wideeyedone
Baby did a bad, bad thing
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2007
- Posts
- 7,070
closed for cgraven
Adeline had spent her entire life in the village of Torrine. Her father was the inn keeper and he had raised his daughter at his side as he fed and sheltered travelers. She had heard the tales of the Viscount Babineaux. Some men said he was half beast. Some said he was cruel because of his scars. Some of the working women who brought their paramours to the inn whispered tales of his dungeon. Adeline and her friends would sometimes skitter close to the iron gates around his estate but she was too afraid to even touch the bars.
Now that she was a young woman, she knew her father was just a breath from being destitute. She watched him age before his time. He had no dowry to wed her off. She heard him whisper to patrons, trying to collect his debts. It took time and pressing to find out that he owed money to the brutish Viscount. He owed more money than he could pay. The viscount was going to have him thrown in debtor's prison.
Adeline could not allow that to happen. She dressed in her nicest gown. It was simple blue broadcloth. It had dalmatian sleeves that fit her slender arms. She fastened her leather belt about her hips. She brushed out her dark hair and let it hang down her back. She wrote a simple note to her father explaining what she planned to do. She slipped out of the inn in the middle of the night and walked the dark path to the Viscount's gates.
His guard stood at the gate. She had to clear her throat to speak to him.
"I am here to see the Viscount. To pay the inn keeper's debts." Her voice shook. The guard unlocked the heavy gate and let her in. He closed the gate behind her with a clatter. He locked the gate again.
"I will escort you, girl." His voice was gruff and he didn't look at her. His hand closed around her upper arm and then he walked her up the steep and winding path to the great house. Adeline tried to be brave but as they approached the dark house, she found herself shaking. She bit her lip so hard she began to taste blood.
The guard took her through the back door that led through the kitchens. The house seemed cavernous, it was so empty and big. The sound of their feet on the stone floor seemed to echo. He brought her to the great room.
"Wait here." The guard ordered. Adeline looked up at him with her golden hazel eyes.
"I will not leave. I will wait right here. I give you my word." Adeline whispered.
Adeline had spent her entire life in the village of Torrine. Her father was the inn keeper and he had raised his daughter at his side as he fed and sheltered travelers. She had heard the tales of the Viscount Babineaux. Some men said he was half beast. Some said he was cruel because of his scars. Some of the working women who brought their paramours to the inn whispered tales of his dungeon. Adeline and her friends would sometimes skitter close to the iron gates around his estate but she was too afraid to even touch the bars.
Now that she was a young woman, she knew her father was just a breath from being destitute. She watched him age before his time. He had no dowry to wed her off. She heard him whisper to patrons, trying to collect his debts. It took time and pressing to find out that he owed money to the brutish Viscount. He owed more money than he could pay. The viscount was going to have him thrown in debtor's prison.
Adeline could not allow that to happen. She dressed in her nicest gown. It was simple blue broadcloth. It had dalmatian sleeves that fit her slender arms. She fastened her leather belt about her hips. She brushed out her dark hair and let it hang down her back. She wrote a simple note to her father explaining what she planned to do. She slipped out of the inn in the middle of the night and walked the dark path to the Viscount's gates.
His guard stood at the gate. She had to clear her throat to speak to him.
"I am here to see the Viscount. To pay the inn keeper's debts." Her voice shook. The guard unlocked the heavy gate and let her in. He closed the gate behind her with a clatter. He locked the gate again.
"I will escort you, girl." His voice was gruff and he didn't look at her. His hand closed around her upper arm and then he walked her up the steep and winding path to the great house. Adeline tried to be brave but as they approached the dark house, she found herself shaking. She bit her lip so hard she began to taste blood.
The guard took her through the back door that led through the kitchens. The house seemed cavernous, it was so empty and big. The sound of their feet on the stone floor seemed to echo. He brought her to the great room.
"Wait here." The guard ordered. Adeline looked up at him with her golden hazel eyes.
"I will not leave. I will wait right here. I give you my word." Adeline whispered.