by Marie Hall
"You lie," Io yelled grabbing the woman's arm. "Xavier would not—"
"Take your hand from me you nasty little bitch." She jerked her arm but Io held.
"You are lying and I will know why. I have done nothing to you. You have no reason to treat me as you have. This is my house, Xavier said." Io knew her voice grew loud and shrill. More, she knew she was taking a step she never had before. She was defending her place, her status.
"You vulgar—" Lady Charlotte's hand connected hard with Io's face. Yet even as she stumbled, Io held on, both women toppled down to the ground.
Lady Charlotte's shriek was probably heard all the way to the Forks. Io shoved the woman off rolling away to stand. She was getting to her feet when firm, steadying hands settled on her.
"Lady Io, Lady Charlotte." Seth made sure Io was standing before he reached out to help Xavier's mother to her feet. "What happened? Are you all right?" Seth reached out to touch the hand print on Io's face.
"I am not," Lady Charlotte snapped. "This little bitch is offensive in every way possible. That she takes air, I find offense. Where is my son? I will see you get what you have coming or…"
"Xavier?" Io turned her face from Seth and pressed her cheek into her shoulder to try and ease the sting. She hadn't been slapped like that in a long while, had forgotten how much it could hurt. Certainly Xavier could set fire to the skin on her backside but at least Io was assured he wouldn't do anything to give her lasting injury. Lady Charlotte's strike was starting to make Io's jaw hurt and her eye felt about to come out of its socket. Her ear rang with the pain and she was sure her head would be pounding too.
"He is on the field," Seth told her.
"I need to speak with him." Io used the back of her hand to wipe at the tear slipping down her face. He was on the field. He trained like any other day. Nothing here changed. Xavier didn't turn the house over to his mother. Io wouldn't let doubt set in. She wouldn't, not even with the nagging feeling something was changed.
"Come Io." Seth held out his arm and Io set her hand on it.
"You will not walk away from me," Lady Charlotte yelled and soon fell in step on the other side of Seth.
The three came around the side of the house as Xavier pulled his horse to a stop at the inner gates. He still wore all his leathers and even his lighter chainmail. It was clear he'd been called from the training he was conducting. Hopefully, Io would be able to settle this and get back the security and stability she wasn't as confident she had.
As Xavier came at them, Io could see the set of his jaw. She knew soon she'd either see question or acquisition in his eyes. Lady Charlotte charged forward rattling off complaints and stating Io attacked her.
Io stopped walking and turned away. "This is going to turn very bad for me."
"Io." Seth covered her hand with his, a reassuring gesture less effective than it might have been.
Xavier's boots crunched down heavily as he approached and still that woman, his mother, was going on about how she'd been mistreated. "Io." Xavier hand settled on her arm and she was forced to turn. She kept her cheek on her shoulder. What he would think of her if he saw the mark? "Io, did you push Lady Charlotte down?" His tone was at least neutral and there was a question as to Io's behavior.
"When I fell, I was holding her," Io muttered.
"You did not push or shove her?" Io shook her head. Xavier put his fingers to the side of her face and forced her head up. Xavier studied her face intently for a long moment. "Io, what happened?" She couldn't stop the wince when his thumb brushed over the mark on her face and she stepped back out of reach. "Io?"
"Did you… did you…" Io cleared her throat. She both did and didn't want to ask. She needed the answer but feared what it'd be and the fear caused shame. Shouldn't she trust her husband?
"Io, did I what?" His patient tone helped Io find courage.
"Did you give the house over to her?" She nodded her head in the direction of Lady Charlotte.
"Did I what?" Io's relief was intoxicating. Xavier nearly shrieked. Something he only did when he was presented with something so completely outrageous as to be totally absurd.
"She said you gave her control of the house. That I… was shaming you in how I did things." Io's voice was only a whisper it didn't matter now. Io had the answer she needed.
"Mother." Xavier turned to face Charlotte. She only crossed her arms and shrugged. Xavier turned back to Io. "I did not give the running of the house to anyone." He again looked at his mother over his shoulder. "She will make the menu for awhile."
Io felt her mouth drop open. Try as she might she couldn't make the incredulous laugh she intended come out. Every bit of the last few months rolled through Io's mind. She couldn't see what she may have done different. She tried to make more accommodations for his mother and it still wasn't enough. What conclusion then, Xavier lied when he said he thought her capable of the duty.
"Io." Xavier jiggled her arm. She pulled away but he took it again in a slightly firmer grip.
"You gave her the house." Io couldn't look at him. She took a step back.
"Io, she will set the menu that is all." Why was he keeping his voice so low? Was he trying to say one thing to her while he planned to say something else to his mother? What kind of game did he think to play at? And did he really think she'd play along? Well she wouldn't. She wouldn't when that left her never knowing if what she was told was the truth. She lifted a trembling hand and placed it over the one Xavier had on her arm.
"Did you not say that I ran the kitchen in a fine manner?" She looked up to see his face.
"Io, you run this house."
"That was not an answer. Do I or do I not run the kitchens and set the menu in a satisfactory manner?"
"Of course. Io, this is not about you. She is only setting the menu."
"She changed the staff, rearranged the duties throughout the house with the change."
"I will speak to her—" Xavier started.
"And what plan my departure?"
"Io." Xavier tried to pull her closer. "I only allow her to write a menu."
"Why am I stripped of this duty?" She took a good hold of his hand and with deliberate force jerked it from her and tossed it back at him.
"Io, you are not being stripped." Xavier reached for her but she stepped back. When he stepped towards her she took two steps back.
"You have taken the duty from me and given it to someone else. If the way in which I have served is not unsatisfactory, then why would you take the responsibility from me?"
"Io, this is not a judgment or a criticism of your ability."
"Then what is it?" she shouted. Realizing her temper would make this worse she swallowed, turned, paced away then back. "What is this if not a judgment and a poor one at that?"
"Io, this will silence her, end the hostility in the house."
"It will not because the hostility has nothing to do with the menu. It is about who runs this house." Again she paced away and then back. "She has the house, I have nothing."
"Io, that is not true." Xavier grabbed at her but she twisted away.
"It is." This couldn't be happening. "Your concern is only for what she wants. You no longer defend me because you agree with her. How long do I even have left here; should I pack?"
"Io." He grabbed for her again and when he again failed to catch her, his face betrayed his annoyance. Could be he was frustrated she kept him at a distance but a nagging feeling told her there was more. "Io, this is your home. You run this house. No one else, only you." Io gave him a hard look gesturing towards the woman standing with a satisfied and smug look. "Io," Xavier sighed. "Mother is a very experienced chamberlain. It will not hurt for you to learn some—"
"Learn from her? Because you prefer her way over mine? No, let her have it all. I care not. I knew this would happen. I told you I would be forced to change to suit everyone." Io didn't wait for his response. She pushed by and headed indoors. As she passed Lady Charlotte, she sent the rolled parchme
nt flying. It struck the woman in the arm falling to the ground. Lady Charlotte refused to pick it up which left Xavier to do it even as he called for Io to come back.
Picking up her skirts, Io ran straight into the hall, up the stairs and into the private apartments. She slammed the main door behind her then went through to her private room. Io paced the length of the room, turned and paced the full length back. Angry, it was the only word she could find to describe what she was feeling. Angry and that surprised her. She shouldn't be angry, surprised, not anything of the sort. After all she predicted this very thing. Hadn't she tried to tell Xavier it would happen? That he'd find her well enough as long as no one was there to point out her faults. He may not have had any intent to force her to change, to bend, but then he'd find someone who was more important and it'd be Io who yielded.
"Io?" She turned at the tentative knock to find Xavier standing at the door to her room. "Io, we must talk." He didn't cross the threshold.
What could there possibly be to say? Her hand came up and settled on her cheek. The pain prominent. The entire side of her face hurt and she had a headache. At the moment she wanted nothing to do with any other person. Right now she'd gladly return to the way it was before Xavier came into her life. Right now all she wanted was to be left completely, totally, unequivocally alone.
Xavier waited. Io headed towards him, slow and deliberate. Reaching the portal into the common rooms, she stopped and set her hand on the heavy wood door standing open. Xavier leaned forward as if he planned to cross the threshold. She waited until his body was as forward as could be without needing to take the step, then shook her head and slammed the door, hoping a little she managed to hit him with it. She half expected him to ignore the boundaries of the room and come charging in. She stepped back and waited. Xavier never came through the door.
Chapter Six
"Io," Sarah whispered and knocked softly. "May I come in?"
"Please leave me alone." Io's voice floated through the thick wood and Xavier sat up in surprise. He expected Io to allow in her maid, if for no other reason than to have someone with her who held the same opinion of his mother. Although at the moment, if she'd let him in, she'd have that.
"Io, I brought some water and a compress." Sarah set the laver and cloth packet on the floor by the door.
Xavier's teeth ground together. His mother actually struck Io and she felt justified. He wouldn't tolerate it. If she ever thought to raise her hand again to his wife she'd go out of this house harder than she knew was possible.
He wouldn't even allow a claim of poor judgment on his mother's part. She knew a wife in residence had all authority. He only allowed her to make the menu because he wanted the complaints about the meals to stop.
He should've set Io down and explained to her what he'd decided and why he thought it was the best choice. He shouldn't have let her be taken by surprise especially by his mother. He'd no expectation Io might let him explain after the confrontation. And although he hadn't expected her to slam the door in his face, he couldn't be angry. He did deserve it. But for her to not want Sarah with her, he wondered if he should be concerned.
"Io, are you sure?"
"Please go." Io didn't yell.
"Try and use the compress, Io, it will keep the bruising light, no reason to… Io, it is here at your door."
"Sarah?"
Xavier had a moment to hope Io would open the door
"Yes?"
"Let it be over. I do not care."
Xavier didn't know what Io meant, Sarah did, her shoulders sagged and she sighed. "Io, do not give over."
"I knew it would come to this. Do not, please."
"I will not, Io, because you ask," Sarah said then she headed out. She stopped before crossing the threshold. "You will either get your mother out, my lord, or you will get your wife out. They cannot remain here together. Make your choice to whom you will support because I will not stand still and see Io hurt."
Xavier was stunned, and before he recovered, Sarah was gone. He hadn't even thought she knew he was there. He sat in the far, dark corner of the room. If Io opened her door and wasn't forced to confront him, she might chance to venture out and he might have the opportunity to again ask for her to sit and speak with him.
He waited a while more and was ready to go to his rooms when Io's door creaked open. He caught a glimpse of her when she reached out and pulled in the water and cloth filled with herbs and roots. If he worried she'd make herself ill with upset, he no longer did. In fact, he'd a new worry. Io didn't look to have shed one tear. She was hurt both by his mother's physical attack and her interpretation of his decision to give his mother the run of the kitchens. If not because of his mother, then at least because of him, Io should've reacted as she tended to when frustrated, she should've cried.
She held her emotions in complete check. She shut more than him out when she slammed the door. She shut out her connections to people. She didn't want to let Sarah in because the woman would be able to… get in. Xavier was reminded how Io was when he first met her. When she refused to accept anything offered to her and pushed everyone away. She'd come so far since then. Xavier had no desire to go backwards.
Io managed to get the supplies in then shut the door without so much as a glance up. He could walk in. The door to Io's chambers only locked from his side. She couldn't lock herself in or him out as it were her want. But he'd given his word he wouldn't violate her authority to say who was permitted in and when. He wasn't about to give her further reason to think she couldn't trust him. Standing he conceded he'd get nowhere with Io now. He could try when she came out to eat, try.
* * *
"Io, please eat." Xavier drew in a deep breath and willed himself to remain calm.
"I do not like fish." Io's tone wasn't just condescending; it was cold.
"Io, you could try the fish," Lucas suggested, "it is not poorly done."
"I do not like fish, sir."
Seth waved over the servants standing against the wall. "Where is the food stuff Lady Io took to the kitchens?"
Xavier leaned around to look at the man, now even more frustrated. Io might not care for fish but she'd eat her weight in berries, nuts and vegetables. "Did you bring in food stuff, Io?" Xavier placed his hand over his wife's on the table, happy she didn't jerk away. She snorted and shrugged.
"The cart was loaded; poor Otho could almost not pull it," Seth chuckled.
Xavier smiled. Otho, only his wife would name a goat after an emperor. "So where is all this food?" Again she only shrugged.
"My lord, Sir." The servant swallowed and shifted uncomfortably. "The food was…"
"That rubbish is not fitting a table," Lady Charlotte snapped. Everyone, except Io, turned to look at her. "It is wholly unhealthy to eat such things," she said taking a bite of her large portion.
"Mother," Xavier snapped, "Io survived well on such food. In the time we have been home, we have enjoyed the variety."
"It is food for peasants and pigs," Charlotte countered. "Of course she did well on it."
Xavier gritted his teeth and ignored the barb. "Where is the cart now?" Xavier could make sure Io ate at least.
"I told you that rubbish is for pigs, they have it." She waved over a serving girl with the wine decanter. Without a please, or smile, or any show of kindness, she set her cup out for more. The girl was young, wine spilled. His mother cuffed her hard. "You do not waste in this house."
"Yes, my lady." The girl retreated.
Xavier was lost for words. Was she so much a hypocrite to not see giving all Io collected to pigs was a waste? Had she always been like this? Not possible, his father wouldn't tolerate it. Xavier may have been at a loss but his wife wasn't.
"Waste?" Io stood. "I should tell you of waste." She flung her food to the floor. The few dogs allowed to sit under the table were on the meal in a heartbeat. Io stepped away from the table taking the decanter from the trembling girl. "It is a waste to think anything could please you." Io
slammed the wine down next to his mother. "But you will serve yourself before you have my leave to abuse these people." She turned, put her arm around the child and ordered the other servants from the hall with a sharp command. Then left herself.
"Xavier, you will correct that…" his mother started.
"Careful, Mother," he warned. "She is mistress here." And clearly Io wasn't as indifferent as she might hope to be, yet. She still defended the people.
He watched Charlotte assessing her current situation. When she took up her cup, he knew she'd say no more. It was the same when Father corrected her. Xavier sighed, how he'd pay to have that man here. He was the only person Charlotte never challenged. But then no one challenged his father and perhaps it was that legacy causing problems.
Xavier and his siblings learned fast their mother was to be respected and obeyed without question or hesitation. To not do so not only incurred her wrath but Father's. Even in adulthood, with all the power and strength he had, Xavier couldn't quite bring himself to cross the line with his mother. Not out of love for her, but out of respect for his father who taught him, more than anyone, about being a man.
"She did not eat again, Brice," Seth complained rubbing his forehead.
"I know," Xavier sighed.
"It is becoming a habit again." The man set his own trencher away.
Was it becoming a habit again? Xavier didn't think so, but the last few weeks Io missed more than a few meals. Xavier stood and headed to the kitchens. There should be a bounty of cheese, wafers and jellies meant for dessert and, perhaps if he brought them to her, Io would eat. And if she'd sit and eat, perhaps she'd also talk. And he could rebuild her trust.
Chapter Seven
"Ow, ow damn," Io howled as she hopped to the low stone wall at the back of her garden. Sitting she twisted her leg plucking the thick thorn from her heel. Once out, she tossed it far so she wouldn't step on it again. Io took a deep breath, rubbed at her heel and admired the work she completed. The area was starting to look like she envisioned when she asked Xavier if he'd allow her to have a garden.