You Belong To Me

Chapter Sea

'Even on a quiet evening I am quite loud...'
the sea

At the door to the lodgings Trey was standing telling Theo something quietly. Ali had hoped to speed past them into the room. Theo stepped out of her way but Trey kept his position in the doorway and she was forced to brush his big chest with her forearm. It sizzled but for reasons Ali couldn't identify. Ali could feel him looking at her back while she pulled out her own pajamas. He was dressed in casual trousers and an undershirt, probably planning to sit with everyone else above and reflect on the day. He had probably assumed Ali would be joining him since they had had such a nice day in the ocean.

She didn't know what she'd expected. But Trey and his women had effectively ruined what would have been one of the greatest experiences of her life. When was she ever going to get on such a grand ship again? When would she ever get the opportunity to purchase someone's freedom or shop on foreign land?

She shook the thoughts off and lay her yellow nightgown and matching dressing gown on the bed. Ali called for Theo when Trey dismissed him and asked for the last of the doctors disgusting drugs. She just wanted to go to sleep. She wanted to forget the fun and the flames that ensued after. Ali just wanted to go back to the manner and wait for Caroline to come back and rectify everything Trey had done wrong. Ali took off her pretty diamond earrings and necklace with her back to Trey who had just stepped inside to close the door.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes," she clipped. She spared him a glance and a small smile that even she knew felt tight. Indifference, Ali, indifference. What does it really matter anyway? You knew what kind of man he was. With the seedy nightgowns and dirty looks and making her sleep in his bed. He's carnal Ali. A carnal nobleman which means he's a horny snake. That's all he wanted, sex.. Ali unzipped.

She will herself to remember that he was not a child anymore. She wasn't either. Better to stop pretending the two of them were. Or that she didn't find him appealing. Or that she wasn't just upset because she hadn't entertained such thoughts.. being with someone else. Not even once. How could he? she wondered in honest unabashed curiosity.

"You seem perturbed."

She shrugged her heavy shoulders. "I'm just tired."

She could tell he wanted to say more. Instead she pulled her dress over her head and then her slip. Ali loosened her garters and rolled her stockings down her legs one at a time. She sat on the bed, completely ignoring Tremaine standing beside the vanity chair watching her. Their bedroom situation had effectively eliminated some of her modesty. What that familiarity didn't cover Eva's ground shaking revelation sure did. Ali didn't want to look at him. She wanted to turn her back on his entire life and do anything else with her own. She considered what work she might do if she persuaded Abigail to take her back. Anything, Ali sighed to herself. She'd do anything to not have to do nothing with Tremaine and his minions again.

There was no need to hold on to modesty or virtue. She didn't have any and what she did have didn't seem to worth anything to anyone but her. What was the point of guarding the treasure that is her loving if there was never going to be any love of her life?

"Do you want me to stay with you?"

"No." She looked up at him again with nothing in her eyes. "I know you want to enjoy your last  night here."

"..."

"Enjoy your friends..."

"..."

"God knows you're tired of being stuck in the house with me all the time."

"I like being with you."

Ali tied her robe around her back and put her dress on a hanger. Tremaine used to try and dissuade her from doing that, hanging up her own clothing and polishing her own shoes, but she never listened so he simply gave up. That time was no exception as he watched her hang her dress up and close the wood armoire door built into the wall. She closed the door with a quiet click. "No, you don't."