Chapter nineteen

  "You like horses?" Edward's gaze was cool and calculating as he stared at the woman before him.

  "Yes, my lord. When I said they're a wonder, it would indicate I like them."

  "I see. I have a mind to take you on your offer."  Edward's shrewd gaze noticed how she stiffened before offering him a sultry smile.

  "I made you many a offers tonight, my lord. Which one do you desire?"

  Edward took a step closer, nearly brushing against her, as he whispered in her ear. "The most indecent offer you have to offer." All the while his hand crept along her side, then towards her back before firmly pushing her body against his.

  Annabelle briefly froze before offering a smirk. She titled her head back as she raised her arms to come around his neck, her fingers interlacing with his hair, as she gently tugged his raven locks. Her heart beat at tattoo in her chest, while her eyes stung with tears. Mercifully, they were hidden behind her mask. Even then, her charade continued. After all, she had gotten herself in this mess, she supposed she deserved it. In a sick, perverse way, she deserved it. She expected her heart to ache were Edward ever to betray her, but Annabelle had never imagined it would have felt like someone had tore it out of the captivity of her chest.

   "Thoughts of your wife and loyalty have been so easily traded, my lord?"
  
  Edward noticed the way her lips quivered slightly as she spoke. So slightly, if it were anyone else, they wouldn't have noticed.
    Sarding hell! If they were married he would have tortured her in another way, but he couldn't play a charade of deception. Even if it were to get even with his wench.
   Edward titled her head upwards as his fingers tangled in her wig. He brought his mouth upon hers rather harshly, not giving her the opportunity to think, or even refuse, his advances. His tongue sought her mouth without permission.
    She tried to resist him at first, but when it came to him, her body had a mind of its own. Easily succumbing to his will.  Annabelle melted against him, kissing him with as much vigor as he kissed her.
    By Nora! The man was a good kisser. His tongue dueled with hers, before finally bitting her lip gently, urging her to cease the fight.
    While he kissed her, Edward worked on removing the wretched wig from her hair. He wanted to see her dark tresses, not straw.
   Slowly, his kiss became less urgent and punishing. His lips covered hers softly, sucking on her bottom lip before biting down gently.
   Annabelle moaned quietly, silently urging him.
    Edward chuckled as he gave her mouth one last kiss. Before kissing her right cheek, then left, as he moved his head back enough to remove her mask and wig. Then he kissed her eyelids one at a time. Edward straightened as he wiped the moisture from her right eye.
   
    "Don't play with fire, wife. You only get burned."
 
    Annabelle slowly opened her eyes to a smug Edward.
 
    "You hadn't known it was me until the very end." Annabelle replied haughtily.

  Edward chuckled as he pushed her inside an empty stall. He sat on the hay while Annabelle sat atop Edward.
  
   "What makes you so certain, my love?" His eyes crinkled at the corners as a soft smile played upon his lips. Subconsciously, one hand rubbed her back while the other rested on her inner thigh. While Annabelle's arms loosely rested around his neck

   Her golden orbs narrowed into thin slits, watching him with faux anger.

   "You were being quite rude when I had first approached you."

   "Well, I had to continue your ridiculous charade."

   "You lie."

  "Aye, I do."

   They both watched each other silently.

   "Give over." Annabelle whispered. She could feel the slight tremble that ran through her lover's body.

   "Sarding gadzooks, Annabelle! What in the Devil's name were you thinking?! If it wasn't for Ace not trampling you I would not have known." Edward shook as he finished speaking, waiting for her her to answer.

    Annabelle turned her attention to the stallion in question, completely unfazed by Edward's anger. Although, she was chastened. 

   "Ace, despite what we have been though, how could you?"

  " Annabelle." Edward growled, the hand which was rubbing her back now rested against her hip.

   "I was nay thinking. I wanted to wear this gown and drive you mad, but hadn't wanted anyone else to know tis I. I thought you'd figure it was me, but you didn't. In the beginning it was intriguing and then...." Annabelle tailed off, looking everywhere but at him.

   He pulled her head towards him and gave her a quick, hard kiss.

   "Never, ever, do something you're not entirely sure about. This was a ludicrous idea. And to make sure you don't do something so thoughtless in the future, no more kisses for you until you learn."

  "What!?" Annabelle squeaked, her eyes going wide.

  "You heard me, Annabelle." I would never be unfaithful towards you, but you can nay put yourself in a position to hurt yourself. If it weren't for Ace, and you really vexed me, which you did," Edward glared. "I would have had one of the men trail you like you did me. You get what you bargain for, love. This is regarding all situations."

  Annabelle slumped slightly as she nodded in understanding. 

  "Are you awfully angry?"

  Edward kissed her forehead softly. "Nay, love. I was in the beginning. But I'm grateful I recognized it was you at some point. Even if it were after I would have preferred." Edward admitted warily.

   Annabelle nodded. "Do you think Jonathan would be angry if maybe, perhaps, there might be a slight chance," Annabelle babbled as she fidgeted with the collar of Edward's tunic. "Kastry had done the same thing?"

  Edward closed his eyes as he prayed for mercy. "You're going to be the death of me. Luckily, Jonathan would have recognized Kastry much quicker than I would you. Hence, her charade would nay have carried out long."

  "Don't you think it should be the opposite?" Annabelle teased.

  "Nay. Jonathan flirts with the women, I don't bother looking at them."

   Edward pushed Annabelle against him. "I thought the gown was quite scandalous, but on you, it's a different type of scandal." Edward whispered as his hand brushed slightly higher on her inner thigh.

  Annabelle's breath hitched as her pupils dilated slightly.

  "Unfortunately we won't know how scandalous because of your charade. Therefore, up you go. I must find Jonathan."

****

   "Tis rude to enter a room uninvited." Jonathan said lazily as he put a sheet over Katherine. He had originally tried to put his tunic on her person, but after seeing her scars, he opted to have her lie on her stomach while he stared at her back for the better part of the hour.

  Edward slid the wall closed as he dusted his clothing.
   
   "You should really have the secret passages cleaned."

   "Alright then, Edward Dracmore, clean the passages until the stones shine bright as the sun."

   "I'd rather it were your hide doing the cleaning." Edward grunted as he sat beside Jonathan.

  "Why are you abed?"

   "Normal people tend to sleep at this hour."

  "Tis barely past midnight you, berk." Edward looked at his friend strangely before noticing the small body beside him. His eyes traced the body upward before landing on a mop of fair hair.

  "Dear lord! Jonathan! You could nay have waited? Kastry? She let you...?" Edward was at loss for words, not knowing how to respond. His mind was working overtime, trying in vain to conjure an excuse.

    "You berserker! Do you think so little of me?" Jonathan growled.

   Edward arched a brow in response. "She was piss drunk. A whole new creature when she's in the cups. Thus, I brought her to my chambers."

  "Kastry drinks?"

  "Nay. Someone did something to her drink." Jonathan uttered the words ever so quietly. Edward barely heard him. But instead of being filled with anger as was Jonathan, Edward smirked.

  "Are we going to bob for apples or go target practicing?"

   "We can do both." Jonathan answered tiredly, not taking his eyes off of Katherine.

  They sat in silence, each lost in thought, before Edward  softly spoke.

  "Was is amiss, Jonathan?"

   Jonathan finally turned away from Katherine and looked at Edward. Offering a smile which contained no mirth, he asked. "What makes you assume something is amiss?"

  "Sarding bastard! Save your empty smiles for someone else." Edward growled.

   Jonathan sat up in bed, making room for Edward to sit more comfortably. How was he to put it? He sat quietly for a few more minutes before deciding there was simply no way around it. Sighing heavily, Jonathan nudged Edward with his foot.

  Edward raised a brow, waiting for his friend to speak. Instead of speaking, Jonathan lowered the sheet so Edward could have a look at Katherine's back.

  "She's going to be a nasty harpy when she gets wind that you showed me." Edward whispered as his body trembled with anger.

  "Aye, well you're not going to let that bit of knowledge reach her." Jonathan snapped as he covered her back.

  "She's going to be furious in the morn. She'll know you saw the marks." Edward elaborated at Jonathan's confused face.

  A slow smirk graced his lips as his eyes twinkled with mischief.  "La she shan't be angry at me. She was the one trying to seduce me."

   Edward's eyes widened in disbelief. "You lie! Kastry can not possibly attempt seduction. Tis against her morals."

  "Nay! By Nora! She tried to seduce me in my very bed before passing out." Jonathan sounded like a lass telling a friend of her very first lover's tryst.

  Edward snorted. "Impossible."

  Edward stared at the back of Katherine's head for a long moment before shaking his head slowly.

  "She can not know you know."

  "What?"

  "She can not know you know about the marks."

  Before Jonathan could continue to protest, Edward quickly tried to reason. "Kastry is a prideful woman. She knows you are to see them at one point or the other, but it has to be on her terms. She would be most distraught if she learns you know."

   Jonathan's lips thinned as his face colored with anger. "Then what am I to do? Leave it unaddressed?"

  "That is not what I am saying. When morn arrives, pretend you did not see them. Have her wear one of your tunics, she'll assume she dressed herself. You need to earn her trust, Jonathan. Not demand it. In due time, she shall tell you. In the meantime, have her realize you trust her."

  "But I want to harm the one who did this to her." Jonathan barked. He didn't understand why Edward would disagree with him.

  A slow, predatory smile took over his angelic features, making his hauntingly beautiful face more beautiful. "Who ever said the culprit can walk away freely? I assume you know who did this to her?"

  "I have an inkling." Jonathan grunted.

  Edward patiently waited for his friend to continue.

  "I think t'was her mother."

  Edward nodded in understanding, assuming as much.

  "We can not allow the bitch or Kastry to know that we know. Else wise, Kastry might have our balls."

  "And the bitch may harm Katherine further." Jonathan finished nodding his head slowly.

  "Aye."

  "How are we to proceed?"

   Edward smiled wickedly, "that, my friend, you shall leave up to me."

****

  "Henry, what think you? You've had us all waiting!" Albert glared.

"I apologize. At first I had forgotten. Then there was some trash the younger lord had told me to take care of." Henry smiled sheepishly as he put the lock in place before stepping away from the door.

   "This trash would nay be a human would it?" Albert knew Henry would never have delayed their meeting for mere rubbish.

   "Aren't we already behind schedule? We must hurry if we want everything to go accordingly." Henry smiled as Albert narrowed his eyes. However, before he could pursue the matter further, Cook had taken Henry's bait.

  "The boy is right, Albert. Are all arrangements for the first task done?"

  "Aye but first we must focus on the second task."

  "Right you are."

  Cook looked around the room filled with devoted servants to the young lord and his companions.

   "Has the delivery arrived?"

  "Not yet, but I received a billet. They shall be arriving shortly after midnight."

  "Very good. We're making good timing." Cook smiled, her eyes filling with tears.

   "Have you arranged for the meal?" Albert questioned Cook.

  "Aye. The meal and the silverware are taken care of."

  "The flowers?" Albert asked a large man to his right."

  "All taken care of. The blue ones as per ye request."

  "Good. Good."

   "The stables have been cleaned?"

   "Aye, I cleaned it ere the evening meal." The stable master smiled.

"Now for the first task. Are the chickens ready?"

  "Aye. As well as all the linen." The head maid answered.

  "Wonderful." Albert nodded.

  "Chickens. Linen. The children from the village?"

  "Aye. Theodore agreed to have the lads come after they break their fast." Henry smiled with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

   "Better get to your chambers. We have a long couple of days ahead of us. I shall see all of you at dawn." Albert dismissed the servants and headed to his chambers. There was work to be done, a good night's sleep would do them well. The steward changed into his night clothing, as well as the rest of the servants. One thought occupied all of their minds as they drifted to sleep. Will tomorrow work in their favor?