Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 28: Change in plans (3)
"She will be out by nightfall. She only stays now to tend to Victoria as the servants gather her things," Dante said, lowering his hand back at his side now that the deal was done.
’"Though she will be out of the castle, I don’t want to sit with you for dinner. I have always enjoyed eating dinner alone, and I don’t want to get in the way of your time with Victoria. Please do not ask that I join you," Ophelia requested.
"As you wish, but Victoria will not trouble you since she is not my mistress. That was a rumour."
Ophelia found it odd that it was only a rumour.
If Victoria wasn’t Dante’s mistress, then what reason did she have to stay in the castle?
’Forget it. I don’t want to know,’ Ophelia thought.
Ophelia didn’t want to be roped into whatever business Victoria and Dante had together.
"You don’t need to know why she is here?" Dante asked, but he wasn’t surprised Ophelia wasn’t interested.
"It is not my concern. Whether she is your mistress or not does not change my feelings, nor would it affect my day. Do as you wish," Ophelia said, not bothered by the predicament.
"I do not need to take a wife and a mistress. In the coming weeks, when you attend gatherings, you will be introduced to her family. She is here to be protected from her uncle as well as the king. That is why she stays," Dante shared a bit of the truth.
"Oh, well, aren’t you the hero? Again, her presence does nothing for me to ask you to send her away or for me to avoid her. It is not like I am in love with you to care about your personal affairs. You may do as you want, just as I should be able to. I won’t take a man by my side," Ophelia clarified.
Ophelia didn’t have any use for a man.
"If your mind changes, I would like you to be told if there is a man who catches your eye."
"There won’t be any. Any man who openly courts me either wants to get me alone to kill me or boast about how he has bedded a Valthorn or Hastings. I don’t need the problems that come with having a man around. It is bad enough that I have a husband," Ophelia said, but she didn’t mean to offend Dante.
Dante chuckled. "Still, you must inform me. The chamber is already prepared, so you will move there tonight, and I will have the maids gather your things in the morning. Well, whatever you have. You won’t need the pots and vases."
"I prefer to keep them. You are in a mood now, but what of the days when you might be angry with me? There’s no harm to come from my growing food or storing water. I haven’t had a warm bath in days or a good meal. I want to keep them," Ophelia requested.
"I would never be so petty as to keep food from you, but if they offer you some peace of mind, I will allow you to move them. I will send your guards to you in the morning when your tutor arrives. That is all," Dante said, bidding goodbye.
"Next time you need me," Dante said as he walked away. "Come for me yourself."
"I don’t know my way around the castle," Ophelia reminded Dante. "I wasn’t given a proper tour."
"Then you will be given one by your guard. We depart for the palace in four days, so prepare yourself not only to act as a dutiful wife, but to meet the king and other nobles. I look forward to the show," Dante said before closing the door behind him.
Ophelia relaxed now that Dante was no longer in the chamber. Their talk went better than she expected.
"Now, to get Theo," Ophelia whispered.
Ophelia knew well that she wouldn’t be seeing Theo in the palace since their mother never wanted to introduce others to her sick son. Joel wouldn’t easily hand over Theo since he was the only reason Ophelia ever agreed to the marriage.
"All hope is not lost," Ophelia said, keeping her thoughts positive.
Hours later, when the sun began to set, there was a knock on Ophelia’s door. Before she could answer, Edith entered the chamber with Alice and two other maids behind her.
Ophelia looked away from Edith. "Leave and knock again," she ordered Edith.
"Lord Hastings has sent me to-"
"I know what he has sent you for, but that doesn’t give you the right to enter my chamber without waiting for me to allow you in. Leave and do it right," said Ophelia.
Ophelia knew well that to get the servants to behave, she needed to start from the top. When the head maid behaved so poorly, the maids would follow suit.
Edith smiled. "Ophelia-"
"It is Lady Hastings. I have lived in a castle for many years, and never once have I witnessed a head maid speak to the wife of a lord as you have. Hate me in secret, I do not mind, but when you stand before me, you will address me right. Leave," Ophelia ordered Edith once more.
Edith took a deep breath and turned around to leave. The maids she came with followed her lead.
The door closed, and as Ophelia wanted, a knock was heard.
"You may enter. Was that so hard?" Ophelia asked as Edith and the maids walked in. "I don’t want to fight with any of you, but I won’t tolerate your disrespect any longer. I don’t mind if you curse my name when I am not near, but you should do your work."
"If any of your maids have been rude, then I apologise on their behalf. I shall teach them to be better," Edith said in a sweet tone.
Ophelia laughed. "The maids act as they do because you behave the same way. It is because you have good favour with Lady Cecilia that you act so confidently, but that ends now. As lady of the castle, matters of the maids will be dealt with by me."
"Matters of the maids are dealt with by Miss Victoria and Lady Cecilia. That is how it has been for a long time," Edith corrected Ophelia.
"That was how it was before he took a wife into the castle," Ophelai said as she approached Edith. "Now, you will listen to me. Before you return to your work, I must let you in on a secret."
"Should never raise your hand to me again, even if it is to follow someone’s order," Ophelia stopped just before Edith and leaned forward to whisper, "I will kill you where you stand. Now, you may do as Lord Hastings ordered you and move my belongings."
