Isabella stood by the bedside, giving the women a chance to do their work. Her cheeks flushed for the hundredth time as the three women shared a look of approval. One of the ladies, Martha, turned to her and smiled, "Congratulations, My Lady."
Isabella nodded, not sure of how to reply to someone congratulating her for consummating her marriage. "Are you done with the sheets?"
"Oh, yes." Martha smiled pitifully at her before lowering her voice to ask, "How was it, My lady?"
"How was what?" Isabella asked, brows drawn together,
"Oh, don't be shy, My lady. It is pretty normal to talk about your wedding night experiences with other ladies." Martha said excitedly.
"Oh," Was the first thing Isabella said before her cheeks flushed. "It was normal, Martha."
"Normal?" Martha's face, like that of the other ladies, turned into disappointment. "Is that all?" she asked with hopeful eyes.
Isabella nodded, "Yes, nothing extraordinary happened if that is what you are asking." You petty liar, her inner mind chimed but she ignored it. She would rather swallow her tongue than confess the sinful things Sir Leofrc did to her.
"What a shame!" The third lady exclaimed, "I was hoping he would also be handsome in bed and not just in face and body."
Oh, you have no idea, Lady. She was tempted to say. She hugged her night robe around her body to get rid of the goosebumps that coated her skin. "Is that all?" Isabella asked.
"Yes, My Lady."
"I would like to go back to bed now." She stated firmly
"We would be on our way. It was nice chatting with you. We look forward to seeing you around more often, My Lady." With a look of disappointment, they all left her alone in the room.
She slumped into the bed and breathed a sigh of relief. She patted herself on the back for not feeding the old women's curiosity as they had hoped. Besides, admitting that she had enjoyed the night meant massaging Leofric's ego, which was something she wasn't willing to do.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep someone knocked on the door. She didn't answer right away, hoping that the person would go away. On the second knock, she barked a 'Come in,' and watched in anger as Judith walked in with a bucket of water.
"Good morning, Lady Isabella."
"Judith, I am not ready for a bath, you can come back later."
"Lord Leofric ordered that you bathe and come down for breakfast."
"Tell him I am not interested in dining with him."
Speechless, Judith's eyes darted from left to right. "My lady, he said it was an order from him to you."
Isabella let out a loud unladylike scoff, "Go back and tell him he is in no position to order me around."
"But My Lady,"
"Judith, I am beginning to doubt your loyalty to me." Isabella spat frustratedly. "Go and tell him what I said." Isabella roughly pulled the bed cover to her shoulder.
Confused, Judith left the room and went to the dining hall where the infuriating Lord waited.
Leofric's eyes narrowed upon seeing Judith return to the hall with stiff shoulders. Just as he had half expected, Isabella would object to his order.
Sir Eric cleared his throat, before leaning in to whisper, "Seems you are in for a tough morning, My Lord,"
Robert who heard this laughed, "I can see that too."
Leofric's hands clenched on the table, but he didn't say a word. He motioned for Judith to speak, "My Lord, I am afraid my lady isn't feeling so well this morning."
Ledofric's head was slightly tilted to the side. "She seemed just fine when I left her this morning. What is wrong with her?"
"She said she has no appetite."
Leofric relaxed into his chair, his eyes focused on Judith's hands that were clutching her skirt. "Judith, I am going to ask for the last time. Why is my wife not here?"
"She said she is not interested in dining with you and that you are in no position to order her around." She said hurriedly.
Contrary to what Judith had expected, Leofric threw his head back and laughed. "Now that is more believable. Tell her that everyone is waiting. Nobody is going to eat anything until she comes. I strongly believe it is not her intention to starve everyone in this mannor, and we don't want the food to get cold now, do we? " Judith nodded and left the dining hall.
Robert shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his eyes glued to the food in front of him. "I didn't eat last night, Leofric. I am starving."
Leofric glared at Robert, "Robert, one more word from you, there won't be food for you for two days."
"Go easy on the boy. He has repented." Eric whispered,
"Where is the money? Did he return it, yet?"
"No, but he is sorry." Eric defended.
Leofric nodded, "I bet he is."
"I have been looking for the man but he is nowhere to be found," Robert interjected as he went on to explain his efforts in getting his lost money back from a stranger.
Isabella glared at Judith through the mirror as the young girl tried to smoothen her hair. "My Lady, you don't have to say anything to him. All you have to do is sit and ignore him."
"Blast the man to hell," Isabella exclaimed, startling Judith. "I hate him, Judith."
Judith nodded, "I know, My Lady and I am sure he knows it too." After a few minutes of silence, Judith said, "I think we are all done. You look stunning, My Lady."
"I don't feel like it," Isabella replied flatly as she walked out of the room. If not for Judith's pleading, she would have locked herself in the chamber. The man could go to hell and burn to washes for all she cared.
The room fell silent as she walked in. She could feel their eyes piercing her flesh as she walked towards the only vacant chair in the room. Blast them all, must she sit beside the villain?
"There comes my beautiful wife," Leofric chimed excitedly, his eyes following her every move until she was settled beside him. "Nice of you to join us this beautiful morning, wife." Leofric beamed, knowing he was doing a great job at infuriating his wife.
Isabella ignored him and focused on the food that was being served. She would ignore the man just as Judith had suggested.
"Good morning, My Lady." Eric chimed in, a charming smile on his face.
She looked up and flashed him a small smile, "Good morning to you, Sir Eric."
"How are you doing this beautiful morning, Lady Isabella?"
"Unfortunately, I am not doing so great."
"Why did that big oaf keep you up all night with deep snoring?" Eric dared to look at Leofric and almost choked on his food at the glare the man was showering on him.
Isabella for the first time that morning smiled. "I wish that were to be the case." She glanced at Leofric to see him glaring at her as well, "Being in the same room with him is enough to keep me awake or give me nightmares if I try to sleep."
"Really?" Leorfric interrupted, "That didn't seem to be the case after we were done last night. Someone seemed to have gotten quite clingy after our—"
Isabella instantly choked on the food she was chewing. Leofric quickly refilled his empty cup with water and it passed to her before patting her back. Isabella drank the water hastily.
Leofric laughed before adding, "Easy, woman. We don't want you choking on the water too."
Isabella shoved his hand away from her body, with a murderous look on her face, "How dare you say such things in public!" She looked around the table and to her dismay, they were all watching them with so much curiosity.
"What did I say?" Leofric asked, face masked with an innocent look, "I was only trying to say,"
"Don't you dare!" Isabella pointed at him warningly, "Just don't say anything."
"Not even how you were begging—" That was as far he could get as he was forced to duck to the side to avoid the flying object.
Isabella watched with dissatisfaction as the spoon crashed to the floor. Curse the man's formidable reflex action. "One more word from you, trust me, I won't miss the next one."
Leofric remained silent but the laughter was clear in his eyes. Eric and Robert concealed their laughter in the form of a cough.
Eric said, "Lady Isabella, please remind me not to get on your bad side."
"I will do just that," Isabella flashed him a tight smile before her eyes landed on Robert, causing her to quickly lookaway. How did she forget about the man?! Since the first day she saw him, she did her best to avoid him thinking he was a temporary visitor, not until she asked and found out he was her in-law.
She looked up again when she felt someone's gaze piercing her skin. She looked up, thinking it was Leofric, but it was Robert. She couldn't help but think of her marriage as a trap set in hell for her.
Unable to keep his curiosity aside, Robert asked, "Lady Isabella, Have we met before?"
"What?" Isabella looked up, a tight smile on her lips. "I highly doubt our paths have ever crossed."
"But I think I have seen you before."
Isabella shook her head, "You might have seen my look-alike definitely not me." She let out a laugh she hoped sounded casual, "This is not the first time I have been told something like that."
Leofric looked up from his plate, his eyes darting between Robert and Isabella as they conversed. He took the last bite of his food and stood. "I would be heading out to the training ground,"
"Man, have you ever heard of the word, digestion?" Eric asked, eliciting a glare from Leofric.
Turning to Isabella, Leofric said, "In case you need anything in my absence, you meet Robert or Eric for assistance."
"You have nothing to worry about the only thing I need is your absence which I already have."
Leofric shook his head and strode out of the room.