Infuriating Attractions (on hold)

Transportation

Uploads coming thick and fast at the moment due to the fact that I’m stuck in an isolated place and have literally nothing else to do but go The Shining-esque crazy. If you haven’t read UE I really recommend you do so before reading this one. 

So here’s chapter three!

To her credit, Annabelle had fought feverishly for the first hour of their march back through the woods while slung over Thomas’ shoulder. She had screamed and kicked and pleaded while simultaneously throttling her captor, but only got the odd chuckle in return for her efforts. She at least wanted to frustrate him, make him as angry as she was now. For she knew he could not really hurt her, not now that he wanted to use her as a bargaining tool for God knows what.

Yet it seemed every insult she threw at him, even the truly nasty ones she had overheard her brothers occasionally exclaim, seemed to have no effect. This in turn only served to madden her further. Now after an hour and a half she hung limply and slightly dizzy staring at the various twigs and leaves littering the ground and noticing that it had begun to rain. Cursed indeed! 

On the occasion she had mustered the strength to crane her neck upwards, she had seen that the men were all walking in single file behind the man who carried her. He must be their leader she thought absent-mindedly.

Now craning her neck again she saw Elizabeth walking sullenly behind her with her wrists bound and a tempestuous expression. She dreaded the self-righteous talking to her friend would give her the first chance she got. No doubt she blamed her completely for the predicament they now found themselves in. It was largely her fault, yet how was she supposed to know that they would have the misfortune of being kidnapped and robbed on the safest stretch of road in Varsteel?

The sight of Elizabeth had also prompted another thought. Why was her maid being allowed to walk freely with only ropes binding her wrists while she was forced to endure the humiliation of acting the part of a rag doll?  

“Put me down and let me walk you bastard!” she shouted her indignation renewed. He responded by hefting her a little higher, his shoulder digging into her ribs. He could feel every curve of her body pressed against him and her writhing around was not helping focus his mind. 

“I assure you madam I am no bastard” he replied airily “I am in fact an heir” 

“Pah!” Annabelle exclaimed “Heir to a pig farm perhaps!” he stiffened for a moment and she hoped her words had cut him. 

“I have heard pig farmers make quite a generous income in these parts”

“Put me down!” she shrieked with frustration, beginning to beat her fists on his back anew. 

“No” he responded simply “If I put you down you will attempt to run and then I will have to chase you and I cannot be bothered” 

“I won’t!” she promised and it sounded false even to her own ears “At least move me! I’m bruising and if my father sees one-” 

“Yes I think we have all heard enough about what your father will and will not do” Thomas sighed before a wicked idea came to mind “If you like I can turn you around, you would have a much better view”

Annabelle gasped as she understood exactly where he planned to place her and blushed furiously. 

“No! I will not have my face eye level with-with-with your-with that”

“That?” Thomas laughed heartily and she felt every vibration of it “You really are just a little girl aren’t you?”

Before she could soothe her humiliation with an acidic reply he had swung her around into the bridal position and she found herself staring into his eyes. Annabelle was further embarrassed by the fact that he could now see how red his comment had rendered her cheeks. She wished she had come up with some quick witted snark as Elizabeth often did, instead she had gasped and blushed like the naïve little girl she was.