Shamed
10 Erotic Short Stories
Theresa Taylor
Text Copyright © 2012 Theresa Taylor
All Rights Reserved
Cover photograph by 2XH ([email protected])
All characters and events in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
For Jane who valiantly suffers for my art
Index
Taken Aboard
The House Cleaner
The Ruse
The Stain
The Trading of Nera
Colours
Home Alone
Dressed For The Part
Lena’s Humiliation
Unaccountable
Taken Aboard
The sky was a dark mix of grey and black clouds and the sea thankfully quite calm. Dawn was still some minutes away but edging ever nearer as demonstrated by the dark hulk of the land mass that edged the horizon, a faint shade of red barely visible above its undulating line. She was leaning against the rough weathered balustrade, wrapped heavily against the chill. The ship heaved momentarily causing her to stagger and a powerful thrust of wind set the sails rippling with a sound that reminded her of an enormous flock of birds taking flight, the retaining ropes straining noisily. It was their third day at sea and Prudence had been unable to sleep, finally going above deck to savour the fresh air, leaving Maud below asleep in her cot. A handful of crew manned the deck, a surly looking haystack of a man at the helm and the look out in the crow’s nest who was asleep, she was sure. She didn’t blame him; what a wretched place to have to spend the night. The boatswain had greeted her as she stooped through the low doorway and asked after her welfare, his consternation that a woman should be on deck unattended and in the hours of darkness obviously causing him great discomfort.
Feeling the wind pick up Prudence tightened the bow on her bonnet to prevent it being whipped away over board. The breeze nipped at her hands and she wished she had worn gloves. Still, soon the day would be upon them and then the sun would come with its radiating warmth, driving the cold from her bones and in time causing her to regret the layers of clothing that were becoming of a woman. The crew would strip their upper articles, casting off the leather jerkins and heavy woollen shirts, displaying their bronzed, weathered skin and toned muscles as they worked; necessitating that the ladies should go below or be shielded from them by the placing of windbreaks that would offer some little protection to their visual sensitivities.
One more day and they would reach their destination and she would be home and back in the breast of her family, on the estate with its sprawling grounds of lush green grass and beech trees. She thought of father, watching him from the herb garden through the large windows of the study, cataloguing his butterfly collection, Mother on the veranda reading, shaded from the sun. She missed home, the house, but perhaps not the sometimes smothering nature of her parents. At twenty six she was a woman, intelligent and capable and occasionally she felt constrained by the slow pace of life and intransigent doctrine of life in her parent’s home. The trip to visit Aunt Clarice, albeit brief, had been a welcome diversion and the bustle of the town where Aunt Clarice lived and the woman’s exuberance, so in contrast to Prudence’s mother, often captivated her. On her visits away Prudence would often travel to town with her cousin George, persuading him to take her to the more risqué parts of town. It was their sworn secret and George, younger than Prudence by a couple of years but much more worldly wise seemed to enjoy the devilment of it all. She would secretly observe the strutting ladies who populated the bordellos and bars. Fallen women, George called them and Prudence was secretly inquisitive, fascinated and, in her private most secretive moments, had considered what it would be like to give up her body in that way, without love or commitment, shamefully, sinfully. Her sexual knowledge amounted to furtive sessions reading a medical almanac she had discovered in her father’s study. Alone in her room at night, when Maud and her parents had retired, Prudence would sometimes apply make up to her face, imitating the fallen women - dressed in her underwear or sometimes naked - and fantasise a liaison with a surly gentleman, performing in her mind all manner of unspeakable acts. It had a strange effect on her, making her wet between her legs and when she indulged in her darker fantasies; flushing her body with a strange trembling excitement. Sometimes her fantasies involved several men. She didn’t know where she got the idea from, but she imagined being one of the fallen women, stretched out on the bed as a queue of men stood around her all waiting to take her in one sitting; one after the other.
As the light improved the sea began to change from a barely visible black abyss to a bluegreen mat of swells and troughs. Maud, her maid and constant companion, had not enjoyed the sea journey. She was fearful of most things, whether it be some tragedy befalling the vessel, an affliction of disease or simply the almost certain (in Maud’s view anyway) ravishing of their womanly virtue by the depraved crew. Actually, the Spanish crew of the Elvira were, in Prudence’s view, a fairly pleasant crowd in comparison to some she had sailed with. By measure, a fair way from the gentlemen she was accustomed to be in the company of but by and large not a totally disagreeable assembly. Captain Palencia ran a steady ship, even handed and was appreciated by his crew if not loved.
Prudence watched as the red glow over the land began to seep upwards and dislodge the black and grey clouds. The sea itself began to sparkle and shimmer in places as the first streaks of sunlight touched the tips of small waves. She watched as a small boat emerged from the shadow of the land mass and appeared to stand still at a constant distance, hugging the shore. She wondered who was aboard, where they were heading; what adventures lay ahead of them? She was startled by a hand gently touching her sleeve. It was Guillem, the chief mate; he was looking at her with his dark eyes softly peering from chiselled features. In his passable English he asked if she was alright.
“I’m fine Guillem, thank you.” Prudence said. “I found that sleep was denied to me and I decided to watch the sea until the dawn arose.” She smiled, unsure if he had understood her words.
Turning to face the sea again she noticed that the boat she had seen earlier was nearer now much larger than she had at first supposed. At the same instant Guillem gave out a loud cry and raced along the deck shouting over his shoulder at the crew. He began to ring the ships bell near the foremast and yelled frantically at the top of his voice. The words, although in Spanish, were similar enough for her to comprehend and a cold chill ran through her.
“Piratas!” Guillem cried “Piratas!”
The Elvira suddenly heaved to the starboard as Haystack at the helm swung the wheel and the ship groaned against the sudden alteration to its course leaning heavily. He was trying to steer it away from the approaching vessel and out into deeper waters. Several of the crews staggered out into the early morning light from below decks and a clamour of urgent, confused, voices pierced the air in a language that Prudence could not understand. Captain Palencia appeared from his cabin, his expression startled as he ran to the balustrade next to Prudence and his hands gripped tightly as he stared out at the oncoming ship. Prudence thought she heard him say a prayer and he crossed himself. Throwing a hand to his forehead in despair he took Prudence by the arm with the other and guided her up onto the quarterdeck where Maud suddenly appeared before them.
“Ma’am? What’s happening?” Maud asked, her face white with fear.
Before Prudence could answer her, Captain Palencia grabbed hold of Maud and manhandled them both towards a low doorway that lead to their small quarters below decks. Down a small flight of steps he continued to rush them with urgent words and gesticulations. Throwing open the door he pushed them both in and slammed it shut behind them.
“You must to stay here!” he called through the closed door. “Stay here and no noise! En total! No noise!”
Prudence was alarmed at how frightened the Captain had appeared. She sat with Maud on one of the wooden cots and holding her trembling hands in hers explained what she had seen. Maud looked like she was going to faint and Prudence assured her that everything was alright. It was probably a misunderstanding, for all she knew it could have been a large fishing boat, a whaler perhaps. They were safe where they were. As soon as everything had been clarified they would be allowed back on deck.
The shipped heaved suddenly again and then a moment later shifted once more, changing course. The shouting of the men out on the deck was frantic and the sound of running feet hammered though the planking. Then the volume of the shouting increased in urgency and Prudence thought she could hear someone shouting an order or a warning, somewhat more distant than the voices of the crew. In English? She couldn’t be certain. The shout was met with an angry fusillade of Spanish in response and more urgent running about.
Suddenly there was a loud grating noise and the Elvira seemed to lurch sideways momentarily. The shouting outside increased, angry, terrified shouts and more voices, growling like animals, feet running, cries of pain and fear. Maud was shaking terribly and almost laying now in Prudence’s lap, her face buried into her skirts. Prudence realised Maud was still in her night clothes. Fearing the worst, but not wishing to increase Maud’s alarm, she encouraged the girl to rise and told her that she must dress. Prudence grabbed one of her own dresses from a chest that was close to hand and forced her terrified servant to concentrate as she helped her dress. It was one of Prudence’s more expensive outfits, purchased in the town from an exclusive store but now was not the time to worry about that. She made light of it by joking with Maud that she looked better in it than Prudence did.
“Perhaps I should allow you to keep it?” Prudence said trying to control her breath, desperate to distract Maud from the unseen drama. “Perhaps you can wear it to the next ball?”
“If we are alive to see another ball!” Maud wailed.
Outside, the fracas seemed to suddenly quieten down and there followed a few minutes of harsh spoken words which Prudence was now certain was in English. She heard Captain Palencia respond, his voice weak and almost unrecognisable. The talking was followed by the shuffle of many feet and then ropes creaking and sporadic bursts of laughter. She could hear taunting and whistles and then silence. The voices then became conversational and calmer and she could hear movement all around as doors and hatches opened and shut and a barrel rolled across the deck. She held tightly to Maud as they backed into a corner, fearing the worst and knowing that soon they may be discovered.
When the door burst open they both jumped with fright and screamed. A dirty wretched looking man cautiously entered the room, a large knife in his hand held at the ready. On seeing the women his toothless face broke into a grin and, more confident now, he swaggered into the room. Maud was crying and with a lecherous glint in his eye the man brushed a finger down her cheek capturing a tear on a rough scoured finger. Maud shrank away from him as far as she could. He held her chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted her face towards him.
“Leave her alone!” Prudence insisted, stepping between him and the girl. She was shoved unceremoniously to one side and the man grabbed at Maud’s skirt and began to pull it up as the girl wrestled with the material against him. She screamed.
Prudence leapt up and shoved the man hard, managing to knock him to one side just as a voice boomed into the room.
“Stand aside!” A large rugged man stood in the doorway filling its frame.
The toothless man cursed but stood away from the women.
“Thank you Piper. It seems we do have a valuable cargo aboard this vessel after all.” The large man said with a broad smile.
The women were hauled up on deck and for some moments Prudence was speechless. A rabble of surly, boorish, pirates was busy ransacking the Elvira. Alongside her was the ship that Prudence had spotted approaching earlier. Of the Elvira’s crew there was no sign. The large rugged man who ordered that they be brought to the deck was easily identified by Prudence as the leader. This was confirmed when he cheerfully announced himself to them as Captain Bartram. Strangely, he had directed his introduction to Maud and it took some moments as he continued to talk to the girl for Prudence to work out that the pirate captain believed that Maud was the lady of the party and Prudence her maid. Of course, the dress! She suddenly realised. Maud was wearing her expensive gown and Prudence was still attired in the old clothes she kept for wearing on board ship, lest they become soiled or torn. She realised that she should correct the misunderstanding with the so called Captain but then she noticed the rest of the pirates attention drawn towards them and the lustful looks of some directed towards Maud.
“You my lady,” he announced looking at Maud “shall be worth a pretty penny I have no doubt. I will insist on your remaining out of harm’s way by staying in your quarters until contact can be made with your family for your ransom.” Maud gasped and began to speak; she must have been startled and wondering how on earth her poor family would ever raise a ransom fee. Prudence interrupted, realising that she needed to do all she could to protect her young aid.
“And what of me sire?” she asked the captain.
“You?” The captain looked at her askance and shrugged his shoulders. “You are a servant, so I imagine you will do for us as you do for your mistress.”
Maud looked puzzled and began to speak but Prudence gripped her hand and signalled to her to remain silent. Then Maud was whisked away, a perplexed expression on her face as she looked back at Prudence as she was returned to her quarters by one of the pirates.
Prudence then was tasked to prepare a meal for the invaders. She was sent to the galley and did the best she could, utilising much of the food that the cook had been in the process of preparing for the crew before the Elvira was stormed. She was thankful that as a child she would spend time in the Kitchen at home watching Matilda prepare the family meals. Otherwise she would have had no idea what she was supposed to do. That said the offerings available to her here were of dubious quality. Accompanied by a pirate with a lazy eye who kept watch over her, she busied herself in the unfamiliar surroundings, conscious of his stare upon her. As she drained soup from a flagon into a row of bowls and stacked hard tack biscuits and fruit on a tray she suddenly felt a presence behind her.
Lazy Eye was standing close to her and then pressed himself against her, a hand reaching around and cupping her bosom. Prudence froze; she had no idea how to react.
“So, how about we just have little dalliance before breakfast?” He spoke close to her ear, his breath tickling the hair on her neck. He squeezed her breast and she could feel something hard pressing against her buttock.
These were dangerous men, Prudence was sure of it, and although until now their behaviour had been reasonable, she knew that it could take little to turn their conduct to a disadvantage. She had to act carefully, protect poor Maud and ensure that they both had the best chance of surviving this awful predicament.
Lazy Eye wrapped his other hand around her waist and pulled her close to him. He continued to knead her breast and was now attempting to unbutton her dress and slip his hand inside her camisole. Prudence’s breath froze in her chest. She had never been touched before by a man and now found herself unable to react to this invasion of her person. Two or three buttons now loosened, she felt his hand slip under the heavy material of her dress and slide over the thin cotton of her camisole. The material did little to dampen the sensation of his hard boney fingers as they sought to find a way beneath to her flesh. She tried to speak but her words were breathless. His hand easily wriggled over the neck of the top of the camisole and slipped eagerly down onto her breast. Prudence gasped aloud. She was all at once horrified and intrigued as his hand roamed urgently over the soft flesh and seemed to inst
inctively locate her nipple. As he cupped her again she felt herself harden and he seemed pleased as the small bud stiffened at his touch. He took it between his fingers and pinched. Prudence squealed.
He spun her around and tore open the buttons at the front of her dress.
“Stop!” she pleaded weakly, certain that her protestations would have no effect. His hands easily ripped open her camisole and grabbed eagerly at her exposed breasts. She fought to cover herself with her arm but he pinned her arms back and pressed his groin against hers. He was laughing. She could feel the hard ridge of something in his trousers pushing against her. A dagger perhaps? Or a cosh?
“Stop!” she pleaded again. Finding her voice clearly at last. “Stop!”
“Stop!” sounded another voice, deeper and more commanding than her own. Lazy Eye froze and released his grip on her.
Captain Batram stood in the doorway to the galley an amused expression on his face. “The men are hungry and you are delaying our breakfast.” He said to Lazy Eye as if his actions had been nothing but a trivial misdemeanour. “You,” he said staring at Prudence as she clutched the torn fabric across her chest “Serve the men and be sharp about it.”
“But, I need to make myself decent!” Prudence procrastinated.
The Captain turned back as he was leaving “You’re decent enough for the likes of the rabble out there. Now get to it!”
Prudence stood for a moment uncertain what to do. Lazy Eye slapped her backside. “Get on with it then! Afore I decide to finish off what was started.”
Shaken, Prudence gathered up the food on a large wooden tray. But as much as she tried she could not hold the tray and cover herself at the same time.
“I can’t.....my clothing, it won’t stay...” She stumbled over the words.
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