The Art Of Retaliation (Work In Progress)

Hi Everyone,

At long last I have written another chapter for my historical romance, The Art Of Retaliation.  I hope you like it.

I am hoping to post chapters for The Vampire Lover's Diary and my thriller Hidden Agenda this week as well.  Keep checking in.

Hope you all have a great week.

Happy Reading!

Best wishes.

Sara



Chapter Eight


I was to avoid Lord Ramsay as much as I was able to for the next two days and I ensured any communication between us was to be brief. Such were my wishes. I spent most of my time confined in my room contemplating my future as I convalesced from my illness. Still not allowed to see my ailing friend my spirits became low. The day of the ball I was to receive a most unwelcome visitor to my room, Lucinda.

She came unannounced into my room ignoring the rights of my privacy. She was to find me engaged reading when she entered. I closed my book as she came to sit across from me in another chair by the fire. I laid my book on the arm of the chair feeling my body stiffen with apprehension.

'Lucinda.'

'Lady Dashwood,' she beamed with a smile that bespoke the essence of mischief itself.

I made every attempt to smile with unaffected pleasantry but I was not to manage the feat. Lucinda stared and then laughed.

'You are very haughty. I can see what Peter loves so much about you. It is a shame that he can never have you for a wife. I do believe you would make quite a handsome couple.'

She stood over me and picked up my book. She frowned at it and then tossed it upon my bed. I could not help sighing with impatience. Must I be so tried by this woman.

'How may I help you, Lucinda?' I asked trying to keep my tone civil and polite.

Lucinda flopped down upon my bed and wrapped her arm around one of its wooden posts. She smiled sweetly.

'I have a proposal for you, Pamela. One that will help you gain your freedom from both my brother and Lord Simon. Are you willing to hear it?' she asked in her simpering tone.

I straightened in my chair.

'And how would you be able to arrange that?'

Her smile widened as the tips of her fingers idly caressed the deep carved grooves in the bed post.

'I know a another way out of Rawnsley Castle. You can leave here by boat. There is a small jetty leading out of the central North tower. I could get one of the servants to row you across the moat.'

I became excited but wary with it.

'And what would you gain from helping me, Lucinda, apart from your brother's displeasure?' I asked.

I already knew the answer, of course but I wanted to hear her say it.

She frowned.

'Lord Simon.'

'He is a rake, Lucinda. You would not be safe with him. No woman of birth or indeed otherwise is. I am sure your brother would forbid a marriage between you both.'

She stood up and glared at me. She was no better than a ill tempered child.

'I want him and I shall have him. My brother will not stop me. And neither will you, Lady Dashwood. With you gone he will be made to forget you and his affections will turn towards me. Of that, I am quite sure,' she smiled to herself. 'Then he will come to realise that I am the only woman for him.'

'It was the first and only time I felt concern and pity for Lucinda.

'You are mistaken and reckless with your happiness.'

'Hush. You should be glad that I am, madam. It will be to your happiness and advantage, if I am. I know that Lord Simon intends to carry you away from here tonight and force himself upon you. Your brother has made an arrangement with him for a marriage between you both. Your brother's life has been threatened by his creditors and he will do anything to save his neck. He will bring my sister home to the ball and after that you are to belong to Lord Simon. Now are you willing?'

'Does Lord Ramsay know of this plot?' I demanded to know.

Lucinda moved closer to me and laid her dainty hand on my shoulder.

'Oh you poor thing. Yes I'm afraid he does. Lord Simon is so determined to have you that he will cause a great scandal by revealing to all of society my brother's kidnap plot if Peter keeps you from him. My family cannot afford to be ruined. He is not to stand in Lord Simon's way.'

'This cannot be. He promised . . .'

Lucinda continued ignoring my outburst of grief.

'I will placate Lord Simon after your departure by offering myself as a sacrifice in marriage,' she gave a small laugh of malice. 'Peter will have no choice but to agree to our marriage. It is all arranged. I speak the truth, Pamela, and I keep nothing from you. Now what do you say?'

I could not help trembling from my shock, my anger and . . . my disappointment in Lord Ramsay. I had wrongly believed him to be a man of principal ready to weather any danger. I had not taken him for a man who cared about society. Indeed, he had taken pains to assure me he didn't. I did not know what to think anymore. I thought no more upon the subject. My mind was made up.

I nodded quickly feeling tears swell in my eyes.

'Yes. Let me know what I must do.'

'Lucinda laughed and gleefully clapped her hands together.

'Good. Now let us plan your escape.'



I spent the rest of the day anxious, unable to eat or to settle my nerves. Every hour was spent anticipating failure in my escape and of a life spent in violence and wifely servitude to Lord Simon. But it was nothing in comparison to the overwhelming pain I felt over Lord Ramsay's deceit and willingness to see me ruined simply to preserve his family's reputation.

The lateness of the afternoon brought an unexpected visitor to my room.

'Lord Ramsay, I did not expect to see you. I thought you would be too busy with preparations for the ball tonight.'

'No. It is well in hand. Now I must talk with you.'

He held his hat in his hand and had clearly been out of the house. He appeared rushed but excited about something.

'Lady Dashwood, I fear you have done your best to avoid me these past few days and I am ashamed that I have allowed you to,' he paused and smiled. 'But no more. I know that your life has been made intolerable but I intend to make amends. Your brother is to bring my sister home during the ball tonight and I would like it very much if you were to come this evening and grant me the pleasure of your company. We have much to discuss.'

I stared at him, quite shocked by his request and for a moment I found it hard to speak. I wanted to rebuke him and gain my revenge by revealing my knowledge of his complacency in Lord Simon and my brother's plot. But Lucinda's warning echoed in my mind restraining any outburst. I must act as though normal and betray nothing if our scheme was to work.

Still I could do little to hold back the coldness in my tone.

'As you are my jailer there is little I can do to refuse you.'

I felt sadness seep into my heart as the brightness in his eyes receded. I did not like to hurt him even after all I had learnt. The room suddenly felt chilly.

'No I suppose you are right, Lady Dashwood.' He answered formally with a good deal of disappointment and affront in his voice. What did he expect of me? 'Then as your jailer as you so eloquently term me, I insist on your presence at the ball tonight.'

'As you wish, Lord Ramsay. 'Although I have nothing to wear. I have been living in the dress I was brought here in and one belonging to Lucinda . . .' I told him haughtily.

'Yes. I had already considered the problem,' he said softly as his eyes searched my own as though to discover my secret and reason for my ill humour with him. I looked away determined not to meet the warmth of his gaze. I heard him give a small sigh and then carry on in his speech appearing to be resolute in not allowing my temper to cast misery upon his visit.

'I hope you do not mind but I took the liberty of purchasing a dress for you.'

I looked up at him startled by his words as he moved to the door and called for the maid Louise outside to bring it in. Her face and eyes were wide with pleasure as she carried the gown in over her arm.

'I do hope it is to your taste and that it fits you well,' he studied me closely with a lingering smile, his gaze coming to rest gently upon my cleavage as he spoke with much humour, 'I do believe I am a good judge of the female figure and it's varying measurements.'

I felt my eyebrow raise in reproof.

'I do not doubt it, sir. I believe all men are.'

He gave me another wide smile and made an effort to catch my gaze once more. I turned away to watch Louise carry the gown into my dressing room. When I turned back Lord Ramsay was inappropriate in his closeness to me. I faltered and made to step away but he was to catch my hand and force me to remain still.

'What is it that bothers you today, Pamela?' I have been told that you have eaten nothing all day and that you have remained in your room for days alone. I fear for your health and spirits. You look too pale for liking. Perhaps we should call the doctor once more.'

'I can assure you I am quite recovered from my illness,' I told him with impatience. 'Am I now to be denied the comfort of my solitude by my jailer?' I asked with a spiteful nature. I could not help myself.

He stared at me, confused, hurt. Slowly he let go of my hand.

'I thought that we were friends, Pamela. I want your last night here to be special. I want to make up for what has happened to you. We became close before your brother arrived and I hoped to rekindle the passion we felt for each other.'

'How can you expect that of me when you toy with my freedom and . . .'

I closed my eyes infuriated that I had nearly revealed my secret knowledge.

'And what?' he demanded narrowing his eyes.

'And nothing, sir. How can I be expected to treat you as though you were a friend when you hold my life to ransom. No sir, we are not friends. The closeness you talk of was fleeting and immoral in the circumstances. As my brother said, there is to be nothing between us.'

'Immoral? Is love in any circumstance to be considered immoral?' he implored with a rising temper.

'I will talk of this no more. You have wasted your time, sir. I will not be attending the ball. Please take back the gown. I shall not wear it. Please leave.'

'Who has poisoned you against me? Lucinda? Lord Simon? Why this sudden change of heart? Are you so fickle in love?'

'No, I am not. I have been brought to my senses as to your character and I am unable to place my trust in you any further.'

'Tell me what has been said?' he shouted.

'No one has said anything to me. It is simply what I have observed in your conduct and your friendship with Lord Simon. I cannot place my trust in you for those reasons alone.'

Silence engulfed us. I felt angry tears brim in my eyes.

'I knew our situation was a difficult one, Pamela but I believed there was hope for rising above it when I detected that you felt the same way about me as I did you. I can see that I have been sadly mistaken,' he said quietly.

'Pray, allow me to stay in my room until my brother arrives.'

'No, I will not. I want to see you in the gown I bought for you. You will not be allowed to hide in this room any longer. Your health and mind are suffering for it. I will not see you ill again. You have suffered enough.'

His voice although calm and soft in its sound was dark with anger and menace when he addressed me further. So much so I found myself trembling.

'As your jailer, madam I demand you wear the gown I have bought you and come down to the ball this evening. If you do not, I will instruct the servants to dress you by force if necessary and I will carry you down myself. And by now you should know that I am not a man to be trifled with. I will not be disobeyed. Good day.'

He gave me a courteous bow and left the room without a further word. Insufferable, wretched man.