She plans to return

Charlotte did her best to ignore the dark eyes of Lieutenant Easton as he escorted her from the make-shift cell back into the light of the courtyard where a private stood, patiently holding Copper's reins. Easton took the gelding's bridle and led her mount through the gateway in the stone wall and onto the grassy common at the center of the village. The blood splattered wooden platform and its whipping post stood just beyond the outer wall of the townhouse that had been requisitioned by Colonel Touring and his officers, a grim reminder of the punishment that had been ordered by her father and carried out just hours ago.

"I'll return tomorrow Lieutenant," Charlotte informed the officer with as much confidence as she could muster, "Will his manacles be removed so he can rest on the cot?"

"Yes Lady Marlton, I had Fuller secured as soon as I heard that you were coming personally." He placed the reins into her hand, but before she could take them, his other hand trapped hers; he held her firmly as he said what was clearly on his mind. "My Lady, it is unseemly, indeed even dangerous for you to come here like this." Charlotte knew what he was going to say, "I have upheld my end of our bargain, do you agree?" She nodded stiffly, for in truth the earnest young officer had done everything she could have asked for. "If you want to treat Fuller again yourself, I must insist that I be present." He loosened his grip slightly as he added almost as a plea, "we have a very fine surgeon who has had too much experience treating men in this state, if you leave the ointment in my care I promise Fuller will be attended to."

This time it was Charlotte's turn to place her gloved hand on Easton's trapping his hand as he had trapped hers, she met his gaze firmly as she judged his intentions. What did he want from her? Did he intend to build upon their intimate encounter in the gardens? Easton couldn't possibly think that he could resume the negotiations that had resulted in her having Mr. Fuller at her mercy - could he? Charlotte could feel the warmth of his palms and realized how their position might appear to any of the villagers or men in Easton's command if they were seen.

"We'll talk about this tomorrow, Sir." She abruptly pulled free of his grasp and climbed nimbly onto Copper's saddle, once looking down at the young officer from this new-found height she felt a renewed sense of confidence. Perhaps it was a continuation of her boldness with the chained highwayman in the dark cell, or perhaps it was her awakening awareness of the power an attractive woman can have over a man, either way Charlotte was willing to take her chances dealing with Lieutenant Easton once they were no longer the center of public attention.

The ride directly up the hill to Marlton Manor normally took no more than five minute, but Charlotte was in no hurry. She circled behind the estate and approached the manor house from behind; she had been riding slowly for almost fifteen minutes and had yet to reach the stables behind her family estate. She considered the young officer and what it might take to influence his judgement. It was clear that he could be influenced by her, but what could she offer that might change the dour man's decision?

Would she be willing to let him kiss her...touch her...use her? She had a sudden vision of Easton pressing her to the door of the converted wine cellar and kissing her hungrily, his thigh wedged firmly between her legs pressing against her throbbing sex. It was like a scene from her romances, but why would she even consider such a thing?! It was bad enough she had tormented Mr. Fuller like she had, but that was retribution for how the highwayman had mistreated her. Randolph Fuller deserved to be chained and teased like that, it might serve to temper his way with women in the future, but Easton was a different matter.

Lieutenant Easton had honourably upheld his end of the bargain, he wasn't a common man driven by lust, a coarse sailor like Fuller, Easton was an officer and a gentleman. Furthermore, even if she was able to convince the Lieutenant to leave her alone with Fuller in that darkened cell, then what? Her fist was now twisting in her lap as she rode, grinding against the junction of her torso and thighs. Surely she couldn't... with that brigand... again... She returned both hands to the reins and straightened her back as she approached her home. If her aunts caught her rubbing herself like that in public she'd never be allowed to ride alone again.

Charlotte was relieved to see that neither her aunts or her father were waiting on her return. Dinner would be in a little more than an hour and she hurried to her room to change into an appropriate dress; if she sat at the dinner table in a riding gown not only would she be soundly chastised for her lack of decorum, but there would be multiple questions about where she had been off to. Charlotte had no desire to submit to that kind of interrogation, with luck her father would be content in the knowledge that his nemesis had been beaten raw and would soon be on his way down under, banished for the rest of his life to the penal colonies of Australia.

So when the dinner bell rang, Charlotte descended the great steps into the primary level of Marlton Manor wearing a high-waisted dinner gown of rose coloured taffeta. She walked gracefully into the dining hall gratefully accepting a glass of wine from the steward and returning Major Talbot's half bow when he acknowledged her entrance. Charlotte glanced at her father to determine his mood.