Chapter 31

Dominic rode forward charging on his horse. The fog hit him in the face, like slap in the face, and it hurt. His eyes were stinging and he could barely see anything."Who is there?"

The cliff was always foggy. If the rest of the area was not foggy, rest assured the cliff was. The sky was almost grey, and it made it difficult to see clearly. Dominic cursed himself for forgetting to bring a lantern boy, and continued forward.

"My lord, I suggest you stop riding. It is too foggy to do so." Dominic stopped. He could hear, from a distance, the words. Dominic felt the panicking of the horse and got off Storm.

He wouldn't risk Storm's safety and if the voice was not lying, he could easily walk. He loved his horse dearly and he wouldn't allow it to come to harm, due to his selfishness. Anything he loved, he would sacrifice himself for. There was not much to sacrifice.

The horse neighed in fear. And Dominic took out a knife from the saddle bag. He brushed Storm's mane with his finger tips before his body was completely off the horse. His feet made a thudding noise and he straightened his clothing before, walking towards the voice. It wasn't extremely near by, however the shadow that was walking towards him could be his wife.

"Jacqueline," He called.

There was a male chuckle."Do I really have such a femine voice, Lord DeFleur?" He looked across and bowed low."Lord Derek Rochford, an honour to meet you, my lord."

Derek was walking towards the castle, and he, seeing the man he couldn't have wanted not to see, cursed his misfortune.

There was a silence as each man sized each other up. Derek looked at Dominic with a smirk. They were both roughly the same height, Dominic a little bit shorter. Derek who had long, wavy brown hair seemed more philosophical than the solider in front of him. Derek looked also, more peasant like. His clothing, although the same quality as Dominic's was less adorned and more practical than fashionable.

Dominic bowed and introduced himself. A quick smile was on the man and he motioned for Dominic to stand next to him."My lord, I have a question." He did not allow Dominic to respond before continuing."Do you believe in love?"

Dominic was slient. It was unusal to speak freely, between men, of that emotion. It was frowned upon. A man was suppose to show honour, intelligence and strength. How was he suppose to do that if his concern was on the feelings of others."I suppose, Lord Rochford. The love a child has for their mother, or me for my sport."

Derek nodded and looked to the crashing waves below. He was to return to the castle, but he couldn't escape now and knew he would have to make polite conversation."Those rocks look dangerous,"

Dominic agreed."They have sharp edges, pointed, large and too close to the castle."

"Your wife, doesn't believe in love." He said simply.

Dominic was quietly shocked. Perhaps not the notion of her knowing a lord. But that she did not believe in love. She clearly had a love for reading, William and simplicity. He had seen her most happy when she sat in the library, that day she had stayed with him, reading a book. Her gowns were always simple, and that showed she was a simple human being. She seemed in love then. Her smile didn't show it, but her crystal green eyes did.

But Dominic wouldn't confess all this to a random stranger, who dallied by the sea on a foggy day. "You know my wife?"

Derek shrugged and continued looking forward. Dominic stood beside him, looking as the waves crashed into the rocks."Childhood, she use to be so happy and so free. She seems darker now, saddened."

Dominic was silent again. How was he suppose to respond to a random stranger giving him a guilt trip. He knew he was sick, that's why he couldn't rebuttal or ask why he was interfering, he knew he was right.

Dominic sighed. He wanted to ask what to do, what to say, to make everything alright. But no man should ask another on how to deal with his wife. Then he remembered the purpose of coming to the cliffs in the first place."Have you seen her today?"

Derek's mouth paused before answering. He hated lying, especially when he had talked to Jacqueline earlier, he hoped that they would be able to solve their problems but lying wouldn't help them to improve. Besides, this was not his fight. And Derek knew deep down in his heart, that Dominic would never hurt her now. In her condition.

Maybe, he could help her and Derek would get suppilies from the castle. "Yes, she's in the grove near the rocks." Dominic's flexed hands became fists. Derek panicked."I escorted her, if you have concerns but she wished for some privacy with her thoughts."

Derek wasn't the best liar. He urgently needed to leave, and he couldn't think of an excuse to do so. He looked at the Lord with concern, he hoped he wouldn't do anything irrational.

Dominic unclenched his hands, and sighed. Stupid, stupid little girl. "What thoughts?" Dominic laughed humorlessly." She's a woman, she has no problems."

"She's a human. We all do." Derek wanted to laugh at the man's ignorance."Now you are in her chaperonage, my lord, I will retire." He lied again, he needed to get back to the castle, quickly.

Dominic did not respond and Derek took it as his dismissal. He bowed and headed towards the castle. Dominic on the other hand, was tired. He sighed tiredly and walked down the cliff, towards the grove.

He broke the lingering tree branches that stood in his way, and clambered into the grove where Jacqueline was.

"Der-" She was not expecting her husband. She was startled to see him, and quickly pulled down her dress. Hoping Dominic had not seen the blood.

They looked at each other, Jacqueline in fear whilst Dominic was as angry, and red, as hell itself. He towered above her sitting figure and seemed more imposing than normal.

His blond hair was tied neatly to his back, his clothing as impeccable. Apart from the dirt on his leather riding boots he looked every inch the nobleman. His riding habit was buttoned up to the silk white ruff he wore. His gloved hands were warm and the gloves expensive.

He didn't speak, taking in the environment they were in. She had picked a small, dry grove. It was not foggy and it was slightly warmer then the outside air. Now as she sat in there, she looked more tired than Dominic realised. And there was one question which he couldn't get out of his mind.

"What are you doing here?"

Her answer was quick. She had expected it, he would ask a question, shout at her answer, and punish her after. What a lovely time her life had become.

"My lord, I was tired and bored. I think that gives me the excuse for a nice, chaperoned, walk out." She played with part of her riding dress, hoping he wouldn't notice she was wearing the wrong attire for a walk. And that she was lying.

She was shivering, freezing cold. Her face boiling cold, but it contracted sharply with her body which was flooding in ice. She could feel the sweat on her face. She had lost the strength in her voice and she wanted to go sto sleep, so much.

"No it does not," He said coldly."You could of been hurt of cold. A woman in a grove alone, is just a whore in the shadows." Jacqueline fumed. A whore! But kept her mouth shut."Lord Rochford, he doesn't understand the way this works. I command, and you obey."

"I'm glad he doesn't understand it your way, my lord. He is merry company and a good man. I wouldn't want it tainted by the ideas you have." She snapped.

Dominic was about to lose all his self control. How dare she? He longed to teach her a woman's place sometimes. But then he sighed. That was exactly what was wrong with him, he couldn't control himself.

He wouldn't subject her to his pain anymore. He had realised if she acted like a child he would treat her like one. But he wouldn't touch her again, he wouldn't taint her beauty.

Dominic shook his head."Get up, let's go. I will punish you in the castle, not out here like a barbarian."

She knew she couldn't get up easily without him noticing she was in pain."I would rather you punish me here." She needed to buy more time, she couldn't let her see herself so weak.

Dominic growled."Get up Jacqueline,"

She batted her eyelashes. "My lord I am quite comfortable. I do not wish to move."

He sighed and bent down, he grabbed her wrist and heaved her up. She screamed and he saw the blood slowly dripping down her leg. His breathing quickened.

He held onto her waist and lifted up her dress."Holy shit,"

She squeezed her eyes, imaging what he saw now. She had cut herself on the rocks. A long, deep and beautifully red gash had been the result. She also had cracked her ankle, and now felt a sharp throbbing pain in it.

Dominic held onto her even harder, as he saw her eyes flutter. He turned her leg slighty and he could see the dirt of the rocks around it. It could become infected. He needed to get her to the castle, and quickly.

"Jacqueline, you need to walk." He said softly.

She whimpered in pain, trying not to show weakness, tears threatening to fall. He felt so strong as he held her tightly. She cried out again, and he shook his head.

"Will you allow me to carry you?"

She looked up and bit her lip in pain, tears dribbling down her cheek."Nooo,"

He had hurt her, and now he wanted to help her. She couldn't trust the man she feared so much. Could she?

Dominic wanted to shake her, but knew this would cause more pain. He thought of alternatives, but he couldn't think of a safe, quick and reliable option.

"Jacqueline, give up your pride, let me hold you."

"So you can beat me after," She hissed as her pain intensified.

"No, this is punishment enough. I am sorry it happened to you,"

"Aren't you glad? Your destructive wife got what she deserved. Soon she will be too scared to do anything. She will stay home and bear heirs for her husband. She will massage his back when he comes home, from work. She will run a near household and only leave with her husband's permission. Then she will make sure her daughters are as meek as she is..." She choked on her tears, at her future."Her sons will be a credit to his name, her husband, and her existence will be to serve. To please the males in her life. To have no life of her own."

Dominic pressed a hand to her forehead. She was sweating and heating up. He couldn't take this, he had to get her back to the castle. He placed her down again and ripped off his shirt. He pulled up her dress and bound the spilt wound together.

"Jacqueline, that will not be your future, if you don't want it." He said as his fingers worked.

She clenched onto Dominic's thigh as he worked. Her legs were spread, her left leg being bound, her right in discomfort. Her husband lay at her feet, the kindest she had seen him. He could of beaten her further, or left her and had servants bring her back. His words hadn't degraded her, well some of them, and she took safe, deep breaths whilst he worked.

"Forgive me Dominic, for going out without your permission."

Dominic stopped, for some reason those words filled him with joy. She had admitted she was wrong, she had admitted that she had done what was not expected of her. And what made him smile, was she was being sincere.

"I'm sorry for your pain." He pulled down the dress and wiped up the blood with his jacket. He put it back on, only the edges frayed with blood."You do not deserve it, you were going out. All I wished was I could have come too."

She didn't know how to react. This was the most mature thing Dominic had spoken since their marriage. It was intelligent and made her feel wanted."Please carry me,"

He nodded and touched a brown lock, moving it from the sweat on her forehead. He then pushed her head forward, gently and scooped her from her back. He now held her abride style and she was tearing in pain.

"I'm sorry, again for your discomfort. Jacqueline, you are so strong. Hold on." He began to move forward as he whispered the words to her.

She could barely her him, falling in and out of thinking. The wound was creating more pain than she thought, her head throbbed and her right leg now felt numb.

Before she had been riding. Seeing she was at the cliff's edge, and her horse could go no further, she told Emily to take it back. Once the horse lady was gone, Jacqueline decided she was going on an adventure. She wanted to act free again and she had gone climbing on the rocks.

The rock that she had slipped on was large, and it was close to the rural grove. It had a sharp pointed edge, with a empty space beside it. So when she slipped she had broken her ankle, and cut her leg.

he had then hobbled to the grove, where she had met Lord Rochford. After conversing for a while, she had shown him her wound, and he had left to get supplies. Then there was the waiting.

The pain was not intolerable, yet. But now as she was held in Dominic's muscular arms, she prayed for death. It would be less painful than this. She had surrendered to him, allowed him to help her, and he had muttered kind words in her ear as his gloating.

"Jacqueline, are you alright?" His husky male voice, came into focus again."Can you hear me, see me?"

She nodded her reply, her body too weak to use energy to talk."We are almost there, ma cherie."

Ma cherie. A blush formed on her cheeks, she had never been called that by any male apart from William. My dear. It felt so compassionate, like he actually cared. Maybe for now, at least till another day, she would accept what he was offering.

"Dominic?"

"Yes, Jacqueline." She grasped his hand again as they began walking up to the cliff, before the long road towards the castle.

"I'm scared," She said honestly. She felt like she needed to confess it.

"So am I, for if you don't make it, I will not know what to do." He confessed back. His wife, she was something. She seemed so vulnerable at that moment, and Dominic felt a wave of possessiveness take over him.

She wasn't property. She was a human being, who was scared, tired and hurt. She had suffered enough at his hands and he began to see the symptoms of Hypothermia. It was chilly, and her skin was turning pale, her lips losing their red gloss.

She normally looked so strong. And maybe that's what Dominic couldn't take, someone being as strong as he was. But maybe that's what he needed. Maybe that's why he wished no man could have her, but him.

They were walking upwards and Dominic could see her sweat trickling down her face. He placed her down into the lush, newly cut grass. He took off his cloak again, using a clean side, to wipe it off her. He checked her leg again, spreading them, he saw the injury hadn't widened. A good sign.

He lifted her up again, with an apology, and they continued on the road towards the Palace. She closed her eyes, it helped with the pain and she didn't have to see what was going on around her. She knew, sooner or later, people would see her being carried by her husband.

"Jacqueline, you aren't weak for accepting my help. In fact you are stronger for it."

Her head hurt so much. She did not want to hear his intelligent words, just yet. She wanted to sleep but a dark fear arose.

Dominic could see the signs of unconsciousness, his wife's eyes fluttered inconsistently, her grip on him was weakening, she was losing her strength. Dominic knew Jacqueline wouldn't have experienced this before and didn't want it to scare her.

"Jacqueline, rest your eyes till we arrive, the pain will not be as much." He suggested kindly. Hoping she would lose consciousness with her eyes closed.

She did as she was told and shut her eyes. Her body felt weaker, but less painful. Her least few seconds were on what would happen when she woke up. Would Dominic punish her later? She knew her husband couldn't change so quickly. He wouldn't change so quickly.

However, she knew that there was some sort of compassion. He had shown it now, he was showing it now. He gently hummed, as they walked. Then he began to sing.

He sang softly, quietly as to not make her head ache anymore. He sang of true love, sang of hope.

He felt joyous as he did, he could see his wife's mouth parted. She was still breathing and now not in fear of him.

Jacqueline's last thoughts were on the beauty of his voice. Her body couldn't take it anymore, and it collapsed. She lost consciousness.

Dominic caught his wire's limp body. He adjusted it to mould into his further, to make it comfortable for both of them. Then he continued walking upwards, towards the castle.

And he knew, maybe one day, he could change.

Author's note: Sorry I typed this pretty quickly as Wattpad had deleted it before. I hope you liked it and I'm really sorry if it's overly emotional, I am a reck at the moment.