13

She refused to back down at the evident display of anger etched into his hard face. She was not the skittish, fearful child cowering in the corner that she had once been. Eloise had taught her much over the past three years, bestowing a courage she thought she had not possessed; though she found her newfound confidence wavering beneath those icy depths staring boldly back at her.

A thought suddenly struck her, "Was it Eloise that asked of this unfortunate burden?"

His expression revealed nothing but the muscle at his jaw tightened, "I made a vow that I intend to keep. You will remain at Ashford until I can further consider your future."

Ginelle almost laughed at the irony of the situation. Here she had expected that the dark Lord would gladly see her on her way when in fact he had commanded she stay. Her anger returned as she closed the study door, resisting the urge to slam it.

He was mistaken if he thought to make demands of her. He most certainly was not her guardian and never would she allow another man especially one so dictating as this one to have any means of control in her decision making or her future.

Her thoughts instinctively turned to Eloise. Had she truly given this menacing man incapable of warmth and compassion control over her wellbeing? The thought made her tremble on the inside. Why would Eloise do this to her? She had known of her fears, why would she place her life in the hands of another man? Something about Dorian Ashford unraveled her senses in a frightening way. She was suddenly struck anew with an astonishing realization. It was apparent that a man like Dorian Ashford was to be feared from the sheer size of him and authoritative demeanor but she had stood her ground if only for a brief moment. The thought was a remedy for if she could stand against a man like Dorian Ashford than surely her fear of Pierino was in the past?

As she returned to her room and closed the door firmly behind her she released the breath she had been holding. She felt her anger return full-circle as their conversation replayed over in her head. It mattered not for she would be gone before tomorrow.

She pushed herself away from the door and moved to gather her bundle of belongings she had stuffed under the bed earlier that morning. She had given much thought over the past couple of days and as much as her heart yearned to stay at Ashford simply to hold onto the memories of Eloise and their short life of happiness together, it was clearly out of the question. There was nothing here for her. If she could reach America than she would never again set eyes on Pierino and Dorian Ashford.

The day had steadily progressed and with it, Ginelle had learned that several of the laborers had been ordered to be whipped. Ginelle trembled at the thought. Dorian Ashford had exacted these brutal lashings. What man would harm the flesh of another unless they were cold and merciless? She knew too well the severity of many punishments and shuddered at the thought of the violent lashings they would receive. How could she possibly remain at Ashford knowing a man such as Dorian would harm the hands that tend his fields?

As dusk approached, she felt that confidence she had earlier commended herself slowly break off into little fragments of apprehension and uncertainty. Remembering her last happening when she had tried to leave, she found herself terrified beyond her imagining. Could she attempt the foliage without being swept away by her fears? Was she making a grave mistake? She and Eloise had ventured to the forest many times on occasion but they had not traveled far, only to a familiar spot by the river. She knew that fear of Pierino would always be in the back of her mind, though she convinced herself that she was not a child anymore that could allow a man to intimidate her, but could she really survive on her own? These walls had protected her for some time but she couldn't continue to hide any more. Eventually, she would have to face the impending dangers lurking on the outside.

She quickly dismissed any disturbing thoughts from her mind for she refused to allow her fears to deter her from her decision.

Ginelle waited until darkness had fallen and the house fell silent, indicating the servants had gone to bed. She gathered what little belongings she possessed and started for the door. She paused as her hand touched the latch to turn and survey the room that she had almost claimed for her own. She felt the sudden rush of tears and quickly turned away from the beautiful chamber. She would not think of Eloise for the pain encircling her heart was agonizing.

She made her way into the hall and was relieved to find it empty. She slipped cautiously through the shadows, continuously glancing over her shoulder in fear that Lucile would be lurking somewhere nearby. Nothing went unnoticed to the older woman.

It wasn't until she stepped out into the night that she allowed herself to take in a sharp breath of air. She pressed a shaky hand over the pulse that throbbed beneath her palm and quickly surveyed her surroundings. She was relieved that the tobacco fields were on the opposite side of the plantation and she wouldn't have to encounter any of the men that guarded the region but she couldn't allow herself to feel any triumph just yet because she had yet to get a horse.

A sudden chill caused her to stiffen and she realized she had forgotten her cloak. She bit down on her lower lip as she considered returning for it and than quickly decided against it. She had come too far to turn around and risk everything. Gathering her skirts in one hand and cradling her possessions in the other, she slipped effortlessly towards the stables. She felt an immediate wave of guilt for stealing a horse but she vowed silently that she would send money for the stolen mare.

The stable door creaked on the hinges as she slipped inside. The horses stirred in theirs stalls at her presence as she quickly assessed them. She paused as she spotted a massive black beast at the far end of the stable. She shivered as she studied the magnificent creature, recognizing it as the one that had nearly trampled her that night in the forest. She most certainly could not ride an animal as large and fearsome as that one.

Ginelle turned to find a much smaller and docile mare. The horse watched her warily through dark, beady eyes as she approached the stall. It took her an excessive amount of precious time to saddle the mare but she managed after a few struggled attempts. Her heart pounding and hope flaring within her chest that she nearly accomplished her escape, she led the horse from its stall and out the barn. Just outside the doors, she allowed herself enough time to mount the horse but her skirts prevented her from mounting properly. She paused as she reached down to gather skirts and it was then a looming shadow fell over her and a large arm clamped around her waist.

Ginelle didn't have time to comprehend the situation as panic gripped her in an icy shroud. She felt a scream in her throat as her arms instinctively came up to attack the face of her attacker. The arm around her waist tightened as her struggles forced both she and her assailant to lose their balance and stumble back into the stable. She felt her throat closing in as she struggled to bring air into her lungs. Her eyes burned with tears as that large arm around her waist refused to budge. She kicked her legs out but to no avail.

Suddenly, she heard a distinct rip and gasped when her attacker's foot caught her skirts and they both went tumbling.

She stiffened for the impact and the large body to crush her but in a sudden swiftness, her attacker shifted his body to take the brunt of the fall as she landed softly on top of him. She felt immediate fear as her hands encountered sheer muscle beneath a thin tunic. She lifted her head and her eyes clashed with a pair of icy blue depths. She inhaled sharply, her eyes widening in sudden alarm.

Dorian had known from their heated conversation and Lucile's warning earlier that day that the little chit would attempt to leave. He was no fool for she had foolishly tried once before and had failed. So he waited patiently all evening, and wasn't surprised to find her small shadow slipping through the halls, oblivious to his presence. She was impossible and his instincts demanded that he let her go but his vow to Eloise forced him to continue his pursuit.

He had thought to stop her before she got to the horses but he amused himself by allowing her to struggle with the task of saddling the horse and he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her.

It was then as she led the horse from the stable that he decided he had allowed this nonsense to continue long enough. She was unaware as he approached that the horse jerked in panic and fearful that the girl would get hurt, his arm wrapped around her small waist to pull her out of harms way.

He had not expected her sudden attack as she burst into a fit of struggles. Dorian dodged her flailing arms as he jerked her back from the frightened horse and lost his footing, stumbling backwards. He released an impatient growl as he fought to control her wrestling limbs. He stepped sideways only to catch the rim of her skirts and send them both falling to the ground.

As he turned in midair to take the brunt of the fall, his arms tightened around her frame and they collided roughly in the dirt. As she attempted to right herself, he became increasingly aware of her little body pressed intimately against his own. His temper soared as his body ignited with desire.

His eyes clashed with those soft depths and he froze at the evident display of fear etched into her lovely face. Her hair framed her face in a tangled array of spun silk and he resisted the sudden disturbing notion to brush the silken tresses aside. His eyes settled on her lips, full and luscious, parted in her labored breathing. He had the swift urge to taste those lips and the sweet nectar of her kiss.

She scrambled off of him in a sudden panic and in her haste lost her balance and fell on her backside. Dorian's gaze shifted to something that caught his attention and his groin hardened at the expanse of creamy skin exposed to his hungry gaze. In their struggle, the gown had torn in several places. His heated gaze caressed the creamy shoulder and than fell to the rip at her thigh, revealing smooth, tantalizing skin that brought a moan to his throat.

A wave of anger seized him for how could a mere-slip-of-a-girl such as this cause such uncontrollable desire to stir within him? It was unnerving and painfully arousing and yet the vision of her with those wide, doe-like eyes and her disheveled hair and the creamy flesh exposed to him did something entirely foreign to him.

His demeanor hardened as he gained his footing and moved towards her. She flinched as he approached and this only agitated him further. His fingers seized her roughly by the arm and he quickly sought to ease his grip at her painful gasp.

She stiffened beneath the pressure of his fingers and appeared as though she would flee if given the opportunity, so for this reason alone his fingers remained firmly around her arm as he glared down at her. "I think you've stirred enough trouble for the evening." He growled in frustration.

The fear lingered in her pretty eyes but a sudden glint of anger rushed to the surface as she attempted to wrestle her arm free of his grip. "Release me."

He resisted a grin at her sudden boldness. He was well aware of her fear of him and yet she continued to stand her ground, a trait he found seemingly admirable. The frightened child he remembered from three years ago lay somewhere dormant in this defiant, little woman standing in front of him, demanding he release her.

She was by far the smallest woman he had ever met. Her head just reached his chest and he was keenly aware of the small, fragile bone he gripped in his hand and yet, she challenged him with her eyes. If provoked, he could easily break her in two but the thought of harming this delicate yet defiant woman shook him uncontrollably. His eyes briefly assessed the gown that barely revealed any curves of interest and he found it odd that she had aroused him when he had a preference for curvier women.

"Where will you go in the dead of the night?" she flinched at the rough baritone of his voice, clearly unaware that his anger wasn't the only reason for his sudden harshness.

"Why is it any of your concern?" she questioned, tugging on her arm encased in his iron grip.

His temper flared and he stepped towards her and she would have retreated if not for his fingers wrapped tight around her wrist, reeling her closer until they were a breath apart. "It is my concern because you are my responsibility."

"Simply because you are honor bound?" she seethed, glaring up at him and refusing to back down even though fear clouded her senses. "You care not for what happens to me but simply that you are obligated to care for a burden that which you did not want."

The muscle in his jaw flexed but he refrained from saying anything further which only convinced Ginelle of her statement.

She was painfully aware of how close they were. She could smell the dark spices of his skin, could see that his eyes were rimmed in a metal gray and could just make out the lines of laughter around his eyes. For a moment, she wondered if a man such as this was even capable of laughter. "Let's make something clear." He started; his voice dangerously low caused a shiver to race up her spine. "Did you not willingly agree to remain at Ashford?" he didn't wait for a response, "Was it not my sister that had cared for you? Did that not make her your guardian?"

Eloise had been her guardian but also her mentor, her sister. How could she explain that to him? "As rights of guardianship, everything that belonged to her is now mine. You are my responsibility by the rights of the arrangement that you and my sister had agreed upon the moment you consented to remain at Ashford."

Ginelle gasped, "That is absurd!"

"Is it?" he growled, his grip tightening a fraction around her arm. "Did you not agree to it?"

She opened her mouth to respond but nothing came forth and so he proceeded. "I'm sorry to disappoint you Little Fair but as you can see, the plantation belongs to me and all that which inhabits here." He paused and than said, "Which means, I am accountable for you."

Ginelle gritted her teeth for there was nothing else she could say that would prove otherwise. She had agreed to stay at Ashford only because Eloise had wished it and she wanted to escape Pierino, but it didn't mean that she would submit so easily and Dorian Ashford was keen to see the obvious challenge in her brown eyes.

She lifted her chin to glare defiantly up at him, refusing to cower beneath the intensity of his hard stare. "So will you take the whip to me as well?"

"I intended to steal your horse." Her voice shook as she said this and he could see the fear in her eyes that lay within but she stood her ground.

He was stunned that a woman so small would expect punishment when most men would cower at the notion. She must have overheard the servants gossiping about his laborers. He cared not for what she thought of him. Let her continue to make the wrong assumptions of him.

Reluctantly, he released her and stepped aside. Her expression shifted to one of uncertainty. "Return to your room."

For a moment, he thought she would defy him but she reconsidered and quickly left the stable. A grin formed at the corners of his mouth for she feared him and yet she challenged him defiantly. Half of the men he knew did not have the courage of one mere female. Mayhap having her here at his plantation would not be as troublesome as he half expected. He would be lying if he said he didn't find her lovely and at the same time the effect she had on him was most afflicting. His grin all but vanished as his mood darkened. She was indeed lovely but nothing more. He was a fool to even consider the possibility that he found her desirable.

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