Hi all!
Usual disclaimer. Thanky to all my reviewers!!! (All two of you, so far, lo1)
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Chapter Five - The Hunted
"You two are ungrateful, horrid and bad mannered children! You disgust my guests, embarrass members of our navy," Governor Moineau eyed Ana Maria, "and you refuse to marry!" He glared at Jack.
Ana and Jack stood before their outraged father, heads bowed, hands clasped behind their backs. Jacob and Lucinda stood sniggering to one side of the room, alongside their father. Miranda stood with her arms protectively round Beatrice and Nathaniel, at the other side of the room.
Jack and Ana had never felt so alone. Although they stood together, opposite their father, each felt isolated. Once the tirade had ceased, both of them turned to go. There came a sharp reprimand from their father.
"You don't leave until I say you can! Get back here now!"
Jack stopped. His fists clenched. Casting one rebellious look over his shoulder, he strode purposefully out of the room. Ana followed him, resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at her older brother and sister.
In the room there was a chilling silence. Governor Moineau brought a fist down hard on the table. Everyone in the room jumped. Miranda clasped her children closer, watching her husband with admiration. Lucinda and Jacob looked on like a pair of gossips, eager to hear the latest scandal of their two misfit siblings.
The imposing man walked slowly and deliberately out. He shut the door behind him with an agonising slowness. It banged, almost un-naturally loud as it closed.
With the air of a hunter after his prey, he began to ascend the stairs.
Ana was sobbing brokenly into her pillow. It didn't hurt. The dark, widening mark on her shoulder didn't hurt. Not compared to the red Chinese burn twisted round her arm. But even that didn't sting as much as the taste of her own tears. She was a weak, frail little girl, destined to marry some toffee nosed navy officer, and dangle from his uniformed arm forever more. She knew it. And her father wouldn't let her forget.
Jack was slouched on the edge of his bed, methodically wrapping a white linen bandage round his bleeding arm. Every time he moved his face a slow ache began in his right cheek. The muscles felt like they were seizing up. His jaw still throbbed from yesterday. He felt awful. He wished he could've helped Ana. He wished he could get out if this damn house for more than an hour on his own. He wished a lot of things. But none of them came true. Finishing his bandaging, and looking out the window, Jack began to wonder if they ever would.
Usual disclaimer. Thanky to all my reviewers!!! (All two of you, so far, lo1)
***********************************************************
Chapter Five - The Hunted
"You two are ungrateful, horrid and bad mannered children! You disgust my guests, embarrass members of our navy," Governor Moineau eyed Ana Maria, "and you refuse to marry!" He glared at Jack.
Ana and Jack stood before their outraged father, heads bowed, hands clasped behind their backs. Jacob and Lucinda stood sniggering to one side of the room, alongside their father. Miranda stood with her arms protectively round Beatrice and Nathaniel, at the other side of the room.
Jack and Ana had never felt so alone. Although they stood together, opposite their father, each felt isolated. Once the tirade had ceased, both of them turned to go. There came a sharp reprimand from their father.
"You don't leave until I say you can! Get back here now!"
Jack stopped. His fists clenched. Casting one rebellious look over his shoulder, he strode purposefully out of the room. Ana followed him, resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at her older brother and sister.
In the room there was a chilling silence. Governor Moineau brought a fist down hard on the table. Everyone in the room jumped. Miranda clasped her children closer, watching her husband with admiration. Lucinda and Jacob looked on like a pair of gossips, eager to hear the latest scandal of their two misfit siblings.
The imposing man walked slowly and deliberately out. He shut the door behind him with an agonising slowness. It banged, almost un-naturally loud as it closed.
With the air of a hunter after his prey, he began to ascend the stairs.
Ana was sobbing brokenly into her pillow. It didn't hurt. The dark, widening mark on her shoulder didn't hurt. Not compared to the red Chinese burn twisted round her arm. But even that didn't sting as much as the taste of her own tears. She was a weak, frail little girl, destined to marry some toffee nosed navy officer, and dangle from his uniformed arm forever more. She knew it. And her father wouldn't let her forget.
Jack was slouched on the edge of his bed, methodically wrapping a white linen bandage round his bleeding arm. Every time he moved his face a slow ache began in his right cheek. The muscles felt like they were seizing up. His jaw still throbbed from yesterday. He felt awful. He wished he could've helped Ana. He wished he could get out if this damn house for more than an hour on his own. He wished a lot of things. But none of them came true. Finishing his bandaging, and looking out the window, Jack began to wonder if they ever would.