Society's Expectations & Too Many Complications {Finalist}

Chapter 19

"Yes, milady," she obeyed, closing the door.

Turning my attention towards Layna, I felt pity for the poor girl. She was propped by cushions and the bed-spread, appearing tired. Her cuts were still oozing a little blood, though it was not a grand hurt, otherwise I would not have dared visit.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her kindly, hoping my visit would not strain her. "Well enough for conversation?"

"Yes, milady," she answered, her eyes a little wide at the prospect of talking with me. "What would you talk with me of?"

"I would like to know.." My voice trailed off, as I thought on how to phrase it. As I thought, my fingers trailed the ornate wood of the bed-stead, my fingers dipping into the patterns carved into it. "What went on between Lord Hugo Darrens and yourself in the kitchen, that day I disturbed you."

"Nothing, milady." The answer was too swift. A quavering reply and an answer that only hid a deeper truth. "He was teaching me on how to make tea, from another culture, that is all."

"Is that so?" I asked her, determined to catch her out. "Pray, what culture did your tea-making have its inspiration?"

"Uh... it- it was from India, milady," she answered haltingly. "An Indian tea."

"Truly?" I replied. "That is strange. My friend, engaged to Lord Darrens, has told me every single place under the sun that her fiancee has traveled to. It is most peculiar how India was not included. Quite accomplished to engage in the art of Indian tea-making, when you have not imbibed any of the culture, is it not?"

"Accomplished, indeed," the poor girl gulped, knowing I had caught onto the tail of her lie. Somehow, despite my status that demanded truth, she had been silenced from another party.

"If it is retaliation, you fear," I said casually, making my words plain. "From any.... others, I would have you know that I would not speak of any indiscretions that you did to your master or to others' ears."

"I-I-," she seemed to not know how to present the truth to me, beads of sweat lining the top of my forehead, just against her hairline. "I only obeyed what I was told, milady."

"I am sure, you did," I reassured her. "I will not punish you, Layna."

"He asked me to," Layna told me desperately, the words tumbling out. "He told me that it was my duty to oblige him as he was to marry into the family. I only did as I was told!"

"What did he make you do?" I inquired, hopelessly wading through her words which were just beginning to form together in my mind.

"At first it was just a kiss," she confessed. "But then he told me that I must visit him at the nights, that I would pleasure him. I had to do what I was told, milady, only what I was told. When you saw us, you caught it then. He was bolder, constantly showing that he could do whatever he wished and whenever. I had to oblige, you see."

The poor girl, I pitied her, thinking that Layna had gone through too much.

"Did he give you a choice?" I asked her gently. "Did he say that you might or might not do this duty for him?"

"Why... I am a servant," she said. "He commanded and I had to obey, milady. It was what I had to do."

I took that as that he took her choice and bent it and broke it.

"Tell me the name of the gentleman," I ordered her, determined to make sure that I did not have any such mistakes where this was concerned. "Tell me his name."

"He- he was-" the girl lowered her voice, thinking that voices travel. She was terrified. "Lord Hugo Darrens."

"Thank you," I said softly, leaning from the bedstead and straightening. "I understand how difficult this was for you. Lord Darrens will not touch you again, you have my word. Later, Lord Shireley will relieve you of your service to him. When that occurs, come straight to the Taylors' house. We will give you service there."