Bargaining With Betrayal


*****


Chapter 1


I could feel his heavy stare on my naked back as I tried to focus on the cold stone wall in front of me. It was hard for me to fathom that this had become my destiny, my purpose in this wretched life. Had I of known before that this would be been my destiny, I would have saw the world differently. The world seemed so much harsher than I had ever realized it was before.

I could feel his hot breath beating down on my bare shoulder as he spoke to me, “You have done a great service for your father, and I will keep my word to pardon your father of his crime and allow him to keep his title. You are free to leave my chambers Miss Katherine, for now.”

I didn’t speak a word to him as he barely grazed a kiss on my shoulder and walked out of the cold corridor. I was finally alone. I couldn’t hold the burning tears inside my eyes any longer as they started to escape from my hazel eyes and cascade down my hot cheeks. Yes, indeed I had done my father a great service by allowing his sacred king to defile his only daughter like one of the king’s whores. The King had taken my virginity and had no remorse at all for what he had done. All the years of saving myself for my husband just to have my virginity paid as a debt for a vile act that I didn’t commit.

I couldn’t help but feel hate rising in my heart for my beloved father for allowing me to pay for his own sins; sins that were not mine to pay for. The past few weeks had been a living hell for my family. I can’t help but tilt my head in defeat realizing what my life had been and now what it would be from this moment on. I knew that the King would call for me again to come lay in his bed and that thought saddened me to no end.

I wiped away the tears from my cheek as I looked upon the floor for my dress that had once been my mother’s. I had felt so beautiful in the dress just hours before, but now I didn’t feel worthy of even wearing the lovely dress that my mother had worn so few times. I missed her terribly and just wanted to be wrapped in her loving arms as I cried myself to sleep.

Chapter 2


Several weeks prior.....

The plague that had tormented my mother for the past few months had finally taken her life. I had watched as her beauty was drained daily from her dying body. I had savoured the last moments with her as my father was away on his duties with the king’s court. My father, Sir Edward Vincent, was one of the king’s noble knights so he was always away on King’s orders and usually stayed at the King’s castle with the other members of the noble court.

My mother had become accustom to not being in his presence often and didn’t seem to mind. I had held her delicate hand as I watched her take her last breath. It saddened me to no end but I knew that it was inevitable so the pain of losing her didn’t seem to sting as much as I had prepared myself for.

I had written my father that very day to inform him of my mother’s passing. I knew he wouldn’t receive the letter for several days but when he did he would make a trip to come and collect me and carry me back to court with him.

I had no desire to be in the king’s presence unlike so many other maidens my age. I was on my nineteenth year and still hadn’t taken a husband. My father once told me as a young girl that I would be married to a man of nobility when the time came because of my amazing beauty. Much to my dismay I still hadn’t been asked into marriage.

I had only been to the Kings castle once, when my father had been granted the title of knighthood. I remember the extravagant meals and the beautiful dresses that the maidens and baronets all wore. It was all so enchanting, but that was only what was seen on the surface. Inside of those kingdom walls there was pain, betrayal, greed, and jealousy. I wanted no part of that life, but I knew that since I was the only daughter of a knight, I would be forced into court.

Chapter 3

A week after sending the news to my father he arrived with my two brothers. Both of my brothers had taken their places in the kingdom walls, one as a messenger and the other as a blacksmith. I had given my brothers both huge hugs since it had been some time since I had seen them. My father merely took my hand and bushed a kiss against it. He had informed me that I would be returning to court with him the next morning.

I went through my mother’s things as I packed all of her fine dresses and corsets. To my advantage, we were close to the same size and since only the finest clothing would be acceptable in the King’s presence I would need her fine dresses and my own. My body was petite and slender with long wavy brunette hair and my skin was olive tinted like my fathers. All of the men in our village fancied me but none were brave enough to ask my father for me.

The ride to the Kingdom was long and intimidating. I had always been a bold lady who made acquaintances very easily in our village. I had many friends there who I trusted and had enjoyed their company. I knew that life in court would be much different. The maidens there were crude and promiscuous. I had no want to live like that and surround myself with those types of people, but my father had given me no choice.

One thing I had learned at an early age was a woman’s place. You didn’t argue with your elders and you had respect for nobility. My mother taught me how to be a proper lady and that my most sacred gift was my virginity, in which I would cherish until my husband lay with me. I enjoyed the last half of the ride to the King’s castle as I filled my mind with the words from one of my mother’s books.

Once arriving at the castle my things were taken to my new room which was very small but still more exquisite than what I was use to. My father led me around the kingdom showing me the places that I would need to become acquainted with since I would be working for Baroness Eleanor Hastings. It was rumoured that the Baroness was involved with the King behind closed doors, but not a soul was brave enough to speak of it because such accusations would be grounds for immediate death.

My father had given me very little instruction before leaving me on my own with the shrewd woman. She was a beautiful woman but very chiselled and cold. I wondered if she ever smiled and if she was always so cold and bitter. She was only a few years older than I was but her demeanour was of a heartless ancient woman.

Over the next two weeks I began to observe the Baroness more and more and the more I noticed her, the more I felt sorry for her. Her love for the King was undying and I would watch her face light up when he would call on her during the late hours of the night. I couldn’t imagine having to give all of myself to someone but never receiving the same in return. I never spoke of what I saw; I knew better. I tended to her as my duties were to help her in any way she saw fit. Tending to her wasn’t so bad though. Anywhere the Baroness resided, I too would be there.

I was expected to dress in beautiful gowns and attend all the masquerades and balls that the King held. Only the noble were invited and I very much enjoyed the time that I was able to dance with my father and enjoy his company. There were several men that had found me rather appealing and had approached my father to ask of me, but my father brushed their request aside. He said that I only deserved to be the wife of a Duke or a Lord and nothing less. I didn’t dare argue with him.

Chapter 4

After a month or so of me being at court the King had requested to have a ball welcoming all of the newcomers and also to celebrate the marriage of one of his Dukes to a Baroness from another kingdom, tying like alliances. All of the other maidens were overjoyed and excited to meet the King, but sadly I was not. I respected and loved him, for he was my almighty King, but I didn’t like the way he treated my Baroness or the sanctity of marriage.

I felt that if a man, noble or not, wanted to take a lady to his bed then he should step into marriage with her. I couldn’t help but notice though after being here for such a short time period that many of the men in court didn’t feel the same way I did, including my father.

I watched my father at the welcoming ball dance with many of the maidens and Baronesses until he finally made it to me. I said to him, “Father, you seem to have your eye on every lady here tonight. Don’t you think you should restrain yourself a bit more?” Angrily he replied, “Katherine, you are not to speak to me like that. You will learn to hold your tongue young lady!” I quickly dismissed anything else I had planned on saying to him and continued to dance. My face stung with embarrassment from the scolding my father had given me. After the dance my father then asked my Baroness to dance and she seemed very enthused to take his hand. I watched as they stayed glued to each other most of the night dancing and conversing.

When it came time for the newcomers to be introduced to the King my father stood on one side of me and the Baroness stood on the other. It was so overwhelming waiting my turn to be introduced to the all mighty King Edward IV. Being nervous did not explain the depth of it.

He was immaculate in his red velvet and silk attire. His face was so inviting but his almost black eyes were so very cold and dark. He was the perfect man with his high cheek bones, distinct chin, and perfect complexion. His body was lean and seemed to be muscular from what was visible in his attire. His dark blonde hair lay perfectly under his royal crown like each strand was placed there by God himself.

His voice made a shiver go down my spine as he spoke to my father, “You finally have brought your only daughter to court. This pleases me so! She is just as beautiful as her mother and will be a valued asset to have at court.”My father thanked him and explained to the King that my duties were tied to Baroness Hastings. The King then stared into my eyes as he welcomed me to court stated that before the ball was over he would share a dance with me; obviously this delighted my father. As we walked away from the King’s throne I could see the jealousy dancing on my Baroness’ face.

My father had seemed to take a liking to Baroness Hastings and danced with her the remainder of the evening. I continued to socialize with several of the other maidens, Lords and Dukes. On one of the last dances of the evening the King requested my hand for a dance. I was more nervous than I had ever been in my life, but I remembered the many lessons my mother had taught me and dancing was one of her specialties. As the dance started his hand drifted from my shoulder, down my back, until reaching my hip where it stilled causing me to flinch under its powerful presence.

The King asked me as we danced, “So may I call you Katherine?” I nodded and waited for him to continue. “Katherine, you are quite an exquisite woman. Since I am the King, I tend to have only the finest of possessions in my kingdom. Would you like to accompany me to my chambers tonight? I could easily see you becoming one of my most prized possessions.” I could feel the heat rising inside of me from an emotion I wasn’t familiar with.

I tried not to insult the King but I was shocked at his advance. Could he actually believe that I would be willing to be one of his many women of the night? I responded just above a whisper, “Your majesty, with all due respect, I do not think that would be very appropriate, for I am saving myself to lay with my husband; that is after my father chooses one for me.” I tried to cower down a little in front of his majesty to show that I meant no disrespect to him as the dance ended. The King smiled as he released me from his powerful grip and I immediately went to say goodnight to my father and the Baroness, but I couldn’t find either.

After searching for them I walked hastily to my corridor planning to lock myself in my room for the remainder of the evening. I stopped to check on the Baroness first in her chambers only to hear my father’s voice coming from her solar suite. I walked further inside after finding the door unlocked and found her and my father in bed together. I was overcome with guilt for seeing them together in such an intimate moment and tried to get to my chambers before someone spotted me.

I wanted to be back at home in the village where everything was as it seemed and things were done by the book and not merely off of rash emotion. I could not fathom that my father had already taken another woman’s bed so soon after my mother’s death. For all I knew he could have already taken the Baroness’ bed long before my mother’s death, maybe there were many women my father had fancied in bed and I had just been naive.

As I made it to the door of my chambers I looked back down the hallway of the corridor towards the Baroness’ chamber to see one of the King’s Lords walking inside. My heart froze for a moment as I realized that he was probably there to retrieve the Baroness for her nightly duties to the king. Would she turn down the King’s request since she was with my father? Would the King punish her if she did turn him down? The Lord spotted me before I was able to make it fully inside.

My head was spinning as I closed the door behind me. I knew that the Baroness had made an oath to only take the Kings bed; she had never told me but I knew that it was understood. I didn’t know if my father would be punished for being with her so intimately or not. I tried to remind myself that it was his choice and that he would have to answer for any wrong doing. I undressed and slowly crept into uneasy sleep after my head hit my cold pillow.

Chapter 5

I had intent of speaking with my father and begging him to allow me to return to our village. I did not fit in at court and I thought it best for me to leave although I knew he would not be pleased and would ask me to stay. The Baroness was waiting on me as I quietly walked to her door. I refused to speak to her about the previous nights events. The Baroness didn’t speak of it either, only asked me to accompany her to the Chapel where she had been summoned. We walked in silence until we reached the Chapel doors and were led in by one of the Kings guards. I knew instantly that something was gravely wrong. The King had a small smirk on his face as we entered into the large room. My father was being held by several of the King’s guards.

The Baroness and I were seated facing the King as he began to speak, “Baroness Hastings, please come forward.” I watched as she submitted to his request and knelled before his feet. He continued, “Baroness is it true that Sir Vincent led you into his bed?” Fear started to rise inside of me as I awaited her response.

“Yes your majesty. Sir Vincent served me wine and then used it to his advantage. I am truly sorry for my behaviour and ask for your mercy.” I wanted to scream as I felt the bile rising in my throat. I knew that the Baroness was lying to his majesty. I knew that she had not consumed any wine last night at the ball, but I also knew why she was lying. In the King’s eyes, she was his property and any man that were to touch her would be punished, one way or another; even if he couldn’t speak aloud his real reasoning for punishing that man.

It was a sin to have any sexual relations outside of marriage and if that man was accused of rape then he was punished according to the social status of the victim. In my father’s case, if the King believed the Baroness, my father could be stripped of his titles and be punished however the King saw fit. The King could easily sentence him to death by hanging or drowning if he wanted to.

The king then motioned for the guard to bring my father forward and spoke to him with high authority, “Sir Vincent, you are being charged with heresy. You will be removed from court and your title removed. All of your valuables and currency will be donated to the Church. Unless you would like to propose other options, and in that case we may speak privately.”

My father followed the Kings gaze on me, and then his eyes went back to the King’s. He responded, “Your majesty, may I have a word with you in private. I think we can come to some other agreement that would better benefit you.” The King only nodded and then led the way to a small room off of the main corridor as we waited on the edge of our seats for their return.

My heart raced profusely and it took everything for me to keep my breath steady. My father would be a disgrace to our family and our village if he was charged with this and if he was thrown out of court. I had hoped that the king would have mercy on him and find some other agreement as I waited patiently praying nonstop.

Several moments later they returned, both seemingly in good spirits with gleaming smiles. My father’s smile vanished and his face turned to stone once his eyes met mine though. The King announced, “Sir Vincent and I have come to an agreement and I have decided not to charge him with these crimes laid in front of us. In payment, his daughter, Miss Katherine Vincent, will no longer hold duties to Baroness Hastings. Her duties will now be tied directly to me as my servant, and tending to my Lord’s when needed.”

I was having problems breathing as I tried to understand what was happening. I had a feeling that my father had just thrown me to the dogs in order to save himself, but he was my father and my place was not to argue with him or what he thought was right for me. One of the guards led me by the arm to the King’s chambers as my mind raced. He informed me that I was to stay there until the King arrived and had given me further instruction.

Chapter 6

The King’s chambers were extravagant. The linens were all made of exotic fabrics and colors and the furniture was even grander. I felt so small and alone inside this great area as I waited patiently for the King. I paced back and forth for what seemed like an eternity before I heard the main door open and the King stepped in with two of his closest Dukes behind him. I bowed down in his presence out respect. The two Dukes seated themselves in front of a master fire place as the King stood like a predator in front of me.

A finger from his cold hand traced the edge of my burning face as he spoke to me, “Miss Katherine, do you know why you are here?” I looked up at him and spoke softly in question, “To care for your chambers and serve you where needed?” The King threw me off guard when his voiced rose a little, “Did you know that I had a claim on Baroness Hastings? She belonged to me!” He almost spat in my face before continuing, “And your father took her bed knowing that. So I thought it only fair to take something of his; something of value that he cares deeply for. That is why you are here Miss Katherine. Now take off your dress.”

I stood motionless before him for a moment only to cringe with fear when the back of his hand struck my face and he said, “That is an order Miss Katherine. You do not want to disobey me.” I held the burning tears back in my eyes as I tried to steady my hands to unfasten the corset of my dress. I shivered as my dress cascaded to the floor around my trembling feet.

I stared at the burning logs in the fire place where the two Dukes still sat quietly. They didn’t dare look our way although I knew they were fully aware of what was transpiring behind them. I could feel his eyes on me, like dark embers burning holes into my soul. Fear, need, and betrayal crept upon me as his hand ran from the top of my neck down my back sending another shiver down my spine.

I closed my eyes as he placed a delicate kiss on the nape of my neck following with several more across my shoulder. Had this not had been a forced arrangement I would probably had enjoyed this attention. He broke the silence saying, “Apparently your father’s prized possession is his beautiful daughter’s virginity. I am sorry for any pain this may cause you, but it was your father that bargained with your destiny, not I.” That was the last thing the King said to me before leading me to his bed.

After the King had made love to me, or what love was supposed to be, he pressed his naked body against my own as I lay still and emotionless. I didn’t know what to say or how to speak to him. I loved him and hated him all in the same moment. He had taken my virginity and it meant nothing to him. I was nothing more than a payment for a wronged debt in his book. As I continued to lay in the King’s bed with my back facing him I could feel his stare on my defeated body.

I knew that this would not be the last time he asked me to lay with him, for I saw the pleasure on his face as he slowly broke into my ripened core. He had an obsessed look in his eye that I knew would haunt my dreams from this day forward. I would never forget this night for the rest of my life on this wretched earth. How could my father allow this to be my fate; He had betrayed his only daughter for his own gain....


END

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 01.02.2013

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