Chapter 127

Teárlag had her things carried to the carriage and settled in with her maid. She sat silently staring out the window watching the countryside roll by, lost in thought. She heard the driver start to slow the horses as they approached the outskirts of Achnadrish. She started paying more attention. If she was going to spy for the Camerons, she may as well do it right. She pictured the map she drew in her head and thought it was fairly close for what it contained. Not all the houses or destroyed buildings, but those around the tunnel entrance were fairly accurate. When she got off the carriage, the driver headed off. She took another look around, trying to impress the details in her mind. Perhaps she could add more detail to the map when she saw Thorburn again. Taking a candle from the drawer, she moved the cabinet aside, lit the candle and descended the steps into the tunnel. A chill ran down her spine thinking of having to face Blackthorne again.

She made her way through the dark tunnel, across his chamber of horrors and up the stairs to his study. She knocked softly, then entered. Blackthorne was caning Teárlag's personal maid. She was screaming, loudly, as Blackthorne preferred. Coming in the carriage, she could get there sooner than Teárlag through the tunnel. She wondered what she'd done to offend Blackthorne.

Teárlag moved to the couch, removed her garments and assumed his preferred standing position, nude, legs spread, waiting for him to finish. While he hadn't fucked other women in front of her before, she assumed if he was willing to give her to other men, he wouldn't have the slightest compunction against using another himself. She didn't expect him to remain celibate between her visits. When the maid's bottom was striped red, he dropped his pants and pushed his cock into her ass. She whimpered slightly as Blackthorne fucked her, her bum already pained from the caning and his fucking none too gentle. Teárlag said nothing. Maybe his appetites would be slaked by her maid and she could escape his attentions. Not so. After he climaxed in the maid's ass, he bid her dress and leave, but made Teárlag clean his cock in her mouth. The fact Teárlag licked her own maid's excrement from his cock probably amused him, greatly. It also amused her maid, who smiled at her slightly before she left.

"Why did you not arrive on Sunday as expected?" He asked after he'd tucked his cock away. He left her kneeling on the floor, the taste of his cum and her ass lingering distastefully in her mouth.

"Thorburn was at the house on Market Day, Master. He forgot to invite me to the Keep for Sunday, so he sent the middle brother, Frang, to invite me after he left. Frang said Thorburn had an announcement. I believed you would want me to provide this information to you, so I went on Sunday and stayed for the next two days."

"What was this big announcement?" Blackthorne asked.

"Thorburn and Frang intend to combine the Keep and McTavish's old place into a single land holding. Frang will build a new home for he and Isobel near the Keep, close enough to support each other with men if either place is attacked. Frang will continue to manage the old farm, but they believe the Cameron power and prestige will increase with a single larger holding. Perhaps enough to rival you, Master."

"He'd need more money to rival me, but no question his power increases," Blackthorne pondered. "When will I be done with the fucking Camerons!"

"Master, I understand they caught another spy."

"What spy? Which location?"

"I did not get that information, Master, but I know they've started meeting in the basement of the Keep to avoid other people from overhearing their plans. They make sure the basement is cleared and put someone on the stairs so no one can get past. They believe no voices can be overheard in the basement."

"How are you privy to this information?" He asked.

"I believe Lord Cameron intends to ask for my hand. They are comfortable with me and have included me in their inner circle. It's why I know this. They haven't yet shared it with anyone else, although Frang may have hired a builder to put together plans for his new house."

"Why would he ask for your hand? I understand he didn't even sleep with you while you were at the Keep."

How the hell was he getting information so quickly, Teárlag wondered? I just left the Keep and he already knows this. She was sure she'd told no one and her maid wasn't to enter Thorburn's room unless she invited her in. Perhaps she had other orders from Blackthorne. Maybe it was the reason he caned her, she'd told him they were no longer sharing a bed and he was afraid he lost Teárlag as a spy.

"Well?" Blackthorne demanded, already suspicious of her delay in answering him.

"It was a small argument, Master; insignificant and already resolved. We reached a rapprochement last night."

"If it's insignificant, why the delay in telling me?"

"When we have sex, he wants to use my sex, not just my mouth and ass anymore."

"What agreement have you reached, because letting him fuck your cunt would be a gross violation of our agreement."

"I told him my reputation is already poor and becoming pregnant while unmarried would ruin me. He agreed to wait until such a time we should be engaged. We'll continue as we are until he's ready to make a commitment."

"So, Thorburn wants to fuck your little red fringed cunt, huh?"

"Yes, Master. I've managed to put him off for now, but if he does propose, and I accept, he will expect me to abide by my agreement. I will not accept any proposal without your approval, of course, but I should know what you wish me to do if he asks. He's talked to me about moving to the Keep. I don't see if I'll be any help to you without maintaining my relationship with Thorburn, but I assume you don't want me to marry him if he should ask. I'm asking how you wish me to respond."

"And right now, you're in his inner circle?"

"The only one not already family by marriage or birth, Master. They still include Thorburn's uncle in the planning, although he usually stands guard to keep anyone else from coming into the basement. He'll join if anyone else is guarding the doorway."

"Well, I don't want to lose your inclusion if they're finding my other spies. I imagine the only reason they're not dead or dismissed from service is they hope to feed me bad information, but I don't want you marrying him either, nor do I want you carrying his get. Hmmm, what do I want you to do?"

"If I might suggest a possible solution, Master?"

"What? Speak up."

"If he asks me to stay at the Keep, let me move in with them. I'll be included in more of their planning if I'm there all the time. I'll try to bring as many of my servants as they allow, for sure my personal maid and my driver. I can use them to deliver messages to you. If he asks me to marry, I'll accept, but put the wedding date off as far in the future as I can; whatever excuse seems plausible at the time. If the wedding date is distant, I may still be concerned for becoming pregnant out of wedlock and can seek to dissuade him from using me in that fashion. If he insists on exercising marital rights before the wedding. I shall endeavor to do so only when I'm least fertile."

"You realize our agreement is void if you become pregnant with his bastard. I'll not marry you if you carry another man's child. You risk greatly if you let him fuck you. Everything you've done will be wasted."

"Yes, Master, but I don't see how I can remain valuable to you otherwise. I still hope to avoid his fucking me as long as possible. Hopefully, we can end this soon and I will become Mrs. Calum Blackthorne before I'm faced with that choice."

"I'm still undecided. I'll consider your proposal overnight. Stop by again on your return from Tobermory and I'll give you your answer then. What do you plan on doing while you're in Tobermory this time?"

"I intend to check on my house there, make sure it's clean and tidy. If our agreement does become void, I'll need a house to return to when our relationship has ended."

"Even if I abandon my plans to marry you, I may keep you around for fun. You've been most compliant and I take great pleasure in our time together. You are a great little fuck and I can continue using you as such."

I'll kill myself first, Teárlag thought, before I would ever consider such a life for myself. "Yes, Master," is all she said.

"Speaking of pleasure, it's time we enjoy a little time together. Grab your things and go down to my dungeon. I'll be along shortly."

"Yes, Master." I agreed to do this, she thought. I knew what I was agreeing to. This is part of it. You've withstood it before for less reason, you can do it again.

Teárlag gathered her clothing and descended the stairs. Thankfully, she was the only one who would be here this time. Màiri was gone. McTavish was gone. No one else would witness her shame. She set her things down. Perhaps she could influence him by placing herself in a piece of his equipment rather than wait for him to choose. If she put herself in the pillory, it would make it more difficult for him to strike the front of her body. When he hung her in his chains, her entire body was subject to his blows. She chose the pillory.