The Unwanted Wedding

Chapter 27 - Poisonous Weeds

"There is no bigger bitch than the other woman scorned"

- Book of Encounters

 Flor 

Boredom lashed out at me through the seeping's of sickness. I had been locked away with only my maids and mother to keep me company. If I wasn't sleeping I was resting, and if I wasn't resting I was simply sitting in my bed gazing at a ceiling that grasps nothing but blandness.  The only thing that awakened my attention was the whispering through the walls.  At first I was just hopeful; when I first overheard my Mother whispering to Father when Reyna and her husband had returned. She seemed pleased, I first thought it to be relief that Sir Vincent didn't hold resentment towards Reyna's unladylike actions and humiliation of him, although they did seem discontented, but my Mother beamed with something more. And a few days ago Vincent had come to my room to pull my Mother out for a quite word. I didn't hear what he said but Mother came back beaming brighter than the sun. And then in the cold, Mother escorted Reyna and Vincent out for hours. When they came back I watched them through the windows, Vincent was carrying Reyna due to the mud along the driveway, Mother followed chattering excitedly.  I was so happy when one of the maids whispered that my sister might be carrying a child. I might be an aunt! After a day or two the doctor confirmed that my older sister showed promising signs of being in the family way. Though I hadn't seen Reyna a lot, and when I asked mother why she just scowled me that she was busy with her husband and one day I will understand, but there was a day when both of them came to me room.  Reyna had been banned full corsets and hoops, so her gowns tented from high on her waist. She looked regal draped in red and black plaid, she was every bit the perfection of a lady. She stood clutching the hand of her handsome spouse, and asked if I would be pleased with the becoming of my first niece or nephew.

But that was days ago, and I was still bedridden. I was tired of being so weak I needed help bathing myself and felt in a state of sweatiness.

Reading my distress, to my surprise, Vincent ordered that I should be taken outside for some air. I was slightly blushed at his lacking of a coat, as he wore only jacquard silk black breeches, a white waistcoat and a shirt, along with small ankle heighted shoes. My mother bristled.

"But she's so unwell!" She gobbled out, "She can't possibly be let out of bed! If she wanted air a window could be opened. Oh, no. She's not to go outside."

Vincent merely lifted a brow, "But didn't the doctor say she should be moving around during her recovery? Surely a short walk to the gardens isn't going to harm her much? She can simply sit, Reyna is out there. I'm sure she'd like to talk to her sister; they have been unable to do so much. And Rey has taken a deeper interest in painting since our return, Flor would be delighted to watch as her sister works." He turned to me, "Wouldn't you?"

I smiled but chose not to answer for my mother may have a fit. Her face was as red as a tomato. "Have you lost your wits? Did you take your senses today? Flor is sick! I forbid it! And don't rattle on to me about time apart, the only reason my daughters haven't seen each other is that you have been busy quivering that thing into my daughter. She pregnant, boy, give it a rest and cool yourself down." My mother blushed so deeply that her cheeks purpled. I sat in amused shock while Vincent was laughing.

"I'm sure, my dear mother-in-law, that ''quivering that thing" goes without complaint with your daughter." Mother gasped at his bluntness. "Now, Flor, come outside. Moving about will do you good."

I dressed plainly, in a simple sleeveless, cotton black gown. Clutching my brother-in-laws arm tightly as he gently guided me to sit on one of the plush seats by his studio. To my surprise my father was outside, he was telling loud laughing jokes with my sister.