The Art Of Retaliation (Work In Progress)

Here's chapter seven of The Art Of Retaliation.  I will post another instalment of The Vampire Lover's Diary tomorrow.  Hope you enjoy it!


Chapter Seven


I hurried down the stairs relieved to see my brother. He opened his arms and embraced me before I reached the end. He lifted me to the ground and held me tightly.

'Pamela, I was so worried. Has he hurt you?' Andrew enquired with genuine concern.

'No, on the contrary I have been treated with the hospitality. I am so glad you are here . . .'

'Where is Kate?' Lord Ramsay demanded with impatience, interrupting our conversation as he descended the stairs.

Andrew brought me to his side and gripped my hand tightly.

'I have not brought my wife,' Andrew informed my kidnapper raising his fair head to smile triumphantly at him.

I tried to move from him in an outrage but he would not let go of my hand and increased his grip until I gave a gasp of pain.

'You married her?' Lord Ramsay did not appear to expect an answer. His words were more of an angry exclamation.

'I did the moment I knew you had kidnapped my sister.'

There were no further words to be spoken. Lord Ramsay was filled with the same rage I had seen him entertain Lord Simon with in my room. He lunged at Andrew from the stairs forcing my brother's hold on my hand to loosen. He pushed him back against the wall by the lapels of his coat and held him there.

'Have you consummated the marriage?' He demanded to know.

Andrew dared to laugh.

'No, my wife is incapable of making love at present. But I am sure we will find away to ensure consummation takes place,' Andrew riled. 'Her constitution is too weak and sickly. Sometimes she seems out of her wits and quite mad. I wonder if I might have to lock her away in one of those new asylums. I do not believe she will be my life companion for much longer. She is in such poor health.'

'Andrew, how can you be so hurtful and cold?' I asked him horrified by his callous words.

Both Lord Ramsay and Lord Simon had spoken the despicable truth about my brother. The gambling had made him change. He was no longer loving but self serving and ready to hurt to achieve his devious ends to raise more capital for pursuing his addiction. Why had he not come to me for help or sisterly counsel? We used to share everything. I no longer knew who he was to me.

Lord Ramsay raised his fist and struck my brother with force against the side of his face. I winced but I warrant he deserved it. I was ashamed of our family connection.

'You can take out your frustration on me as much as you wish, Peter, but I hold all of the cards,' Andrew gruffly told Lord Ramsay. 'I have a proposition . . .'

'No proposition. I have your sister in my power,' Lord Ramsay threatened. 'Bring my sister back to me so I can arrange for an annulment to the marriage or I will give Pamela to Lord Simon for a bride sale.'

Andrew became violently angry and began struggling with Lord Ramsay. I became distressed wanting to separate them but Lord Simon caught my arms and pulled me back against him. I shivered in his hold and he gave a small chuckle. I felt his lips brush the side of my cheek to soothe my inconsolable fear and began to struggle for my freedom.

'I will bring back your sister unsoiled if you give me a sum of money to pay my creditors and satisfy my needs. I will also want my sister back. I will not see her ruined with that man,' Andrew instructed with disgust in a lull in his fight with Lord Ramsay.

'Your first thought should be for your sister's protection, yet all you can think about is how much money you can obtain for your crime. You do not deserve, Pamela.'

'But from what I have seen of your interest in her, you believe you do. When you return my sister I expect her virtue in tact or you will pay a heavy price.'

'No doubt in money. What kind of a man would place a price on his sister's virginity?' Lord Ramsay snarled striking out at my brother and catching him low upon the jaw. The compliment was returned with a swift blow from my brother.

I closed my eyes feeling the pressure of humiliation weigh heavy upon me. I wanted to run from the scene appalled by the control my brother and Lord Ramsay executed over my fate. A woman's lot was not a happy one. But Lord Simon was to hold me still as the fighting escalated across the hall.

'Why do you not stop their fighting?' I questioned Lord Simon with sharpness.

'It is good for Peter to rid himself of some of his anger. Who better to take it out on than your brother. Does he not deserve such treatment?' Lord Simon whispered in my ear.

I leaned away from him but I was to find no escape. I glanced at Lucinda who appeared senseless of her brother's fighting and more preoccupied with Lord Simon's attentions to myself. She wore a petulant scowl that distorted her handsome dark features.

'He does not just fight for his sister but he fights for you, Pamela.'

I trembled as Lord Simon moved to wind his arm around my waist and pull me backwards and closer to him until I rested against his chest. His fingers stroked the length of my throat as he unashamedly watched the two men continue to fight. I felt tears of fear sting the back of my eyes. I tightened my composure so that I might bear Lord Simon's touch without allowing them to spill and display my weakness.

'He is in love with you, Lady Dashwood. He will pay your brother not only to ensure his sister's safe return but to protect you from me,' he continued to whisper. 'But he will be defeated and I will make you my bride even if I have to carry you off over my horse and tie you up to get you to the altar. I will do whatever it takes. I have never seen such a strong attractive beauty as yours and I must have you. In time you will come to learn that I am the right man to tame your spirit with marriage and motherhood.'

'You flatter yourself. I will not be broken and forced to your will. I will do my worst to stop you. Let me go.'

Lord Simon's hand spread across my throat and squeezed making me fight for breath.

'Your lesson in wifely obedience and punishment starts now, my darling,' he told me with cruel humour.

I heard Lucinda give a groan of impatience and flounce off. I continued to struggle for my breath as Lord Simon tightened his hold. To my relief Lucinda was to quickly return with three young sturdy men from the kitchen and stables. The fight was brought to a swift end and both my brother and Lord Ramsay were to be held apart from each other. But to my dismay Lord Simon would not lessen the pressure on my throat and my tears were now beginning to brim over.

'Pay me the money and your sister is yours again,' Andrew shouted.

'I'll give you what you want when you return Kate unharmed. Now get out. James throw him out,' Lord Ramsay ordered to one of the young men who was only eager to comply.

Lord Simon removed his hand from my throat as Lord Ramsay shrugged off the hold of the men that held him back from Andrew. He stood straightening his attire and turned his attention towards me on hearing me cough hard as air travelled into my lungs once more. He looked down at Lord Simon's hold upon my waist and narrowed his eyes darkly. He walked with purpose towards us. He took hold of my hand and drew me protectively to his side in one violent movement. Thankfully, Lord Simon did not offer him any resistance and simply laughed heartily.

'I told you to keep away from her,' Lord Ramsay told him menacingly.

'Someone had to hold her back. She was all ready to stop your fight and she may have been harmed.'

I continued to cough and rub at my throat. Lord Ramsay looked upon me quizzically and then he saw the red marks upon my throat. I felt the depth of his anger as he glared in Lord Simon's direction.

'What did you do to her?'

Lord Simon opened his arms in a mocking innocent gesture.

'I did nothing. I believe she is ill again. Perhaps she should be put to bed.'

'Perhaps I should make you answer for your treatment of her.'

Lord Ramsay started towards Lord Simon but I pulled him back and shook my head.

Lord Simon smiled, 'Oh please not another fight. It is all you seem to do nowadays, Peter. You used to be so much fun, so much more reckless. Besides you should treat me with more care. I am the catalyst for making Andrew return your sister. Without my presence there is no threat for him.'

Lord Ramsay made to go towards him again but I begged him to stop and pleaded with Lord Simon to leave. He bowed and with an ungracious wicked laugh departed. Lord Ramsay's cool gentle fingers were examining my tender red throat before I could raise an objection. He trembled with anger.

'I should kill him for this,' he told me loudly. 'I have let you down again.'

'You should kill no one. I am fine. At least your sister is to be returned. You were right about my brother. I do not know him anymore. I am sorry for the trouble he has caused both yourself and your family. Soon I will be gone and you can put this tragic matter behind you.'

I moved away feeling a great weary tiredness consume me.

'I don't want to . . . that is I don't want to put you behind me. I . . .' Lord Ramsay began.

I hushed him.

'Please you heard my brother,' my voice was downcast. 'There can be nothing between us and you cannot save me from Lord Simon. He will continue to pursue me and I fear I will need to leave for pastures new to escape him once I am free. Now please, if you don't mind I feel a little unwell again and should like to return to my room.'

I turned on my heel and hurried to the stairs but he was to catch my hand.

'I don't want you to leave,' Lord Ramsay told me firmly. 'I won't let you.'

'You will not stop me. Good afternoon.'

'I will find a way,' he smiled gently.

I ignored him and left quickly seeking the sanctuary of my room.