Reasons for Silence

Wanting a Wife

Chapter Four – Serefina

          Kobe was recovering nicely and quickly. I had little to do during the course of the day with this new position that I had been given. I was finally getting a good amount of sleep even though I would be called upon whenever Kobe felt like having some company. As he got better the number of his advances increased. I had come to the conclusion that he was fascinated with me for the simple reason that I was supposed to be at the Palace at the moment.   

            I was in the middle of bathing when the Organizing maid came into the room, telling me that Sir Kobe was calling for me – urgently.

            “Tell him I’ll be there just as soon as I finish up,” I said softly.

            She shook her head, “No, he said he wanted to see you now.”

            “Is he okay?”

            “I don’t know, but you’d better get over there now.”

            I took in a deep breath and quickly dried off.

            “Now,” she said again before leaving me.

            I didn’t think that I’d have time to actually put on my dress fully so I settled for the dressing robe that I had been given – I received a couple of articles of clothing as a result of my change in positions in the Manor. The second that I thought myself decent I raced through the hallways until I got to Kobe’s room.

            I knocked on the door, anxious.

            There was no response, but that could have been because I didn’t wait long enough for it.

            “Sir Kobe?” I said.

            “Yes?” I heard him call from inside. I breathed a little easier – at least he sounded all right. I didn’t waste any time getting in the room.

            Kobe was sitting up in his bed – his coloring was normal – and he was reading a book. He looked up from it when I entered and gave me a wide smile. I went to his bed side, like I’ve learned to do, and put a hand on his forehead.

            “Are you alright, you don’t feel warm. What’s the matter?” I said without really thinking about it first.

            “Nothing, nothing,” he said.

            I let my hand fall from his face.

            “The Organizing maid said that it was urgent,” I said making a face.

            “Well, it was, I wanted to see you,” he said playfully taking hold of my hand, “But I didn’t except that you’d drop everything and come running.”

            That was a lie. I rubbed the back of my neck and looked away.

            “Sit down,” he said.

            Suddenly I became weary of him. I couldn’t tell what he wanted. Cautiously, I sat.

            We sat for a while, just looking at one another, saying nothing. Kobe was the first to break the silence.

            “I’ve come to a realization recently,” he said.

            I raised an eyebrow, an indication that he should continue.