by Tia Siren
''It is really quite early for sherry. Perhaps tea?'' Mary said.
''No, Sherry will be fine. If we are to sit here all day, we may as well make merriment,'' Charlotte added.
''I'm am Ralph Bellington. I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance,'' he said as they each raised a glass.
''I am Georgina, and this is my maid Milly,'' Charlotte lied.
****
''Oh, you are so funny Ralph. That's a lovely story,'' Charlotte laughed. They had spent three hours sitting by the fire, drinking sherry and relating stories. Charlotte had been quite brilliant at making up a completely new life for her and Mary. They weren't from Eaton Hall but from Westfield Lodge. They weren't running away from the Duke but on their way to her cousin's wedding in London. Charlotte had lied perfectly throughout the whole afternoon, and she had enjoyed it enormously.
''Milly are you feeling alright?'' Charlotte asked as Mary's head sank to the table.
''I believe she is drunk, Miss Georgina,'' Ralph said.
''Oh dear, please help me. We have had rather a lot to drink. Will you help me to take her to her room?''
Charlotte and Ralph helped Mary to her feet and supported her, as they climbed the narrow staircase. They took off Mary's shoes and lay her on the bed.
''She'll be alright tomorrow. There's plenty of time for her to sleep it off,'' Ralph concluded.
''Yes, I hope so. Oops,'' Charlotte said, as she almost lost her footing and fell into Ralph's arms. ''I too have had a bit too much sherry. I think I should lie down. My room is next door.''
Ralph picked her up and carried her into the corridor. ''This way,'' Charlotte said. ''Please come inside with me.”
He put her down when they were in the room. As he was about to leave, there was a huge rumble of thunder. Charlotte jumped. ''I really don't like thunder, it scares me so. Would you mind if I asked you to stay with me?'' She wasn't really afraid, she just wanted to feel his strong arms around her. She wanted him to make her feel special. She'd had to spend so much time recently with the hateful Duke that she was now prepared to offer herself, without delay, to the handsome stranger. Albeit under the influence of several glasses of sherry.
''Of course. If you don't find it indelicate having a gentleman in your bedchamber in the middle of the afternoon.''
She took his hand and led him to the bed. She sat down on the edge and held his hands as he stood before her. ''Sir, I want you to make love to me. You are the most handsome man, I have ever met.''
He bent down and kissed her, and as he did so, Charlotte put her hands to his groin and felt the weight of his manhood.
He laughed. ''Madam is in high spirits, isn't she?''
''Yes, madam is,'' she said as she squeezed gently. ''Kiss me,'' she commanded. As their mouths locked, there was another clash of thunder. She felt its rumble throughout her entire body.
Charlotte suddenly remembered his reference to the Duke of Wellington. It made her nervous, but she was passed caring, she just wanted the handsome man to take her. She felt his fingers unfastening the buttons at the back of her dress. When they were open, he slipped the dress from her shoulders and kissed her neck. Charlotte put her hands behind his neck and pulled him into her. His lips played hungrily over her sensitive skin, and she loved it. He began to kiss lower and lower until he reached the top of her breasts. When she felt him there, she let out a little moan.
Now she wanted to feel him on her nipples, and she lowered her undergarments. He looked and saw her turgid buds staring at him, waiting to be licked. When his tongue glanced over them, Charlotte felt a sudden ache seer through her womanhood. That made her impatient. She reached for his belt, and when it was open, his buttons. She pulled his trousers and underpants down, in one fluid movement.
Lightening illuminated the room, and Ralph’s penis sprang up. Charlotte bent her head and opened her mouth. He stopped sucking her breasts and stood upright. As Charlotte's head bobbed up and down, he sank his head back and closed his eyes. He was enchanted by her, and the feel of her dainty mouth on his hardness drove him perilously close to orgasm.
Instead of coming in her mouth, he pulled out of her and lifted her to her feet. He spun her around and pulled all her garments down past her calves. As she stepped out of them, he looked at the beauty of her naked body, graced by the light of the storm. Her shoulders were dainty, almost fragile looking. Her back was unimaginably sensual. It was long, and her muscles were well defined, in the most feminine of senses. When his eyes looked at her bottom, he was overcome with desire and passion. She gasped as he lifted her up, walked across the room and bent her, face first, to the window, the rain pounding against the glass.
''No Ralph, people will see us.''
''That's the fun. The danger.''
Charlotte didn't complain anymore, the sherry had numbed her inhibitions. All she wanted was to feel him fill her aching vagina. As he looked down, he saw her pubic hair glistening with desire. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her onto him. Charlotte gasped when she felt him inside her. Thunder shook the bedroom.
As the intensity of his strokes increased, Charlotte's breathing became shallower and shallower. When she felt him reach around her, and start to rub her clitoris, it was too much. Thunder. Lightening. She moaned, shoved herself back against his hardness, and came.
Afterwards, her legs were like jelly. She would have collapsed had he not caught her. He carried her away from the window and tossed her onto the bed. He turned her around and took her from behind.
To Charlotte, it was the act of a man who knew what he wanted. The sight of her bottom as her plunged himself into her, and the scent of her womanly arousal brought him closer and closer to orgasm. When he saw her clench her fists and begin to shake again, he shouted out and emptied himself into her. He collapsed on top of her, and she reached behind herself and pulled his head down to kiss her.
''That was beautiful,'' she said.
''You are beautiful,'' he replied.
Charlotte pulled the bedclothes up over them as they held each other. Still naked, they drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms.
Chapter 3
When Charlotte woke up, Ralph wasn't lying beside her. He was standing at the end of the bed, pointing a pistol at her.
''Charlotte Melbourne, I am charged by the Duke of Eddington to take you and your maid Mary back to his estate. Please get dressed and come with me.''
Charlotte looked at him through her sleepy eyes, but she soon came fully to her senses. ''Sir, would you do that to the lady you bedded just last evening? To the lady whose arms you lay in? Would you take her back, to the man that makes her more miserable, than misery itself? Are you so cruel and heartless?''
''Madam, I am an employee of the Duke, and it is my duty to do as he asks. Please, do not make this harder for me than it already is.''
''Harder for you? Sir, if you do this to me, you will sink in my estimation to that of the ugliest toad. Last evening, I gave myself wholeheartedly to you. Please do not talk of it being hard for you. It is far harder for Mary and me. I beg you. Do not ruin our lives.''
''Get dressed. I will wait for you at the door,'' he said.
****
''At last, Madam. You have finally dared to grace me with your presence. Not after I sent my good man here to fetch you, I might add. I must congratulate you, Ralph, you have done an excellent job in bringing my fiancée back to me. For that, I shall be forever grateful. You may leave us now.''
The Duke looked at the two women as Ralph walked across the marble floor to the door. Charlotte and Mary were standing in front of him, in the reception room at Anthorpe Castle. It was a cold room. Built entirely of white marble with columns down each side. There were no statues or paintings. The room had an eerie echo. Mary hadn't seen the Duke very often, and when she looked at him, she was thankful. He was small and an odd shape. His nose was crooked, and his teeth were blackened by years of pipe smoking. She thought him to be just slightly younger than
Charlotte's father.
''I ought to have you both thrashed for daring to run away.” The Duke’s voice was eerily low. “Charlotte, your mother has been worried beyond belief. You could have been attacked or worse. For all we knew, you were lying dead in a gutter.” He paused. “You have disappointed me greatly. You will remain in the gatehouse, under house arrest until the day of our marriage.” He was shouting now. “As for you Mary, you are a low life. I assume, it was you, who put my fiancée up to this. For that, you will go to work as my lowest kitchen maid. You will live here without pay. If you dare to leave, I will have you arrested.”
The Duke yelled, and a sickly looking footman appeared. ''See to it that Miss Charlotte is taken to the gatehouse. Make sure she is guarded day and night. If she escapes, I will hold you personally responsible. Do you understand?''
''Yes, my Lord, perfectly. Please come with me, Miss Charlotte.''
''If you think I am going to marry you, you are sorely mistaken. Hell will freeze over first,'' Charlotte said, just before she spat at the Duke.
''You have no choice,'' he said as he wiped the fluid from his face. ''Your father has given his consent. It is out of your hands. I must warn you, if you continue to resist, it will do your health no good whatsoever. It would be much better for you to accept your situation and make the best of it. Now take her out of my sight.''
When Charlotte had gone, the Duke turned to Mary. ''Do you know what you have done? You have defied me. The Duke of Eddington. I would ask you, who you think you are, but it is of no importance to me.''
He stepped towards her and slapped her. Mary held her head up, not wanting him to see how hurt she was. He took hold of her, and pushed her to the only piece of furniture in the room, a mahogany table. When he bent her forwards over it and lifted her skirts. She knew what was about to befall her. Her screams could be heard in the scullery deep below. The staff knew what was happening, but it was such a regular occurrence at Anthorpe castle, none of them paid much attention.''
****
''Charlotte, Charlotte. Please, open the window.'' Charlotte listened to the voice as another pebble bounced off the windowpane.
She went to the window, opened it, and looked down to the garden below. It was dark, and she couldn't see anyone. ''Charlotte, it's me. I'm over here.''
She looked to the left and saw him. He was standing tight against the wall of the house in which Charlotte was being held against her will.
''What do you want, you disgrace of a man?'' she asked.
''Please. I am so sorry. You will never forgive me, I know, but after some days thinking about it, I am wracked with guilt for having brought you back to this place,” Ralph pleaded. “Listen to me, please. I don't know how best to put this, but I am in love with you. If you will let me, I will take you from here, to a safe place where we can begin to know each other better. I would never force you to do anything against your will.''
''If you think I'm falling for that trick, you are sadly mistaken. I have a low opinion of you, and I have no interest in what you are saying to me.'' Charlotte slammed the window shut. “Goodnight.” She walked to the bed, curled herself into a ball, and cried.
Chapter 4
Charlotte awoke with a start as the Duke's hand slipped over her mouth. She smelt his alcoholic breath as he hissed at her.
“'Now, my dear, before you run away from me again, it is time for you to be taught a lesson. I am going to teach you to respect me. You will get up, take off your gown and kneel before me with your mouth open. Do you understand?'' The knife at her neck persuaded Charlotte it was a good idea to comply.
When she knelt naked in front of him, she saw him fiddling with his trousers. When he had freed himself, he grabbed her hair and pulled her to him. ''Open your mouth, wench, I will teach you a lesson.''
Charlotte closed her eyes. She waited, but nothing arrived in her mouth. All she heard was a hideous thud. When she looked, she saw Ralph standing above the Duke with a truncheon in his hand.
''I told you I was sorry. Now I'm here to prove it. Get your things. I'm going to take you to York where you can catch the midnight coach to London. You have nothing to fear. Neither I nor anyone else will follow you. You are free. I love you, and that is truer than the fact that I am standing before you now. I will leave it entirely up to you to decide if you want me or not. I am truly sorry for putting you in this position. Please hurry before the old bastard wakes up.''
''What about Mary? I can't leave her.''
''She is in the house. There are too many servants. I can't just go and get her. Please, hurry. I will see what I can do for Mary when I can.''
****
''Lord Melbourne, Lady Melbourne. I have asked you here today, to talk to you about your daughter.''
''My Lord, it is such a pleasure for my husband and me to know that someone of your standing will be taking care of our only daughter. It is beyond our wildest dreams that she will become a Duchess, and look after you, in a way as befits a faithful wife.''
''Lady Melbourne, please silence yourself. Your mouth is full of bile. Your daughter has once again run away. This time, with the help of one of my guards. It would not surprise me if she were lying with him in some seedy Inn as we speak. I have lost respect for you, and your daughter. There will be no marriage, and I will be pursuing you in the courts, for financial compensation. Your family has done untold damage to my reputation. Now please take yourselves from my property.''
''But my Lord, can't we.......'' Lady Melbourne was interrupted by her husband.
''My Lord. I am so sorry for what has happened. May I ask why you are wearing a bandage on your head?''
''I was brutally attacked. I'm lucky to be here.''
''It is such a shame someone has beaten me to it. I was the one who wanted to be the first to hit you. Oh well, second will have to do.'' Lord Melbourne swung his fist at the Duke and landed him a blow just below the eye. The Duke spun around and landed face down on the marble floor.
''Now, enough of this nonsense, we're going.''
Lady Melbourne stood up and looked at her husband aghast.
''And what are you looking at? You've been a disgraceful mother, as I have a father. If I hadn't been so damn weak, none of this would have happened. That man has done untold damage to Charlotte. I just stood by and watched. I am an apology of a father. I only hope one day, my daughter will learn to forgive me.''
****
''Mary,'' Lord Melbourne whispered as she walked down the bleak corridor in the servant’s quarters.
''Lord Melbourne,'' she exclaimed. She dropped the tray she was carrying.
''Mary, get your things and come with me. You're coming back to Eaton Hall.''
Chapter 5
''All rise,'' the clerk of the court shouted
''Members of the jury,'' said Justice Fielding. ''It is my duty, in summing up the case against Ralph Bellingham, to single out the salient points of the case, which you may come to an informed and correct verdict. Let me first refresh your memories of the alleged facts of the case.
''The court has heard how, on the twenty-first of September, in the year eighteen fourteen, Ralph Bellingham is alleged to have attempted to murder The Duke of Eddington. Bellingham is alleged to have unleashed a blow, of such force, it was likely to have killed the Duke. You have also heard how the Duke has suffered since. His vision has been severely impaired, and his memory is not as it used to be.''
'The accused was apprehended after a comprehensive search by His Majesty's Constabulary. Bellingham was found, just four days after the alleged incident, not more than twenty miles away. The prosecution has presented Mr. Bellingham as a professional thug of dubious character. It is clear that Mr. Bellingham worked for the Duke for two years before the incident. The prosecution has also alleged, that during that time, Mr. Bellingham carried out several similar attacks, unbeknownst to his employer.''
Judge Fielding stopped and took a sip of water before continuing. ''As to Mr. Belling
ham's character, the prosecution has painted him to be a man of low morals and a thug. The defense, however, has indicated that Mr. Bellingham was acting to defend a lady, who the Duke was treating in the most despicable manner. That is, in a sexual manner to which the lady herself had not consented. The case for the defense was centered around the Duke's treatment of Miss Mary Cumberland, a lowly servant at the Duke's residence. They have alleged that the Duke treated her appallingly over a number of months and that any right-minded man would have been driven to defend her. In fact, the defense has indicated, that it would have been a neglect of a human being's duty, not to have acted.''
Judge Fielding lowered his voice and looked over his half-moons glasses as he continued. ''Having heard both sides, it is my duty to make the jury aware of certain facts. Firstly, the Duke of Eddington. He is an aristocrat of the highest reputation. His family has served this country in various capacities for two hundred years. Anyone bringing his character into dispute has to make a cast iron case against him. The jury must decide if the defense has done so.
“Secondly, evidence. When Mr. Bellingham was apprehended, he was carrying a truncheon. A weapon, at least similar to the one with which the Duke was struck. The jury has seen the implement and confirmed that it was blood-stained.
“Thirdly, Mr. Bellingham's character versus that of the Duke. Mr. Bellingham is a man, who has worked in a variety of dubious occupations, all in the area of private policing. Members of the jury, in this case, we have a man of impeccable character, who alleges that he was assaulted by a man of lesser character. The defendant, when arrested, had a weapon about him similar to the one with which the Duke was struck.
“I ask you to retire and consider your verdict. I must add that you should give very careful consideration to this case. If convicted, the defendant faces a penalty of death by hanging. Attempted murder is a crime of the gravest nature. Attempted murder of a man of the Duke's standing, is graver still. Please retire to consider your verdict.''