I took a carriage-ride through the park near my house, when two men, none of which I knew, stopped the carriage, and ordered the driver to get out. One of them climbed up and took the reins, while the other one climbed inside, and sat next to me.
“My lady,†he said in a husky voice. “As you might have guessed, this is a hold up! As usual, we want your money, and I don’t just mean the petty cash, you might have in our purse! To ensure we get what we want, I’m afraid you’re going to have to come with us, for the time being. Right, now! I’m going to tie your hands and blindfold you, so you can’t see where we’re going. Give me your hands, please!â€
Without waiting for me to do as he told me, he grabbed both my wrists with one of his hands, the size of a medium sized ham, expertly wound rope around my wrists, and then turned me around, and tied a rag over my eyes. I, naturally, was too stunned to protest, and before I had had a chance to regain my senses, he shoved another rag in my mouth, tying it in place with a strip of cloth.
After having travelled in almost total darkness for quite a while, the carriage stopped, and a hand clutched my arm. I was guided down, not too carefully, onto the ground. The blindfold was taken off, and I could see I was standing in a clearing in the forest, and in front of a small, square, timber frame house.
The man who had sat beside me led me inside, and more or less shoved me in a rickety chair by the likewise rickety table. I noticed there were only one table, two chairs and two beds, apart from a huge stove, that provided all the heat in the house.
He took a thick chain and wound it tightly around my waist, and locked it with a heavy padlock. The other end, he fastened to a ring in the floor. The chain was just long enough, for me to go almost anywhere in the house, stopping just short of the door. Only then, he released my hands.
“OK,†he said, “you’re going to write a ransom-note to your husband. I was thinking you’re worth somewhere in the region of, at least, one thousand pounds. Maybe, even two thousand? Don’t you think?â€
As I was still gagged, all I could do was staring at him, but the look I gave him probably could have made a hole in a stone.
“Whoa there, my lady, easy does it! You might do well in remembering, that I’ve got the key to that there chain you’ve got around your pretty, little waist. Enough of this here idle chit-chat. I’m going to release your hands and take that there gag out of your mouth. But I don’t want to hear a sound from you, unless I want an answer to a question! And when I want you to do something, you do it, without a question. Understood?†He untied the strip of cloth around my head. Before he had a chance to take it out, I spat the rag out. He gave me a long, amused look, but proceeded to release my hands. I started to get up, but he pushed me right back, lifted my skirts up and put heavy shackles on my ankles. He also put cuffs on my hands, locking them in front of me. “Right! Now you can’t get very far, but still be useful!â€
I started protesting, but he gave me such an austere look, it shut me up. “To start with, your main responsibilities will be to keep this place clean as a whistle, and to prepare food, nothing else. It’ll be early mornings and late nights from now on. When, or if, I decide you’re trustworthy, you’ll be given other chores as well. And no arguments, what so ever! You definitely wouldn’t like finding out, what happens if you start arguing!â€
I humbly looked down at my shackled hands. “Sir, if I may? I’ve noticed there are only two chairs and two beds in here. Where am I supposed to eat and sleep?â€
“Why, on the floor, of course, my dear! By the stove, if you behave. If not, well, there’s always plenty room in the corners. It just might be a bit chilly, though.†he said, chuckling.
I looked around, and seeing how dirty the floor was, I quickly decided it would be best to be a “good girl†(for the time being, that is).
The next few days, went by in a blur. Judging by how much time the men spent “in the forest†at any given hour, I probably wasn’t such a good cook, as I might have thought. They ate, looked at each other, shook their heads and went out, one at a time. The one who stayed behind, kept me surprisingly busy, considering it wasn’t the largest house in the world, and I couldn’t go out.
Days turned into weeks, and apparently, still no reply. One night, after I had been allowed to get some sleep, in front of the fire, I heard someone come in. I thought I recognized the footsteps, and was sure of it, when I heard the voice. It was my husband’s! The SOB must have seen me laying there on the floor, because he said; “How’s she doing? Is she giving you any trouble?†I couldn’t believe me ears, when I heard him say that. I decided, then and there, I wanted to hear more of their conversation, so I pretended to sleep. They must somehow have guessed I was awake, because I heard someone write something on a piece of paper, they laughed, and went out. They closed the door, so unfortunately, I couldn’t hear any more. But just as the door closed, I could hear my “darling†husband hiss; “Soon, my precious, soon! You just learn to do as you’re told for a bit longer, and I’ll have a truly darling, and obedient, wife. Then, I’ll take you home and pamper you.â€
I could hear them talk on the front porch for a while. Then my husband left, leaving me alone with the two henchmen. I somehow managed to fall asleep, though still fuming with anger. He was in for it now, let me tell you!
One day, I seemed to, finally, get my chance. Early one morning, I was blindfolded, and the chain around my waist was taken off. I was lead out of the cabin, and helped into what must have been my carriage, which then set off. After a while, it stopped again, and I was helped out. When the blindfold was taken off, I could see I was home. The two men disappeared, and I was left to climb the stairs to the front-door all by myself, still having my wrists and ankles cuffed. Without a word, he grabbed my cuffed wrists and led me in to our bedroom. A dress was laid out on my bed, but it wasn’t one of mine! Instead, it was a maids’ dress. My husband un-cuffed my wrists, and told me to change my clothes. I had no choice, but to do as he said. From now on, I apparently was one of the staff, though sleeping in the master’s bedroom.