This is my first take at writing pretty much anything, so please be gentle! :-) This first story contains no sex and is just to give a bit of background on forthcoming chapters! I greatly enjoy long form stories, so this one as of right now, doesn't have an end, though I do know how I want to end it! Thank you so much if you've taken the time to read and I look forward to sharing more along the way!
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Marcella: Prologue
The shadowy figure rapped twice on the heavy wooden door. He quickly rushed past the entry as soon as it opened and made his way to the study where he knew the lord of the manor would be waiting for him. He didn't knock on the study door, but strode right in, much to the surprise of man waiting inside.
"Good evening, Lord Whitcomb. I presume that you know why I am here." said the man filling up the doorway of the study.
"I do know and you know that we have nothing to discuss. The lands that you seek have been in this family for generations and I will not see them taken from me by an overbearing lord, hellbent on destroying them for whatever such nonsense you practice." said Lord Whitcomb tersely.
"Oh, but I think you will want to have a discussion. You see, I have decree from the King himself that permits me to take what I feel has been stolen from my family by any means necessary. And I intend on taking back those lands. My men are no match for yours, do you even have any men that are in fighting condition?"
"How? How did you get such a decree? The king has refused to issue those for years!" sputtered Lord Whitcomb.
The man walked over to the desk and tossed a parchment on the desk for Lord Whitcomb to see. "As you can see, it is very real and signed by the King himself with his seal. Let's just say, he owed me a favor and I went to collect. I am however, a man of reason, and am willing to make you a deal."
Lord Whitcomb glanced over the parchment and became noticeably paler as he skimmed the contents. "What do you want?" he choked out over the rising anger in his throat and the sense of defeat that washed over his body.
"I need an heir. It's really that simple. And before you ask, yes, a legitimate heir is needed. Now, I understand you have a daughter that is of prime breeding age. So I propose this, I get to take your daughter tomorrow to my keep, where I will get to keep her for a period of one year. If in that time, she has produced an heir or is on the way to producing one, the lands are yours to keep and I will no longer lay claim to any of them. Not a single acre. If by the end of the year, she has not become with child, she will be returned to you and the lands are mine, with no fight from you."
"YOU ARE MAD!" roared Lord Whitcomb "My daughter is not for sale! If she is returned, she will be ruined! Unfit for marriage!"
"On the contrary, if she were to get pregnant, I would marry her before the child is born, so as to have the child be considered legitimate. The lands will stay in the family, because I am sure your will has declared her your heir. So you see, we all win."
"I cannot have my daughter be an innocent pawn in this game that you play!"
"If you do not agree to this deal, I will come back with my men and we will forcibly remove you and your daughter from this manor and claim everything! If that were happen, I cannot guarantee you or your daughter's safety. It would be such a pity."
As each scenario played out in Lord Whitcomb's mind, he saw that he was beat. Their lands were sparse of inhabitants. One little village and the manor house were all that Whitcomb had, any men would be useless against this bastard who threatened to take away everything. The lands were wild and used for nothing save a hunting trip every now and then. He had wanted to keep them wild and untouched for future generations to see and revel in the beauty of their countryside. He knew his daughter felt the way he did, she loved exploring them and bringing back flowers or the wild rabbit or two she found along the way. There was no way she would agree to this, it seemed like years of protecting what he thought was his, would be for nothing.
He signed heavily with resignation. "How am I to convince her to go along with this? She will not like the idea of being treated like a broad mare in heat" he snapped.
The tall man smiled, he knew that he had Lord Whitcomb exactly where he wanted him. He slid a small vial across the desk and said "Call her down after I have left. And place this in her evening tea. It is tasteless and odorless. She will fall into a deep sleep, it won't hurt her. After she has fallen asleep, send your footman to me and I will come and collect her. We will leave in the cover of darkness so as not to startle the help and the village you so love. I will be waiting at the village inn, I have a room though I suspect, I will not be needing it for the entire night."
