”Papa, it was so scary, Have you seen Abigail? She left with me but that stagecoach driver took her Papa. I thought I would die, the grass they dumped me was so itchy” Mary whined as she sat in her mother’s lap, her father sat across her, petting her hair
“Sorry, my darling. Do not worry about Abigail, she was in cohort with the driver, they have both been caught and are in the town Jail. You lie down here and worry about nothing, I will have the doctor bring the cream I imported from Italy last fall, it would soothe your skin” he turned to a maid, standing nearby
”Are you deaf? did you not hear my command, do you want me to say it one more time?” Nicholas Sanders thundered angrily. The maid scurried away in fear“Papa, keep your voice low, my head hurts” Mary croaked
Mrs. Sanders cast a hot glance at her husband, for which he waved apologetically, saying in a soft voice”Sorry, my princess.“Pointing at another maid,” Massage her feet” Mrs. sanders commanded, the maid immediately got to work on her knees, placing one of Mary’s legs on a stool and the other on her own thigh, applying several perfumes ointments on Mary’s spotless skin.She called another maid surrounding the room ” Carry her to the bed, she needs complete rest and she is not to lift a finger” Mrs. Sanders commanded, one could see the subtle smirk on the maid’s face
As if Mary ever did any work, not even to bathe herself.Soon Mary was tucked into bed, with roses and a thousand kisses, her father sat with her on the bed and her mother by his side“The soldiers have brought the report that Abigail has been found alongside that scoundrel Jeffrey, he would be hanged for sure. I will make sure of that. it will serve as a proper lesson for all the servants who think they can betray me” Nicholas declared
Mary said softly, letting her smooth hand rest on her Father’s rough ones “No papa, they wanted the carriage, tis made of gold after all and it would fetch him good money. I would be extra baggage and it would slow them down, if it were not for Commander Mike who came to my rescue, I would have been left for dead Papa” Mary shuddered just thinking about it, fresh goose pimples rose on her perfect skin
“Tis enough, talk no more, it is not good for your health, you should rest, I will take you to the doctor on the morrow so your mind will be rid of these horrid thoughts, I do not want anything affecting your mental health love” Mrs. Sanders babied, collecting a wet cloth from a maid and wiping the imaginary sweat from Mary’s forehead
“Commander Mike, you say? How come he mentioned it not? When I was called to come to get you?” Nicholas questioned, his interest piqued“You met him, Papa?” Mary sat up eagerly, ignoring her mother’s frown at her behavior a blush on her cheeks, giving off the glow of a young lady in love“Yes, I did, “he answered absentmindedly, his shrewd mind fast-tracking a distant thought that would help safeguard his business, this current situation could help him in the long run especially when the Stone family is concerned, he had been trying to connect the Sanders to that family for quite a long time for reasons best known to him.“I have no recollection of what happened at all, I only knew he was the one that saved me from that dreadful man, that man claimed I shun all the men of the society and walk proudly but Mama I did naught wrong, I am the daughter of Nicholas Sanders, the richest man in Western Creek and beyond am I to mingle with common men?, I did naught wrong right Mama?” she asked sweetly, expecting words of praise
“No my love, you can never do anything wrong, “ her mother soothed her hair “It is wrong of that man to seek vengeance for what is the rightful course of the society, I am only glad you are safe dear,” Mrs sanders smiled, glancing at her husband“Why are you quiet?” she asked curiously
“I hope tis not what I fear, “ Nicholas Sanders muttered to himself“What is it you fear? “ Mrs. Sanders asked alarmed, she grabbed her husband’s arm only to drop it so as not to panic her daughter who was watching them intently“Mary, you said the rogues force your cloth off you?”He asked thoughtfully
“Yes Papa” Mary answered shamefaced, her face red with embarrassment. She looked up timidly, eyes downcast” Why do you ask Papa, I do not wish any to know of it, especially not the maids, I do not want to be the boot of their gossip, it was so unpleasant papa, I thought I would die.” She cried as fat juicy tears fell off her face in torrents
“Why do you have to make her cry? You know she is going to be upset, must you torment our poor daughter so?” Mrs. Sanders shouted at her husband as she stood up to pacify the crying Mary who had dropped her tears into a whimper every now and then
“I did not mean to upset you Mary, but I need to know if Commander Mike saw you with no clothes on?”
Mary stopped crying immediately, her eyes swollen red from the momentarily cry, she answered gently” I think so Papa, I woke up in his clothes and he was the one that had shaken that monster of me”
“Then I ought to call him out” Nicholas smirked roughly, as he stood on his feet
“What are you saying Papa, Commander Mike had done naught wrong, he even saved me, we should thank him for that”“Yes, we will, my dear, we will. In the grandest way possible”
Excited, she asked,”and what way would that be Papa?” She had always been an admirer of the Commander but when he had gotten married to his childhood friend the soft-eyed Evangeline, she tried to stop her affection for him but it had been difficult for her maids brought news of his heroic deeds day after day. Western Creek was safe now because of his help, there was rarely any case of stealing or kidnapping, they would be found and rescued as was done with her. It was why her father had finally allowed her to ride the golden carriage in the first place.
She wondered what reward her father would give him.
“I would wed him to you” her father declared
Mary and her mother gasped with excietement,“But would he agree to take a second wife?” Mrs. Sanders asked“I will leave him no choice but to do what I ask; he is the only man worthy to have you. You are the most beautiful woman in this town, and he is the first man to have the honor of seeing my daughter naked, then he ought to do right by you. You are a very alluring one my dear, he must have done something to you while you were passed out, tis the way of men” Nicholas said
“But papa? It is said that Commander Mike really loves his wife, will he agree to marry me?” Mary asked sadly
“Then I will leave him with no other choice but to accept my proposal.” Nicholas Sanders smiled, he hailed a male servant standing coming into the room with a fresh bowl of neatly peeled tangerines for Mary
“ Get the carriage, Boy, I have a few old friends to visit and prepare sixteen golden and silver made carriages from the shops”“Thank you papa” Mary smiled, blushing into her pillow, the scented cushion welcomed her soft smile, leaning into her happiness
“Are you happy?” her mother questioned
“Yes I am mother, Commander Mike is a very fine man and I am glad to be his wife”
“Let us be hopeful he agrees, you know your father, he might go about this the wrong way, he is always so hasty and power-filled, He is no doubt looking for a way to gain more power, as it would look good on him to have a Commander as an in-law, I do not want him to push you into a marriage you do not want, I am very content with living with my gorgeous daughter” Mrs. Sanders signed, she knew the husband she married, there seems to be an old connection between the Stone and Sanders which he hoped to rekindle with the present generation, she was only afraid, he would go about it in the most erroneous way possible, as was his manner.“Yes, Mother, I do like him a lot, and I believe he likes me too, he would not have saved me after all, if he did not like me, he could have left me to die,” Mary said dreamily, thinking of mesmerizing blue eyes that smiled at her, and the strong arms that had swept her into his warmth.
Commander Mike was sitted in the Stone Mansion living room when he relayed the news of him marrying Mary to his mother, who expressed her fear“What nonsense? it is beyond my understanding how Nicholas Sanders would think I would marry his daughter. He is calling me out because I found her naked in the jungle, so I ought to be held responsible for having seen his daughter’s nakedness, he is using the military reputation to threaten me” Commander Mike smirked “ He wants to report me to the Generals for seeing his daughter’s nakedness. Mary Sanders is not even the sort I would marry, I do not like her at all, she is rarely out of her mother’s pouch, she is a good for nothing sissy that can hardly pick a needle by herself, she is useless. And I will never betray Evangeline, I love her too much for all this, how does he expect a soldier to marry that ninny he called a daughter” He snickered, as he faced his mother
The alluring lacy material flowed tenderly across the marbled floor, the dress had been specially sewn for her from another country, though it had only been a short time, it seems her mother knew how to use their wealth to pull strings. The dress was a wonder, it was a low-cut dress, which accentuated Mary’s full breasts and made them threaten to spill out, she had pouted at this, but her mother had said it would be perfect to make Commander Mike fall for her, no man ever resisted a well-endowed woman like Mary, especially if it was laid out in front of themThe dress hugged her slim waist tightly, Her mother had often said her hips are a man’s undoing, the dress was made to seduce. She smiled as she thought of Commander Mike’s hands removing the gown from her body, she blushed at sexual thoughts. She was currently draped with a dull overhaul with which, the maids were powdering her face, so as not to stain the material, her mother stood nearby commanding them on what to do, Mary sa
Smiling and waving at guests as he walked by, Nicholas Sanders kept up his fake modesty to the very hilt. He was raging within, his hope of making the Sanders family be intimate with the Stone family was his lifelong aim and he was not about to see it dashed away, he would achieve it by crook or nook.“Why isn’t he here yet?” Nicholas Sanders thundered at his fellow conspirator in the hall, he turned to face them“ You promised me, he would come, I paid you handsomely for this” he banged the wooden table in anger, the pain he got in return made him shout with rageCommander Cole barked back at him equally” Calm down, Nicholas, this is a soldier’s superior order we are talking about, he has to come or else he shall be stripped of his title and punished and it will involve his family, he knows that very well”“I do not care about that at all, all I know is that he ought to be here by now marryi
Jared rode madly in pursuit of his brother, judging by the unconscious words of Alan, he knew his brother’s next line of action. He wondered what had gone wrong with the Commanders after he left, for a measly man such as Nicholas Sanders to think he can control them, Jared sneered, he would make it his last attempt Following his mother’s horse footprints she had gone the midwife way but a dark thought made him stop the horse suddenly, breaking its run Following the way of the Corrupt Commanders, they knew Mike all too well, then it clicked Evangeline would not be at the midwife, if she had been gone since morning, the Commanders would have her, and it would be the worst mistake of their life. Jared began riding hard this time, in the direction of Nicholas's grand hall, he hoped he would be in time to get Mike before his brother burnt down the place in order to rescue his wife. Evangeline was not one who could endure such harsh conditions for long, the girl had grown up with them aft
“Do you Mary Sanders, take Michael Stone, as your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to honour, to cherish and to hold, for the rest of your life?” the vicar pronounced“Yes, I do” came the blushing reply, from a love-filled eyed Mary, as she stood at the Alter holding Jared’s hands it was surreal, she glared at Commander Mike under her veil, it was those same blue eyes, they were staring at her again, they held her captive, she had been so happy when she had been informed he had arrived. This was the happiest day of her life, she blushed at the thought of them spending a night together as man and wife.The Vicar turned to Jared “Do you Michael Stone, take Mary Sanders, as your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to protect, to cherish and to hold, for the rest of your life?”Jared stared with glistening annoyance at Mary in front of him; he really hoped for her sake that Evangeline was unharmed.Jared could feel
Twirling about in her wedding dress, Mary was beyond happy, she blushed harder at the thought of Jared’s hands on her, she had been brought home from the hall by her mother. She was currently in her room which had been extensively decorated for her wedding night.The door to her room opened “Mother, mother” she jumped at the sight of her mother, she flew into her arms in joy“Thank you mother, it's a dream come through, I am a happy bride” she beamed, the light shining in her eyes,“Yes, my dear, My princess deserves the best, “ Her mother said looking into her Mary’s happy eyes“Mother, his touch felt like a caress, it was so feeling, I shivered all over my body, it was delicious. I could go on touching him forever” she gushed out in a rushHer mother smiled” I am glad you like it my dear. A wedding should be filled with happiness. Your wedding shall be the talk of the town for years
Jared watched as the party guests all left the house one after the other, he had a grand plan up his sleeve, he would play himself as MiKe for a while, so he could get these guys in a bind. If such souls existed in the military, it was only a matter of time before their cankerworm spread to the recruits, then it was only a matter of time before trouble started brewing, the king would demand his head if he does not stop it in time.From what he had gathered, Commander Cole and Ortom had control of half of the town’s terrorists and miscreants combined. He wondered what Mike had been doing as they grew in power. A soldier should not be that soft, being soft could endanger the lives of the people that were put into his care to protect.If a man like Nicholas Sanders could control military biddings then nothing was safe anymore, not even Evangeline and that was one life he would never risk, she had been handed over to him to protect and to love.
Jared watched wordlessly as Mary bid her family goodbye, she was all teary and hugging everyone, the blue dress she was wearing flowing majestically about her, she was smiling radiantly, the epitome of a woman thoroughly loved, he smirked, and he would soon freeze up her joy soon.He would make her pay for subjecting Evangeline to such torture at the hands of her father just to get her married, they were all a dangerous bunch.The whole family came to meet him where he stood patiently waiting for the part by the carriage Nicholas had sumptuously provided“It was nice having you Mike, I have my eyes on you” Nicholas warned subtly“not in front of the servants, Nicholas, “ Mrs. Sanders hissed at her husband, narrowing her eyes at himshe turned to face Jared, keeping on her fake modesty“Thank you so much Commander, please take care of Mary, she is our only daughter and child and we are putting so much faith in