F Campbell - Golden Wrists

I was mollified and wondered if what he said was true. Anytime Andrew Everleigh said something kind, I got shivers and thrills up and down my spine to a degree I despised. But the feelings came from someplace deep inside. I was still wet and messy from my trauma on the beach and said sulkily. “So, okay, you find me attractive, and you want to marry me and whip me the rest of my life. Does that make sense?”

Everleigh waved our discussion into limbo. Jacob helped me to rise then fell back respectfully as we made our way to the house. I felt shockingly untidy in front of this man who I knew I had to please, and who I wished to please if it didn’t hurt too much. Longing to tidy my hair, I asked, “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to untie my hands? I sure could use them.”

My plea was ignored. Uncle Andrew did not believe in females possessing their own hands unless performing chores. I was handed to Juanita who bathed and attended to me prior to delivery at the dinner table where Uncle Andrew sat in State. I was forced to my knees beside his chair, a leather collar strapped around my collar, and from it a leash attached to one leg of the table. It was a very short leash! My master thrust food into my mouth whenever the thought occurred, and as we ate he talked. If I would have had a tail to wag, I would have made the perfect pet.

“This young buck. Hugo Markham, he’s a bit of a nuisance,” my master said. “According to the advice I’d had, he’s due here this evening, probably after dark. I expect he has a plan to rescue you.” Uncle Andrew chuckled. “He’d call it a rescue but it’s pure theft. He’d be stealing my property.”

“You’re not going to hurt him, are you?”

“Just send him away with his tail between his legs, I’ll allow you time together if you wish.”

“Yes, please! I want that, I want that very much.” Kneeling, tethered beside his chair I dared not disturb the great man as he enjoyed his food. He passed me enough to keep me munching. There was a hidden something in his voice as he spoke of Hugo and I, but I knew it useless to ask. I’d find out soon enough, whatever this extraordinary man had up this sleeve. After dinner we took a brandy in the lounge with me still kneeling at his knee and sipping as he might choose. My master steered the conversation from dangerous ground to subjects which held my interest until, as darkness fell, Jacob came to politely inform, “All is ready, Sir. It is the time.”

The servant observed my plight with deep approval. The night air was warm as Jacob led me from the house and down the fine flight of stone steps to where massive stone pillars stood like sentries guarding entry. They were all five feet high, and to one of them was attached something I recognized all too well. Once again Uncle Andrew was going to score.

Jacob carefully clicked the collar shut around my neck. It was plenty tight and from it trailed the inevitable chain, just long enough to allow me to either stand or sit He felt called upon to explain, “Is special steel. Missy, very strong!”

“I’m sure it is, Jacob. Anything else?”

“No. Missy, you just enjoy the starlight and maybe go to sleep.” Alone, I tested my tether. It’s anchor was a solid ring about half way up the pillar, thus enabling the short chain around my neck to reach down far enough for me to sit, or up far enough for me to stand. But I couldn’t walk away. Disgustedly I sat, not bothering to think of escape. There would be no escape for Diane Durrant until her master chose to turn a key. For a few moments I considered trying to fray the cords around my wrists by rubbing against the comer of the stone but simply didn’t bother. What the hell was the use!

It was an hour before I discerned Hugo striding towards the house in the starlight, obviously a man with a mission.

I stood erect at his approach and, with his first exclamation of surprise, turned my back and flapped bound hands in a silent plea. When the cords were cut away, I turned and threw my arms around his neck, and whispered between kisses. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I knew you’d come.”

“What’s the silly old twit been doing to you now!” Hugo demanded angrily. “Don’t tell me he keeps you like this all the time!”

“It’s just a collar and chain, Hugo, dear. And, of course, tied hands. Uncle Andrew is a great believer in tied hands behind a girl’s back. You got Constance’s message?” We exchanged our news in hurried whispers as if it mattered. Uncle Andrew was probably watching us out a window, so what the hell! It was not long before Hugo said, “Let’s get you free of this damned chain. There has to be a way.”

I didn’t answer but my heart was beating fast and hard as male fingers explored the metal by which I was held captive. “I figured on something like this,” Hugo said. “I’ve brought along a pair of bolt cutters. I’ll soon have you loose.”

The bolt cutters Hugo had were impressive, magnificent steel jaws and long handles. I began to hope as I thrust myself against the pillar to hold tight while he snared the topmost link of my chain. I heard him grunt as he exerted all his strength. Nothing happened!

“I’m afraid it’s some sort of special steel, Hugo,” I ventured timidly.

“I don’t care what it is, I’m going to get you loose.” Hugo readjusted the bit of jaws to the other end of the chain. “The dirty old son of a bitch!” he exclaimed as this effort proved equally without result. “I’ll see if the damned thing protrudes the other side of the pillar. Just hold your horses.”

It was all quite useless. Hugo tried every way there was even to the point of having me lay down and endure the pain of inserting the blade beneath the collar. The collar defeated him as did the chain. That effort broke the handle of his bolt cutters, leaving him cursing and me fingering the sore spot on my neck. If Uncle Andrew was watching, I was certain he would be laughing.

I suppose I’d never expected Andrew Everleigh to let me get away.

My disappointment was only half of Hugo’s anger. He threw the broken bolt cutters to the ground. “There’s nothing for it but the police. I’ll get back to the mainland and lay a charge against this old bastard and put an end to this damned fool slavery business for end. I’ve allowed it to continue too long already. Look, dear, if I leave now I can get back before daylight. Can you hold out?”

Poor, dear Hugo! I felt terribly sorry for him in his male impotence. He was seething with fury. With my arms once more encircling his neck, I whispered, “Hush, darling. It won’t do a bit of good to go to the police. They’ll never act against Andrew Everleigh, and he’s capable to turning them against you. Just let things drop and stay the way they are. He won’t keep me chained to this stone pillar too long. And, anyway, it doesn’t hurt and I don’t mind.”

“I’ve got to get you away from here somehow!” Hugo’s ego was fighting hard.

“All we need is to be patient. Hugo. I think Everleigh is going to take me back to Rockley, and I’d be surprised if I can’t slip away somewhere, sometime. What he’s doing with those girls and with me is utterly impractical. Please wait a little while.”

“Damn it, this is unreal! I have to leave the girl I love standing against a block of stone, collared and chained! I can’t believe it!”

Hugo ranted and raved while I did my best to try and make him understand everything would be all right. I wasn’t sure myself about everything being all right, but what could we do! After a while I managed to calm him down until he strode dejectedly away with my promise to join him forever as soon as one of my jailer lowered his or her guard. I wasn’t all that happy myself but felt guilty over being able to watch Hugo’s back vanish into the night without being torn in two with longing and regret. I knew I should be as angry as he, and even angrier with Uncle Andrew for watching out of the window as I was sure he was doing. Hopelessly I fingered the steel around my neck and knew myself a slave.