100. A Rose In Jeopardy by Barbara Cartland Page A

fingers.
    “You are so soft, my little angel,” he whispered, his moustache scratching her ear. “Let Algernon adore you, that’s the way.”
    Terror rose up in Rosella’s chest. She could feel the burning tide of it pushing up through her body, as he pressed himself ever more closely against her, forcing the breath from her lungs.
    “ Please ,” she managed to gasp, closing her eyes so that she could no longer see his face.
    She felt his bulky body shake with laughter.
    “Please? Now that’s more like it! What is it that you want from your Algernon, my pretty angel!”
    “Let me go!”
    “Of course, of course,” he crooned. “But first you will kiss me and then you will promise to be my wife.”
    The tide of terror was threatening to overcome her and she realised that she was about to faint, for the same strange giddiness was now coming over her that she had experienced in the dressmaker’s shop.
    But she could not lose herself and lie helpless in the arms of Mr. Merriman.
    With a huge effort she now opened her eyes wide, willing herself to stay conscious.
    Over Algernon’s shoulder, she saw that the young man in her painting was looking down at her with the same mischievous smile still on his face.
    As her desperate gaze met his painted eyes, she felt strength and courage flooding back into her veins.
    ‘ Help me, please !’ she prayed to him silently.
    And then suddenly she heard music playing, violins and flutes and saw shadowy figures dancing under the light of a huge chandelier.
    The young man stood in front of her, holding out his hands, his dark eyes glowing under the colourful turban that wreathed his head.
    “What shall I do?” she asked him.
    The young man laughed.
    “Outwit him!” he replied. “Play with him. He’s a fool and you are far cleverer than he. Then you must dance with me – I have been waiting for you a very long time – ”
    A wave of bliss rose up in her heart and she stood on tiptoe with the joy of the music and the thought that in just a moment she would be spinning across the floor of the great ballroom –
    “Rosella! Lady Rosella?” Algernon’s voice rang faintly in her ears and she felt his fingers against her cheek.
    And then she was back in her bedroom, still pinned against her dressing table.
    Her captor was frowning down at her.
    “You have gone all pale and cold,” he said. “I hope you are not going to be ill.”
    “I am fine,” Rosella managed to say and she turned her head aside to buy a moment’s time.
    ‘ Outwit him ,’ the young man had told her. But how could she do it?
    “Good, I am waiting for a kiss,” Algernon said in a childish wheedling tone. “And I shall not let you go until you have said you will be my wife.”
    “You are crushing me,” Rosella cried. “Please, I can hardly speak.”
    “A kiss!” he demanded.
    “I cannot breathe.”
    He shifted his weight a little, so that he did not lie so heavily on her, but kept his face close to hers.
    “Come on, my little angel! A kiss.”
    “You ask a – lot of me.”
    “A kiss? Such a tiny thing.”
    His breath smelled of wine and beef from luncheon.
    “A kiss is not – such a small thing for a girl like myself,” Rosella countered.
    She seemed to see the young man still smiling and nodding encouragement as she thought of what to say next.
    “I – am very young – ” she continued.
    “And so sweet!”
    Algernon squeezed her waist.
    “I have never kissed anyone before.”
    “Then I shall be the first.”
    Algernon gave a little groan of delight.
    “Indeed. But – dear Mr. Merriman, I cannot even think of such a thing until we are engaged.”
    “Oh,” he said and a wide smile dawned on his face. “Then – you will do it. You will be Mrs. Merriman!”
    “I will think about it,” Rosella said. “I promise you that – I will think about it.”
    His smile faded a little.
    “But – ”
    “It has all been so sudden,” she went on, forcing herself to smile at him. “I