The Innocent: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #3

Chapter 37: Thankful

Once they were alone in her bedchamber with a steaming tub of water, Lady Bit Na asked her to remove her robe. Sheepishly, Jung Sook took it off. Soo Ho's mother gasped as she saw the blood staining the girl's torn undershirt.

"My dear! Why didn't you say something? We should have attended to this long ago!"

Lady Bit Na peered up into Jung Sook's face. "May I?" The sweet woman gestured at her blouse.

"It's all right. I can take care of it myself."

"May I see how deep the wound is?"

Jung Sook glanced at her in surprise. "Do you really want to?"

The wound was beginning to throb now. And there was more blood on her shirt than she'd expected to find.

"Yes. I may need to call the surgeon."

"The surgeon?" Jung Sook asked in alarm.

"To dress your wound."

Jung Sook sighed in relief. Then she removed her blouse.

And Soo Ho's mother gasped at the cut on the girl's chest. She stepped closer and grabbed Jung Sook's undershirt from her hand. Then she dabbed at the wound. And sighed in relief. "It's not too deep. Thank God.''

She looked up into Jung Sook's eyes before issuing a soft command. "Quickly. Into the tub. You wash that wound well. I'm going to go get a poultice to put on it. And a bandage. Call for a servant when you're done bathing. Send for me. And I will care for your wound. There's some clean clothes draped over that chair." She gestured towards the corner of the room before disappearing into the next room.

Jung Sook glanced longingly at the bathtub. Today had been an extremely long day.

Half an hour later, Lady Bit Na approached the servant standing outside of Jung Sook's room. "Where is the young lady? Why has she not called for me?"

Startled, the servant stood up straighter. "I do not know, madam. She hasn't emerged from her chamber."

"What? But she's been in there for half an hour. Surely, the water is cold by now!" Lady Bit Na opened the door and entered the room.

She crossed into the next room and disturbed a sleeping Jung Sook. Lady Bit Na's face softened as she stood staring down at the exhausted woman. "Poor thing. It all must be a terrible shock. She's suffered so much."

She reached down and shook Jung Sook awake. "Darling, wake up."

Jolted, Jung Sook sat up straight. And then realized that she was sitting naked in a bathtub. And that Soo Ho's mother was hovering over her.

Embarrassed, the girl felt her cheeks flaming.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, dear, but you fell asleep in the bathtub. It must be cold by now. Come, get out."

Then the kind woman turned her back on the young lady so that she could climb from the tub in private. After drying off with the towel that had been left for her, Jung Sook slid into the robe which she'd been given before turning to face Soo Ho's mother.

"Thank you for the bath. Did you bring the poultice?"

"Yes. It's right here. May I turn around?"

"Yes." Jung Sook glanced towards the door. "How is Bo A?"

"She's sound asleep. On my daughter's bed," Lady Bit Na smiled faintly. "Don't worry. She ate several rice cakes before she fell asleep." The woman chuckled lightly. "Apparently, they were playing with the dolls when she lay down on the bed. Clutching one to her chest. I think she's made her choice." Her lips twitched into another sweet smile. "Soo Yeon said she drifted off a few moments later."

"Oh." Jung Sook's heart sank in pity for the little girl.

"Come. Sit down. And I will attend to your wound."

As Jung Sook sat down, she questioned the woman. "Has Soo Ho returned yet?"

Lady Bit Na shook her head. "I imagine it may be quite late when they return."

"You don't think I'll need to give my testimony tonight?"

"Did you tell Soo Ho what happened before he arrived at your house tonight?"

Jung Sook nodded. "On the walk over here."

"I don't think the magistrate will trouble you tonight. After all, he has the testimony of one of the hwarang."

It was true. Soo Ho's word would, most likely, be enough.

She sighed in relief and allowed his mother to patch her up.

"I think," Lady Bit Na breathed as she bent over the other woman's chest and pressed a poultice to the wound, "that my son chose incredibly wisely when he picked you."

Genuinely touched, Jung Sook glanced down in surprise at his mother. "You do?" she queried. "But will your husband agree?"

"After tonight, I certainly hope so."

"You do?" Shock rippled through her voice. "You want Soo Ho to marry me?"

Lady Bit Na straightened and smiled into the younger woman's eyes. "You may think yourself plain, my dear, but I see nothing but a lovely, brilliant, compassionate woman sitting before me. And one who is incredibly courageous."

"Or just plain stupid," Jung Sook muttered under her breath.

"You are not stupid! You did an amazingly kind thing for a helpless child. And for your pains, you were nearly rewarded with torture and death." Lady Bit Na drew a deep breath. "Do you know how many times I saw another girl beaten when I was a child?"

Jung Sook glanced up in surprise at her. And shook her head.

"Often. And how many times did I see a caring adult stand up to the fellow?"

Jung Sook simply stared at her.

"Never. Not once. All those girls went undefended. And some of them married men who continued the abuse." She grimaced. "But you stepped in. And you saved one of those precious, little souls." A tear slid down the noble woman's cheek. "Thank you," she whispered as she gazed earnestly at Jung Sook. "For having a courage that I never possessed. And a conviction that I lacked."

Jung Sook blinked. And several tears slid down her cheeks.

"I met your husband once," the older woman surprised her again by admitting several silent moments later.

Jung Sook looked up at her in astonishment. "You did?" she asked, a little breathlessly.

"Yes. You were married to him for only a short season of your life, correct?"

"Most people would call it that, my lady. It was three weeks."

"You wouldn't call that short?"

"I would not, my lady."

It was an eternity. An evil eternity.

Lady Bit Na studied the young woman. "I am glad you were set free," she finally breathed softly.

Jung Sook's eyebrows jumped up as her eyes searched the older woman's.

"And I trust that my son has been nothing but gentle with you since meeting you."

Her eyes growing wide with understanding, Jung Sook's respect for his mother grew by leaps and bounds. "He has been incredibly tender with me, my lady."

"Which is, of course, why you're madly in love with him."

Jung Sook inhaled sharply. The perceptive woman had found her out. "Yes," she agreed quietly.

And Lady Bit Na beamed at her. "You do want children, don't you?" she asked eagerly. Her eyes were intently fastened to the younger woman's face.

"Oh, yes, my lady! A whole house full." Jung Sook stopped. "Although, that is probably more than you would wish."

"Quite to the contrary, my dear. I love children," his mother murmured. "Especially my own. Which is why I am so thankful that Soo Ho found you."

Jung Sook simply blinked in the face of such unadulterated praise.