Page 123 of Waking Roslyn

“Thank you. You are very kind.”

“I got a new type of rose I’ve been training up over to the right,” he said as he pointed down one path. “I think you’ll like them.”

“I’m certain I will. Thank you.”

He dipped his head again and moved on, leaving me alone to breathe in my surroundings. I went to find the new roses first, excited when I saw them. They were yellow and red, in the same rose. The bottom of the petal was yellow, and then halfway through, it turned to red. How marvelous.

“Lady Roslyn,” a harsh voice said.

I looked up and my heart dropped. Lord Neil was here in my garden, ruining my sanctuary, and he already looked angry. “Lord Neil, what are you doing here?”

“I was turned away at the front door,” he said as though this was somehow an unexpected insult. “Some pompous butler asked me to leave as if I were—”

“What do you want, Neil?” I asked. I wasn’t about to let him go on a tirade. I’d spent too many years being intimidated by this man, and I would not do it any longer.

His lip curled as his cruel eyes raked over me. “Still have the manners of a gutterling, I see.”

“Do you really want to accuse me of ill manners while you are standing there sneering at me?” I hated this. I hated that he felt he could treat me this way. I hated that I fully believed he would hurt me at any moment. I had to protect myself. I had to summon help.

He moved closer. “You took everything from me!”

“I?” I asked in astonishment, backing away. “I took NOTHING from you. Your father tried to take my life and failed. Don’t you dare try to blame me for his cruelty!” I continued to back away from him, maintaining my circle and raising my voice in the hopes that I would draw someone’s attention. But if that didn’t work, I would need a weapon. John had taught me that a staff could often be found. A branch. A broom.

A rake! I thought, remembering the one that the gardener had set aside with his other tools.

Neil pulled a hand down his face. “What am I supposed to do, Roslyn?”

I wanted to correct him and say Lady Roslyn, but that seemed ill-advised. So I continued to back away in the direction of the rake I’d seen.

“My mother hasn’t stopped crying,” he lamented. “My father is in prison. Prison.”

“Yes. Because he tried to kill me, and yet you stand here asking for my sympathy?” Was he really so spoiled that he expected me to feel sorry for him?

He glared, keeping pace with me as I backed away but fortunately not trying to touch me. “You look perfectly fine to me.”

“What did you expect, Neil? That your father could murder me and no one would care?”

“Yes!”

His snarled answer left me speechless.

“I expected that the king, who rightly stripped your father of his title, would appreciate it when we cleaned up the mess he left.”

It was like a knife buried in my abdomen. How did this reprobate still have the power to hurt me with his words? I shoved that aside and lifted my chin. “I want you to leave,” I declared with my head held high. John’s voice was sounding in my head. You have a voice. Use it.

“I’m sure you do. You’d love to get everyone out of your way just to ensure your high and mighty position.”

“I don’t even want this high and mighty position!” I shouted. Surely someone would hear me! “I just want to be left alone!” I purposefully backed into the pillar that the rake was leaning against, reaching my hand behind my back until I found its handle.

He breathed in and turned his face in that dangerous way that people do when they’re really angry. “You don’t want it? Ha!” He raised his hand and pointed a finger in my face while stepping close. Too close. “You expect me to believe that—”

I pulled the rake from behind my back, held it firmly in both hands, and swung. First I jabbed the end into his stomach, then when he was doubled over, I aimed at the side of his knee, then braced myself and let fear drive me as I swung at the side of his head, all in quick succession, while saying, “Get. Away. From me!”

He crumbled to the ground and I dropped the rake, turned, and ran.

I should have called out for more help, but my terror made my breathing ragged and I couldn’t find my voice. I’d just attacked Lord Neil. He’d deserved it, but that didn’t make it feel any more real. I just wanted to get away. What if he caught up to me? What would he do if he caught up? And where was everybody else? I practically hadn’t been left alone since the moment I’d arrived home, and now, now everyone let me be?

Out of nowhere, a body came at me from my right. Tight arms banded around me, spinning me to a stop.