Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 251: Enemy in the castle (2)

Alice entered the busy kitchen. "I know you are all swamped with work, but Lady Hastings needs to eat. It must be good enough to help with the flu, but we mustn’t mention she has the flu. She seems to hate that word."

"I can prepare her food."

"Thank you," Alice replied to the cook. "You must place plenty of food on the tray. I will make sure she eats all of it. I fear she has not eaten properly since Lord Hastings departed from the castle. I have a feeling he is going to return and have my head."

"Do not laugh at my plight," Alice scolded the cooks. "This is my head I am speaking about. Lord Hastings will not be happy if he returns to a castle where his wife has fallen ill because we haven’t forced her to bed. You must all do your part, considering she intends to pay you well."

"So you all know, Lady Hastings is thoughtful to consider taking the money to reward you from her own finances. You should be kind to her," Alice said, stealing an apple from a basket as she walked by. "The previous Lady Hastings wouldn’t be so generous."

Alice found herself a quiet corner and stood off to the side, allowing the cooks to continue with their work while she waited.

Alice tilted her head as she spotted a face she had never seen before, and they appeared to be helping with Ophelia’s food.

"There you are," Thomas said, finding his way to Alice’s side. "We must be quick, yet you are here eating an apple. Do you not remember the last time we were away from her?"

"Now she has four more guards Lord Hastings selected for her. I am always in the kitchen when I have spare time. The best gossip is here," Alice informed Thomas.

"Your point is?" Thomas asked, unamused by Alice’s hobbies.

"I have never seen that young woman over there who is fixing Lady Hastings’ plate. I don’t believe we have hired anyone recently because Lady Hastings would have spoken to the head maid about training. Right?" Alice asked, seeking support from Thomas.

Thomas turned around and watched the young woman Alice spoke of. She seemed to be nervous now as she noticed their gaze.

Thomas didn’t react right away. He searched the kitchen for others who didn’t belong.

"Is she the only one you notice who doesn’t belong?" Thomas whispered in Alice’s ear.

Alice pulled back. "Yes. Well, I don’t want to say yes when there is a chance other outsiders are here, but I certainly don’t know her. You must ask the head cook. He should know who is to be present here."

Alice gasped. "We will have to get rid of all this food, won’t we?"

Alice looked at the apple she had not long bit into and threw it across the kitchen.

Thomas glared at Alice. "Could you not be so suspicious?"

"Do you wish for me to be poisoned, Thomas? I intend to have a wonderful, long life. Where are you going?" Alice asked as Thomas walked away from her.

"Mr Brewer," Thomas approached the head cook. "Were you sent any new workers recently?"

"No, but I did get sent a helping hand."

"I see. Lady Hastings hasn’t given the order to employ new cooks. So," Thomas said as he picked up a knife and lunged it into the wooden counter before the unfamiliar woman. "Where did you come from?"

"I live in the town, and was welcomed here by the knights, helping those who had nowhere to go. To repay Lady Hastings for her kindness, I thought I would help with the food. I was a cook-"

"We don’t allow just anyone to set foot into the kitchen. You understand that well, Mr Brewer. You must keep a better watch of who helps you with Lady Hastings’ food. Had she fallen ill or died, you would have lost your head," Thomas said, his gaze fixed on the intruder.

"My apologies," the cook apologised. "The castle has become so busy with feeding the town that I haven’t been paying attention as I should. I meant no harm."

"Lady Hastings will be kind enough to forgive you since you are working hard, but Lord Hastings wouldn’t be happy. Do not allow it to happen again. As for you," Thomas said, pulling the knife from the countertop. "Explain yourself. No one in their right mind sent you here, and the knights would have turned you back."

Thomas knew this woman had to sneak to the kitchen, and since she had been helping with Ophelia’s food, this was her intention all along.

"I am an innocent-"

Screams filled the kitchen as Thomas stabbed the outsider in her chest.

In the middle of the war, Thomas couldn’t take any chances, especially when it came to Ophelia. He felt something sharp jab into his side, but he ignored it now as he took the maid down to the floor.

Alice rushed to Thomas as she was certain she saw him being stabbed. ’This is why you must always wear your armour!’ She yelled in her head.

"Stand back," Alice ordered the other workers and examined the faces for more intruders.

Alice heard the woman she pointed out, seemingly grasping for air. She couldn’t see what Thomas did, but the woman beneath him soon stopped moving.

"What are you looking for?" Alice inquired as she cautiously approached Thomas. "You must go to the doctor to have your wound tended to."

"This," Thomas said, removing a small bottle from the woman’s dress. "It appears to have been used. Alice, has Lady Hastings eaten today?"

"No," Alice shook her head. "She has been too busy to eat, and she only poked at her breakfast. I think all she had were a few fruits because it made her feel better."

"Mr Brewer, you are to discard all the food prepared now and start anew. If you value your life, I suggest you pay more attention to the people coming in and out of the kitchen. Next time, I cannot forgive it," Thomas said, looking up at the cook.

"It will not happen again. Remove the food. Do not eat any of it."

"Now that is settled, you must go to the doctor. You shouldn’t walk around without your armour. Now, when I say you are foolish, we can both agree, right?" Alice asked, worried Thomas might have been badly injured.

Thomas chuckled. "Finally, your big mouth has some use to point out an enemy. Lady Hastings could have been poisoned. Well done, Alice."