Romance Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Away ❯ Dismal Surroundings ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: This is an original novel, and is under copyright. All rights are reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3

Dismal Surroundings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“This is our cook, Chloe. She will be showing you your room,” Cokrain told her as he handed her off to a woman in her later years with hair that looked like it had once been black.

 

Chloe looked at her with a warm smile, “I sure will. I'll getcha all set up in a room in the left wing of the house. It's real comfortable and it has a good view.”

 

“Her room will be the room next to mine, Chloe,” he turned to Naomi, “Now if you'll excuse me, my dear, I'm sorry I must finish my conference with Mr. Tyler. I hope you will join me for lunch.” His lingering look sharply reminded her of the looks she'd gotten from her uncle. Considering this, Naomi was starting to grow more and more troubled about her situation and this man to whom she had been sent. He looked long and hard at her before he finally nodded at Chloe and strode briskly toward the doorway that they had just come from.

 

Chloe sighed loudly when he disappeared beyond the doorway, “Well honey, time's marchin' on. Let's to on up and see about getting you into something other than those travelin' clothes,” she said as she started on her way up the service stairs. Dragging Naomi behind her gently, she spoke in a low voice, “I probably shouldn't say anything, seeing as how he's my employer and all, but you look like a sweet young thing, to be given to his care. I have a mind to do in that man for the things I seen `im do. You sure are a pretty girl, and I want you to keep yourself safe from him, honey. I know they're s'possed ta be trying to make you his wife soon an' all, but I know he ain't worth spit. He's a dangerous man, hon, and you never can tell what he's thinking behind them evil eyes. Why, I'd bet my left arm that he ain't even plannin' ta marry you at all. Just keep you.” Chloe stopped momentarily to look at Naomi in the eyes, “Now, I ain't tryin' ta scare you, honey, but I gotta say somethin'. That way you can watch out for `im…keep your eyes on `im.” Chloe pointed the first and second fingers of her free hand at her eyes to animate her point. She began walking again, and then turned into a doorway from the hall they were in. “Here we are, darlin', this is your room,” she said as they stood in a giant bedroom, “The bathroom is through that door there, and that other door is Cokrain's room. You be sure ta keep that one locked, you hear? Now, let's get these clothes put away, and you into a nice soothing bath. That'll make you feel better. Then we'll get you some nice hot food when you've finished.” She then left the room to fetch some linens and towels.

 

After Chloe left the room, Naomi locked the washroom door and disrobed quickly; eyeing the wonderful-looking copper tub that Chloe had filled to the brim with very warm water. She got into the tub and settled herself in for her first real bath in months. Spotting some soaps on the small table next to her, she lifted one to her nose. Inhaling the fragrance of the bar in her hand, she was pleased at the sweet smell of it.

 

She washed her hair clean with the scented soap before turning her attention to the rest of her body. Once she had finished scrubbing herself pink, she sat in silence with her wet hair around her, looking over at the rose and white gown from her uncle's trunk that she had laid out to wear for lunch, inadvertently reminding herself how much she was not looking forward to being under Caldwell Cokrain's icy hot eyes again. Everything the cook had said about the man she was sent to wed, or not wed rather, explained why she was so uneasy around him. Her first impression seemed to have been correct.

 

Idly, she started to wonder how successful she would be if she tried to run from this place and hide away somewhere. The idea was thought and quickly discarded as unwise.

 

Naomi sighed. She had nowhere else to go, and seeing how rich this man was, he would probably know about anybody in this town, anyway. Still, she was tempted. Naomi started to shiver, and then noticed that the water had gotten cold and she realized how long she'd been in the tub thinking about her dismal future. After she had gotten out of the tub and dressed, she opened the door to see Chloe setting out her things on the dresser next to a very large, and ugly, decorative serving platter.

 

“Would you mind fastening me Chloe?” she asked of the kind woman. After doing so, Chloe stepped back a couple feet, looking over Naomi with a critical eye.

 

“We ain't gonna do a thing to your hair, I like it better down than in anything I could do to it. I tell ya- the latest styles some of those girls put their hair in are plum crazy sometimes. Come here, dear,” she finally said, picking up a brush and beginning to brush it out. Naomi giggled at Chloe's disdain for complicated hairstyles. In truth, she felt quite the same way. As Chloe dragged the brush through her long locks, she started feeling lulled by the rhythmic motion, and she looked up at Chloe.

 

“Thank you,” Naomi said quietly, “You're the only person to be this kind to me in a long while.”

 

“Don't you worry about thankin' me,” Chloe said, putting down the brush, “You need all the love you can get in Mr. Cokrain's company,” she replied as she finished the grooming and put the brush on the vanity, “Now, it's almost lunchtime and I should be in the kitchen makin' it. Hope you like turkey, hun.”

 

 

She was finally here! Caldwell was pleased that all of his planning had produced fruit. She seemed to be even more perfect up close and wearing one of the gowns that he had chosen for her and had sent to her uncle's house in anticipation of her move. Much more fitting for her beauty than the rags her uncle had her dressed in when he'd first seen her at her England home to years ago. Even then she couldn't have been more beautiful than if he'd designed her himself. He had to have her, and it was then that he decided she would be his. Of course, she hadn't seen him watching her. She had been hanging clothes on the lone at the side of the cabin she shared with her uncle and she had not been aware of him watching her from inside the carriage. He knew exactly how to manipulate the woman from her uncle, who just happened to work for him. The woman's uncle owed his father for helping him when he'd needed it, which Cokrain had gone to collect on when his father died.

 

Cokrain had been at a loss as to what to demand of Rufus, because he'd seen that he had been living in a shack, hardly a shilling to his name. Until, that is, he saw that gorgeous niece of his hanging up his clothes. Then he knew what to demand of him. He had the uncle pay him back by giving him Naomi, knowing the old man had no other choice. Of course, he hadn't planned on his move to America one year after seeing her. His father had started a new business in the Americas that had needed his attention, and he'd decided to stay once there. It made him angry because it took longer to get her to him, but now she was here, and she was his. His plans had worked well, as he knew it would.

 

 

The moment Naomi had been dreading since the bath she had taken was now here, and the atmosphere was just as tense as she had expected, if not worse. She kept her eyes trained on her wonderful food as she ate, because she could feel his eyes on her.

 

`At least the food is good enough to justify being in his presence again', she thought to herself as she took another bite.

 

After a number of minutes, Cokrain broke the silence, “You sure are quiet. Are you not happy in your new home?”

 

She looked up briefly to see his handsome face and striking eyes trained on her. She quickly looked back down, “I cannot say that I am as yet. Everything is so new and I am unacquainted with anyone here,” she said to her plate.

 

“You know me, remember?”

 

Sensing slight amusement in his voice, she looked up at him penetratingly. When she did, she got the impression that he wanted her to be afraid of him. Realizing this, she put down her fork carefully, and continued to look straight at into his violet eyes. Matching his intensity with her own golden-green eyes she replied icily, “I'm sorry, but I just met you this morning. I do not know you yet.”

 

He leaned forward and put his elbow on the table, “We'll just have to fix that then, won't we?”

 

He noticed that only tensed her up more, and he became intrigued that she wouldn't be as easily won as other women were. He'd had never had any problems attracting women. If his money didn't accomplish the attraction, he knew his golden looks and calculating charm could bring them to him. He did so love using women. And he was very good at keeping that fact hidden from the people that mattered.

 

Their attention was abruptly turned to loud voices coming from the foyer, which were coming their way. Naomi gasped when she saw the hoodlum named Jess from earlier that morning appear in the doorway.

 

“You look horrible, Jess.” Cokrain said disapprovingly, “If you intend to show yourself here, you must be well groomed.”

 

Jess didn't her him. He was staring at the meal ticket that had gotten away from him earlier that day by pretending to pass out. His expression couldn't have been any more confused. She looked back at him expectantly before turning back to her food.

 

“Something you needed, I assume?” Cokrain said, impatiently. Jess didn't answer, “Stop gawking at her and answer me, Jess.”

 

“Uhhhm. Wh…Who is she, sir?” Jess asked cautiously.

 

“Why?” Cokrain asked him coolly.

 

“We saw her at the docks earlier today. She came off a boat all by herself…” Jess faltered when he finally noticed Cokrain's spooky eyes start to bore into him. Jess was quick to ease the look in those eyes, “We were gonna bring her ta you, but she got away from us. The little witch played possum an' ran off when we stopped ta get her water.”

 

Cokrain continued to look at him a moment longer before commenting, “It is of no concern to you who she is. Just know you are lucky that she did get away from you.” Cokrain returned his attention to Naomi, who was sitting quietly in her chair looking at her lap.

 

Thus dismissed, Jess mumbled that he'd return at another time, and turned around to leave the room as quickly as he could without running. Cokrain looked over at Naomi, who was still staring at her plate with something akin to sedition.

 

“I do hope Jess and his men weren't too much trouble for you today. They can be rather tiring on special occasions,” he said to her.

 

Naomi looked up from her plate to look at the man that she had apparently been doomed to be brought to no matter what had transpired that day, “No more trouble than I've had to put up with for most of my life,” she answered him truthfully.

 

They continued eating their lunch with no more words. Cokrain finished first, then sat back in his chair watching Naomi finish her own meal. When she had finished, shortly after he did, Cokrain reluctantly excused himself from Naomi's presence to work on his books that he had left unfinished to take his lunch. That left her with more time to herself. Now feeling heavy with a calm, full stomach, she felt her days and nights on that ship catch up with her. Needless to say, she never got a good night of sleep on the damp, rickety ship. Guessing that no one would miss her, she wearily went up the stairs to her room where she could sleep in a real bed for the first time in two years.

 

 

When Cokrain went in search of Naomi later that day to bring her down to dinner, he hadn't expected to find her sleeping. She was lying on her back and was still wearing the gown she had come to lunch in. She had apparently been very tired, because she hadn't even taken off her shoes and was lying on top of the sheets. She had dark circles under her eyes, but that still didn't take away from her appeal. He drank in the sight of her with an ache that hadn't gone away since he'd first seen her hanging clothes in England.

 

He knew that because of the chance of unexpected company, he could not take her now. It angered him that he had to put off what he had dreamed of for two years, but he would have to wait until night when everyone would be asleep, and the unlikelihood of unwanted visitors was assured. He would not be interrupted when he finally claimed his prize. He began walking toward her to wake her up when she sighed and shifted enticingly in her sleep, turning her head to the side which exposed her neck and more of the creamy flesh above her bodice. Fighting an internal battle for a moment, he held fast to his calculated decision and quickly woke her up. She looked up at him groggily, then instantly jumped off the bed upon seeing who had woken her.

 

Cokrain raised his eyebrows at seeing how quickly she got up, “Dinner has been prepared and is going to be served soon. I am going to the foyer to wait until you have dressed for dinner.” Cokrain turned to leave, smiling at the thought of Naomi in his bed that very night. She was going to be fun.

 

Naomi stared after him and started to breathe again when he disappeared beyond the doorway. She quickly went to change into a clean dress for dinner, after locking her door.

 

 

Wearing an ivory gown and still half asleep, she appeared at the stairway and started down the stairs that led to the foyer, loathing that had to sit through another meal with him. And this was only the second one. Just as he'd promised, Cokrain was at the bottom of the stairs and was watching her descend. When she reached him, he held out his elbow for her to grasp.

 

Naomi hesitated. Though he wasn't the kindest man in her opinion, he had been fairly civil to her so far, and she didn't want to be rude. She took the proffered arm, then they walked together to the dining room where heavenly scents met her as she crossed the doorway. Chloe was setting out a beautiful dinner of lobster tails and asparagus and Naomi was suddenly ravenous.

 

She quickly let go of Cokrain's arm and started toward her seat. He walked around to his own seat and sat sown while watching Naomi's joy at the meal lay out in front of her. He congratulated himself at resisting the temptation to lock himself in the bedroom with her. He knew she would start to relax after some good food and, of course, the wine he would be sure she drank.

 

Cokrain finished his meal first, and sat back as he did at lunch. Naomi wasn't nearly finished with her meal when he sat back to watch her, and she wasn't going to go hungry anymore. She paused, and looked up from her plate. Enough was enough.

 

“You don't need to watch me eat, you know. I am quite hungry and I will eat until I am full,” Naomi boldly said to his face. He looked back at her with the same quiet calm with which he did everything else.

 

“Yes, I do need to watch you,” he paused a moment and took a breath, “You haven't any idea what you do to a man, do you, Naomi?” he said to her sensually.

 

She fought the blush that eventually showed itself on her face.

 

“Are you trying to flatter me, or shock me, Mr. Cokrain?” Naomi asked him flatly.

 

“Call me Caldwell, Naomi. After all, I do hope you will have gotten to know me rather well in a short matter of time. I can't have you calling me “Mister” in bed, now can I?” he said through a rare smirk over his champagne flute. He was genuinely enjoying this conversation with her, even if it was trying on his control.

 

Naomi glared at him, now.

 

“You will keep your distance from me, Mr. Cokrain.” Naomi warned, fear creeping up in her belly to spark her nausea again. She fought to keep it hidden, and was hopefully succeeding so far.

 

Cokrain calmly sat up, putting down the champagne glass, and then rested his elbows on the dinner table, “I will do with you what I please. You forget, my dear, that I own you. You are mine, and you do not have any say in my treatment of you. I will have you when I am ready to.”

 

Naomi didn't give that an answer and went back to eating her food. The sooner she finished her meal, the sooner she could be out of his company, and safely behind locked doors.

 

Cokrain sat back and contemplated her for a moment as she continued eating. He was anxious for bedtime—he was never anxious for anything, though he knew why he was anxious. He could almost feel himself lying upon her soft, bare body. Willing or not, he didn't care anymore. He found himself almost hoping that she would at least put up some kind of a fight, and was expecting her to, judging by her reactions to the comments he'd made.

 

After Naomi finished her dinner, she stood and excused herself; feeling even more tired now, “I don't believe that nap sated my need for sleep. If you will excuse me, I am going to retire early and catch up on some sleep that I lost on the trip here,” she said pointedly, looking straight at Cokrain, feeling a bit braver for some reason. Naomi turned down dessert, and then told Chloe what a wonderful job she had done on the meal. Then she went back the way from which they had come less than two hours earlier without another word or look to Cokrain. When she reached her room, she closed her door behind her and locked it, sighing heavily. She happily began shedding her restrictive gown, then remembered the door connecting Cokrain's room to her own.

 

Striding surely over to the door, she turned the lock. Satisfied that she was locked in her room, she continued disrobing, shivering violently the more her skin was exposed to the cold air. Running over to armoire in the room, she took out the warmest looking nightgown she could, and then carefully hung her dress back up when she finished dressing for bed. Finally, after her rather eventful day, she slipped into the sheets and covers, and fell to sleep easily; hardly more than a minute after her head hit the pillow.