Evangeline jolted awake, confused. She looked about her surroundings and terror gripped her when darkness enveloped her.

"Easy". A husky voice whispered near her ear, scaring her all the more.

She turned, squinting her eyes to see who it was, through the darkness. The sheets rustled and she felt the figure leave the bed. A trickle of light then filled the room and she realised the figure was Lancelot. He lighting the torches in the room. Once he was done, he turned to her. Evangeline gazed into the face of the duke and everything came rushing back to her; as if the pain between her legs was not evidence enough.

He had taken her. And even though a part of her had enjoyed it before the pain, he had taken her against her will.

"I'm glad you are finally awake. I was beginning to worry". Lancelot showed genuine concern.

Evangeline sat up, pulling the bed cover over her naked body.

"Are you hungry?. I can have the cook make you something". Lancelot continued as he began to move around the room to get dressed.

Evangeline sat there, quiet. Unresponsive. Averting her gaze from him. Hissing at her behaviour, Lancelot left the room.

Huffing out in vexation, Evangeline pushed the covers off her naked body and tried to stand but quickly sat back down as pain rushed through her abdomen. She felt tears well up in her eyes but she forced them back forcing herself to stand to her feet again. She needed to ease herself and the urgency combined with the pain made her want to scream. Limping, she tried to find the door which led to the bathroom. Just as she had made her way halfway across the room, the door opened to reveal Lancelot.

"Where do you think you are going?!". He demanded harshly.

"I need to ease myself". She gritted through her teeth.

Lancelot cursed under his breath and quickly crossed over to her side, lifting her into his arms. Evangeline felt her breath catch in her throat. The sudden closeness to his warm body made her insides tingle; it surprised her. Lancelot exited the room and took a right turn, kicking a door open to reveal a large pool meant for bathing and a curtained area.

He moved towards the curtained area and shifted the curtain, exposing a chamber pot. Gently, he placed Evangeline on her feet and leaned against the wall, his arms folded against his chest as he stared at her, waiting patiently.

Evangeline felt embarrassed having him stand there and watch her ease herself but the urgency did not allow her the luxury of arguing with him because she knew he would not leave even if she asked. Once she was done, he lifted her and exited the room, returning to his chamber, and placed her back on the bed.

"Thank you". She muttered to him as he pulled the cover sheets up to her neck.

Before Lancelot could say anything, a knock sounded at the door and he turned towards it.

"Come in". Lancelot called out.

The door cracked opened to reveal a servant carrying a tray of food. Evangeline's lips watered at the scent of roasted chicken and baked potatoes. She watched eagerly as the servant placed the food down on a near by table and scurried out of the room. Evangeline watched as Lancelot made his way towards the table and picked up the tray of food. He walked back to her side and settled on the bed. Evangeline sat up, stretching her hand to take the tray from him but he batted her hand away gently.

"I shall feed you". He told her.

The shock on Evangeline's face made him grin. He picked up a piece of chicken and brought it to her lips. Evangeline was too famished to reject the food. Opening her mouth, she accepted it. A slight moan escaped her lips at the delicious taste of the food and she chewed fast on it in order to get more quickly.

Lancelot was trying his best to keep from throwing the lass on the bed and ravishing her again. Every time he would place food in her mouth, she would moan unconsciously, setting his body ablaze. Her tongue would unintentionally lick the tips of his fingers and his mind would be clouded with images of her on her knees with his manhood in her mouth.

Evangeline noticed the swell in his pants and froze. Her heart began to race and she suddenly lost her appetite. She shifted away from him, surprising Lancelot.

"Are you satisfied?". He inquired from her.

"Yes. Yes". She lied. "Thank you".

Lancelot nodded, standing to his feet, he went to place the half eaten tray of food back on the table and stood there for a while, trying to calm himself.

"May I return to my previous chamber your grace?". Evangeline asked him suddenly, causing him to turn towards her.

He saw how frightened she was and noticed how her eyes were fixed on his groin area. She had noticed his erection. Walking towards his wardrobe, Lancelot grabbed a sea blue long sleeved shirt and handed it to Evangeline.

"Get dressed and go". He said to her without looking at her. Then he exited the room.

******

Evangeline was glad to finally be alone in her chamber. When the Duke had asked her to get dressed and leave, she did not waste time in wearing his shirt and dashing out of his chamber.

Once she was in hers, she locked the door and let out a sigh of relief, quickly getting into bed and pulling the bed cover over her body. Her plan was to go straight to sleep but the scent of him lingered in his shirt and it filled her nostrils, flooding her mind with thoughts of him.

She did not understand his sudden niceness. The hospitality and gentleness he had began to show her surprised her. Perhaps he felt guilty for what he had done to her; she hoped.

Soon, her thoughts drifted to her brother and Ingrid. It had been only three days now since they left and she could not help but worry for them. The thought of something happening to her brother made her sit up. All traces of sleep was suddenly gone from her. She wished there was a way she could find out if her brother and Lady Ingrid had reached London safely. She also worried for her invalid mother and wondered if uncle George and his family are able to take good care of her. These thoughts brought tears to her eyes. Closing her eyes, she prayed silently to God for their safety.

*********

Lancelot decided to go horse back riding after Evangeline had left his room. It was almost sunrise and he felt he needed to clear his head. He felt alone and empty without her in his bed and this feeling irked him. He did not understand what he was feeling for the lass. His ultimate purpose was to make her suffer for what her brother had done but the thought of bringing her pain did not sit well with him.

After he had forcefully taken her and left for his office, he had tried to work but could not. Then he realised he had spilled his seeds in her. The sensible thing he should have done was to send for the physician to give drugs to prevent such a thing but instead, he found himself fansy a child with her, if not more!.

After struggling to work and keep thoughts of her at bay, he returned to the chamber to find her fast asleep. Again, his treacherous mind reminded him of how beautiful she was. Her pink swollen lips, her long beautiful brown hair, her long lashes, her beautiful curvy body and succulent breasts; Lancelot wanted nothing but to take her again but he did not. Instead, he undressed and got into bed next to her, wrapping his arm around hers and feeling at ease as he fell asleep.

Now, ridding through the foggy woods, he thought of the implications of his sudden affection towards her. The ton would talk. Rumours of him meeting his match had already circled the town, he would certainly loose his respect and authority should the ton hear of his affections towards the lass. His duty was to instil fear in them, that was the only way to properly rule over them, to properly ensure they knew their place. That was how he had ruled for fifteen years.

The sound of a horse approaching made him slow his in its steed. Lancelot saw Philip riding towards him and come to a halt at his side.

"Your grace". He greeted with a bow of his head.

"Where are you returning from this early?". Lancelot frowned.

"I had to take care of a pending matter which seems to be getting out of hand your grace?". Philip answered, sounding somewhat annoyed.

"What is it?". Philip inquired.

"It's the ton your grace. Everyone is talking".

"About?".

"Your affair with the lass. Miss Evangeline".

"Affair?". Lancelot laughed nervously.

"Yes your grace. The news seems to have given the low class courage to disrespect the high borns and to think they could rub shoulders with them. Some of the slaves have even dared to quit on their masters because of this indiscretion".

"Enough!. How dare you?!". Lancelot seethed.

"Your grace. I am only speaking the rumours I hear". Philip gritted. He was irritated by the rumours too but only because he had heard that the duke had laid with Evangeline. He want fancied her as his but now he had lost her to him.

"I said enough!. I am not having an affair with the lass. What would make them think so. The town folk have nothing better to do than gossip". Lancelot bellowed, running his fingers through his disheevled hair.

"Gossip with evidence your grace. She is a low born yet she does not lay in the servants quarters. Instead, you give her a chamber reserved for guests. As if that is not enough, you lay with her in your chamber and have the servants serve her-".

"Do not forget your place Philip!". Lancelot cut him off.

"Forgive me your grace but if something is not done soon, all respect would be lost. This needs to end before it reaches the council and they take a decision to relinquish your seat. The high borns of this town voted for these laws in order to put the low borns in their place. Having them become equal with us spells disaster!".