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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 15, 2012 21:52:55 GMT -5
Scotland 1530
"Hold still ye wench," one of the men holding her growled out but the fiery haired vixen merely grunted, giving a good elbow to his ribs and causing him to double over. Emma Harrington, daughter to the Earl of Pembrooke turned and looked at him, giving him a sound kick as he lay upon the ground moaning in pain. She glared.
"Serves you right for treating me thus you great pig," she said then watched him get up and lunge for her. She sidestepped him, using the rope bound to her hands to trip him up and then she huffed and straightened herself. She had been through hell. Ever since being taken from her cousin's room on the night of her cousin's wedding, the young woman had been packed like a corpse in a small box in the back of a wagon, tied up, blindfolded and gagged at one point, and absolutely mistreated. Thankfully, they had kept to themselves and not raped her, though she hadn't been given much food.
"I don't get it," the fatter of her two captors was saying as they stood in the hall of some Scottish keep in waiting. "The mon said she was a genteel sort of lass...doesnae seem genteel to me," he mused thoughtfully. she looked at him and spat on him and he glowered at her as he wiped his face. the one she had abused stood up and brushed himself off.
"Weel dinnae worry...as soon as the laird gets her then we willnae be the one to worry over her anymore. She'll be his problem."
Emma huffed. She would definitely be giving a firm talking to whomever this bastard was that had ordered her kidnapping and subsequently bad trip here to Scotland. she was several miles from her childhood home and it would take her two weeks to get back. Robert and Elle were the devil she knew. This devil was an entirely different matter. Her main question was why a man who lives in Scotland would want her when she lived in London, England and had never before met a Scotsman nor went to court. Indeed, she had kept herself at her Uncle and Aunt's town home since her arrival at eight years old and had never left except perhaps to Westminster to the markets there. She had not been allowed to leave that home and nor had she. The men she knew were mostly servants or stable hands. None were of a high station save her Uncle and her cousin's new husband Robert Bedford.
Hearing footsteps, the girl turned. Emma was seventeen, redheaded, with the brightest green eyes. Her skin was pale and flawless, and her body was about the average height of a woman with curves in both her breasts and buttocks that would make a man's mouth water. Her cousin Belle looked the same as her in features except she was more slender, a little taller, and her eyes were crystalline blue instead of green. She saw a man coming down the stairs and glared at his approaching figure. The men holding her captive quickly knelt to their knees saying Laird. She didn't even bat an eyelash.
"So you're the one that sent these two heathens to kidnap me," she huffed. "I hope you have an extremely good explanation for all this because it has been hell getting here with these two ruffians...." she trailed off, noting a distinctly remarkable resemblance to a young man that had courted her cousin once. But it couldn't possibly be him. He had died in London tower when she had been ten years old.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 15, 2012 22:46:34 GMT -5
She was finally there, his beautiful Belle... the love of his life. Having heard that she was going to be wed to that bastard who had ruined his life forever. Well, he had needed to rescue his sweet lady from a life of hell. His own life had been hell when he had been courting her over seven years before. He had been only eighteen and she had been a pretty sweet lady of fifteen and he had loved her, he was so close to having wed her... a month away when he had been taken into the tower of London and trialed for treason. He had been the Earl of Brighton with promising career in the court, being that he was third cousin to the King of England. His cousin had been a number of years older than himself but he was on good terms with the King. And yet, as the King was out of the country... he was being trialed and he knew because of a confession from the bastard himself that he would be killed and that he would take his title as well as his soon to be wife.
However, by some miracle... a young man who was dying of comsumption had switched spots and he was able to escape. The young man's name had been Allister MacCleod and had been the heir to the Laird of the McCleod's. And so, that was where he had decided to hide was the highlands of Scotland on an island called Skye. He had adopted the accent and had hired some men to fetch his twelve year old sister from the convent in South Hampton where she had been sent after his trial for treason.
And from there, he had spoken to the Laird of the McCleod. An old man who was impressive with his hatred of his own people and thirst for revenge. The old man had passed on and he had become the Laird after three years of being a soldier who had fought a few battles. His sister having been taken in as well and taught the ways of keeping the castle proper by his wife. She had been a mentor for his sister and Lady MacLeod had passed on when Catherine had been sixteen.
Standing there, he stared at the young woman who was shorter and fatter than his lovely Belle. "Who in the hell is this?" He asked the thugs who were looking pissed off. "This is the one you wanted... not as genteel as you said, my lord." William shook his head. "This one is too fat... well, she has an ass on her..." He said with a grin for a moment. "However, she is NOT Lady Belle. No... this one is..." It was her younger cousin... he remembered her from the one time that he had seen her burying a dead cat in the garden and he had asked her about it. Of course, she had spoken to him before Belle had come and said that her little cousin was a strange one.
William had pitied the girl but he sure as hell did not pity her now. "You got the fucking wrong one..." Belle could be married to that bastard now. "You two idiots, I paid you half and you get the wrong girl... what the fuck am I suppose to do with this one?" He asked as he was giving her the look up and down. She had filled out, that was for damn sure.
"Make her your mistress, my lord?" One said with a grin as William thought this over for a moment, his fingers stroking his beard. "Mistress... I suppose I could... not like I can use her for much else... and you can't exactly return a kidnap victim without the onslot of war."
He had to think this one through as he looked over to see his sister entering the hall and looking startled. "Catherine!" She stared before coming over. "Allister?" She said looking at him with a rised eyebrow. "Take this Lady to be washed and give her a room... she smells like a donkey."
His sister stared at him dumbfounded as he said in a low commanding voice. "Go..."
Turning to the woman who did smell like a mule... she smiled friendly and said. "Come then, we'll have you washed up... with a fresh gown, you can borrow one of mine."
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 16, 2012 2:46:16 GMT -5
Emma did not like this one bit. How dare he talk about her as though she wasn't even there. And fat? She wasn't fat at all. In fact her waist was quite slender. She had just been given an hourglass figure. The stable hand Old Tom had often told her that she would find a good husband with a body as hers was. Fat? Ha! She looked at the man insulting her and glared. And be his mistress would she? He didn't understand that if he even thought of sharing her bed she would cut his manhood off and stick down his throat. Stiffening, she looked at one of her bastard captives.
"If one of you would be so kind as to untie my wrists," she said with acid dripping from her tone. The fatter one quickly took out a knife, cutting her ropes. Clearing her throat, she looked at him and slowly approached the one who had ordered her cousin to be kidnapped. He was much taller than her. She scarcely reached his shoulder but that didn't stop her from approaching him. "You sir, are a sorry excuse for a man. I may smell like a donkey but it is because of the men who came to my home and took me from it, who dragged me here these past two weeks. And for you to insult me and talk about me as though I am not there shows how positively rude and uncouth you are," she spat then looked into his eyes, seeing in them, the same eyes of Belle's former betrothed. The same eyes who had smiled kindly on her when he had brought her a dog to replace the cat that Belle had seen killed by tossing heavy rocks onto its tail and bashing it till it fell dead. The man who had loved Belle even though she had helped lead him to his demise.
William. That was his name. A man she had thought dead but no. Not dead at all. And obviously a changed man. More of a barbarian than an English gentleman truth be told. "You have changed far more from the man I knew as a young girl," she huffed then glanced at Catherine and walked with her upstairs. Glad for the chance of a bath and a fresh changing of clothes though, she doubted anything of hers would fit well enough without some altering in height and bust.
"Mistress indeed," she muttered to herself, shaking her head then turning to look at Catherine. "Seeing as we have not been properly introduced, I suppose I should let you know my name is Lady Emma. And you are...Lady Catherine? I'm sorry we could not of met on better circumstances but the man downstairs. Well he is being an insulting arse..." she said with a huff, massaging her sore and raw wrists as they came to a room with an antechamber and bedchamber. The antechamber had a tub and several pots and already servants were coming to warm the water and dump it in the tub. A nice hot bath. Lord knew she couldn't wait to dip herself into it.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 16, 2012 7:35:27 GMT -5
Of course, he had changed... this... girl had no idea of the life he had had to go through. It certainly had not been easy and it was not easy being the leader to a people that he had come to care for. He was Allister MacLeod, Laird to the MacLeods of Dingwall now. Not the Earl of Brighton, a title that had been given to that bastard brother of his. Not many people knew it but, Robert Bedford had been a bastard son of his father's from an affair with a married lady before his father married his mother. Of course, he had not known it until that day in the tower. It had been the reason for Bedford's revenge on his family. He had said that his sister was to become something of a common whore to the men of the court and he was to have his head chopped off with a dull blade.
Well, as for Lady Emma... from the looks of her... she was no longer a girl and he damn well knew that fact. William also knew that she was not fat but had said it out of anger to the two incompetent asses that had brought the wrong woman. He supposed that she did have a fat arse being that he found that attractive on a woman. The King, his cousin had always liked small and slender ladies but, he supposed that he liked them with a little meat on their bones. His current mistress, with whom he had had for about a year had meat on her bones. He was planning to wed Belle when she was to come and so had let Jennifer Connelly go, a merchant's daughter who seemed to think that he was going to wed her. He supposed that he might have but, he loved Belle
Always had. And yet, it was her cousin who was here... dismissing the two bastards. He was going to decide her fate as well as theirs for bringing the wrong female. Poor Belle... he could only imagine the terror she was going through.
---
"Certainly, he did not mean that you were to be his mistress. Atleast, one would hope my brother was not such a cad." She said with a smile as she was helping a little. "Sorry, Lady Catherine MacLeod. Seems you know who my brother is." Chuckling as she had called for hot water to be boiled. "It will take time but soon in the spring, perhaps we can bathe by the river. Not that I am allowed to, being a Lady... not that I have any suitors to impress." Catherine mused convinced that she was ugly and too tall that no man would want such a clumsy lady such as herself.
She was notorious about sipping wine, and knocking things over when she was a teenager. She had had pimples all over her face despite cleaning it and she had been a tall and too skinney without a curve on her body. However, after turning seventeen years old... Catherine had been a late bloomer and had finally filled out. And yet, as the age of twenty she had not yet found a suitor. She did however have someone in mind and that was her brother's friend. He had always been kind to her since meeting him at the age of fifteen.
"I am sorry for my brother's behaviour... he really is kind. Most of the time." She mused as she had some a servant help with getting the bath so that it could be filled for her. "I am sure that you will be sent back soon enough... How lucky for you to have been to the English court?" She had always wanted to go but she had only been able to go to the Scottish court. A place that she had come to florish as a lady of the Scottish society.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 16, 2012 8:34:54 GMT -5
Emma looked at her. "I've never been to English court," she mused thoughtfully. "I was my aunt and uncle's ward...and was kept at their home. An orphan with a good dowry I suppose but not one that was grand. Most of my father's wealth went to some distant cousin of mine as well as the title." She shrugged, untying the sleeves of her dress and then slipping them off as water was heated and poured with sprigs of lavender added to scent the water. It smelt absolutely heavenly. "And yes...I know exactly who your brother is..." she said agreeably. "I had thought...that he was dead...as did my cousin...and her new husband..." There was a bit of a bite to her tone and she cleared her throat.
"And I should like to think he is not a cad. It does not look well on him to be one..." she gave a smirk and then untied the front of her dress so that it pulled open to reveal her shift underneath. "And I don't see why you would not have suitors my lady. You are positively lovely. From what I can tell, a lot of men like a slender beauty...redheads are the worst," she smirked then sighed and watched as some cold water was put to the hot, making it just the right temperature. "Who knows..." She smiled and then slipped into the water once it was ready enough, having stripped down to her thin shift. She was used to doing things on her own and had no qualms grabbing a rough cloth, lathering it with rose scented soap then going about scrubbing herself clean. It felt good to get all the dirt and grime off of her and soak in the hot water. she was also quite hungry but would not say so. It might be rude. Then again, she had every reason to be rude. At least to the man downstairs. Hi sister however, had no need of hearing her sharp tongue. She was being nice enough.
"I fear my lady, that any gown you let me wear will be long skirted and a tight fitting bodice. I haven't any qualms about wearing clothes that are not so fine...In fact I am used to it. And I am normally good at making my own clothes too," she said simply, turning away then dunking herself under water. Emma did like to think of herself as an optimist. And being here, meant she did not have to be under her Uncle and Bedford's constant authority. They were close and both had conspired for her to marry some old man thrice her age
She wouldn't be his mistress here, but perhaps she could enjoy the idea of being truly free from the strictures of the house she had spent most of her life in. And this Lady Catherine seemed pleasant. Much better as companion and confidante than her cousin Belle. Besides Old Tom and her governess Minerva, Emma had never really had any friends. Belle had been to involved with herself and her own plans and not with spending time with her younger cousin. Unless it was to torment her.
-----
Brett Cauldwell whistled to himself as he exited his coach and slowly approached the front entrance of the keep, taking off his cloak and hat then scratching his jaw. It was in desperate need of a shave but the thirty-two year old would just worry about that later. He was here on business but pleasure was also a jolly reason. As an adviser to King James, the young man who was English born but with a Scot's father, had come up in both courts fairly well. He knew enough that the King was in truth, his half brother and that his true father was King James the IV. None would say so but he had the distinct look of a Stewart with is dark hair and handsome features.
His mother had been a Scotswoman and when she had gotten with child, the King had set up her marriage to the English Cauldwell to ensure a legitimate birthing. Cauldwell had not been the greatest of father's Brett was sure, but he had done a good job of seeing that Brett had been well educated and brought up nicely. At sixteen, Cauldwell died and he and his mother had come to live in Scotland. So for the past sixteen years, his life had been here and he had earned favor with his half brother who was somewhat younger than himself but the two of them got along well enough and he had been issued as an adviser to the court and one that could travel often to visit with the Lairds of Scotland, including his good friend Allister MacLeod. A man he had met five years before and whom he had a great deal of friendship with now. It was always a pleasant trip when he went to see the man. But as he entered and gazed at Allister, he could see the man was in a foul disposition.
"What's in your gullet Allister?" he asked with a grin, thanking a servant who came to get is cloak and hat while another grabbed his trunk, taking all of it to the normal rooms he stayed in when he came to visit. "You look ill. Not to much wine lat night I hope," he teased lightly.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 16, 2012 18:43:44 GMT -5
"Well, if you know who he is then I suppose you should know who I am... I am Lady Catherine Alderidge, sister to the former Earl of Brighton before it went to Sir Robert Bedford." She frowned at that since she had been sent to the convent because of him. He had become her 'legal' guardian but he was no longer able to do anything to her because she was in Scotland. Luckily, no one had come looking for her after all those year. "I do not like him..." She said honestly from what she remembered as a pre-teen. "And do not worry about the gown... we can just make a few a adjustments so that you can fit into my gowns." She said with a small smile as one of the maids came in and said to Catherine. "My lady, the english adviser... Lord Cauldwell has arrived for a visit."
Soft blue eyes went wide as she looked down at her dress. "What am I wearing?!" She said as she dashed out of the room with two maids trailing behind her as she asked for her best gown wanting to impress Lord Cauldwell since she loved him and had since she had only been fifteen years old. It had been when Lady MacLeod was still acting as her grandmother and mentor. Returning to the room in a clean gown, she had another one for Lady Emma. "Sorry about that I..." She blushed as she looked away for a moment. "I do not want suitors... only one." She could not help herself but smile to herself as one of the maid's chuckle. "My Lady, you are like this every time Lord Cauldwell visits." And she was right as she had the two servants help Lady Emma.
"Oh... are you going to tell him that you were kidnapped by my brother." Catherine looked worried wondering how that would look an English lady being kidnapped by a Scottish Laird. "Oh dear... oh dear..." Pacing, she looked up.
---
"No... I havenae been drinkin'." He said to whom he considered to be a friend and yet, the man did not know who he really was. "No, a friend of me sister's is with us and I think she is a little mad as well as she has a bit of a temper on her." He said trying to make up for the fact that he had kidnapped an english woman who happened to be the wrong one. "Come... I will show you the new hunting grounds that I had gotten from the neighbouring MacLean in the last battle." He said with a smirk.
---
An hour later, they returned from the horse ride and he hoped that Catherine had told Lady Emma to pretend to be someone else or something of the sort.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 16, 2012 20:57:54 GMT -5
Emma looked at her and then smiled at the servants who had quickly hemmed and redone the pretty gown so that it fit her body nicely. "Do not worry my lady Catherine. I promise I will not tell. I can keep a secret. Especially if you have an eye for this man," she smiled and then looked at her reflection once she was redressed and her hair done nicely. She looked like a lady. More than she ever hand and her hands ran over the silver brocade and she smiled. "This is truly a beautiful dress," she smiled, enjoying the green and silver accents. It was absolutely beautiful.
"Thank you milady Catherine," she smiled then ran her fingers over her spiraling red hair. A servant came upstairs and smiled, giving a curtsey before announcing a lunch in the private dining room. Emma lifted the hem of her dress and then let Catherine lead the way though the woman looked jittery and nervous.
When they reached the dining room, she saw the man who had ordered her kidnapping as well as a tall and handsome man who looked to be thirty with dark hair and bright blue eyes. He turned and smiled at them and then approached, giving a bow. "Ladies..." he gretted and first grabbed Emma's hand. "My Lady..."
"It's...Emma...You must be...Lord Cauldwell," she said and he smirked, kissing her knuckles.
"Aye...Brett Cauldwell..." he smiled then dropped her hand and grabbed Catherine's hand. "Lady Catherine...beautiful as always...I hope no man has laid claim to you yet," he teased then kissed her knuckles. "Your brother is in such a foul disposition today," he chuckled then sat up and walked over to the table and stood.
"I believe that is my fault milord," Emma said giving a smile then glancing at her captor with a half glare. "I arrived just this morning you see and we are not seeing eye to eye..." she mused then went over to the chair designated for her that was right across from the man who had ordered her kidnapping. Or rather that of Belle's. She no longer smelled foul and she looked like a real lady with a gown that had been altered to fit her perfectly, showing off her assets but in a demure and ladylike manner. She fixed her skirt and gave him a hard glance then slipped her napkin into her lap.
"For once a woman not charmed by my friend. I am decently shocked," he grinned, pulling a chair out for Catherine before taking his seat across from her and beside Allister. Or William rather. She thanked the servant that put a slice of meat and bread on her plate and then turned to look at her kidnapper, taking a sip of her wine. Once alone, she would give him a stern talking to.
"Is Laird Allister such a great charmer then?" she asked.
Brett grinned. "Second only to me," he chuckled then sipped at his own wine.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 17, 2012 8:32:00 GMT -5
Catherine could not help herself as she was blushing like a young girl while Lord Cauldwell was teasing her, "No, no... not as of this moment." What she did not know was the requests that she was getting that were delivered to her brother and he was turning away for the reason that none of the men were good enough for his younger sister. And that was the truth in William's eyes, his sister was an innocent young lady and he had known some of the bastards who wanted her hand in marriage. One of which was the heir to the MacLean land and he knew the reason why those bastards wanted his land... and he would not put his sister through that. As for his friend Brett Cauldwell, it was so obvious that his sister was completely inflated with the man and if he did not know that then, he was an idiot. He did not think that it would be so bad to have Cauldwell as a brother in law; at least the man was suitable.
"I told you that she was mad..." He said with a boom laugh but returned the glare to the little redhead who thought she knew it all. There was a tension in the room that his sister did not seem to notice but he could feel the hatred that the accidental kidnapper victim was giving him. He would have to speak to her about the situation and what he was going to do. For the time being, he was not going to be giving anymore jobs to those thugs that had done the kidnapping, but he was going to have to return her and get his Belle.
However, that would have to wait until after dinner as it was only a simple meal of roasted venison, turnips with bread and of course plenty of ale and wine for the ladies. "I had this bottle shipped right from France." He boasted as they were finishing up with the evening meal, it was not a large event like he would have planned for tomorrow evening but it was just a welcome dinner for an old friend and he supposed a 'new' one. Of course, he said this in the toast to the King of Scotland.
After the dinner, he said to both his sister and friend... "If you will excuse me, I have to talk to Lady Emma... O'Hara." The woman had red hair so he could just say that she was an Irish lass. Looking to his captive who did not act like one at all, something that he was impressed with since most lasses would be terrified, he said with his eyes. 'Better obey or else.' "Hope you donae mind entertaining Brett for a few minutes, Catherine."
Catherine did not mind as all as she nodded and looked back at the man that she had loved since she was a girl. "Not at all, Alistair." She said with a smile before saying. "Ah, perhaps we can play a game of chess or cards? I am quite good, I'll have you know." She said with a light laugh.
As for him and Lady Emma, he turned to her as they entered the study. "I need to know exactly what happened to you over the last two weeks. This could have happened to your cousin if she had been taken..." William was pacing. "She's married to that bastard." He said with a look of anger in his eyes. "I suppose I will have to have some men sent out to fetch her as well." He said more to himself to her as he was brooding over this.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 17, 2012 9:29:10 GMT -5
Emma walked with him till they were in his study and watched him pacing then straightened her shoulders. "She won't like you taking her. She is quite in love with her husband. And believe me, they are a perfect match," she said then sighed bit her bottom lip and looked away before looking back at him. "As for my trip over here, it was less than enjoyable. I was trussed up, kept in a box the size of a coffin, given little more than stale bread and water for most of the journey here and even struck a few times though I admit I gave as good as I got if not more." She realized he did not know that Belle had been one of the conspirators to see him killed when he had been living in London and courting Belle. Even then Belle had known exactly what she wanted. A rich husband who was as cruel as herself.
Robert Bedford fit that profile. Handsome and strong, with his own wealth. And the inherited wealth of his half brother if the half brother was killed. And so they had both conspired to destroy William's reputation, charged him with treason. With Henry out of the country, it had been a quick trial and Cromwell had signed off his death warrant. Once word had come that Will had died in prison, she remembered how happy her cousin had been.
Emma had been angry with her cousin for being so cruel and had confronted her about it. Belle had only laughed, petted her head in a condescending manner then had held her tightly to watch Robert kill the dog that William had given her. Like any other pet or animal she had cared for.
Despite her most recent ordeal, she really did not like the idea of the man finding out how completely cruel his love was. "Belle is happy with Robert and though I know he caused your downfall, she loves him...and she knows what...what he did...Save yourself the trouble and heartache. Move on. It's been eight years...she has moved on and she is married. She was already pregnant when she did marry him...there is nothing you can do about it William Alderidge," she said then huffed.
"And don't call me a liar. I'm not one...She...she is happy and carrying a child...." Which was all true. She didn't dare tell him that she was part of his downfall, only that she knew Robert had been the one to cause it. Maybe if he thought that Belle genuinely believed him treasonous, he would let her alone. But the man had loved her. So there was no telling how he would take it. "And I think I'll stay here if you don't mind. I've never been outside of London since I was a child and then it was only Kent. Being out of England is a new experience and I think your sister and I get along well enough...and since I was dragged here, I might as well enjoy myself.
-----
Brett smiled at the woman. "More improved then last time I hope," he grinned then gave a chuckle before grabbing his wine and then moving into a small room with card tables and quickly took a seat at one, grabbing a chessboard and setting it up. He sat his pewter cup down and then grinned at Catherine. She was such a beautiful woman. Ever since she was fifteen, she had known her, seen her grow through the awkward phase of puberty to now. She was a beautiful woman, charming, and convinced she was still plain. But she was slender and beautiful and was a brunette. he had a thing for brunettes.
He also knew that he was in need of a wife and knew she harbored feelings for him. He meant to play off that. And also meant to ask Alistair to court her. She was such a sweet natured woman, with a bit of sass that he found intriguing. A beguiling little innocent untouched by courtly gossip and corruption. A perfect bride. It didn't matter that she was older than an average bride, she was just perfect for him.
"So what piece do you wish? White or black?" he asked curiously, giving a grin to her while taking another sip of his wine.
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 17, 2012 15:05:46 GMT -5
Stopping at he stared at her as if she had grown a second head, "You want to stay here in Scotland?" He asked as he had listened to what she was staying about Belle and his face almost dropped as he went over to behind his desk and opened a cupboard. He did not know what to believe but the damn woman was probably right as he pulled out a bottle of Scotch and sighed. "So, she is happy with the child of that bastard..." He said simply as he took out two pewter cups before slamming his fist on the hard wood of the desk. "I hate that bastard, he ruined my life..." He said wanting nothing more than to seeking revenge and yet, he could not from Scotland unless there was a way of bringing him to Scotland.
Looking to the woman across the desk, he knew how to bring that bastard to Scotland and it would be so easy. "She probably thinks that I am a traitor... I do not blame her. He must had lied to her, made her fall for him. He is a charmer that way... Drink, it is not sitting there for no reason."
Pacing again, he looked over to her. "Donae be calling me William, it's Allistair now for the time being." He said not losing the Scottish accent that he was so use to over the years. "Now, for the kidnappers... well, I had asked them to treat Belle with respect and gave them money for food and drink as well as inns." He suspected that had not been the case. "I am sorry that you had to go through with that Lady Emma. For the time being, you may stay here but you are the English daughter of an Irish merchant. English mother... yes, that story will work for now."
Glancing at her, he did not think he was going to use her as his mistress but then, if it was only in title. "You will pretend to be my new mistress..." She was about to say something. "Donae ye be thinking I want to sleep with ye... you have a nice arse but, I'm not that much of a cad to be taking a Lady's virginity until we were wed." He drank at his scotch for a moment. "Aye, that will work."
---
It did not take her long to chose the white set to play with. "Oh, I have improved much more than you think, My Lord." She said with a slight tilt of her head. "I even beat brother at it but he will not play with me anymore, says that I must be a cheater." She shook her head. "He's stubborn, too stubborn to think that he is terrible at the game. I have tried teaching the servants as well as played a few game against brother's head of the guard." She could not beat him at the game... atleast not yet.
"Perhaps, I will beat you but if I boast like this then, you will fool me into winning." Catherine was talking too much, she did not when she was feeling nervous which was all of the time with Lord Cauldwell. "How have you been, I have not seen you since you visited almost six months before..." She had not gone to Scottish court yet mostly because her brother was afraid of being recognized. "Brother says that I may be able to go to court this year, but I will be a grandmother to some of the other ladies." Catherine mused to herself.
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