However, she did not have much time to ponder on this. It was imprudent to linger here, and she hurriedly made her way to the hall, becoming aware that the servants busying themselves about paid her no mind or cast only disdainful glances in her direction.
“Be gone already. You've pestered milady long enough,” one of the elderly serving women flung at her, and Emma felt suddenly struck by the scorn in her voice.
Outside, as she drew away from the house and attempted to fade into the busy square, she became even more aware of the new way in which the people around her perceived her. Before, they had respectfully held their distance as she'd walked by, yet now they jostled her and pushed her away disdainfully whenever she unwittingly collided against them.
“Watch where you’re going, woman!” an angry voice in the crowd reprimanded her.
With a deep breath, Emma had told herself to watch around her with care from now on, swiftly understanding things would be far different for her in the new life she'd chosen. However, she did not feel even an ounce of regret for the old life she was leaving behind. She just felt worried for the woman who'd chosen that life in her stead.
Coming back from her memories, in the London square where she found herself at this time, Emma strived to remember her newly acquired lesson and glanced around her with caution. Things were indeed different, and she was now a woman alone in London, where she'd arrived not two weeks before, after she'd landed on English soil, fresh off the boat which had brought her from France. She'd taken lodgings in London for the time being and she was thinking hard upon what to do next, knowing she could no longer reside in London for more than a few weeks. London might be a large town, but Emma thought it wiser to set up the embroidering business she wished to start in a smaller town which was more remote and where there'd be no fear of recognition or questions asked.
At present, she wrapped her cloak tight around her body, aware she was in a crowded square and mindful of the thieves who might want to get hold of the full purse she was carrying. There was a feeling of unease creeping up her spine, not unlike the one she'd harboured the moment she'd left her former home. At that time the unease had been born out of the fear of starting a new life, alone, with no one to watch over her. At this time though, Emma knew the unease was caused by a man in the crowd, who must have been staring at her for a long while.
Emma struggled not to stare back at him, recalling that in the past weeks most men had been casting her bold, shameless glances. Some had even attempted to chat with her, but she hadkept her distance, aware that now, as she'd become a commoner woman, these men would no longer care to keep theirs. And not ten days ago, there had been another man intently staring at her, and even following her for a good while through the crowd. Emma had felt thankful for the busy day, as many people had been in the square and she had managed to avoid the one who'd been pursuing her. She did not know why the man had pursued her so intently, but she did not care to ever find out.
Soon Emma became aware that the man who was now staring after her was different from the one who'd followed her before. From what she was able to see, he was tall and lithe and had a grim expression on his face. However, she knew it was unwise to have her eyes linger upon him, so she hastily started to walk away, hoping he would soon find another woman to pursue in the square, a willing one this time. She glanced over her shoulder after a while, and breathed in sheer relief finding him gone. Still, she told herself she needed to be cautious, resolving to postpone the errand upon which she'd gone. She had meant to buy blue silk thread for an embroidery, but this was a purchase which could wait. Just as she decided to return to her lodgings sooner than she'd planned, she felt a hand upon her shoulder, which made her startle. Her heart thumped in alarm when she suddenly perceived the stranger who'd been staring after her before. He'd come from a direction different than the one in which she'd glanced, so she understood he must have indeed been pursuing her and known she might try to run away from him. Emma prepared to bolt just as the stranger's large hand clasped around her shoulder.
"Rowena," the stranger said.
His voice was flinty and his face unsmiling, but Emma suppressed a deep sigh, understanding this man was acquainted with Rowena and thought himself entitled to come to speak to a woman he knew.
"Good morrow," she muttered, struggling to keep her voice calm and unconcerned, just as her eyes were darting around, trying to find a way of getting away as soon as could be.
The man frowned at her, as if she'd said something untoward, and in deep anguish, Emma felt long fingers swiftly close around her arm.
"You're coming with me," the stranger said in a commanding voice.
Emma started to shake her head, beginning to fear this man was someone who already knew of the deception she and Rowena were responsible for. But she tried to still her thumping heart and reason that this could not be. This man only knew Rowena and he naturally assumed she was Rowena.
“Walk,” he ordered sharply.
Again Emma’s eyes began to search around her in the frantic attempt to find a way of escape. The stranger’s arm was now holding her in an iron grip and the people in the square did not seem concerned by it. To them, it must seem she and this man knew each other, and that this was only a lovers’ quarrel.
Emma started to debate within herself. It was more than plain this man knew Rowena well. She did not know how Rowena might have dealt with him to stir such anger in his piercing brown eyes. Yet it was obvious he was enraged against her. Should she attempt to tell him she was not the woman he thought she was? But then he might call upon the law and questions would be asked. If her deception was revealed, her uncle would understand that the woman he’d married off to FitzUrse was not his true niece. Emma did not fear mainly for her own fate, but for Rowena’s. Rowena was a commoner, and Emma knew plainly that where a noblewoman might be spared by the law, a commoner woman would be harshly chastised. She recalled with a shudder the gruesome punishment she’d once been forced to witness by her uncle’s side. A commoner hadimpersonated a nobleman and they’d cut off his right hand for it. She reasoned she herself risked only life in a convent, while Rowena was risking life and limb for what they’d done. So she resolved to hold her peace and do the stranger's bidding. Yet, as if they had a will of their own, her feet would not move at the stranger’s grim command.
“Walk!” the stranger repeated, as fury seeped into his voice.
Emma flinched when his piercing eyes came upon her. What did he have in store for her? What vengeance did he harbour against Rowena? And what could Rowena have done to make this man so angry?
“Walk or I swear I’ll spank you here and now,” the stranger told her resolutely.
“What?” Emma asked with widened eyes.
“Right,” the man retorted tersely.
Stunned, Emma heard a loud smack and belatedly understood the man’s hand had made swift contact with her bottom. The smack burnt and she stared at him in deep outrage. This man was a commoner. A commoner just smacked her behind. In her former life such men would not have dared even to glance upon her.
“You…”
She searched for words to berate him with, but a second smack cut off what she’d meant to say. It made her behind tingle with an even more unpleasant burn as his fingers squeezed her arm firmly.
“Will you walk now or do you want more?” the stranger asked her in a dark, resolute voice.
Emma found herself shaking her head because he’d only smacked her bottom twice, but it already tingled fiercely. There was no doubt he was set on giving her a good spanking if she did not comply. She suppressed a deep sigh of anguish.
“I... Fine. I shall come with you. But I—”
The stranger nodded grimly and started walking with wide, brisk strides which Emma tried to keep up with as he still held her arm very tight. She was frantically wondering what he had in store for her and what she could say to make him see she had done nothing wrong against him and was not deserving of his vengeance. They walked a long way, in utter silence, coming to an area of London which was unfamiliar to Emma, and which commoners rather than noblemen were bound to frequent. In some relief, she came to see the man was leading her to an inn, and Emma welcomed the chance of resting her now weary feet.