Her Dominating king

4

Jacqueline got ready for her punishment as she thought of if, being stuck with that imposing man she wondered if her composition of a lady would last with his flirting and strict manor. She hoped for someone that could make her laugh at least even if he was unfortunate in sight but all she saw in this man was a cold, proper, demeanour with a hint of arrogance.  She spluttered at her joke, a hint of arrogance, what, was he a recipe? She wished she could make a recipe of the perfect man, no coldness would be added. She liked to cook, it was a fun pass time especially when using ingredients from the orient but she was a lady now she wasn't allowed to do such common things. Twisting her necklace to straighten it, her maid doused her with lavender perfume as she looked in the mirror. A cream and orange dress made in France but cloth imported from England lands, her mother had forced her to wear if to meet her soon to be husband.  The kiss of the hand twice instead of once customary, his voice said more than his words. The way he laughed at her like she was a silly little child, a dog to be corrected. She let the maid adjust her hat before walking down to the landing. "My lord, Dominic,"  He was wearing a light blue shirt and black hose his suit blue it fitted his blue eyes and blond hair. He nodded and taking her hand led her to his carriage. He never greeted her in return, he was irritating. As the carriage moved she tried to learn more from her surroundings.  She did not speak taking it in. The plush golden and red cushions, showing he was of high nobility. The crest of his family beautifully etched into the sides she traced it lightly before he began to talk. "As your husband to be I have decided on where we are going today" He stated clearly.  All this would be mine, as a countess, she frowned she didn't want to be elevated in society, it was not her choice. He cleared his throat.  She nodded at that, unfazed as he continued. "I want you to see your town and have decided on a garden, we will eat lunch then I will return you home and I will be around till we leave for my estate.”  Defeat, her father had won, giving her to a man that was as controlling as he was. Never letting her be like those woman she had read about, ones who had a husband and was equal to him. Women who were happy in their marriages that would be a sweet dream come true.  She knew she wanted a love she could fall into, but it was only fiction. She knew it, the mental abuse she had suffered insured her father’s wishes. She could never say no to him and this tall, strict, unhappy man would expect the same. He gazed into her face, making her uncomfortable "Yes, my lord," She whispered as he stated his choices and they rode in silence.  The carriage stopped and the driver opened the door for them, she slightly slipped, helping her up ignoring her thanks they walked into the garden. "What do you expect of a man before marriage to him?" She was silent.  "I asked you a question Madam."  Jacqueline let the question roll around and answered when he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, my lord, I was thinking." She took a deep breath. "A man, to make me laugh, smile, be faithful to me, know me for a while even as friends." She replied nervously she did not know how he would respond.  "And that's why you refused my compliment yesterday."  She nodded in response a hope of some sort of apology. "Well Madam it won't happen again especially when we are married we have been both forced to marry," He spat. "It's the Lords way and I will be your husband and you will be the proper wife whatever I say Miss De White."  

"Yes, my lord," She didn't look at him, twisting a flower in her hand  "Good. I'm pleased we understand each other," It returned to silence, the crunch of the gravel the only sound in the garden until another couple came past. "There are many marriages where a woman doesn't understand her place,”  

"But shouldn't a man and woman be equ-" A whirlwind trapped the couple.  "Jacqueline," Catherine beamed, hugging her friend tightly she smiled at the man behind her by a step. "Who is this?” She racked Dominic with her eyes, he was delicious. Dominic bowed slightly. "I'm her fiancée, Miss,” He answered. Glancing at the petite blond haired woman, in front of him, she was flirting with him.  The man next to her smiled. “Our little Jacqueline has grown up,” He cooed as Jacqueline moved away from his tight grasp. A taller happier and male version of the woman their clothes matched, unlike Dominic's blue and Jacqueline's cream.  "I hope you look after her sir, as a man should to his wife," She beamed as Dominic hugged her by the waist.  "I endeavour to miss, as long as she looks after me," He said, tightening her waist showing her to behave herself. He already felt that she hated him; she would not embarrass him in public again, he would not live it down.  "I will look after my husband Catherine as you have yours," He released her slightly. "When are you leaving?" Jacqueline asked as she kept looking as the wedded couple held each other. Alex was cradling his wife's stomach and they both looked happy.  "As soon as possible," Dominic must have looked confused because Alex started explaining." We are going to the Americas sir I have inherited land enough for a business and a home, my wife and our babe should have a good life there,"  

"That is good, I wish you every safety on your journey."   "Thank you."  

"Well you and your fiancée can come wave us off hopefully." Catherine offered hopping on the spot till her husband asked her to stop on risk of hurting the baby. "If we have time Madam, I am busy you see, and, a husband always wants to keep his wife close," He looked at Alex knowingly he smiled in response nodding as he held his own wife. The silence returned and Dominic elaborated his point. "I, obviously as her husband, want to make sure she has suitable companions she is a lady now more watched then commoners." Jacqueline fumed at this embarrassment, trying to struggle out his grasp. He clamped tighter her forest pins stabbing her continuously. She remembered when she was a child her father would stab her with sharp objects. Sometimes they were small, other times large. In the summer when it wasn't too cold he would place two rakes underneath her breaking he wooden beam before tying her and leaving her there to rot till the next day. People would laugh at her because of that, but all she could hear was her sobbing from the bruising.  

Everyone looked down on her, even when they saw the purple marks on her stomach or her arm. They always thought they knew was going on, and they ignored her or laughed at her, because they assumed she had sinned. She had next to no friends because of that. Some of the elder women taking pity on her cleansed the wounds for a small fee. The younger women continued and always ignored her or only calling in hope for a blessing with their new loves by a priest. Trying to befriend her to get to her father quicker, she sometimes hated being the priest’s daughter.  

She rubbed her stomach; the bruises would normally stay for about a fortnight before fading. But the cycle continued. Jacqueline snapped out of her memories and focused on the ending of the conversation. "Of course, well, we hope to see you soon," Alex and Catherine bowed, Alex kissing Jacqueline on the head before leaving the park, now they were alone again. 

It went disturbingly quiet again as they continued their journey of the gardens, Dominic taking in the surroundings and species of such a small town it was rare to find such beauty whilst Jacqueline just looked at the area she would no longer call home. 

"You will not touch any man when we are married." He stated coldly. She was stunned, Alex was like a friend to him, her cousin and he had married one of her best friends. She would never love him that way. She would not be a w***e in any one's relationship. 

"I will touch any man respectfully I am not a harlot, my lord, and I will keep myself for you." She replied rubbing herself off him. 

He grimaced and grasping her by the forearm continued walking through the gardens. "I hope so I do not bode well with whores." 

"Neither do I." She stared at him, when she said that obvious he had touched woman before her the way he just knew what to do to her, to make her tremble, shiver pleasantly and obey him, the way he flowed with Alex about his woman. He had. She convinced herself that it was true; he had touched other women before her.  "Well it is not a wife's job to bode anything but her husband’s will so it does not concern me." He rubbed his head, he hated being so strict it reminded him of his father "Get into the carriage." He snapped, pulling her into the carriage before slamming it shut. Jacqueline stayed quiet as they rode toward the tavern for lunch, Dominic looked at her both hands clenched tightly instead of out neatly in her lap. He scowled slapping her hands as she slipped them into a lady like position. She looked much better like that, if only she smiled too.