She went quickly to her room. Examining herself, she found that she was bleeding. Seeing the blood made her cry. She sat down on the bed that she shared with Elizabeth and began to weep long and hard. She was ashamed of what she had done, ashamed of the feelings that had caused her to give herself over with such abandon to Gareth Eriksen. If she had resisted more strenuously, she was certain that he would have let her go. He had pressed his suit most urgently, but he was not a rapist. She blamed herself for not being stronger. She had wanted him from the first and had made him want her in return. Yet she knew it was all a terrible mistake. Gareth might now find her desirable, but he did not love her. Elizabeth came quietly into the room and watched Madeline with concern. “Are you hurt?” she asked, staring at the bloody chemise Madeline clutched in her hand. Madeline shook her head. “Sick then?”
