CHAPTER18
Sally
Later that night, after Joanna and her family had returned to their own home, Sally found herself at the piano forte in Leonard’s grand music room. Like everything in Leonard’s home, it was grand and consisted of only the finest instruments. A large piano stood by the window while a harp was covered with a cloth on the opposite side of the room. A cloth had also covered the piano but she’d removed it some time ago, longing to play again. Though thus far she hadn’t had a chance to. Something always demanded her attention but tonight she found herself with ample time on her hands.
Leonard had gone for a walk alone, which was a custom she’d learned to appreciate as he usually returned calmer and in good spirits. When she found herself alone at this hour, she usually read – her interest in wines and vineyards had only grown since she’d learned it was a topic she and Leonard could bond over. Besides, she found the science behind it rather interesting. However, tonight her mind did not feel like taking in new information, too exhausting had the day been. She adored Joanna but after a long eventful day with the family, a little peace and quiet was appreciated.
She slipped behind the piano and lifted the lid. The keys at once looked inviting and she placed her hands on them with her eyes closed. As if under their own force, they moved across the keys, eliciting a melody. Her posture was poised, yet there was a subtle tension in her movements, betraying the discomfort she felt from her injured ankle. Ever since her fall on her first day here, her ankle had continued to hurt, some days more than on others. Despite the pain, her passion for music shone through, infusing each note with emotion and expression. Soon, she sat with her eyes closed, her hands moving easily.
By the time she’d finished the song, she sat back and opened her eyes, feeling lighter than before when a slow clap made her head snap around. She gasped when she saw Leonard standing in the doorway, his shoulder casually leaning against the doorway.
“Leonard, I did not know you were here,” she said and got up, suddenly mortified. She hadn’t played for anyone in a long time and certainly not Leonard.
“I did not want to interrupt you. You play beautifully,” he said and entered the room.
“Thank you. I am not truly accomplished at playing,” she said, humble as always.
“Of course you are, you could play in an orchestra,” he said early. Sally waved a hand and got up.
“Please, I simply play for …Oh!” As she rose, her ankle ached because her leg had been in one position for too long.
Leonard was at her side in one second, wrapping his arm around her as she regained her balance. He escorted her to the chaise near the fireplace and settled her. After placing her leg up on a low stool he sat beside her, concern flickering in his eyes. “Should I call the physician?” he inquired, his brow furrowing with concern. “It’s been nearly two weeks since you fell in the library; it shouldn’t still have hurt like this.”
“It is nothing to worry about, really,” she assured him, forcing a smile despite the persistent ache in her ankle. “It will be fine with some rest.” Her words carried a hint of reassurance, but Leonard’s anxious look remained fixed on her, his worry evident in his furrowed brow.
“How did you hurt it in the first place? You mentioned it has troubled you for years now,” he asked.
Sally hesitated, contemplating whether to share her secret with Leonard. Officially, she’d told everyone she’d crackled her ankle during a dance, but of course that wasn’t the truth. Not really. She hadn’t dared tell anyone about the incident that truly led to her injury, not even Joanna. She’d been so mortified, so scared she hadn’t been able to bring herself to say it. Yet, somehow she wanted to tell Leonard everything. A part of her hoped that it might allow him to trust her with whatever troubled him, while another felt genuinely close to him and wanted to be honest with the one person she was to share her life with.
“It happened three years ago,” she started, her words measured. “I was at a ball in town.” Her mind drifted back to that temperate summer night, the strains of music floating on the warm breeze, the laughter of the guests mingling with the rustle of silk skirts. “It was a hot night,” she continued. “I’d been dancing for some while as it was only my second season. I was eager to make a match and my mother encouraged me not to turn down a single dance.” She scoffed and crumpled her muslin dress between her hands as she spoke.
“After a while, I was so tired and sweaty I needed to get outside. I know it isn’t very glamorous to tell you this,” she said and raised her eyes, but he shook his head.
“I am not one alarmed by natural events such as getting warm while dancing. I have broken a sweat after a vigorous quadrille, as one should when one dances it right,” he winked at her, and Sally relaxed, a little glad he was making it so easy for her to talk.
“Thank you, really. I … Anyhow, I needed the air and stepped out into the garden. I had to catch my breath and my mother was always adamant about not sweating or panting in front of company.”
This time, Leonard let out a laugh. “How dare you, Sally? Sweating and panting? The disgrace. A truly accomplished lady knows how to keep her body from engaging in such functions. If you do not learn to control such things you will never be Queen,” he clicked his tongue and shook his head while she chuckled, one hand in front of her mouth. He was kind, gentle. He knew already this wasn’t easy for her. If only she could find the key to unlock whatever cage held this gentle version of him for good. Encouraged, she carried on her story.
“I walked a distance because I remember there was a rose bed that I wanted to see and then I sat down for a bit, just enjoying the breeze when I heard something in the bushes. It thought it was an animal,” she said, suddenly thinking back to the day at the lake just recently when this very experience had repeated itself. “I thought nothing of it when suddenly, a man leaped out from behind a bush. How he’d gotten there I do not know. He rushed toward me and grabbed my hand. I remember the smell on him – he was drunk as a wheelbarrow.” She shuddered and instinctively moved a little closer to Leonard. “His skin around my hand was damp I remember that clear as day and I tried to get away but he would not let me.”
“Perdition,” Leonard gasped beside her. The way the word came out, quick and sharp, told her he truly worried about her.
“He would have, I know. I... I tried to scream,” she stammered, her eyes welling up with tears. “But he... he covered my mouth, and I couldn’t... I couldn’t...”
Her breath caught in her throat as she recalled the feeling of suffocation, the sheer terror of being overpowered by a stranger in the darkness. Leonard moved so that their arms touched and their knees leaned against one another. The warmth from him and his lovely scent gave her strength to carry on. “I knew I had to do something to get out of the situation and so I bit him, I kicked him, but he... he wouldn’t let go. Finally, I broke the skin on his hand by biting hard and I ran,” she uttered over the pounding of her heart.
Leonard listened in stunned silence, his eyes wide with horror as if imagining the terror Sally experienced. “You fought back,” he stammered “You were so brave, Sally.”
She nodded, her tears now flowing freely as she relived the moment she broke free, only to fall and injure herself in the process. “I... I twisted my ankle,” she choked out, her voice hitching with emotion. “I-I fell over a cobblestone and let out a cry. He was behind me, following, but then the garden door opened and someone called to see if there was a disturbance. From the corner of my eye, I saw him leaving, running away and then... and he was gone, but...”
Hot tears spilled from her eyes and ran across her chin. “I was so scared. I couldn’t… I couldn’t tell anyone what happened so instead I said that I fell and … they brought me inside and tended to my leg. My mother was so angry, thinking I’d been clumsy when really I …”
“You survived an attack,” he said, incensed now. “Oh, Sally, I am so sorry this happened to you. You didn’t deserve this.” He inhaled sharply. “Is this why you reacted so strongly at the lake?”
She nodded, her cheeks turning red. “Yes, it reminded me of that night. Ever since I have trouble with strange noises like that, and I do not like to go out alone at night. It isn’t as if it haunts me but it did change the way I act.”
“I am so very sorry I made fun of you then. I didn’t know …” She turned and placed a hand on top of his. “No, please do not worry. I am glad you turned it into something we could laugh about. Really.”
