Trapped

Chapter 2 – Loveless

She looked down at her blue wedding dress. It was hardly her dream dress, but with the cloth shortage in Germany, she had to make due. She was still somewhat tender from the examinations. It was almost degrading as they checked for disease and parasites, which she knew were not there. Still they insisted as well as asking her about her family lineage, something her mother had no doubt told them. Moreover, they also confirmed her mother's claim that she was virgin.

They could have asked her instead of a doctor examining her.

Her ankle was still tender a couple days later, but it to become comfortable to walk on again. It was still tender when she moved wrong, but at least it held her weight. The doctors had made sure her hands were not infected as well.

She sighed. Tomorrow was her wedding day and no one spoke of love. Her ideals about love and marriage were rapidly flying out the window. Her future husband was somewhat aloof and though he was concerned for her welfare, seemed to be busy with his own affairs much of the time. It had been just two days since his proposal, but he did come to visit. She felt odd about having him there while he seemed preoccupied, but he did speak to her. She wondered if he had gotten cold feet when he failed to come the day before their wedding.

Her mother had assured her that she had heard good things about him and he would treat her well. She had no doubt he would be civil, but the girl wanted a man to love her, care for her, and not just use her to make babies on as my mother had said would be a main function of mine. German babies for the Reich.

Her foot was less tender as she walked the short distance around the common room of where her mother and she were being held. Detained was a strong word, but it was fitting since neither of them could leave the home without an officer's escort.

The Baron entered the room and stood near the door looking at her. She had not heard the bell as she turned and gasped a little seeing him. She looked down and cocked her head. "In my country, men knock when they are entering the presence of a lady." She said.

"In my country they have the good sense to not leave the door open if they are not expecting visitors." He replied.

She nodded. She had to give him that one. "Come. Join me for tea?"

"I would love to." He said and walked to her. He was a large man, not at all fat, but tall, muscular, and handsome. He dropped into a chair putting his hat on his knee as she poured him tea. He looked very proper sitting there, back straight, in full uniform. "Tell me. Where will you be stationed?"

"I do not know yet." He said honestly. "They have commented somewhere on the Western Front."

She nodded. Well it was better than the Eastern Front. She had heard horror stories from there. But as an aristo she was sure he was allowed to pick his appointments since his money helped the war effort in no small manner. Frankly, so did her own money that he would gain in his estate. He was a Prussian an proud, trained at Osnabruek with a large land holding. Though his name was Rheingarten (Garden on the Rhine) he did not come from the region, which startled her. Originally, his family had had vinyards there, but no longer.

She watched him sip his tea and smiled at him. She touched the hand that rest on the table, desperate for any kind of contact with him. "Tomorrow, I will be your wife." She said trying to smile at him.

"Yes."

"Where do you live? Can we visit?" She asked. She knew it was in to the northwest somewhere. He had vast lands he had said and several tennants who worked the lands.

"Sometime I am sure, but I have been assured we will remain here for a time."

"Can I meet your sons?" She asked. One was named Manfred and the other Michael, she had learned. He was proud of them, but worried about them in the Luftwaffe.

"They are on their way here." He said. He had a ghost of a smile. "You have taken this rather well." He said. "A lesser woman would have cried."

"I had little choice in the matter."

"As did I." He said.

She nodded and was reminded that he too was trapped in this. He had taken the morale high ground and instead of having a scandal, decided to marry me. He was in need of a wife. She could have done worse. Far worse. He could have been married and it would have been bad for my mother and her. As it was, he was available and had done the honorable thing and stepped forward.

"What will happen to me after we marry?"

He looked at her, regarding her young features. "That is to be determined. Most likely you will remain here with your mother, safe, until I can either fetch you or the war ends."

"It is so boring here." She said.

He chuckled. "It will be different as an officer's wife. There will be...expectations of you."

"Yes." She nodded.

"You are so young, my dearest." He said softly. He reached up and touched her cheek softly. "This marriage is to save face and to protect you." He smiled a little. "I will have leave to return to your side."

"What if I become pregnant?" She asked. She had no idea what was to do with it, but her mother obsessed about it and the need for it and how it would keep her safe.

"The doctors here will take very good care of you." He said. His eyes pinched a little. "It would bring me pleasure if you did." He said. He smiled. She had not seen him smile fully, but there was an odd pride in his look and she smiled back. He looked even more handsome.

She leaned forward and kissed him. He seemed startled, but then snaked an arm about her and held her, bringing her closer as he kissed her, deeply. After a few moments he pulled back, watching her.

She sighed and he smiled.

"It will be a good marriage." He said. "You will want for nothing." He told me.

I nodded.

ZzZ

That evening was the engagement banquet and rehearsal of sorts. Elizabeth did all she was told and she sighed. After dinner she walked out into the night air, needing to get away from the party and it all.

She walked down the street.

The baron had seen her leave and excused himself, staying back from her, but following her. The streets were dangerous. Enlisted could be drunk troublemakers. Several had been arrested two nights ago for accosting a woman. He was not about to allow his future wife to be harmed.

She made it two blocks before she saw the young men. They were staggering about, clearly drunk. Then they spotted her as she tried to duck down another street. ""Hey, du. Was tun Sie? Zurück von einem heißen Tag?" One asked

"No Kirche." She said not turning about.

They laughed. "Das ist seltsam. Kommen dann und sündigen so haben sie etwas zu beten." Another said.

"Lassen Sie mich in Ruhe!" She said as they surrounded me, cutting off her escape as she had been backing away.

One came closer reeking of alcohol and tried to kiss her. She slapped him and he looked at her as blood came from her hand against his nose. "Sie hätte es nicht tun sollen Schlampe."

Two grabbed her arms. She struggled as the bleeding one who apparently was the ring leader of the men, who all were in military uniforms, privates, moved to hold me. She kicked and he caught her still sore ankle. She yelped and he leaned close to her. He smiled and reeked so much she nearly wanted to throw up then and there. Then he kissed her, hard and the taste of the alcohol was pushed into her mouth.

She moved her body, knocking him away. "Geh zum Teufel!" She hissed and the man struck her face. She cried out as she felt blood come to her own nose.

"Nicht kennzeichnen. Wir wollen nicht, dass ihr verletzt worden." One of the young men holding her hissed to the leader.

The leader hissed and turned her about while his friends held her firmly. His hands went from her hips to her buttocks. Then his hands fisted her skirts. "Please…" She begged, pressed against the wall. "I am to be married." She began to sob as the blood flowed freely down from her nose. It was not broken, but it ached a little, especially as the man pressed her further against the wall as the others jeered and encouraged him.

She then heard a click as her skirts froze lifting. A cold voice spoke. "Genießen Sie einfach Ihre. Ich würde mir überlegen lassen sie gehen wenn ich sie war." She knew the voice and she realized she was never so happy to hear a man in her life.

The Baron had followed and now had his pistol to the head of the leader. The man turned a little and felt the pistol against his cheek. "Wer zum Teufel sind sie?" The younger man asked slightly defiant.

"Ihre in jeder Hinsicht überlegen. Entweder gehen Sie jetzt, und erhalten Sie zusätzlich zu ihrer Kaserne. Entweder so, oder weiter vergewaltigen meine zukünftige Frau und ich werde sie nicht mehr reagiert. Sie haben die Wahl." The Baron replied coldly.

The man swallowed and stepped back from her. The other two let her go as well and she sank against the wall, her legs weak as they saluted their superior and scurried off. The Baron watched them go a moment, standing ramrod straight. He put his pistol away and looked at her then, blue eyes going from angry to full of concern in a moment. She was nearly to the ground, but he caught her and pulled her upright. "I told you streets were dangerous, my dear." He said smoothly in English. He came to her, his hands on her arms. At first she stiffened a little and he turned her. He looked her over and sighed. "Are you hurt?" He asked. "Other than your nose?"

"No…just…just." She touched her face and pulled her fingers back. They were crimson with blood. He pressed a handkerchief to her nose and pinched the bridge of her nose between two of his fingers. She looked at him, not even fighting and dropped against his chest, her body giving out.

He caught her too him and sighed, his eyes holding a slight bit of amusement. "My dear, you are a great deal of trouble." He said. He shifted her and lifted her in his arms. "Hold that to your nose." He said in a tone like an order. She was too wound up to argue and did as he said, holding the bridge of her nose as he had done.

"I do not mean to be, Baron."

"Heinrich, my dear. Did they do harm, other than your nose?" He asked gently as he held her close to him.

"No, I am…intact." That was the best way she could say it. They had not raped her, but they had meant to. She shivered at the thought.

He looked at her sharply. "I would have shot them there had they gone further."

"You prize would have been spoiled."

He looked at her seriously, pausing as he walked. "No. Rape makes a woman not the same. I do care, Lizzy. Do not be so hostile." He sighed. "Women should never have that used against them. I am sorry I did not come sooner."

She nodded. "I am sorry. I am just…scared."

"It is all right. I will protect you and you will live with officers. They are a different sort." He said softly. He walked into the home I shared with my mother. It was a small home and he walked up to the main room. He set me down and checked my nose. "The blood has stopped." He said. "It is not broken."

She nodded. "Thank you, Heinrich."

He pressed a kiss to her brow. "I am glad I followed you."

"I am too." She admitted.

He rose to his feet. "Until tomorrow then."

"You are leaving now?" She asked.

"Yes. You need to sleep. I would suggest a long hot bath to relax you." He touched her cheek. "You need not fear me, sweetheart. I will never touch you unless you give me leave to." He said. She knew he meant it. He would ask nothing from her unless she wanted to give her body to him.

"I know." She looked at him and half smiled.

He nodded and pressed a kiss to her mouth. It was supposed to be a chaste goodnight kiss, but it became a kiss that ignited the passions of them both. She kissed him deeply and he devoured all she offered him. She had never kissed or been kissed so and she felt so alive at that moment. He pressed her back his hands resting on either side of the couch effectively pinning her.

A cough caused them to separate and she looked up at her mother who had come in surprised to see us there. She smiled at the baron and cocked her head at him. He straightened and bowed his head to her before rising to his feet.

He walked to the door and smiled as he looked back at his intended bride as he placed his hat back on. "Gute Nacht meine liebe. Morgen werden wir heiraten. Sie werden morgen einer Baronin."

She smiled after him as he took his leave.

She could not wait.