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Excerpts
from the book
Gripping her arm, he spun her round
and marched her across to the brazier. At once the drunken
rebels surrounded her. Their hands were groping her and feeling
for the folds in her cloak as she tried to appeal to their
better natures. "Please, you must help. Our baby is very
sick and she needs medicine. Her mother is depending on you."
Into the firelight loomed Sergeant Dunod. "We'll help
you. But only after we've had our reward. We're heroes of
the revolution and you do want to reward us don't you?"
He moved close and the stench of cartridge powder, unwashed
flesh and cheap wine made Paulette feel like choking. "My
mistress will pay you, I'm sure," she said shakily. "Only
please be quick and fetch the doctor." Dunod gripped
her wrist and forced his face closer. "First, let's start
with a little kiss, mademoiselle."
Paulette screwed up her eyes and turned away her face. His
stubbly chin rasped against her as he slobbered over her cheek
while one of his hands gripped her bottom. The other dragged
her cloak away and ripped open her blouse and bodice to reveal
her breasts.
There was an appreciative cheer from the onlookers and Dunod
had both hands at her waist, tearing her flimsy skirt apart
and diving inside her underclothes.
He forced his knee between her legs
and she fell backwards, clawing out at his face. Her nails dug
a long furrow down his cheek but he just shook his head and
carried on. She felt the cold cobblestones beneath her bare
flesh as Dunod gripped her throat with one hand and loosened
his breeches with the other. She punched him hard in the face
but it made no difference. She could hardly breathe and her
strength was going. She felt his hand slide between her legs
and there was nothing she could do to stop it. |
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