Undaunted Love (PART ONE): Banished Saga, Book 3 by Ramona Flightner

call,” Savannah protested in an attempt to soothe him.
    “Why did she come?”
    “She is friends with Aunt Betsy and wanted to make my acquaintance.”
    He leaned down and gripped her arms, half lifting her from the chair. “Why now, Savannah?”
    “Aunt Betsy was worried about me after I visited with her in Quincy last month. I haven’t written her since my return, and she wanted her friend to call on me and see how I fared.”
    Jonas roared as he threw her back into her chair. He then slapped her so hard across the face, she fell onto the rug. Savannah recoiled, bringing up her hands to her cheek to guard against further attack. She turned onto her belly, attempting to crawl behind an overstuffed chair.
    “How dare your family gossip about the goings-on of your marriage?” he hissed as he leaned over her, reaching down to hold her shoulder and keep her in place. “I know I should expect no better from a shopkeeper’s daughter, but I had hoped you had learned some refinement from your grandparents.”
    “No. No, please!” Savannah begged as she curled into a ball. His booted foot connected with her shin but missed her belly.
    “I will teach you about the proper public persona you must always don.” He clasped her arms and dragged her to a standing position. Savannah struggled, trying to break free from his merciless grasp. She gasped as his fingers dug into her arms.
    Suddenly Savannah was dropped to the floor with a thud as Jonas flew backward and crashed into an ornate bookcase. She backed into the side of the settee, her knees pulled up to her chest as tears poured down her cheeks.
    “Don’t you ever touch her again,” a menacing voice hissed as another loud thwack sounded of a fist meeting bone.
    Savannah heard Jonas groan weakly while she sat huddled on the floor, shaking. She whimpered when strong arms picked her up, and soon she was moving from the sitting room, down the stairs and out the front door.
    “Sir! Sir!” her maid, Mary, yelled as she ran after them down the sidewalk. “Take this,” and she handed him a bag so jammed full of clothes it could not be closed.
    “Mary,” Savannah whispered as she flung out an arm to grasp her hand.
    “You’re her maid.”
    Savannah recognized Florence’s voice.
    “You will come with us. If you return to the house, he will harm you. Come!”
    The man holding Savannah maneuvered them into a carriage. “Ma’am, are you all right?” Savannah relaxed fully when she recognized Jeremy’s voice.
    “Mr. McLeod,” she said. “How did you know to come?”
    “I received your letter today. Mary delivered it. We became frantic with worry and wanted to ensure you were well,” Florence said, as she leaned over to stroke Savannah’s forehead.
    “Where are we going?” Savannah whispered.
    “To my dragon lady friend. She’s a fellow suffragist, a friend of Clarissa’s and mine, and not one to be trifled with. She’ll not allow anything to happen to you,” Florence said.
    Savannah shook at the realization that she was safe.
    “Shh, ma’am, you’ll be all right,” Jeremy crooned into her ear as he caressed her back, soothing her. He continued to hold her protectively on his lap.
    Upon their arrival at a row house on Beacon Street across from the Boston Common, Florence walked toward the door and banged on the knocker a few times.
    “Flo, I hardly doubt anyone who lives here expects the likes of us to call,” Jeremy said as he stared at the imposing bow-fronted brick home with green shutters beside all its windows. The white trim around the door gleamed in the bright sunlight, as did the brass knocker on the door.
    “Nonsense. I’m good friends with her,” Florence said, and Savannah, carried in the sure arms of Jeremy McLeod, saw Florence greet the butler with familiarity.
    “Ah, Mrs. McLeod, a pleasure to see you again. Please allow me to inquire if Mrs. Chickering is receiving this afternoon.”
    “Please inform her that Mrs. Montgomery is