“I would have given Megan the dress,” I told him, “only it dawned on me that it wasn’t me giving Megan the dress, but you. I wasn’t sure that was proper of me or you, so I decided to resolve the problem so no one would be judged for making a choice that would be frowned upon by our parents.”
I looked directly into his eyes, and then I glanced over at the door across the hall. He turned his head and saw the door stood ajar, and he took in his breath.”
“Perhaps you are right,” he smiled, gave a little bow and removed himself from my doorway.
I watched him as she started down the hall. Megan came out of the door I had glanced at. He gave her a warning look.
“Not now,” he said, under his breath, then looked over his shoulder at me, still watching him.
Megan glanced at me and she seemed to sense that I knew. She gave a curtsy and then headed in the opposite direction than Patrick took. I was still standing there, wondering what Patrick would do, if anything? Perhaps he didn’t even care that I knew or maybe he wasn’t sure how much I knew? I saw Gavin coming down the hall with Bandit on a leash. When Bandit saw me, he started pulling against the leash in his eagerness to reach me.
I backed into my room, allowing Gavin to bring Bandit with him, and closed the door. Immediately, I knelt down to hug Bandit and calm his excitement.
“Thank you so much for bringing him,” I mumbled into Bandit’s fur as I patted and hugged him.
“It was no trouble at all. I would gladly do anything that brings on such a charming smile and happiness to your face,” he told me, as he knelt down with me.
“I can see how much you love your dog. Whatever man is able to draw that much love from you, he will be a lucky man, indeed.”
“I am worried about my mother trying to compel me to marry her choice of a husband. It is not her marrying the man, so I don’t know why she must choose for me.”
“I suppose it is a mother’s prerogative,” he chuckled, “only I am sure she cannot force you to accept anyone you do not love. Please say you intend to marry out of love and not duty.”
“I doubt I will marry at all. Look at Patrick and Loretta? They have two charming children, and that is not enough to keep Patrick faithful to her.”
“I don’t think he loved her in the first place. She was another one of Aunt Sandra’s choices. That is why I suggest you marry for the right reasons, not what your parents expect you to do.”
“I have barely arrived, and my first agenda is not looking for a husband,” I insisted.
Secretly, I wondered if I would ever meet anyone who could attract me, in the same way, I knew Wawee’ne had? It was hard to put his memory behind me. Every night before I fell asleep I would find myself reliving the time we shared together, where he showed me how much he desired me. The whole time I was watching Patrick and Megan I was carried back to my encounter with Wawee’ne, wishing it were him and me in that room together. A part of me wanted that all over again. Only I most likely would never see Wawee’ne again, I thought sadly for the hundredth time.
“However, you could always take a lover, the way Patrick has managed to do,” Gavin suggested.
The memory of the way Gavin had idly caressed me with his fingers as we stood watching Patrick and Megan returned, and I wondered if he was suggesting…
“It is riskier for a woman, considering her husband could divorce her if she was caught,” I said abruptly.
“Maybe it would be an easy way to get out of an unhappy marriage.”
“Why get into one in the first place? It would cause too much heartache later on after children were born and money was controlled by my husband. I don’t think I would want to risk it.”
“Which is what I like about you. You are a woman who makes her own decisions. I saw Patrick in the hall and had to step out of the way so he didn’t see me with your dog. He didn’t look very happy. Have the two of you been arguing?”
“No,” I told him. “He was just disapproving of one of my choices, which he couldn’t change after I made it.”
Gavin laughed.
“You are too precious for words,” he smiled and leaned over and kissed my cheek.
“Perhaps you should go,” I said, realizing I was in a compromising position, as I clutched the top of my wrapper to me.
If anyone saw Gavin leaving my room they would assume he was treating me the same way Patrick had been treating Megan.
“But I am enjoying your company. I love being around you, with your independent ways. I am curious to discover how this all works out in the end. I can’t wait until your welcome home Ball.”
I frowned.
“That is a problem because I don’t even know how to dance,” I admitted.
“Heavens! We can’t have that. I want you to dance as many dances with me to upset Patrick as much as we can,” he smiled. “Therefore, I will just have to teach you!”
He took my hand, leading me over to my jewelry box and opened the lid, allowing the music to ring from it.
“Now hold my hand like this,” he told me, as he placed my hand in his. “Put your other hand on my shoulder.”
He lifted the hand that was clutching the top of my wrapper closed, however, the sash held the wrapper closed.
“I will put my hand on your waist,” he continued, “and whichever way I push or pull you with that hand, will indicate what direction I desire you to go.”
Soon we were twirling around the floor of my room, my wrapper skirt flaring out as we turned, while Gavin showed me the steps. Bandit merely watched with a confused look on his face.
At first, I could not understand the way to step or move, and Gavin would have to stop and instruct me, then start over again. When I finally managed to perform well enough to suit Gavin, he laughed and kissed me on the cheek again.
“You are doing wonderful,” he said, as he turned me one more time, but my toe caught on the fluffy carpet beside my bed, and we both went tumbling on top of the bed.
Gavin was laying on top of me, and I started to struggle to get out from under him.
“It’s all right,” he murmured, as he looked down into my face. “I told you I would never force myself onto a woman, but I am enjoying my position right now.”
“I don’t believe this is proper,” I breathed, as he looked down at me with his striking blue eyes, with pleasure.
“I understand you have not graduated into propriety yet,” he chuckled. “You are too charming to have that change.”
“What do you want from me, Gavin?” I asked.
“Your friendship, of course. And maybe beyond, in time, but that will be up to you.”
“You have my friendship,” I pointed out.
“Yes, and I so much enjoy it. Promise to dance as many dances as you can with me when your Ball rolls around.”
“You just want to irritate everyone,” I accused.
“I told you I was not a conforming kind of person.”
“Yes, I can see that.”
“So until you promise, I will remain here, happily enjoying the feel of you beneath me.”
My thoughts went to Patrick and Megan, as Gavin smiled down at me slyly. But he had promised not to force himself on me, so I tried to relax.
“Is it a promise?” he asked.
“You cannot keep me to it, even if I do promise,” I told him, smiling back at him.
He started to chuckle.
“It seems we are at a stalemate,” he mumbled.
He brought his finger down, to trail along my neck. It was then I realized that my wrapper had fallen open at the top when we had landed on the bed, and my sheer nightgown, which Patrick had chosen for me, was the only thing that stood between him and my body, barely covered my nakedness.
“You are so beautiful,” Gavin breathed, as his finger continued to trace over my skin.
“You promised not to force yourself on me,” I reminded him.
“And I intend to keep that promise,” he told me, yet did not lift hi
s finger from my skin.
The trail of his finger, barely touched my skin as he traced around the edge of my nightgown, that had thin straps holding the lace over my breasts. Only his eyes were not focused on his finger. One strap had fallen from my shoulder, and he lifted it with his finger and put it back in place, causing me to catch my breath for one suspended moment before he replaced it.
Then I could feel his finger, tracing down from the strap, along the edge of the lace, all the way to where it met the adjoining side of my nightgown. The trail led back up the other side to the strap on my opposite shoulder. Soon the trail followed the outer side of my nightgown, down to my armpit, brushing against the side of my breast, causing me to tremble in both fright and sensation.
“You should stop doing this,” I said in a shaking voice.
“Because you like it or dislike it?” he asked.
“Because it isn’t right. I don’t know you. I shouldn’t even trust you. You shouldn’t be in my room like this.”
“You invited me in. Had you forgotten?”
“Because you were bringing Bandit,” I insisted.
“Yes. And I shall bring him every night if you wish.”
“Only there is a price to pay, right?” I asked in a shaking voice.
“You misjudge me, Helen. I ask no price.”
“Then why won’t you remove yourself from me?” I asked.
“Because I think you are enjoying this as much as I am. If not, I will refrain.”
“I am not going to become your lover, like Megan is with Patrick,” I said firmly.
“I never asked you to,” he whispered in my ear, and then he kissed my ear, as his breath against it distracted me.
“Then I must insist you leave me,” I said so quietly I wasn’t sure he had heard me.
“I will,” he promised but did not make a move to remove himself from me.
I waited, as I felt his lips wander over my neck and down between my breasts. Then he was lifting himself from my body, looking down on me as I lie sprawled across the bed. I started to pull my wrapper shut, but he reached out and stopped me.
“I think it is a little late for that,” he smiled. “I have already seen you and touched you.
He took my shoulders and lifted me to my feet, pulling me against him, and then placed his mouth over mine, taking one passionate kiss. Then he released me.
“I’ll be back for the dog later tonight,” he told me and went to the door.
I stood there in shock. The way he had assured me he was coming back, alarmed me. I didn’t know what to think? Patrick was right. Gavin wanted me to respond to him, possibly to get me to marry him. Only why did he make me promise to marry out of love, not duty if it was his intentions to try and seduce me? I wondered if he was hoping to make me fall in love with him first?
I patted the bed, and let Bandit jump up beside me. I put my arms around his neck and snuggled against him. I wanted everything to go back to how it was before I ever came here, only that life was probably worse than the one I had landed in. I wasn’t sure what I should do? I felt the world closing in around me. Between my lost parents, my doting brother, and my non-cousin, I was being manipulated into something I wasn’t sure I was prepared for.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I woke to a tap on my door. At first, I thought it was Gavin come to get Bandit, but then I noticed the sun shining against the curtains at the window. Gavin must have gotten Bandit after I had fallen asleep, I decided.
I didn’t have an opportunity to grant entrance because the door opened and Megan stepped in with a tray of food in her hands. At that very moment, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and I saw Bandit leaping forward as he started barking at Megan. Gavin had not come to remove him from my room after all.
A moment later he had landed against Megan, knocking her to the floor and causing everything on the tray to go flying. Megan started screaming, and I was calling Bandit off when the door flew open and I looked up to see Patrick, Gavin, and my father all standing in the doorway. I was holding Bandit in my arms, to keep him from threatening them as well, as I saw the anger in Patrick’s eyes. My father merely looked stunned, and Gavin had a broad smile on his face. I knew at that moment, he had left Bandit in my room on purpose. It was as though he wanted me to get in trouble with Patrick.
I glared at him, as he came into the room, taking the leash from his pocket.
“I’ll take care of the dog,” he said, snapping the leash onto Bandit’s collar and coaxing him out of the room.
“What is going on here?” my father demanded.
“I’ll manage it, father. I don’t think Megan knows the rules about not allowing dogs in the house.”
“Clean up the mess, Megan,” my father ordered as he turned from the room and continued down the hall.
“Is everything all right?” I could hear my mother saying in the distance.
Patrick quietly closed the door and stepped into the room.
“Go down and get some towels to clean this mess up with,” he told Megan, and she scurried from the room and I saw Patrick locking the door.
Patrick walked over to the bed, where I sat shivering with the blankets held up in front of me. In one swift movement, he yanked me from the bed and started shaking me.
“Whatever got into your head to bring your dog to your room?” he demanded.
“He is used to being with me,” I growled back. “I was lonely and I knew he was lonely too, so I asked Gavin to bring him.”
“So Gavin is behind this, is he?”
He stopped and looked over my shivering body, visible through the sheer material of my nightgown.
“I suppose you and Gavin are getting along marvelously,” he almost sneered.
“I have only met him. What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I know the kind of upbringing you have had. I am sure you wouldn’t have a problem with offering yourself in exchange for favors.”
“Are you insinuating…”
“I don’t have to insinuate anything. I was trying to make you into a lady you probably could never become, and the first thing you do is humiliate me by bringing your brute into the house, and getting Megan into trouble for making a mess and screaming at the top of her lungs, which may cause her dismissal. What kind of gratitude do you call that, after I bring you home to your family?”
“I didn’t intend it to happen. Gavin was supposed to come to get Bandit before morning. He must have forgotten.”
“So now you are allowing Gavin to come into your room at night the first chance you have?”
“It is not what you think,” I defended. “And you have a lot of room to talk considering your relationship with Megan,” I spat, starting to dislike his hypocrisy.
“Megan is a servant! You are a lady!”
“And I presumed you were a gentleman, but I see I was mistaken,” I responded. “Being a servant doesn’t make Megan any less your victim! You are betraying your wife!”
When I said the words, Patrick’s green eyes darkened, and a moment later he was sitting on the bed, flinging me over his lap, and letting his hand come down resoundingly against my bottom. At first, I was silent, but after the first few resounding slaps, I couldn’t hold my tears back as the pain penetrated my being. I started to get frightened because I didn’t think he was going to stop.
Suddenly he stood, dumping me onto the floor. He lifted me and threw me on the bed. I was shocked thinking he was going to force himself on me, but instead, he merely pinned me against the mattress with his hand against my throat.
“I will tell our parents you are ill and do not wish to leave your room. You will remain here, and Megan will bring you food, but other than that, the door will remain locked so you can’t escape. You will remain here until I decide to allow you to leave. I will come personally to give you lessons on what is expected of you from this moment on. As for that mutt, I will have one of the grooms shoot it at the first possible opportunity!”<
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“No! I screamed, and reached my fingers up, scratching his face.
I felt his hand come down across my face so hard I was stunned, and a moment later, I seemed to lose consciousness.
I woke to someone shaking me. My first reaction was to pull away and start slapping out at whoever was there. Whoever it was, grabbed my wrists to stop me, and then I saw it was Gavin, hovering over me. I wondered how he got in if Patrick had locked the door?
“It’s all right,” he murmured.
“No! It is not all right!” I bellowed. “It is your fault! You were supposed to come get Bandit. You left him here on purpose!”
“I didn’t know he was going to try and attack the maid! I just wanted to ruffle Patrick’s feathers. What did he do to you?”
He touched my cheek which still stung from the slap Patrick had planted there. I wondered if he treated his wife in the same manner when she misbehaved? All I wanted to do was escape this house and go back to what was familiar to me.
Gavan stroked his hand down along my side and turned me over. Apparently, he could see the marks on my bottom through the sheer material of my nightgown.
“He beat you, didn’t he?” Gavin accused. “I’ll kill him!”
“Don’t kill him. Just help me to escape,” I begged. “He is going to have my dog shot if he hasn’t done it already.”
“He is just threatening you. He would have to explain the dog’s death to your father, and if you complained, he would be in more trouble than he wants to make you believe you are in. I’ll make sure your dog is safe.”
“He locked me in. How did you get in here?” I asked suddenly.
“I took the skeleton key from the housekeeper’s ring.”
“I’ll lock the door when I leave, so Patrick won’t know. Just don’t try to run away, Helen. You don’t have any place to go.”
“I can’t stay here!” I insisted.
“I’ll talk to Patrick. I’ll tell him I will expose him if he doesn’t apologize to you and promise never to touch you again. I’ll tell him that if he does I will help you escape, and his parents will blame him for chasing you away.”
Gedi Puniku- Cat Eyes Page 11