by A. R. Rend
Phillip swallowed past the lump in his throat. Then had to control his breathing as it became harder to keep soft.
They look happy.
Alice laughed at something Jay said, actually leaning her head back to do so, then shook her head, smiling at the man.
Phillip had never seen her laugh like that before.
Jay held up a hand and made another comment which got a follow-up chuckle from Alice.
“Stop it,” Alice said in a slightly louder voice. “I swear to the above you’ll get your entire family in trouble.”
“It’d be so worth it,” Jay argued. “So, so worth it.”
“As much as I want to agree, I shouldn’t,” Alice said with a sigh. Then she put her elbow on the arm of the sofa and put her chin in her palm. Reaching across the way, she lightly patted Jay’s cheek.
Whatever she said was lost to Phillip as he spun away from the scene.
He couldn’t bear to watch anymore.
Nearly running over a house-butler, Phillip nearly knocked the man’s tray out of his hands.
“Sorry,” Phillip muttered, moving past the man and back toward the way he’d come.
I’m done. I can’t do it.
It isn’t that she just doesn’t want me, she doesn’t even want to try. She can barely hold a conversation with me.
I’ll take nothing more and suffer not another second.
Taking in a shuddering breath, Phillip got back to a more common area of the family area.
“Oh! Phil! Perfect timing.”
Turning toward the voice, he found Lenore heading his way. She looked lovely today.
Oh thank the stars.
Turning toward her, Phillip quickly rushed over to her and took her hands in his.
“Lenore, you look lovely today. Please tell me you were coming to ask me out of this damned house,” Phillip said in a rush. “Out of this house and away from here.”
Lenore opened her mouth and stood there, as if she were attempting to catch flies. Then she nodded her head once.
“I sure am. I just got a note from someone who wants to buy our barrels. All of them. And at more than five times what we paid for them,” Lenore said with a grin. “I wanted to come get you because this deal was yours. I want you there with me when I sign the contract.”
“Oh, no, no, no. No thank you. I’ll happily wait outside while you take care of it,” Phillip said without even a thought. “That’s not likely a man’s place this time around. My presence would be disruptive. I’m just quite thankful you wanted me there. I’ll just wait outside while you handle it. If that’s okay?”
“I… don’t like that very much but I’ll-I’ll let it go,” Lenore said, squeezing his hands in her own. “Because to me it sounds like it would be uncomfortable for you.”
“Exactly so. Now, let’s go! Take me away, please, Lenore,” Phillip said, feeling like the grin he had on his face was manic.
He needed to get away, right now.
“Of course. Let’s get a leg on,” said Lenore, smiling back at him. “We can get this signed and get our pay today if we’re lucky. Then… then we figure out our next steps.”
***
Feeling like some type of guilty little hog, Phillip wasn’t able to resist.
Once more he opened the little metal book the temple had given him upon receiving his deposit of coins, essentially all of his earnings, the day previous.
Two thousand Noble gold coins. That’s… that’s so much.
More than I think my mother even has. More than all but the richest.
I can’t believe we actually got a military purchaser from the queen and they paid so much for the barrels.
Though to be fair… we had the market cornered.
Grinning, he shook his head, unable to believe his fortune. His dowry alone would have been enough to live very comfortably for the rest of his life.
Now he was more or less set to do whatever he want.
Lenore was equally as ecstatic as he was. Her own share being less since she didn’t invest as much, but still equally floored by her return.
Tucking the little metal book away back under the floorboard, Phillip got up off his knees. Making sure the board was completely disguised and looked like part of the room, he smiled and nodded his head.
Then he walked back over to his table and sat down in front of the small little box he’d bought.
He’d filled it with thirty Nobles, Mildred’s share, and had put a padlock on the front of it.
He had no idea what she’d want to do with it, but he wanted to protect her life savings.
There was a timid knock at his door.
“Come in, Milly!” Phillip called. He knew who it was because he had sent for her specifically.
Much to Lenore’s surprise, he’d begged Lenore to not tell Mildred what they were doing. Or that it was their money they were collecting. He wanted to personally surprise Mildred with her return.
To thank her for her trust in him.
The door opened and Mildred stepped inside.
Glancing around the room, she saw there was no one else here and closed the door behind herself.
“Phil? Is everything okay?” she asked, slowly walking over to him.
“Everything is… great, Milly. Great,” Phillip said with a wide smile for her.
Unable to help himself, he bounced out of his chair, scurried over to her, grabbed her hand, and dragged her back to the table.
“Sit, sit,” he said, pushing her down into the chair. Then he stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders.
He could feel Mildred tensing up beneath his hands.
There was a momentary flash of anger at the idea of Alice sitting alone with Jay once more. That their conversation had seemed far more intimate than just friends.
Feeling quite petty, Phillip leaned down over Mildred’s shoulder, and wrapped his arms around her front.
“That’s your life savings, Milly,” Phillip said, nodding at the small lock-box in front of them. “We got our money.”
“It… it is?” asked the guard who was more like an unmoving rod of iron in his arms.
“Oh yes. Go ahead. Open it up and count it,” Phillip said, not releasing her. Laying his cheek to hers, he was determined to hold onto her as she did so. He wanted to feel her excitement.
This was likely to alter the very course of her life.
Though… though it might let her quit outright.
She wouldn’t have to be my guard anymore.
Mildred pulled the box closer and then opened the lid. Staring into the top of it he could feel Mildred shiver, as well as when her heart rate sped up rapidly. It was pounding in her neck, his fingers resting against her throat.
“My Milly, you’re a rich girl now,” Phillip murmured, unable to shake the thought that she might just walk away. “Count it.”
“Ah… Phil… this is really awkward and-”
“Hush, count it,” Phillip said, and then kissed her cheek, holding tighter to her.
Mildred’s pulse ran away with her now. As if it were a woodpecker. Her skin was rapidly heating up as well.
She really does have a thing for me. Doesn’t she?
Mmm.
It’s a shame I have more honor than Alice does.
As much as I’d like to… see… where things might go with Milly, I have an obligation to my duty.
Mildred had started counting out her coins, trying to move as best as she could with Phillip draped around her like a cloak.
“Thirty,” Mildred said as she finished counting. “Thirty… noble gold coins.”
Letting out a slow and deep breath, Mildred looked like a woman facing a fairy tale.
“Milly, you officially have more money than most landed knights,” Phillip said and leaned away from her, looking into her face from a few inches away. “What’re you going to do? You could go get a husband and easily settle in somewhere. Live quite comfortably for yourself.”
“I’m afr
aid… the husband I would want isn’t on the market,” Mildred said quietly. Slowly she began putting the coins back into the box. “But perhaps I’ll have to consider a new profession. This… this is so very unexpected, Phil.”
Unable to help himself, Phillip grinned. He hadn’t missed Mildred’s comment about her husband. He had the distinct feeling she meant himself.
Leaning in, he kissed the corner of her mouth, then laid his cheek to hers again.
“Buy him,” Phillip said simply. “Or steal him. You’re a beautiful and intelligent woman, Milly. You have a lot to offer.
“Now… does that mean you’re quitting my guard? I would be extremely sad to see you go, but I’d understand.”
“I… no. No, I’m not going to quit. But… I think I want you to take this and… reinvest it again for me,” Mildred said, putting the last coin back into the box. “I trust you, Phil.”
Surprisingly, she put her hands on his forearms and held onto him as well.
“Bound by duty,” Phillip murmured, wondering if his comment would say everything he wanted to.
“Bound by duty,” Mildred agreed. Then she sighed. “Both of us.”
Ah, she did understand.
Phillip didn’t let her go, nor did Mildred move away. They stood there, cheek to cheek.
Several minutes later there was a polite knock on the door.
“Yes?” Phillip asked, not releasing Mildred, despite the woman’s hands pushing at his arms.
“Ah, my lord, the lady’s coach has returned,” said one of his guards, not opening the door.
“I see. Thank you. You no longer need inform me of her comings and goings,” Phillip said, feeling quite down again at the mere mention of Alice.
“I understand, my lord.”
Nothing more was said.
“Milly,” Phillip said softly, not letting go of her at all. He felt very insecure right now, and she was probably the only solid thing in his life. “We once talked about running away. If I decided to make a go of it. Would you come with me?”
Seconds ticked by as Mildred sat there, unable to get him off, and unable to do more than only lightly pushing at him.
“Yes, Phil, I would,” muttered the guard in a defeated tone.
“Not as my guard,” Phillip clarified. He didn’t dare say more, but he had already said enough.
“N-no. Not as your guard,” Mildred agreed.
“Good,” Phillip said, then laid a kiss to Mildred’s cheek again. “At least I’d have you.”
“You… have me, Phil,” murmured Mildred, her hands squeezing against his arms. Then she sighed softly in defeat. “You have me. Now please, let me stand. I wouldn’t be able to remain if someone walked in like this, and your door is not locked.”
Clicking his tongue, Phillip did as he was told. He didn’t want to get her in trouble.
Picking up the lock-box, Phillip set the padlock back into place and locked it. He then put the key in front of Mildred, who hadn’t stood up yet, but looked much more comfortable now.
“Are you sure you want me to hold onto it?” he asked.
“Yes, no question of that. Reinvest it for me,” Mildred said, pushing the key back toward him. Finally standing up, Mildred looked everywhere but at him.
“I understand. Thank you, Milly. For being mine, and trusting in me.”
“I… uh… yeah. Yeah,” Mildred said, scratching at the back of her neck.
There was once more another knock on his door.
“My lord, the young lady has arrived and requests your presence,” stated his door guard.
Sighing, Phillip lifted his hands and put them over his eyes.
He didn’t even want to look at Alice right now.
“The one time I don’t go to greet her and suddenly she wants my presence,” Phillip said into his hands.
“You’re… not required to go,” Mildred offered.
“Mm. Bound by duty, right, Milly?” he asked, letting his hands fall to his sides.
“Bound by duty,” Mildred agreed, giving him a lopsided smile. A slow and nervous look spread over her face. “Can… I remain here and count my coins… again?”
“Of course. Just… wait for me to come back before you leave,” Phillip said idly, then walked to his door. Opening it, he stepped out of his personal room and looked to the two guards. “And where is Alice then? Did she say where I could attend her?”
“She stated that she’d be in her personal quarters, in five minutes,” reported his guard. “That you were welcome to let yourself in.”
Taking in a short breath, Phillip nodded, and then let it out.
Normally he would have used that time to prepare a small post work, pre dinner, snack for her. Much as he had done numerous times for her already. To which she rarely reacted, touched, or indulged.
Not bothering at all, he walked over to her personal room and pulled open the door and went in.
Alice was in the middle of unloading her satchel and pockets, putting things away in their place. Looking at her was painful and he didn’t want to be here.
He’d wanted to love her. To have a fully committed marriage.
She was strangely beautiful to him as of late. Intelligent and decisive matched with an aggressive mind for business.
But it just hadn’t worked out. He was done letting her have sway over his heart.
All he had was duty now.
“Alice,” Phillip said simply. He was surprised to find her already here, but he realized he didn’t care.
“Ah! Husband. It’s so good to see you,” Alice said, smiling at him.
Phillip didn’t respond.
Standing there, he waited to hear what she wanted.
“I… I was wondering-” she started, her hands still pulling things out of her bag. Apparently she couldn’t find something in her bag she was looking for and had to look into it.
Watching without a sound, Phillip just waited.
Alice stared into her bag for several seconds before she just closed it and set it to one side.
“I was wondering if we could sit and talk,” Alice said finally, looking to him and smiling once more.
“About?” Phillip asked.
“Well, we could talk about your day or my day if you like,” said Alice, moving toward the table where he had often tried to engage her in dialogue.
“My day was much like any other,” said Phillip, unable to help himself. It’d been a common enough reply on her part for him.
Staring at him, Alice had one hand on a chair and was watching him.
“We could still talk about it,” she tried, gesturing at the chair opposite her own. “I’m… sure something had to have happened. What’d you eat for breakfast?”
“Fruit and several biscuits,” Phillip replied, holding her gaze with his own.
Nothing more needed to be said.
He was done here.
Duty alone would be held by Phillip.
“I… ah… well, I had a lovely breakfast with Mother myself,” Alice murmured, pulling out her chair and sitting down in it. “We talked about the current state of affairs of trade, what with the war going on. It’s rather interesting.”
“I’m sure it was,” Phillip said, blinking.
Waiting.
“Could we talk about it so I could get your personal take on it?” Alice asked.
Unable to help himself, Phillip snorted.
“No thank you. I’d rather not talk about business,” said Phillip with a shake of his head.
Of course. Back to business.
“Ah! Yes, that’s very fair. Then, maybe just your opinion on the war or… what the queen’s doing? Or maybe what you think of the city?” Alice said, giving him another smile.
Phillip wasn’t stupid.
He felt like Alice was trying to engage him so she could ask him for something. Or to get him to sign off on something, to be more accurate.
She’d never shown any interest in him up to this point, which meant s
he wanted or needed something from him.
Unless she came out with it, and what she wanted, he wasn’t going to play her game.
“War is never good, the queen isn’t responding fast enough, the city is fine,” Phillip said without any emotion. “May I go now?”
Looking somewhat shocked, Alice sat there, her eyebrows raised and her mouth hanging partially open.
“C-sure. Okay. Will I see you for dinner?” Alice asked, looking rather shocked.
“No, I’ll take it in my room. Goodnight,” Phillip said, turning on his heel. Opening the door, he left quickly and went back to his own private room.
Twelve
“I’m… sorry, my lord but, the young lady is about to leave for the day,” mumbled one of his guards after having returned from a side passage.
Phillip and his people were in the more accessible public study today. Where servants and guards could be.
He didn’t want to be in the family area because it would likely give Mim a better chance to catch him alone.
“As I mentioned yesterday, there’s no need to inform me about such things anymore,” Phillip murmured, turning the page in the book he was reading.
“Of course, my lord,” said the guard.
Even thinking about the fact that he had rushed off to wish her goodbye every morning made him sick.
Standing there at the front of the home to send her off with a wave and a smile.
Day in, and day out. With barely a greeting, word, and certainly not a goodbye. Kiss or otherwise.
It was in fact quite embarrassing to look back on it.
Cringe worthy, in fact.
Groaning, Phillip let out a breath and went back to his reading.
Getting back into the fictional story, Phillip was able to quickly clear his thoughts.
Up until someone walked up to him.
Glancing up from his book he found Alice standing there.
Damn.
Now what?
Closing the book with his thumb as the bookmark, Phillip met her gaze.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning, husband. Did you sleep well?” she asked. She was holding her bag in front of herself, the smile on her face nervous-looking.
“I slept,” Phillip said.
Nodding her head at that, Alice really didn’t seem to know how to respond or what to do.