Page 40 of The Forbidden Love of an Officer (The Marlow Family #7)

She had prayed for it to end. Prayed to survive…

Now she lay on the floor. He had gone. But she could not make her limbs move and go to her bed.

A part of her did not believe what had happened. She was not certain of anything anymore. How could any man do something so vile? He was a senior army officer. She had trusted him.

He had secured his breeches and said, ‘That is done then, Ellen. Thank you. You will not say no to me again.’ Then walked away as though he had not just violated her in the cruellest way.

She longed to call for Megan, but she was afraid to admit what had just occurred. It was her fault. Yet the error had not been in the last few moments; in not locking her door, in not having said no more firmly and leaving the house. The error had been made months ago when she accepted his help.

Foolish… Foolish! It was foolish to have thought it was safe to accept anything from this man and think there would be no consequence.

Paul would be turning in his grave so many miles away. His body had been sent home to his family. He would be chiding her, too, for giving away the money he had left for her to find a pathway home. She should have left Brussels with Jennifer.

She held her stomach, protecting their child.