The door to her room swung wide suddenly and slammed into the wall and she realized she had not locked it after the maid had left with her tray.
“I hear there be a lady in here!”
Pulling aside the covers, Eva quickly got out of bed. “Get out of my room at once!”
The man stumbled forward and she could smell ale on his breath as he drew nearer. “Hello, sweeting, come and give me a kiss.”
Eva lunged for the pitcher she knew was on the dresser. “Leave this room now or I will hurt you.”
“I like a tousle, lovely - the rougher, the better.”
He moved closer and Eva realized she was cornered. She threw the pitcher as hard as she could. He stumbled backwards as it hit his chest, cursing as water covered his front. Seizing the moment, she ran for the door but he was quicker and grabbed her.#p#分页标题#e#
“Daniel!”
The man tried to kiss her but Eva swung her fist at his head.
“Bitch!”
He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled it hard, the pain made her eyes water but it was not enough to stop her. She brought up her knee and rammed it into his groin. He groaned, falling backwards. Eva ran as he released her, out the door and down the hall straight into Daniel’s arms as he arrived at the top of the stairs. He caught her, pulling her close.
“What’s wrong? I heard you scream.”
“A man - there is a man in my room.”
He tensed, his arms tightening as he lifted her off her feet briefly before releasing her and pushing her behind him.
“I kicked him…there, so he may still be on the floor.”
Eva tucked in behind Daniel’s back as they walked back to their room.
“Stay here,” he told her when they reached the open door. She watched him enter and then followed. She did not want the man to surprise Daniel and hurt him. If she could reach the nightstand, she could light the candle.
“Get up!” Daniel dragged the moaning man to his feet.
“That bitch - she kicked me in the pecker!”
“You just cursed at a duchess. What’s more, she’s my duchess.”
Eva could hear the rage in Daniel’s voice as she slipped into the room.
“I told you to wait outside!”
“I don’t want to stand in the hallway, your Grace, awaiting the next man who comes along,” Eva said.
“No woman deserves a man entering her room uninvited,” Daniel said to the vile man through gritted teeth. “Chambermaid or duchess, you should respect her wishes.”
“Eva, come and lock the door after me.”
She watched as Daniel pulled the man’s arm up behind his back and walked him toward the door.
“When will you return?”
“Soon, I promise.”
Grabbing a blanket she quickly wrapped it around herself. If Daniel had not heard her scream, that man could have raped her.
“I’m sorry, your Grace, I didn’t know she was your duchess, you have to believe me.” The man was whining but Daniel was not listening, instead Eva watched as he forced him
from the room, she turned the key in the lock as soon as the door was closed. Sitting on the bed she then waited for her husband to return.
“Eva it’s me.”
Relived when Daniel called to her a few minutes later, she hurried to open the door and after entering he closed and locked it again.
“Are you all right?”
Still clutching the blanket, she moved back to the bed. “Yes. Thank you for coming when I called, Daniel. I’m sorry but I forgot to lock the door after the maid took my tray and that was how the man got in.”
“Did he hurt you in any way?” Daniel stood just inside the room watching her intently.
“I hurt him more,” Eva answered.
He smiled at her words. “You certainly did.”
“Get into bed now, Eva, and I will join you after I have washed.”
Placing the blanket back on the bed Eva then climbed beneath the covers listening as her husband removed his clothes and washed. Sliding over to the far side she then turned her back to face the wall.
“Goodnight.”
He didn’t answer her, instead blowing out the candle and then climbing into bed beside her. Eva felt his arm around her waist and then she was being lifted back into his chest.
“Are you wanting to - ”
“I’m sorry that man hurt you, Eva, sorry that I was not here to stop it happening sooner.”#p#分页标题#e#
She turned in his arms then and burrowed into his chest seeking his strength.
“But you came when I called.”
“As I always will,” he vowed.
Eva felt his chin rest on her head and the last of her terror began to ease. She was safe here in his arms.
“Sleep now, Duchess.”