I felt myself bobbing up and down on William's horse, felt his arms around me holding me tightly, felt the cold wet rain against my face. How did I get here? The last thing I could remember clearly was asking Jillian about the mysterious man in the corner and then walking to his table to share a drink. Everything after that was a blur. And now I was here. On a horse with a stranger riding deeper and deeper into the woods.
How long had we been riding and in what direction? Why did I agree to go with him in the first place? I had been to many inns and taverns and been sweet talked by many men but I always had the good sense and self control not to leave with them. Until now.
"Where are we going?" I asked, turning my head as much as I could. But either my voice was too quiet to be heard over the wind and rain or William pretended not to hear me.
William. That was his name. Why was that what I remembered and not anything else? And why did the sight of his face even in the darkness spark a sense of joy inside me?
We rode for what seemed like an eternity until finally we came to a clearing with a large stone house in the middle of it. The rain had diminished to a light mist and the first rays of dawn were beginning to pick their way through the tree branches. William pulled on the horse's reins and it slowed to a walk and then finally stopped at the front door of the house.
I slid off the horse and William followed. Before I could ask where we were and why, the large front door opened and a man in a dirty white shirt and simple brown slacks walked out to greet us. He was older than William, his hair graying, but he gave a friendly smiled and a wave.
"Be so kind as to stable my horse and give her some fresh hay, Anthony," William said to the man. He said nothing, just smiled and gave a slight bow of his head, then took the horse's reins and led her away.
William stepped in front of me then and spread his arms wide as if he could encompass the entirety of the large stone building before us.
"Welcome to your new home," he told me with a shameless grin. I stood there dumbly and could only muster one word in response:
"Why?"
"Oh my dear, you look so cold," William told me, ignoring my posed question. "Let's get you inside and into some warm clothes. Although I am rather fond of this dress," he told me, eyeing me up and down.
"We can save it for a special occasion," he said with a wink. Taking my hand, he pulled me toward the door that stood open still and inside the house. The circular entryway was dimly lit by one simple candelabra on an ornate wooden table. Across from me was a wide stone staircase and descending it was a woman in a simple black dress.
"Isabella, this is Marguerite. She will be staying here with us now. Take her upstairs. You know what room. Light her a fire and let her rest. She has had a long night," William instructed. Isabella nodded and took me by the hand, leading me upstairs.
I followed her down a long hallway to a door. She pushed it open and I stepped in to a large room. On one side was a bed big enough for two covered in colorful blankets. Next to it stood an ornate wooden wardrobe and across the room from that was a small vanity with a short little cushioned stool and a mirror.
Isabella instantly set to work lighting me a fire and I sat on the edge of the bed playing with the ends of my hair.
"Take off your wet boots and dress," she said to me, as the fire sparked to life and she rose to her feet. Dumbly I nodded and slipped off my wet boots. Peeling the soaked green dress from my body I let it fall in a pile at my feet. As I stepped out of it, Isabella knelt and picked it up. I stood before her in my stockings and simple white shift.
"In the wardrobe you will find all the clothes you need. Take a rest and I will fetch you in a bit. Master William will want to see you.
"Oh yes, thank you," I replied. Isabella looked at me strangely for a second, then bowed her head slightly and left the room carrying my wet things.
I wriggled out of my wet shift and stockings and opened the wardrobe. As Isabella had promised, there was everything I needed inside of it. I quickly pulled on a fresh clean shift and dry stockings and crawled into bed under the soft blankets. The fire was beginning to warm the room and I laid my head against the pillow. I still couldn't remember how I got here but Isabella had said William would see me later. Surely he would answer all my questions. I put the worries out of my mind and let myself fall asleep.
I was awakened by the sound of persistent knocking on my door. I sat up slowly and yawned, stretching my arms above my head.
"Come in," I muttered sleepily as I rubbed my eyes. Isabella entered and dropped me a small curtsey.
"Master William wishes to see you now," she said softly. She padded over to the wardrobe, opened it and pulled out a lovely dark red dress.
"He will like you to wear this," she instructed. I swung my legs to the side of the bed out from under the blankets and stood before Isabella. I felt like a doll as she put the dress over my head and let the dark red fabric fall around me. The back of the dress plunged down in a deep V shape and had buttons down the whole skirt. Isabella fastened each one and then motioned for me to sit back down. Taking my boots from in front of the fire, she knelt before me and slid them onto my feet. When they were both securely laced, she rose to her feet.
Looking me up and down, she smiled as if satisfied at my appearance. I glanced over at the mirror on the vanity to see my reflection. My hair had dried in large delicate waves that cascaded over the beautiful new dress.
"My master will be pleased," Isabella assured me. She took my hand again and led me from my room down the hall and back to the stairs. We walked up to the third and final floor and she stopped in front of a pair of double doors. She knocked, turned and curtsied to me and then hurried away.
"Come in," said a voice. It was William's. I pushed the door open and stepped into the room. It was larger than my bedroom with bookshelves lining three of the walls, a desk in the center and in front of me stood a sofa where William sat smiling.
"Sit by me," he said invitingly. "I want to see you."
I was nervous but felt oddly compelled to do exactly as he had told me. Walking to the sofa I sat down next to him and spread my skirts around me.
"You look exquisite," he said, running a finger gently down my cheek. I felt chills go up and down my spine. Was that excitement or fear?
"How did I get here?" I asked suddenly without thinking. "Why did I leave the tavern with you?"
William pulled his hand away.
"My dear Marguerite, do you not remember? You said you loved me and you begged me to take you home with me."
"I did?" I asked, trying desperately to remember.
"Oh it hurts me so much that you recall so little of our first meeting. I thought for sure after your rest it would all come back to you."
"I suppose if you say that is what happened then it must have," I admitted, looking off into space. I had never been so foolish before as to tell a man I loved him on our first meeting. But perhaps there was something special about William.
"Of course that is what happened," William said, taking his hand in mine. He squeezed it gently and I looked into his dark blue eyes.
Suddenly in an instant I remembered everything: asking Jillian who he was, her warning to stay away from him and the stories she had heard that he could cast a spell over a woman who said-
"You tricked me!" I exclaimed, pushing his hand away and jumping to my feet. "You tricked me into saying that I loved you so you could get me under your spell and-"
"Marguerite, shut your mouth and sit down," William ordered sternly. It was the last thing I wanted to do but even as my mind resisted it, I felt my body obey.
"Control me," I finished my sentence as I sank back against the sofa.
"I wanted you to remember our first meeting a little differently but even my magic is not strong enough to change someone's memory. It is true, you are under my spell now. But it is nothing to fear," William said, his tone becoming suddenly gentle and comforting.
"I am not here to hurt you or cause you to suffer. In fact, things will only get better for you from here on out," he assured me, stroking my hair.
"What...what do you mean? Where am I? Why have you brought me here?"
"Oh my dear is it not obvious?" William said, rising to his feet with a chuckle. "You are in my home. And the reason I brought you here is simple. You are of course to become my wife."
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