Seducing the Marquis of Wynester

Lady Marie Willoughby rolled over to the edge of her bed again. She had been doing it for almost half an hour since she lay on her bed. She couldn't seem to fall asleep and she suspected that the babe may have a thing to with it. Marie lay on her back staring at the ceiling for another five minutes before finally giving up on sleep. She stood up from her bed using her bedside table for assistance, she walked to her window and opened it welcoming the cool night breeze that brushed past her face. Marie turned as she heard a sudden sound, but she could see little in her barely lit room and there was little more than the tall trees that adorned the castle outside her room. Nevertheless, she decided to close her window and attempt to sleep once more, but she heard the sound of her huge door creaking as it opened quietly. "Freddy? Is that you?" She grinned walking to the door and marveling at how her husband's timing was always perfect. "Darling?..." Marie called again without a response. "Darling, I don't have the resilience to play games... I'm quite exhausted today but I just can not seem t..." She gasped as she felt the cold head of a pistol on her forehead. "Hello, My lady" Marie heard the cool voice of her husband's older brother. "Lord Reynolds? What are you?..." "Too bad I have to break the news but your Freddy is well... Almost dead" He said gesturing to the ground. Marie's eyes followed his direction to find her husband groaning as he lay in a pool of his blood. "Oh my God!! Frederick!!!" Marie gasped tears blinding her eyes and pain blinding all her senses as she attempted to run to her husband's side. "Not yet dear! You will tell me where the ledger is first" He said with a smug grin, his eyes glowing black with anger and his grip on her stronger. "Let me go" she struggled against his strong hands. Her head ached from straining to see her husband's face. "If you would stop being stubborn and give me what I want maybe I may" He growled. "I don't have it" She replied frantically. "It seems that you are just as strong-headed as your husband" he tightened his grip as she winced in pain. "Let... her... go..." Lord Frederick groaned. "She knows nothing" he added. "Oh... Quiet brother" Reynold growled shooting him in the chest. "Frederick!!..." Marie shrieked pushing Reynold and running to hold her husband. At this point, she could no longer control her tears. "Marie..." He choked, spitting out blood. "Shhh... Stop talking" Marie whispered, her hand trembling as she held her once infallible husband's weight. "I...I love... you" he coughed more blood. "I know and...and I love you too... But please, stop talking" she cried as he lifted his hands to wipe her tears leaving blood smudged on her face. "It's... it's not your fault darling" He said once again before his hands dropped. "Freddy...Freddy!! No! no!!... This is not happening..." Marie choked checking in vain for any sign of him breathing. Her heart broke at the reality of everything. "Not to interrupt the mood my Lady but... I need you to tell me, where the ledger is?" Lord Reynolds announced. "You are insane" She hissed, rushing at him and throwing as many punches as her quite feminine hand could mutter. Which wasn't much. "It seems that may have to deal with you and your baby, just like I did with that sly maid of yours..." He said gripping her arms tightly. "Don't you dare mention my child" Marie whispered. "I know you saw me do it..." He smiled stretching the scar on his right cheek. At this point, Marie had somehow come to the painful realization that there was little that could stop him. "Help me! someone help...!!" He stopped her scream with a slap on her cheek, Holding her by the throat as her fear grew and grew. He would kill her and there was nothing she could do about that. "I will strangle you so you won't have to birth your little bastard, then I will do the same to him..." He grinned, as though he was enjoying a good meal. "You... You Are a monster Reynold and I assure you, you will pay for everything you have done... I'm sure you understand that doing this will change nothing about your life, rather it would put you in ruins" she retorted tasting blood in her mouth, from the stinging tear on her cheek. "I am already in ruins!" He whispered, his eyes growing darker. "And you..." He pointed an index finger to her face. "...you are the cause of it, you and your foolish lover" he added tightening his grip on her throat. "...you are hurting me" she choked, a Hot tear running down her eyes. He was right it was all her fault. If only she had never married Freddy... No! If only she had controlled her feelings even when Freddy had beg...No! If only she had never appeared in their life. "...it's my pleasure, now where is the ledger?" he whispered in her ear. "I promise... I know nothing of it or any other ledger" she whispered. "...Well I guess I have to do away with you since you have turned out to be quite useless to me" she struggled against him as he added more pressure. "...please...please" she whispered unable to breathe. The room was becoming stuffy and she was already gasping for air. He was choking her. "... Let me go!... Help me!!... Help!" * * * * Marie felt a sharp pain in her back as she landed on the cold ground of the inn. She open her eyes slowly recognizing where she was, the room was poorly lit with only a candle placed on the bedside table, which also happened to be the only furniture in the room. Unconsciously touching her neck she realized that it had all been a dream. She slowly stood up using the bedstand as an assistant, as she walked over to the window opening it and welcoming the chilly morning cold. Her body still felt sore, from yesterday's journey. It was dark outside and she knew this was the perfect time to continue her journey. Just then she heard a knock on her door. "Who is there?" she asked slowly walking over to the door. "We would be on our way in thirty minutes mi Lady" Her stagecoach rider answered. " I will be right down" she replied gathering her meagre belongings around the room. As soon as she had settled in the stagecoach, they began their journey. The road was even more bumpy and wet from the night's outpour, and Marie tried to find comfort in the drab and stuffy stagecoach but this was almost impossible to do, as she wasn't the only one that had paid for the ride. Her neighbour appeared to have a lad of about two years who was most certainly unwilling to keep still. All she could hope for was their quick arrival in London. Marie had no idea how she would find a job considering the situation she was in. Lord knew she would be thankful if she could find work as a maid, as all Marie could think now was where she would lay her tired head and her protruding stomach. The stagecoach rode to a stop in the middle of a busy market and they all climbed down. Marie rushed down to empty her stomach content at the side of the road. She had been feeling sick for a while and had only managed to hold it down till they got there. She opened her bag and got a bottle of water to rinse her mouth and splash on her face. She turned wanting to pick up her bag and return the bottle to see that it had vanished. "It's a thief!.. Help! He got my bag" she shrieked watching the robber run off with the bag. She could bearly run up to a few steps before she fell to the ground feeling disheartened, she felt hot tears of frustration run down her cheek. The bag had contain a few important things including some clothes and at least all her money. All she had now in the pocket of her hood was a few changes from paying the stagecoach. Feeling very defeated, she wailed the more knowing that she would probably die of hunger now that she had escaped from her likely killer. "Catch that thief!" Marie heard a female voice behind her shriek, as some footmen ran past her. " Are you okay ma?" The beautiful young woman asked. " I'm not sure anymore..." Marie croaked, Her throat ached. "I'm sorry you had to suffer such a mishap," the lady smiled gently helping her up. "Do you have anyone around?... a carriage or any helper?" She asked eyeing her protruding stomach. "None my lady, I just arrived here on a stagecoach" Marie replied. "Where are you from?" She asked. " Well..." Marie hesitated. " My apologies, I mean where were you heading to?" She amended thoughtfully. "To London" Marie replied. "Where in London?" "I'm... not exactly sure about that part yet" Marie winced at how desperate she sounded. "Okay, would you like a cup of tea at my home until we find your bag?" The Lady asked, gesturing to her carriage. "Of course, my Lady" Marie replied enthusiastically. It was not like she had any other choice other than to follow the woman. The woman seemed nice and harmless, plus even if she was a villain, Marie had already acknowledged that she would probably die of hunger if she didn't follow her. She entered the impressive carriage along with the lady, who later introduced herself as Lady Arnold, she was the duchess of Westonhigh. Once they had gotten to Westonhigh. Marie explained her situation and Lady Arnold offered her a post as the housekeeper, as they were lacking a person to attend the post, and Marie embraced the post with joy. Marie liked the Arnold household, Lady Arnold's eldest son was about four years old and she had a babe who was only a few months old too, her husband Lord Arnold the Earl of Westonhigh was a kind man who loved his wife and family dearly, but also abhorred indiscipline. He had even attempted to imprison the thief who had stolen Marie's purse for an extended term, but Marie had solicited that they reduce his penalty as she was sure he was already miserable enough to have resulted in theft. Lady Arnold too also was kind and quite generous to Marie and every other servant in the household and she had never pressured Marie for the details of her life as Marie had expected her to do. Marie grew to trust her and they became good friends. Lady Arnold shared many of her worries with her and Marie assisted her in any way she could think of. Their relationship was quite far from that of a Duchess and her housekeeper and Marie even planned to tell her everything about herself, but she was always quite busy or too tired to start the conversation. Many months went by and Marie's expected date of delivery arrived. Lady Arnold called for a physician as soon as she started complaining of labour pains and although the physician did not appear on time she managed to successfully birth her babe. Marie felt a sense of accomplishment the moment she heard the cries of her boy. And although she was still in great pain, she could not stop smiling as tears of joy ran down her eyes, while she carried her babe. He was the most beautiful being she had ever seen. She loved him so much that she taught her heart may burst. The physician asked to see the Lord and Lady Arnold and a servant quickly went for them. Marie was unsure what it was all about as the physician seemed quite worried about something and his assistant seemed to be wiping quite an amount of blood. "Is there a problem?" Marie asked immediately after they entered the room. "You are bleeding excessively " Lady Arnold explained gently. "I suppose it's quite bad" Marie whispered. "Well, he plans to stick some leeches to see if it may control it to an extent" she reassured. Lady Arnold carried the babe while making small conversations with Marie as the physician worked on her. "What is his name?" Lady Arnold asked quietly. "Stephen... Frederick..." Marie whispered suddenly feeling even more tired and weak. "Stephen Fredrick O'Sullivan... That I pray is quite a nice name" she commented with a little smile. "It's my husband's name..." She answered. "Marie... This is not the best time to..." Lady Arnold complained. "I know... But, I also know you have the right to know about it..." Marie winced as she felt a sharp pain in her gut. "Marie..." Lady Arnold whispered again. " I'm sorry that I took so long to tell you everything... I just want you to know that I am grateful for your kindness towards me and my son" "Goodness Marie..." Lady Arnold hugged her as she sniffed quietly. "And I promise to tell you everything if I ever manage to get through this..." Marie said hot tears dribbling down her face, as she realized that she may never get to watch her son grow up. "Shhh, I assure you, Marie... You will get better and take care of Stephen by yourself and I will help you fight whatever has hurt you so much, just as the way you have been helping me" Lady Arnold hushed her. But as painful as it was to admit it, Marie knew that she was going to die. And she never got to tell her... Marie had died moments later, and all she had done that chilly night was groan as she bled to her death, with Lady Arnold by her side weeping as she watched her friend slip away.