Evil I Become...

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

By the time I had returned the lot of washing the cook gave me earlier, which coincidently was the knight’s underwear, everyone in the kitchen was busy preparing for the royal ball celebrating Lady Isabella’s arrival the next day.

Lady Isabella was my mother’s sister and second cousin technically making her my auntie although like everybody else she had no idea about me. Isabella always did seem to have a soft spot for me though as last time she visited I was in charge of dealing with her laundry (naturally) and everyday she would always treat me with more respect, kindness and love than anybody else. Whether that was just because I was a child I’ll never know.

I was quickly handed a fresh set of clothes from another maid who was frantically rushing around. I immediately recognised the ornate blue coat as my step-fathers and assumed that i was meant to return it. I dreaded having to return my stepfather’s clothes as I knew if he wasn’t satisfied I’d be punished. This usually left me with purple bruises till the next time I dealt with him or his things.

I stopped before the intricately carved oak doors that signalled the start of the Duchessa and Duke’s grand chambers. Taking a deep breath whilst doing so I let the huge, well built knight open the door at which he stood guarding for most of the day.

I expected my step-father, Lucias, to be reading at his desk but instead found him lounging in the four poster bed. I was so shocked by this sudden change in his routine I never even noticed when Joanne took the increasingly heavy basket from my sore, red hands.

Joanne was my mother’s faithful maid and overall best friend. I would often see them chatting and laughing with each other over a goblet of rich red wine. Despite the fact that she was an excellent seamstress and often made some of my mothers most expensive evening gowns, Joanne always reduced herself to the simplest of dresses no matter what the occasion.  She was a small woman but with an excellent figure but often suffered with sore hands like me when she performed some of the many tasks she was placed with.

 I wasn’t quite sure what to do with nothing in my hands and stood there waiting for some kind of instruction for well over five minutes.

 It was during this time I saw something in Lucia’s eyes, something dark and intense that appeared when he stared at Joanne. I’d never seen this before in Lucias and wondered if my mother knew or even Joanne knew what lurked beneath Lucias proud and confident façade. Terrified by the look I saw I wasn’t quick enough to look away when Lucias realised I was staring at him.

 

He raised himself of the bed and took three great strides towards me. I closed my eyes and prepared myself for the blow I had become so accustomed to over the years. When nothing happened I reopened my eyes to see Lucias walking away, head held high as if nothing had happened. The facade had returned in a scary instant.

At the time I wasn’t sure if he knew what I’d seen in him but I knew I wouldn’t let myself be so careless again.