Bed of Roses

CHAPTER 13

            The early morning fog covered her figure as she tries to sneak in back to Winshord. Agnes climbed stealthily to the back gate and sprinted towards the veranda where her bedroom was located. She ran to the stone steps, open the sliding door with her spare key, and safely entered her room with no hitched.

     She sighed in relief. At last, she was safe in her bedroom. Undressing quickly, she dived in the covers of her bed. A blissful sigh escapes from her lips. At last, she sleeps peacefully.

     Fuzzily, she felt a presence beside her on the bed. Sleepily, she pushes the covers beside her and saw an arm. A male arm lazily stroked her leg. She screams but before she can do so, a hand covered her mouth. She struggled and push and kicked him on the stomach.

     “Ouch!” Chris Duvier rolled in pain when her right leg hit home in his groin. “Are you trying to kill me?!” he groans.

     “What are you doing in my bedroom?” she hissed at him.

     “Where do you think I would be? I’m your husband.”

     Agnes swallowed nervously, “You have no right to be here. Please leave.” She pointed to the door angrily.

     He smiled at her. His eyes roamed over her body with only her underwear on. She realized too late, that she was not dressed. Agnes dived back to the sheets and Chris Duvier laugh in delight.

     “You---you!” she was lost for words to describe the impossible man lying back on her bed with arms behind his head watching her speechless expression. She grabbed a huge pillow and started hitting Chris Duvier with it out of anger.

     Clouds of feather rain on her bed while the man beside her lunged at her and pushed her back to the soft bed. Agnes struggled but his arm imprisoned her while his body pinned her down.

     “Let me go! You monster!”

     Chris Duvier looked down at the avenging witch with desire. This woman with the greenest eyes he has seen can turn him into an incoherent male. Everything about Agnes is bewitching and he was completely under her spell.

     “Agnes…” he said his name softly.

     Her heart pounding so fast that she thought it will burst with fear. The look he gives her made her body quiver. It’s a primitive reaction of a woman recognizing the hunger and desire of a man.

     “Duvier please, I’m not ready.” She said fearfully.

     He smiled seductively, “Don’t worry, I’ll be good to you Agnes. I make sure that those men you have before me were just a memory.”

     “What-what other men?”

     “Don’t be coy, darling. I know experience women like you toyed gullible men. Virginal acting does not impress me. Let’s go with it and fulfill your contract.” Then, he proceeded to kiss her on the mouth. Angrily, she bit off his lips.

     He swore angrily and proceeded to assault her with a punishing kiss. She struggled but instead, her body seems to be locked more with his own. She felt her body awakening with the kisses and touch he force on her. Slowly, her body becomes more pliant each time he kissed her. She has no power over her body as she felt it surrendering to his expert touch.

     “Chris…” she moaned. He kissed her and she kissed him back. When she touched her, she touched him back. Their body wielded together like a part of a whole. Agnes felt his touch becoming more bolder and demanding. She opens herself willingly to him. Opening herself up to him in absolute abandonment.

     Abruptly, Chris Duvier stopped. He pushed her away like she was soiled clothes. Shock, Agnes did not know how to react. Her questioning eyes locked at his cold grey ones.

     “Did you enjoy it Darling?” he asked mockingly.

     Confused, she touched him in a pleading gesture. He shrugged off her hand and stood up as if nothing had happened.

     “Chris-,” she said achingly. “Please…”, her plea fell on deaf ears. Agnes was alive with desire but her husband look at her with hostility.

     He dressed up hurriedly while she watches him vulnerably. She doesn’t know what happen but her pride cannot allow her to ask him why he stopped making love with her.

     He left her on the bed looking forlorn and confused. The realization that when Chris would come to her again, she will not have the strength to deny him. She had an aching need for her husband that only he can fill.

     The days pass like a blur. The castle had become a hive of activity with all the work for the upkeep of the estate. Chris Duvier had become busier and he ignored her completely. He never comes to her bedroom again. The nights were cold. She would wait for him to arrive from town or from working late inside her bedroom but he never approached her again.

     The servants too had started talking behind her back. The old servants sympathized with her. The new ones that her husband hired recently, favored him. It becomes a great divide in their household that even Lady Elizabeth started to take notice. She called her most trusted servant, Smith, and Ann to her bedroom. The two looked worriedly at each other, sensing that this is not a normal errand.

     She took her good time, watching the two with eagle eyes as she took a sip of her afternoon tea. Smith, as usual, looks aloof and his back straight as a ramrod with no grey hair out of place however, his eyeglasses are hanging on his neck with a gold chain. He always wore it but today he left it hanging. Her niece's matronly maid looks harassed and stressed. Her usually tight bun is hanging loose and she was losing a button on her top blouse.

     “What happen to you?” Lady Elizabeth asked the maid.

     Smith cleared his throat and said, “My lady, Ann had a little fistfight with one of the new maids hired by Mr. Duvier.

     The old woman looked at the maid incredulously, “You have a fistfight? But your always prim and proper Ann. What happen?”

     “My lady, I cannot take it when this new servant looks down on my Agnes. They are gossiping that Mr. Duvier will soon divorce Agnes because he found her inadequate in bed…” Ann's temper boiled when she remembers the ugly maid's remark, “According to her, three days ago, she saw him leave Agnes’ bedroom in a hurry and foul mood. Then, after that, he never visited her again.”

     “I see, “ Chewing at the new information she collected from her servants. “Is this true Smith?”

     “I’m afraid so my lady. Mr. Duvier refused to dine with her. He avoided her all the time and I notice; he hardly says a word to her.”

     “I see.” The baroness stood up and pace the room. Murmuring to herself and walking back and forth the length of her bedroom. The two servants look at the grand lady with concern. Then she paused and suddenly look at Smith and said in a commanding voice, “Smith, tell Duvier that I will talk to him in the study, immediately.”

     “Yes, my lady. Anything else?” Smith asked respectfully.

     “Find me a book called “Kama Sutra”.”

     “Pardon my lady?” Smith looked at the old woman in shock.

     “It’s not for me, my good man. It's for my niece. Someone should teach her the ways to please a man.”

     The old servant nod quietly then he left the room. Ann stood there still gaping at the baroness when she turns and focuses her attention on the maid, “And you go to the town and buy sexy lingerie and dresses for Agnes. Make sure you throw away those hideous things she has. Understand?”

     “Yes, my lady.” The maid hid a smile. She can see it now, what the lady was planning. She was planning an assault on the young master.

     “This is war, Ann. I will not allow Agnes Walden to be discarded by her husband. Duvier will desire her. We will make sure of that.”

     “Yes, my lady, I am with you on this.”

     “Good, now hurry up.” The maid scurried to do her bidding. She was busy plotting her next move. The baroness smiled in triumph.