18. Dear Owner.

Arthur stood still wondering what was wrong with the girl who was almost poking her finger in his eyes.

"Yes. Me. What about me?" He questioned.

"Just ignore her and thumbprint on the papers sir." The warden said, eager to get their client's thumbprint before he changes his mind about the rebellious slave he had just bought, Arthur did as the warden wanted and a box which included one of the signed papers was given to him and so was the girl.

"She's now yours sir. Just for clarity, we'd like you to know that you can decide to return your good if she gets too much for you to handle but only half of what you paid will be refunded to you. You should also know that there's a collar in the box you've been given and I'll advice that you put it on her or probably even go as far as branding her face, the good you bought is a spitfire. You can also decide to name her whatever you want, she's your property afterall." The warden explained and then focused on what looked like more papers on his desk.

Arthur scoffed and rolled his eyes before replying the young man, "I'll do whatever I want with her, stop telling me what to do and stop the goods and property thing!"

"I'm sorry sir. She would also be properly blindfolded and have her hands tied for safety purposes."

Arthur was about to just ignore the man and ask Winifred some questions when Edward walked into the room and then the warden took that as an approval and dragged Winifred away.

"I didn't think you'd go that far for some slave." Edward said.

"Well, I guess some of us just have so much money that removing ten thousand shillings for a slave is nothing." Arthur replied, smirking.

He was lying, he knew how angry and annoyed his father would be that he dared to spend so much on a slave. He knew how castigated he would be by his brother when he got back home also and he also knew how they'd all try to take it out on the slave instead, but he wasn't going to tell anyone that.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself. You won because I let you win, don't think otherwise."

"Okay then, whatever makes you sleep at night sir."

Winifred was brought out again, but now with a big blindfold on, it almost covered all her face which had dirt on it as usual. And another cloth that looked like it was a uniform for newly bought slaves had been put on her.

Arthur didn't like it, "is that even necessary?" He asked, staring at the cloth like he might just tear it off.

"Yes sir. At least, until she gets to where she won't be able to escape or even try to escape." The warden replied.

Arthur simply left the auction while one of the wardens brought the girl along behind him, they threw her into the carriage that had brought Arthur to the venue and Arthur entered after her while responding to his coachman greetings.

Winifred stayed as silent as possible in the carriage that she was put in, she couldn't see anything for sure neither could she try to move it away since her hands were tied. The cloth she was forced to wear was also itching her so much that she felt like screaming but she didn't, she had decided to act submissive and obedient to fool her new owner just so he relaxes around her and then she can take her chance and just escape.

"What's your name?" Arthur finally broke the silence.

"I'm very sure that you know my name already, it's written on the darn paper that you signed." Winifred replied rudely betraying her own plans within a twinkle of an eye.

"I wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth, it's not that hard to say your own name, is it?" Arthur questioned further, intentionally trying to put the girl in a tight spot.

"Well, how about you untie me first and then I'll tell you my name since you want the horse to speak by all means." Winifred said sarcastically.

"Look, I honestly don't care about you in any way and I have absolutely no intentions to be rough on you or anything like that. So It'll be better to tuck in your smart mouth and show some respect..."

Winifred interrupted him with a loud scoff, "Did you just say respect? What respect would a person who just bought another human as his own property deserve? What respect would a man like you who thinks purchasing girls for your nasty and selfish sexual desire get? You don't ask for respect, mister, you earn it."

Arthur was definitely peeved and was about to say something else when the carriage stopped. He kept shut waiting for his coachman to come and explain the issue to him and he did.

"Uhm... Prince Arthur, the rain has started to fall and the sun is also setting, I stopped at a inn so we can take shelter over the night and then continue our journey at dawn. The horses are cold too." The man said.

Winifred was quick to pick up the word Prince from his sentence and also how he sounded scared. It was clear that this man or beast that she had been sold to was not a nice being.

"Alright, that's fine." I'll get two rooms so we can rest for the night. Come when you're done taking the horses and carriage to a good shelter." Arthur replied as he got out of the carriage and helped Winifred out.

At the mention of two rooms instead of three, Winifred's ears perked up but she didn't say a word. After some formalities, Winifred and Arthur was lead to the same room while the coachman went towards another room.

When they were finally left alone, Arthur helped Winifred to sit on the bed before speaking, "I'm going to take off your blindfold now and it'll do you good to be a good girl, is that clear?"

"Don't forget the tied hands too, dear owner. I promise to be obedient, have no worries." Winifred responded, feigning submissiveness, Arthur could obviously see through her facade and acting but decided to just act like he couldn't.

"If you think you can run away in the middle of this place by this time of the day without getting mauled, kidnapped or even worse eaten, then you've got to be delusional." He said as he began to untie her hands.

"Oh, I've got none of that in my mind, trust me." Winifred said again, even though she was definitely going to take her chances no matter how much the beast in who had bought her tried to threaten her.

When Arthur finally took off her blindfold, her eyes struggled to get used to the bright lights and large room. She looked up to see the bastard who had bought her up close and her she couldn't deny the fact that this bastard was sure bestowed good looks, very good looks might she add but if anything, that was more guarantee to Winifred that he would be a brutal and cruel man.

Arthur stared in return at the girl he had just spent ten thousand shillings on and for the first time since he had seen her, he felt some kind of familiarity about her.

"For some reason, you look quite familiar, have we by chance met before?"

Winifred smiled staring right into his eyes, "Yes, we have definitely met."