“I am very very frightened,” Amalita said in a small voice. “Y-you are – so big and so powerful – and I just don’t know how to – fight you. I only – know that my dear Papa would be extremely shocked at your being – here in my bedroom.”
The Earl released her and sat up.
Then, with his eyes still on her face, he rose from the bed.
“I have never forced myself on any woman who did not want me,” he said, “and my only excuse is that I did not realise that you were different.”
He walked to the door as he spoke, letting himself out without looking back.
It had all happened so quickly.
Amalita could hardly recognise that he had come and said such strange things to her and then left.
“How – could he have – dared to – come to my room in that – way?” she asked aloud.
At the same time she felt
