Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 34: Gutted and Broken

Sometimes, she would venture forth from her room and explore the manor when the boredom became too much for her, but she would avoid the servants and any human contact while she was out.

At the end of the week, Pollyanna finally got so bored that she asked Kline what she was supposed to do from day-to-day now that they were married. He responded, "you are to be a wife and mother. I'll have the staff teach you how to cook, clean, and mend clothes."

"A mother...?" Pollyanna whispered

"Renthas refuses to give me an heir. I swear, I'll have three before I die." He replied as he pulled his boots back on.

Pollyanna bit back a gasp.

I shall give birth to the spawn of the underworld... Pollyanna thought to herself in horror.

The next morning, Pollyanna was a dutiful student while the staff taught her how to sew, cook, and clean.

Under her mother, Pollyanna never felt the need to try hard at the tasks a woman should be good at. Now that she had to learn in order to succeed, she tried her best and many of the staff told her she was a quick learner.

"By the way," her sewing teacher said as she taught Pollyanna how to stitch up a pair of Kline's breeches.

Pollyanna was focused on her task; it was monotonous, but it kept her mind off difficult subject matter.

The needle ducked up and down through the fabric in a satisfying rhythm.

"What is it?" Pollyanna asked.

"Your mother wants to see you tonight." Her teacher replied.

Pollyanna lifted her eyes nervously. I don't want to see her.

"She says she's been wanting to see you—that you haven't left the manor since you've been married." Her teacher informed her. "She wants to know how you are."

"I-I'll ask Kline if I can go tomorrow." Pollyanna replied.

At night, while Kline sat at the edge of the bed, she asked him whether she could visit her mother.

Kline agreed without hesitation. "What a lazy little mouse you are. You don't need my permission to visit your mother. She lives right next door, after all. I was wondering why she was so upset earlier."

"You've been to see her?" Pollyanna whispered meekly.

"Of course. You'll see her first thing tomorrow." Kline ordered and left her for the night.

The next day, Pollyanna stepped out of the manor for the first time in a week and enjoyed the warm sunshine on her face.

Kline's manor was at the edge of the town; it was isolated and quiet with no other houses and no other people around.

Pollyanna could hear the smallest of sounds, and she found that to be very pleasant.

Next door to the manor, she saw a finely built house where she was told her mother resided.

So this is what selling your daughter bought you... Pollyanna thought to herself.

She took a deep breath and approached the small house's front door.

She lifted a fist with a shaking hand--ready to knock--but found that she was too nervous to follow through.

She let out a horrendous sob and leaned her forehead against the door.

"Pollyanna?" A voice called out curiously.

Pollyanna immediately dried her eyes and looked the way the voice had come from.