Infuriating Attractions (on hold)

Enticement

Chapter 12

Sorry this took so long friends, extra long to make up for it :)

Annabelle did not appreciate being dragged through the streets like a common trollop. 
Though she had not been treated like one of late, she was a highborn lady and felt she had endured enough for a lifetime. Thomas, who strode purposefully ahead of her seemed completely unfazed by the fact that she had just been attacked. Was this what life was like for him? To live amongst filth and blood? She shuddered. 
She could hear Elizabeth being propelled along behind her by Phillip. She was being strangely quiet this morning. Annabelle’s only comfort was that she felt the slightest bit safer being amongst a group of men.

“Ah there you are my pretty” Thomas cooed once they had reached the stables. He stroked the shining black mare with much more care than he had ever shown her.

“Where is my horse?” Annabelle asked waiting patiently for one of the stable hands to bring one around. The rest of the men had already mounted theirs and were awaiting orders to continue down the road and back into the woods. Various guffaws and chuckles from the rogues were her reply.

“You don’t get a horse my dear” Thomas laughed scooping her up and dumping her into the saddle of his horse before slipping in behind her. He gave a nod and they set off, spiralling clouds of dust into the air. Annabelle coughed angrily.

“I am perfectly capable of riding, I was taught from a very young age” she croaked trying to get her voice back. She did not like being so pressed up against him on the horse; it seemed indecent. Annabelle particularly did not like the way his arms were wrapped around her and seemed to accidentally brush her chest.

“It is not that I don’t believe you can ride” Thomas replied and she could almost see his mocking grin from behind her “It’s that I don’t trust you not to simply ride away”

“Indeed you’ve caused us enough bloody trouble already girl!” the fat man she had seen at the camp grumbled from beside them. He looked as though the last thing he wanted to be doing was participating in this hare-brained ransom scheme.

“Mind your business John” Thomas retorted and the fat man looked affronted and rode out ahead of them. 
“I’m truly sorry about him, though you have however caused us quite a bit of trouble.”

“What about the trouble you’ve caused me?” Annabelle demanded, “You have kidnapped me! Even when I am returned my reputation shall be in tatters.”  It was only when she said the words out loud that her anger turned to worry. Perhaps she would not be granted the marriage she had always wished for. Perhaps she would be ostracised from court before ever having the chance to even attend.

“Your father is one of the richest men in this kingdom, suitors will be lining up to compete for your hand even if you had had a hundred lovers.” Thomas could not keep the derision out of his voice. The gossip and rumours of court bored him; words should have no power over lives. He could not admit that a portion of his anger stemmed from jealousy. Annabelle was a beauty and would never struggle to find a doting husband, some other man that would be able to touch her and lay with her every night. It would not be that bad he thought idly to marry Annabelle; her dowry alone would be enough to gain back his estate. Yes, that’s why he wanted her he told himself, for the money and nothing else. He was not very convincing.