At His Mercies - Marline J (novel24 TXT) 📗

stop doing that if you stop touching me.” I said furiously. There were sniggers from all around the campfire and in the light of the fire I could see that an amused gleam had reappeared on Alex’s face. He leaned over to me and whispered in my ear. 

 “Of course milady. Whatever you wish.” He sounded so sarcastic that I was insulted again. What was this about me? Why couldn’t I control my temper? Why did I care if I was insulted when they could kill me any moment? Why couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut? My mother had often told me that my tongue was too loose, that I should behave ladylike and keep some thoughts to myself. But I was always quick to go against people, especially if they were being so extremely arrogant. 

“Don’t attempt to behave like a gentleman. You will never be one.” I told him coldly. He laughed heartily. 

 “I must say, you’re not much of a lady either.” I decided to keep my mouth shut because I knew deep down that he was right. I had lost my appetite and I wasn’t going to lower myself to the level that I would use Alex’s fork. I put my plate down and stared into the fire, wishing that I could be as strong and destructive as the hot red and blue flames. 

Life in the Camp

I was shown into a relatively large tent, or at least, it looked larger than any of the others. There was a bed, on the right hand side of the entrance to the tent. It wasn’t a bed like the one I had at home, there was a straw mattress on the floor and blankets. On the left side there was a small fireplace and I could see that an improvised chimney lead to the top of the tent where the smoke could escape. There was a small table on the far side and a trunk but that was all. I was surprised that there was so much furniture and wondered how they had gotten it here. I wasn’t about to ask though. 

 “This is where you can sleep tonight. Don’t try to escape because there are guards outside the door.” Alex stood for a while, leaning against the pole of the tent and observed me. I ignored him at first but when he didn’t leave I started to get irritated. I turned around and looked at him. 

“I’m sorry, do you want something?” This time it was my turn to sound sarcastic. 

“Yes, I do want something.” His voice was hoarse and low. It was too dark to be able to distinguish his face. Alex turned around and left. I stared after him for a few seconds and then looked around once more. I decided that my escape plan would have to wait until the next day. I was far too tired.  I sat down on the side of the bed and pulled my shoes off. I looked down at my dress and, although it would be slightly uncomfortable, I thought it better not to take anything off. Who knew what could happen under these circumstances, what if one of those horrid men decided to enter the tent at night and.. I didn’t want to think any further. I pulled back the thick blanket and wrapped it around me. I shot a silent prayer up towards heaven before my eyelids closed. 

“Dear Lord, help me escape from this place. Please keep me safe.” I woke suddenly, aware of another presence in the room. I turned around and in the dim light of the fireplace saw that a man was getting into the bed next to me. 

“What are you doing here?” I hissed. 

“You didn’t think I’d sleep on the floor did you?” It was Alex and he sounded slightly amused. My anger started rising again I fought to keep myself calm. I had heard today how cruel Alex and his men could be and decided that I had defied him enough for one day. I turned around and faced away from him, attempting to ignore his presence and go back to sleep. But my attempts were immediately disturbed when I felt Alex’s arm around me. I moved as if an electric current had touched me but his arm was holding me in place. 

 “If you move I’ll kiss you. Or worse.” His warm breath tickled my ear and his words held a threat. I closed my eyes to fight all the upcoming emotions and wondered if he really would kiss me. I couldn’t imagine him kissing anyone, probably because kissing was supposed to be gentle and passionate. Alex was neither of those things. 

As if he had read my mind Alex said: “believe me, I’ll do it.” I believed him. So I tried moving as far away from him as possible, which was hard, I only managed to move a few inches, and go to sleep. I stayed awake for hours afterwards but managed eventually. 

 

 “If you don’t wake up now you won’t get any breakfast.” I opened my eyes and blinked against the light. Alex stood in the door opening, holding back the tent flap and looked at me. I hadn’t heard him leave this morning, probably because I had slept so deeply, after having been awake half the night. At the mention of food my stomach started rumbling. I threw the covers off me and Alex closed the tent flap, to give me some privacy, or so I hoped.  I emerged from inside the tent and to my mortification realized that I had to relieve myself. I hadn’t noticed an outhouse or any other place that might serve for a toilet and therefore came to the conclusion that the men went into the forest to do their business. Absentmindedly I started walking towards the forest, hoping that there wouldn’t be any creatures or insects.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Alex grabbed my arm and had a firm hold on it. I turned around and looked at him. What was I supposed to say? Why did he have to humiliate me so? Couldn’t he understand that ladies were human too? 

 “I need to.. relieve myself.” I managed to stumble, and then, to save my dignity I added; “or is that not allowed here?” Alex grinned. Did he not have any shame? The arrogant buffoon.  He let go of my arm.

“You can go. But if you are not back within five minutes, I will send some men after you. They are excellent trackers so escape is out of the question.” 

 “You are giving me a time limit?” I stared at him, disbelievingly. 

 “Why can you still not understand that I can do whatever I wish with you? You ought to be grateful that you are still alive and stop complaining!” He said sternly. 

Animosity & Coquetry

 

It had been a week since I first arrived at the camp. I was sitting on the chest in the tent, with my knees drawn up and my arms wrapped around them. I glanced around the tent and my eyes fell on a dress which was laid out on the chair. The dress was dark red, with lace edges and a finely embroidered bodice. The skirt was long and fashionable and I wondered who it had belonged to. I wanted to go over and look at it but Alex would come in any moment to tell me that I could come out and eat breakfast. I felt like a prisoner because I could not leave the tent unless Alex came to get me. It was supposedly for my own safety but I did not believe him, he just did not want me to escape. I looked up when I heard the thud of heavy boots and saw Alex push aside the tent flap. 

“Oh, I see you’re up.” He smiled and then walked over to the dress.  “You’ve been walking around in that dress for a week now. You can change into this one.” He said as he took the red dress and held it out to me.  I stared at him and my eyes went from him to the dress and back. I longed to change, to get out of the filthy dress which I was wearing but I refused to wear the red one. 

“I can’t, I’m sorry.” “Is the dress not good enough for milady?” Annoyance flickered in his eyes. 

“No, no, it’s not that. It’s a beautiful dress. It’s just that it’s.. too open.” I quickly said.

Alex sniggered. “Well, I’m not letting you sleep on the bed until you change. You smell like a pig.”

 I gasped, walked up to him and wanted to slap him. He caught my arm in mid air. 

 “Why are you so violent?” He observed me curiously. 

 “I wasn’t until I met you.” I retorted, noticing that he still had hold of my wrist. It wasn’t the complete truth but it also wasn’t a lie. Slapping him was also a way of masking my embarrassment. I tried to yank my wrist free of his grasp but he did not let me go.  He moved his hand up and touched my face. He observed me intently, wondering what my reaction would be. I didn’t move, not just because I knew he would not let me go but also because I enjoyed his touch. I looked in his eyes and what I saw took my breath away. At first I thought it was pure desire but then I noticed something else. I couldn’t make out what it was and longed to ask him what he was thinking but refused to let him know that I was somehow interested. I looked away from him and he let me go. 

 “Get changed and come eat breakfast.” He said, and walked out the door.  I stood in the middle of the room and lifted my hand to touch the spot which he had just touched. I then moved my hand to my heart and felt that it was beating frantically. I took a deep breath to still my nerves and then walked over to the dress. I touched the silkiness and enjoyed feeling something so soft, and so clean. I lifted it up and then glanced over to the tent flap. I would have to take my dress off to put the clean one on. I had to trust that Alex would not come in. I put the dress down and quickly slipped my dress over my head. In seconds I had put on the new dress. I instantly felt like