The Crimson Chains That Bind Us

Chapter 7: First Party as Duchess

It had been a few weeks since my arrival, and this was the first party I was hosting as the Duchess of Dragmyr. Both Catherine and Mary assisted me in the bath, the aroma of citrus and herbs filled my nostrils. Though the water was warm the air made me shiver. Mary was looking through the wardrobe for something suitable. The door to the room burst opened, I screamed and sunk deeper into the bath.

"My lord." Catherine stammered, she gathered to her feet. Ashton face was blank, but I could feel anger radiating off him.

"Leave us." He ordered them, and without a second thought they hurried away from us. Ashton took Catherine seat beside me, taking his gloves off and rolling the sleeves of his black tunic. I leaned forward, hiding my breast from view.

"My lord," I stammered, "perhaps you should return when I am clothed and decent." My cheeks burn with embarrassment, and when his warm hand touched the bare skin on my back a shiver shot through me.

"Nonsense." He muttered. "We are married." And I am still a maid. "I have received a letter from your father." He stated, I turned my face to look at him. "He refused to send me your dowry."

"Perhaps, I shall write to him." I offered, I wondered what could be the reason. "Or perhaps brother will help."

"No need." He pressed his lips together, his eyes focusing on mine. I wonder what thoughts were going through his head. "Farrah.." He spoke my name, my heart fluttering in my chest. "I need you do do me a favor, Lady Anne Thompson, the king's mistress will be attending." He started scrubbing my back. "I need you to befriend her."

"May I ask why, husband?" I moved some hair behind my ear.

"There's a group of wives who meet up monthly at Countess Noëls, I want you to join and give me information of the meeting. And Anne is part of the group." He stood up, finishing with my back.

"Very well." I pressed my lips tightly together. It would be nice to make friends with some noble ladies, but to be a spy? Is that really me?

"Perhaps I should leave you before I do something troubling." He started to walk away, looking away from me.

I reached out grabbing his hand, stopping him from leaving. "My lord," my heart racing in my chest as I stood, taking a step out of the bath. "I am still a maid." I whispered, I could hear my heart beating in my ear. Ashton was very handsome, and it been weeks since we had been alone together. He had been busy running the dukedom, and we only taken meals together. My maids had inquired if I was with child, but I was still a maid but I couldn't tell them that. They might think badly of the lord.

Ashton stared into my eyes, his hands reaching up and cupping my cheeks, letting his gloves fall to the floor. He kissed me, it was sudden a filled with passion as he pulled me to him. His tongue danced with mine as he lifted my wet body up, I ran my hands through his silky black hair as he laid me down on the bed. "I can't." He suddenly pulled away, sitting on the edge of the bed. My heart sank as I reached for him, but he stood quickly and hurried to the door. I laid there, absently touching my lips where his had been. Moments later Catherine entered the room, her large grin falling when she saw my tear stroked face.

That evening, I dressed in my finest orange silk gown with a matching cloak to walk through the cold corridors with. Catherine helped fasten a floral circlet around my pale hair. As Mary ushered us to hurry through the castle corridors, litanies by flickering sconces, and out into the cooling dusk.

As the night dug deep into the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, the chilling winds breathed their icy, mournful song into the ancient stones that made up the imposing facade of Dragmyr Hall. I clutched my cloak tighter, my heart pounding against my breasts like a wild beast desperately craving release. Despite the winter's frosty chill, a palpable aura of darkness seemed to seep from the very marrow of this castle, spreading its malevolent tendrils like black ooze through the stone hallways.