To Want the School Teacher (3 page)

Rays of the weakened late
afternoon sun filtered through the sheer curtains covering the
windows.

The room was large the oval
shaped rug lay centered in the middle didn't touch one piece of
furniture. The colors were dark and rich blues, browns, and pinks.
They swirled in a floral design. A scowl crossed Victoria's face
when she thought the room was homey.

The rooms inspection
brought her to the chamberpot chair tucked away into the remaining
corner. She sighed in relief realizing she needed to use that
particular piece of furniture.

Peering out the window she
took notice that the room was on the second floor of the house, and
there was no way to exit the room through the window without doing
herself great harm.

The door lock clicked
warning her someone was about to enter. She fling herself back to
the bed and pulled the covering over her.

She didn't know how, but
she knew he knew she'd been out of the bed.

“I see you
feeling much better.” The tray he carried balanced on one hand as
he handed her a glass.

“Laudanum
can make one thirsty and a tad nauseous. Drink.”

She was about to refuse and
call him a few more nasty things when she realized he was right she
was extremely thirsty. Victoria didn't bother to thank him She took
the glass and drank all of its contents. Too late it dawned on her
the drink might contain more drugs. She stared dumbly at the empty
glass.

Thomas's back was turned
when he placed the tray on the desk. As he turned Victoria decided
to heave the glass at him. Her face gave her away.

“I suggest
you stop and think about what your going to do with that glass. I
can be very nasty if angered, and I do believe you all ready
consider me a vile monster. You won't like the experience, trust
me.”

The tension to fight him
left her body and the fear of the unknown quickly replaced it.

He removed
everything except the food tray from the desk top. In one sweeping
gesture he lifted it and placed the desk in next to the
bed.

“You need
to eat. You haven't eaten since this morning. And do it while the
soup is still hot.”

It was her only weapon she
refused to eat. She'll die of hunger and let his conscience rot in
hell before she took a bite.

He moved to the wardrobe
and opened one door. Pulling out a rode he turned, “Here. Lets put
this on you. I think you'll feel better.”

Victoria expected he'd make
her exposed her to him while he held it open for her. Indecision
filled her. Surprise won out. He tossed the wrap to her, so she
could don it herself. About the same time the aroma of the beef and
vegetable soup teased her nose. Her arm already found their way
into the robe's sleeves when he commanded her again.

“Victoria,
eat.” He sat in the chair, and she slid to the mattress' edge and
picked up the spoon.

The woman before hated each
spoonful of the delicious fare for it reminded her she was in fact
hungry and knew to defy him by not eating won't be an option.

Victoria nibbled on the
hard crusted bread. Thomas stared at the way the garment gaped
giving him an enticing peek of her one breast. To cover his
reaction to the view he shifted in his chair.

The spoon clinked as it
rested in the empty bowl. Thomas moved the desk that served as a
table back between the windows. He picked up the tray and exited
the room. Before Victoria could react he returned carrying a
pitcher and wash bowl setting them on the desk.

He retrieved a wash cloth
and matching blue hand towel from the wardrobe's bottom draw.

“Come
refresh yourself and wash. Prepare for bed. I will return
later.”

“Is that
when you intend to.. to... to.. force yourself on me.”

Victoria bristled. Angry
flared. She didn't care. Her lips trembled uncontrollably. Her hand
drew in to fists. She was prepare to fight him.

He stopped his path to the
door and turned facing her. He moved as a panther sizing up his
prey.

“Miss.
Trent, let me clear the air and possible some of your imagined
fears. I have every intention to sample your womanly delights.
However, it won't be tonight and when I do it definitely won't be
by force. You will in fact welcome my touch.”

“Like hell
I will.” She cringed from him just in case he was indeed a physical
threat.

“Tsk, Tsk,
such language. I except better of you. As my wife you will speak
and behave as the lady I know you are. Is that understood?” She
screamed at him in rage and he responded without any reacting in
kind. Instead he had spoken softly and in full
confidence.

“You are a
man crazed if you think for one second I'd consider marriage with
you.”

“My dear
the choice was never yours to make.” He bowed and turned to leave.
Over his shoulder he added. “Make wise use of the time before I
return.”

The door lock clicked
shutting her in again.

He took hours just to
unnerve her and in truth hoping she'd be asleep.

In fact Victoria had fallen
asleep. The click of the key turning the lock woke her. She
pretended to remain asleep. He entered the room and began to
undress. She didn't dare move. The light coming through the two
windows was enough to see he removed every stitch of clothing and
now headed naked for the bed. The bed sagged with his weight.

Every nerve came alive as
she waited for Thomas to pounce. He moved. She bit her finger
trying not to cry out. He settled down with his back toward
her.

“The shows
over, Victoria, go back to sleep. For that is what I plan to do.
Useless, of course you'd rather...” He left the idea hang open in
the air.

The bed bounced as she
fling herself to face the wall turning her back to him. She
harrumphed.

“Disappointed my dear? Maybe a good night kiss?”

The words were strained
between her teeth. She was angry. “It will be a cold day in
hell...” She remembered his warning. “A cold day before I give you
a kiss.”

He laughed
so hard the bed shook. He didn't need to say, we'll see. Victoria
already heard the unspoken words in his mirth.

Thomas feel asleep in a few
minutes. Victoria however, stared into the darkness for most of the
night before the slumber fairy finally let her rest. She replayed
every emotion she experienced throughout this unusual day. From
seeing the extremely handsome man who walked toward her table. To
the fun they seem to have shared as they bantered over coffee. To
the fear she felt waking up in this room. To his odd announcements
to submit to him and the strangest of all he really thought she'd
wed him.

However, it was the anger
that kept her awake. Why was she angry when he apparently intended
to honor his word not to take advantage of her person. She felt
butterflies where she never experienced them before.

Flecks of dust sparkled and
danced in the rays of sunshine that beamed brightly into the room.
Victoria stirred. She panicked when she realized she was pinned.
Now fully awake she realized Thomas' leg stretched over her hip and
held her down. Something was stiff and pushing into her back. As
she breathed what ever it was against her would hit a nerve and
sent tingle-like sensations down her spine.

She reached behind her to
push it away since the weight of his leg wouldn't allow her much
movement without waking the cad up. Waking him was the last thing
she wanted to do.

Her fingers gasped hold of
the offending object and she froze. It was hard, soft, and alive.
Victoria recognized what she held at the same time she understood
to jerk her hand free would not have the desired results either.
She took a deep breath and ever so slowly opened her fingers.

Rather she tried to.
Thomas' hand covered hers and didn't allow her to let go, in fact,
they tightened her hold on him.

“Feeling a
bit adventurous this morning, sweetheart?” His voice still deep
sounding from sleep vibrated husky and low across her
ear.

She couldn't stop the
shiver.

“Hmmm.
Like this, he purred.”

He guided her fingers
around him and moved them in unison up and down the length of him;
once, twice, and a third time.

“Please,
Thomas.”

If it took begging, so be
it she'll beg.

“Victoria,
to wake with you hand exploring me does please me.”

“That's
not what I meant and you know it. Let go of my hand.” She
snapped.

He let go instantly which
surprised her.

A knock on the door echoed
in the room.

“
Enter,”
Thomas said.

Keith and another man
lugging Victoria's trunk, valise, and carpet bag moved to the
center of the oval area rug.

“Everything all right, brother?”

Victoria sat up and said,
“My luggage.”

Both men turned to face the
couple in the bed.

“Oh, where
are my manners. Victoria, may I introduce my brother Keith and his
friend in crime Todd Hendren to you. Gentlemen, my fiance Miss.
Victoria Trent.”

Victoria almost extended
her hand in greeting until she remembered. She squeaked something
and pulled the covers over her head ducking behind Thomas's body.
He felt the heat of her blush.

“As you
see my beloved is a tad shy in the morning.”

Keith and Todd excused
themselves and left. Victoria punched Thomas in the side. He fell
back and burst out laughing. She huffed and he laughed harder.

***

“See to
your needs and I'll see to our breakfast. The day is a wasting.” He
climbed out of the bed and strutted au natural across the
room.

Victoria sat up and
stretched out her arms and groaned out aloud when she saw him.
Apparently enough time hadn't passed for his body to relax.

“Impressive isn't it?”

She smiled and sweetly
said, “Ne pas être connu à cet égard, que je ne suis certainement
pas un juge. Mais, je dois dire que c'est plutôt plus petite que ce
que j'imaginais un homme robuste aurait.”

(Not being experienced in
that regard I am certainly no judge. But, I must say it is rather
smaller than I imagined a robust man would have.)

So she
thought to insult my manhood does she
.“Well, maybe next time you'll do a better job of arousing the
little guy. Oui. One can only hope.”

Stunned, her mouth dropped
open. He marched from the room.

Victoria missed her chance
to escape for sitting there in shock at the man's audacity she
never realized he didn't re-lock the door.

By the time the breakfast
tray arrived found was Victoria dressed and ready to do battle with
her nemesis.

They took the same seating
as the night before.

“My, I say
that color suits you? It brings the depth of your lovely eyes to
the fore.”

“Er..
thank you.” She wanted to fight not receive compliments.

“I was
wondering should I let my mustache grow into those long handle bars
that seem to be popular right now?”

She looked before she
realized she shouldn't have. He did have a handsome face. His skin
she knew would be soft, yet it had a masculine rugged look. A good
chin and when he smiled, like his was now, a person could...

“Er.. no.
I don't think you should.” Victoria discovered something of
interest needing her immediate attention on her plate. She pushed
the food around and never looked back up. That butterfly feeling
was back.

“How's the
coffee? Did I do better today?”

“What?”

“Your
coffee. Not to sweet is it?”

She picked up the cup and
sipped before answering.

“No, it's
fine.” He smiled. She be damned before she said perfect.

“I noticed
yesterday when I used two spoonfuls of sugar to cover the laudanum
you scowled. Yet you already used your spoon as it sat wet next on
the saucer. So, I knew you liked some sweetness, but not too
much.”

Her voice was caustic when
she replied. “How very observant of you.”

Thomas tilted his head. “I
like observing you. It gives me pleasure.”

She blushed under his
glance, but the blush didn't explain the true reason warmth spread
through her. All her emotion were running rampant. He'd throw her
into fear, then be civil, intimidating, or thoughtful in a matter
of second she didn't know what to feel.

“Please
empty your trunk and such. I have a few things to attend to this
morning. I will return after awhile. If you need anything there are
pencil and paper in the desk. Make a list.”

The valise and trunk items
now filled the wardrobe. Not until she was almost finished that it
occurred to her she followed his instructions without thought or
concern. Victoria ignored the urge to pull everything back out one
and refill trunk.

All that remained were the
items in the carpetbag. She dumped it's contains on the bed.
Repacking the bag she put in a bar of soap, a comb, a few
toiletries, and two well worn day dresses. Placing the bag in the
bottom shelf of the wardrobe. When the time came to flee all she
needed was to grab the carpetbag, and now it was ready.

Victoria’s
back was to the door when Thomas unlocked it.

“Your
garden must have been lovely in the past.”

He arms went around her.
She stiffened. However, she didn't pull away as he expected.