Lessons of Love (3 page)

Cole
thought the scene before him was playing out perfectly. It was going just as he'd hoped i
t would. The wench would be his by nightfall. "Sir, I can explain why she is still bound and unclothed. Your daughter was in such a panic when I got to her that I was afraid she'd fight me even though I had the best intentions. It was clear that she was a
l
most hysterical from her ordeal. I worried she would fall from my horse if I cut her bindings and I couldn't set her free to get dressed without fearing she would run away right into the hands of the b
astard who tried to rape her."

"Father, please! No! He'
s lying. He bound me. He's the one who almost …
I mean…
"
Jolie
blushed again. How could she speak of such things in front of these men? Her heart ached for her mother's guidance. "Please father, please believe me. I only wanted to cool myself
. I was alone
until he came."

"I told you to be silent girl. Save your pleading. What's done is done. You shall have to suffer the consequences. Go to your room. I have a proposition for Monsieur
Jameson
which I hope will salvage the shreds of your reputation."

Hank un
bound
Jolie
and stood her up. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she stood before the two men, head down in shame.
Cole
shook his head in mock pity and turned from the delectable sight
Jolie
made in her sheer chemise.

"There is one thing I must know g
irl
,
and you better tell me the truth. Are you pure? Have you lain with a man? Been accosted before by the stream? Perhaps you were waiting for a lover."

Jolie
's head shot up in horro
r. "No father! Of course not."

"You're pure?"

"Yes father.
"

"Very well, I
couldn't make my proposition to Monsieur
Jameson
in good conscience if you had already been damaged. Go to your room. Annie will be up with a bath. Wash the river mud off of yourself. If Monsieur
Jameson
agrees to my proposition, you shall be m
arried befo
re the day is out."

Jolie
gasped. He really was going to force her to marry this despicable man.
Jolie
opened her mouth to protest but
Cole
spoke before she had the chance. "Hank from your words I gather you are going to offer me your daughter's hand in ma
rriage. I can tell you right now before hearing your terms that I would be willing to do just that. She is lovely and comes from a very esteemed family. As you are aware I am new here and in need of a little respectability at the moment. It matters naught
to me that she was almost accosted. She claims her virtue is intact and that is good enough for me. There wil
l be evidence in the morning."

Jolie
made a little sound of horror and Hank turned on her, raising his hand to strike her.
Cole
caught his arm befo
re he could deliver the blow. "Sir, if you don't mind, I would like to be the one who disciplines her from now on. She will be my responsibility, and I can assure you that I will keep her in line. A wife should bow to her husband
’
s every wish, and I will
s
ee that she does.
Jolie
do as your father has told you, and go to your room. It is not wise to anger me
,
sweet."
Cole
turned his back, dismissing her, and
Jolie
had to fight the urge to rake her nails down his back. How had things gone so wrong? What on ea
rth was she going to do? Sh
e couldn't submit to this man.

"Father, please I…
"

Cole
snarled at her words and turned on her. He pulled her close to him in a split second. His face inches from hers as his hand in her hair forced her to tilt her head back.
Co
le
wrapped his arm around her in a steely grip and
Jolie
gasped. He was sq
ueezing the life out of her.

"Listen well, my pet. You are never, ever, to disobey me. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" His hand moved from her hair to her chin as his cold cobalt
eyes bore into her.
Jolie
's breath was labored and
Cole
had to fight the urge to rip her chemise down the front as her breasts strained against the fabric and pressed into his chest.
Jolie
trembled but held his stare with a defiant one of her own.
Cole
's
nostrils flared as he held back his rage, and
Jolie
knew she was treading on dangerous ground. It wasn't wise to anger him, yet she couldn't force back the feeling
s of ire he instilled in her.

"I asked you a question
Jolie
, and I won't repeat myself." The
little hellion actually had the nerve to challenge him. How he would love to strip her down and punish her lovely bottom until it was crimson red and then take her right here on the floor until she was crying for more. That would show her who her master
w
as. She needed to be taught some respect and that lesson would begin tonight. He would bend her to his wi
ll and enjoy every minute of.

Doing the only thing that was wise
Jolie
nodded and brought her hands up to push against his broad chest. Straining at t
he tight hold he had on her.
Cole
growled deep in his throat but let her go. There would be time for games and lessons later. He turned back towards Hank, anxious to complete business with the man so a chaplain could be sent for.
Jolie
walked towards the d
oor but paused in her tracks at
Cole
's next words. "I wish us to be wed tonight.
Is that all right with you Monsieur Dupree
?"

Jolie
held her breath, waiting for Hank'
s
response. Would her fate be sealed so soon? She'd hoped for a small reprieve
or perhaps
a chance at escape.

"That's fine Monsieu
r Jameson
. I will send for the chaplain at once. He should be here
in no more than four hours."

Jolie
sighed and continued towards the grand staircase. Now there would be no time to form an escape plan. She was wel
l and truly caught. By nightfall she would be wed to that monster, and
Jolie
had no doubt that he would punish her and molest her body again. The image of his cold blue eyes and the feel of his hands on her body made her shiver. She would soon be at Monsie
ur
Jameson
's mercy whether she liked it or not, and
Jolie
definitely did not like it!
 

Two
 

The hours before her nuptials passed far to
o
quickly
,
as
Jolie
was prepared for her wedding. Her heart pounded with fear whenever she thought of being at the m
ercy of Monsieur
Jameson
. The slaves came with her bath and three girls attended her, working tirelessly to arrange her hair, bathe her skin, and ready her for her husband's pleasures. They washed her hair and massaged her body with perfumed oils, making h
er skin soft and sweet, rubbing her all the way up her thighs, reminding her of
Cole
s touch, making her blush. They whispered and giggled about a husband's desires and a wife's duties in the marriage bed. They spoke of how handsome Monsieur
Jameson
was and
how lucky
Jolie
was to be marrying such a strong and virile man, but
Jolie
didn't
feel lucky, she felt trapped.

Her heart ached again for her mother. She felt so lost, so alone, so very vulnerable. A white satin dress was brought up, as were silken underg
arments. All the trappings for what should have been a very happy day. Other sla
ves packed her clothing into
trunks while she was being readie
d for her farce of a marriage. A
beehive o
f activity went on around her, but s
he was numb from the shock of it all
and sat like a puppet whilst all the commotion carried on. Then, as she sat, she heard
Cole
's carriage when he returned, and forced images of the imposing man from her frightened mind in order to keep herself sane. She was angry and terrified at the same
time, but knew becoming hysterical
wouldn
’
t help matters at all.

The ceremony was short and sweet, containing the usual vows of obedience and submission, on her part of course. The words were heavy in her throat but she forced them out.
Jolie
knew she real
ly had no choice. A young woman alone wouldn't last long in this world. The man to whom she would now belong was a beast plain and simple, and
Jolie
knew it, but perhaps in time she could settle into her new life. It would be best to try and please him for
now. She was legally bound to him and he could beat her to his heart
’
s content if she incited his anger. At least he was handsome
and young. Some of her friends
had been married off to old widowers. She couldn't imagine having some of their husbands touch
ing her with their withered old hands the way
Cole
had touched her today at the stream. Thoughts of the stream led to thoughts of squirming in his arms as he ran his hands freely over her body, and made the color rise in her cheeks once more, and damn if t
hat beast of a man wasn
’
t quick to notice.
Cole
caught her eye and winked much to her dismay, though she looked away as quickly as she could, then sho
cked her with his crude words.

"Getting anxious my dear? We'll be heading home soon." He reached around he
r small waist and pulled her close to him, growling in her ear for a moment, pressing his lips to her neck before he led her to the small gathering of people on the porch. There hadn't been time to plan a gala event and it was just as well.
Jolie
couldn't
imagine having to celebrate her marriage to this beast of a man. She simply kept her mouth shut and turned away from him at his question and roving mouth, not giving him t
he satisfaction of an answer.

"We will be taking our leave now, Hank. Thank you for
giving me the honor of your daughter's hand in marriage. I promise to treat her well."
Jolie
's eyes narrowed at his words and he gave her a warning squeeze. "I shall bring her back for a visit after she has time to get settled into her new way of life. Say
goo
dnight to your father, sweet."

Jolie
bit back the caustic words that were on the tip of her tongue. The man before her had sold her without batting an eye. The man whom she'd called father for most of her life stood waiting for her to speak, but warm w
ishes of goodbye weren't easy to come by. Once again
Jolie
felt the pressure of
Cole
's hand on her waist, warn
ing her to behave.

"Goodnight
father. I wish you well." Hank stepped forward and kissed her cheek, making
Jolie
's stomach roll. As far as he was c
oncerned he had saved her the embarrassment of being ruined and had gotten himself a wealthy son-in-law in the bargain. Hank was more than happy to bid goodbye to
Jolie
. She had been a weight around his neck since her mother died. Feeling her tense,
Cole
p
ulled her back and turned her towards the waiting carriage. In one swift move
Cole
scooped
Jolie
up and sat her inside then climbed up beside her, his hard thigh pressing into the folds of her gown. He gathered her close to his body, his knuckles brushing
the side of her satin covered breast as his driver started the horses down the roa
d to Cypress Glade Plantation.

Jolie
tried to scoot sideways, out of his tight grasp, and
Cole
wrenched her against him harshly. "You belong to me now
Jolie
, and I will do wh
atever I like where ever I like, do you understand?"
Jolie
stared at him with hard eyes but forced her body to relax. There was no sense in angering him. She was at his mercy and didn't care to be chastised in front of his driver.
Jolie
nodded her head and
Cole
brought his lips down
on hers in a demanding kiss.