They strode some distance from the french doors of the ballroom and finally sat down on a wooden seat that circled the huge trunk of an old oak tree.
“This time", Pearl said to herself, “the fault was entirely mine. I ought to have guessed his entire motive sooner than I did".
Derek gave her a sidelong glance, "Has any damage been done to you? Did he touch you?” he asked.
“Give me a few moments to stop silently screaming,” she said, “and to reach one hundred. Then I will try to forget what just happened.
"My hand was the only place he could touch, If he had dared to try anything else I would have knocked him over the head with the flower vase that hung nearby. But I'm more than thankful to you for your rescuing me Mr. Edensor, I could almost feel the fear that you stirred up in him
