(A/N: CONTENT WARNING: Scoundrel deals with sexual assault. This chapter contains elements that may be upsetting to some readers. Please read with caution.

I own nothing!)

"What happened the first time?"

Amber shuddered. "I don't fully know as she won't talk about it, but some things are easy to figure out...James...got into quite the fist fight with Graham in an effort to protect Sofia. But even then, he was a little too late. Graham had left his mark, had done his worst."

Done his worst? Cedric's eyes widened and narrowed ever so slightly.

oOo

Meet me at the lover's path.

Sofia slipped out quietly into the gardens. The little note Cedric had slipped to her had made her very curious. So once she was able to sneak out without anyone noticing, she did. With the party now over, things were settling down. And Sofia was very glad about that. As much as she enjoyed the party, she was glad it was over.

Peering over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching or following her, Sofia turned down the centuries old pathway. As she did, she came face to face with Cedric, who instantly smiled warmly at her.

"Come." Cedric held his hand out to Sofia.

Smiling back at her dear friend, Sofia took the hand. Unsurprising to the young lady, Cedric placed a tender kiss on her hand. Still, Sofia's cheeks warmed just a bit at the affectionate gesture.

Holding Sofia's hand tightly, Cedric pulled her down the pathway until they reached the enclosure. There, a lovely surprise met the young lady's eyes. A blanket was laid out on the ground and a plate of an unfamiliar treat was centered on the blanket.

Sofia looked up at Cedric, who was still holding her hand.

"What's this?" Sofia asked.

"A little bird told me that despite being in Mystica Prata for two months, you have not yet had fly cakes," Cedric replied.

Sofia shook her head. "No, I haven't."

"Well then, it's time to change that. Please, sit."

Sofia sat down on the blanket. Cedric sat down as well, choosing to sit right next to his dear friend instead of across from her. Sofia was surprised at Cedric's choice to sit next to her but didn't say anything. Instead, she tentatively reached for one of the delicate looking treats on the plate.

"Wait." Cedric took her hand.

Sofia looked up at him in surprise. With his free hand, Cedric grabbed a fly cake and brought it up to Sofia's lips himself. Sofia felt her cheeks get extremely hot but took a bite. As she took the bite, the sweetness immediately delighted her taste buds. Sofia's eyes widened in shock and pleasure.

"That was amazing!" Sofia exclaimed as soon as she could. "I've never had anything like it."

Cedric smiled at Sofia's delight. "I had Cook do her special recipe for this."

"It's absolutely divine."

Cedric continued to smile. "It's incredible how you appreciate simple pleasures. Mummy used to try throwing young ladies at me years ago and all of them seemed interested only in wealth and influence. You? You don't care about that at all. Instead, you want to help those around you."

"Some of my commoner roots speaking, I suppose," Sofia replied.

"You were never common. You're unique and special."

"Cedric…" Sofia couldn't find the words she wanted.

Cedric scooted closer to Sofia and gently cupped her chin with his hand.

"Sofia, you are divine."

Suddenly, Cedric closed the gap between them, capturing Sofia's lips with his. For a moment, Sofia was too stunned to respond. All of her thoughts and reasoning fled her. She'd never admitted this to anyone but she'd wanted to experience this moment since Amber had helped her realize she was falling in love. She hadn't let him before, as fear of what might come next had gripped her, but it was now happening. And fear was not the first thing she felt.

Slowly, Sofia began to respond to the kiss, unconsciously grabbing Cedric's dress jacket with both hands. Encouraged by this, Cedric slid his hand around Sofia's waist and pulled her just a bit closer to him. A part of Sofia wondered if she was dreaming. If she was though, she didn't want to wake up.

Wake up though, she did. The slightest flick of a tongue against her lips sent her back to the ground of the forests by Dunwittie. For a moment, Sofia could feel the pain when she was shoved to the ground and taste the blood when she had bitten Graham's offending tongue.

Conscious, if not reasonable, thought returned quickly and Sofia gave Cedric a small shove and scampered a few feet away from him. Cedric looked at his young friend confused and slightly hurt.

"Sofia, what's wrong?" Cedric stood up and reached towards her.

Sofia took a step, putting her just out of reach of Cedric's hand. She grabbed her left arm and squeezed tightly, trying to will the phantom pain to go away.

"Sofia, you're starting to scare me. What is it?"

"That kiss shouldn't have happened," Sofia's voice was strangled.

"What?" Cedric was even more confused. "Why not? Were you still not ready for that to happen?"

Sofia gritted her teeth. "You don't understand," she muttered tersely.

"Then talk to me and help me understand!" Cedric spoke more sharply than he meant to. He softened his tone. "Sofia, we're friends. And friends should be able to talk about the difficult things."

The comment jarred Sofia for a moment. It didn't seem like that long ago that she herself had said those very words to Cedric.

"It's beyond difficult," Sofia said in a near whimper. "It's impossible."

"This is about the rape, isn't it?"

Sofia turned sharply, her expression a mix of horror and embarrassment. Cedric immediately regretted asking. He hadn't intended to embarrass her. He just wanted to understand and maybe help. What had happened to his resolve to let her tell him about that with she was ready to? She would have told him eventually.

Right?

"You knew?" Sofia whispered hoarsely.

"Sofia, I shouldn't have said it like that."

"Who told you?" Sofia demanded. "Did Violet say anything? Was it Constable Miles?"

"No one told me what happened to you," Cedric said quickly. "I figured it out myself."

Sofia bit her lip hard as she listened to what Cedric said.

"How long have you known?"

"Since before I returned to Hexley Hall. Between the initial fear you had of me, the incident with Graham in the forest, and learning what crimes that rat was guilty of, it wasn't hard to figure it out."

Sofia felt a tear slide down her cheek. Quickly, she wiped it away.

"So you know what did happen," Sofia's voice cracked. "Then you understand plenty enough."

With that, Sofia turned and ran away. For several long moments, Cedric stared at the pathway before proceeding to turn and kick the forgotten plate of fly cakes.

"You idiot," he muttered to himself.