Charlotte tries and succeeds!

The locking mechanism of the shackles was simply a square-head nut that tightened the ring of iron to the desired size. As he turned the key again and again tightening the manacle around the intricately carved bed post Randy tried to figure out how he could use Marlton's daughter to **** the Lord to pay for his household's mistreatment of Mary.

Randy laughed out-loud as he imagined how angry Marlton will be when he learns that Black Brand had his daughter. His joy was tainted with the knowledge that nothing he could do to Marlton would bring back his sister, but all the same he would enjoy making Marlton squirm to get his daughter back unharmed. He paused in his fumbling attempts to fasten the manacle to the bed and paused to look at his captive. She met his laughter with proud anger.

“Isn’t it enough that you are going to **** me?” Charlotte demanded. “Do you have to laugh at me as you do it?” Charlotte's accusation startled Randy. Did he want to **** her? As attractive as he found his proud captive and angry as he was at this young woman's father, he had no desire to take his **** by forcing himself on Marlton's innocent daughter.

“Oh don’t worry Lady Marlton.” Randy told her with a smile now that this descision had been made. “I’m not going to ravish you, I'm not even going to touch you.” He laughed at himself, knowing that he lacked the strength to stop once he had her in his arms. His Viking ancesters must be rolling in their ancient tombs at his descision. Not that he wouldn't love to have this long-limbed beauty in his arms, but forcing Charlotte would not bring back Mary. No, the sooner he had Charlotte secured the sooner he could step away from her and think.

Charlotte’s mind whirled. He wasn’t planning to **** her? Why not? His laughter still echoed in the cave, and Charlotte felt her anger rise. Was there no man in all of Southern England that found her even the slightest bit attractive? She knew she was no beauty, but Black Brand the lawless highwayman had her chained to his bed and even he wasn’t going to take advantage of her. His disdainful arrogance gave her a strength she didn’t realize she had.

“Better to try and fail; than to put up with this mockery.” Charlotte knew that the chances of success were slim, but she was a Dame of the Realm and just like Nelson in the Mediterranean, she would fight to the end. She clenched her hands together and lifted them high over Black Brand's head preparing herself for an all-out ****.

Randy was too distracted by his thoughts as he turned the key to sense Charlotte's shifting on the edge of the bed. He was caught completely by surprise when with a sudden cry his captive launched herself at him.

“Damn it you wildcat!” He cursed just as the sharp blow to the back of his neck made his head swim and eyes water momentarily. Before he could clear his head he felt the full weight of his captive smash his head into the foot of the bed.

“Ough!” He grunted and felt himself slide to the floor. He could feel Charlotte pry the heavy key from his numb fingers but didn't have the strength to fight her.

“What did you expect you savage?” Charlotte lifted her foot and kicked out at him twice, one kick landing in on his upper thigh and the next one drove into his belly driving the wind from his lungs. “You Outlaw!” She spit out the insults as she bent to loosen the shackle around her ankle. “You Pig!” Randy was trying to shake the cobwebs from his head, but everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.

Charlotte kicked her leg free of the hated iron ring. She briefly considered shackling Black Brand to the bed, but immediately dismissed the thought as she realized the outlaw was rising to his feet as well. He towered above her, with his size and strength she knew that if he caught her she'd never escape.

Charlotte took one more look at the blond-haired highwayman and ran the length of the cave and leapt through the curtain of water and dropped into the cold pool of water below. As she swam through the water she remembered his laughter, and his words of rejection.