped, trying not to think about anything that comes with marriage or my father.

'If your willing to wait. Wait a couple of months, while I save up to do this properly. Buy a ring you deserve, if you willing to marry a disrespected farm man, with an awful past and a child out there somewhere I don't know about... If your willing to risk everything and support me even though I'm supposed to support you then yes. I want to marry you'

'Is this a proposal?' I gasped.

'Yes' he chuckled stepping closer. 'Not how I envisioned proposing to a lady, but yes. I've made up my mind and I said some awful things but the truth is that I pushed you away to know that you truly do love me and then I came back and Lady Lilly told me you were a mess. So you think you can get my job back? Do you think we can do this? Will you marry me?'

'Yes' I whispered crying in pain, embarrassment, guilt and happiness all at the same time. So much for the promise I just made to Lilly.

I said I wouldn't do anything stupid without her and this is most definitely stupid.

'Yes to which one?' He asked hopefully.

'All three you idiot' I said in tears, just about managing to cup his face gently and kiss him lightly, making me wince knowing I had to get inside.

'Really?'

'Yes'

'Oh god you said yes. What do we do?'

'I convince Father to give you your job back which he will willingly and we talk about this tomorrow. But right now I have to get back inside' I begged.

'Of course. I love you' he shouted.

'Love you too'