Elwanda

Chapter 20 - Penalty, and Farewell

When the sun rose, it smiled into Elwanda's face and she felt her cheeks heat up. The unusual heat felt tingly and, combined with the peaceful silence, made her almost want to sit up and stretch in satisfaction as she did every morning in the home of her foster family.

But then came the stabbing realization that she was very far from home and despite the promising and fair day, she was knee deep in trouble; trouble that would cost her her life.

Sitting up, she withdrew into the wall to better ogle at the gleaming ocean. It churned fresh waves and entertained gulls. The sight made her miss her morning routine of sitting by the sea. Just as Remus prescribed, the activity had indeed helped her recover. Subconsciously, she felt the back of her head in search of the old gash there and did not find it. Twas rather unsurprising that it was gone. Wounds had miraculously healed on her skin once before.

As she thought of how the nice Physician would react to news of her exposed fallacy, the dungeon door opened, and Lord Andrew Housley walked in.

"Morning, Dove." He greeted with a relaxing hint of casualty. His lordly outfit was bursting with color and greatly contrasted with the dusty, blanched interior of the dungeon. It made Elwanda conscious of the difference between them in terms of. . . everything.

She studied him for a few minutes then looked away. "Elwanda. My name is Elwanda."

He smirked. "So, it's an even rarer and prettier name than Dove."

Again, she stared at him, trying to calculate the reason behind his visit. He seemed to sense her curiosity at once.

"I'm sure you're wondering why it's me here and not. . ." He trailed off with a hand gesture in reference to the Steward. "Well, I'll tell you that it's better that I've come. He's so furious that I'm surprised smoke hasn't blown out of his nostrils yet."

He tilted his head. "You, however, are humbled in spite of your current predicament. I mean, you always have been, but. . ." He strolled forward.

"Why are you here?" She questioned, sizing him up cautiously.

His hands flew behind his back to lock together in an aristocratic way, and he halted. "Because I knew right from the moment you stepped out of that carriage that the two of you were not a real couple."

"How could you have known?" Her eyebrows went up.

"Well," He licked his lower lip very quickly as though the words he was about to speak were sweet. "For one thing, it was too good to be true. I've known your "husband" since before now, more than most people could ever. You see, I spent my tender years in Raegros, but my formative years took place in Rauloring. The Steward and I became something of sworn brothers in that time before my departure and his subsequent affiliation with the throne. One could say that I know all there is to know about him, but the one thing I've never known is for him to have a love interest. . . save for that one affairette with Erin years ago."

Elwanda's mouth went dry at the revelation, but she said nothing. Albeit she couldn't help the growing sense of unease at the memory of how Erin always seemed to have some kind of easy sway over the Steward.

That was an advantage she'd kill for.

"Had the Steward found himself a bride, I would've heard of it." He drew very close so that she could see the brown in his eyes. "Why I've come, Elwanda, is to sympathize with you. My friend is a. . . difficult man. He grew up hard, saw things that one should not see so young. I am sorry that you should be the one to tolerate him."

"I'm a nobody. Why should you come and sympathize with me?"

"Because I've been watching you since you got here." He heaved a sigh. "Believe it or not, you are a unique specimen altogether. I sensed there had to be a kind of agreement between yourselves concerning his attendance to the feast even though I didn't know the nature of said agreement."