'Hello, Kara.'

Kara looked up in surprise to see Camilla walking towards her. Camilla's eyes had a faraway look, and she seated herself beside Kara, unusually thoughtful and silent.

'Roman has told me about your predicament. I never knew he had a cowardly streak in him.'

A little worm of fear seemed to stir in Kara's heart at the mention of that word. Roman? A coward? Could it be true?

'Yes, he has told me that he won't help you escape.' Camilla shook her head, her lips compressed into a thin line. 'Señora Castellan told me that you showed her the marks on your back where he whipped you. May I see?'

Kara felt too leaden to respond, but didn't protest when Camilla reached across and began unbuttoning the back of her dress. Camilla was silent a long time, and seemed to struggle for a long moment with some decision she had made.

'Your father, why did he do this?' Camilla finally asked, refastening Kara's dress, her voice barely above a whisper.

'For refusing to marry a man of his choosing.'

'This man, what was he like?'

Kara told her in the bluntest possible terms.

Camilla sighed, and joined Kara in sitting hugging her knees for warmth.

'All right. I will help you escape.'

Kara turned to her, chagrined.

Camilla half turned to her as if to smile, but seemed unable to follow through with the gesture, and kept her gaze deliberately lowered so that her eyes were difficult to read.

'As you know, my family lives in Port Haven. When the time comes I will have some friends of mine come and spirit you away, and we will keep you safe and hidden. Does that sound like a plan?'

Kara nodded speechlessly.

'There is, however, one thing I want in return,' Camilla told her, and this time she was able to look Kara directly in the eye. Kara found no comfort in what she saw there. 'I know that you are infatuated with Roman- don't you even try to deny it! Perhaps you aren't even aware of it yourself yet, but it is written all over your face. Roman knows it too, as does the Señora and Guiseppe and Maria and everyone else.

'I wouldn't mind, except that Roman has some feelings for you, too. Ah, you weren't aware of that, either! Well, I must tell you that I can not, I will not, abide any woman who might come between me and my Roman! You are little more than a girl now, but in a few years your heart and your body will bloom, and already Roman feels the call of temptation where you are concerned.




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