Flashback

I sighed heavily, looking outside the window. I wouldn't stay. I refused to. I looked at my feet, the shoe with my sketchbook in it. My foot was throbbing, And I realized I couldn't feel my own body. The adrenaline was still flowing but it was lessening, making me realize how absolutely freezing I was.

---

He nodded. "We'll fix you up right, and get some food in you. You look tired." He said as they walked, coming up on a large ish cottage with smoke coming out the stacks.

She nodded a little as she looked at it,"Thank you," she said softly as she walked with him into the house, she pushed a hand through her hair then rubbed her face as the warmth surrounded her.

---

He looked at her then removed his cloak then covered her with it, "Here," he murmured softly,"I don't want you to catch your death,"

I looked at the cloak and then him in slight confusion. But I was grateful because I could no longer feel my body. He had just bought me as a slave. I never heard of a slave who was allowed to ride in the carriage, and covered by any clothing that wasn't their own. I sighed softly, looking at the cloak again. "Thank you." I said quietly, my eyes on the window.

---

He walked inside and immediately headed into a room, grabbing a dress and other necessary things for her, and put them on the bed. "Its my sister's, she won't mind. Change, and I'll get something for you to drink, miss."

She looked at the dress then sighed rubbing her neck,"Alright, Elise. You've got this," she murmured softly as she picked up the shift then another piece, "A corset, crap how do you put these things on?" she said to herself softly.

---

He nodded a little then looked out the window,"What is your name?" he asked her softly.

I sighed a little, keeping my eyes on the window. "Lianna Jourdan." I said, messing with my hands and seeing the town turn into trees.

---

He heard her and stopped, watching her struggle. "Do...you not know how to...?" He asked, gesturing at the clothes in amusement.

She looked at him sheepishly,"No.. I don't," she said to him lightly as she looked at him.

---

He looked at her,"Where do you hail from?" he asked her

"New York." I mumbled. "America." I added softly, looking at the white covered trees.

---

He rubbed his face a little and chuckled. "Where is your homeland?" He asked, putting the articles in order of their use.

"America," she said to him softly,"I guess you can see why I'm so lost as to why I'm here," she looked. "why so many layers, I feel horrible for whomever does the laundry," she murmured softly.

---

"America? Who on earth did you end up here?" he asked her curiously.

I laughed sarcastically. "That's my question. I have no idea how I got here." I mumbled, looking at him for the first time since I yelled.

---

He raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Well put it on in this order. If you need help, let me know."

She nodded,"Thank you," she said to him softly as she turned to start dressing, she pulled her sweater shirt over her head then tossed it to the side on the bed, then shimmied out of her leggings.

---

He nodded a little,"I am sorry for that, I do not agree with the treatment of your people," he spoke softly so he wasn't heard,"You will not be harmed in anyway,

I looked towards the front of the carriage, noticing his driver. I didn't understand why he would lower his voice, but I didn't care to ask.

---

He went outside, getting some water and putting it in a tin. He went to the room and knocked softly. "Miss?"

She opened the door a bit,"I may need your assistance," she said as she held the corset to her body. "This isn't working," she murmured softly.

---

He looked at her then at the window,"It would be a terrible thing for me to be seen treating you as an equal," he told her,"We would both be hung,"

I made a face, rolling my eyes. "Yeah, terrible to be seen as a human being." I muttered, crossing my arms in annoyance.

---

He nodded a little and came in, politely not looking at her body. He looked at the things on the bed and sighed, moving to tighten her corset for her. He then passed her another shift that went over what she was wearing before the actual dress.

@ musicalpanda
"This is not by my doing," he said to her seriously,"do not make this complicated,"

---

She stood there and placed the gown over her petticoat, "Thank you," she said once she was fully dressed. She braided her hair over her shoulder,"My name is Elise," she said to him.

I huffed and rolled my eyes, looking back out the window. It was because of race. His status would lower if he was seen with someone who was supposed to be lower than him.

---

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Elise." He smiled, helping her fix her dress. "I brought you some water."

"Thank you," she said softly, "I am quite thirsty," she spoke gently as she looked at the bucket, "I don't know how to repay you," she said softly.

---

He sighed a bit then licked his lips as they arrived to his manor in the country.

He shrugged. "Don't worry yourself, Miss Elise. It's kindness my mother my mother taught me." He said, walking to the window. "Can I get you anything?"

---

I looked as the door was opened, and he walked out of the carriage. I pulled off his cloak, carrying it into the manor behind him. It was so cold, I couldn't believe of all places I got sent to somewhere that had to have below zero weather.

She shook her head,"No I'm actually quite content right now," she said to him softly.

---

He smiled,"this is it," he said to her lightly as the doors were shut behind them, he had someone light the fires in the house so they could warm up.

I looked around as we walked inside. It was clearly well stocked with servants, why did he buy me? I couldn't cook on whatever they used before stoves, and cleaning would be a joke. I waited until the maid cleaning left, and turned to him. "You're obviously fully employed, why buy me?" I asked him.

---

He nodded. "You're welcome to make yourself comfortable, I have to go back and help with the bear."

She nodded a little,"Alright, if you need anything let me know," she murmured.

---

"I like company," he said softly,"But not like what you're probably thinking, you'll be here as the help but as sad as it sounds, I need a friend," he told her.