Chapter 3

2091 Words
Brenton and Jacob exchange a look like they can't quite comprehend what she had said.  Jacob is the first to speak. "Annalise, you need to think on this. It's not something you can just agree to like it's nothing. This will change your entire life." Annalise shakes her head, answering him. "I know exactly what this does to my life. It's not like I can be bound any tighter than I already am." Annalise looks steadily towards her master. "He already owns me; there will be no change. Slave. Wife. What's the difference? In the long run, I have no control over my life. With this, at least there is the promise of getting away at some point." The men look uncomfortable. "Unless," she narrows her eyes at them in suspicion, "those were just words to paint me a pretty picture and draw me in." Elliot rushes to reassure her. "No! Of course not. I would never even consider promising something I didn't fully intend to follow through with." "Save a sham of a marriage, of course." The words escape her without any conscious thought. Annalise has little concern over how unfair she is being. There's only so much she can tolerate, and being asked to help the man currently holding the key to her chains, which at one time were quite literal, apparently counts as the final straw. She keeps reminding herself that if he needs her the way he professes to, she should be in the clear.  If not, well... Then this is as good a way to put an end to the whole thing as any other she can think of. Refuse. The thought keeps popping up in her mind. Surely she can't actually refuse. The moment she does so, she will right back to square one, chained up and thrown in a cell. It has been years since her last such punishment, but the guards would still enjoy having her back, she's certain. A feisty, little slave, their favorite plaything. Unfortunately for them, she had learned plenty about games of power as she matured. She knew what it was that men like that enjoyed. It was all about the struggle. As the rings scarring her wrists and ankles could attest, marks leftover from her time in said chains, she had been a perfect participant for them when she was younger. Now, though, should such a thing happen, she knows better than to give them the satisfaction. She has a particular talent for sussing out what a person wants most from her and either giving them exactly that, or withholding it, depending which scenario benefits her the most. They won't have nearly the fun with her that they remembered. She was far past the point of begging for her freedom or for their cruel treatment to come to an end. It did nothing, she had learned. While her thoughts spiral towards her potential punishment, Elliot  had drawn back at her use of the word 'sham' in regards to his marriage proposal, almost as though struck by her words. They had been said with a desire to wound, and they had done exactly that. Jacob, beside him, looks taken aback at her barb. Good. They have to know what they are getting into by choosing her for this. She is most definitely not going to make things easy for them. After all, when had they ever made things easy for her?  The thought makes her uneasy for some reason, something niggling at the back of her mind trying to tell her this may not be justified, but she refuses to examine why. "Annalise," her master starts. "You have to understand. I will make good on all that I have promised you. The vows we exchange will be kept, insofar as they have been agreed upon behind closed doors, just the same as all marriages." He pauses. "It will be a true marriage. It must be. You understand that, don't you?" Annalise blinks at him, awaiting further explanation. When none comes readily, she decides to seek clarification for herself. "A 'true marriage?' How can it be a 'true marriage' when, surely, your plan is to have as little to do with me as possible?" "We... will be a part of each other's lives. That much is unavoidable. We must keep up appearances as best we can." He fixes her with a serious look. "We will be forced to coexist and cooperate. For the good of the estate, the title I hold as Earl, and the running of the household. You will have most of the say over the running of the household while I will tend to keep to the estate at large, as well as anything to do specifically with the title." Brenton is hedging around something, she can tell. His words are too light for the intensity in his face and posture: the frown, the folded arms. It's all making Annalise increasingly uneasy. She remains silent, forcing him to continue. "There will be plenty of crossover, particularly if there are any children produced during our union. They will, at least in name, be our children, if not in blood." He's hesitating again, restating information, trying to stall, to think of another way to say what he needs to say, or to avoid it entirely. Eventually, Annalise loses her patience. "What is it you are trying not to say to me?" Annalise did not hold with beating around the bush. Better to have it out now, before any further plans could be made. If there is a reason she should refuse, she needs to know it now. Though she could think of little that would cause her to refuse, seeing as how her refusal would surely result in her being cast out and left to fend for herself. If not that, then a cell to be certain. "If there is something you think I will find distasteful enough to change my mind, I'd rather hear about it now, before I am too far involved to escape it later." Her jaw sets in preparation for just such an unpleasant addition to their agreement. Elliot watches her carefully for a moment, glancing around at Jacob, who nods, and then his body faces back to Annalise even as he fixes his gaze on the floor, arms crossed over his chest again. This time it seems much less of a closing off method and more... protective? Like he may be preparing just the same as Annalise is. When he finally looks up again, there is nothing guarding his face anymore. The only thing she can see is an apology and a small, thinly veiled expression of hope that she will not turn on him now.  Seeing it makes her heart flutter uncomfortably. What could make such a powerful man appear so vulnerable? "Our marriage… it must be binding." He says at last, just as Annalise is getting ready to lose her patience with him again.  That is not at all the kind of thing she had prepared herself to hear. "We are in a very... unique circumstance. Our union will already be suspicious enough as it is. You will have come from nowhere, and, while we will do our best to disguise your true position here for the last decade, there are bound to be some who are not so easily misled. We can only hope that recognition comes after the deed is already done." Annalise is still stuck on what he is referring to as 'the deed,' which her master seemed so eager to skip over. No. She's not letting that go unaddressed. "We are required to consummate the marriage. That's what you're trying to say? Because people will disapprove of your choice of bride?" "Your union must be legally binding, beyond question. Yes." Her attention is immediately caught by Jacob as he interjects, placing a hand on Elliot's shoulder. She had momentarily forgotten his presence with all the new information suddenly racing through her mind. Now, though, she is unable to look away. He sees her looking and cannot meet her eye. "Because there will be questions." It's a guess, but she knows she's right by the resigned looks on both of their faces. "And you? How do you feel about this whole arrangement?" She demands, ignoring Elliot for the moment in favor of hearing Jacob's opinion on the whole thing. "Surely you don't agree with this." Jacob looks to his lover to see how her master will address the outburst. "Actually, Annalise," Elliot's voice is soft as he responds. "It was his idea." Annalise gapes at them. Jacob doesn't say more so she focuses on Elliot. "I was planning to forgo the formalities of the whole thing: the consummation, the formal ceremony, everything. It was Jacob that brought me to my senses. He reminded me that, as much as I would prefer to simply marry and have it done with, there are certain expectations that cannot be snubbed." He cringes. "At least, not given the circumstances." "The circumstances? You mean the fact you don't actually want a wife, but are forced to take one anyway." Annalise hears the words leave her mouth but, again, she doesn't recall choosing them, much less giving herself permission to say them. Elliot studies her for a moment. When he speaks, he weighs his words carefully. "I feel no need to search any further for someone to share my life with, no. I have found the best partner for myself. It just so happens my choice is... widely frowned upon." He frowns as if in demonstration. "If that is what you mean, then yes. Certain appearances must be kept in order to avoid undue scrutiny." She sees Jacob squeeze Elliot's shoulder where his hand still lays. Jacob spots her watching and he tips his head in a slow nod. Somehow, from the motion, matched with his intense stare, she understands the action for what it is: urging her to capitulate. To help. She sighs. "Fine. What does- what all does that entail." It is meant as a question, but it comes out clipped, frustration getting the better of her. Jacob steps forward to answer again, coming in closer to wrap an arm around Elliot's shoulders, a hand gripping each of his biceps. "We happen to be in a very unique situation, this time, in our favor. As my position with Brenton allows me to be a legal witness to the consummation, it will be less of a formal event. It can be much more intimate that way than if it were to be a fully public bedding." He says it all very matter of factly, as if they weren't discussing Annalise having s*x for the first time with a man she doesn't even like while his lover watches on.  Then again, perhaps it is healthier for all involved to look at it that way. "Fine." Annalise concedes. There is little point in fighting it. She has already agreed and she will be damned if she doesn't get her freedom now that it was being dangled in front of her face like a carrot used to make the horse trot. The Elliots treat their animals well enough. Hopefully she gets hers at the end of the ride as well. Her master straightens a little, like a weight has fallen from his shoulders. "Good. I am glad this hasn't complicated our arrangement." He laughs quietly to himself, reaching out to grab her hand and bring it to his mouth, bending at the waist to place a soft kiss to her knuckles. "Although, something tells me I should have known better than to doubt you." The words, said looking up at her from his bowed position, send a chill up her spine. Flustered but determined not to show it, she questions, "Will that be all, Master?"  Looking between Jacob and the man still holding her hand, she fears she may not have hidden her reaction very well at all. Still, "Yes," he agrees. "For now." His words dismiss her before his body does. Much more slowly, he lets go of her hand and her arm falls to her side as he sends her off with a nod of his head. Quickly, she makes her escape, completely missing the smile on his face as she turns to go.  When she first agreed to this, it hadn't seemed nearly so dangerous. Now, on her way to go about her day, she can't help thinking perhaps she was wrong.
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