Skylark gasped from the sting of pain when he grabbed her thick hair, showing fear in her eyes as she looked at him. Skylark had long ago learned the proper balance of how much fear to show and when to stop. Lord Neville had treated her to innumerable punishments of which she would never forget and showing a male fear when he attacked was important, all males expected it Skylark knew.<br/><br/>"Yes My Lord." she whispered softly, hoping he would simply begin beating her or raping her, waiting was her weakness, she was never good at waiting.<br/><br/>For a moment her mind wandered back to a few years previous, the first winter after her marriage, the first time she had to wait for the storm to hit. Her summer had been filled with brutal beatings every time her husband was unsuccessful at mating with her. So young still and still hopeful for a miracle, Lady Skylark had snuck to the village and begged the midwife there to advise her. Every treatment she could imagine was given her and Skylark had embarked on an almost obsessive trek to heal her husband. Providing an heir was her only hope of survival she knew. Skylark did not know that early in her marriage how many spies her husband employed. For the right price Lord Neville could learn of every move Skylark made, when he discovered her secret treatments she was administering his rage was something of nightmares.<br/><br/>Skylark visibly trembled as she sat in the little room, the young Lord holding her head roughly as he stared far away, they were both lost in memories...<br/><br/>Skylark could see the small dwelling her now dead husband had driven her too. Far away from all others and alone she had paid dearly for her attempts to cure him. Lord Neville had stripped Skylark naked and tied her to the tree out front for three long days and nights. All she could do was wait...wait...wait...The lash of the whip upon her body still stung, she was sure she was going to die. She remembered praying for a miracle, praying for help or hope, now she knew better, she should have prayed for death.