Ansley gasped as Winifred tightened the strings of her corset. A little yelp escaped again as she felt her waist compress and her breasts lift. As God was her witness, before she died, she would create a corset that was infinitely more comfortable. Though it seemed impossible for the corset to tighten more, it did and Ansley repressed a whimper.
Winifred narrowed her eyes and looked around at Ansley, who had a white-knuckle grip on the bed post.
"Are you all right, Miss Parrish?" She asked with concern.
Ansley turned her head to look at the servant, a dark frown on her pale, pretty features. "Would you please just finish, Winnie?"
Shrugging, the servant continued to tighten the strings of the horrid contraption. To free her mind of pain and discomfort, Ansley thought of other things. Quickly bypassing the thought of Wesley, she found her troubled reflections decided to land on that Dragoon colonel.
"Winifred?" Ansley said between a pained gasp.
"Yes, Miss Parrish?"
"Do you know a certain Colonel Tavington?"
The pull of the strings halted momentarily before they started up again. "Yes, Miss Parrish, the colonel stays here often enough."
"What is he like?"
If at all possible, Winifred tugged harder, causing Ansley's entire frame to jolt. "Well, it's not my place to answer such questions, Miss Parrish." She said in a way that a schoolteacher might scold a pupil.
Winnie finally tied off the last strings and reached for the bodice of the dress, handing it to Ansley. "Why'd you want to know about him, anyway?" She asked curiously, eyeing Ansley with an inquiring gray eye and a stiff upper lip.
Thinking fast, Ansley answered as nonchalantly as possible. "Oh, simply curious. I'd met him at the ball last night, but we had only enough time for pleasantries. He seems like an interesting individual."
The skeptical look on Winnie's aged face slowly dissipated as she straightened the bodice and fluffed the flowing sleeves to her satisfaction. "Well, Miss Parrish, I believe you should keep your acquaintance with the colonel as just that-an acquaintance. You don't want trouble with that man." She warned, murmuring the last sentence.
Not getting the chance to further question this, Winnie quickly handed Ansley her cream silk satin shoes before hurrying out of the bedroom. Only more curious now, Ansley fixed her hair as best she could, letting it flow about her shoulders before going down to breakfast.
-
The morning was quite uneventful. Ansley played a game of chess with Mr. Middleton after breakfast (which the kind old gentleman won in seven moves) and spent most of her time in the library, perusing through different books of different genres. Wesley didn't speak to her at all, not during breakfast, teatime, or any time he happened to pass her. And Ansley was content with that. She found she didn't want to converse with him either.
Ansley looked up from the rather old copy of Utopia as Winnie came into the library, a duster in tow. The servant fixed the young woman with a frown.
"It's a right gorgeous day out there, Miss Parrish," Winnie pointed out, running the feather duster along the old, cracked tomes, "Shame on you for staying cooped up like a bloody bat inside this place."
Ansley smiled at the woman's bluntness. Winifred wasn't one to hold her tongue very often, especially around Ansley, who was usually never offended by the woman's candid remarks. Sighing, Ansley shut the book, and started to the doors.
"Winnie, I think I shall take a short nap. Wake me at dinner." She instructed.
Winifred mumbled something that could be considered a response as Ansley left the room. Ansley knew that Winnie wanted her to go out into the gardens and admire the growth.
"You need some right color to those cheeks of yours, Miss Parrish, you're going to fall ill!" She'd memorably said at one time.
Ansley didn't want to see the gardens; she wanted to explore something far more enchanted. She reached a window facing the woods beyond the house. The trees stretched for some way, and suddenly, walking beneath their branched shelter sounded delightful. But no one would let her go without a chaperone. Scowling at the idea of some dolt following her around, Ansley remembered what she'd told Winnie.
"I think I'll take a short nap. Wake me at dinner." Smiling to herself, Ansley made for the back door. If she could just travel the woods until dinner, no one would know.
-
It'd been easier than she thought. Running into no one, Ansley made for the woods at a quick pace, sheltering herself from the sun as she passed into the trees. A horse trail had been worn down and Ansley followed it, taking in everything around her. Birds chirped happily in the canopy of branches above her, and somewhere, the scent of the wild Yellow Jessamine was still blooming, it's sweet aroma bursting in the air. Ansley sighed happily, feeling that small sense of freedom she thought she could only grasp at night. The wind was gentle, and zephyrs played with the fallen golden and brown leaves. Ansley stopped upon hearing something else-the distant noise of water. Turning towards the pleasant sound, Ansley went off the path, following the noise. After some time, with the horse trail quite out of sight, Ansley came upon a nearly crystal clear pool with water gently fitting through an aperture in the rock wall. It was enough to keep the pool moving as it flowed smoothly into a thinner stream down the hill.
Ansley couldn't help but grin at the sight and for a moment, a risky idea entered her mind. Blushing at her own desires, the young woman sighed, planning on walking away in search of the trail, but she halted. What did it matter? No one would be this deep in the woods, and if someone asked of her whereabouts, Winifred would say she was taking that nap. A mere few minutes would do no harm. And it was only barely after noon. Ansley hurried back to the pool, getting to her knees and putting her hand in to feel the water. It was ice cold. Ansley bit her lip. It would certainly be refreshing. Finally making a decision, Ansley started to untie her bodice.
-
Ansley had nearly yelped when she first stepped into the frigid water, but as soon as it washed away the perspiration that had formed on her brow and neck, the young woman grinned in glee. Again, true happiness was found away from the manor, the war, and stifling politics. She was free, in every meaning of the word. Feeling the cool water enveloping her skin, Ansley sighed in pleasure. She treaded water for a few minutes, just relishing in its cleanliness and crisp cooling affect. She then let herself go under, not caring the slightest that her entire head and all her hair were now wet. Coming back to the surface, Ansley cranked her head up, seeing the sun wink through the thick canopy of the trees, whose branches swayed gently in the occasional waft of wind. She again caught the scent of the Yellow Jessamine somewhere in the woods, though it was stronger and probably closer than before.
So engrossed in her bliss, Ansley did not hear the footsteps approach behind her near where she'd hung her more comfortable, blood red summer dress and her undergarments on a low tree branch. She did not even notice his intrigued gaze upon her. No, it was only his knack for surprising her that finally caught her attention.
"You know, it's not very smart for a young lady to expose herself while all alone in the woods. You never know who could happen upon her."
The words sent a chill colder than the water down Ansley's spine. Her breath caught and she almost stopped treading water. Her lower lip trembling, Ansley turned her head to look at the source of the voice. The colonel had his foot up on a low rock near the edge of the water, his arm resting on his bent knee. He fixed her with an amused smirk and cocked his head thoughtfully.
"You know, every time we meet, you seem to be more exposed...what will our next encounter be like, I wonder?" His words were playful, and Ansley couldn't detect a threat. But her hands shook in the water with embarrassment, fear, and shame.
-
"Now, you have to parry my strike, you can't just whack me anyplace you please!" Tavington repositioned Ansley's hands on the branch, watching as she stifled giggles.
"Like this?" Her hands moved from the correct position and the colonel sighed sharply in frustration as he situated her hands on the branch properly again.
"Don't move them." He ordered frostily. Returning to his spot, he motioned for her to come at him with her stick.
Ansley tripped forward to strike, her feet stumbling under her and she toppled backwards in a fit of giggles. Rolling his eyes, Tavington dropped his stick, helping her back to the log, where he'd gotten a small fire going earlier. Finally getting her to sit without tumbling over, she then signaled for the bottle of port wine next to Tavington.
"I do believe another drink will do me some good!" Ansley slurred as she reached past Tavington.
The colonel grasped the bottle, putting it back into the rucksack on his steed's saddle. The woman had certainly drunk enough.
"No more port for you, Miss Parrish." He said in a no-nonsense manner, much to the woman's chagrin. She pouted and tightened the red and green Dragoon jacket that Tavington had given her once she was properly dressed, minus her corset, which she had carelessly tossed to the ground. Sitting back down next to Ansley, he stirred the fire a bit, throwing a few more branches into it. He didn't need the heat, but the girl was freezing from her little skinny-dipping escapade. Tavington had also supplied her with the port, knowing it would warm her insides. But the young lady continued to take sip after sip until she'd drained nearly half the bottle.
Ansley sighed happily, staring into the fire. She then whipped around to face the colonel with a half-serious expression on her features. "Aren't you supposed to be leadin' some cavalry charge or whatnot?" She asked quite ungracefully.
Tavington made a half smile. "I have a few days furlough, though I have no idea what to do with myself. I'm not accustomed to taking leave."
Ansley's brow creased thoughtfully. "You certainly seem like a real stickler when it comes to the army, don't you?" She pointed out drunkenly. Tavington also observed that her speech was devoid of its usual proper English slant and was replaced with a bubbly Irish accent.
Chuckling at her question, Tavington looked away, concentrating on a squirrel a few yards away. "The military is my life, Miss Parrish," he turned his attention to her, "I know nothing else."
Ansley nodded her head one too many times, and then balled her fist, playfully punching Tavington's shoulder. "Tell me about your life, Colonel Tav-lov-ton," She asked, her words slurring again, "Seriously, you have a wife? Children? Sweetheart?"
Tavington didn't like the questions and considered breaking off the conversation there, but the look in her large, moist and intoxicated eyes convinced him that she'd probably forget everything he said by the next morning, therefore telling her would bring no harm.
"No, I don't, Miss Parrish."
She nodded comprehendingly. "Right, well then, did you ever have any wives, children, sweethearts?" Ansley asked dramatically.
Hoping in her drunken state that the girl would forget she could ask the question in that form, Tavington sighed in annoyance, biting back the bitter retort, "It's none of your business." Instead, he pursed his lips, deciding how to approach this.
"I did have a sweetheart. I was twenty-one and stupid, she was seventeen and whimsical."
Ansley raised a dark, thin eyebrow, her mouth parting some. "Annnd?" She prodded.
"And, we had a stupid, whimsical relationship." He stated, his tone deadpan.
Scoffing, Ansley elbowed him in the ribs, her practically dry hair falling into his face for a moment. Tavington caught the faint scent of the soap in her hair, nearly making him dizzy before she pulled away. "Why don't you share an anecdote, Colonel?" Ansley suggested, resting an elbow on her knee and cupping her chin in her hand. She stared at him seriously, waiting for the story.
Tavington gazed down at the fire again, remembering the face of dear Elena. That little girl of Italian descent with big dreams and chocolate eyes that could melt a man with one look.
"I met her through my father's business, the selling of quite grand antiquities. I believe we might have been in love, and perhaps would have married if she hadn't suffered from consumption-tuberculosis to be exact." He remembered her steady decline. The coughing fits, and the blood that would accompany it. Eventually, he was forbidden to see her because of her state and the possibility of him catching the disease.
Shortly after her death, Tavington learned that Elena's father, an ardent explorer and historian who helped supply Mr. Tavington's business, had picked it up during his travels, though he hadn't died from it. But it did manage to pass on to Elena, obviously. Grieving and in rage, Tavington acted rashly and made it quite clear that he thought Elena's death was her father's fault-and the old man earned a broken nose because of it (and possibly more if the scuffle hadn't been broken up). Needless to say, the partnership between Tavington's and Elena's fathers was severed quite abruptly.
Realizing he wasn't speaking, but pondering intently, Tavington glanced over at the girl, who was still staring at him, but looking quite close to passing out.
"Perhaps that's a tale for another time, Miss Parrish." He said bitterly.
She nodded, turning away to look towards the steadily setting sun. It was a startlingly beautiful sunset. Pink, red, orange and yellow were smeared across the sky like they'd been painted by a celestial brush.
"Hm," Ansley suddenly said pensively, "I told Winnie that I'd taken a nap…and I was to be woken at dinner." She said this so nonchalantly, that it took a moment for Tavington to realize the seriousness of the situation. Ansley apparently didn't care, because a second later, she promptly slumped onto Tavington's shoulder-completely passed out.
-
After securing the woman on his horse, he'd ridden the steed at a good speed, knowing time was of the essence. It was nearing six o'clock, and soon a servant would be knocking on Ansley's door, and Ansley might not be there. Stopping near the manor, Tavington slid the dead asleep woman from the horse, carrying her to the back door and slipping through the servant's quarters to reach the second level. Making sure no one was passing, the colonel hurriedly made his way to the guest bedrooms, hoping he'd chosen the correct room when he entered it. Sure enough, the gown that Ansley had worn to the ball the night before was still hanging near the bureau. He gently placed the sleeping, and lightly snoring Ansley on her bed. First removing his Dragoon uniform jacket and then heading to her desk, where parchment and a quill pen were waiting for use. Trying to imagine a woman's delicate, wavy handwriting, Tavington wrote carefully, "I've come down with a frightful headache, and will not be disturbed for dinner nor breakfast." Satisfied enough, Tavington spared one more glance at the sleeping girl before sneaking quickly and quietly out of the room and placing the note outside the door.
-
She stood near the pool, watching the water flow and listening to its pleasant song. And that was the only thing she heard. No birds chirped, no trilling of insects, even the trees did not move. Only the water. She stared at her reflection, observing all the unsightly parts of herself, or what she thought was ugly. Her huge eyes that could frighten a man away. Her pale and colorless skin. Her dry, unmanageable hair that fell in waves to her waist. She hated it all. Bending down, she put one hand in the water, but instead of it being cold, it was scalding hot and she yanked her hand away with a gasp. Holding the burnt hand to her chest, she backed away from the pool, turning around to come to a sudden halt because of the obstruction in her path.
He stared down at her with those ice-shattering eyes that held her captive. Without warning, the man laced his arms around her waist, pulling her to him like she was a doll without control over her own actions. She couldn't feel his warmth and though her body was pressed against his, she felt no heartbeat in his chest. No gentle thump that indicated life. Yet her own heart hammered so loudly, she could hear the blood pulsing in her ears. He swept a strand of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear, but he then kept it there, gently massaging her temple. When he felt she was ready, he leaned his head down and-"
"Miss Parrish!"
Ansley's body jolted and she yelped at the interruption of her deep sleep. Sitting straight up in her bed, Ansley suddenly groaned as a gigantic wave of pain tumbled down on her head like an avalanche of rocks and she fell back into the pillows.
"Miss Parrish, are you all right?"
Remembering the voice on the other side of the door, Ansley recognized it belonging to Winifred.
"Yes, Winnie, I'm fine, leave me be, will you?"
A pause followed before footsteps were heard, which quickly dissipated. Ansley moaned as the headache pounded mercilessly, and through the pain, she tried to remember exactly what had transpired.
After thoroughly embarrassing herself to the point where Ansley wanted to drown, the colonel had been kind enough to offer a fire and a drink. Since staying nude in the water didn't sound like the best idea, she'd made sure Tavington was out of sight before dressing and following his freshly made footprints in the dirt. They talked for some time, Ansley complaining about her problems, not caring anymore that it didn't concern the man one bit. But she needed someone to complain to, and if he was willing to listen, he was going to get an earful.
Ansley tried to remember specifics, but after a while things became cloudy. She recalled drinking quite a bit of that port (most likely the cause of her pounding head) and saying a few things she probably shouldn't have. The rest of it turned into a fuzzy scene and Ansley couldn't get anything straight. She must have blacked out at one point, because she knew she certainly couldn't carry herself all the way up the stairs without being noticed, not in that state anyway. With a sudden realization, Ansley grasped that the colonel probably carried her here. That's when she remembered the dream she'd woken up from. The blood rushed to Ansley's cheeks and her insides curled in shame upon recalling what her subconscious obviously thought and wanted. But what frightened her even more-she liked it.
-
Making herself look presentable for a late breakfast was a miracle in itself and Ansley thanked the Lord for his obvious intrusion. She'd somehow gotten her hair into a descent enough bun, the lake water apparently did something to relieve the usual frizz in her tresses. After scrubbing her face silly and making that fit to be seen, she finally let Winnie in to assist her with her corset. Winnie asked no questions when she saw the scowl on Ansley's face. So when the grandfather clock hit ten, an hour and a half after breakfast was formally served, Ansley was as presentable as she was going to be as she descended the stairwell and headed for the dining room. Everyone had obviously finished long ago except for one particular individual who ate in silence, but Ansley could immediately detect the discomfort in the atmosphere.
Wesley stood, pulling out the chair next to him for his fiancée. Though a headache was still in company, Ansley somehow managed a polite nod and sat down gracefully. Going back to his breakfast, Wesley did not even greet her.
"How is your head?" He asked, though his voice gave not a hint of real concern.
"Still hurting." Ansley had to hide her surprise when she'd opened her bedroom door and saw the note. She'd have to thank that Colonel Tavington for being so thoughtful.
"Fresh pear juice, Miss?" The servant came over quickly after Ansley seated herself. The thought of the sweet juice made Ansley noxious and she asked for a simple cup of tea. Wesley gave her a sidelong glance at the request, but said nothing.
After the tea was served, Ansley looked at her choices on the table. There were still eggs left, fruit, and some assortment of meats, but none of it looked appetizing at the moment. Seeing a small vegetable platter, Ansley served herself the uncooked carrots, cauliflower, and celery.
Clearing his throat, Wesley spoke emotionlessly. "I have business in town today, I'll be gone until dark."
And this matters to me, why? Ansley thought bitterly as she took a long sip of her tea. But she only nodded in response. After eating only a few bites of her vegetables, Ansley pushed the plate away, finishing her tea.
Heaving a sigh, Wesley stood from his chair, straightening his suit. "You look dreadful, Angelica. Eat something, will you?"
With that, Wesley left the room without another word. Ansley, meanwhile, held a devastating grip on the knife next to her plate.
-
Wesley is so stupid, he should really watch his mouth, before she chops it off! Okay, here's review responses, y'all rock my socks!
Jeangray666: LOL, you deserve it! Huzzah! And I'm sure Tavy enjoyed the smooch, knowing him, hehe. Thank you for readin'!
NadaZimri: GAH! It's like she's back from the dead! –throws confetti— she's baaack! I know, Wesley is a dumb-dumb who will get his when the times comes, muahahaha! Right, Tavy!
Tavy: (tightens knuckles) I'll take care of him, poppet.
Teehee. Thank ya kindly for reviewing, my friend, thou hast lifted mine spirits :).
Tigerchild: Oh, boy, am I having a fun time with these two. The next chapter should delight you (hint, hint)! Hmm, thou hast reviewed TWICE! Not that I'm complainin', I can use all the support I can get:D. Thank you so much for such uplifting words, they make me feel all special :). Thank you for reading!
The Kitten: ROFLMAO! Well, Katie, you do have a way with words, don'tcha? Well, let's hope Ansley never has to discover quite what happened to Wesley's, ahem, instruments, so to speak...-cough, anywho, yeah, the next chapter should satisfy you somewhat, hehe. I love the sexual tension anyway, so there will definitely be that stuff. Teehee. And I swear I'm almost finished reading your story, me loves it so far and I'm bringing it to YG tonight so I can sit down and read it ALL! Thank ya muchly for reading my stuff:).
Okay, folks, I'm out for now. Pleasey review so I know this all isn't a load of crap from my twisted imagination :). Arrivederci!
-sancti-
