The Bargain, chapter 12, teaser

Bella directed Attila towards the path that would lead her to the docks, where a large ship from the colonies had docked earlier in the day. She encouraged the beast to stretch out and allowed the flying wind to take with it her frustrations.

In short order she was once again the unruffled mistress of the island. She slowed as she entered the village. Locals and visitors alike stopped in their labors to watch the beautiful lady make her way down the road. Finding the attention not unpleasant, Bella nodded greetings. As she approached the spot where the grand ship was berthed, Bella found her father’s carriage. Tossing the reins to the driver she asked him where her father was.

“Aboard the ship, madam. Talking with the captain, I believe.”

Bella thanked the driver and began to dismount, only to become aware of a nearby scuffle. A small crowd of sailors jostled for the chance to help her down from the horse’s back.
 

The Bargain Chapter 11, teaser

“Have you ever been in love?” she asked.

Edward smiled at her question. “Why Bella, I’ve told you, you are my only love.”

“Be serious,” she chided. “I know you’ve had other women. Were you ever in love with any of them?”

Edward sighed before bending his arm behind his head. “Only an infatuation when I was a lad.”

“A lad? Nine, ten?”

“Nay, not so young. I was eighteen and she was a young widow. She taught me much about women.”

The Bargain: Chapter 10, teaser

Groaning in frustration, Edward rose from the bed and pulled on a pair of breeches. Padding barefoot, he roamed through the rooms seeking relief from his thoughts and haunted dreams. His eyes fell on the mill sketches he’d left on the dining room table earlier. Edward sat down and contemplated the drawings in the dim light of an oil lamp.

Slowly, he became aware of the fact that he was not alone. Raising his head, he peered through the darkness. The shadowy figure of an island woman leaned against the frame of his door. Edward cocked his head in an unvoiced question. Without a sound, the woman stepped forward into the dim circle of light.
 

Chapter 9 teaser, The Bargain

Bella greeted the new day with enthusiasm and a smile that had long been missing. The weight of her deceit was no longer upon her. Her honor was restored. She fulfilled the bargain and Edward could no longer make demands upon her. She sat at her father’s side as he worked, playing her role as assistant and advisor. They dined together and Bella partook heartily. Her sleep was untroubled and she rose early each day.

Chapter 8

“Papa, I spent an ill night and cannot accompany you about the island today.”

Charles rose from his seat and approached his daughter. Touching her brow lightly he found it slightly warm.

“I would be much saddened to see you not well, my dear. Go back to bed and I’ll send Sue with a tray for you.”

Bella had no intention of returning to her torturous bed, and tried to convince her father to let her stay.

“There’s no need father. I’ll just have a small bite here and relax in the library.”

“Nonsense. Come now, I’ll see you abed before I go.”

The Bargain, chapter 6, teaser

“Mister Masen,” she interrupted, “what was your trade before you became a bondslave? Overseer perhaps? You are from the colonies, I understand. What were you doing in England?”

“Horses, madam. I work with horses quite a bit.”

“Then you must be the one who tended to my Attila when he was lame.” No wonder the steed was so comfortable with him. “You mean you train horses? To what end?”

“Mostly for riding, madam. And, some enjoy the sport of racing their mounts. I went first to Scotland to select breeding stock.”

“Your master trusted you to know good breeding stock when you saw it?”

“Indeed, madam, I most certainly do.”

The Bargain, chapter 5, teaser

Charles cleared his throat. “Daughter, your time away seems to have toughened you. I’m surprised to see you forgo the relative luxury of the Kensington to sail home on the most modest of my ships.”

“Is it so hard to believe that I missed you, Papa?” Her confession caused a lump to form in Charles’s throat, for in truth, he had missed his daughter, as well.

“Aye, well…so enough of thither and yondering for you?”

“Aye, father.”

“So…” Charles was reluctant to bring up the reason for their enforced separation, but he couldn’t help but be curious. “Have you chosen, then?”

Charles didn’t look at his daughter as he asked the question. Bella twisted the simple gold band on her finger once, before laying her hand on the one her father had between them. Charles looked down at their joined hands.

“You may call me Madam Cullen, if not by my given name, Papa.”
 

The Bargain, chapter 4, teaser

Sam followed Yorkie down the dark hall. Skittering rats fled their approach.

“Whatever ‘twere you did ta ‘im, you did ta ‘im good,” Yorkie commented. Sam stopped and raised an eyebrow in question.

Yorkie chuckled. “’E’s come down a madman ‘e ‘as, since you brought ‘im back. Hafta keep ‘im chained to the wall ere ‘e kill us. Or see us kill ‘im. He ain’t took a bit o’ the food you sent for ‘im, just takes ‘is bread and water like afore.”

The Bargain, chapter 3, teaser

Edward approached his wife with the remainder of his glass of sherry. Holding it aloft, he said quietly, “To our marriage, my love. May it be long and fruitful.” Draining his glass he returned it to the tray carried by Mrs. Weber. Seeing that Bella still held her glass Edward stretched out his hand and raised the glass to her lips. “Drink, my love. We needs must be going.”

The Bargain, chapter 2 teaser

"Seems the girl doubts I'm human," Edward commented ruefully.

"Don't worry about it," Sam grunted. "You won't be here long enough to try her."

Edward met his look stoically. "That wasn't my intention. 'Tis my wedding day, after all."

Sam scowled. "I wouldn't worry about that either," Sam said menacingly. "I'm here to see to my Mistress's bidding, whether I like it or not. But my first task is always her welfare. I judge what's best for her welfare myself. Don't give me cause to believe that keeping you alive is a threat to her safety."

The Bargain banners

A gift from the generous BeanFlikn247.  Thank you, Connie!

This was was created by the incredible pkitten21 as a favor to me.

The Bargain

I'm starting a summer fun fic that will post fast and furious.  The first chapter is already live.  The fic is called "The Bargain" and is based on a 1970s era bodice ripper by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss.  Here's the summary:

A condemned man consents to wed a lovely heiress to free her from an unwanted arranged marriage. For his name she promises that which is only hers to give. When the bargain is violated what recourse has the cheated man, bound for the gallows unfulfilled?

So, a little tease, perhaps?

"I am cursed," she muttered. "Would that I were born poor, so I would know that a man wanted me for myself."

And this, she fully believed. Neither her beauty nor riches had aided her in finding a suitable life mate. Once it was known that she was the daughter of Charles Swan, one of the richest men to ever walk the market, young men in need of a wealthy spouse crawled from the woodwork to seek her hand.

Her refusal to accept the court of even the most deserving of these young men drove her father to issue his ultimatum.

"The young studs flock to you, but you refuse any man with a name to be proud of." His inconsiderate words bruised Bella's pride and brought a hot rush of tears to her eyes. Heedless of this, her father continued.

"What are riches for if they are to buried with you? I want grandchildren! Are you set on being a spinster? A poor man with a title to give to his heirs would bestow upon your children power at court. The wealth I have, it is the name I lack. You could give that to them, by accepting the hand of any of the rutting swains.

"It is my cross to bear that I be blessed with a daughter who has the beauty to choose among barons, earls and dukes. Instead she whiles away her days waiting for a knight on a white horse to sweep her off her feet."

It was at this point that Bella made her mistake. She chose to argue with her father, goading him into driving his walking stick into the floor at her feet.

"You have one year to come to your senses. If, on your twenty-first birthday you have not married into a family of the aristocracy, I will promise you to the next strutting rooster still young enough to get you with child. If I have to drag you to the altar in chains, you will obey me."