Albert watched the clock. Soon he would have her. He would not have to put up with her
simpering virgin smiles any longer. No longer would he have to play the interested suitor.
He would strip her; he would mark her perfect flesh; she would become his toy. He had
patiently stalked her like prey.
Never had she realized when they danced that in his mind he had her tied to a
post flogging her, or when he read her poetry in that hideous eyesore of a home, that he
could imagine her naked at his feet, pleading for him to spare her more punishment. For
six endless months he had played the game of courtship, always wearing the face of gentle
love while raping her in his mind. She was his and nothing would stop him now.
***
Amy stood in front of the mirror, brushing her long brown hair into smooth curls. She
wore the beautiful white gown her aunt had insisted upon and only hoped that her husband
would find it as lovely as she did. Husband. She stopped brushing her hair and looked at
the new gold band on her finger. It all seemed so strange to think that she was married.
Tonight was her wedding night; tonight was her first night at sea. She was filled with
such excitement. Aunt Heddie said that it would hurt at first, but it could be pleasant
later. She had overheard other women discuss the pleasures of married life and of lovers.
She hoped that Albert would be gentle, that he would also be her lover. He had been so
good to her while they courted. Surely nothing unpleasant could happen tonight.
She wondered when Albert would return from the ship`s smoking room. Even now the ship was
steaming toward her new home in England. Aunt Heddie was her only family left and not in
good health. For many years, Amy had longed for more family, for holidays not spent in
dreary, closed-up rooms. She looked forward to her new life, imagining parties with
society, the beautiful manor that Albert had described to her, and eventually, children of
her own. It was a good match. Albert could provide her with security, love and a family;
she brought with her a large inheritance to help with his estates. She felt a moment’s
pang. Albert had come to America with his twin brother James. She actually felt more
attracted to him, but Aunt Heddie had insisted that she set her sights for Albert. Albert
had the title while James was just the younger brother.
"Will there be anything else, your Ladyship?" the young freckle-faced maid asked,
carrying the damp towels from Amy’s bath.
"No," Amy struggled to remember her name, "No, Jane. That will be all until morning."
The girl curtsied and left. Amy took a deep breath and decided to sit in the wing chair
to wait. It did not feel any different being married, but it did feel different to be
called Ladyship, or Lady Hawthorne.
She picked up the book of poetry she had packed and was leafing through it when the door
opened. Albert stepped in and shut the door.
Amy stood and smoothed the thin cotton gown nervously and smiled at him, blushing to be
so indecent in front of a man. Her smile faded as he kept staring, his gaze cold.
"Do you like it, Albert?" she ventured shyly.
"Yes, very suitable for a young virgin bride," he began to remove his waistcoat as he
walked around her, inspecting her. "Take it off."
"Off?” Amy blinked. Aunt Heddie had told her to be modest even in the presence of her
husband.
"OFF!" he barked, tossing the waistcoat to a chair, and then removing his tie and collar.
"You are my wife and I will see what I have gotten. Take it off, or I will rip it off of
you."
Amy trembled at the cold anger. He had never raised his voice to her before.
"Of course, Albert," her hands shook as she removed the gown and carefully laid it on the
bed. Nervously, she covered herself with her hands, unable to quite meet his eyes.
She saw him move closer, walking around her again. Amy was completely unprepared for the
rough movement as he grabbed her arms from behind and tightly bound her wrists together
with his tie.
"What are you doing?" she tried to turn around, but he grabbed her long loose hair and
pulled it until she was bent backwards like a bow, unable to move without pain.
"You will obey me and you will obey me quickly," he hissed in her ear, "You will never
cover yourself in my presence unless I have told you that you may. Do you understand
this?"
"Yes," she whimpered in pain, "Please, Albert, you are hurting me!"
He laughed, shoving her toward the bed. Unable to catch herself, she landed face down on
the bed. He moved quickly, retrieving from his trunk a rod with a leather cuff on each
end. Her confused struggles were no match for his strength. In moments the device
obscenely parted her legs.
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