by GinaRJ
“Why was it hidden?”
“His father had already arranged his marriage so he could not tell anyone about me. Only when he returned he had planned to. His body has not been delivered, even to this day. Of course, one cannot help wonder if he is truly dead. To this day I wonder. I think of him. I imagine he may one day walk thru the door and greet me…perhaps even…even hold me in his arms.” Her eyes became very sad.
Rachel felt her anguish and forgot her own.
Despite it all, Camille smiled again. “See? I may understand more than you realize. You may speak your heart, whatever is in it. I doubt you are merely speaking to hear yourself do it.”
“Did you remain virtuous?” She asked and then with apologetic eyes said, “I am sorry.”
“You needn’t apologize. I am pleased you have come to me with whatever is troubling you. Just as the citizens of Westerly once came to you. Yes, indeed. I did remain virtuous. Had he returned such would not have been the case.” Her eyes dazzled while she clutched her arms to herself and cast her gaze up to the ceiling. “I had such passion for the man.”
“Passion,” Rachel repeated, thinking of what she’d witnessed between the couple in the garden. Curiosity once more took hold of her.
Camille cast her a sidelong glance. “Now you are being diffident, Lady Trent.”
“Diffident?”
“Modest.”
“Truly, I am not.”
“You are married to the most noble man in New Ebony, the most dashing as well, if I do say so myself. He is still even after all these years the catch of the eye. And even more-so now since he made this change for the better. You are wed to this man, Rachel the Elder, and you tell me you do not know what passion is?”
“I know, yes,” she quietly admitted. “But I am not accustomed to its nature. Just as I am not accustomed to these other things, although some of them I seem to be growing into quite well.”
“Neither was I nor have I since. It is a beautiful thing when properly handled, this type of affection. You needn’t scold yourself. You are by nature a woman. You have fallen in love, married. It is well if you wish to make love to your husband.”
“Camille,” she quietly scolded, glancing toward the door to be sure nobody else had heard. Camille silently laughed. She sat back, simply admiring her.
“I suppose these are the sort of qualities that cause Lord Trent to love you so much.” There was a short pause. “But how long will a husband withstand the withdrawal of his wife?” She came to ask, having grasped the truth of matters from all that’d been said. Rachel stared into her wise old eyes and then down at her hands in lap. “It was agreed upon,” she quietly replied. “That I would not be forced or persuaded to lose my virtue in the case I wished to return to my calling or…or to marry again.”
“And which of those would you prefer?”
“To return to my calling, of course.”
Camille’s gaze became rather pitiful. “Once one has experienced such things as these you’ve mentioned, and love and passion and even excess of wine, it is complicated to partake of the Sacred Vows.”
“But if one remains chaste.”
“I was not married like you, Lady Trent, or in any such position…one that will certainly, not that it has not already, arouse all sorts of feelings and emotions, ones you have perhaps battled with all your might. One must always be exactly who and what they are, Rachel the Elder, nothing else. But I assure you, I have experienced desires, these that you have up until now been alien to. I may wish to visit this place Westerly some time. I am curious as to how it could truly keep one so sheltered as it obviously has you.”
“I was not sheltered,” she defended. “I simply had convictions and morals.” The word “had” stood out to them both.
“And you still do,” Camille reassured, “Otherwise you would not be here. But you must face the consequences of what you’ve become…of who you now are. Now, I do not believe for one moment that you were ignorant, not only in matters pertaining to spiritual life but natural as well. After all, you did have an entire community relying upon your advice, or so I have heard. As for these feelings…do not be so hard on yourself, Lady Trent. You are entitled to them.”
While her words sank in, Rachel studied Camille, her calm peaceful composure…her confidence. This was something she did feel entitled to, and found herself smiling softly upon the realization.
One of the maidens came in and made the announcement that a visitor had arrived, so they both stood. “I suppose I will be on my way.”
“You may linger a while longer while I tend to this guest, if you wish.”
“No, I must return.” She offered a hug and said her good-byes, rushing home in hopes her husband would soon return, and safely.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
When she did return, she noted a barrage of guards with their horses near the front entrance of the palace—a sure sign Jacob was home. While in search of him, she came across Percival midway a hallway and stopped him to ask, “Has my husband returned?”
“No, milady,” he said frowning heavily upon her, “he is still away.” He seemed very troubled by something or other.
Her brows came together and she asked, “Is something the matter?”
“Sir Marcus has returned,” he told her, glancing at the floor for a time.
She felt strange hearing the name.
“Oh?” She barely shook her head. “Is something wrong? Is he well?”
“He has been injured and has wounds. They are being tended to.”
“I see.” She adapted to the idea, or appeared to. And when he was gone, she travelled the distance to the quarters Marcus normally occupied during any such visit.
The first room was empty, but from the room adjoining, his bedchamber, she could hear him fussing.
“No more of that,” he was saying. “I am in pain as it is. Why cause more?”
She came nearer and slipped inside, and stood there a moment before she was realized. Mable at once noticed her and stood upright…and then Holly whom she automatically despised and could not help it. Marcus lay propped up in the bed, a pained expression upon his face.
She put her chin in the air and came nearer. “I just heard of your return and of your injuries. I thought I would see for myself that you are well…in my husband’s stead,” she added. “He is away.”
He tried to conceal a wince but it was noticed. “Yes, I am well. Just in some pain,” he admitted.
She spotted the cause of it…a rather deep-looking gash in his calf which Mable and Holly had been in the process of bandaging. Without an explanation, Rachel slipped out of the room, returning sometime later with a remedy to help ease his pain. His leg had by then been successfully bandaged. His help was still fussing over him. Rachel nudged them out of the way and eased down to sit on the edge of the bed. “Here. Drink this.”
He did, and in a very short time felt some relief. “Ah.” He closed his eyes and relaxed. “That is better. Much better.”
She glanced up at the two women. “You may go,” she said, and when Holly hesitated she commanded “Go!” and she loathed from the room in little hurry.
“You are beginning to appear a different person,” Marcus commented, looking her over.
“What do you mean?”
“Or shall I say simply that I see you have adapted,” he laid his head back on the pillows, eyes closing. “I have been away over a month.”
She considered his words. Yes, she had changed. Constant skin and hair treatments and pampering and the finest clothing probably had made a big difference. She had not really considered it until then.
“Edison would have perhaps been so generous, were he here. Whatever the remedy, I am grateful for it.”
She noticed the basin, and dampened a cloth using it to wipe a minor cut on his shoulder. “You should thank yourself,” she told him. “The herbs you brought from Port Templeton…with a touch of wine.”
“Then they weren’t useful
to him,” he dreaded to say.
“It wasn’t necessary to use them all. He became well a short time after you departed.” She bent to get a closer view of his cut. “At least this one is not deep,” she commented and straightened her upper body. “What exactly happened?”
“I wouldn’t want to trouble you with the recollection of it, or even myself for that matter.”
“An accident?”
“No.”
“Were you attacked?”
“What was it you once said…some inquiries are best left unspoken?”
He managed to get a smile from her. “I am just curious, Sir Marcus, as you always claim to be.”
“Although peculiar they may be, I am pleased you recall our conversations.”
“I remember all conversations…which can be rather disturbing at times,” she added. “It appears you’ve been in this shape before.” Judging from several scars: a few on his bare chest and shoulders, one very close to his heart.
“There is but one difference. This time I did not return with my assailant’s corpse. I did, however, wound him. So if you see a man roaming about with a missing eye and perhaps a finger…”
She shook her head at him. “Why do you do this? You could have a more secure place, a trade…even an estate. But you choose to wander about under hire, facing the enemies of those who hire you. It makes no sense. Does it pay so well that it’s worth the risk?”
“I get paid very well.”
“The money would do little good if you were destroyed as it appears you nearly were.”
“You make a valid point,” he said. “And yet continue to prove yourself the wisest woman I have ever met.”
“Perhaps you haven’t associated with the proper kind.”
“I will not argue that, milady.” He shifted to make himself more comfortable. “You don’t understand my exertions. Otherwise you would not urge me to abandon them. Far be it from me to explain. It would seem a great deal like bragging.”
“How so?” She seriously asked.
He changed the subject. “It is rumored all about that my friend is the happiest man in all the world.”
“My, but word does travel.”
“Quickly,” he commented. “Of course I would not have expected to hear any other report. I have also caught wind of a second report, that you acquainted yourself with Orland Manor…and that you handled yourself quite well. Again, not that I would have expected otherwise.” He was terribly serious now. “But how have you handled this…being here? Jacob’s wife?”
“I have adapted quite well,” she told him. “Jacob even lets me give to the poor in the city.” She smiled. “He seems to enjoy watching me do it.”
“Perhaps since any other in your place would have set her heart upon other things…to fulfilling her own desires.”
That word caused her movements to nearly end. Her face became very somber as she asked, “What sort of desires?”
“Finer things which you are not so prone to think about. Apparel, jewels, furnishings. Elaborate social events, and even land on occasion.”
“As for apparel…I cannot see where I could be any more blessed. Also with jewels, not only gifts from Jacob, but from the noble wives. I am forever receiving gifts of gold and silver. I cannot even keep up with having a suitable location to store them. As for land…well, Orland Manor is plenty enough. And it is understandable that a lady would spend money on social events. The people are worth the expense.” She lowered the cloth back into the water, dismissing it. “I’ll leave you alone to rest,” she said. “You must get well. According to my husband, there is to be an event in not only his honor but yours as well in the near future. I only recently learned that you will turn thirty-five the very day he becomes fifty.”
“My honor,” he mocked. “In light of this, I have no honor.”
“Your pride has been damaged.”
“Just a bit. But it can be remedied. Now this has taken your mind from what’s most important to you. Are you going to ask about my quest on your behalf?”
Yes, of course. How had she forgotten?
“A successful transfer,” he said before she could ask. “I even remained longer than intended.”
“The residents are the most gracious you’ll ever meet.”
“That they are. A peculiar people, I would call them. Your gift was received almost as if I was the one to have proposed it.”
“It arrived safely by your hand. I imagine they were grateful.”
“Grateful, they were. Very grateful. Agatha was just as you say, a trustworthy woman. She appeared very mature in age. I started to ask, but did not feel it my place to do so.”
“She is ninety-seven.”
“Even younger than I supposed,” he commented, and before Rachel could scold him, he quickly continued. “She misses you dearly. They all do. I assured them of your well-being without making mention of your new status. I didn’t feel it my place to tell them, so I merely explained to them that your presence is for the time required here, which is hardly a lie, and that they need not worry. They haven’t a clue that you are now a wife and the lady of this wonderful city.”
“I suppose I had in a way hoped you would tell them. I suppose I am a coward.”
“No,” he plainly argued. “You are anything but a coward. If you fear anything it is disappointing them, which is not entirely a fear at all. Having met these people, I am certain they would be happy for you.”
“Tell me, how long did you stay?”
“Five days, in a small cottage not far from the chapel. The mayor insisted it.”
“Oh, and how is he?”
“Old…like Agatha, very old.”
“But his health.”
“To be honest, I don’t know how he gets around. He can’t see anything.”
“And my sisters…did you meet them as well?”
“I’m not sure of who exactly I met…only that it was the most relaxing five days of my life. The people there live a simple life. It was refreshing, but I could not imagine being the patron of such a place. Such simplicity would surely drive a man to madness.”
“You will not be the first to have said so.”
A peculiar, unique expression came over his face, as if something was wrong, and he looked away, acting to study a chipped nail.
“You have something more to say,” she decided.
“Yes,” he quickly admitted. His eyes became very compassionate, sincere. Just what exactly would he say? She gave her head a slight shake. “What is it? Has…has there been a death?” She hated to mention it, but it was the first thing that came to mind.
“No, no,” he hastily corrected. “Nothing like that. The community has actually grown by several people.”
Her brows came together. “There must be something. I can see it in your eyes.”
“There is,” he admitted, “but I am somewhat afraid you will take it the wrong way, misconstrue my actions, maybe consider me out of line although I meant well. Truly, I did.”
She gave her head a slight shake. “What are you talking about?”
He paused a moment, studying his fingertips. He finally lowered his hand and looked at her again, his gaze still very sincere. “I was given a parcel of land by Duke Norton in return for my services. Afterward, I took the deed to Duke Berlin.”
“Duke Berlin,” she repeated after him. “He’s a horrible little man.”
“The deed was valuable to him,” he explained. “So I exchanged it with him for the deed to another parcel of land that extends from the north and eastern borders of Westerly. After presenting the gift from Jacob to your friends in Westerly, I also presented the deed to this land.”
She was speechless. That land had been wanted for some time now, just as Westerly had been sought after from every angle. The town was so small, and the residents consistently felt in danger of being placed into the hands of any one of the three nobles surrounding them, specifically Duke Berlin who was rumored to be a very callo
us and crude man.
“But…” She shook her head, easing back down to sit on the bedside. “Are you sporting with me again?”
A lazy grin touched his lips. “No, milady,” he assured, and she knew for sure he was telling the truth. She visualized him handing over such a document to Agatha, the mayor and the entire town. They must have been exhausted with gifts, overwhelmed with these sudden blessings….blessings from the heavens for sure.
He was avoiding her piercing gaze now, as if a bit embarrassed by his good deed, a deed that had not been requested or expected or even thought of for that matter. It’d come to him on his own, and he’d done it…for her? To make her happy? To make her appreciate the sort of fortune his endeavors could bring? That she would not frown down upon his labors, but consider them heroic and relevant?
“As we speak, they are likely surveying the land, and considering the plans for it I left behind. The mayor and the council and I sat together and I directed them, so to speak, on the most suitable way to extend…..from the inward out. There’s no danger along the borders. I have planted guards temporarily in the case of incident. But the deal is sealed. The land is theirs, and no harm will come upon them. If there are problems…well, they will speedily be brought to my attention.”
Her smile deepened, and she did not resist an urge to hug him, placing her hands on his bare shoulders and leaning inward, squeezing him tightly. “This makes me so very happy.”
His eyes dazzled with a joy of his own. “This ends in like manner as many of my endeavors. Mission building upon mission. Now I have one other to accomplish. I am not so sure what our emperor will think of this extending of Westerly’s borders. You do know the land belongs to him. Still, he will likely leave it be although an explanation of why I chose to enlarge a town that is already despised will be demanded.”
Still smiling down at him, she stood, and possibly in the nick of time. Jacob came through the door saying “alive and well” with a voice probably not as loud as it seemed at the time.