Ross Poldark's secret

Part 2

The next morning, I sat silently in the parlor with an unopened book next to me on the couch. Last night, Ross Poldark had saved me from being raped by one of his soldiers. After that, I hadn't gotten much sleep. 

"You look tired. Did you not get any sleep last night?" Ross's voice pulling me out of my thoughts.

"No, I'm afraid I didn't get much sleep last night." I say to him.

"Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help." Ross frowns, eyes filled with concern.

"I'm a prisoner of war, am I not? Unless you let me go, I doubt you can make me feel safe." I quickly snap. 

"Listen here, I could have let my soldier attack you. But I chose to help you in hopes that you would help me in return." Ross huffs.

"Oh, is that it then? Make sure your men don't rape me and then little ole fragile me will tell you my secrets? Well I can assure you, that will not be the case." I glare at the British Captain.

"I could send you to those will find a way to extract the information from you." Ross threatens.

"With what reason, I'm a young woman alone in a small cottage far from the threats of the current war. There is nothing here to prove me of any guilt of anything." I say with my head held high trying to seem confident.

"You really are an infuriating woman. I am trying to help you." Ross growls as he stands up walking towards me.

"What are you doing?" I ask him nervously.

"Come here." he growls as he roughly grabs me by my elbow forcing me to my feet. 

He drags me to the window where I can see the tents his men have set up in the grass. I can see several men outside of their tents near small fires trying to keep warm. They all look tired and starving. Most of their uniforms could do with a good wash, a few men nursing healing injuries. 

"This war has been hard on my men, not all of them have survived. It has made many soldiers angry and bitter. Not many would be giving you this chance to talk. You will tell me what you know, and you will do it soon." Ross hisses in my ear. 

I gasp and Ross lets me go and leaves the room. 

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I refused to say anything for the rest of that day. I remained silent as I ate dinner with Ross. After I was done eating, I returned to my bedroom for the night.

I awoke in the middle of the night to a cold smash of water. I sit up gasping. When I see Ross holding a bucket I realize my nightgown could now be see through as I desperately grasp for a blanket to cover myself up.

"Get up." Ross orders.

"Are you mad?!" I sputter.

"Get up now Katrina." he glares at me. 

"And if I don't? If I refuse?" I glare back at him. 

My eyes widen in fear as I watch Ross unloop his belt. I try to scrabble to my feet but Ross holds me down on the bed. with my stomach pressed into the mattress, I scream s I feel the harsh sting as Ross strikes my back with his belt. 

I fight to get out of his hold, but as he continues to strike me with his belt, the pain makes it difficult to move. Soon I'm too weak to move so I bite my pillow as I cry from the pain. 

When he decides that I've had enough, he takes a few steps away from my bed as he catches his breath. As he begins to leave, I turn to him with a deathly mean glare.

"This is why we want our freedom. So men like you can't do this to us. Just because you wear the British uniform doesn't give you the right to mistreat any of us here while King George does whatever the fuck he wants back in England. I truly hope you loose this war." I hiss at him. 

He looks at me with shock and a hint of guilt. He quickly slips out of my room as I throw a pillow at the door.

"I hope you burn in Hell Ross Poldark!" I scream at him through the door.