Servitude or Taxes

[Hard_Rom]

The vampire holds his mistress tightly in his cold embrace.

"You are safe," he says. "And that is all that matters." "They can't hurt you anymore."

"I was scared when... I heard of the attack. That you... had been badly hurt."

The werewolf had been following close behind the carriage. Not thinking that an attack by robbers would occur but just to be close by. The wolf can move by day and he wished to be as close as possible to York and Marybeth. It was coming across the unconcious form of his driver that had sent the beast mad with rage. The fourth man had evaded him by riding hard back to the inn and surrendering himself. The beast did not think about concealment from Marybeth, just the desire to rend and kill any who threatened her. He is glad she does not realize the nature of her rescuer. It would raise awkward questions.

He seperates himself from her enough to examine her injury. It is quite a vivid bruise by now with a good degree of swelling. Gently he lifts her chin to see it.

"I had tickets for the theater tonight for us. A box at the Theater Royal for Macbeth," he says, "Perhaps you would prefer that we stay in tonight." "We can go tomorrow night if you wish."

"We can have a dinner served here. Just the two of us."

 

[Perplexia]

She closed her eyes as he lifted her chin to see her swollen bruised face. It hurt her that he had to see her like that. She was suppose to be beautiful for him when he arrived, not emotionally on edge and bruised.

When he told her of the tickets and that he could postpone their outing until tomorrow night. She nodded. "If you're sure you don't mind. It's been a long emotionally draining trip. I would like to spend my evening with you, just the two of us, with some wine and dinner."

Her eyes looked up into his as she leaned forward and kissed him softly. "You're so good to me. These past couple nights without your company has been agonizing. I did do well at the auction though. I managed to secure most of the books you wanted, and made quite a few steals."

 

[Hard_Rom]

"Excellent!" Jonathon says with the tiniest of smiles, "I shall have my man bring them up and we can spend the evening perusing them."

Being a high class hotel, a pull on a bell rope brings a servant type. The Baronet orders an exquisite meal for two, several bottles of very good wine and has word sent to his coachman to deliver the books to their room.

"Also after our dinner," he instructs, "Have a bath brought and readied for the lady."

He turns back towards Marybeth.

"Perhaps a nice hot bath before... retiring will help relax you after such a trying experience." "I must leave the hotel before dawn as I have some business in Leeds to attend to. So you will have to entertain yourself tomorrow day time. The cathedral is divine. You must take time to visit it."

"Promise me you won't stay shut up in this room all day awaiting my return."

 

[Perplexia]

Marybeth was happy he was so thrilled with the books she acquired on his behalf. She listened as he gave instructions for the books, the food, and a bath for her. She frowned when he told her he had to leave before dawn. The idea of going out on the town during the day caused her heart beat to race with anxiety. People stared at her and it made her uneasy.

His request on the other hand was something she couldn't deny despite her trepidation's. "I would really rather stay in, but if you wish it I shall go out for a little while. But the people they stare at me. I feel so monstrous with this bruise."

Moments later the books were brought up that had been acquired. She smiled as he delved into the packages to see what she had gained for his library. It was important that he was happy. It made her heart sing every time he smiled.

The exquisite meal he ordered came soon after with the wine. Being in his presence made her calm like the feeling of home. Wherever he was she wanted to be too.

 

[Hard_Rom]

A bevy of servants bring and arrange a fine dining meal. The table is clothed in a fine laced tablecloth, silver candlesticks and eating utensils are supplied. The finest of porcelain plates and bowls are placed just so. Two servants remain to serve the couple. It is a veritable feast with two kinds of soup offered. Choices of fish, wild game and poultry are set on a side table. Imported pasta from Italy with a cheddar sauce is available. Several desserts of cakes and confections sit waiting the end of the meal. A small silver pot warmed by small candles smells of chocolate. The wine is fortified and Portuguese.

The Baronet has a quick quite word with the head servant, who glances at Marybeth before leaving with the majority of the servants.

Jonathon cannot resist bringing a book to the table. He is sure Marybeth will forgive him. Before he does, he insist on assisting her to sit instead of letting a servant handle her chair.

"The hotel has a salon," he says once seated himself, "Anytime tomorrow, you may go there and they will take care of that bruise." "And do your hair in a fitting manner for the theater."

Marybeth's skin is quite fair and the lateness of the year has faded any tan that a farm girl might have. He insisted that a lead-based paint not be used. It is well known that lead is toxic. But some women insist on or need the heavy coverage of a lead-based pigment to hide blemishes or a naturally dark complexion. The fashion in England is turning more to 'natural' colours compared to the French aristocracy but makeup is still called paint for a reason.

"If you would not mind," he says, "Could you request they not powder your hair." "I do find the colour to be most attractive."

 

[Perplexia]

Marybeth smiled as he insisted on seating her. Watching him as he brought his book to the table.
She listened intently as he talked about her going to the Salon. She had never been to one before. They would be able to paint her face so the bruise wouldn't show. He then requested that she not have powder in her hair.

"Yes Mi Lord" she replied to his request. She chose the fish from the display of food and slowly picked at it forcing herself to eat. It felt strange to her eating at a table with him and not being the one doing the serving. She took a sip of her wine and smiled. "I like the taste of this".

The ordeal she had been through was slowly starting to fade away in his presence. She was safe now, because he was here. Eventually she managed to force down her meal and even take a bit of chocolate dessert. She loved the way it melted in her mouth.

At dinner she drank a couple glasses of wine and was feeling quite relaxed. As they cleared away the food they brought in the hot water for her bath. They placed the partition in front of it to give her privacy as she shed her dress and undergarments and slowly slipped into the hot steaming water.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Marybeth's bath is placed close by the fire blazing in the hearth. The privacy partition is mostly thin paper so when she undresses and slips into her bath, Marybeth is silhouetted by the light of the fire. It is a highly erotic sight.

While she bathes, Jonathon goes to the door. The head servant he had previously talked to awaits outside the room with a small bundle. A fine hotel always tries to ensure the comfort, dignity and privacy of it's guests. Jonathon returns to the room's interior and without really looking he drapes the fine silk chemise over the partition wall. In the southern parts of France people including aristocracy sleep naked. In northern England they sleep in clothes not much lighter than day clothes, if rich enough to afford different day and night attire. Here in the fine hotel with it's thick walls and large hearth, and considering the upcoming activities, the Baronet has procurred his mistress something appropriate for the cold English night and whatever occurs.

"For you, my dear," he says.

The vampire does not feel the chill and while Marybeth bathes, he strips naked and climbs into bed. Taking a glass of wine and a book with him.

 

[Perplexia]

Marybeth glanced up from her bath as the chemise was placed on top the partition. The silky material glimmered in the flashing glow of the firelight. "Thank you Mi Lord" she said softly. Rustling in the water could be heard as she slowly rose from the tub. The water cascaded off her pale untouched flesh as she reached for a towel to dry herself with.

Once dry she reached for the thin silk material and slid it over her frame. It fit her well, but did show more of her then she was comfortable with. It took her a couple moments to come out from behind the partition and she moved to the vanity to let down her hair and brush it.

Her fingers trembled slightly with nerves about what the evening would entail. Unable to stall any longer she set down the brush and looked in the mirror. She could see him in the bed with his chest bare. She was going to be his.

Rising from the stool she stood at the foot of the bed with her long amber locks free searching his eyes.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Jonathon tries hard not to stare when Marybeth came out from behind the screen. His interest in his book is purely a tactic to not make her feel uneasy. He steals glances as she brushes out her thick hair.

The Baronet sets his book on the night stand when Marybeth comes to satnd at the foot of their bed. Backlit by the fire, her figure is easily visible through the thin sheer material. Very immodestly cut much of her heavy breasts are quite enticingly visible. The fact that her breast's areola and the darker patch between her legs can be seen through the thin silk give him a raging erection.

"You look good enough to eat," says the vampire.

He folds back the covers beside him and looks back at her with his barely there smile.

"Come to bed, my love. The night flies and I must be away before dawn."

 

[Perplexia]

Marybeth nodded and made her way to the side of the bed he'd pulled the covers down on. Slowly she crawled in next to him and covered herself. Her leg brushed against his and jumped slightly. Closing her eyes for a moment she regained composure and looked up at him with a soft smile.

She was as ready as she could be to become his mistress. She never thought that would be something she would do. But he had secured her future to live independently if ever he grew tired of her companionship and she would be content living having known love just once.

 

[Hard_Rom]

The seduction of virgins is not high on a vampire's list of powers as they are immune to being glamoured. And there rarity at the age required for them to be said to be ripe means they are more valuable as a food source. In fact it takes a huge degree of self control not to just bite into Marybeth's smooth fair flesh and feast. The pulse in her neck is hypnotic and magnetic. Her heart beat, so distinct to his ears, calls to him.

Jonathon moves to half cover Marybeth under the heavy bed covers. He leans down and kisses her lips gently. And then her jawline and onto her neck. Torn between needing to take her maidenhood quickly for her safety and desiring to be gentle with this beautiful creature, he puts his hand on her hip abover her thin chemise and moves it up to cup and caress her breast as he moves back to kissing her on the lips.

"There will be some pain, my dear," he says softly," And blood." "The first time is not usually the best."

He plays with her nipple through the thin material for a moment and then his hand moves down to the hem of her chemise. His hand softly trails up her thigh, under her silk shift and gently touches up against her sex.

 

[Perplexia]

As his lips touched hers the nerves she had seemed to change into excitement. The way he kissed her jaw and her neck and massaged her breast. He explained to her that there would be pain, that the first time wasn't the best experience. Marybeth nodded and let out a soft moan when his fingers found her moistening sex.

She didn't know much about the intercourse interactions between a man and a woman, but she did know that she wanted to give herself fully to him. She knew that the way he touched her brought her alive in ways she'd never experienced. That his kiss made her hunger for him in whatever way he would give himself to her.

Marybeth gasped and moaned as his fingers brushed against her throbbing clit and untouched canal. She knew at that moment there was nothing she could deny him. Something magical bound her heart to him.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Jonathon works his hand and fingers through Marybeth's lower lips and over her clit. He can feel getting wetter and wetter, her pleasure nub stiffening under his touch. His vampire sense equate her juices with her virgin blood. Kissing and nuzzling her neck, he knows he could just bit down hard with his fangs and tear out her throat or just stab down and puncture the artery just below the skin and drink her life away. For a second his mouth opens against her neck revealing long canines upper and lower, the reason he does not smile much or talk to avidly. It is with an effort he returns to kiss her mouth.

Judging her to be good and wet, he moves to place himself between her thighs. The head of his hard cock finds the wet folds of her pussy of it's own accord. Jonathon puts his hands on either side of Marybeth's body and looks into her eyes. He pushes forward just a bit to slightly penetrate and spread her opening. Her maidenhead is still intact, he can feel. Keeping his cock pushed up against her hymen, Jonathon leans down and kisses her deeply.

Then gives a good hard shove to penetrate and tear her maidenhood. He breaks the kiss and rears his head back and emits an animal type growl as the scent of her juices mixes with her virgin blood from her torn hymen.

 

[Perplexia]

As he kisses her an rubs her hardened nub her hips begin to move against his finger. Soft moans into his mouth as he makes her wetter.
She lets out a gasp as his shaft pushes into her. Spreading her untouched canal open for his manhood. Her body freezes at the invasion and then begins to adjust to the width stretching her.

He kisses her again with a deep passion and pushes through her barrier causing a surge of sharp pain as he tears her open. Breaking the kiss he growls as she cries out her body freezing once again. Slowly the pain begins to subside. She gasps an whimpers softly her tight canal contracting and gripping his shaft within her.

Her hips move urging him to continue to claim what is his.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Jonathon leans back down and kisses Marybeth. He resists the urge to fuck her through the bed with difficulty, as she becomes accustomed to him inside her. When the noises she makes and the movement of her body indicate, he pushes his large cock deepr inside her freshly taken pussy. His restraint is easier to come by now that she is no longer virgin, although the scent of her maiden's blood fills his nostrils. Now it is pure desire for a beautiful, intelligent, fellow fancier of books.

Slowly he begins to move inside her. With each stroke he pushes deeper into her. Pulling back until just the glan of his cock is inside her pussy, then pushing forward deeper and deeper. Her young newly taken pussy is so tight and so wet. His hips move faster now as he sheathes his cock in her. Lip locked with her, he kisses her hard and passionately as they fuck.

 

[Perplexia]

The more he moved inside her, the more he pussy became to adjust to being filled. She gasped and moaned as his thrusts became deeper and more demanding. Kissing him with the same passion, she found her hips moving clumsily at first trying to match his rhythm.

As the pain all but disappeared she found increased pleasure with his cock claiming her tight canal as his own. She gasped for breath between the kisses and the moans as her first orgasm built with in her.

The harder and faster he went the quicker it built and she found her pussy clamping down tightly on his shaft, her hips rising off the bed as she cried out into his mouth as her first orgasm seized her causing her body to convulse and shutter over him.

Recovering from it she purred beneath him and her hips began to match his thrust once again begging for more of the euphoric feeling.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Jonathon matches the strokes of his cock with Marybeth's climax as she moans and cries out. And as she recovers from her orgasm a wanton look comes to her face and her hips buck up wards to meet his as he thrusts forward. The bedcovers have slipped back and he looks down at his lover.

"I want to see you," he says.

Stilling fucking her, he reaches down with one hand and raises her silk chemise up to expose her breasts. He glories in the sight of them as the move in response to his thrusts and her rising to meet him. Her flame tinged hair spills across the pillow in a glorious amber halo. The sight of her naked beauty beneath him further inflames his passion for her.

He varies his rythmn of fucking the young beauty. He slows down but ensures he uses his whole cock to plumb her depths. His balls nestle up against her ass cheeks when he push all the way to the hilt. Again, Jonathon leans down to taste her lips. His moans of pleasure mix with hers as they kiss hard. The speed of his thrusts start to pick up but he now starts to use his cock to stimulate the sensitive opening. He feels his own pleasure building as her tight wet pussy grips the swollen head.

Jonathon breaks the kiss and rises up to look down at his mistress as he uses her now for his pleasure. The sight of her, the sounds she makes and the feel of her sweet young cunt make him piston his cock in short very rapid strokes in and out of her. He growls like an animal with every thrusts forward and gasps his pleasure as he withdraws. His cock swells even harder and larger within her as he feels his own orgasm coming.

And then he begins to spend inside her. His sperm mixes with her juices and further lubricates her insides as he shoves his cock forward pumps some cum inside her, pulls back and then repeats quite a few times.

 

[Perplexia]

She didn't object when he said he wanted to see her. She merely blushed a little as he pulled up the chemise and stared at her firm large breasts with their hard nipples. She grunted and moaned as he continued to thrust into her.

The smell of sex filled the room along with the smacking sound of his cock pumping into her wetness. The deeper he went the more she responded. She gave herself over to the feelings of bliss and euphoria he brought to her.

As he pumped his cum into her she gasped at the new sensation of the cool liquid being shot up into her. She loved the hard thrusts as he shot load after load into her. She was hot and winded as she looked up at him with a freshly fucked smile. "if this is not the greatest, because its the first time, then i'm excited to see what is"

 

[Hard_Rom]

Jonathon leans down and kisses Marybeth on the lips.

"Well, it is possible, my dear, I was incorrect," he says, still panting from his exertions and orgasm, "We will just have to do it quite frequently and in varied positions to see."

He takes the opportunity to kiss each nipple and give them a tiny nip with his teeth as he moves to remove himself from inside her. Then to preserve her modesty, he pulls he chemise back down. Jonathon moves over and slips his arm under Marybeth's head and encourages her to cuddle up beside him.

"I must say you are the finest cataloguer and buying agent I have ever encountered. I am sure to be the envy of every collector in the country. If not all of Europe. In fact, let's say the world."

Laying with him, her hair spilling across his chest, he can smell that her scent has now changed. A tiny touch of sadness comes over him and he sighs. But he can still relish the feel of her body against him through her thin garment and he looks forward to being able to be in her presence without the urge to tear out her throat and feed on her.

"When you awake, just pull on the bell rope and the hotel servants will draw you a fresh bath. Order what you will for breakfast. And I will have my coachman brush out his jacket and be your footman for the day. I hope you won't mind if I instruct him to persuade the more ardent of admirers, you will undoubtedly attract, from being a nuisance."

"And I still insist you get out and enjoy the day and the city. You should go to the bank and cash your draft. Then go shopping and sight seeing. I would have you active not sitting waiting on me. I never know if... business will detain me away from you."

The vampire thinks of the girl chained in his tomb. He will have to get back to her sooner rather than later to feed her. Perhaps tomorrow night after the theater and more making love to his new mistress, he will be able to return and tend to her. It would be most inconvenient if she was to die.

 

[Perplexia]

She wanted to object to his wishes, but decided not to spoil the moment as she nestled her body against him. "I will do as you ask" she reassured him resting her head on his chest and stroking his skin with her finger tips.

There was a comfort with him she had not expected. Their love making was a beautiful thing that she would remember always. She smiled softly remembering the feel of him moving inside of her and claiming her as his own.

It wasn't long before she fell asleep curled against him. She slept more soundly then she could ever remember. When she awoke true to his word he had left. Her hand smoothed over the sheets where he had lied under her. Pulling back the sheets she could see smeared dried blood upon her legs and the bedding. Pulling them back she pulled the cord and advised she'd like a bath drawn.

The bath was hot and soothing upon her aching pelvis. Her vaginal muscles ached with the feeling of being freshly fucked. After her bath she got dressed and ordered her breakfast.

Sitting at the window while she sipped her tea and ate as she looked out onto the busy street below. She wasn't in a hurry to join the masses, she just wanted to sit and read. But she knew that he would be disappointed if she did.

Stopping by the salon they applied the make up to her face to conceal the bruise. She decided to come back later for a reapplication and to have her hair done for theater.

The coachman/footman stayed close as if threat of his life following her through the town to the bank and then shopping. It was fun to look but she really had no need for anything. It wasn't until she saw a window display at a jewelers that she saw a beautiful wedding ring that her heart stopped. She would never have a ring like that, but it was nice to dream.

Tearing herself away from the window she decided that she wanted to buy him a gift. Its beautiful brass glimmer called out to her as she looked through the window. It was perfect, an elegant bookmark that would serve him well in their late nights in the library.

Shopping had taken up much of her day, and she remembered that he had told her to take in the sites. Finding the York Minister cathedral she fell in love with the historic structure. The building was huge like a castle with its ornate carvings and arches. She wished that Jonathon was there to see it with her.

They headed back to the hotel where she ordered lunch and took a nap. When she rose the sun was starting to set so she got dressed in her theater gown and made her way back to the salon where they did up her hair without power and retouched up her make up.

All day she felt she had eyes on her, but no one approached. With his gift wrapped she sat in the room and waited.

 

[Hard_Rom]

The Baronet had left his freshly deflowered mistress before dawn. The catastrophe of the Reformation had left quite a few tombs unoccupied. So the girl he had encountered in the pre-dawn moments cleaning and scrubbing the bell tower steps would not be found for several days he is sure. He had used a knife to make it appear as a human on human killing. If God really cared, the vampire thinks, he himself would have died quite a natural death centuries ago. Then the vampire bat had crawled up deep inside a niche in the cathedral's belltower. Awakening once as it detected Marybeth's presence in the church.

Jonathon gives a small knock on the door before he enters their room. While not entirely surprised by the transformation, he is deeply pleasured to see Marybeth transformed into the upper class beauty who sits and waits for him. With her thick hair piled fashionably high, the applied white makeup, the deeply cut gown and a beauty mark on her blushed cheek, she looks worthy of a place in court.

"You look beautiful," he says with awe.

He crosses the distance between them quickly. Raising her chin up, he looks into her eyes.

"I know a thing that's most uncommon; (Envy, be silent and attend!) I know a reasonable woman, Handsome and witty, yet a friend. Not warp'd by passion, awed by rumour; Not grave through pride, nor gay through folly; An equal mixture of good-humour And sensible soft melancholy. 'Has she no faults then (Envy says), Sir?' Yes, she has one, I must aver: When all the world conspires to praise her, The woman's deaf, and does not hear." he says.

And not willing to disturb her makeup gives her a small fleeting kiss.

"I shall be then envy of every man in the city tonight. And I am sure you will be hated by half the women and talked about by the other half."

 

[Perplexia]

She rises up to greet him with a warm smile on her face. He looks dashing as always. "Thank you" she replies to his comment about her looking beautiful only to blush.

"Alexander Pope" she replies to the poem he recites to her. He has a lot of wonderful work.s

A soft moan exits her lips with his fleeting kiss.

"I think thee are bias Mi Lord" she replies to his comment about being hated and talked about by the ladies. "If anything I think they will be jealous that I am with such a dashing man"

She smiles up at him enjoying the closeness. "I feel silly in this paint, but they assured me its what all the fashionable ladies are wearing especially to the theater. I'm excited about going tonight. I've only ever dreamed that I would be able to attend such a function."

Taking his arm they walked out to the carriage and headed to the theater.
There was a large crowd gathered when they arrived. It made her somewhat nervous. But holding on to Jonathon's arm she felt safe as they made their way in an to the box he had secured.

"I got you something" she said softly pulling out a small box from her purse bag.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Anyone new and beautiful to the scene is a topic of interest. The obscure minor noble from Cumbria and the devastatingly beautiful woman on his arm have not been seen before her in the North's capital. His vampire hearing picks up the beginnings of the gossip as the theater's assistant manager informs questioners as to who Jonathon is. Marybeth's dress may not be the richest or the height of fashion and Jonathon is not of the peerage. But her beauty and the vampire's aura of mystery make them the couple of the evening. The glint of opera glasses trained on their private box is constant.

Jonathon would like to scold Marybeth for spending her money on him. But it has been seven centuries since anyone gave him a present. If he could he would have blushed.

"It's perfect," he says when he unwraps the bookmark.

The sound of tittering and whispers comes to his ears as he kisses Marybeth. It is mildly scandalous to engage in gift giving and kissing in public. And yet quite erotic to 'make love' so openly. He can almost read the broadsheet's social column for tomorrow describing 'the handsome Baronet of Sang and the unknown beauty'.

Theater employees ensure a small table beside Marybeth has a goodly selection of sweets and cakes. A set of opera glasses are available too, though they do have the best box available. While beside Jonathon sit decanted brandy, glasses and a pitcher of fresh clean water, in case the lady wishes to water down the powerful liquor. Knowing her simple tastes and hardly needing to get her drunk, Jonathon does indeed water down her brandy, just a bit.

The vampire has seen The Tragedy of Macbeth many times in the past eighteen decades. It is his favourite play. Forty years ago he saw Hannah Pritchard bring a remarkable degree of cruelty to the role of Lady Macbeth. Tonight Sarah Siddon is expected to deliver a similar performance in the role of a woman seduced by desire for power committing murderous acts.

 

[Perplexia]

She smiled upon his pleasure of receiving the gift and blushed as he kissed her with passion in front of all to see. She was oblivious to the stares that were upon them for she was happy to be out with him. To be on his arm was one of the greatest joys she'd ever known.

As the play began she fiddled with the glasses till he showed her the correct way to hold them. It was that moment that she realized how outside her element she was. But it didn't seem to bother him. She took a sip of the watered down brandy and decided in that moment she surely preferred the taste of wine.

Everything about the play was fascinating and she watched with intrigue and grasping his arm each time a murderous act came across the stage. Her heart was of a gentle nature and not aware or blinded by the murderous acts of men.

The play hit a string with her emotions, it made her smile, it made her cry and it made her seek refuge in Jonathans touch. Intermission came and went and they were back in their box watching the next act. It was only then had she realized there were eyes upon them. "why are they staring" she had asked wondering if her appearance was a give away that she didn't belong.

 

[Hard_Rom]

If Jonathon was unaccompanied, he might expect a few coy glances from females in the audience. If Marybeth was here alone, she would have most of the men looking at her and a good few women. Together they are the sideshow to the play. After seven centuries of life, jaded can be an understatement. The stares of impolite society scarce intrude on his watching the play.

"They are staring because of you," he says, holding Marybeth's hand, "They are all speculating on who you are." "By now a theater employee has told anyone who cares to ask, who I am."

"But a baronet from Cumbria hardly deserves much beyond a passing look." "It is the great beauty on my arm which makes them impolite in their interest."

He raises Marybeth's hand to his mouth and kisses it. Fans flash and glasses glint as society turns to gossip and speculate on the two public lovers.

"Someone may have recognized you from the auction or the salon. In which case, you being my mistress is probably the odds on favourite. But don't worry about that. A man and his mistress at the theater is hardly news."

"The balcony seat across from us," Jonathon says without looking in that direction, "That is Lord Calbot, a fellow lover of books." "I met him in Newcastle at a book store with his wife."

"The lady beside him is not his wife."