Albert saw a girl another than Laurel leaving Laurel's house and wandering into the forest. "This is my chance," he said to himself and waiting until she past where he was hiding, came up behind her and knocked her out and carried her off to his master.
Emilie noticed a pretty flower a few feet away, as she fingered her hair ribbon that was annoyingly loose. "I'll bring it to Laurel's mother, that will show Percy how sweet I am" she thought to herself but as she passed a tree, she heard a movement. Before she could turn around, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She tried to run, to fight back but darkness clouded her head. She took a step, but she was so dizzy, that she did not notice her hair ribbon was gone. She felt herself falling, falling. "Percy, Laurel" she tried to scream, but she felt like she was in a haze. The ground seem to come closer and closer till she fell on it, half awake. Strong arms picked her up and with that, Emilie felt no more.
Emilie felt strange, as if she was flying. "I� am... dreaming" she mumbled, as her head lolled from side to side. No, someone was carrying her. "Percy, put me down, I do not want to go out of bed, I am still tired" she muttered when a thought struck her hazy mind like a thunderbolt. Percy would not be carrying her so roughly. She opened her eyes and saw a face above, carrying her away. She opened her mouth and without thinking screamed. "Help, someone, I am being kidnapped, someone please, help me, PERCY" she screamed, fighting and squirming.
Albert held her tightly with one arm, and tried to cover her mouth with the hand of the other. She proceeded to bit and scratch. "If you don't quiet down I'll break your little neck!"
The man held her tightly with one arm, and tried to cover her mouth with the hand of the other. She proceeded to bit and scratch, she had to get away. "If you don't quiet down I'll break your little neck!" he hissed. Emilie stopped struggling immediately. Whatever this person was going to do, it was better then dying and from the ease he carried her, she could tell he could make her suffer. His hand was over her mouth so she could not speak but she nodded. "Dear god, help me" she prayed in her head.
Seeing that Emilie was prepared to go quietly, Albert pull out his handkerchief and tied it around the poor girl's eyes and led to the home of the Compte de Lovell and his family, Albert entered from the back and made his way up back passages that led to the Vicompte's private rooms. He sat her down in a seat in the middle of Cristof's study and tied her hands and feet.
After that he sought out and found Cristof's and told him, "The deed is done."
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The man held her firmly for a moment more. Emilie did not move an eyelash, trying not to shake and receive the consequences of him killing her. He slowly released his hand from her mouth and reached into his pocket. The blood in her body seem to freeze up, wondering what he was going to produce. He did not bring out a pistol or a knife as she thought he would; it was a simple cloth handkerchief, making Emilie wonder if he was going to suffocate her. Emilie debated for a split second running as his grip had loosened a bit as he opened the kerchief. She was too scared to move; she kept wondering what would happen if Percy found her cold dead body and had to go home alone with it to the Manor. She had only a second to think. Without saying a word, the man securely covered her eyes with the dark fabric, blocking her sight completely. He knotted it behind her too tightly for her to try and shake off. While this was an improvement to being suffocated, now Emilie was completely helpless to help herself or even know where she was going. Not even light seem to be able to penetrate the weave. She felt some pressure on her arms and docilely allowed herself to be led away, tripping through the forest blinded. "Apparently, he wants me alive, probably for ransom. Percy, I wish you were here. Oh, why did we run away" she thought, her mind focusing on the picture of her wonderful nephew. Would she ever see him again? She was directed along for who knows how much time. He never spoke to her, never even made a sound and only his strong arm holding her shoulders made her aware of his presence. She had tried to slowly move her hands up to push the blindfold down but then the man put a painful amount of pressure on her shoulder. Emilie dropped her hands, knowing he'd be watching, whoever he was.
It seemed that they had been marching and stumbling through what she guessed was the woods for hours. She longed to ask anything, just to speak but knew better then risk it. Every time, she stumbled, she was roughly pulled up and her blindfold checked but she was allowed no rest. Finally, they stopped and she heard a squeaky gate open. She was pushed inside and then heard a door open, a heavy wooden door by the feel of it. They were inside a house; she could hear her footsteps on wooden floors. She wondered where she was and then nearly tripped. They were going up stairs. She hesitantly put her foot blindly out and managed to feel her way up. The hands on her did nothing to help her as she staggered along till she reached what her sense of touch told her was the top. Then it was back to walking through what she guessed was a hall in a rather large house until she felt pressure to stop. A jangle of a key and the sound of a door opening. Emilie was steered forward and then stopped. Some weight was put on her shoulder to turn around and move a tad. She obeyed wordlessly and bumped onto to a hard chair which she figured was for her. She sat down and expected him to take off the blindfold off. Instead he walked behind her, and grabbed her hands, tying them tightly behind her to the chair's back with a course knot that made her hands itch. She tried to move but it held tight. Emilie tried to hold her head higher as tears came to her eyes. She was a Spencer, she had noble blood in her veins, and she would not let him see her cry. She then felt her feet being secured to the legs of the chair, painfully tight. The footsteps seemed to walk away. "Wait, please, don't leave me here all alone" she begged but all she heard was a door slamming. "Is anyone here" she said desperately out loud. There was no answer. Guessing that she was alone, she finally allowed herself to sob, imagining all the horrid prospects that could happen to her. She was blind, bound and no one knew where she was.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cristof was sitting in his favorite chair by the window in his study, reading the works of Shakespeare. It was one of his personal favorites, Othello. He knew he could rely on Albert to insure the success of his plans. As he took a pear from the gilded porcelain bowl, he heard the gate open. He looked out the window and saw his trusted aide escorting the mysterious English girl, now dressed normally but blindfolded and completely helpless inside. "Excellent, she does not even know where she is, this will make things easier"he thought as they entered the house. A few moments later, Albert came in and bowed. "The deed is done," he said. Cris smiled coldly. "Excellent, well done. Was the girl alone? Did she come quietly or did people hear and see this?" he asked, stroking his chin. All factors must be taken into account.
"She made a bit of a fuss at first but soon saw my point, master," Albert said with a chuckle. "I've got her trussed up in your study like a fowl."
Cris grinned at Albert's use of words. "I trust you convinced her. Trussed like a fowl, you say? Well, I think I shall go check on our little bird then, make sure she is comfortable. You have the day off, reward yourself. Just put it on my name. I shall see you tomorrow then" he said as he leisurely got up and walked into his study. The girl was sitting in a chair, still blindfolded and tied quite securely to the chair. The moment he opened the door, she cocked her head as if debating to speak. Emilie had been sitting in darkness till then and she was afraid her captor would get angry if she spoke. When she heard the door open, she tried to stop crying and sit up straight. Cris smiled, the girl was afraid, but she still had resistance he could feel it. He was sure he could persuade her to talk but he would wait a little, let her sit alone in torturous silence. Then he could come as her rescuer. He slammed the door loudly and listened as her sobs grew louder. He decided to get back to his reading, no sense sitting here. Inside the room, Emilie was trying not to imagine the horrible things that might be done to her or what Percy would get when he came home without her, or worse, with a dead body.
Emilie sat in her chair, for what seemed like hours. Her body had gotten stiff and sore. She wondered how long the man would keep her here. Her mind was bored, she ached to speak to someone, anyone. She had never realized how much Percy meant to her, she missed him more then anything. He had always protected her, from his Lordship and anything else that came her way. She had never felt so alone and defenseless. She was also hungry. But she still could see and feel nothing.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cristof sat in his study, deciding what do with the little English girl. He had studied people enough to know that she was not going to trust him and as much he wanted to question her, he would rather not have to kill her. What he needed was to gain her trust and for that, he would need to have some work done. Tomorrow when Albert returned, he'd order her "roughed up" a tad and left in the woods. Then, he would come rescue her. She's be so scared, in pain and desperate for protection that she would confess everything to him. He looked into the room and saw the girl sobbing. His dark gray eyes caught a necklace she was wearing, with a large crest on it. Well, it proved she came from nobility, no common girl would dare wear something of that sort, especially if it was stolen. She'd be a fool to do so, it was an open invitation to be questioned. Well, he'd leave her here for the night to worry. Tomorrow, he'd have everything he needed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Albert slouched his way to the Lovell's home and up to Cristof's rooms. Cristof always had some task for him to perform. Some of them were quite enjoyable and since that girl might still be about, there might be some very enjoyable tasks ahead. He found his master and asked, "Is there anything you would have me do this morning, Master Christof?"
Cris was sitting, trying to finish off his breakfast when he head someone walk in. He smiled as Albert walked in. "On time as usual. I am glad you are here, now we can commence my plan. I have a very fun task for you. I want you to take the little girl, make sure she can't see you, I want her still blindfolded and take her into the woods. Not too far, just take her in circles a bit so she does not figure out where she is. Then rough her up. I'll leave it to you the severity, but I want her in one piece. A simple beating would suffice, if she has any money on her, you can take it so she'll think it's a robbery. You can leave marks, tear her clothes, make her as miserable as possible. Again, do not let her see your face or know where she is. Leave her bound to a tree and give me a signal. I shall follow you and after waiting a bit, shall then play Prince Charming and rescue her. Keep out of sight when I bring her back to the house. Start now, I want this done as soon as possible" he directed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Emilie had sat in the room all night or at least what she thought was night. She could not see light through the heavy blindfold. Her back hurt, she was starving and thirsty and still was blindfolded and secured to the chair. It had been hours, since she spoke to someone or moved. Every joint was stiff and felt like pins were sticking her. The boredom was killing her, she had recited every sonnet she knew, every bible verse she knew, her multiplication tables, every book she could remember and she was still bored. The boredom of course was nothing compared to the fear of not knowing where she was or what was going to happen to her. Her thoughts wandered to Percy. She wondered if he had been found by Lord Blackeney, if he was still with that Laurel girl. If Percy was with Lord Blackeney, he was most likely being beaten and punished for losing her but there was a chance that his Lordship's money or influence would help find her. If he was still with that Laurel, well, she hoped he was looking for her. He seemed so angry; maybe he was glad to lose her. She was a persnickety person; he must have been overjoyed to finally be alone with that French girl. At that thought, she had begun sobbing again. She could not imagine what they were going to do, were they going to leave her here to starve to death? She was abandoned, oh why did she not stay at the manor? She would be able to eat. She was ready to do anything for a sip of water, a piece of bread. She tried to struggle against her bonds but all the knots held. For hours she had tried to saw away at the ropes but the chair was too smooth; it burned her hands more then weaken the rope. She even tried to tip the chair over but restrained as she was with ankles separated tied to each leg, she was as weak as a mouse without any means of leverage. She had tried to sleep a little to pass the time, but was in an awkward position, so she could not get comfortable. She was too scared to sleep anyway. She had heard horrid stories of what happened to kidnapped girls. She tried to sing to herself, but her voice was too hoarse. "Please, someone, if you can hear me, please help me" she said as loud as she could, which was barely a whisper. She thought she heard voices but since the door was too thick, she could not make them out very well. She then heard heavy footsteps approaching and recognized them. He had returned her captor. She was torn between absolute panic and relief that someone remembered her. She heard the keys jangle, door open and the man's footsteps. "Please don't hurt me. I don't want to die, just please don't hurt me. I'll be good, I won't run away, I won't scream, just please don't kill me." she found herself begging in a sore voice. She did not know why, but she just needed to talk. What he was going to her she did not know but the waiting ended now.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Albert entered the room quietly and watch Emilie squirm in discomfort with a smile. In his hand was a large burlap sack. He came in close before he spoke so that he was next to her ear and said, "If you know what's go for you, you'll not make a peep, hear?" With this he cut the ropes around her and guided her into the sack which he flung over his shoulder careless of whether it caused her discomfort. He slouched out of the house through the back exits and crept along unseen to the forest nearby. When he got into the forest and a significant way away from seeing eyes or prying ears, he dumps her out of the sack. As she sat there somewhat dazed he smacked her heavily across the face with the back of his hand, causing her nose to bleed. He proceeded to pummel her and tearing savagely at her clothes until all she was wearing was her undergarments which were in a precarious state. The beating continued until she was well nigh unconscious, at which point he left her there and reported to his master where to find her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Emilie stopped chattering as she felt the footsteps get closer. She cringed and struggled unconsciously against the ropes as the man grew closer. Her heart was hammering in her ears as she felt her captor's hot breath near her ear. "If you know what's go for you, you'll not make a peep, hear?" he said in a voice that brooked no pity. Emilie swallowed hard and nodded tightly, afraid to even breathe. What was going to happen?
A second later, the man had his hands on her ankles and was cutting the restraints on them. Tears stung Emilie's eyes. It hurt; the knife he was making the ropes slash worse into her feet. They were so sore and numb that Emilie could not even move them when they were finally free. It did not seem to matter to the man, he lifted her legs and started slipping them into a bag until she was sitting on the top of the rough material. The man then walked behind her and roughly cut the cords that secured her hands. He kept yanking her shoulder back and again, the rough rope dug into her hands. Before she could move to finally take off that horrid handkerchief from her eyes, the man guided her roughly off the chair and pushed her to the floor into the sack. Emilie longed for the bravery to try and resist, Percy would have stood up for himself but frankly it was easier to be brave when you were not starving, tired, sore, weak and terrified. The material was pulled up around her and Emilie was trapped again. Before she could try and get the blindfold off, she felt the sack rise as she was thrown over something, landing upside down in the sack against a hard surface. It hurt! They were moving, she could feel it but in what direction, where?
Emilie was bumped along in a tangle for again what seemed like an infinite amount of time. It hurt to travel like this but when you are kidnapped, they don't give you much of a choice. Every time this oaf of a captor took a step, she was thrown against him. She could not move, he had gripped the sack too tight, squeezing her into a ball of fear. She had managed to take off her blindfold, though it was just as dark inside the bag. She wondered if she had been piled into the sack to be drowned like a stray kitten. They'd never find her body, she'd die alone and Percy, he'd not care, he had that French girl. No one cared about her; she was abandoned to the mercies of some brigand or highwayman. This is not the way she wanted to die, she wanted to marry, be a wife and mother, learn, travel, and not die at sixteen. Though Percy and she had often played at being highwaymen, she never knew how painful it was to be captive. Emilie was hyperventilating, there seemed to not be enough air in the rough scratchy sack. She began to heave and whimper silently. Where was he taking her????
Finally, after what seemed like hours of being bounced along, the man stopped. Emilie felt the sack open and she fell out of the bag, sprawled out and bewildered. She tried to look up but the sun blinded her. Suddenly a sharp hand struck her face, knocking her back down. Emilie felt horrid pain knifing throw her, like nothing she had never felt before, as hot blood dribbled down her face. Another blow fell, against her head. She tried to scream as the man started pulling at her clothes and savagely hitting her. Blow after blow, on her shoulder, kicking her, it felt like hell itself. She was too weak to fight back, but she tried to curl up into a ball to spare herself more pain. It hurt; the man kept striking her powerfully, tearing her clothes, punching her. She was crying, she just wanted to die. Every fiber of her being cried out in pain, but the man seem only to be gaining fury, ripping her dress and pulling her hair. She tried to scream but her voice was too weak to carry. He punched her, in her eye to quiet her. A few moments of this went on, each second bringing more silent wallops. She tried to scuttle away, but he pulled her back. Blood was running freely from her, her arm was the worst. It seemed like it was hanging at a strange angle. She realized as the man kept ripping her clothes and she was dressed in only her badly torn bloomers and shift. She had never been so scared, she had heard of how men "laid claim" to women, she heard that girls like that if they lived were banished to nunneries. He kept kicking her, pulling her hair and clothes, while still punching her. One blow landed on her head, and it started to get dark again. "Percy, I love you" she whispered as she fell to the ground, in a state of darkness. Even in the black haze around her, she could still feel the knocks from the man but it seemed to hurt less. Suddenly, there was nothing.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chris was ready for his part in the little scheme. After Albert reported, he began walking, pretending to be taking a walk and was "Surprised" to "find" the little captive pet lying in a faint under a tree, clothes in shambles, her face and body a mass of wounds and bruises, her face being the worst. Both of her eyes were bruised and swollen, her nose was bleeding and her cheeks scratched up. He bent down and pretended to be shocked. "Mon Dieu, what has happened you, poor girl" he said, kneeling by her side. Emilie in her haze of pain felt someone touch her. She began to panic. "Please don't hurt me anymore, I'll do anything, just stop hitting me. I'll be good, I promise" she said, still dazed. Chris smirked but played his part. "I'll not hurt you, mademoiselle" he said in his kindest voice. "Percy, is it you?" Emilie asked, very sore and unable to see very well. Chris almost choked in rage. Who was this Percy? But he forced to answer her. "No, my name is Cristof Lovell. What has happened to you?" he asked, cradling her head. "I don't know, I don't know where I am. He just kept hitting me" she wept. Chris patted her long hair, eyeing her figure which her tattered clothes now showed. "What's your name, miss?" he asked. "Emilie, Emilie Spencer of Cornwall" she said softly. She's nobility, Chris thought. This thickened the plot. "What do you remember? Anything, a name?" he asked, seeing Emilie was emotionally exhausted and therefore easy to question. "I was at Laurel's house with Percy. I left for a moment when Percy yelled at me, since I was not Perfect Little Laurel. Then someone hit me, and tied me up in some house. I don't know how long I was there, it must have been hours. Then he put me in a sack and took me here, where.... Please don't let anyone hurt me again" she said in a confused voice, and then burst into tears, in severe shock and pain. Christof picked her up in his arms. "Shh, dear, I do not know who did this to you but please let me help you. You can rest at my house" he said in a kind voice. Emilie looked up at him with glazed eyes, still only partially conscious. "No one will hurt you, I promise" he said. Emilie, the pain still pounding in her head, allowed herself to pass out in Chris's arms. "Thank you, Christof" she whispered. She felt safe, he would protect her. Chris smiled and carried his captive back to her cage. He took her back and put her on a divan in a guest bedroom and watched her sleep. As soon as she woke, he'd have his answers.
