Three Nights With The Baron

KATE'S POV

Something was happening, there were voices, I struggled with the overpowering drowsiness. The room was lading away sleeping.

Someone was close, looking at me. Someone had taken my hands. I felt myself lifted up. Then I was completely lost in darkness.

I awoke suddenly. I did not know where I am, I was in a strange room. I was lying naked on a bed and my hair was loose.

I tried to lift myself, but my head was swimming and I felt dizzy. I was dreaming and this was some sort of nightmare.

Where am I? I could not remember what could have brought me here.

I tried again, but something stirred beside me,

I gave a little scream. My eyes had grown accustomed now to the darkness. I saw a window with bars across and my eyes could make out the outline of pieces of furniture.

I fought off the dizziness and sat up. Immediately hands were pulling me down, strong hands.

A voice said "Kate, my beautiful Kate..." it was a voice I knew. A voice I had often thought of, it convinced me that I was in some sort of nightmare.

I caught my breath and as I did so, he pulled me down; he forced himself down on me. I cried out in disbelieving horror.

This could not be happening to me. It was indeed a nightmare. I must wake up quickly.

But I did not wake up. I heard his triumphant laugh, and it was in truth the Baron who was misusing me and something told me that he had always intended to do this and that at the back of my mind, I had known it, feared it, dreaded it and - the shame of it - half wanted it. I tried to shout out, but his mouth was over mine pressing down on me. I was aware of the strength of him and was powerless. I tried to struggle but my limbs were leaden.

There was nothing I could do to resist him.

It was a shattering experience. I felt as though I were floating above the Earth into a world which was quite unknown to me. Strange, I was not resisting any more. I felt myself to be part of him, and I was fighting against a sense of exhilaration that threatened to overwhelm me.

It was over almost as soon as it had begun. He drew away from me. but his lips were still on my face and he was kissing me almost tenderly.

"Dear Kate," he murmured.

I was struggling back to reality. I put out my hands and felt his body. I was trying to collect my thoughts as they eluded me. The heavy drowsiness was still with me and I felt a great urge to close my eyes and lie there trying to recapture

that strange sensation which I had just experienced.

His arms were about me. They felt like iron bands. I heard his voice whispering words which seemed strange coming from him. "Kate sweet Kate ... Oh Kate," and I heard myself say, "this is a nightmare."

"It's a heavenly dream," he corrected me.

"Kate." His mouth was close to my ear. He nibbled it gently. "Don't try to think now, you can't. You're still in a state of blissful pleasure. Don't try to wake yourself out of it yet."

Now was the time for me to wake up, to find myself in bed at the castle, perhaps, since that had been where I was remembering I had been going. No doubt I had arrived late and so tired that I had slept heavily ... and being in the

castle had had this strange dream.

"Sleep! dear Kate," he said soothingly and he gathered me up in his arms as though I were a baby.

I must have slept, for when I woke up it was morning. My head had cleared and I sat up in bed and looked about me, I was alone. I realized that I was naked and when I saw the bars across the windows, the monstrous happenings of the

previous night came flooding back to me.

I looked about the room. It was like a part of the castle - large, with a high vaulted roof supported by strong stone pillars. There was a great fireplace and the embers there showed that there had been a fire last night. The bed was large and had velvet curtains about it and there were carpets on the floor. In spite of this it was like a medieval stronghold.

I had undergone a change. I felt bruised and unclean. I had to face the truth. He had brought me up here; he had taken off my clothes, put me into this bed and committed rape.

I put my hands over my face as the hot flush spread there.

Nothing would ever be the same again. Since I had come to France everything had changed.

The cosy world of Farringdon was slipping away from me and I had been plunged into intrigue and rape, the sort of thing that had happened

centuries ago And there was one man who was responsible for this. I could not get his face out of my mind. I realized I had been seeing it ever since I had left the castle. I had seen it in the gargoyles of Notre Dame. I had seen it in my dreams. I

wondered briefly if he had some supernatural power - a lot passed on from those pirate forebears.

I had to be calm, I had to consider the position in which I found myself. I think I had always known that he had desired me. There was something in the way he had looked at me right from the beginning. I should have been warned, for

when he desired a woman he thought he had the right to take her, whether she was willing or not. That was what the marauding Normans had done, and he lived up to the old traditions.

I should never feel the same again. I should never feel clean. He had defiled me and gloried in it. He thought that because he had humiliated me, he had made me his slave.

I had to get out of here quickly. Then I would think about revenge. Nowadays no man should be allowed to act as he had done. It was all very well to make love to a woman if she Consented. But to snare a virtuous woman and drug her and then take advantage of the situation, that was how the

cowards and demons worked.

My hatred was so intense that I was shaking. I must get out of here. That was the first thing.

I would go down to the woman who had given me a drugged wine. I would tell her that I was going to the police.

I imagined he controlled most things round here. He would say: "She spent the night with me willingly. . ." For he is capable of anything. Lies would be second nature to him.

I would dress immediately.

I stepped out of bed. I looked at the pillow still indented where his head had been. I punched it in sudden fury and was then ashamed of my childish gesture. It was an act of petulant folly and in spite of what happened I prided myself on being a sensible woman.

I had been betrayed. I had been raped. My attacker had been the one man in the world whom I hated most. But it was done. I had been violated. My body ... my mind .. my freedom to act had been taken into his control. I had been forced.

But now. .. the first thing was to get out of this place. I looked for my clothes. I could not find them. They were all gone, my shoes, everything.

There was a counterpane on the bed and I wrapped this round me. Then I set out to explore.

To my momentary delight the door was not locked. I was on a kind of landing and before me was a small flight of stone stairs, the usual

spiral kind Cut out of the wall, wide at one end

and narrowing by the post. I saw that there was one room in which there were toilet facilities. I caught sight of a mirror on a table

I saw that there was another room, In this were a table, basin and ewer. There were cupboards. I thought my clothes might be in one of them, so I opened them all, and there were towels and such things, but no clothes.

I saw that there was another room, in this we're a table and chairs. It might have been a dining room. But there were no clothes.

Cautiously I descended the stairs, a big door as facing me, it had iron studs in it and looked very strong. I tried to open it but was locked

I looked about me, barred windows everywhere, a heavy locked door, and no clothes. I was indeed the prisoner of the Baron's pleasure.

How long will he keep me here? Would he come again?

~PREVIOUSLY~

My father and I had traveled from England to Normandy. Not so far from Paris, for an artwork commissioned by the Baron.

He is to marry, and he wants a miniature painting of himself for his fiancee, the Princess. And when that will be done, if the results are pleasing, we are to visit the lady and paint one for her.

But there's a problem! the Baron had Warned my father to paint the miniature himself, meanwhile, My father, Mr Kendal Collison, Who is at stage one eye cancer, had to take me along with him because this time he could not see clearly anymore.

It's the opportunity of a lifetime to explore my painting habit.

The journey would have been tiring but for the fact that I was so excited by everything I saw. I had never been out of the country before, and I was eager to miss nothing.

"Kate, welcome, I am delighted to receive you on behalf of my cousin, the Baron, he regrets he is unable to see you tonight, he will be here tomorrow:" Said the young man in the house as he bowed low and taking my hand kissed it.

I caught my breath. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen, he was of medium height with light-brown hair and eyes; he was elegantly dressed, and his dinner jacket was of a rather more elaborate cut than I was accustomed to seeing at home.

"You must be hungry? Would you care to come for dinner immediately?" he asked.

He then informed us that his name is 'Bernard,' a distant cousin to the Baron. The Baron was the head of the family.

"The Baron Has heard of your fame," he explained.

"As you have been told, he is about to marry, and the miniature is to be a gift for his bride-elect."

"Our miniatures are well known throughout the continent," my father mentioned.

I was deeply moved to see my father's excitement at praise, and it was particularly poignant now that his powers were fading. I felt a great surge of tenderness towards him.

"The Baron is a specialist of art, he enjoys beauty in any form, he has seen a great deal of your work and has a very high opinion of it! It was for that reason that he selected you to do the miniature rather than one of our countrymen," Bertrand replied.

Bernard talked enthusiastically about the castle and the treasures it contained.

"The Baron is a collector," he explained. "He inherited many beautiful things, and he has added to them. It will be my pleasure to show you some rare pieces here."

We talked about desultory on one or two topics, the journey we had had, the countryside compared with that at home and so on. Until finally, he said; "you must be exhausted. Let me have you executed to your rooms. I hope you will then have a good night and in the morning you will feel refreshed."

"Ready to meet the Baron," I added.

He smiled, and his smile was warm and friendly. I felt a glow of pleasure.

I like him, he has certainly put us at ease, and I liked him more for that.

~~~~~~~~~

I was awakened by a gentle tapping at the door.

It was one of the maids bringing me a cup that consisted of coffee, a roll of crusty bread with butter

"I will bring you hot water in ten minutes, Mademoiselle," she told me.

I sat up in bed and drank the coffee, which was delicious. I was hungry enough to enjoy the rolls.

When I washed and dressed, I went to my father's room. He had been awakened already and had enjoyed his coffee and rolls, and was now ready.

Bertrand was already waiting for us in what I called the anteroom with the painted ceiling.

"Good morning," he said, smiling most agreeable, I trust you have slept comfortably."

We assured him that we had, and we're most grateful for all the concern for our well-being that was shown to us.

He spread his hands. It was nothing, he told us. "Now you wish to see the sunshine room. Would you follow me?"

We were delighted when we saw it.

"It had been built by one of the Barons who had an artist working in the castle permanently. Do you think it will suit you?" asked Bertrand.

"It's perfect," I told him, and my father agreed with me.

"So often one is expected to paint in rooms which are quite inadequate," he said, " this will be just what we need."

"Perhaps you would like to arrange what has to be arranged. Bring up the tools of your trade, as they say."

I looked at my father.

"let us do that. Shall we start the portrait as soon as the Baron arrives?" I asked.

My father hesitated, "I like to talk a while with my subject first to get to know him!"

"I am sure the Baron will understand that. Well, let us prepare," I said to my father.

"Do you think you can find your way back to your rooms?" asked Bertrand

"We had learned. I shall note the landmarks as we pass through," I said with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~

On my way back to my room, I felt completely lost,

I heard footsteps and turning sharply saw Bertrand coming towards me.

"Ah," he said, surprised. "Have you finished your preparations?"

He was looking at me steadily, and I noticed that his handsome appearance had not diminished with daylight.

"There is not much to do until the subject arrives" I replied.

"Of course not." He sat down beside me. "well, now you have seen the castle, what do you think about it?"

"Grand, massive, impressive. Overpowering. I can't think of any more adjectives. To think of one man owning all this. . . It's rather staggering," I said.

"Not for the Baron. He was brought up to it. He's a scion of his forefathers. Wait until you meet him, then you'll understand."

"is he like you?"

Bertrand seemed very amused. "I think you would have to look very hard to find a resemblance."

"if he were like you, I should feel very relieved."

He put his hand over mine suddenly. "That is a very nice compliment," he said.

"It's not a compliment. It's a statement of fact."

He smiled at me a little sadly, "No, you will find him very different."

The Baron is not only one of the wealthiest men in the country, he is also the most influential. And the princess? She came from an old French family with royal connections. The family managed to survive the revolution. The Baron will always survive, so this is the marriage of two noble families, one was wealthy, the other not so rich but royal.

The princess is connected with the royal families of France and Austria. She will be most suitable for the Baron.

Then I found myself telling him about life at Collison House, the vicarage family, my mother's romantic marriage and the happiness she and my father had shared, of her death, of our luck of having my cousin Evie, who had now married her missionary and left the cozy predictability of our English village for the perils of darkest Africa.

"But she left us Clare, who also has a great passion for painting," I added.

He sprang up and held out his hands. I gave him mine and he helped me up.

He stood for a while holding my hands. It was only for a few seconds, but it seemed longer. I thought how still everything was, the quiet water of the moat, the tall massive walls around us, and I felt myself tingling with excitement.

I flushed a little and withdrew my hands.

He was smiling at me, and I thought, I was talking too much. I hardly know this man. What was it about him that won my confidence? That infinite kindness that I had sensed in him from the moment we met, that air of worldliness which probably was nothing more than a mode of dress and behavior.

He invited confidences and I seemed to have given him far too many, I thought I will be telling him about my father's encroaching blindness next.

"Will you be busy this afternoon?" he asked.

"We shall not be busy until the Baron returns," I replied.

He touched my arm lightly. "I am glad you came," he said earnestly. "It's very interesting going to know you."

Little quivers of excitement continued to come to me. I thought, what a lovely morning it was here in the sunshine, close to the strong walls of the castle, and this interesting and most handsome young man looking at me with very thinly veiled admiration.

"Do you ride?" he asked.

Riding out through the beautiful country with Bertrand was an exciting experience. I loved to ride and was overly interested in exploring new terrain. I was about to embark on an adventure, and I was adventurous by nature. Furthermore, I felt I was on the verge of discovering that life was exciting it might be dangerous, but perhaps I was of a nature to enjoy a spice of danger and therefore went to meet it instead of taking the caution line and avoiding it.

I could not explain this rejoice which I felt.

Not only that, but I could only say that I was enjoying this ride, as I had never enjoyed a ride before.

Of course, it had its beginnings in this young man's company. I was more drawn to him than I had ever been to anyone else in such a short experience. It was fascinating to talk to him, and the little pitfalls of language into which now, and then we fell amused us both. We talked and laughed, and the time flew by most pleasantly.

"We seem to have become friendly in a very short time," I said to him.

"Time is always too short when good things happen, you have come here with your father who is to paint a picture, and you will soon be gone. How am I to get to know you if I do not do it quickly? How long will it take to paint the miniature?" he asked

"I cannot say. So much depends on how the work progresses."

I imagine the Baron will want it done with the greatest speed.

The mention of the Baron brought a chill Into the afternoon. I must have been enjoying it so much that I had forgotten about him.

I didn't realize what was happening to me that afternoon, but it was an enchanted one. I began to believe afterward that this was what people meant by falling in love, something which had never happened to me before. I had met very few young men, I was supposed to have lived a fairly sheltered life. I had certainly never met anyone in the least like Bertrand. His outstanding good looks, his elegant clothes, his determination to do everything he could to help, his gentleness. And yet, on the other hand, I felt protected towards him, which was a strange way to feel.

So naturally, I Was excited as we galloped across the meadow and the castle came into sight. The wind caught at my hair under my hard bowler hat and I loved the feel of it. I loved the sound of thudding hoofs, and he was beside me, laughing and enjoying as I did.

Even as we rode into the stables, I was aware of the change.

One of the grooms came running to us.

"The Baron had returned."

I felt my excitement immediately tempered by nervousness. I looked at Bertrand, he seemed to have shrunk.

"The testing time has come," I said to myself.

~~~~~~~~~~

I had not expected it quite so soon, for as we came into the great hall, the Baron himself was there.

There was a second or so of silence while he looked at us. I felt then that my greatest fears had some foundation.

He is an overpowering man, but I had expected that. He was very tall and broad, which gave an impression of bulk rather than height. Dressed in dark riding clothes that accentuated the colour of his hair. His eyes were steely grey, his nose was rather prominent but straight, and he had a fresh colour which gave the impression that he was full of health and vigour.

But there was something about him which set the alarm bells ringing in my head. "how will we go to deceive such a man?" I asked myself.

He came towards us, his eyes on me. His brows were raised slightly ironically.

"Bertrand, why do you not present to me your friend?" he asked.

"Oh," replied Bertrand with a little laugh which could only indicate embarrassment, "this is Kate Collison."

"Kate Collison?" he paused and looked at me quizzically.

I had always believed that when one was on the defensive, one must go into the attack, so I answered quickly. "I came with my father. He is Kendal Collison who is to paint the miniature of the Baron."

He bowed.

I hurried on, "I now travel with my father, I can be of use to him."

"I trust they have looked after you? I mean within the household. I can see that Bertrand has performed his duty in my absence?" he asked.

I smiled, "So, you are the Baron? I am glad to meet you."

"We have been riding while waiting for your arrival, and I thought I would show Kate Colison the countryside," Bertrand explained.

"what do you think of our countryside, Kate? His English was good but his accent was slightly more foreign than that of Bertrand.

"Very beautiful."

"And the castle?"

"What was your description," Bertrand asked, turning to me.

"I am delighted, Kate collision. I confess I am gratified when people admire my castle. "I wish to meet your father." The Baron mentioned.

"I will bring him to you. He is resting currently,"

he shook his head. "No matter. I shall meet him for dinner. Will you tell him that I wish to start on the portrait tomorrow morning?"

"Tomorrow morning? That's rather early. My father likes to get to know his subject a little before he embarks."

"He will quickly sum me up, I am sure," he said.

"I laughed. You have a poor opinion of yourself, Baron."

"On the contrary, it is very high. Those are the qualities necessary, I believe, to enjoy life fully. Tell your father to be ready to start tomorrow morning. I do not wish to waste too much time sitting."

I lifted my shoulders and glanced at Bertrand. I said, "That is not really how to approach the matter. It is not simply a process of putting paint on ivory or vellum or whatever the support is to be."

"Oh? Then what else is involved?"

"Getting to know the sitter. Finding out what he or she is really like." I answered.

"Ah, Kate Collison, I should not wish anyone to know what I was really like, particularly the lady to whom I am affianced. There are some things in life which are better hidden." said the Baron.

He was studying me intently, and I was aware of my untidy hair escaping from under my bowler hat. I felt the colour rise to my cheeks and thought, He is laughing at me, while all the time he is putting me in my place, reminding me that we are employed here to carry out his wishes. I disliked him immediately and thought, 'Is this the sort of treatment we are to expect from the wealthy? Do they regard artists as tradesmen?' I felt defiant and did not care if I offended him. We could go home, and he could find another miniaturist to paint the sort of picture he wanted for his fiancee. I was not going to let him treat me with command.

I said to him, "If you want a pretty, conventional picture, Baron, it is not necessary to call in a great artist. If you will excuse me, I will go to my room and tell my father that you are here. He will see you at dinner, and then plans can be made for tomorrow's sitting.'

I felt his eyes watching me as I turned away and went upstairs. Then he said something to Bertrand, which I did not hear.

~~~~~

I dressed myself in the green velvet for dinner and attended carefully to my hair, piling it high on my head. I looked slightly older than my years, and the green velvet always gave me confidence. I knew I was going to need it.

I had warned my father that the Baron might well prove difficult. Of course, I only saw him briefly in the hall. He has a great opinion of himself and is inclined to patronize. A rather obnoxious character, I'm afraid, quite different from Bertrand.

"Father, I don't know how we are going to deceive this Baron. It is going to be difficult, and if he discovers what we are doing, he will be most unpleasant, I am sure."

"Well, let's look at it this way," said my father. "He can only send us back to England and refuse to have the miniature. If he does that, it will be because he knows nothing about art. Your miniature will be every bit as expert as anything I can do. He'll get a Collison, so he'll have nothing to complain about, Don't worry. If he sends us back... then we shall have to think about what we are going to do in the future."

"The Baron had sent for you" a voice mentioned, I looked around, it was Bertrand.