Once Jessica lit the fire and had it blazing she went to the water pump to fill the two buckets she carried with water. Alice had said the boiler would take six buckets to fill. When that was done she was to add eight buckets of water to the bathtub, this would make the temperature acceptable for the master to bathe in.

She had just finished filling the boiler and was crossing the bedroom floor toward the door with the buckets as he entered. Jessica felt the anxiety which had lain dormant while she worked, resurface. His clothes were wet with sweat and stained with dirt. He smelt of a mixture of perspiration, horse and hay. A not unpleasant smell. Jessica hesitated, allowing him to pass. As he did, his hand brushed against her arm. Her muscles ached from where she had already carried the full buckets three times and his accidental bump caused her to drop the one in that hand. Jessica bent to pick it up. So did Louis. Their faces so close they felt the heat of the other's breath on their skin.

Jessica quickly pulled back to standing position watching him cautiously as he slowly stood holding the bucket.

Louis saw her body tense. Saw her withdrawal from him and realised she was nervous of being too close to him. He didn't give the bucket to her but rubbed the handle casually with his fingers. He watched as she wrapped her arm across her stomach. Her focus on the floor. Louis smiled as his eyes took her in. She had pinned her hair up on top of her head. He decided he liked it better down. Louis watched as her tongue nervously flicked, just once, from her mouth to moisten her lips. She was afraid of him. His eyebrows rose at this realisation. He knew he had found a way to discipline her, if he had to, without striking her. But he would have to wait for the appropriate time. Louis smiled to himself and handed her the bucket.

As Jessica went to take it from him Louis held it firm, wanting to see how she would respond. She kept her eyes focused on the ground and waited until he released it.

"Bring me some hot water from the kitchen. I want to shave," Louis said as he let go of the bucket and walked further into the room.

Jessica left the buckets beside the back door while she went to get the kettle of hot water which was always on the fire ready to be used.

When she re-entered his room he was standing by the washstand naked to the waist sharpening his razor. His skin was smooth and unblemished.

Jessica dared not look at him.

"Oh I am sorry!" Jessica's hand went to her mouth.

She looked away.

Away from where he stood in his trousers.

She looked away.

Away from where Hannah lay covering herself with her hands.

Jessica ran away.

Louis looked toward her as she entered. Her obvious embarrassment amused him, causing him to smile once more. He decided he liked making her uncomfortable. She slowly approached the washstand and poured the hot water into the bowl leaving enough room so some cold could be added. Louis stood silently watching her, flicking the razor from one side to the other on the leather strap.

"Sit on the foot stool, Jessica," he said indicating where he wanted her to go by pointing the razor.

Jessica's heart pounded. Her mind swam with indecision. She focused on the door; the joins in the timber and the large brass knob. The floor moved in waves as she took a step.

Louis realising what she intended grabbed her. His large hand and fingers wrapped around her wrist. He secured the kettle of hot water with the other, taking it from her. Louis felt the warm softness of her skin and the tension she held within.

Holding the kettle at arm's length, he maneuvered her forcefully, making her sit on the footstool. Louis sat, placed the kettle on the ground beside the armchair and extended a booted foot to her. "Take off my boots."

The burning began from her gut. It coursed through her body. The rush of thoughts in her mind had Jessica trying to calm herself. She didn't obey.

Louis waited a moment longer. When there was no response from her he lowered his foot and slowly leaned forward taking her by the chin, forcing her face toward him.

Jessica resisted. She took hold of his wrist and tried to release his hand but he dug his fingers more deeply into her jawbones. She stared at him; his blue eyes had darkened to the colour of storm clouds.

He was dressed in his riding clothes, pouring himself a drink, when she stormed into the room. His hair hung bedraggled around his face and into his dark brown eyes. Even in anger they looked soft and dreamy. In that moment Jessica realised how handsome he was. Never before had she thought of him in this way. Her hate had been enough to blind her from this fact.

Jessica stood with her hands on her hips and glared. "How dare you touch her like that?"

He smiled sinisterly and strode across the room toward her. Jessica stood her ground.

His hand reached out, grabbed the hair at the back of her head, and forced her face toward his. "I am Master of this house. I shall touch whomever I like."

She struggled to free herself from his hold. He laughed and placed his lips to her ear, then pushed her to the floor. Jessica looked up at him from where she lay.

He knelt and gently touched her cheek as he smiled once more. "Remember it, Jessica, just remember it."

"I asked you to take off my boots."

Jessica pulled her eyes from his. She refused to reply so focused on his arm where the skin moved as the muscle beneath tensed then relaxed.

"I don't like to ask more than once."

She heard the rumble. His words were like thunder in the distance, slowly rolling forward with the threat of bad weather. He leaned back in the chair and held his foot toward her again. Jessica took his boot in her hand. She loosened the laces and started to pull but it was tight. She pulled harder. Her anger surged at having given in to him so easily. When the boot refused to budge she felt the heat of it in her chest. It rushed to her head. As she pulled on the boot once more Louis raised the toe of his other boot to the heel of the one she was pulling and pushed down. This action caused the boot to loosen quickly. Jessica and the boot tumbled to the floor.

She lay there for a moment humiliated, then stood and looked at Louis. He was seated comfortably in the armchair. The smile on his face matched the sparkle of amusement in his eyes. He had taken pleasure in her shame. Hatred empowered her. She reached for the boot and flung it at him. Louis ducked. The boot just missed his head. It landed in the empty bathtub behind him.

Jessica watched as he leaned back in the chair once more. His silent humour developed into a chuckle. He rubbed the stubble on his chin as he studied her. If she'd had something else in hand she would have thrown it too. She stormed from the room. Not only was she angry but she was confused by his reaction. To have him laugh at her was worse than having him strike her.

Alice followed a distraught Jessica into the green house. "What's the matter?"

Tears streamed down Jessica's face. "I hate him. He is a pig and I will not do as he asks," she seethed between clenched teeth.

"Why? What has happened?"

Jessica pulled herself together and wiped the tears from her face; ashamed she had allowed him to get under her skin like this. "It doesn't matter," she said. "I have not finished filling his tub and I refuse to. If that is a problem to you I suggest you finish it," she spoke haughtily and instantly regretted it. "I'm sorry, Alice. I am so mad. It was a silly thing to do with his boots but I cannot go back in there. Do you think you'd be able to finish for me while I light the fire in the dining room?"

Alice smiled and tilted her head. "You've never had to take orders before have you, Jessica?"

"Not direct orders like this." Jessica hung her head. "Things were expected of me. Though, even if I disagreed I had to comply. Still, I spoke my mind at times."

"Not to worry." Alice smirked. "You'll get used to it and it won't seem so bad." As an afterthought, Alice added, "He's not a bad man but I guess you'll have to work that out for yourself. Come on now. Let's get these jobs finished."

Oh...it doesn't seem like they've made a great start.

Louis is being a real bastard.  Poor Jessica :(  Just when she thought things were getting better.

 Copyright © 2019 Donna Fieldhouse. All rights reserved.