Innocence Enslaved (18 page)

“North,” he replied, his face becoming more befuddled with confusion. “Why?”

“We have to go back,” she insisted, clutching the cloak closed as she peered up at the stars starting to dot the sky. “The sooner the better.”

“Emilia Selkirk! Have you lost your mind?” He put his large hands on her shoulders and stooped to peer into her face. “Did you strike your head or something?”

“My head is fine. I just want to go back,” she replied, shrugging off his hands. “Corbet lives two hours south of town, we should leave now.”

“Absolutely not. Lack of air has apparently made you mad.”

“I’m not mad, either. He will be worried if I don’t go back and tell him what’s happening.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to be rescued? From a slave owner who would abuse you?” She could see both exasperation and anger building in his gleaming green gaze.

Although grateful to her father, and to Lomb, she didn’t want to be rescued. In an odd way, Corbet had already done so, and it pained her to think of letting him down or causing him worry.

“He’s a good man,” she explained, quickly coming to his defense. “He didn’t buy me to
use
me, and he didn’t abuse me. It was a ruse to throw off a few people. He promised to bring me home on his next trip to Melbourne.”

Lomb shook his head as he reached into one of his bags and pulled out an apple. “I think you should eat. It’s clear you’re not thinking straight.”

“I don’t need food. I need to get back to Corbet’s. He’s likely worried and searching for me.”

“You need to get back to your parents, who
are
worried. The only place I am taking you is home.” His voice had turned thick with impatience.

“You will take me back or I will tell your wife about the whore you took behind a lodge in Lancore. And, I’ll tell her what else I saw too, like the way she went down on her knees and sucked you after.”

She watched his complexion flush ruddy with chagrin as she spoke.

“How did you see us? I made sure there was no one around.”

“You might have tried closing the back door. I was inside the lodge with a perfect view. I saw everything.”

Anger washed over his face. He spun away, clenching his fists, his posture stiffening. “Your father will be furious if I come back without you,” he ground out tightly, like he was speaking through clenched teeth.

“Tell him you couldn’t find me. In a couple of days, the spice merchant will be in Melbourne with a letter from Corbet promising my safe return and urging mother not to worry.”

“What do you owe this man, Em?” he demanded as he twisted to face her. “Were you not snatched by these people? Stripped, gagged, and then sold to the highest bidder?” Abruptly, his hand rose to her throat. With a snap, he ripped off the velvet collar and held it up before her face. “Is this what you want? To be this man’s property? His slave?”

She snatched it from his fingers as if it was her most cherished treasure. Staring down upon it, she declared, “It’s not what you think. Yes, the kidnapping and auction were horrible, humiliating beyond belief, but I am grateful to him. Had he not been there, the other bidder would have me right now. He was a giant, Lomb. He’d have torn me to shreds. Corbet hasn’t so much as touched me and doesn’t plan to.”

Lomb cocked his head inquisitively. “You sound disappointed that he doesn’t want your virginity. What did he pay for it?”

It was Emilia’s turn to be taken aback. My God, were her feelings for him really that apparent? “Three thousand pieces of silver.” Her cheeks blossomed with heat every time she recalled the dear price Corbet had paid. She hoped the rising moon wasn’t enough to let him see.

“You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you?” he asked, approaching her. “Look at me.”

She tilted her head back, staring at him straight on. “I think I liked him the moment he took possession of me.”

Lomb’s head fell back as he raised his hands to the sky. “Lord help me, I’ve a soft spot for love.” He then helped her mount the horse.

“I didn’t say I loved him,” she said, settling against his back, putting her arms around his torso before they rode off.

“Your mouth says you like him, yet your eyes speak of love. ‘Sides, no slave would return willingly to an owner they merely liked. I only hope I don’t live to regret not taking you straight home.”

Emilia rubbed her thumb over the velvet band she still clutched in her hand. Maybe her old friend was right and she was a fool, and she hoped she didn’t live to regret her decision. But in this case, the slave wanted to go back to her owner, who had bought her, harnessed her, and hauled her to his home practically naked. He was also the one who saved her from a much harsher fate, fed her, clothed her, kept her warm and safe without asking anything for his trouble, who had been kind to her, spankings aside. Oddly, she felt she owed him, apart from the tender feelings she had developed for him.

Tucking the velvet choker carefully into the pocket of her dress, she preferred, in her heart, to regard it as a gift from the man she loved, rather than the symbol it was meant to be. She thought ahead, wondering at his reaction when she arrived home.

As Lomb spurred the horse up to a full run, her arms tightened around him. Big, sturdy, dependable man that he was, guilt weighed heavy on her heart for manipulating him.

“I’m sorry for threatening to tell Willetta. I shouldn’t have said that, not when you were here to help me.”

“It’s nothing, Em. As was she, but I’ll thank you to keep it to yourself when you get home.”

“Why did she take you into her mouth?”

“God’s teeth! Don’t ask me that.”

“And you didn’t take her in the usual way either, though she seemed to enjoy it.”

“Emilia! If you don’t cease talking about such things, I’ll rein in at the nearest stump and tan your behind. You’re like a daughter to me.”

“Sorry. I’ll shut up now.”

“Thank the good Lord and heavens above for that.”

She smiled to herself, picturing the surprise on Corbet’s face when she returned. Perhaps he would be so relieved to see her that he would pull her into his arms and kiss her deeply, before scolding her for worrying him so.

The moon was high in the sky by the time they reached Corbet’s house. Emilia made Lomb drop her off a good distance away, telling him she’d walk from there. He was still not keen on going back to Melbourne without her, but she insisted that everything would be fine and she would see him soon. He promised to wait where he was until sunrise, in case the reunion with her man didn’t go as expected.

After pressing a kiss to his scruffy jaw, she began her hike through the pasture that would lead her back.

Chapter Twelve

As she neared the large two-story home, she noted that every window was ablaze with light. Men milled about the front yard tending to at least a dozen saddled horses. Her step slowed, as someone prowled restlessly amidst the shadows of the recessed porch.

“Master Corbet,” a man called out. “Look there.”

As the lone figure stopped his pacing and came to a halt, the group turned and stared in her direction. A moment later, he rushed down the steps. Darkness enveloped him as he left the glow from the house, but he was still easily recognizable, his long confident stride making short work of the distance between them.

“Emilia. On my honor, I’ve been so worried. Are you all right?” Though gruff with strain, his words reassured her that he was glad to see her, as did the hands that clamped around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest when she nodded. It felt wonderful to be held in his strong arms.

“We’ll disburse now that she’s back, Corbet,” a voice called from behind him.

He tensed suddenly, as if remembering they weren’t alone. Then he set her away, keeping a hand on her while he addressed the man who had stopped nearby. “Thank you for your assistance, Redford.”

“‘Twas nothing, truly, now that she’s come back on her own.” As he drew near, he lowered his volume to a whisper. “Take care. Arthur Mooney is amongst us; he’ll report this business to the manor in great detail, you can be certain.”

“I understand, my friend, and thank you for the warning. I’ll deal with this swiftly and severely as is required.” He directed a grim frown toward her and murmured, “Girl, you have no idea what you have done.”

Before she could answer, he took hold of her wrist, tugging her along behind him at a fast clip as he moved toward the stable. “You ran from me, Emilia.” he declared stiffly, his words carrying easily on the night air. “For that, you will be punished.”

“I didn’t,” she cried as she hurried to keep up. “We got separated during the confusion with that cart. There were so many frantic people. I couldn’t find you.” Her explanation came in between pants as she struggled to keep up with him.

“Silence. There are witnesses who saw you flee down an alley. I will not countenance a runaway slave, no matter how much pleasure she brings.”

He sounded upset, but she didn’t understand why. Surely he knew she didn’t run from him on purpose. Why would she have come back if such were the case?

“How did you get back?” he demanded as he lit a lantern. The light from the flame danced on his face as he hung it from a nail on one of the posts. His eyes appeared molten gold in his anger and the usually soft, sensuous curves of his mouth were set in a hard, tense line.

“Please don’t be angry with me.” She looked down, fidgeting nervously. This was certainly not the welcome she had hoped for and she didn’t understand what they were doing in the stable.

“Pleading will do you no good,” he stated firmly, taking hold of her arm in the same way. He turned her so she faced away from him. “I warned you repeatedly about staying close to me.” Cool air brushed her back as the ties on the back of her dress was tugged open, the buttons roughly undone and she thought she heard the faint sound of the delicate fabric tearing.

“But sir…” She glanced over her shoulder at him and stopped, seeing the stable doors standing wide and that many of the men had followed to watch what Corbet planned for her. “The men are watching us,” she informed him.

“A public whipping for a runaway slave is a common occurrence in Lancore.”

“Whipping!” she exclaimed. “No, master, please. You were there. I didn’t run. We were driven apart by the horses. I lost sight of you.” Her dress undone now, he tugged the back open and drew the material forward over her shoulders. “Please, what are you doing?”

“Baring you for a good thrashing as you deserve, that’s what I’m doing.”

“That’s not fair.”

“I decide what is fair, slave.” He spun her around, clasping her face in both hands. “Where did you go? Someone had to have helped you get away. Did they touch you?”

“No one hurt me. Please, you must understand.”

He peeled the dress down her front with hasty determination and as her bare skin was exposed, she saw the men press forward, a few stepping inside the barn. Fear crept into her belly. Why would he punish her for returning, especially when she had come back of her own free will? And how could he do it in front of them?

“I came back as soon as I could. I haven’t earned a thrashing.” Tears crept into her pleas and her body began to quiver. “I did nothing wrong.”

He finished removing her beautiful gown and discarded it onto a pile of dirty straw on the floor as though it were naught but a threadbare scrap meant for the rag bag. She stood completely bare, with a dozen men gazing hungrily upon her naked backside, and stared up at him with as much appeal as she could muster. She didn’t think a reprieve was coming, however, not when his face darkened into an angry glower.

“You left town with someone willingly, didn’t you?”

She hesitated, which was as good as an admission.

“I know that you did. You couldn’t have gotten past the guards without help. That was an act of willful defiance. I waited on the other side of the road for you. Once the commotion died down you would have found me easily had you not run off, but you did. That alone was an unpardonable crime and for that you have earned the oak paddle.”

Emilia’s mouth dropped open as tears of distress blurred her vision. “I was scared. There were so many people. You said that if a slave was caught without her master, anyone could take possession. I was afraid someone would. Given the opportunity to escape and hide, I took it. I always intended to come back, though. I stand here before you as proof that I didn’t intend to run away.”

“You realized the hardships of the road were not worth the sacrifice of the full belly and warm bed I provided. Also not an uncommon event, particularly among women. I have been too easy on you—that ends tonight. Hold out your wrists.”

She started to shiver in the cool night air, though it was hardly the cause of her quaking. Obediently, she offered him her wrists. He bound them with rope before walking her close to one of the wooden posts where he attached them to a leather strap and hoisted her restrained arms high over her head.

“Corbet, please. Had I wanted to run from you—”

“Enough. No more excuses.” A chill swept over her as he stepped to the side, moving his body, the final barrier between her bare behind and the crowd of ravening lustful men. The first resounding crack of his hand upon her skin rang out in the stable.

“Please,” she implored. “At least make them leave.”

He ignored her plea. “Who brought you back?” His words were tight, each punctuated with a smack of his hand upon her backside. The blows were sharp and stinging, Emilia found it impossible to remain still, arching and twisting to avoid the next swat. She had planned on telling him about Lomb; now she wasn’t so sure. He was furious and she didn’t want to cause her friend any trouble if he should decide to go after him.

“Tell me. Now!” he insisted, as he landed four more smacks to her burning bottom.

“Ow. Ow! Please… stop!” She danced wildly each time his hand found its mark. “I can’t,” she sobbed.

Abruptly, he stopped and stalked across the barn. She watched, her vision watery and blurred as he pulled something down from the wall.