(John's POV)

Isabel was so pale as she stood up and took a step away from him. She was trying to protect someone. Who could it be? A brother? Or maybe Henry? He had seen them talking when she first arrived. It could be anyone, since she was that kind of person who would feel a sense of loyalty to whoever tried to protect her. He wished he would have been the one to protect her.

But what had the bailiff done to her? Richard had been clutching a knife.

"Did he hurt you?" He stepped closer.

"Who? No, no. I'm not hurt."

But he saw her hand go to her arm and rub it.

"Tell me the truth? Did he hurt you?'

Her bottom lip trembled. "He hurt my arm, and hurt my face to keep me quiet. But he didn't hurt me in the way you mean. Although he would have if I hadn't gotten away." Tears started gathering in her eyes.

He should've been there. "Let me see your arm."

She held out her arm. He grasped her arm and pulled up the sleeve to reveal bruises on her wrist and upper arm.

"Come on."

He took her hand and he led her to the door. "You have to go." He hurried her toward the door, much too aware of the softness of her small hand in his. "Don't tell anyone about what happened. Climb in bed and pretend everything is fine. I will tell you if the bailiff dies. Otherwise you have to assume he is alive." He opened the door. "Now go."

(Isabel's POV)

Isabel climbed into bed. Thankfully no one even noticed her missing.

Olive walked in and Isabel's stomach sank. Did Olive know her father could be dead?

What kind of father had the bailiff been? Poor Olive. She already lost most of her family. She has only one sister who was married and lived in another village, and apparently an aunt. Isabel's body seemed to sink deeper in the mattress with guilt and regret.

The thoughts from the night hit Isabel as soon as she woke up the next morning. Miss Elizabeth walked in and took Olive outside, no doubt to tell her what happened. How would Olive react to her father's accident? What if he wakes up and tells everyone that Henry and I tried to kill him? She felt her body go cold.

Isabel waited for Olive to return to the room, but she never came back.

The news spread quickly that something terrible had happened to Bailiff Richard and soon everyone was talking about it. Everybody liked him. Who would do such a thing?

She eventually learned that Bailiff Richard was still unconscious. After hearing the news, she wanted to talk to Lord Goodwin to find out what he was thinking.

Her mind was haunted with the image of Bailiff Richard's face as he held her knife, of her fear as he gripped her face, of Henry throwing the rock, and of the bailiff's body on the ground. The images attacked her at off moments. By late afternoon, she was nearly in tears.

Miss Elizabeth came into the kitchen with a basket and set it near the door. "Child, you don't look like yourself at all. Are you feeling sick?"

"No. I feel fine."

"I guess we're all feeling a little upset with the bailiff being injured and possibly on his deathbed. The poor soul." She looked at Isabel. "Child, you're so pale. You don't look well at all. Why don't you lie down on your bed for a little bit."

The thought of being alone in the dark room, or any dark place, made her shudder. "I'd rather stay here with you. Really, I'm feeling fine." Tears started welling up in her eyes again.

Miss Elizabeth watched her with concerned eyes. "Tell me what's wrong."

A tear slipped out and Isabel wiped it away. "Nothing is wrong. I'm only sorry for Olive. I know how it feels to lose a father." More tears came and she wiped as quickly as she could. 

Miss Elizabeth sat on the wooden bench and motioned Isabel to sit down next to her. 

Isabel tried to force the tears back, but they kept coming.

"You can cry as much as you need." Elizabeth's voice was kind. "Women cry. Men don't understand it, but crying is what we do."

If she hadn't felt so much guilt, she might've laughed.

"Your husband will just have to get used to the tears." Miss Elizabeth patted her on the arm.

"I will never get married." Isabel shook her head.

"Of course you will. Trust me, dear, you were born for love. Don't you know how beautiful you are?"

Beauty? "Beauty is a curse."

"A curse? How can you say that? Every girl wants to be beautiful."

Isabel didn't know what to say. Miss Elizabeth's words made her feel like she was being ungrateful for a nice gift. But the bailiff wouldn't have bothered her if she'd been plain.

Just then, the door opened and Lord Goodwin stepped inside. He looked back and forth between Miss Elizabeth and Isabel.

"I need to speak with you for a moment, Isabel. Elizabeth, can you spare her for a moment?"

"Oh yes, you go ahead." She shooed them with her hand.

Isabel followed him out the door and into the sunlight. She held her breath as he began to speak.

"I want you to go down the path that leads to the river. Do you know where the big rock is?"

"Yes. Is he dead?"

"No, he's still alive. Go now. I'll be a few minutes behind you."

She turned and started walking down the path. Heading towards the river, she tried to walk at a normal pace. She reached the large boulder and sat down to wait.

Minutes later, Lord Goodwin was walking down that path towards her. His face holding an expression of either sadness, anger, or frustration, she couldn't tell.

Lord Goodwin stopped and sat down on the other end of the rock.

"The bailiff is the same. He still hasn't awakened." He cleared his throat. "I feel responsible for the way the bailiff treated you."

"Why do you feel responsible?"

"Because you work for me and under my care. And because I knew he had mistreated you on at least two other occasions." He seemed angry. "If  the bailiff wakes up, I'll tell him not to say a word about you and if he tries to accuse you of causing him harm, I'll tell the court how he treated you. You won't have to say anything. But if anyone accuses you of being there when his... injury happened, you are to say that you went to the outhouse that night and back to bed."

"Yes, my lord."

"Now if the king's captain wants to question you..." He shook his head. "I've seen the way Bailiff Richard looked at you and that his presence made you feel uncomfortable. I should've done something. It's my fault and therefore I will take responsibility for it."

"I don't think it's your fault, my lord. If anything, it's my fault. I'm positive some people might've said I should marry him." She looked down at the ground, feeling the tears behind her eyes. The pain of knowing her brothers wanted to give her to that disgusting man... She had to change the direction her mind was going or she'd never stop the tears.

"No, you shouldn't have married the bailiff. You deserve to love and be loved."

You deserve to love and be loved. What did he mean? She wrapped her arms around herself.

"You aren't to blame." He leaned towards her. She wondered if he intended to hug her. How would it feel?

But, of course she was being ridiculous. Lord Goodwin wouldn't do such an improper thing.

"I am partially blamed for another reason," she said hesitantly. "I was carrying a knife to protect myself from the bailiff. While he was dragging me into the woods, I pulled it out of my pocket."

"And he took it away from you." His face was so angry, her heart sank. Now he would see that it was her fault.