The Art of the Corset (2017)

Chapter Twenty- With Appreciation, With Malice

Evelyn strolled alongside Marth as he was completely immersed in his nephew's small expression and joyous laugh. Playing with his fingers and then making humorous faces as the infant, Marth also spoke to Evelyn as they journeyed around the castle.

"It is miraculous....to hold something so fragile...in a way, I have him back."

"Your brother?"

Marth nodded. "I am incredibly relieved of his birth."

"What is it you mean?"

"He was not born within a healthy time-nine months to my understanding...he was lucky to be born so early...My mother had a few children who were premature and did not survive. I know this to be a miracle itself." Looking back to the child, Marth then continued to lead the way before being followed by Evelyn.

"How are you wounds?"

"Healing quite well, thank you."

"I cannot conjure how washing your dress could end up with two wounds such as that." He spoke, referring to her busted lip and scar just beside the end of her left eyebrow.

"Slippery rocks, I'm afraid."

"I see." He spoke with skepticism before making his way back into the castle along a set of several long steps. Following behind as she had been doing for the past hour, Evelyn took each turn he had, and eventually froze outside his wife's room. Upon entering, Marth handed the child off to its mother before returning within a matter of moments. During his absence, Evelyn attempted to find visual evidence of the woman, but only saw her canopy drapes to be drawn closed. When he emerged back into the hall, a messenger ran straight down the hall and to Marth before delivering an urgent message. One that he took with great care.

"I must show this to my uncle." He said while placing a gentle kiss upon her cheek and turning down the same path the messenger had taken-and eventually disappearing.

Turning back to find the wife's door ajar, Evelyn peeked in to see the figure upon the bed to be motionless. For a moment, she retreated before coming in and placing it cracked as if she had not even entered. With quiet steps, she inched closer to the woman before finding her now sitting up with the child feeding for the afternoon. Shying her gaze away, the woman then looked up towards Evelyn.

"You appear familiar, have we been acquainted before?" She asked with an accent similar to that of Marth's.

"I do not believe so."

"I see...Is there something I can help you with?"

"I...I..." As she spoke, she took in the woman's intoxicating appearance. Even after delivering for nearly half a day, she had looked as though she had simply taken a nap and awoken. A long set of hair sat over her shoulders as her child sat nestled in her cradled arms.

"Pardon me?" The woman asked as Evelyn shook her head and apologized.

"I simply wanted to congratulate you and your child. He is simply remarkable."

"Thank you, dear...if you do not mind me being so bold...who is it you are?"

"Of course...I am-"

"Leaving." Marth spoke as he stood in the doorway, glaring at Evelyn.

"Returned to see him once more?"

"Only to retrieve a lost member of kin." He spoke with callousness before pulling Evelyn from her observing spot and into the hall, past his wife's room.

"What compelled you to enter there? And speak to her?"

"Am I not allowed?"

"You know of what she has done and yet you befriend her?"