Lady Trent (13 page)

Before Rachel could dwell upon the
recollection of the duchess admitting her own unhappiness, she was
pulled closer, a kiss planted on her left cheek. The lady continued
to smile at her as if to say, “it is well”, and then turned with
her husband, the duke, who’d also stood before her, bowing and
kissing the top of her hand. The well-mannered pair was escorted by
a duo of guards from the room—just as the couples before them.
Squires and pages also followed behind as they’d been instructed to
do. Rachel had thought everything through…and everything fell
perfectly into place.

Marcus was the final one to step up before
them. The room was now vacant except for Tilly, Zaria and Roselyn,
Holly and the other maiden who cared for Jacob, other servants and
guards, Edison the physician, Father Nelson. Grinning deeply,
Marcus shook Jacob’s hand, leaned forward so that they almost
hugged but didn’t. He patted his shoulder with his free hand.

“Congratulations, my friend,” he said,
obviously straight from the heart, and his eyes fell upon Rachel.
She felt a disturbing hesitance as he stepped before her. Any
recollection of the conversation from earlier in the day vanished
as if to have never occurred. He grinned pleasantly, handsomely,
and taking her hand dropped a very light and gentle kiss upon it,
raising himself only to afterward bow slightly at the waist and to
audibly hail, “Lady Trent.” It was the first she was greeted by the
title, and she felt particularly pleased by it.

She, too, bowed her head, accepting the
gesture with genuine ease. He turned away, following the lead of
the others except on his own. No guards went with him. His final
words to her repeated themselves again and again in her mind. “Lady
Trent.” The greeting stuck in her head. She was now Lady Trent and
felt utterly satisfied, pleased to be so named.

She felt a unique elation…one that made her
understand for the first time in her life what it meant to wonder
if something was just a dream. Would she awaken to find none of
this had actually happened? The idea of having just dreamt it all
from beginning to end put a terrible sinking dread in her heart and
stomach.

No, she decided. This was no dream. She was
Lady Trent. She was Jacob’s wife. She was thankful for it all. And
did not take a single moment to question whether it was meant to be
or not, or to question any one of her feelings. They were all
understandable, and she accepted them.

“Lady Trent.” Now it was Father Nelson’s turn
to stand before and greet her. He had a glass of wine now, which he
raised to propose a toast to them and them alone. Grinning with
satisfaction he said, “May you see many good days, and be blessed
with unity, happiness, and many healthy children.”

Rachel smiled softy, glancing from one to the
other and raised her glass for a second drink of wine. Father
Nelson afterward lowered his hand. He studied the ceiling, smacking
his lips to analyze the wine’s flavor. “Ah!” he grinned. “Good.
Very good, indeed.”

And with that he was led away by Caleb alone.
Rachel nodded at her handmaidens, giving them permission to also
leave the room. Jacob took her hand, grinning at her with a face
that became paler before the very eyes. Now that they were alone he
would not have to fight so hard against his ill condition.

“You have made me a very happy man,” he said,
and lowered his head to drop a kiss on her hand. Edison popped up
beside of them.

“You must rest,” he told Jacob.

“Must I?” Jacob asked, grinning down at her.
But he did not intend to argue against the notion or to disregard
it, for he knew it was unavoidable. Edison directed him toward the
bedchamber and he went along. Rachel guided him to a chair nearby
his bed. Holly and the second nursemaid, Mable, followed behind and
then stood still simply awaiting orders.

While Edison prepared a dose of medicine,
Rachel knelt to remove his boots. She smiled up at him as she did
so. “I can see you are pleased,” she said.

“Very much so,” he agreed. “You make a very
beautiful bride, Rachel Trent, and me the happiest man in the world
for sure.”

She removed his second boot, setting it aside
and stood. He’d taken her hand now, and stood with her. They
embraced, the first time as husband and wife. She nestled her cheek
against his strong shoulder. His arms came up around her. He
exhaled as if in relief. She felt a single tear slide from the
corner of her eye, down her cheek and onto his shirt. She blinked
to keep any others from following. “I am very happy, too,” she said
quietly to him. “I truly am.”

He ran the tip of a finger along her jaw and
offered a grin, although a tired one it was. “Your eyes tell me so.
I can’t say they have been so dazzling, not that I recall.”

“I feel dazzling,” she said. “If that is at
all possible.”

“It must be. You are glowing like a
star.”

She raised a hand to smooth away beads of
perspiration from his brow. “We must get you back into bed,” she
dreaded to say. “You need rest.”

“I would rather celebrate the occasion.”

“And you will,” she told him. “After the
ailment has passed we will celebrate, you and I. We’ll dine and
maybe go for a ride about the countryside. The beautiful spot you
took me where the water falls and the deer openly drink from the
stream.”

“Such ideas you come up with. One would think
you have done this sort of thing before, or perhaps considered
it.”

“Never,” she defended knowing he already knew
it for himself.

His illness was about to get the best of him.
It was time for his medicine and for him to lie down and rest. His
suit was removed from him, and he was led to his bed and tucked in.
Jacob drank Edison’s concoction straight down without a single
wince although she imagined it did not taste well at all.

Rachel sat and dropped her head on his chest
while Jacob began falling into a deep sleep. She closed her eyes,
knowing the two maidens were watching but not caring. She felt the
steady rise and fall of his chest. “Rest well,” she quietly told
him, but it was too late. He was already fast asleep.

******

Rachel spent the remainder of the evening
entertaining guests, blending in quite well, which she’d feared she
wouldn’t. It was almost as if she’d known these people all along,
those closest to the man she’d wed. They were all kind and a
delight to entertain. She also accepted gifts, everything from
paintings and golden chalices to rugs, collections of books,
jewelry and even a few new household servants…not that they were
needed, but she accepted them just the same as if they were. The
witnesses sent by the emperor presented the most valuable gift of
all…a small chest of gold which she had delivered to Jacob’s
quarters immediately.

She was careful not to consume too much wine,
yet by the end of the night, she was well aware that she’d had her
decent share. No, it had not taken much to make her a bit tipsy.
Not much at all.

Not an entirely bad feeling, but she scolded
herself once it was over and done with, even as she lay down to
sleep. But she slept that night, peacefully. Very, very
peacefully.

The following morning, after dressing and
speaking briefly with a few of their overnight guests, she checked
up on the condition of her husband. She had heard that he was awake
now, and that he was better. She wanted to see for herself.

He was sitting up when she entered, and
grinned at the sight of her. He waved a hand at Holly and Mable,
commanding them to leave, and extended an arm to welcome her. She
sat beside of him. He kissed her on the forehead. “A beautiful
sight this morning,” he commended.

“And our first as husband and wife,” she
added, wondering why it took Holly so long to gather her supplies
and go. “You seem to have recovered a great deal. Has the illness
eased itself?”

“Unusually, I do believe it will leave as
quickly as it came.”

“I have hoped and prayed so,” she generously
returned.

“Perhaps that is the reason for this unusual,
speedy recovery…your hopes and prayers.” He kissed her on the
temple. “I trust the remainder of last evening went well. According
to Percival, it was an entire success.”

“It was,” she assured. “Some of the guests
departed, others did so this morning, and others shall within the
day.”

“I had considered rising up and going to
greet them. Edison insisted not. I certainly appreciate their
attendance.”

“They know that themselves. Your friends are
fine people—gentle-natured and goodhearted. I enjoyed getting
better acquainted with them. They were certainly generous with
their gifts. The emperor sent a small chest of gold.” She glanced
around. “I had it delivered here to your room.”

“Rest assured…it was safely transported to
Darius early morning.” He smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear.
“What’s that you have there?” He asked referring to the book in her
hand.

“I discovered it in the library,” she
explained. “It’s a fascinating collection of poetry from Pearl
Hagar.”

“Pearl Hagar, yes, a brilliant young
artist.”

“You’ve read his work,” she guessed.

“I’ve little patience for such a pastime, and
little time. Even during this illness I cannot read. The
concentration it requires only serves to agitate me. No, but I have
met the man in person.”

“Oh?”

“Many years ago. He was imprisoned for
including some passages in his work that the emperor thought of as
derogatory.”

“Derogatory?”

“Critical of him. He was freed, of course,
but under the condition he would travel elsewhere…overseas.”

“You did well to acquire a copy of his work.
Some of his writings are quite amusing. I thought I could read to
you while you rest.”

He kissed her temple. “That would be well
with me.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Nothing appeals to me, but none to worry, my
appetite shall return after I have resumed my normal
activities.”

Her expression became one of concern and
interest. “How long does this ailment hinder you?”

“Once upon a time three, four days. And then
five and six days. Now it may linger anywhere from seven to eight
days, although this time I am certain it will pass quickly.”

“And the physician hasn’t an answer.”

“Over the years I have been tended to by many
physicians. This has occurred since I was a young lad, only not
near as severe. These physicians all share the same opinion. The
illness is uncommon and cannot be identified.”

Silence fell and she sat back with him,
leaning closer and opening the book before them, and she began to
read. He closed his eyes to listen, and she could feel the gentle
vibration of his chest and stomach from time to time as he silently
laughed.

They were simultaneously amused by one
particular passage, laughing when Marcus came into the room; an
entrance that she felt instantly disturbed by. Without announcement
or approval nobody other than the physician and his helpers were
able to simply enter the chamber, yet he did so freely as if
expected at any given moment.

She proceeded with the final sentence of what
she’d been reading, and then stood closing the book. “You were
correct with your opinion of his work,” Jacob softly admonished.
“He is comical in his writings. Hearing them does me good.”

“I’m glad of it,” she commented, and began
straightening the blankets. Jacob focused upon Marcus who’d stepped
deeper into the room, obviously satisfied at the improved condition
of his friend.

“Ah, Marcus,” he admired, “My reed in the
wind.” His eyes swept over his pants and loose shirt. “And from the
looks of it you are about to be blown into some unpredictable
direction.”

Rachel considered the fact that after the
exchanging of the vows, Marcus had disappeared. She’d not only
wondered where he’d gone off to, but why he’d fled so swiftly and
without a word to anyone. Several guards and guests had asked of
his whereabouts. Nobody knew for certain. He certainly hadn’t
explained anything to her.

“I see the maidens have not exaggerated their
accounts of your wellbeing,” Marcus commented. “You have already
recovered some. But I have something that may be of use.” He
reached inside a pocket removing a handkerchief. He unfolded it
before their eyes thus revealing a mound of greenish herbs. He
raised a foot atop the seat of the chair and rested his elbows on
his knee, leaning forward to make the herbs more visible to Jacob.
“I have brought these from Port Templeton. They will make you feel
all the better.”

Rachel stared from the herbs to his face.
“None to worry, Lady Trent,” he casually commented. “I wouldn’t
dare poison him. Not until he is well enough to pay me for my most
recent undertaking.” He planted his foot to the floor, choosing to
sit opposed to using the piece of furniture as a footrest.

“Port Templeton,” Jacob repeated while Rachel
went about mindlessly straightening the room. “When did you
go?”

“Not long after your vows were exchanged. I
had some, um, matters to attend there. Don’t worry about these,” he
encouraged in reference to the herbs. “I had the honor of trying
them out for myself. I feel no pain or discomfort, even after a
night of heavy drinking.”

He got a laugh from this. “No man has ever
been so faithful to me as this one,” Jacob told Rachel. “Where
others may come and go, he is always welcomed.”

She made her way around the bed and accepted
the handkerchief, careful not to scatter or lose any of the herbs.
“How does one prepare them?”

“The same as tea…with sugar and lemon for
taste.” He observed Jacob. “How do you feel, my friend? I must say,
you look much better today.”

“I feel much better.”

“I’m content to hear it…rather to see so for
myself. Now I can go about my way again.”