Bargain with the Devil
"I will behave as a proper Consort," she said with a voice that shook with anger and fear.
"And your Jenny will be treated as a beloved stepdaughter, as long as you do." Jareth promised. "I will find a proper husband for her when the time comes. She will be no consort, or concubine, but a proper wife." He released his grip. "She will never want, and I will make sure she has a husband who knows what a treasure a mortal wife can be."
Sarah moved cautiously away from him. "How does a proper Consort behave?"
"You will be supportive to me in all things. You will not question my orders, or my rulings as King." He watched her face. "You will address me with respect before my subjects and the children. You will speak only when spoken to in court, and only when I give my permission."
"That may be the hardest part." She looked at him. "I'm outspoken as you well know."
"You will give me your counsel when I ask for it, not otherwise," he warned. "I am King, not you, not anyone else. I am King."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Sarah lowered her eyes. "Anything else?"
"We will have to work on court etiquette. You will learn to dress, talk, and walk as a lady of the court," he sighed, placing a hand to his chin thoughtfully.
"On that note," she countered. "You may have a problem."
His eyes narrowed. "Rebellion, Sarah?"
She shook her head, "Logistics, Sire. Look at me. I am not a Fae. You can not dress me as one… I would look like a dressed up monkey if you did. That would make us both look foolish."
"Good point," he said. "You are not a Fae, nor will you ever be. You are mortal born, and your body is not like ours. What do you suggest?"
"Perhaps a modified garment, reminiscent of Fae, but one that will accommodate your Mortal Consort," she suggested gently.
Jareth sighed, "We have a few dressmakers in the Kingdom. Perhaps you could work out a decent wardrobe with them. I will reserve the right to veto anything I don't deem proper." He frowned.
"Acceptable," Sarah said quietly.
"I can not have a courtesan educate you in court manners and procedures." His face-hardened slightly. "I'll not have gossip, not now." He looked at her with keen eyes. "You'll have to take instructions from me."
Sarah bit her lower lip. "No offense, but when was the last time you used Court manners?"
Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose. "Damned if I remember." He sighed. "You said you know how to behave, I may just have to trust you on that one."
"What, the Fae world doesn't have a Miss Emily Post?" Sarah snickered. "No guide book?"
"No as a matter of fact, we don't." He snapped. "Right now I could use a good Fae court etiquette book, if one existed." He looked at her. "Here's the long and short of it, my girl. You will have to behave with more restraint then you've ever known. You will have to keep that adder tongue of yours under control toward me, at least in public. What you say to me in the confines of our chambers will be betwixt us alone. You will not react if insulted… actually, I take that back. You are allowed to be cutting in return as long as you can be witty and cultured about it."
Sarah looked at him. "I get the feeling there's something here I should know about."
"You need only know what I tell you."
"Anything else?"
He smiled slyly. "You will show restraint when dealing with my subjects. No more open shows of affection."
"Oh you can't mean that!"
"No more giving your hugs and kisses to the three traitors," Jareth said with a great deal of personal satisfaction.
"That's cold," she moaned. "You know how I feel about them."
"My rules," he reminded her with a glint in his eye. "Your hugs and kisses are now reserved for your children, and your King alone." He watched her squirm with that thought. He held out his hand, "Come here." He watched as she moved with a snail's speed. He pulled her back onto his lap. "Still a bit slow, but then that may be seen by outsiders as modesty." He embraced her, letting his lips travel the length of her neck down to her shoulders. "Modesty is highly prized in a Consort."
His assault of her neck left her quivering. "You don't really expect me to just rush to your arms do you?"
"No," he pulled on her earlobe with his teeth. "I don't." He laughed gently. "I know you'd love to run and hide. Nevertheless, there is nowhere for you to go. I will always find you, Sarah."
She felt the dry sob in her throat. "I understand."
"Good." He slid his tongue into her ear.
She shivered.
He leaned back. "I intend to teach you the ways to please me. I will take my time teaching these lessons."
"May I ask a question?" she waited and looked up to see that he was waiting for the question. "How am I to spend my days?"
Jareth let his hands roam over her. "Tomorrow I shall introduce you to the household staff. You will be in change of running this house. You will tell the cook what meals are to be prepared, set up menus. The gardeners will come to you for instructions. You may have new gardens planted, and old ones cleaned up. You are now the Lady of the House."
"This is a bit more than a house," she said with wide eyes.
"It's a house," he shrugged, "Larger than some, but a house all the same. Run it well, you will be rewarded. Run it poorly, and I'll…"
"Don't make threats!" She said. "Look at the mess you're handing me!"
"Granted, in my bachelor days, the castle has been … neglected," he conceded.
"I trust you will have everything back in order in short time."
"It'll take years to clear out the mess you and the goblins have made," she moaned.
"It'll keep you busy and out of trouble," he countered. "And most of your servants are Fae, they'll use magic to aid in the work." To himself he thought, 'You don't' have years my dear, you have weeks perhaps a month at best.'
"Can I redecorate?" she asked tentatively.
"Redecorate what?" he asked not sure that he was going to like the answer.
"Some of the family rooms."
"Within reason," he sighed. "Not my chamber!" He stated harshly. "I alone will decide how to do that! If I want to at all."
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Is that all the appreciation I get?" he teased.
Sarah looked at him. "What do you want?"
Jareth felt the heat rising. "Come to my bed, Sarah. I will show you what I want." His eyes glinted like dark stars.
She swallowed, "As you wish." She felt dizzy as he transported them, fully dried, into the center of his bed, under the downy comforter.
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