Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 26: Change in plans (1)

Back at the Hastings’ castle, Ophelia had a visitor.

"Lady Hastings, I am Eliza, the castle doctor," Eliza introduced herself. "I was told that there are bruises that need to be taken care of."

"You can leave an ointment and go. I will place it on my skin by myself," said Ophelia.

Alice shook her head. "She is always like this with wanting to do everything herself to appear pitiful. You should leave the ointment and go."

Ophelia faced Alice and said, "It is not that I want to do everything alone. I would have welcomed my maids offering a helping hand to tidy this chamber the first day, but you preferred to just watch. You can leave too."

Alice stood up from her chair. "Very well," she said, welcoming the chance to leave.

Eliza watched as Alice walked out of the chamber and then turned her gaze back to Ophelia. "I was instructed to take care of you myself. If word reaches Lord Hastings that I did not do as he asked, I fear I might be punished. Please allow me to help you."

"Very well," Ophelia agreed and began to discard her dress.

Eliza closed the door and then walked inside to set down a basket of medicine she brought with her. "Might I ask where the bruises came from and how old they are?"

"The ones that you can look at are on my neck and shoulder. One was made recently, and the others were on my trip here. I hope you won’t pry and ask who gave them to me. I don’t want to relive those moments," said Ophelia.

"I won’t pry any further. I must see the bruises first," Eliza said as she walked toward Ophelia’s bed. She inspected Ophelia’s exposed skin. "They are still red. You needed to be treated sooner, but I have an ointment which should help you."

"If you experience pain when you sleep, I have medicine which can help ease the pain. You would have to take it just before bed. It should help you sleep better and clear up the bruises. Here," Eliza said, opening a jar which contained the ointment.

Ophelia tugged on her dress to keep it down so Eliza could continue.

"I will," Eliza stopped after something caught her eye. "There are other bruises."

"You should only pay attention to the new ones. The old ones do not affect me anymore, and I don’t want to undress any more than I already am."

Eliza wondered if Ophelia was trying to say her body was covered in bruises.

"Will you not apply the ointment? It is a bit embarrassing to sit here with my shoulders and almost my chest exposed to you," Ophelia said, reminding Eliza of her appearance.

"Forgive me," Eliza apologised. "Despite them being old, I can still suggest an ointment to you. Sometimes old wounds can open up, or if they were always left untreated, they can pose a threat in the future. I can inspect your body to-"

"No," Ophelia denied the offer. "I prefer my husband being the only one to see my body."

"Then, I will leave the ointment for Lord Hastings to apply it for you. You must take care of your body since you are no longer a mere woman, but the wife of Lord Dante Hastings. If there is any medicine you need, send a maid to me, and I will come," said Eliza.

"Will you truly?" Ophelia asked, trying to place the kind of woman Eliza was.

"I will. Lord Dante asked that I tend to all your needs, so I will follow his order. I was employed to be the doctor to everyone living in the castle. I want to keep everyone alive and in good health, so I will come to you," Eliza promised.

Ophelia flinched when Eliza’s hand pressed too hard against her neck. "Then why do I get the feeling that since you arrived in my chamber, there has been something you wanted to say to me? I allowed Alice to leave to keep this between us. Ask away."

Eliza looked up, her eyes meeting Ophelia’s. She didn’t think she gave away her feelings, but somehow, the woman before her noticed them.

"I have nothing to ask," Eliza replied.

"I am only interested in what you want to ask now. Should you approach me another time with a question, I will not answer," said Ophelia.

Eliza hesitated, but since Ophelia was pushing her, she had to ask. "Are you familiar with poisons?"

Ophelia chuckled. "If I knew poisons and how to get my hands on them, all my enemies would be dead, and I would not be sitting before you now. Do you think I was poisoned, or is it that you think I poisoned Miss Victoria?"

"It was a simple question," Eliza answered. "Think nothing of it."

"It couldn’t be a simple question if I noticed you were itching to ask. To bring up poison, you must be worried about Miss Victoria, but it is my understanding that Lord Hastings cleared my name. Do you still accuse me?" Ophelia questioned and grabbed Eliza’s hand to stop her from applying ointment.

Eliza bowed her head. "I do not think that it was your doing, but I was curious if the poison was familiar with your land."

Ophelia smiled. "I don’t know what anyone has told you, but I am not a fool. Your simple question was filled with accusations. Don’t worry, I won’t expose you to Lord Hastings. I gain nothing from it, but I hope you won’t meddle and think there is poison here."

"I’m sorry," Eliza apologised, regretting bringing it up.

"I’ll believe you for now that you want to keep everyone here in good health, so you want to secretly find out if there was ever poison involved, but if you work behind his back, you may lose your work," said Ophelia.

"I know that. I only want to prevent others from becoming sick. It was wrong of me to accuse you, but I do not understand. Why aren’t you angry? Why haven’t you sent me away?" Eliza questioned, curious as to why Ophelia didn’t treat her like Alice.

Ophelia touched her shoulder. "The bruises do hurt, and I don’t care about your accusations. Since you look remorseful and desperate to keep your job, see to it that these bruises heal quickly, and you provide ointment to help with the old ones."

Before Ophelia released Eliza’s hand, she whispered, "Since I am keeping what you did a secret, should I need anything done, you should help me."

"You, you are blackmailing me," Eliza realised the trap she had fallen into.

"I prefer to see it as we are helping each other," Ophelia said with a smile. "I’ve endured many beatings all my life, but from this day on, I won’t endure anymore. I enjoyed meeting you, Eliza."