I had forgotten that my items had been moved to Blaine’s room, so I had to locate a dry dress in my new wardrobe. I was a little hesitant to start reading my book in my new bed, but decided it wouldn’t reflect well if I hide in the guest room.

It seemed every time I turned the page, I would catch the scent of Blaine on my person. I looked at the tub in the corner of the room. Kerani would heat me a bath up in a half an hour and I would be rid of my husband’s scent, but I wasn’t sure if I disliked it. The thought that he was only thinking of Maita as he touched me made me want to remove it. Then I thought of his words before he kissed me. How he would only love me from now on and refuse all others.

Jumping off my bed, I walked out into the hallway to find Kerani. As I walked down the hallway, Durril came out the stairs. Without even asking if I wanted to join him, he grabbed my upper arm and pulled me into his bedroom.

He pressed me between the door and his own body. “I can’t stop thinking about you and our last kiss didn’t help matters.”

“Durril, I can’t be caught in your bedroom.” I whispered. “Blaine is just downstairs.”

“Blaine left as I was coming in.”

“What? Where did he go?”

He shrugged, “He wasn’t with any knights, so I assume he’ll be back before sundown.” He began to kiss me and as much as I didn’t want to, I pushed him away.

“No, Durril. I am sorry that I kissed you today, it was a mistake. It was wrong of me. I am married and I vowed to be faithful to my husband.”

His forehead dropped to my shoulder, “One moment you want to be faithful to him and the next you are smothering me in your kisses. I don’t know what it is that you want.”

“I want you to act as if I am your sister, understand? Your flesh and blood sister. If I ever try to kiss you again, just shove me away, please.”

“You know that if you kissed me again that I do not have the strength to deny you.” He took a step away from me.

It took all the strength that I had to turn my back to him. I opened the door and strode out into the hallway as if I had nothing to hide.

On my way down the stairs, I saw Blaine enter into the manor. I sent prayers to the heavens for my restraint with Durril. Just imagining what could have happened if Blaine caught us together sent a tidal wave of shivers up my spine.

In Blaine’s hand was a small bouquet of daisies that I had seen growing near the lake. When I reached the bottom stair, he approached me and offered the flowers to me.

“A small apology for my behavior.” He said as I took them from him.

“Thank you. They are lovely. But you need not apologize, as I said as your wife you have the right. I just… not our first time in the open.”

He shook his head, “No, I said only a kiss and then I tried to make it more. I am a very honest man, but yet I can’t seem to stop lying to you.”

“You were caught in the moment, it was not a lie.”

“I knew that I wanted more even as I told you that it would only be a kiss.”

“Well, thank you for the flowers. Have you seen Kerani? I need to bathe.” I didn’t need to tell him that last part, but it slipped past my lips before I could stop it.

“She and Endre went into town for some supplies.”

“Oh.” I sighed and headed up the stairs, but Blaine grabbed my hand.

“Allow me, please.”

I rose an eyebrow, “Allow you to do what?”

“Wait in my study, I’ll summon you when it is ready.”

I didn’t know what he had planned, but I walked into the study as if I trusted him and waited. It seemed like a half hour past before he opened the study door and gestured for me to follow him.

When we reached his bedroom, my nose was filled with the scents of lilacs and gardenias. The tub in the corner had steam rising from it and there was a small basket beside the tub with several different soaps. I thought Blaine would leave me to cleaning myself, but when he locked the bedroom door with him inside, I knew he had other ideas.

He began to take the pins from my hair and had apparently found my hair brush. He brushed out my hair with firm gentleness and when he was satisfied laid the hairbrush on one of the chairs. I swallowed hard when he began to unlace my corset. My dress fell to my feet within seconds and all that was left were my shoes and bloomers. Coming to stand in front of me, he kneeled down. I didn’t see him even attempt to look at my breast. He removed my shoes and then walked around behind me to remove my bloomers. Just like Kerani would undress me.

The feelings I had were a mix of excitement, fear, and embarrassment as Blaine walked over to the tub to wait for me. I made my way over and climbed the step ladder. My hands tested the water first and it was the perfect temperature. I stepped in and settled my body down.

Blaine reached down to pick up a washcloth and a bar of scented soap. He wet the washcloth and then rubbed the bar of soap between it. When there was enough suds, he placed the soap back in the basket and began to wash my shoulders and back.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked when the cloth grew closer to my breast.

“To gain familiarity with you and to apologize further for everything that I have done. If need be, I will be your servant until you forgive me for my transgressions.” His voice was soft.

“Isn’t this something one should do after familiarity is already present?”

“Perhaps, but nothing we have done together has been by the book.” He lifted one of my arms and washed it before doing the other.

Bending over he pulled a small cup from the basket and filled it with water before emptying the water slowly in my hair. When he was satisfied that my hair was wet enough, he grabbed the bar of soap again and began to lather up my hair. He then rinsed it and began to wash me with the cloth again. Normally, I would have stood to have my legs and backside washed, but I remained in the water.

When he was finished, he picked up a towel and opened it so he could wrap me up when I stepped out. As soon as I was standing in front of him, I lifted my arms and he tied the towel around me. He then took another towel and dried my hair and limbs. After which he fetched me a new pair of bloomers and a dress. He helped me dress and then kissed my lips gently when he was finished.

“Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. I’ll be down shortly.” He told me.

“Alright.” I responded and began to walk towards the door. When I turned to shut the door behind me, I witnessed him removing his shirt. He too was going to bathe, but his bath would be alone.

In the morning, I awoke to find that Blaine was no longer in bed with me. Kerani was in the room preparing my clothing for the day. She did not say anything about my nude form, though she did seem rather upset about it. When I stood up, she mumbled something about me needing a bath now, but did not begin to fill the tub. She helped me into my bloomers and the rest of my clothing which was a dark blue dress.

“Is there something the matter?” I asked when she began to tie my corset too tightly.

With a quick yank, she shook her head which I barely saw from over my shoulder. When it was tied she spun me around. “I would have denied him. The adulterer did not earn his right to take you.” She snorted.

“Earn his right? We are married, he has the right.”

She grabbed my hairbrush and began to remove the knots in my hair before placing it in a firm bun. “You should have denied him!” Her voice lowered, “And lost your maidenhood to his brother. That is what he earned.”

“To his brother?” I squeaked and she placed her hand over my mouth.

“Of course. The servants know that there is more between you and we have no intention of telling Lord Blaine. He deserves it as long as he keeps Maita in his heart.” She placed the last pin in my hair.

My hand whipped across her face and left a stinging red mark. “Never speak of Lord Blaine in such a matter again. There is nothing between Lord Durril and I and there never will be. I am a married woman who has vowed faithfulness to her husband. How dare you or any of the servants speak otherwise!”

Kerani’s head bowed after the initial look of shock pasted from her face, “Forgive me, mistress.” She walked to the door and opened it for me. “Lord Blaine requests your immediate presence in his study when you have awoken.”

I felt terrible having hit Kerani. That was not something that I had ever done before, but her words had infuriated me. As I walked past her, I knew that I would have to apologize to her later.

Making my way to Blaine’s study door, I knocked gently on it and heard someone tell me to come in. Opening the door, I stepped inside to find Durril sitting in a chair in front of the desk and Blaine behind it. He waved for me to have a seat next to Durril and I did as I was asked. Having both men in the same room had caused me some discomfort, but I remained strong. I knew this couldn’t be what I thought it was.

“I just received word that the king wants me to return to Mureal by the end of the week.” Blaine began, “With the war at hand, there is much that he needs me for. He has estimated that I will not be able to return here for at least six months. I have left Durril in charge of my affairs and need to know if you wish to join me in Mureal.”

I tried not to look at Durril’s face as I knew if I saw his desire for me to say I would stay, that I would want to do so. “May I think on it for the day?”

He gave a brief nod, “I need the answer the day before so the servants can prepare your belongings.”

Durril stood and bowed his head before he exited the room. I was afraid to leave in case he was waiting for me and so I remained seated. “Do you have much to do today?” I ask my husband.

“There is a great deal that I need to prepare for so that Durril is not overwhelmed while I am gone.” He looked up to me then back down to the scroll on his desk.

“Is there anything that I could help with?” I scooted forward on my chair.

“Indeed there is.” He stood up and handed me a letter that was on his desk. “Could you write six copies of this letter in your best handwriting? I need to send them out to other nobility in the area informing them that I will be away.”

I smiled and took the letter from him, “Of course. I’ll use the writing desk in our bedroom.” I stood up and began to walk for the door.

“You could stay in here with me… if you wish.” The words were spoken shyly. It was not a tone that I was use to Blaine using.

I turned back around, “Where would I write?”

He looked around the room, “You may use the desk. What I must do now doesn’t require it and while we do that, I will have the servants bring a spare writing desk in. I have been meaning to do that for some time now.”

With a grin, I came around the desk and allowed him to pull the chair out for me. When I was seated, I began to create my first copy and Blaine went to inform a servant that he wanted another desk in the study.

When he returned, he pulled a book from the shelf and began to read it. Occasionally, he would stop and come over to the desk to write a note down. He had needed the desk, but didn’t want me to leave the room. I smiled internally when I realized this.

After a half hour, the servants brought a small writing desk into the room and placed it against the wall near the door. They had to remove on of the chairs, but Blaine didn’t mind, he said they were never used. As soon as the servant left, I placed myself in the writing desk and Blaine returned to his desk. I saw him smile when I did so, as if he were pleased that he didn’t have to ask me.

It took me the better part of the morning to finish the letters and when I was through, I realized that I had written one too many. “I wrote one more then was needed.” I held up the spare letter and Blaine looked up with a humored grin.

“I’ll have that one sent to my cousin.” He pulled out his red wax and seal stamp. “Here stamp them with the family seal.”

I folded the letters up properly then melted a small glob of wax over the opening. The small stamp would be pressed down into the letter to show that it had not been opened and prove authenticity. When I finished with the last one, I felt a shadow move over me. It was Blaine. He had come to inspect my work.

His hands rested on my shoulders and gently squeezed them. As a little sigh rolled from my lips, he stopped and turned my chair around. Kneeling down before me, his hands ran up my thighs and around my bottom. He laid his head in my lap and I began to stroke his hair.

“Six months will be a long time for our growing relationship to wait. It would please me beyond words if you came with me.”

I brushed the hair from his forehead but didn’t respond to his words. I knew that as his wife, I should jump at the chance to be with him. Yet, I knew that it would be six months alone with Durril and Kerani’s words about the servants not telling had planted a seed in my mind.

“Valora, come with me.” Blaine said when he realized that I wouldn’t reply.

“I have only just become accustomed to living here. You know that I never left my own city when I grew up. It is strange to leave this place for another.”

He rubbed his face against my leg and for a brief moment, I witnessed something that I hadn’t seen before. Blaine was exhausted. Whether it was with the war, or the drama occurring with us, or perhaps both, I could not say. “I can not leave you here with Durril. If you do not come with me then I will hire a governess to watch over you. I do not believe that anything may occur, but my brother’s will is strong.”

“This has nothing to do with Durril.” I lied, “If I stay here then I will submit willingly to your governess.”

I felt his arms begin to tighten and I was pulled from my chair into his lap. My arms wrapped around his neck and he inhaled deeply at my neck. “Your words comfort me. I was afraid you would argue with me and then I might be lead to believe that there is more between you and Durril.”

He looked up and began to kiss me. It wasn’t long and passionate, but rather simple. He seemed to be portraying his happiness rather then any lust for me.

I smiled at him, “You should address the letters and I will give them to Leora.”

His arms tightened around me when I tried to stand. “I want you to come with me to Mureal.”

“You’ve said that already.”

“Ease my mind, Valora. Say you will come with.”

I arched an eyebrow, “I thought I already did so by saying that I would allow a governess.”

“Six months is far too long for me. I may not rely on you now, but today I witness that in its making. I will not accept no as an answer.” One of his hands slid up my backside to the small of my back.

“If you will not accept no, then doesn’t that mean you are ordering me to go?” My question was met with the most devilish grin that I had ever witnessed.

“Of course not. I am only informing you that I will change your mind in anyway that I can.”

I grinned back, “I’d like to see you try!”

The hand that was slithering up my back continued its journey until it reached my neck. He pressed against it to bring my face to his own which I did without much resistance. This time his kiss was passionate and I became the one seeking entrance into his mouth with my tongue. He denied me which only caused me to moan in frustration. I felt him smile and I shoved his shoulders back.

He was still smiling at me. “I think this will be easier then I expected.” He said as I stood up and bundled up the letters on the desk.

I offered them to him and frowned. “Address these. I am done with you for the day.”

There was a deep laughter coming from him when I exited the study. I was hungry for both breakfast and my husband, but at least one would allow me to forget the other.

“Have I done something?” I asked when I entered into my new bedroom. I was surprised to see that it matched almost exactly to the bedroom back home. The only thing that was different was the placement of the windows and the fireplace. Instead of being in the center against the wall, the fireplace was between the two windows.

Blaine was laying down on the bed with his face in the pillow. “What are you speaking of?”

“In the carriage, you were aggravated with me. I want to know…” I stopped speaking when Colina entered the room with another set of luggage.

With a bow, she left without a word. I returned my eyes to Blaine, “I merely didn’t pack enough books, I don’t…”

He sat up from his bed and glared over at me, “When I tell you to pack anything you will need for entertainment, then ensure that you do. If you can’t follow simple instructions, then you will suffer the consequences. Do you understand what you have done now?”

“I just want to buy a book or two while I am here. I most likely would have wanted to buy one or two if I had come here with the manor’s entire library. Why…”

“Because you didn’t follow my instructions, that’s why. Didn’t I tell you that my say was final? Don’t purchase any books. Perhaps, next time you will remember to pack enough and then you can buy some while you are here.”

“That seems unfair.” I came to stand at the end of the bed, and his eyes followed me.

“What is unfair is that you would waste my money on something that we already have at home.”

I stand on the edge of the bed, “This is ludicrous. Are you saying that had I brought enough books with me that you would allow me to buy more? What would have been the point then?”

“My word is final. You will not change my mind, Valora. Now, why don’t you investigate the
manor. Get them to change anything to suit your liking. Perhaps, you should ask them to prepare a small garden for you here. I am sure the servants can take care of it for you, while you are away.” He laid back down and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “I am exhausted, so please just let me sleep.”

My frown deepened, “This is ridiculous.”

“This is what happens when you don’t do as you are told. Now, get out of here, before I have one of the servants remove you.”

A humph pushed past my lips as I jumped to my feet, before exiting into the hallway. Colina was passing by the bedroom as I stepped out.

“Is the lord sleeping?” She asked me.

“He is about to fall asleep. Is there something that you need from him?”

Her head shook and I noticed a stack of letters in her hand, “No, he normally likes to read his mail when he first arrives.”

“Let me see.” I held out my hand, and she offered me the letters with no reluctance. I shifted through them quickly. Most were from the Blessed Hearts, some were about debts that needed payment, but the last few were from Maita. I looked up at Colina, who was watching me sort through them. “Does Lord Blaine often get letters from Lady Maita here?”

She nodded, “Recently, yes. It started a couple weeks ago, I believe. Lord Bernal and she visit here quite often, but she never sent mail before then. I believe they are due for a visit the day after tomorrow.” She said as she took the letters back from me. “It is strange that she would mail him and not you.” With a shrug, she headed back down the stairs.

My eyes glared briefly to the bedroom door beside me. The thought to run into the bedroom and cause a fuss over the letters, not to mention the visit, crossed my mind. However, I remembered Blaine’s words that I was to act as a proper wife. Obviously, he didn’t want these particular group of servants to know anything about his life at home. Colina seemed practically ignorant of Blaine’s affair with Maita.

I inhaled deeply a couple of times, before making my way down the stairs. I would deal with this another time, as I didn’t want to ruin my first time in Mureal. Blaine had already threatened to keep me in the bedroom. Though I didn’t know how serious he was, I decided that this would have to wait until we returned home.

Another servant girl, that closely resembled Kerani, approached me with a smile. “Lady Valora?”

“Yes.” I said with a bit of annoyance in my voice.

“I am Panche.” She grinned, seeming to ignore my tone. “Lord Blaine asked me to show you around Mureal if you wanted and to help you with anything that you need. I am suppose to be your guide during your stay here.”

“He did?” I looked up the stairs, and could not remember Blaine speaking to any of the servants.

Panche giggled, “In a letter that was sent ahead, milady. Lord Blaine tells me that you enjoy gardening. Would you like to see the city’s community garden? It’s quite lovely this time of year.”

“I am rather tired from my journey. I would actually prefer something to eat and drink.”

She nodded, “Follow me into the dining hall. I’ll make you something. Is there anything that you would prefer?” She asked as we walked through the double doors to the dining hall.

“No, just food. Something that would be gentle on my stomach. The traveling has caused me some stomach cramps.”

Panche nodded and continued to smile as she pulled out my chair for me. “Would you like wine, tea, or…”

“Hot tea would be nice, thank you.”

With a skip, she made it into the kitchen and left me alone in the dining hall that once again looked familiar. It seemed that Blaine kept this smaller manor as closely decorated to his other one as possible. Perhaps instead it was his father or mother who had done the decorating of both houses. I didn’t know for certain, it just struck me as rather odd.

I also had a strange feeling that Durril would be walking into the room at any moment. In truth, I had rather hoped that this manor would be completely different from the other, so I could ignore my problems from back home. It seemed that they would follow me even here.

With a sigh, I leaned back into my chair and waited for Panche to return with my meal. I thought about the things that Blaine had told me there was to do in Mureal. The question as to how I would meet the other wives sprang to mind. Though, I wasn’t sure if I would get along well with them. After all, I was not what one would consider to be born in high society and I might be frowned upon. Whether I am married to a duke or not.

“I do not believe that you invited them. I have guests on that day, Valora. Do you expect me to entertain your guests as well.” Blaine snarled as we made our way up to the manor door.

“It’s only two more people and besides I like them.”

He frowned, “Do you know what the Ruckiens have done to my family? No, I doubt they would tell you.”

“He seemed very sorry for whatever it was, and wants to make amends. Besides, you told me to make friends tonight. None of the other women would even look at me. Juliska was the only one who didn’t treat me like I was beneath her.”

“The other women seemed to be speaking with you just fine.”

I snorted, “How would you know? I couldn’t find you the entire evening.” I glared up at him, and there seemed to be a look of guilt in his eyes.

“Lord Durril arrived this evening, milord.” Endre said when he stepped out of the manor to open the door for us.

“Durril is here?” I said with more fear in my voice than I had wanted to display.

Blaine looked over at me, “I sent for him a day after we left. He spoke of wanting employment in Mureal, so I thought it best. He must have rode quickly to have arrived so soon after us.” He cleared his throat, “Of course, he didn’t have you to slow him down either.”

As we stepped into the manor, Durril appeared from the dining hall. He smiled at me before greeting his brother.

“We arrived only this morning, you must have rode quickly.” Blaine said to him.

Durril nodded, “I slept no more then five hours a night. I had to make up lost time.”

“I am retiring for the evening.” I said as I made my way up the stairs.

“I will be up momentarily.” Blaine said when I reached the top of the stairs.

In my room, I found Kerani waiting for me. She helped me into my sleeping gown and as I laid myself down to sleep, I heard Blaine enter the room.

“The servants tell me that you have been complaining of stomach cramps.” Blaine said as he began to remove his clothing.

Sitting up, I watched him remove his coat and shirt. “From the long ride here no doubt. It should pass in a day or two. Did you have cramps when you first arrived back home? That was a long ride as well.”

I shook my head, “No, why?”

He scowled, “The servants are whispering of a pregnancy. If you think you may be, it would be best to tell me now.”

“It never crossed my mind until now.”

His eyes narrowed as he stared at me, “Very well, I believe you.”

A knock came to the door, so Blaine put his shirt back on before answering it. Durril stood in the hallway and gave me a smile, before motioning Blaine away with his head. Stepping out into the hallway, he shut the door, but I could hear the muffled noises of their argument.

Getting out of bed, I walked over to the door and placed my ear upon it.

“Don’t play this game with me, Blaine. Is she pregnant?” I heard Durril ask.

“She says she doesn’t know.” Blaine responded.

I heard Durril breathe heavily for a moment, “I don’t know if I can go through with this if she is. Maybe we should wait and find out before we act.”

“Is there no way possible that you are the father?”

“No, if there was this would all be over with, wouldn’t it?” Durril snapped.

“Calm your voice, you don’t want the servants or her to over hear.” The door moved slightly which told me that someone had leaned against it. “How long would you have me wait? This is the perfect place. When she is pregnant then she won’t be able to travel this distance.”

Durril coughed, “You would kill your own child, Blaine? This is sickening.”

“Hush!” Blaine barked and I felt someone remove themselves from the door.

I immediately ran over to the bed and tossed myself under the covers as Blaine opened the door to check on me. “Let’s discuss this in my office.”

When I heard the door shut, I jumped to my feet and waited a moment before heading out into the hallway. When I was at the bottom of the stairs, I began to listen to their conversation again.

“None of this would have happened if you hadn’t started being nice to her to begin with.” Durril snapped. “I told you to act cold towards her, so that she would only have me to find comfort in. You couldn’t do that, could you?”

“I felt guilty. I was reminded of what father had said to me.”

“Then you bed her, so now you can’t just send her home. I can’t believe this, Blaine. I can’t be part of killing her or a possible child.”

“Maita has already started to poison her husband. It’s too late to turn back now. I will stay cold to her from now on. All you have to do is court her into sharing a bed with you. After which, I can order her death. That’s all that you have to do.”

“You want me to trick her into sharing my bed so that you can kill her? It’s a lot more than you seem to think.” Durril sighed loudly. “What would father say if he could see what we are doing? He would have us both whipped then disown us. This isn’t something that a member of the Blessed Hearts should be doing, Blaine. What if they find out…”

“They won’t. The plan hasn’t changed. The only difference now is instead of our marriage being dissolved and her going home, is that she has to be put to death.”

“All this because you shared your bed with her. But still I ask what of the child?”

“It’s not Maita’s so it’s meaningless. Do as I ask and I will ensure that you receive a title and some land. Baron Halvor is without an heir, I could easily convince the king to give it to you. Do we have a deal, Durril?”

There was a long pause in the conversation. “Yes, I…”

As soon as I heard his answer, I ran up the stairs and jumped into bed. I didn’t want to be caught listening to them, besides I had heard everything that I needed to. My heart raced frantically, as I tried to find a way to save myself. No one at the Blessed Hearts would believe me. I couldn’t run away as that was as bad as being unfaithful. The only thing that I could do right now was keep Durril at a distance and try not to seem involved with him in the least. The last thing that I needed was rumors saying that there was anything between us.

I couldn’t sleep that night. Every time my eyes closed I would think of the conversation between Durril and Blaine. I didn’t know what hurt more. The fact that I believed Durril was my friend or that two men were trying to murder me. I hadn’t seen Durril since the day he arrived, and I was curious to know what he had was up to. Though, I would be certain to keep my distance. I would rather my curiosity go unfed than to be caught alone with him.

As I laid in bed, I could hear Blaine’s soft breaths as he slept. I turned to look upon his face and pulled my pillow further under my neck. As I sat there, staring at this evil man, I wondered how hard it would be to smother him. If he awoke then he could easily overpower me and accuse me of murder. I shook the thought from my mind, I couldn’t kill someone. That is not who I am.

The sound of our bedroom door creaked and I slammed my eyes shut. Normally, I would have looked to see who was entering my bedroom, but recent events made me realize that I had to be sneaky.

“Blaine.” Durril’s voice whispered and I felt him gently shake his brother.

“Huh? What?” Blaine responded.

“Downstairs in the study. Maita is very upset, she has to speak with us now.”

Blaine didn’t respond, only jumped from his bed and ran down the stairs with Durril close behind him. When I was certain they wouldn’t be in the hall any longer, I jumped to my feet and crept down the stairs. With my face close to the door, I could hear Maita sobbing.

“Why didn’t you tell me that she is with child?” Maita blubbered.

“We don’t know for certain. What does it matter?” Blaine was the one who responded.

She continued to cry for a moment, “Is it your child or Durril’s?”

There was a long pause before Blaine answered, “Mine.”

Her crying nearly turned to screams of pain, “Yours? You took her into your bed? How could you do this to me, Blaine?”

“It was shortly after we decided to stay with our spouses. You have laid with Bernal.”

“He forced me to!”

“Calm your voice, Maita. You do not want to wake the entire household.” Durril scolded.

She sniffled, “I can’t do this… not to an innocent baby.”

“Valora is just as innocent to all this as that child is.” Durril growled, “She had no say in marrying Blaine, just as you had no say in marrying Bernal.”

“Durril!” Blaine snapped.

“It is the truth, is it not? Blaine could have said no to his land and title, but chose not to.”

Maita gasped, “To marry me? And you didn’t?”

I heard Blaine exhale, but it sounded as if he were growling. “What would I have had to offer you then? I would not be a duke nor would I be a member of the Blessed Hearts. Your father would have never allowed the marriage.”

There was nothing said for what seemed to be an eternity, and I thought perhaps they would be leaving the room soon.

Blaine began to speak again, “It’s too late to stop now. You have been poisoning Bernal for over a month now. If you stop now the servants may become suspicious.”

“It doesn’t seem to be doing much to him. Maybe he is immune to it.”

“It works slowly to look like sickness instead of poison.” Blaine answered her.

Maita coughed for a moment, “And what of you, Durril? Have you shared your bed with her yet?”

“No, she is trying her best to make the marriage between her and Blaine work. She…”

“What happens if Bernal dies and she hasn’t turned to Durril? What then, Blaine?” Maita barked.

“You needn’t worry. If time elapses between his death and hers, then it will only look better for us.”

“Why can’t we poison them both?”

“It would be too suspicious.” Durril answered her this time.

The tears in my eyes were swelling as I listened to these people plotting my death. Suddenly, a hand rested on my shoulder and I nearly jumped out of my skin. As I turned around, I looked into Lord Bernal’s eyes. He motioned me up the stairs and I followed him to his bedroom. I didn’t want to enter, so I waited outside in the hall.

He collected something from his luggage before returning to me. It was a small glass container with a dark brown liquid in it.

“What is this?” I asked as I took it from him when he offered it to me.

“The poison that Maita was trying to use on me. I replaced hers with water. Listen to me well, Lady Valora.” He looked down the hall for a moment. “You are obviously aware of the plots against our lives. We could go to the Blessed Hearts and inform one of their investigators of this whole incident. However, they are often biased and we may be punished for false accusations. It would also destroy the element of surprise that we have over them.”

I gripped the bottle of poison in my hand tightly, “And our other option is?”

“Kill or be killed, as the saying goes. Put a drop of this poison in Blaine’s wine or food everyday. He will slowly become ill.”

“He knows how this poison acts, won’t he become suspicious?”

Bernal shook his head, “He would never suspect you of trying to kill him. At least not until he was too sick.”

“You can’t be certain of that.”

“It is all that we have, Lady Valora.”

I swallowed, “And what of Maita?”

“She is confused and Blaine continues to twist her emotions and mind. No doubt you have been victim to his ways by now. Maita is a victim in all this, though her life is not in danger.”

“Forgive me, if I find it hard to have sympathy for her.”

He grinned at me, “Of course. With Blaine gone, I shall have my wife and you shall be a duchess with the right to marry anyone you wish. He is a vile monster, who does not deserve to live. You have no doubt heard him plotting to kill you along with his own child, yes?”

“I have.” I nodded and looked at the vial in my hand.

“I shall leave the matter to you. If you should accuse Blaine of this, then I will stand with you.
Maita will fear punishment and may indeed come to our side, but that is not something we can be certain of. In all my years, I have never seen the Blessed Hearts make a judgment against one of their own. So, make the choice wisely, Lady Valora.”

Again, I nodded.

“Now, return to bed and hide that poison well. We wouldn’t want Blaine to find it.”

With that I spun around and headed for my bedroom. I hid the poison in my wardrobe along with my undergarments. The only person who touches them are myself and Kerani, so I knew that it would be safe there. When it was hidden, I laid myself back down and tried to sleep. Though, I had a decision ahead of me that was even worse then the thought of being murdered.

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