The Devil In Me

Chapter 3

Stilling, but continuing to hold her tightly against him, covering her mouth, he lowered his to her ear. She shook her head violently, cause him to hold her mouth even tighter until she gave up. Standing still, she listened to his urgent whisper,

"Listen to me sweetheart. They are looking for you out there. If they find us together. You will be ruined." he muffled her exclamation with his hand.

"Are you willing to make that sacrifice for Elena? To spare her the burden of me as a husband? Are you prepared to give up your precious choice?" he urged again, and she finally directed her attention to the voices approaching just outside the mouth of the maze.

"I have no idea where she can have gotten to." Isobel's voice sounded irritated, probably at missing the ball to look for her ward.

"Indeed. I am sure she just felt unwell and return home early. Champagne can do that to a young girl" Elijah's voice floated back.

"Still, she should have informed us, this is so unlike her." Isobel said crossly and Caroline could hear them moving back toward the assembly rooms.

She made to move forward, but he pulled her back, motioning to be quiet again. She waited silence , her heart pounding, her breath burning in her chest, his arm, still a steel band around her middle. He lowered his mouth to her ear again and whispered,

"I'm going to release you in a moment, but before I do, I have to tell you I'm sorry. I know you won't listen to me after, so I'm saying it now. I thought – it doesn't matter. I was wrong. I'm sorry." Slowly he loosened his grip on her mouth, and she immediately began to squirm in his arms,

"Put me down" she hissed at him, wishing she had another rock to throw at his head. Finally released she turned around and slapped him, with a resounding crack that threw his head to the side. He closed his eyes, slowly bringing his face back to hers, he smirked,

"I suppose I deserve that"

"What is wrong with you? How could you? Consent aside, you are engaged to my sister?" she said incredulously.

"Not by choice" he reminded her, his voice dropping.

"So, that's an adequate excuse to try and take advantage of an unwilling -"

"I didn't realise you were unwilling."

"You thought I'd enjoy that? Being forcibly groped outside on a bench?"

"You'd be surprised" his hooded eyes flashing a warning.

"And what possible indication could I have given you? Because I tried to be kind to you? Appeal to your better nature?" his clenched jaw loosened, and he threw his head back, chuckling darkly and Caroline felt sick.

"You don't have one, do you?"

"That is for your friend Miss Pierce to find out" he said his humour gone and anger overwhelming her, she turned around wordlessly and started toward the mouth of the maze. When his hand touched her arm, she whirled defensively, and it surprised him how much he hated the scared look in her eyes.

"I just wanted to point out that you do not have a method of arriving at home alone, and the streets of London are hardly a place for someone such as you to be wandering at night." she raised her eyebrows at this, and the irony of the statement.

"Are you trying to convince me I might be safer with you? Stay away from me Lord Niklaus, or I shall tell your brothers of your behaviour here tonight." her eyes flashing in anger, she turned and started off toward the carriage entrance, anger and fear propelling her. He followed behind her, making a final plea.