Pride and Retribution by Lyndsey Norton Page A

stay away from Markham?’ she demanded. ‘Why did Buxton take all my waltzes and then tell me the last person I needed to waltz with was Markham?’
    Robert threw his leg over his horse’s neck and slid from the saddle, kee ping the reins in his hand. He pulled Lucy to his chest and held her tight. ‘Do you have feelings for Markham?’ he asked softly.
    ‘No.’ Lucy whispered. ‘I’m not sure I even like him and I certainly don’t trust him, but nobody will tell me why I shouldn’t.’ she almost sobbed.
    Robert sighed deeply and squeezed her a little harder. ‘Markham is a rapist.’ He murmured.
    ‘What does that mean?’ Lucy asked and looked up into her brother’s face. He was astonished to see the innocence of his sister shining in her green and gold eyes. He felt a frisson of doubt that he should tell her, but there was a part of him that was happy that it would be him and not some strange man that would tell her the facts of life. He released her and tied his horse beside hers. He held out his hand and she took it.
    ‘Do you know what happens between a man and a woman in the bedroom?’ he asked and squirmed when she solemnly shook her head. ‘Have you studied anatomy?’ She nodded and blushed. ‘Then you know the difference between a man and a woman?’ She nodded sheepishly. ‘Well, to make this as simple as possible and man’s part fits into a woman’s passage.’ He said and she stared as her brother flushed. He watched the expressions flit across her face; fascination, wonder, followed by a frown and ending in confusion. ‘I can assure you it is a most pleasurable event as long as the man makes you ready for it.’ Robert dug his finger into his cravat and tried to loosen it.
    ‘Is it like the horse’s mating?’ she asked innocently.
    ‘Yes, but less cold.’ He sighed and slipped his arm around her shoulders and started walking, feeling the need for movement. She was rigid with tension. ‘It can be many things, wonderful or horrific, depending on your partner and the amount of emotion involved. Men don’t need emotional involvement to have sex.’ He continued, ‘but women do. If your feelings aren’t engaged it can be a painful experience.’ He shook his head. ‘Mother should be explaining this to you, not me.’
    ‘She won’t tell me anything.’ Lucy said her frown still furrowing her forehead. ‘So what is a rapist?’
    ‘A rapist is a man who takes a woman without asking for permission.’ He said and sighed again.
    ‘Do mean like asking a brother or father?’ She asked softly.
    ‘No.’ he shook his head solemnly. ‘I mean grabbing some unattended lady off the terrace at a ball, dragging her into the undergrowth, ripping her clothes off and cramming his man part into her passage even though she is probably struggling and terrified beyond belief.’ He said harshly and she felt his hand tighten on her shoulder.
    ‘Do many men do that kind of thing?’ she asked in horror. She had a vivid picture of a very drunk Buxton dragging her off the stone bench at Fotheringay’s ball, tearing her gown off, cramming his man part into her womanly passage and she felt a distinct throb from her nether regions.
    ‘It happens regularly in the lower classes and there are enough supposed gentlemen who would take advantage of the housemaids, but Markham is the only noble I have ever heard of doing it to a lady.’ He sighed again ‘That’s why mother would tell you to avoid him and why Buxton would take all your waltzes.’ He stopped and turned her to face him ‘He’s right. The last man you need to waltz with is Markham. He was one of the reasons why both Richard and I attended your season. There was absolutely no way I was going to let Markham anywhere near you and mother made sure we didn’t accept too many popular invitations.’ He tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear. ‘I didn’t want to give him the opportunity to either ruin you or rape you.’ He said