Thread: Beguiled Mercy (WIP)

Hello there. Started a story on Wattpad and came into an issue when my newest chapter landed into adult content and it locked to private only. So I'm here to post to a new audience. This is deeply plot based with the only sex scene in the fifth chapter so far. Please PM me and let me know what you think! I don't get much feedback about my writing and would really appreciate it. Chapter 1 Even though the floors had been swept yesterday, it was hard to keep them clean. Alice took her time sliding the straw broom over the wood surface of the floor, knowing no one was coming to check on her work, but it was a duty she took up anyway. In fact, she couldn't quite place what kept her here. A roof over her head and a kitchen to work in was far better than nothing, but at the same time she had her offer to leave and join another plantation. The offer came back to her mind now and she shrugged it off. In truth, she knew what kept her. She was expecting the lord of the house to return. It had been three years since he'd left and now his household had been deserted. All except her. The last servant to seek to maintain what wealth and influence he had, unsure if he would ever return or if he was even alive. After so many years, however, she wasn't too concerned about it. He slipped her mind now. She stuck around more to keep herself occupied and stay with something familiar to her than to leave and experience something new. She continued to sweep now, thinking about the potatoes that were boiling right now. She was low on food, but she had a little bit of money left to purchase some groceries when she needed them. The Patterson estate would also be kind enough to feed her. Provided she continued to work for them on occasion. She was there every Thursday for watching the children and basic cleaning and every Sunday to take the carriage with them to church. If her master never returned, at least God would be there to keep her safe. Alice had grown lax in her attire when she worked around the estate. The hoops of her dress were removed and she kept her sleeves rolled up, allowing more skin that was usually shown to be displayed. Sometimes she'd leave her uniform off, especially in the summer months, instead working in only her thin chemise. Even now she no longer wore her stockings either. She sometimes would slip them on when the days got colder, but it never got to be unbearable. She reminded herself that it was her last pair that had no runs in them anyway, so there was no reason to wear them unless she risk having them look terrible as well. Her uniforms were all starting to look worn as well. Small tears here and there that she had sewn shut, but still were clearly mended. Little bits of stains and smears that didn't wash out. The ends of her dresses were all frayed now and it was as much the fault of doing work she wasn't assigned to do as it was not wearing the hoops and letting the ends drag on the ground. A sound stirred her then. She had been humming to herself a tune from church when she heard a thud in the grand room. Instantly she guessed it to be bandits or some ruffian and her regret of staying alone now came full circle. The small hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she tried to quickly and quietly rush into hiding. There was no way for her to defend herself and even if she could, she couldn't imagine facing a man, much less the barbarian she imagined had rushed the household. The candlelight would give away that someone was here. She knew this much, but she wasn't sure if anything else would make her noticeable. Her mind was racing and fear was grasping at her lungs, making it difficult to breath as she moved about to find a spot to hide. Finally she settled on a cupboard that was empty and resigned herself to stash herself inside. Her hands shook the whole time, unable to properly grab the handle while her other hand clutched her broom, ready to defend herself as meekly as she might be able to. When the door from the grand room to the dining hall creaked in the distance, she felt an extra rush of adrenaline and finally grabbed the handle properly to open the door. Without any hesitation she stepped in and closed the door behind her, making sure to turn toward the front in the process. If she were discovered, she wanted to at least face them. And now with the darkness all around her, only broken by the single strip of light that penetrated her new world, she waited. The broom was clutched tightly in both hands, pressed against her bosom, her breath trying to be calmed, but refused to seek more air. She was gasping now, mouth wide open and feeling still suffocated. It tempted her to ease the cupboard open a little more, but her fear gripped her too much from moving. As she started to feel a little more in control and calm, the door to the kitchen opened. Her breath caught in her throat and the heaving of her chest stopped. She held her breath, convinced that the sound of her breathing could be heard a kilometer away. As she peeked through the gap she was able to look through, she watched the shadow of a figure slip inside. She felt herself unable to think now and nearly jumped in shock. Her breathing came back again, but she worked hard to stifle it with little success. Her ears burned as she tried to listen, to tell where the stranger went. How close he might be. Where he might be going. If she would be found. Thought after thought of her brutal murder came to her mind and she wanted to scream. No one else would hear, though. It would only be her and her unwanted guest. The fear of that reminder made her want to scream even more desperately, in the wild hopes that someone might be passing by to rescue her. In the end she held back. It was far too excessive of a risk. As her thoughts kept her aching in her fear, she watched the shadow slip away. Another moment later, it reappeared and she watched a figure come closer to her pot of potatoes cooking on the stove. They were so close to her now and had their back to her. She felt tempted to ambush them, but the broom in her hands would likely do nothing but give them a dusting, especially when she reflected how small her frame was compared to this person. She decided to hold her ground and watch in desperate anticipation as the person looked over her meal and then turn away to start to browse the rest of the kitchen. The figure moved away and she tried to adjust her head so that she could look out and keep them in her sight. They had left her food alone, but she was certain they'd be back. Even worse, they were surely going to look for her and were very likely going to find her in the end. This realization set her mind in a flurry. She needed to get out. Or get armed. Or make this person go away somehow. Yet she couldn't think of anything to do that made her feel safe and her body refused to move, even if she did make a decision. She was unable to see the person now and she found herself needing to open the door a little wider to look around. She hesitated, but went ahead and pushed the door ever so slightly wider, trying to spot the man that came in. Just as she was about to give up on the search and assume he had left, she saw him again. This time he was facing her and watching the cupboard. He stared hard into the space she looked out from and she froze. It was obvious she was caught now, but she was trying to convince herself that she was still hidden. He didn't say a word of instruction to come out and he didn't move forward. He just stared inside, possibly at her instead of the darkness. She found herself looking back at his face and something caught her attention. His eyes! Master Soler? she called out feebly, shocked at the idea that it might really be him. My God, is that you, master? Her words were shaky and she pushed the cupboard open slowly at recognizing him. His facial hair had grown wild, leaving him to look like a wild mountain man. His clothing was unrecognized to her, a dark brown tunic, torn and stained all about and equally brown slacks that were covered in mud, wild grass, and other filth. She looked down to his feet. He had no shoes on and it was clear his feet were bleeding, but were covered in the same filth as found on his pants. The mud itself had caked on further at the bottoms of his feet and between his toes, creating a strange magenta color in some spots. The eyes of the man before her looked toward her in a pleading fashion. It was clear he was exhausted. I need...something to eat, he instructed, his voice crackling. He looked just as surprised about his voice as she felt. It wasn't the same at all, but it was definitely her master before her. She set to work quickly, jumping out of her hiding place and moving to the stove to get the unfinished potatoes ready for him. Please, master. Sit down. She motioned toward the stool next to him, setting next to the island that was used as much for a working space as a place to sit at and chat between the girls in the kitchen when things were different. She herself turned away to pull the potatoes from the boiling water and get them on a plate, cutting them into pieces before bringing the plate closer to him and setting it before him. Go ahead. She said, offering the plate to him. She had no problem with the idea of not eating tonight. Or maybe fixing something else. It wasn't important now. With Master Soler back, things will be better! It was surprising to her how fast the idea came, but it felt completely true, even with how bad he looked. The bland potatoes were quickly attacked with the fork she had given him, the plate half empty before he even ended up looking back up to her. She found herself unsure how to feel about him. As much as she was happy to see him returned and excited to serve him again, she also dreaded his condition and how he looked. He had always been clean shaven or a light beard from what she ever remembered of him. If he ever got dirty, it was relatively light and he was quick to bathe. Here, before her, he looked like a madman taken by the uncertain waves of life. He seemed desperate, miserable, and hurt. Things she had never seen from him and certainly would have never described him as such. To some level it sickened her. It further hurt to think that she served him when he was in such duress. As nice as it was to do his bidding and please him, it was not at all so romantic in her mind looking at him as he was now. On the other hand, she found herself proud now. He came home to her. No one else waited. No one else believed he'd be back, and here he was, ready to have her get him back up to speed so he could make this place great once again. Suddenly the romance was back in her mind. She had always admired him and, although she would never state as much, lusted over him. Being able to play care taker at his worst would surely put her in a special place in his heart. She couldn't imagine how it wouldn't influence him! Reality came spinning back as he cleared the plate and he looked toward her. She had completely forgotten to provide him something to drink and he would surely be just as thirsty! Without a word she rushed to the pump in the far corner and filled a glass for him. Her frayed skirts chased after her ankles as she came back, her steps much faster than she usually made. The glass was placed before him and he had it emptied within seconds. She quickly moved to fill it again and handed it to him, to which he drank half, hesitated, then drank the other half soon after. She was about to fetch him another glass when he reached for her hand and stopped her, shaking his head. Are you alone? he asked hoarsely. He cleared his throat and tried again. Is anyone else still here? This time his regular voice came through, albeit rougher now. He let go of her hand and adjusted himself on the stool. It's just me, m'lord, she replied, bowing her head to him. She resisted the urge to curtsy, finding it would probably be too much for now. She half expected to be reprimanded for not showing full courtesy to him, but no punishment came. The rest left over the years. Some are over at the Patterson's estate, but the rest I know not where they went. Her explanation came out of her mouth quickly. It surprised her to some degree, but she paid it little mind. The man again adjusted himself on the stool, seemingly unable to find a comfortable position. It was clear that fatigue was tugging on him as well as the other strains he was enduring now. His eyes were heavy and now that hunger had been pushed away for the moment, the burning of his muscles started to take over in his mind. He could no longer feel the bottom of his feet, instead the numb pressure of different surfaces could be felt, but nothing more. He didn't want to even glance at his feet at this point. It was a mess, there was no doubt, and looking would only make it feel worse to him. He watched Alice move around him and look him over. He was glad to have someone here, but wished it was someone that had a higher position. A simple servant girl wasn't going to pay as much attention as one of those he had as advisers. On the other hand, he could already imagine that everything that wasn't nailed down had already been taken. The thought angered him, but he pushed the feeling aside. Right now he needed to get himself taken care of and then he'd worry about other matters. Get a bath ready, he instructed, motioning her to leave him. As much as the idea of laying down appealed to him right now, he didn't want to sleep filthy. He had already had far too many nights of sleeping in muck to be up for doing it in his own home. As he heard her gentle statement of agreement and her footsteps rushing off, he got up himself. His mind was on what was left in his study. He had no doubts that at least some of his property had been stripped away, but he needed to check on his secret compartment that held the deed amongst other items and a stash of money. He needed to make sure it was all still there and safe. The walk up the stairs was miserable. Having walked the distance back to the estate was one thing, but now having to climb upward with these stairs strained his legs. It made him tempted to stop and worry about the issue in the morning, but the bath and bedroom was up here as well and he'd have to come up at some point. Ignoring the pain, he pushed on. It wasn't long before he made it to the top and his steps felt odd as he met level ground. The pain subsided a bit as he started his search. He was right about the matter. His collection of books had been left largely intact, but the rest of the room had been gone through. He could see that his desktop was empty now and his seat had clearly been moved. He wondered if Alice had been fumbling through his belongings, but it was a moot point to him. He needed to worry about the main issues before the semantics. He set himself down in his chair, noting miserably that he just made it filthy before leaning down to the bottom drawer. The drawer was stuck. He sighed and tugged on it and it gave. At least that was a good sign, he reasoned. With it being stuck, it meant no one would have gone through it. At least not for some time. He pulled the drawer back and saw that much of his documents there were left, but had been tossed and mixed about. Someone certainly had rummaged through the papers at some point. Pushing down the stack, he pressed his fingers to the back of the drawer and felt the small piece of wood at the top give way. The panel at the back clicked and popped forward slightly. From there he pulled the panel out and looked in. It had remained untouched. Inside were a couple of bags of coins, a few choice pieces of jewelry that had been passed through the family bloodline, and a few documents, including the deed to the estate, that gave him ownership to several things. Of them were documents for his indentured servants. All the documents would still be legal, but many were expired at this point. Legally he had every right to have the terms extended, however no court would justify waiting years to have a manner like this settled. Those who had left were free and he would have serious issues getting them back. Of those documents he found Alice's. The girl's service had also expired. He took a moment to double check the details for her. She had served the 8 years that had been signed for. In fact, her term was up almost two years ago now. It would place her at roughly 20 years old now. The idea of telling her to go now that her term was up felt like the right thing to do, but also he admitted to himself that he needed her services for now. It wouldn't be a huge issue, he figured. He'd release her when he could and offer her some terms to go along with it. At the very least, a new dress for her new life. The documents were all shoved away and the panel replaced again before he made his way into his private bathing room. He was pleased to see that Alice had almost finished up with the bath. He was also happy to see that his porcelain tub was largely untouched in the time he was gone. His attention slipped on the details of the matter, however. He was tired and he was anxious to get clean. You can get in whenever you're ready, master. Alice brought herself closer to him, shyly motioning that the tub was indeed ready. At least it was filled at this point and the soap was set to the side for him along with a cloth. As she watched him stumble slightly, she reached out. She didn't like the idea of the filth all over him getting on her, but at the same time she wasn't about to let him just fall. Her hands met his body, one bracing him at his chest, the other moving behind his shoulder. He was already reaching for the bottom of his shirt at that point, seeking to pull it off. As he did so, she moved her hand in response, then stepped back from him. From there, he reached for the band of his pants and slid those off as well without hesitation. Alice found herself trying to look away, embarrassed about the matter, but it was clear that he wasn't or at least he was too tired to care. She wasn't sure and she wasn't about to ask him about the matter. He quietly climbed into the tub, slowly lowering himself in. The water quickly turned a light shade of brown and as he let himself sink in completely, it only got darker. Alice came closer and knew she was going to be expected to wash him. As much as she enjoyed the idea of touching him, she also felt concerned about letting her fantasies get the better of her. He was dirty now and she wasn't exactly aroused by how he looked, but maybe once he was clean things would change and she wouldn't resist. Her mind started to wander and quietly she reached for the soap and cloth and then dipped both in the water before starting to create a lather. I need to know what happened while I was gone, the man stated, his body starting to relax in the tub. He had dipped both arms into the water and then set them out on the rim of the tub. The water that slid down the side, both inside and out, came out brown. Did anyone come by asking about me? Did any of the staff cause any particular trouble or try to take over the place? Anything unusual like that? The words came out relatively quickly. He clearly had more strength now that he was fed, but he still looked tired. No, master, she replied. I don't recall anyone asking about you. At least if anyone did, I wasn't the one being questioned. She felt ashamed at her answer. It was no help to him, that much was obvious. If only she had noticed something. Anything! Everyone left, one by one. I tried to get them to stay. I really did! No one listened to me, though. She let her sorrow about the matter show. In all her efforts, it was only her that remained, waiting for his return. She felt like she could now mock everyone else. I told you so. She thought to herself. She'd say that to every one of them. He sighed as she began to take one of his arms and scrub it. She was going to be of little help to him. It was just as much as he figured. It made him that much angrier to think that every other person abandoned his estate. Even his advisers. He let his assistant not take any blame. The poor bastard had been right beside him when they were ambushed and shot on the spot. Even with the poor aim of those muskets, the marksman got the mark quite well from the bushes. Or perhaps that bullet was meant for him instead? He let the idea slide. Then what do you know? His tone came out harsh, her hands working to clean his other arm stopped for a moment, then continued. What have you done the last few years. M'lord... She hesitated, but kept cleaning. She had been doing things she was sure he wouldn't approve of and at the same time she wasn't about to lie to him. I hope you don't mind. I have been learning. She paused a moment then worked to clarify. At the church, they've taught me how to read. I've learned to write as well. her voice was soft now, trying to downplay just how much she had learned. She had put in a lot of effort the last few months in particular, but she didn't want to sound as if she was bragging about the matter. I learned to do math as well. They even taught me multiplication! Her last words ended with her looking away. She had just boasted about the matter and she felt shame, her face growing warm. I can't do the division they have tried to teach me, however. I don't understand... He perked up a little at the news. An educated servant often turned into a troublesome servant and he could feel himself growing angered by her behavior. Don't let yourself get too proud. He stated, chastising her. That's just the tip of the world of math. He thought back on his own experiences. How smart he felt when he too learned to do multiplication as a child in his schooling. He was praised for the ability and he felt so grand about the matter. It all crumbled away as he struggled for a time with division. Then they introduced geometry. It was all difficult to grasp for him and for the most part he didn't take to it all. Leave the geometry to the builders, he figured. He was no mason after all, nor a wood worker. A moment of silence followed and then she spoke again. I learned about some theories in medicine. She looked toward him. He had sat up in the tub and she moved to clean his back. They say there are these little creatures. Really tiny ones that you can only see under a microscope. They're the reason people get sick. She took a moment to squirm at the thought. There were probably thousands of those things all over him right now and she might get them on her. She was willing to sacrifice herself for him, though, so the idea wasn't so terribly revolting to continue cleaning him. I also heard you can stop them with this ointment stuff that I got. She raised a hand to point toward the end of the tub where a vial of liquid sat. It'll keep you from getting sick from your cuts! She smiled to herself, thinking she was doing a huge favor for him. His words however brought her down to reality. I know about those creatures, Alice. He muttered. They're still being debated on how true it is that they exist. I honestly don't believe it. It is too crazy. Can you imagine how many of those things would be crammed into a small space? It's absurd. I don't see how anything can live that's much smaller than an ant. he looked toward the ointment, annoyance taking him. I hope you didn't pay much for that. It is likely snake oil. Nothing more. He leaned back as she finished washing behind him and he raised his feet out of the water. The collection of dirt had largely fallen away from his feet, however as Alice came up to inspect them, it was clear that small stones and other objects were embedded in his skin. Some of it was just caught between ridges of his feet. Others had stuck themselves into the skin. A few quite deep. She took a moment to look around for something to remove the objects, but had nothing. I'll be right back, master. She said, quickly leaving the bathing room and heading downstairs to the kitchen. Taking a knife from the drawer, she ran back upstairs, careful not to trip or allow the knife to slip from her hand. Her mind was in a flurry now, thinking about the task of getting every object out of his feet. As she came back and brought the knife into his sight, he nearly jumped up and told her to back away. Her attention went to his feet and he calmed down. He watched her eyes looking intently at his feet, the knife held close to her thumb as she worked to dislodge and flick away the small rocks and debris. Blood started to flow from many spots and she decided to clear the heels of his feet first before the rest. The blood dripping down was making it hard to see after all. He could feel the flicks of her wrist when she pulled a rock out. It was numb, but the pressure was still there. He found himself worried that she might be cutting into his feet, but at the same time none of her movements gave her away to doing such a thing. He tried to let his mind wander about other issues, feeling his body relax and the desire to close his eyes and sleep overtaking him. He couldn't fall asleep here, however. He needed to wait until he could get to bed. To keep himself occupied, his eyes went to wandering her. It had been years since he'd been with a woman now and whether it was out of this lustful aspect or because of her actual looks, he found himself interested in her. Her delicate features on her face, not hidden by her determined expression there now, provided a pleasantly feminine view that he hadn't seen in so long. Even now he could feel the slight stirrings of his blood. It didn't help matters that she had naturally splashed some of the water onto her uniform and it had soaked through. A few spots were now slightly see-through and he could see the figure of her body as other parts clung to her curves. She wasn't impressive and wouldn't stand out by any means, but here and now, she was a very pleasant and arousing sight. With her work on his feet done, she inspected her feet one final time and nodded to herself in satisfaction before setting the knife down on the nearby counter. She then quietly picked up the cloth and rubbed his feet gently before moving to his legs. She allowed herself not going past his knees and she felt her face warm as she caught him staring at her. She stopped and moved beside him, cleaning his chest then handing him the cloth. I can leave. She stated, starting to do just that. Where have you been staying? The servant quarters? He asked, taking the rag and starting to work on the parts she didn't do. Yes, m'lord. She replied, nodding to him. Bring your things for the night to my room. If I need you, I don't want to have to call across the estate. You'll be staying in my room tonight. She nodded, her face growing warm again and quietly left him. A few minutes later she had brought a fresh uniform and undergarments into the room, putting them away as she figured they should go. At first she wasn't sure if she should hang her uniform with his suits and her undergarments with his own, but she went with it. Surely that's what he meant after all. She then headed toward the bathing room nearby and opened the door. He was in the middle of getting out of the tub then, careful about how he stepped in case his feet suddenly decided to slip out from under him or gain feeling out of nowhere. Between the exhaustion, the tired muscles, and the numb feet, he found it a struggle to get out, but he made it. Once out he was reaching for the towel she had left him, starting to dry himself. As she opened the door, he smiled. I brought my things. She stated, her voice quiet. Take your clothes off and get in bed. I'll be there shortly. Alice hesitated a moment. As much as she was attracted to him, she wasn't sure if she wanted to be with him like man and woman. There was a time once when she had slept with another of the servants and he made love to her. It was nice, but at the same time she resented the experience, although she couldn't place why. Now here was the lord of the house requesting her to be in his bed. There was no mistake about the language He was going to have her. Of course, master. She replied, surprised that it came out so clearly and level. The girl did as she was told, entering the bedroom and watching herself mechanically take her clothes off. She let everything collect in a pile on the far side of his bed before slipping under the sheets there. It made her happy that she had kept up with changing his bedsheets on occasion. It was less frequent that when he was here, but the sheets hadn't been on the bed for more than a month. As she waited, she found herself covering her whole body up to her chin. She wasn't cold, but she felt a chill down her spine now. The reality of being in his bed, waiting on him to come into the room and find her naked, expecting to have him use her body at his leisure thrilled her, but also worried her at the same time. She shivered slightly, her hands clutching the cool fabric of the sheet on top of her. It wasn't long before he came out of the bathing room and walked into his chambers. The thought of being in bed was thrilling for him. First because of her being available and waiting for him, the second being that he would finally get to sleep properly in his own bed. Without giving any further thought to the matter, he gave himself one final run across his body with the towel, drying any spots he felt were wet and then let the towel slip to the ground. He raised the cover up and slid under, having caught a clear sight of her completely exposed backside. She had rolled away from him as he came into the room and now he was scooting himself against her. He slid his lower arm under her head that was resting on the pillow and his other arm slid across her waist, then wrapped around her, reaching up to grasp her lower breast. He could feel his manhood, now semi-erect, press against her lower back and the sensation of her body touching against his made him harder. He pulled at her, her breast held tighter before gently pinching her erect nipple between his fingers and breathing against her neck. His lips touched her ear lobe and he slid in a little tighter. Happy with how close they were, he moved his hand down to rubbing her side and along her hip and waist. She felt wonderful under his rough hands and he could feel his longing that had been unmet for so long starting to find an escape. His feet rubbed together as he moved and he sighed. Forgot to wrap my feet. He muttered, slight annoyance in his voice. He put his head down on the pillow and grabbed at her hip to pull her against him, but as he closed his eyes, he felt himself relax. Alice let him touch her as he wished. She wasn't about to fight him and she couldn't possibly deny how much she enjoyed his touch. She wanted to deny him, wanted to act as if she didn't long for this moment, but at the same time she didn't know why and didn't act on it. The feeling of his rough hands gave her goosebumps and chills all across her body. Even the unruly beard he had developed felt delightful against her neck and shoulder. She wanted him to explore her forever and could feel the hunger between her legs. As his body went limp behind him, she panicked. Did I do something wrong? She asked very lightly. Silence followed. Master? With no reply, she carefully and slowly moved over and then looked back to him. He was asleep. She sighed, as much out of frustration as relief. She wasn't about to shake him awake and she most certainly wouldn't dare try to arouse him as he slept and put him inside her. With that resentment, she carefully slid out of bed. Her chemise slipped on, she decided to clean up quickly before coming back. Her first stop was in the bathroom to clean the tub. As it drained, a ring of dirt was left at the water's edge and she quickly wiped it away before taking a bucketful of water to rinse it out as well as the trails of dirt at the bottom. Once the tub was drained and cleaned, she pulled out a fresh towel and the supplies for him to shave with. She wasn't sure how any of it worked and whether it would be any good, but she set it all out anyway. It was tempting to ask about it later, or perhaps watch him shave, but she let the idea go. It wasn't her place. Returning to the bedroom, she picked up her dirty clothes and set them to the side to take out and wash later. Finally she gathered up some medical supplies and knelt down beside the bed at his feet. She removed the covers and rubbed ointment all across the bottom of his feet. From there, she wrapped up each foot and then brought the covers back over them. Satisified that her work was done, she put the ointment away and came back beside the bed. She let her chemise slip off her shoulders, falling into a small pile before she slipped back under the covers. He had rolled over onto his back and she laid back down, trying to take up as little space as possible, curled up on the edge of the bed. It wasn't her place to be here and she wasn't about to sprawl out in his bed. Master Windel Soler's bed.