Every lurid detail

For the next two hours Charlotte was the center of attention. All four women listened with rapt attention as she described Black Brand's initial **** and her dreadful march through the forest to his hidden lair. She had to be careful not to refer to her captor as Mr. Fuller; that was a secret she wanted to keep for now. Once the man was captured he would be identified, but until then she decided Mary's mother did not deserve to be dragged into the misdeeds of her son. In a way, the reaction of the four women as she detailed her abduction was the best part of the entire horrific experience.

"That villain!" Aunt Elizabeth had gasped when she described how the Highwayman had wrapped her wrists tightly with the leather straps and the other three agreed with shocked protests of compassion. When she described how helpless she had been as her captor's hands opened her dress to fondle her and how he had pulled away her leggings Charlotte could feel an unspoken excitement building in the bed room. It did not surprise her that Priscilla and Beatrice were excited by the description of the powerful outlaw capturing a maiden, binding her and then stripping away her clothes, but both her Aunts were distinctly agitated as well with flushed faces and rapid breathing.

As she recounted Black Brand's behavior at Rainbow Falls the room became charged with sexual tension. It was, she had to admit, an erotic scene she was describing as she detailed the outlaw's hands touching her in ways that no man except her husband ever should. She refused to dwell on her response to his forceful kisses and bold caresses, trying to skip over these details but her audience insisted that none of the shameful events be omitted. They sighed, gasped and coo'd at the appropriate places but as her companions patted her knee in sympathy and gave her gentle hugs Charlotte sensed that they envied her in a way that no one could ever admit.

Dinner arrived on trays, a rich beef consommé, bread and butter, and sliced meats accompanied by a full-bodied Burgundy to drink. Were it not for the serious nature of the day's events, it might have been fun to eat so informally from trays without even changing into dinner dresses. No one spoke of the the men from Marlton manor who were scouring the forests in search of the outlaw, but everyone knew why they were eating alone. As soon as the servants left with the empty plates Charlotte's companions pushed her for details about her harrowing experience and how she escaped from the dangerous highwayman.

It was when Charlotte tried to explain how she was spared the fate they had all anticipated, in particular how Black Brand unexpectedly sent her away, that she sensed the the atmosphere in the room change. She could feel their unspoken disbelief at the unexpected and inexplicable decision of the highwayman to send her back to her family instead of keeping her for his unspeakable pleasures.

"Are you sure Dear, that that's all that happened?" Aunt Elizabeth asked gently. "You can tell us anything if you need to." The others three nodded their heads solemnly, thankfully Charlotte had nothing else to tell because despite their kind words not one of these women could keep their mouths shut.

"He didn't **** me." Charlotte's abrupt response silenced the room. "I was treated most improperly, but I assure you my virtue is firmly intact." The room was quiet for almost a minute until Priscilla tried awkwardly to answer the question that had everyone puzzled.

"It's a blessing perhaps, that you are so plain." She smiled sweetly, "We all know how lovely you really are Charlotte, but men can be so ..." Her musical voice faded uncharacteristically as she ran out of words, and then perhaps in an attempt to finish the thought she added with a delicate little shudder. "I can only imagine what a brute like that might have done to me."

Charlotte almost laughed out loud, she hid her mirth with a polite sip of tea. It was just like Priscilla to turn everyone's attention back to her. Had Mr. Fuller decided she was too ugly to ravish? In her heart she didn't think that was the reason. Priscilla Dunning undoubtedly had far more experience with gentlemen than her, but Charlotte was the one captured, kissed, and groped by the man - surely that counted for something.

And yet, she had no better explanation to offer than the petite blonde's, so she sat in silence sipping her tea as the conversation turned to the wickedness of men in general and of Black Brand in particular. Aunt Jane reminded everyone that with Black Brand's imminent capture, the whole nasty business would soon be over.