A Loving Family by Dilly Court Page B

this.’
    â€˜You want me to, I know you do. You’re a beautiful woman now, and you know it. Your dark eyes would drive a lesser man to distraction.’ He tried to kiss her and she turned her head away, making a frantic effort to free herself, but he dragged her to her knees. ‘Love me, Stella. Love me.’ He forced her backwards onto the floor, pinning her down with the weight of his body. His eyes were glazed with desire and as she opened her mouth to scream he silenced her cries with a savage kiss. His teeth grazed her lips and his tongue almost choked her. She struggled but this only seemed to excite him more and he traced the line of her neck with his finger, sliding his hand down to wrench the buttons off her blouse and expose her bare flesh. ‘You want me. You know you do. I’ve seen it in your eyes, you little wanton.’
    â€˜Please let me go, Tommy,’ she gasped. ‘This is me, Stella. I’m your friend. Don’t do this to me.’
    â€˜Get off her.’ Jacob’s angry voice penetrated Stella’s dazed brain and suddenly she was free. She scrambled to her feet in time to see Jacob and Tommy locked in an unequal struggle. Jacob was short and stocky but he was used to manual labour and he had the advantage over Tommy, who had never been the athletic type. A swift upper cut sent him sprawling onto the tiled floor and Jacob stood over him, rubbing his bruised knuckles with a triumphant smile on his craggy features.
    â€˜What have you done?’ Stella whispered, crossing her arms over her exposed breasts. ‘You might have killed him.’
    Tommy groaned but his eyes remained closed and he made no attempt to rise.
    â€˜He’s not dead, although he deserves to be.’ Jacob prodded Tommy’s inert body with the toe of his boot. ‘He’d have taken you like a wild beast if I hadn’t been on hand.’ His expression softened as he gave Stella a concerned look. ‘Are you all right? Did he hurt you?’
    She shook her head. ‘Not really. I can’t believe he behaved in such a way.’
    â€˜I saw you racing towards the folly. I knew something was up so I followed you and lucky I did.’
    â€˜Were you spying on me, Jacob?’
    â€˜I was bringing Sir Percy’s horse back from the farrier when I spotted you. I seen him too, so I knew he was up to no good.’
    She shivered convulsively as the chill seeped into her bones. ‘I thought he wanted to talk as we did when we were children. We were good friends in those days.’
    â€˜That was a long time ago. You should have known better.’ Jacob backed away as Tommy made an attempt to rise. ‘Touch her again, cully, and I’ll knock your block off.’
    Tommy staggered to his feet, holding his hand to his bruised chin. ‘You’ll both pay for this.’ He stumbled out of the folly and they watched him weave his way across the lawn like a drunken man.
    â€˜I’ll be sacked for sure,’ Jacob said, picking up his cap and ramming it onto his head. ‘I’ve left the horses to find their own way to the stables so I’d best go and make sure they’re all right before I pack me bags. You’ll be out on your pretty little ear too, no doubt.’
    â€˜I couldn’t stay after that anyway.’ Stella reached for her shawl. ‘I’ve already been in trouble thanks to Master Tommy. But I still can’t believe the way he behaved.’
    â€˜It’s the drink that makes men behave like animals. My old man used to spend his wages on tiddley and come home roaring drunk to beat up me mother and any of us that got in his way. When sober he was a decent chap, but drunk he was a brute. I can see Master Tommy going the same way. You’ll be better off away from here.’ He linked her hand through his arm. ‘I’ll see you safe to the kitchen and then I’ll take care of the horses, although they know