Five

Sara stood at the door, her heart beating fast with fear and anticipation. She clutched her bag tightly in her hand, ready to make her escape from the house she had been trapped in for years. She knew she had to leave now if she was going to escape her wedding to the Duke of Mayfield, arranged by her wicked aunt.

The wedding was only two weeks away, but it felt like an eternity. Sara had been forced into the arrangement by her aunt, who had threatened to disown her if she didn't go through with it. She had no choice but to obey, or so she thought.

But now she couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't marry a man she barely knew, let alone loved. She had to leave, no matter the cost.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the house and into the cool night air. The moon was high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the surrounding countryside. She knew she had to act fast before anyone realized she was gone.

Sara began to run, her heart pounding in her chest as she darted down the path. She had no idea where she was going, but she knew she had to get as far away from the Duke of Mayfield and her aunt as possible.

She ran for what felt like hours, the wind whipping through her hair as she pushed herself to go faster. Her feet pounded against the ground, and she could feel the sweat trickling down her back. But she didn't stop. She couldn't stop.

Finally, as the sun began to rise on the horizon, Sara saw a small town in the distance. She slowed her pace, catching her breath as she approached the edge of the town. She looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling village.

It was then that she realized she had no plan. She had escaped her wedding, but now what? She had no money, no friends, and no family. She was alone in a strange town with nothing but the clothes on her back.

But she refused to let that stop her. She was free, and she was determined to make a new life for herself. She walked through the streets with her head held high, determined to find a way to make it on her own.

As she walked, she felt a sense of excitement and freedom that she had never felt before. She was free from her wicked aunt, free from the Duke of Mayfield, and free to make her own choices.

Sara smiled, feeling a sense of hope for the first time in a long time. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. She was free, and that was all that mattered.

Aunt Mary stormed into the drawing room, her eyes blazing with anger. "Where is Sara?" she demanded, her voice quivering with rage. "I've searched every room in this house, and she's nowhere to be found."

The rest of the family, including the Duke of Mayfield, who was to marry Sara, looked up in alarm. "What do you mean she's gone?" the Duke asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

"I mean, she's fled the house; that's what I mean," Aunt Mary spat.

The Duke stood up, his face set in determination. "I'll send men to find her," he declared. "We'll search every inch of this town until we find her."

Aunt Mary snorted derisively. "And what good will that do?" she sneered. "She's probably gone to some low dive of a tavern, consorting with all sorts of riff-raff. She's a disgrace to our family, and she'll be a disgrace to yours too if you go ahead with this marriage."

The Duke's face darkened. "I won't stand for that kind of talk," he growled. "Sara is a lady, and she's never done anything to deserve this kind of talk. I'll find her, and when I do, I'll make sure she's safe and well."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room, his mind already working on a plan to find Sara and bring her back home. The rest of the family watched him go, their faces filled with a mix of anxiety and hope. They knew that the Duke was their best chance of finding Sara and bringing her back home, but they also knew that Aunt Mary was not likely to give up her vendetta against Sara anytime soon.

"She's going to ruin us all," she muttered to herself. "I knew this would happen. I knew it." Bottom of Form

                      Sara was bent on not going back. She would rather starve to death on the street than go back to that house.

Steve saw her from across the street.

   "Sara?" He was shocked to find her there, on the outskirts of London. He ran and held her hand.

"What are you doing here?" He asked her.

Sara pulled her hand out of his. He looked at her and noticed she had a small bag with her.

"Do not tell me you are running away from home. Sara, do you know the implications of this? The duke will find you, and you will be punished for leaving home," He told her.

Sara looked away from him.

"And why do you care? You have no reason either. After all, you too use me for money," She said. She could not stand to see him after what he had done.

Sara wanted to leave but also needed a place to stay and food to eat.

"I am sorry, Sara, but you do not know how difficult it has been for my family. We have owned the Duke for years, and this was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to clear it all. If it was you, Sara, would you not take it? Will you not free your family from a life of disgrace?" He asked her.

She looked at him.

"Are you going to take me back to him?" She asked him.

Steve was quiet.

"I have a small house here. You should stay for the night and return tomorrow. It will be difficult for you to find shelter as it is already late," He told her.

Sara looked at him. She realized he had never loved her. There was a reason he came back for her and proposed marriage, but immediately after the problems were solved, he abandoned her without informing her.

"There they are!" Soldiers pointed at them.

Steve held Sara's hand and ran with her.

"There is no point running." She stopped to catch her breath.

Steve was silent. He informed the guard of their whereabouts earlier.

     "Then go back home. I will look for a solution for you," He told her.

The duke arrived after a couple of minutes. To Sara’s surprise, he had joined the search too.

     "You have had your fun. It is time to return home, Miss Adams. We are to be married; running away from home will make you look like a loose woman. Thank the Lord that many people don’t know how you look; you would have become the topic of gossip in London," He told her.

Sara laughed.

"I care less about what others think; you should know by now. Besides, I have good news for you," She said.

The Duke wanted to hear what she had to say.

"I am with Child; I’m afraid our arrangement has to be called off," She said.

William had a frown on his face. He was angry. He turned to Steve, who immediately shook his head, stating he was not the father of the child.

"Pregnant or not, you are coming with me, and if I eventually find out what you say is true, you will waste no time in aborting it." He was serious.

Sara climbed into the carriage slowly. She was angry. All her efforts were wasted, and why did she come up with such a lie that could ruin her reputation?

William looked at her while they were in the carriage.

"What did you gain out of this?" He asked her. "I am so bad that you despise the thought of marrying me." He asked her.

She did not answer. Sara turned her head away and faced the window.

      "I am talking to you," He shouted and pulled her hand away so she could face him.

Sara was scared; she had not seen that side of the duke before.

His coach opened the carriage door, and William left her hand and adjusted himself.

"Your grace, the weather has changed, and we will not be able to ride under such circumstances. I suggest we find shelter first and ride off first thing tomorrow," He told William.

William sighed and nodded.

   "Fine. I think there is an inn nearby. Get us there so we can eat and rest; tomorrow we will continue," He told him.

The rain started falling heavily, carrying small stalls away. The driver found the inn and stopped.

William opened the umbrella that was in the coach and used it to cover Sara, but she walked past it, drenching herself in the rain.

As she reached the inn, she regretted walking out of the umbrella immediately.

"Good day, Sir, Madam." Sara looked at the master; he thought she was married to the duke.

Sara wanted to correct him, but William spoke immediately.

"We are in need of two rooms. We are very far from home and cannot continue our journey because of the storm," He said.

Sara couldn't believe her misfortune. Not only was there a storm raging outside but now she was stuck sharing a room with the Duke, a man she despised with every fiber of her being.

Sara turned to face Duke William, dread pooling in her stomach. "I suppose we have no other choice," she muttered through gritted teeth.

"Very well," Duke William agreed with a curt nod. "We shall take the room."

As they climbed the creaky stairs to their room, Sara couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She had never been alone with Duke William before, and the thought of spending the night under the same roof as him made her skin crawl.

Once they reached the room, Sara immediately headed for the small wardrobe in the corner. "Excuse me," she said, turning her back to Duke William. "I need to change out of these wet clothes." She said and picked up the nightdress that was at the bedpost; it was her perfect size.

As she fumbled with the buttons on her dress, she heard Duke William clear his throat behind her. "Perhaps I should step outside," he suggested.

"No need," Sara replied sharply. She entered the small bathroom, pulled off her dress, and slipped into a dry nightgown. "I'll be finished in a moment."

William nodded and made his way over to the fireplace, where a warm fire crackled merrily. As Sara finished dressing, she couldn't help but sneak a glance at him out of the corner of her eye. Despite her hatred for him, she couldn't deny that he cut an impressive figure. His broad shoulders and chiseled jawline were the envy of every man in London.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows across the walls. Sara jumped at thunder, and Duke William turned to face her.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his voice surprisingly gentle.

Sara felt a strange flutter in her chest at the concern in his voice. She quickly shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm fine," she replied curtly.

William laughed and went closer to her.

"Are you shy? Were you this shy when you decided to sleep with someone else?" He asked her.

Sara shook her head.

He took her hands from her chest and felt her breast through her nightgown.

"This is inappropriate, your grace. You should not be doing this; we are not married," She told him.

She was not going to shout because it would have drawn the attention of the other guests.

He leaned in and kissed her.

"You claim you are pregnant, so there is nothing stopping me from having you now," He told her. "Besides, when everyone learns you are pregnant, I will claim the pregnancy; everyone will think we have already been together." He smiled.

Sara moved, looking for a place she could run to, but she was trapped. There was a wall, and she was trapped.

"Your grace, I am a lady, and this is inappropriate," She repeated.

William pulled her sleeves down, exposing her shoulder and the top of her breasts.

"You are very beautiful, Sara," He said, filled with lust in his eyes.

Sara's heart beat fast; that was the first time he had called her by her name.

"Your grace, I am not pregnant. Now can you leave me alone?" She pushed him off.

William laughed.

"I thought as much, but you do know that what you are running away from will eventually come, because I am going to take you and make you mine, use your body, and drive your soul mad. I will do it soon, Sara, but legally. Good night, Sara. I will take the couch." He kissed her cheek and looked at her for some time.

She was beautiful and aroused by what he had just done. She could deny it, but her body could not. At least he knew they were sexually compatible, and that was all that mattered to William. It was not about love but about pleasure and, of course, children to continue his line.

Sara's face was red with embarrassment. She pulled up her sleeves and covered her chest with her arms.

William started to wonder if he was wrong; Sara was just eighteen, and he was exposing her to all this. He was supposed to be gentle with her. She was still a child in all aspects.

Although society expected her to be mature enough at that age, it still felt wrong. He was not going to let his righteousness drive him away from his goals. Sara was perfect for the role of his wife; she had all the features he could want in a woman. With his and her looks, they were going to make perfect children.