by Nina Monroe
"Are you all right?" Nicola asked as she took a step into the room, where she observed Will's battered chest. She let out a small sound that Will had never heard before, but he knew it was a pained sound. "How did you get those?" Nicola asked as she pointed to his chest. Will looked down at his skin.
"My father mostly, but some are from battles as well," Will said as he adjusted his breeches and gently pulled Tamzin out of bed.
"I heard her and I thought...I'm not sure what I thought." Nicola adverted her eyes from the couple. "Katya and Hanna are bringing you some more appropriate dresses for the region."
"I was tickling her. Nothing more," Will replied as he looked from his mother to Tamzin. "We have yet to have our baths..."
"I can take you to my chambers, so you can both bathe at the same time," Nicola offered as she watched Tamzin returned to sit on the bed.
"I am fine waiting, thank you," Will said courteously, too tired to fight with Nicola or respond with a smart remark. "She needs the bath first."
"Well, I would disagree," Tamzin meant to say under her breath, but it came out loud enough for both Will and Nicola to hear. Will turned to look at her, where he arched his eyebrow.
"I believe you were just saying that I smell delicious?" Will said as he held out his hands in a claw like fashion. "I think you need to be tickled again!"
It was the first time she had seen her son laugh and smile in nineteen years and Nicola looked on happily. She never had that type of love and happiness with Gregory and it took years to rebuild it with Willem after she returned home. Willem never outright said it, but he had a difficult time handling the fact that Nicola had wedded another man and bore his son. All of the territories talked about how terribly the first meeting between Will and Tamzin had gone, but not many spoke about how they repaired the relationship and moved forward.
Tamzin laughed as Will pulled away from tickling her and watched Nicola with her slightly glazed over expression. This woman clearly had a story to tell.
"I will have your bath water brought promptly," Nicola said before she brushed her finger under her nose and tore out of the room quickly. It shocked Tamzin, but Will curled his fingers around her hip and stared forward.
"We may have been too forward for her," Tamzin said as she felt Will's fingers slide up her side and pulled the strap of her nightgown. "Do you think she knows about what happened last night with your siblings?"
"I don't care if she knows or if we made her feel uncomfortable. I hope I made her feel uncomfortable," Will said, his jolly attitude fading quickly. "I have felt that way for my entire life."
Tamzin didn't respond as she heard two more bodies enter the room. It was Hanna and Katya, both holding two large buckets of warm water. They didn't look at Will or Tamzin in their face before they scurried into the adjoining bathroom and poured the buckets into the long, porcelain tub.
Tamzin didn't move until both girls exited the chambers and shut the door behind them. She felt Will's fingers pull on her nightgown and the fabric slid down her body. She heard the rustle behind her and then the sound of Will's breeches hitting the floor and together, they entered the bathroom.
The bathroom was clean, but dim as the only window was a small one on the furthest wall. Tamzin dipped her toe into the warm water and sighed as she submerged her body into the water. Will joined her on the other side and Tamzin felt their legs intertwine. She watched Will dip his head beneath the water and reemerge, his hair slick and stuck to his head.
"You need a haircut," Tamzin smiled as she ran her foot up and down his chest. "And a good shave."
"I like looking like this. I'm a Northerner and I want to look like one here," Will said as he scratched his beard. He then reached for the oils on the side of the tub. "How are babies bathed?"
"I can put him in a very small tub or I can keep him on my chest while I bathe. Babies like water; it's very soothing for them. My mother told me she used to take me in the water with her when I was colicky. It's very good bonding," Tamzin said as she touched her stomach. "Less than a month. I can't believe it."
"And in less than a month, we will have been married for a year," Will replied. "How have I only known you for a year? It feels like a lifetime."
Tamzin smiled as she reached for the hair oils. She lathered it into her hair before she dipped her hair back in the water. They sat in the water for a little while longer, scrubbing their skin with a cloth and oils before they stood up, Will first.
He dried himself quickly and wrapped the towel around his waist before he dried Tamzin with a fresh towel. It had become too difficult for her to bend down and Will dried her legs and feet. With a towel around her body, Tamzin and Will returned to their chambers. Will dressed quickly in a fresh pair of breeches and a sleeveless tunic, while Tamzin inspected the gowns on their bed.
"We are in an extremely hot territory and they give me long sleeved dresses," Tamzin said as she inspected the thick fabric. "I'm not wearing these. It's too hot and I am far too pregnant."
Will chuckled as Tamzin walked to her trunk and pulled out a canary yellow sleeveless dress, made of a light material. Without her ladies, Tamzin combed out her hair quickly and let the air curl it. Finally, she threaded her crown through her hair. Will liked to watch her get ready, when she was focused on making herself beautiful. It always looked complicated, threading her crown in her hair, but Tamzin was born to wear it.
There was a sharp knock at the door and Hanna entered. She wore a dress similar to the ones on Tamzin's bed and her jaw dropped when she saw Tamzin's outfit, but she said nothing.
"The women of the family take their tea before lunch. Nicola asked me to invite you to morning tea," Hanna said as she placed her hands behind her back. She was nervous to be in their presence again. Before Tamzin could respond, Seraphina entered the room. At four months, her belly had begun to grow and pressed up against the tight fit of her dress. Hanna pulled away from Seraphina like she were a sickness and Tamzin narrowed her eyes.
"Seraphina and I will join you for tea momentarily, but I would like a word with her alone," Tamzin said as she let her eyes linger on Will. "If you don't mind, sweetheart?"
"I will be outside with Garrett and the men. Training the Bradford men will be a difficult feat," Will said before he kissed Tamzin and pushed his way past Seraphina and Hanna. Hanna observed Seraphina for a moment longer before she, too, left the chambers. Seraphina looked around the chambers with mild awe.
"Your chambers are much bigger than Garrett's," Seraphina said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"So they placed you with Garrett?" Tamzin asked as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Even though you are not married?"
"Garrett can make anyone do anything," Seraphina said, her nervousness evident. "Why have you asked me here?"
"Because I am going into the lion's den and I need a fellow Northerner with me, even when that Northerner is a liar," Tamzin said as she pursed her lips. "I know you're hiding something and I'm going to find out about it," Tamzin warned. "But before that, you will be joining me for tea."
Chapter Eighteen
Nicola's chambers were as grand as could be expected. Katya, Hanna, Tamzin, Nicola, and Seraphina all sat around a square table, which was covered with a lace cloth. Tamzin could tell that they brought out their best china to impress Tamzin, but all Tamzin did was inspect the women in her company. After what Hanna was caught saying, she didn't dare look Tamzin in the eye. Katya played with her dress and Seraphina didn't speak much to anyone. Nicola was the only one who seemed uninterested in the drama at play.
"So tell me," Nicola began as she took a sip of her tea. "How is Isabelle doing?"
"She is fine," Tamzin responded as she gently placed the cup onto her plate and reached for the cookie on her plate. "Her oldest son is nearly grown."
"She does have children?" Nicola asked, her voice brightening as she sat up straighter.
"A boy and a girl. Her eldest is John and her daughter, Di
nah, is five. She's a sweet girl," Tamzin said as she bit into the cookie before she looked around. "So why did you leave Will as a baby?"
Nicola choked on her tea and both Hanna and Katya looked away from feeling uncomfortable.
"You weren't going to attempt to be courteous, were you?" Nicola asked as she placed her teacup back on the table.
"I'm giving birth in less than a month and I would like to know exactly how much your story will devastate Will before that happens. He had absolutely no idea you were alive," Tamzin said as she leaned back into the chair. She looked next to her at Seraphina, as if to tell her that this is what Tamzin did to her allies. Imagine how much worst it would be as an enemy. "What you did was cruel. If you wanted to hurt someone, you really know how to do it."
"There is no point in being angry. I'm happy there is someone in Will's life that loves him enough to defend him like you do," Nicola said softly as she gently wiped a tear away. "I was fifteen when Will was born. You're too young to be a mother, but I can see the love between you two. That's something I didn't have with Gregory, certainly."
"I don't feel anything remotely sympathetic towards you. I know what Gregory Thurston is like, but I only know that because of Will. He's an awful person and he has done unspeakable things to Will, but you left him. If you had stayed or had taken Will with you, Will wouldn't be the way he is. Do you have any idea how much he has suffered? He is covered in scars and cannot connect with anyone. Will may be the unhappiest person I have ever met," Tamzin said as she bit the side of her cheek to hide her sadness. "All he wants is for someone to love him."
"Do you love him?" Katya asked in a meek voice.
"I do love him and it's also apparent to me that I'm the only person that hasn't lied to him," Tamzin replied angrily.
"That isn't true. Gregory wouldn't have let a Johansson into Thurston Territory. You're not as innocent as you say," Nicola countered as she sat up and raised her eyebrow at Tamzin. "I'm not the villain in this story, so you don't need to be so righteous. When you're a mother, you will understand that not every decision is easy."
"I would never leave my child, no matter how awful the father was. I'm not a mother yet, but I could never leave my child. I can't imagine anything more painful," Tamzin said as she looked down at her stomach. She bulged so much now and her back nearly always ached. Her breasts had begun to spurt milk and her dresses began to feel a bit too tight. She loved her baby so much, but she couldn't wait for him to come out of her.
"I didn't leave Will when he was a newborn. I was forced to leave just before his first birthday. Gregory allowed me to bond with him and then made me go. I didn't suddenly decide that motherhood was an inconvenience for me. Gregory wanted to hurt me, so he hurt me in the worst way a person can hurt another person. Every day, I have thought about Will. You don't know the pain I have been in for the past nineteen years..."
"It wasn't painful enough that you would let Will know you were still alive!" Tamzin yelled as she stood up from the seat. "I won't give you a pass on this. You're right, I don't know the pain you have endured but I know the pain Will has. You have hurt the most important person in my life and even if he forgives you, I can't. I won't," Tamzin said as she looked to Katya and then Hanna. "It would do Will some good for you two to try to get to know him. He needs to know more people in this life love him."
"Are you questioning if I love my son or not?" Nicola asked as she slammed her hand on the table.
"Your actions in the past and what I've seen so far have made me question it greatly. What if Will couldn't give you something in return, would you still be so welcoming to us?" Tamzin grated her teeth as she clenched her fist around her dress. "You haven't once asked what you could to make things better for Will. You only want people to know how much you have suffered during this. You seem to have put enough of your suffering behind you to marry someone else, to have more children, and live a happy life. Will hasn't been that lucky. He closes himself off to just about everyone and I'm quite certain if we were not forced to marry, he would have been alone for the rest of his life," Tamzin said before she took a deep breath. "This has been a very enjoyable experience, ladies, but I fear that I must retire for the afternoon. Being so close to the birthing bed leaves me feeling exhausted." Tamzin glared at Nicola for one final moment before she turned on her heels and left the room, with Seraphina in tow.
"Is she a noble?" Seraphina asked quietly as the women returned to the hallway.
"She is a noble, but I am a royal. I'm not just any royal, either. I will be the Thurston Queen and the daughter or sister of the Roth King. If you are honest with me, I will be your best friend, but if you keep a secret from me that could hurt my family, especially my child and husband, I am worst than your worst enemy. I know you're not carrying Garrett's child," Tamzin said as she eyed Seraphina's hidden bump. "My husband doesn't understand how long children need to grow inside their mothers. Jacque told me you're a month further along than you say."
"I'm not, Princess," Seraphina replied, though she didn't look Tamzin in the eye. "Why would I be traveling with Garrett if I were not to have his child?"
"Because Garrett can manipulate anyone or any situation. If he wasn't so blindly loyal to Will, I would think Garrett would want the crown for himself. Why, I think Garrett would even betray King Gregory to save Will..." Tamzin said, though she whispered the last part.
"It's treason to betray King Gregory," Seraphina said with her eyes watered. She looked more fearful at that thought than Tamzin backing her into a corner. "I would never betray the Thurstons."
"Gregory Thurston stopped Will from keeping two hundred soldiers to protect myself and the rest of the kingdom, but you were whisked away. Will said you worked in the kitchens, but I never encountered you there. Then you were a comfort girl, but I've never seen you in the brothels. You know the work I did with their children, but I never once saw you..." Tamzin said accusingly as she watched Seraphina begin to twist her fingers. "I was three months pregnant when Will left and he returned nearly three moons later. If you conceived with Garrett, you would be around four or five moons, but your bump suggests six at the earliest..."
"Because I was lying with Garrett before he married your friend..." Seraphina offered, but Tamzin shook her head.
"You would risk your reputation to protect someone? Who are you afraid of? It certainly isn't me because you lie through your teeth with me," Tamzin said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You're not a prostitute."
"How do you know?" Seraphina asked as she pushed her brown hair behind her ear.
"You're far too well spoken and clean to be a street girl. You may not have had the same education as a royal or noble, but you have spent enough time among educated people to learn a thing or two. You also appear to have no idea how to interact with a man, which suggests to me that your union may not have been the most consensual of acts. You know something and if you tell me, I promise to protect you," Tamzin said as she reached out and took Seraphina's hand. Seraphina flinched as Tamzin gently ran her thumb over her knuckles.
"I can’t tell you! The less you know, the better," Seraphina said, her words sending an ache to Tamzin's heart. "Please don't make me say it, Princess."
"I know what you're going to say, but I need you to say it..." Tamzin began.
“No, you don’t. You’re a smart girl, but this goes over your head. You don’t know what is coming,” Seraphina continued.
"What is going on here?" Garrett asked as he appeared at the end of the hallway. "Tamzin, take your hands off of her."
"I wasn't hurting her," Tamzin said as she let Seraphina's hand drop back to her side. "You think I would hurt someone?"
"I think you're angry that I slept with her while I was married to Kendall. It was wrong, but this is our situation now. If you want to be angry with anyone, be angry with me," Garrett said as he took Seraphina by the arm and began to lead her down the hall. Tamzin watched Garrett and Seraphina take a left at the end o
f the hallway. She felt someone come to stand next to her. She turned to see Katya, who appeared to be waiting for instruction.
~~~
Will shoved the soldier off of him as they finished their warm up duel. With his muscles relaxed, he stretched his arms over his head. He felt the intense heat of the sun through his curls and the sweat on his forehead ran down in droplets. He and his Northern men were not meant to live in this heat, as the Bradford men warmed up with ease. It was during this time that Will watched his stepfather.
Will had no doubt that his mother named him after Willem to irritate his father. Willem was tall, but just a few inches shorter than Will and his skin was much tanner. He was in good shape for his age and had a good relationship with his men. Ethan was part of the Bradford Army as well, but he was nothing impressive. The boy didn't carry much definition in his muscles and when he moved to strike his opponent, Will could see his weaknesses. The boy would be struck down easily in battle. Many of these men would be struck down with a simple swipe of his sword.