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Brantclosed the lid, making sure the clasp locked, so Isabel would not know he haddiscovered her stash of coins. He wondered what other tricks his wife mighthave, momentarily, before reasoning it did not matter. Whatever they were, shewas not going to vanish again, he had seen to that. Though it required severalmen, someone was watching Isabel, every minute that she was outside of hisSolar.
Isabellaid her sleeping son in his cradle, and tucked the blankets snuggly aroundhim, feeling a little less apprehensive. Brant had not taken the childsomewhere, leaving her to wonder where the babe was, and if he would be broughtback to her, for several days. He had even sided with her, and let Ha
Awry smile touched her lips, as Isabel thought about happiness, and foundherself recalling the days when she was pursuing the guise, of the serf"Alisa". The playful affection, and passionate lovemaking, she hadshared with her husband during that time, seemed to good to be true, and ofcourse it was. She had hoped to try, and hang on to some of the enjoyment, theyhad found in each other. She had waited to confess the ruse, and tell him aboutthe babe, prepared to face his anger and beg for forgiveness, the day he wasreleased from her jail. Instead, he had sent his men to imprison her at hisremote Castle, and ignore her for eight months. When Isabel had escaped, he hadcome after her, but she was not naive enough to think that meant anything. Mostlikely, he did that out of duty, greed, or just plain ego. Brant had actuallytreated Alisa as a plaything, Isabel admitted to herself, as she climbed intothe bed. If her mother knew anything, he certainly would not treat his wife inthat ma
Isabelslowly became aware of gentle caresses on her body, and soft kisses trailingacross her face and down her neck. When she moaned in pleasure, the caressesbecame stronger. In no time, she was lost in desire, somewhere between sleep,and being fully awake. She tried to pull her husband to her, but he heldhimself away from her. He ran the tip of his tongue gently across her lips,while a hand softly brushed up the inside of her thigh. Being groggy fromsleep, and crazy with desire, when she heard Brant whisper, "Say, My Lord,I want you to breed me," she readily complied.
Instantly,his gentle nature stopped, and he took her quickly, roughly. A minute or twolater, she heard him groan, as he finished. Then, he immediately withdrew fromher. In confusion, she tried to hang on to him, and he laughed as he rolledover, and presented her with his back. Slowly, her mind cleared, and Isabelrealized that he had used her desire for him, to humiliate her. He had gottenher weak from desire, to get her to ask him to 'breed her", then taken herbody, with the barest minimum required to spill his seed. Isabel turned on herside, facing away from her husband, as she felt tears begin to stream down hercheek.
Shethought of all the times he had been gentle, and affectionate with her, seemingto enjoy her response to him. He always made her feel safe, to enjoy thepassion his lovemaking stirred in her. Twas like Brant expected her, to enjoyit as much as he did. Now, he had used her trust in him, to commit a coldcalculated act intended to use, and humiliate her. As she lay there, now fullyawake, she was sure that in the days to come, she would be hearing barbs aboutasking him to 'breed her'. Yes, she thought, she had been foolish earlier inthinking that Isabel, his wife, and mother of his child, could get the sameplayful affection that Brant had lavished so freely, on the serf ‘Alisa’.
Later,Isabel fell into a troubled sleep, only to be awakened, when her husband pulledher on to her back, and positioned himself over her body. She pushedineffectually on his chest.
Shewhispered, to avoid waking Nathaniel, "Leave me alone."
"WhileI really like your normal cooperation, now and then, a little wrestling can befun," Brant whispered back.
Helowered his head to kiss her lips, so she turned her head away.
"Youare not being a very obedient wife," he chided.
Brantproceeded to place a string of kisses down her neck. Isabel tried to push hishead away, but he grasped her hands, and pi
Isabelwished that she could scream and get someone to stop him, but she knew no onewould dare enter the Lord's private chamber, without his permission. So sheutilized the only defense available to her, focusing her mind on what he haddone earlier, that same night. The tactic proved to be somewhat effective i
Whenhe moved away from her afterward, Isabel rolled onto her side, presenting herback to him, again. However, Brant put his arms around her, pulling her backagainst his chest. When she tried to struggle away from him, he tightened hishold and positioned a leg over hers, to stop her resistance. Seeing no escapefrom his presence, Isabel gave up her struggle. Though, it was quite a bitlater, when she finally fell into an exhausted slumber.
Brantawoke when Isabel slipped out of his arms, in the morning. Nathaniel wascrying. He watched his wife retrieve her gown that he had removed from her,during the night past, before she went to see to the babe. His eyes roamed overthe back of the woman, who had tried so hard to lay cold and unresponsive underhim, in the twilight hours. She had never done that before, except for thatfirst time. He had hurt her, so she had fought, but could not escape himphysically. Brant recalled how she had turned her head to the side, and ineffect escaped with her mind, shutting out what he was doing to her, that firstnight. Last night, she had tried to shut him out, again, although she was notquite as successful, as the first time.
Branthad seen that a few times, from maids in the village he had tried out, as washis right, as Lord of the Castle. He had thought them cold wenches, but mayhap,his taking of their bodies, was just not to their liking. The woman before himwas certainly not cold, though hours ago, she had tried, though not totallysuccessfully, to lay under him like a dead thing, waiting for him to finish. That, was not to his liking, so Brant had mostly limited hisliaisons to tarts who came to flirt with him. Nay, actually many of the tartsat his Castles threw themselves at him, knowing that a liaison with the Lord, was likely to gain them a lighter workload, or often aprecious trinket.
Hiswife had changed the babe, and lifted him to her bosom to nurse. Brant saw hershiver slightly, in the chilly morning air. Noting the thin gown she wore, herose from the bed, wrapping a blanket around himself. Taking a second coverfrom the bed, he walked over to wrap it around Isabel's shoulders. However, ashe placed the blanket around her, she noticeably flinched away from contactwith him, once again, bringing to his attention, how much it a
“Ibelieve I had enough of your unpleasant company, in the night past, My Lord,”Isabel said, with a glare.
Whenhe was close to her, she always seemed to be acutely conscious of his body, andjust then, it was a feeling she did not want to think about.