DISCLAIMER: No offense is meant to the men of the Easy Company or anyone living resembling our characters. We only own Lorraine.
So another effort by Ber1719 and Captain Ty we hope you enjoy.
A man can tell a thousand lies I know where beauty lives
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, till then
It will burn inside of me
I've seen it once, I know the warm she gives
The light that you could never see
It shines inside, you can't take that from me-Live to Tell, Madonna
Chapter 3
Albert stood at the window watching the man walk away from his future wife. He'd have done something about them kissing in the dark if it hadn't been for the uniform. That meant the problem was going to take care of its self. Sighing he turned back into the main room. He'd leave Lorraine to morn her lost love, but he would speak to Michael. Where there was, a lover leaving for war there would be letters.
Two weeks until the wedding
She watched every day for a letter from Ron. The necklace he'd given her had taken permanent residence around her neck. Luckily, it was long enough that no one could see it beneath her clothes. She'd gone to the library and done research on what the necklace was. She'd found that it was a Celtic Love Knot and it pledged to the wearer that like life, love could turn corners and seem to lose its way: but if it's true, will come back and continue forever. It had belonged to Ron's mother and therefore was his promise to love her forever and come back to her. Now it was a symbol of the love she would never have.
Rubbing the necklace again, she knew she would never see him again but this at least would give her something to remember him by. But then again, maybe when she found out where he was she should send it back to him and try to explain what happened. After all the necklace was given to her under different circumstances and he might want it back to give to his future wife.
The thought of Ron marring another woman was like a knife in her chest. The only person she'd ever met who loved her, who wanted her was lost to her and it was her fault. You could run away, why don't you then you'd be free to be with him? Ah, I know why, you're too scared to defy them; you are still trying to win their approval. Digging her nails into the chair she willed that voice to stop, she had to come to terms with this and quickly, otherwise she was going to drive herself insane.
Her time was no longer her own and between Albert and her mother made sure she was never alone. There were diner parties and fittings, her head hurt so badly every time she tried to think about it all. The front door shutting had her jumping out of the chair and running to greet her father.
"Did anything come for me today?"
Michael gave his daughter a sad smile, "I'm sorry Lorraine, nothing came today. Honey, maybe you're friend is too busy to write, he'll get around to it, besides you've got so much to do, I'm sure you'll get one eventually."
Michael watched his daughter's shoulders slump and she returned to the library to sit and stare out the window. Creeping into his study, he pulled the letter out of his pocket and unlocked the desk. Pulling open the bottom drawer, he added the latest letter to the growing pile. Looking down at the stack he felt guilty, the Speirs boy was a hard worker and he must really love his daughter. And if the way Lorraine was acting was any indication, she loved him.
When the engagement announcement had appeared it the paper he'd cut it out and saved it. He was going to do the same with the wedding announcement. Then he would box it all up and send it back to Ron. At least then, he would understand why she never wrote him.
Relocking the drawer, he looked up to find his wife standing in the doorway watching him. Stepping inside she shut the door behind her. "Michael I'm worried about Lorraine, she's not eating and if we have to take that dress in one more time there will be nothing left. Do you think she's happy?"
"No Helen she's not happy. But what do you want me to do about it?"
"Oh Michael I think we've made a horrible mistake, do you think she might have been interested in someone else? Are we breaking her heart?"
Michael glanced down and then opened the drawer and removed all the letters. "Oh yes, there was someone, we just didn't know it. He left to join the Army and all these are from him. I guess he promised to write and I'm hoping that after she's married she'll forget him."
Helen's eyes filled with tears, "oh Michael how could you, she's our daughter and you're letting her think the man doesn't love her? How could you be so cold?"
He dropped the letters back into the drawer locking it shut. Getting up he went to pour a whiskey before turning back to face his wife. "How could I? I can't believe you; you made it clear that she wasn't allowed to settle for a common worker. That man worked in our factory, he was a good man, but you wanted her to move up so I've done as you asked. Never come to me again and condemn me for doing your bidding."
"Yes, you're right Michael. We still have two weeks till the wedding, I'm sure this will pass."
He watched his wife leave the room and downed the rest of the whiskey. He didn't think this would pass. His daughter's heart was going to be broken and in the end, this would all be his fault.
The night before the wedding
Standing in front of the mirror, she reached up and unclasped the necklace. It had been over a month and not even a postcard from Ron. Dropping the necklace into her jewelry box, she picked the heavy diamond pendent Albert had given her as a pre-wedding present.
Tonight would was the final rehearsal diner. On Albert's suggestion the wedding had been moved to New York and would occur tomorrow, they would have one night in New York before boarding a ship for England.
She had learned to keep her emotions in check; so much, so that she wasn't even sure she could feel. Her parents and Albert watched her like a bug under a microscope searching for any sign of rebellion. How disappointing it must be for them to find none.
Weren't brides supposed to be happy? Looking back in the mirror, she really didn't know the person staring back at her. Her hair was done daily by a group of maids in some elaborate style that was supposed to be the height of fashion. Even the dresses she wore were selected by someone else. She was a walking talking doll that was dressed up daily to play lady of the manor.
When she wasn't being dragged between social engagements, she was learning how to run a British manor. Curling her fingers into her palms, she wished she could throw something anything, but any action that was seen as not correct was quickly reported to either her mother or Albert. She didn't think she could stand one more lecture.
Standing she smoothed her dress and started for the door, the sooner tonight started the sooner it would end.
Albert was waiting for her at the top of the stairs. Taking her hand, he curled it around his arm. "You look lovely my dear and diamonds suit you. You'll find when we return to England that you will have many more choices from the family jewels."
Giving him a small smile, she didn't respond. In her heart she knew she would give everything, she or Albert owned to see Ron again.
Albert watched Lorraine carefully. Ever since the night he'd seen her with another man she'd been totally unresponsive, being polite as a well brought up lady should be but there was no life in her. Frowning he decided to fix the situation now. Grabbing her arm, he pulled her into his room and shut the door.
She stood staring at him rubbing her arm where he'd grabbed her saying nothing. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself before beginning. "Lorraine, this foolish love affair you've had is over. I know all about him and he left you and hasn't looked back. I'm sick and tired of you mopping about as if someone died. You will begin to act happy about this marriage or you will be sorry."
Shaking her head, "exactly how are you going to make me any sorrier than I currently am Albert?" She could stop the gasp of pain as he grabbed her shoulders and squeezed down hard.
"My dear, you have no idea of the depth of pain I can cause you and as of tomorrow no one will care. Let me be quiet clear, a husband owns his wife and no one will question me on my actions in dealing with you. Now I'll give you a moment to collect yourself, but when you walk out of this room you will have a smile on your face appropriate for a new bride or we'll return to this room and I'll beat you until you conform to what I want, and trust me I can do it."
She watched him walk from the room the fear coursing through her body. What had her parents done to her; they had given her to a monster. Closing her eyes, she thought once again about leaving and never coming back? Where could she go? She had no money, she had no friends and even if she did know where Ron was, did he even still want her?
Smoothing her clothing with shaky hands, she tried to calm her nerves. She had no choice she had to do this. Pasting a smile on her face, she opened the door and went to Albert.
Everyone walked past congratulating them on a beautiful wedding and what a beautiful bride she made. The smile on her face shone brightly covering her fear of doing anything to make the situation worse. The reception lasted well into the night and the gentle tug on her arm by her mother gained her attention.
"Come Lorraine, it's that time and we need to get you ready."
Smiling and excusing herself, she followed her mother upstairs to Albert's suite trying hard not to think about their last conversation in this room. She stood as her mother undid the back of the dress and removed the veil from her hair.
"Alright now Lorraine, I know we've never spoken of these things but I'm prepared to answer any questions of what's to happen tonight."
Swallowing back the nausea Lorraine smiled at her mother, "it's alright, we had a class in my last semester of school that explained the duties of a wife. Please don't distress yourself." She patted her mother on the hand and finished undressing.
Wrapping a robe over the flimsy nightgown, "well mother, I'll see you in the morning."
As the door closed, she slumped down in the chair. There was no one in the room but her and soon Albert would be here and the thought of him touching her or kissing in her made her sick. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember Ron's kiss and the way it felt when he touched her. That would be what she thought of, Ron that would get her through this.
When she heard the door open, she stood silently and waited for Albert to appear. Weaving he managed to make his way into the bedroom. "Well I see you are prepared, get over here and let's see what I've bought."
Moving forward she stopped in front of him and removed the robe. Tensing her muscles to stop them from shaking as his eyes surveyed her body like a prize thoroughbred.
"Very nice, well you won't need this." Reaching out he ripped the gown from her body and laughed as she tried to cover herself. "Why so shy now my dear? It's not like you've not done this before, so let's get to it shall we. Remove my clothes and then spread yourself on that bed."
"Albert, I don't know why you've said these things, I've never done this before, you're the first."
The backhand across her face knocked her to the floor. "You little whore. I saw you throw yourself into his arms, no woman who is innocent would act that way."
Reaching down he grabbed her hair and pulled her to her feet. Her cry of pain earning a viscous pinch on her breast. "If I were you, I'd be very quiet my dear, as I explained earlier, I have ways of causing you pain."
Albert threw her on the bed and quickly removed his clothes. He'd never been this hard for any woman; her cries of pain were exhilarating. Yes, she was going to be perfect. Moving to the bed, he grabbed her leg and pulled her to the edge. "Now my dear let's get started on that heir."
The scream of pain tore from her throat as he shoved himself inside her with no thought to her comfort. The chuckle above her had her opening her eyes to look at him. The amusement was clear in his voice, "well what do you know you were a virgin. All the better for me."
She felt his hand close around her throat and tighten down his breath whistling in her ear as he pounded inside her. "Oh yes my dear, your father really should have been more careful and checked into my likes, I love to punish women, it's really unfortunately what happened to my last wife."
The fear permeated her fog causing her to fight to get from beneath him and get away, in turn, this heightened his pleasure and the hand around her throat tightened. "Oh yes my dear, fight all you want. I told you, you belong to me now to do what I wish."
The darkness was creeping into her vision and it was getting harder to breath. The pain between her legs was receding giving way to darkness. Above her, she felt him move and pinch her breast again to make her cry out. Yet, the only noise to escape her closing throat was a brief sobbing noise.
Albert was in heaven, she was tight and warm surrounding him and her small body allowed him to control her with one hand while inflicting pain with the other. He felt his climax building and squeezed harder on her throat. As he came, he watched his darling wife lose consciousness.
The sunlight hitting her face finally woke her. Lying still for a moment she listened to the sounds of the room trying to judge if Albert was there. When silence greeted her, she began to push herself to a sitting position.
She was lying exactly where he had left her. Looking down she saw the dried blood on her thighs and bed mixed with other fluids she didn't want to think about. Her throat hurt to breath and she did her best not to swallow expect when she had to. She could only imagine what he'd done to her after she lost consciousness.
Easing from the bed she went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror, the bruising on her breasts was much worse than she'd thought but could be hidden as well as the finger mark bruising on her neck. The busted lip was going to be more of a problem along with her damaged voice. She would have laughed had it not hurt so badly, she was sure Albert had a plan to explain that as well.
Hearing the door open and close she waited for the footsteps. Hearing them pause at the bedroom door for a moment before continuing towards the bathroom. Looking up she met Albert's eyes in the mirror.
"Good morning my dear, I'm glad to see you are up. I've had room service bring up some tea with lemon and honey that should help your throat. Remember we are leaving in a few hours so please do something with your appearance."
Before he could turn away, she managed to croak out the question that had been burning her soul. "Why Albert, why do this I would have given you what you wanted? Why did you hurt me?"
He turned and for the first time she saw the true face of Lord Albert Wentworth, and it chilled her to her soul. "Simply put my dear, you are mine and I'll do with you as I please. I'm a man who enjoys certain vises and I'm most fortunate to have found you."
As he stepped closer to her, he lifted her hair and rubbed it between his fingers. "You are such a tiny thing; I suppose I'll have to be more careful with you now won't I?" Dropping her hair he turned back to the door, "you have one hour before your parents arrive to say good-bye, I expect you to be properly attired."
When her parents arrived she was properly attired and the bruises hidden from sight. The face had been a little harder but with the proper make-up, she'd made herself presentable explaining her hoarse voice on a cold she could possibly be catching. As she kissed them good-bye, she couldn't muster any sadness toward them, they had sold her to the devil and now she was going to live in hell.
Ron had no idea why he bothered to show up at mail call. For two months, there had been nothing from Raine. He just didn't understand why, he wrote every day, even if it was just a few lines telling her he loved her. When he'd arrived at training and saw the other officers were married and had their wives with them, he regretted not marring her before leaving. He'd planned on saving his leave and going back to get her, but now he wasn't even sure if she wanted him or not.
"Speirs"
He jumped when his name was called and was happy to see it was a box. Taking it and heading back to his room he couldn't wait to open it. Maybe she'd just not had the time to write and had sent him something instead. Dropping down on his bed, he ripped the box open to find one letter on top addressed to him and the rest were his letters to her unopened.
Ripping open the letter to him, he found a sheet of paper wrapped around two newspaper clippings. The first was Raine's engagement announcement to Lord Wentworth. She'd gotten engaged the same night he left her. The second was her wedding announcement from a month ago. Flipping the letter over he scanned the few meager lines written there.
I wanted you to see why she never wrote. I hid these from her, she never knew about them. She's beyond your reach you must leave her alone.
Dropping the letter on the bed, he tried to wrap his thoughts around what had just happened. She was married, she never knew about the letters? How could she not know he mailed them to her, why didn't she get them, who was it that had hidden them from her?
Putting everything in the box, he shoved it under his bed and picked up the application someone had given him. They were looking for infantry officers to transfer to the paratroopers. He made up his mind; at this point, he had nothing to lose and signed his name on the contract.
Aldbourne-Fall 1943
Mrs. Gordon looked up from her paper to see Lady Wentworth enter and head to a back table without really looking up. Silently she got up and started to prepare the tea she always kept on hand. She also passed a silent prayer that the Lady was still alive.
Her sister Margret worked as a housekeeper at the estate and kept her apprised of the latest happenings. Everyone thought for sure this last time Lord Wentworth had finally killed his third wife.
Everyone in Aldbourne had been surprised a year ago when Lord Wentworth had returned from America with a new bride. They also lived in fear for her life. Most of the town suspected that his second wife had not accidently fallen down the stairs, but might have had some help on the way down.
This new wife was a tiny thing and very sweet, but in the last year the beatings and rapes had become worse. Not everyone knew about them, but her sister was one of three live in staff and she'd told Agnes that no heir had been produced and Lord Wentworth blamed his wife. Her sister had arrived yesterday to pick up tea and tell her that this last one had been horrible.
Lord Wentworth had returned from London late and the wife wasn't at the door to great him. Her sister said you could hear the Lady screaming and the blows he was inflicting on her echoing through the house. The next morning Margret said she'd cleaned the bloodstains up and seen to the mistress. She'd told Agnes the poor woman was bleeding everywhere even between her legs.
Shaking her head Agnes could only wonder at how his Lordship thought to have an heir when he kept damaging his wife.
Grabbing the honey and lemon, she took the tray to the back table sitting it down. "Here you are you're ladyship."
The tiny hand reaching out to grab hers startled her for a moment. Lady Wentworth never liked to be touched nor did she touch others. "Please Mrs. Gordon; sit for a moment won't you." The voice was hoarse like she had a cold, but Agnes Gordon knew better. She guaranteed that if she could see under that high collar the bruises around her neck would still be there.
"Alright me Lady."
Lorraine looked up at Mrs. Gordon and smiled. "Please would you just sit and talk for a while. Your voice and your sisters comfort me."
Agnes smiled, "oh your ladyship, now how can that be, we both carry the lilt of the Scottish that should offend your ears, not comfort them."
She saw the lady smile and the tears in the sapphire eyes glistened. "Your voice reminds me of someone I cared for very much. He always hid his accent with everyone else, but never me."
As if realizing what she just said the Lady looked around the room to see if anyone heard. Agnes laid her hand over the ladyships. "There's none about by me self lady, I've taken in the Yanks and they're out training."
Lorraine smiled and sipped her tea. This was the only respite she ever got. She'd been coming here since she'd arrived in Aldbourne and listening to this lady talk gave her a reason to smile again. "Well I'm sure the Yanks are keeping you busy."
"Aye they are at that. I've mostly got officers but one of them has the nicest Scottish lilt to his speech. Nice man too, always brings things home when he can."
The opening of the door drew both woman's attention. Beside her Agnes smiled, "oh and here's my Scottish boy now."
Lorraine kept her head down but when she heard the man laugh her whole body tensed. She prepared herself but nothing could stop the pain when she heard his voice.
"Alright Agnes, are you telling tales on me again."
"Oh no, never. Just having a spot of tea with her ladyship here is all."
Ron turned to look at the lady sitting in the corner. Her hat blocked her face and she kept her head down much more interested in her tea than their conversation.
Turning his attention back to Agnes, "well I wanted to stop by and tell you not to worry, I'll be very late tonight so I'll take care of myself when I come in."
Lorraine watched him from under the edge of her hat. Even with the helmet on, she could see he was as handsome as ever. It hurt so badly to look at him, she wanted nothing but to get up from her chair and go to him.
"Oh Ron, let me introduce you to her ladyship."
Lorraine felt the panic choking her she had to leave before Ron got close enough to her to see. Glancing at the back door, she stood quickly and headed that way, calling an explanation of another appointment over her shoulder.
Ron watched the woman leave and turned back to Agnes. "That wasn't a British accent, she sounded American."
"Aye, that's because she is American, only been here about a year and a half. Very nice lady that, don't know what got into her to leave so fast."
Ron shrugged, "well who knows about the rich and why they do what they do. So I'll see you later love." As he headed for the door, something about what Agnes had said made him pause. Turning back, "Agnes, what's the Lady's name?"
"Oh it's Lady Wentworth. She and Lord Wentworth live in the large estate just outside of town."