Page 127 of Heartbreaker of the Ton
“You know me, Loveday, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “I do. Miss Howard said she’d seen you today.”
“Did she say anything else?”
“She didn’t have to,” Loveday said. “I saw how upset she was.”
The child began to cry, and Andrew glanced toward her. “Florrie!” he said. “I didn’t recognize you there.”
“You didn’t recognize me in the woods, vicar,” the girl said.
Then he recalled them—two children standing by the edge of the road, eyes wide with fear, who had leaped back into the verge as he struggled to regain control of his mount.
Heavens—did they think he’d meant to mow them down with his horse? DidEttythink he’d intentionally tried to harm her?
“I-I’m sorry,” Andrew said.
“’Tisn’t us you should be apologizin’ to,” Loveday said, flinching again as if she expected a blow as payment for her words. “It’s Mistress Juliette.”
“But she—”
“I don’t care what you think she did,” Loveday interrupted, straightening her stance. “All I know is that Mistress Juliette is a good woman who doesn’t deserve your condemnation.”
Andrew couldn’t help but stare at her in admiration. What had happened to the timid creature he’d known at Sandcombe?
“I admire your spirit, Loveday,” he said. “It’s good to see you flourishing here.”
“I owe it all to Mistress Juliette. She saved my life.”
Andrew nodded. “I recall it—the day she pulled you out of the sea.”
“No, sir, I didn’t mean that. I meant in every way possible.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I expect you don’t,” Loveday said. “Florrie, darlin’, why don’t you go with Roberta?”
The child hesitated, then, with a glance at Andrew, darted across the floor, as if she expected him to deal her a blow. Loveday resumed her attention on Andrew.
“Do you know who Florrie’s father is, vicar?”
Andrew felt his cheeks warm with shame.
She nodded. “Of course you do—like anyone else in the village who listens to talk.”
Andrew lowered his voice. “Sir John Fulford seduced you.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“You seducedhim?”
She sighed and shook her head. “Seduction implies that the woman succumbed to temptation—that perhaps her head had been turned by the prospect of her master wantin’ her.”
Andrew glanced toward Florrie, who was engaged in conversation with Mrs. Trelawney, who’d lifted the girl onto her knees.
“Then…”
“He forced me,” Loveday said flatly. “The first time I struggled while he beat me, until I could take it no more. The second time—”
