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reaction. “I had ignored his innuendo and tried to avoid him, but he cornered me in the orchard one day and pressed his attentions.” She shuddered at the memory of groping hands and slobbering lips. “When he refused to accept my rejection, I lost my temper and struck him.”
    “Where?”
    She paused, searching for the right words.
    “You applied a judicious knee where it would do the most good, I suppose,” he said, flinching.
    She nodded. “It was stupid, for it worsened the insult. I knew he would retaliate, but I couldn’t help myself. Even worse, I threatened to reveal his reprisals unless he left me alone.”
    “You actually threatened a man who takes offense at any insult?”
    She sighed. “Not the most intelligent thing I’ve ever done, but I was desperate to escape. If William had not appeared in the distance just then, Jasper would have overpowered me. As it was, he vowed that I would be sorry, so I wasn’t surprised when he decided to ruin my reputation. You saw for yourself how he does it. His behavior is proprietary when he has an audience from the lower classes, implying that I am in league with him.”
    “What does that accomplish?”
    “If they suspect my integrity, they will stop sharing information with me, which will prevent the upper classes from learning his vices. I have no recourse, for he is adept at manipulating impressions. If I rebuke him or deny his implications, I seem guilty and secretive. If I ignore him, I seem guilty and complicit. At first he used only suggestive words, but now he is pushing harder. I don’t know what his purpose was in Exeter, but he staged that scene for your benefit. I’m sure it appeared intimate, but he was inflicting so much pain on my neck that I could not move.”
    His mouth thinned. “Why did you not protest the first rumor? Surely you could have raised doubts then. You are not the only person who knows his true character.”
    “No, but I do not visit town very often, so the story was firmly planted before I heard about it. And he has protected himself well. The gossips never question his statements. In their eyes, he walks on water. Those who understand him are from the lower classes, but no one would accept their word over his.”
    “You are not from the lower classes.”
    “That no longer matters. I should have considered the consequences that day. Once he realized that I saw past his genial façade, he had to destroy my credibility. It is the only way to retain the respect he craves.”
    “So we will reveal his attacks on others, forcing people to question his integrity.” Rockhurst was frowning.
    She shook her head. “You don’t understand. These rumors are the only reprisal that he would deny. If we accuse him of destroying a tenant’s crops, he will don an expression of great sorrow and agree that it was a most unfortunate business. He and his friends had consumed far too much wine that night and should never have attempted a cross-country ride.”
    “I see. He passes it off as high spirits, makes a token payment for the damage, and everyone believes him a fine fellow who has his dependents’ best interests at heart. No one can prove his motive.”
    “Exactly. The victims know, for he always vows revenge at the time of the insult. But there are no witnesses to that threat, so no one can prove it. Since they are from the lower classes – Jasper is enthusiastic about keeping people in their place, which is one reason he pursues even the slightest insult – few people even hear of the incidents. I know about them only because I continue visiting members of Harold’s parish.”
    “Seabrook mentioned that the current vicar prefers hunting.”
    She nodded, but declined to share her views of a church run by doddering fools and younger sons who wanted nothing but the income from their livings.
    “Doesn’t Rankin care that his actions affect others besides his victim? In your case, it is hurting your entire family.”
    “Why should