The Art Of Retaliation (Work In Progress)

Chapter Six


Both exhausted and relieved I sat back in bed the moment Lord Simon left the room. My body was trembling with the exertion of having to fight for my virtue and my face burned with the sting of Lord Simon' s slap upon my cheek. Lord Ramsay was breathing hard staring at the door in a frightful temper. I did not know what to say to him and I resolved that silence was the safer option.

Lord Ramsay's younger brother, Patrick was to speak first. He was most anxious to comment on my injuries and to be assured that I felt well. I reassured him as best I could but he quickly left to call for Louise to come and attend me. Lord Ramsay had watched me intently as I conversed with his brother and now when we were alone he would speak to me.

'I am sorry for Julian's behaviour towards you,' he paused and volatile anger pierced his eyes as they came to scrutinise my damaged face. 'It was nothing short of a brutal assault. I fear for what would have happened if Louise had not entered your room and for that I will never forgive myself. I assured you of my protection and I feel that I have let you down.'

He turned away and frowned clearly distressed by his own perceived failure on my account. And then he ventured closer to the bed bending to lift the covers around me. 'I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me, Lady Dashwood and that you will put your trust in me once more.'

I pulled the covers further up around my body seeking their protection after being so exposed. I was perturbed by his confusing thoughts upon the matter.

'You seek to protect me from Lord Simon yet you are ready to give me over to him so he may force me into wedlock. I do not see how I can ever trust your protection, Lord Ramsay. I should be glad to be free of it and on my way home,' I finished with distaste.

I turned away from him feeling my acute displeasure overtake my senses until I was afraid that I might become impertinent. Politeness dictated I should spare him it but I did so want to argue the matter further with him. Silence settled like a pervading frost in the room and it was a long moment before Lord Ramsay was inclined to speak again.

'Lady Dashwood, I understand your feelings upon the matter. I wish with all my heart I could set you free but if you knew the delicacy of my sister's mind and her health you would understand my motives . . .'

I could not help my interruption.

'Allow me to speak to my brother,' I persisted. 'I will make him send your sister home and ensure she is cared for . . .'

Lord Ramsay slowly shook his head.

'I regret I cannot. Your brother did not wish to listen to my request for him to end his courtship with my sister and he stole her from our home in the middle of the night. He will have what he wants and I do not believe you will hold any sway over him on the matter. He must be made to learn there are consequences for his actions,' he told me with firmness.

'I must disagree with you, sir.'

'Then we must agree to differ.'

'You talk of trust, Lord Ramsay, but you will not put yours in me.'

'I wish that I could but there is too much at stake.' He leaned over me and began studying the redness on my face. Tentatively he reached across and stroked the back of his fingers along the swell of my sore cheek. His touch was a gentle cool balm that gave me comfort and generated a pleasurable warmth inside me, the likes of which I had never felt with a man of my acquaintance ever before.

It was quickly accompanied by guilt that I could obtain such a feeling from a man who had taken my freedom and held me captive. I vainly attempted to dip my head and avoid the penetrating stare Lord Ramsay now gave me but he tilted my chin upwards to draw my attention. I spoke before him.

'Will you now still give me to Lord Simon for a bride if my brother does not return or has married your sister? Is my fate to be your revenge?' I almost whispered with hurt. Lord Ramsay's features tightened and pain shone brightly in his eyes.

'Shhh, do not talk of it,' he soothed. 'I will not allow it to come to that despite Julian's threats to disgrace my family if I don't. And I am more sure that Lord Dashwood will not allow his sister to be forced into wedlock.'

'I pray he does not but with all that I have recently discovered of his character I begin to doubt my own confidence in him,' I said with misery.

'Please, I will not have you upset especially when you health is just beginning to recover,' he told me softly. 'If you are unable to be confident in your brother then place your confidence in myself. I promise I will not let you down again. Now you must eat you have been without food for just a little more than two days.'

He moved away from the bed as the door was opened and Louise entered carrying a tray of hot food.

'It does not feel as though two days have passed. I remember you being here with me that first night and . . .'

A great blush descended upon me when I remembered how he had so tenderly held me in his arms. He gave me that wicked disarming smile as though he knew of my thoughts.

'Yes I remember too. I kept a constant vigil by your bed. You betrayed a bounty of secrets and the most scandalous gossip about your friends in your fevered delirium,' he teased.

'I do not believe you,' I laughed suddenly finding my good spirits again.

'It is good to see you laugh, Lady Dashwood. It gives radiance to your beauty.' His eyes brightened with mischief.

'You tease me again. Please tell me of Rosalind.'

I was ashamed that with all that had happened I had forgotten of my friend and her own ill health.

'Do not worry she is recovering but she is not as robust as yourself and will take longer to regain her health. I am afraid you are still not able to see her. We cannot risk you suffering a relapse, Lady Dashwood.'

I nodded with resignation. I would love to have the comfort of Rosalind's company.

'Please call me Pamela. I should prefer it.'

'Only if you return the favour and call me Peter. Good then that is settled.'

'I would like to get up,'

'The doctor said that you should stay in bed for at least another two days but I do not see any harm in a short walk around the castle. Perhaps I could give you a tour.'

'Yes I would like that,' I sighed with relief welcoming the chance to escape the prison of my room and ascertain an avenue of escape for myself and Rosalind.

'Good. After you have eaten and dressed I will come to collect you.'

An hour passed and Lord Ramsay came to collect me as he promised. I gratefully took the support of his arm feeling a great weakness in my body that I had not felt so strongly whilst in bed and he was more than eager to bestow his support.

We walked past the door to Rosalind's room. It was slightly ajar. I strained to see through it. Rosalind was not in view but Patrick Ramsay sat in a chair reading aloud one of Rosalind's favourite novels penned by Mrs Radcliffe. My eyes widened in surprise.

'I think Patrick is quite taken with your friend,' Peter told me with much amusement in a whisper as we stood and listened. 'He has been reading that novel to her for days. It is the only thing that appears to soothe her poor nerves and he will do anything to make her more comfortable in her suffering.' He began to quietly laugh, 'She is honoured. My brother hates Mrs Radcliffe's gothic romances.'

'That is a pity,' I smiled. 'He should be greatly commended for his sacrifice.'

We began to ascend the large red carpeted stairs. I stopped to look out of a small window encased in the large stone wall, eager to see the outside of the castle and search for any obvious means of escape.

'As you can see, Pamela, the castle is surrounded by a large moat on all sides.'

I felt his breath against my ear as he stood next to me. My skin tingled with a sudden excitement.

'So there is little chance of escape,' he whispered. 'There is no way of leaving this castle without me knowing of it.'

I smiled.

'I am sure there is. It has just not been found yet. I will be the first to outwit you,' I informed my adversary with confidence.

'I look forward to you trying. Mind if you fail and I catch you I shall have no choice but to lock you in the West tower. It is a place more dark and frightening than any edifice in one of Mrs Radcliffe's novels,' he told me with humour although I detected a hint of truth in his threat that made me frown.

'If you did then you would be less of the man I believe you to be,' I offered.

I tried to move away but my gait was unsteady with the weakness from my illness and Lord Ramsay had to reach out and hold my waist to settle my balance.

'But I have to confess I do like the idea of keeping you locked away all for myself. I suppose I am selfish but I do not care.'

'You are . . .'

But my humorous rebuke was to be cut short. I was a little startled when he suddenly moved to bestow a gentle kiss on my lips and silence my speech with determination. I was to want more of this intimate caress and when he made to repeat the action I welcomed it and returned his kiss with enthusiasm. His arms wound around my small frame and held me firmly against him in place as he deepened his kiss. I was to be lost in our embrace despite my mind arguing of my treachery against good common sense and propriety. But it was to be brief. A loud contemptuous voice interrupted us making me jump in Lord Ramsay's arms. It was Lucinda.

'Really, Peter. I did think you had more control and when we have guests as well.'

Lord Ramsay lowered his arms and moved away cursing Lucinda under his breath. We looked down the stairs to find his sister and Lord Simon glaring up at us. But there was also another voyeur in my brother who appeared to have just arrived and he did not look at all pleased with me.