Third book in my Frontier Series. This follows the storyline of season 3.
Well kind off.
Not a stand-alone novel!
You will need to read Heavy Burdens and Black Wolf if you want to be able to follow this book.
___
Her fingers graced the side of the Kingsize bed after Benton had left her in her chambers which were large and decorated with the biggest mirrors Elizabeth had ever seen. She let the silk sheet drop from her fingers and sat down on the side of the bed. Absentmindedly, Liz rubbed her stomach while she looked around in the large room.
It was cold. The stone walls didn't feel warm to her and Liz was certain her door had been locked as soon as Benton had left her here. There was no crew from a ship here, no Captain who took pity on her or a cook who was on her good side. Liz felt truly alone suddenly and couldn't stop the shallow intakes of breaths that came from the panic that rose in her chest.
Her hands clenched into the fine silk she was sitting on when Liz let the tears of despair stream freely over her face. If her calculations were right, it would only be three more months before she would have to give birth. The last thing she wanted, was to bring Declan's child onto this world under the prying eyes of Benton. Not the mention the fear she felt if it should be a girl.
She hadn't heard the knock on the door and that the lock had opened. When a blond, young woman entered the room, Liz hardly looked up to see what the lady was doing inside her room.
"Lady Wilson," the soft voice of the girl made Liz glance up. "Your dress for tonights dinner."
Liz her eyes widened a bit when she locked eyes with Kate, the maid of Chesterfield in Fort James.
"Kate," she murmured and swiftly wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
The woman nodded and came to sit down next to her.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, and Liz noticed her gaze travelled towards Elizabeth's belly. "When are you due?"
"In three months," the despair in Liz's voice was noticeable and Kate threw her arms around her.
"You'll be fine," Kate mumbled into Liz' hair.
Elizabeth couldn't stop her sobs while the other comforted her, happy she saw someone she knew that didn't mean her harm.
"You'll need to bathe," Kate spoke up, "and get dressed. The Lord expects you."
Elizabeth nodded and stood up to follow Kate to the bathroom.
The bath was refreshing and was too short for Elizabeth. After spending so long at sea, in a ship without warm water to wash herself, she sighed annoyed as soon as the bath water started to cool down. Kate helped her to step over the edge of the bath and dry off.
The dress Liz had to wear was, luckily, wider at her stomach so it loosely fell over her body without feeling restricted. Kate was busy with Liz' hair and make up when Benton entered without knocking.
"You look glorious, my dear," he said and Elizabeth glanced at him from the mirror.
"I look like a doll," she countered back, venom laced in her voice when her gaze travelled back at her own face.
"A beautiful doll," Benton murmured and with a wave of his hand dismissed Kate who left the room in a hurry.
Liz turned herself so she could fully face the man while seated down. Her legs were tired and she didn't want to stand up to look at him.
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"What do you want?"
"Can a man visit his fiancee without reason?"
She arched a brow, "A man shouldn't need to keep his fiancee locked up in a room."
The laugh that echoed through the room made her grit her teeth. Benton was amused and looked around the chamber. "This is hardly the London Tower, my dear. You have everything you need and a view anyone would be jealous off."
Liz turned her gaze away from him. She knew it was no use going into a discussion with him.
"I have a surprise tonight," Benton turned to her. "We will have our first guests together. They'll arrive around Five PM for dinner."
"I want to eat here," she started, but Benton's smile faded.
"You shall join us for dinner," his voice distant, "I invited these people for you. As a gift. You wouldn't want anyone to get hurt just because you're too lazy to come eat in the main dining hall, do you?"
Benton looked around and his eyes stuck on the brush Kate was using on Liz's hair.
"Like, Kate for example," his hands behind his back, "I can always serve her tongue for dinner tonight."
Liz breath got stuck in her throat and she had to swallow to have a voice again. Quickly, she shook her head. Last thing she wanted was someone getting hurt for her sake.
"I'll be there."
"Oh good," Benton started, but was disturbed by a knock on the door.
Both Liz and the Lord glanced towards the door opening where a teenager boy stood, waiting for permission to enter.
"Speak up," Benton ordered, "I don't have all day."
"Lord, I've been sent to tell you a ship has entered the harbour north of Castle Benton."
Liz sat up straight again and tried to keep her features disinterested. From where she was sitting, she could easily see how Benton his hands were moving. A thing he did when he started to feel nervous. Elizabeth started to learn his quirks and habits while they were at Sea.
"A ship? How large?"
"Not too large, Lord Benton," the boy nodded. "They say only a few men and a red-head left the ship."
Grace!
Elizabeth tried to keep her breathing steady and her eyes flickered from Benton to the boy and back. Benton scratched his chin slowly, knowing full well who just came ashore Scotland. Just like Liz knew...
Her heart thudded heavily in her chest. He crossed the ocean for her and was so close by. Elizabeth felt as if she would only have to reach out her hand and Declan would be within her grasp.
"Send the word," Benton said.
Elizabeth had no idea what he meant, but the teenager in the door nodded and disappeared again. Benton glanced at Liz who stared back with a grin on her face.
"It seems like Harp's and his pups are here," he stated.
"He'll kill you," Elizabeth mused.
"He can try," Benton retorted, "this is a fortress. If he gets in, no one will hear his screams, my dear. Not even you."
Elizabeth swiftly stood up to fully face him. Locking eyes with him, she almost spat in his face.
"You'll be the one screaming, Lord Benton."
His hand came down fast. Her cheek suddenly burned from the slap Benton had given her and Elizabeth had to steady herself by holding the chair. Her eyes angry when Liz her hand rubbed the painful spot.
"Don't ever lay a hand on me again," she spat out.
"Or what, my dear? Make sure you'll make Kate to apply some more make up. No one needs to see your face like that during dinner."
Author's note : okay, so I'm going to admit that I never saw the last episode of Frontier. And, for as long as I'm writing Sparrow, I'm not going to watch it. From now on, I'm not going to stick to the show anymore or not as much at least. I know they are still seperated and it sucks. But, I promise, the reunion will be soon. Thank you all for sticking in here with this story. I love all of your comments and votes. It means the world to me. XoXo Aysline
