Bloodied Lilies

Chapter 16

The rain continued its song for days. The physician came to change her bandages twice a day and the servants took turns in bringing up her meals so they'd have a chance to speak with her. Fae visited on occasion but he spoke very little and put in a lot of effort into blending in with the shadows. Duke Rainford never left her side and she never questioned him about it.

Adelia regained her upper body strength and was able to sit up without the help of pillows. Strength also returned to her hands and the soup incident was never repeated nor mentioned. She was still weak and could only stomach soft foods but she was recovering steadily.

They hadn't discussed anymore of her assassinations or of Rufus' dear wish to have Duke Rainford killed. Adelia knew the conversation would come eventually but she was glad she was getting time to recover her strength before then.

She had just finished her breakfast when Reeves came into her room.

"Lord Luces has arrived," he said nervously.

"Enrich?" Duke Rainford got up from beside Adelia. "He really needs to call beforehand. I'll see him in. Stay put, Adelia."

It wasn't like she could go anywhere but she nodded anyway, just to humour him.

Adelia was sat up in her bed, leaning against her headboard. The pain in her abdomen had dulled but it still flared up whenever she tried to move too much. Sitting in bed for so long would be boring if it were for the duke's constant presence at her side. Instead, she remained unnerved and on-edge most of the time.

He had never paid her so much attention before and it terrified her as much as it made her blood pulse.

Duke Rainford soon returned with Enrich in tow. Enrich was dressed smartly in a dark grey suit and navy tie. He held a bouquet of sunflowers in his hand.

"Adelia," he greeted with a smile as he came forward. He handed the bouquet to her. "I heard you got torn up when you were valiantly defending Leonard."

"Those were not my exact words," Duke Rainford noted, crossing his arms.

"I wish you well on your recovery," Enrich continued, ignoring the duke. "It's Leonard's fault after all so feel free to blame him for injuries. Has he been treating you well?"

"Duke Rainford has been very kind," she replied.

Enrich looked surprised.

"Are you still calling me that?" Duke Rainford huffed. "We've been married long enough. Call me Leo."

"Leo," she repeated. The word rolled on her tongue strangely but it was not entirely unpleasant. "You told Fae to call you that too."

"I prefer it. Enrich used to call me Leo when we were kids. But he thought it was childish as we got older, even though I told him I preferred it."

"It is childish," Enrich protested. "I'm already twenty-six. I can't go around calling fellow aristocrats by nicknames."

"You care too much of what society thinks," said Duke Rainford – Leo now, she supposed –sulkily.

"You care too little. Your reputation is monstrous."

"The rumours they are built on are not entirely false."

Enrich sighed and turned back to Adelia. "Putting him aside, how do you feel? Are you in pain?"

"I feel alright," she reassured.

"That's good. I can't yet fully fathom the fact that you're an assassin so I'm just going to pretend I never heard it." Enrich nodded to himself determinedly. "I will just convince myself that Leonard became strangely delusional during his explanation."