Jerisson believed her. He came to realize that his future depended on his present reaction to the incident. If he behaved correctly, his wife would not only forgive him but would also become his ally. If not, he would destroy the last opportunity of reconciliation with his own hands. Jess smiled maliciously and headed to the house. He already knew what he should say.
***
Lily sat in the living room and comforted Miranda. She also reprimanded the girl for walking around on her own, without even her dog.
“Was that kidnapping not enough for you?”
Jerisson Earton appeared in the doorway. The noble earl listened at the door for a few minutes like he was a servant choosing the moment when to come in. He dropped into his chair as soon as he stepped inside the room.
“Lilian, I understand everything, but this should never happen again.”
Lily squinted at her husband.
“I agree.”
“I understand that we lived apart for a while. I understand that you have every reason to be angry at me, but this must stop. Due to the ambiguity of our status, people spread a lot of unflattering rumors about our family, which can negatively affect our daughter.”
“What do you suggest?”
“I suppose that a few public appearances and living together would help to shut the gossiping mouths.”
Lily gave him an incredulous look, but the secret weapon of Earl Earton played her part: Mirrie shrieked with enthusiasm.
“Papa! We will all live together!”
“Only if your momma doesn’t mind,” assured Jess. What an insolent and nasty man, thought Lily.
“I won’t object.”
What else am I left to do? I can only seek revenge.
“Mirrie, tomorrow morning, I’m waiting for you to do a warm-up. I’ll ask Leif for more intensive training.”
“Can I come as well?”
“You can.”
Jess noticed a sarcastic grin on his wife’s lips, but it did not scare him off. He was already thinking about moving.
Bad choice!
***
The next morning, the earl’s dignity was significantly damaged. It was six o’clock, and someone banged a copper basin with a ladle. It was none other than his own daughter, with a disgustingly cheerful and contented expression on her face.
“Papa! It’s time to wake up!”
“What?”
“Rise and shine! The water for washing your face is already here. We’ll be waiting for you in the backyard.” She hit the ladle once more and vanished. Jess leaned back on his pillows with a moan. The day before, he had gone to bed past midnight, and now everything was a torture to his senses, even the sunshine. Less brightness, please!
Did Lilian say anything about the training yesterday? I need to have a look at least.
Jess pulled on simple leather pants and a shirt, splashed some water on his face, tied his hair back into a ponytail and went to the backyard. He froze in astonishment.
A couple of Virmans, under the command of a big man called Leif, performed various exercises. They stretched, lifted stones, a couple of men ran around in a circle. Among them ran two small persons— his daughter and his wife.
Jess closed his eyes. He shook his head wanting to dispel the vision. Alas, it isn’t a dream. Wearing simple clothes from coarse, unpainted material, in loose shirts and blue skirts (or pants?), his daughter and his wife ran around with the Virmans. Jess saw them watching his wife in a way that made him want to murder them. His wife had a lot of virtues, and they expressively swayed with her every move. It didn’t even occur to the Virmans to turn away. I will kill the bastards! If it wasn’t for Mirrie, Jess would have done terrible things.
“Papa, you came! Join us!”
“Breathe properly,” whined Lily at her daughter.
***
Two hours later the noble Earl of Earton slipped into the tub and groaned. He was swept off his feet, his hands were shaking, and his head dropped. Jess exercised with a sword and considered himself a trained aristocrat. Yet there was a big difference between an aristocrat and a warrior. The first spent more time at court, led a certain lifestyle, and could let himself skip a couple of trainings. The warrior, especially the Virman one, had to keep fit for staying alive. For this reason, the Virmans trained a couple of times every day, without pity or compassion. Sparing their sweat would mean losing their lives. They trained the Countess of Earton in the same fashion, not suspecting that ladies needed less pressure. Miranda was taught as a boy. Lily didn’t mind; Miranda was happy.
Jess felt absolutely shattered. His wife even had energy left to go to the Aldon. Not now, after breakfast.
***
Porridge depressed Jess even more. Loyal to his decision not to get angry at once, the noble earl only meekly inquired whether the cooks had made a mistake and confused the count’s high cuisine with the dishes for the stables. Mirrie answered his question with laughter.
“Papa, it is good for your stomach!”
“Really?”
The greyish-yellow mass invoked words that wouldn’t even take form. Mirrie put the spoon in her mouth.
“And tasty, too.”
Jerisson’s wife took pity on him and nodded to the servants. In a few minutes, they brought him a huge plate with eggs, roasted meat, cheese, and salad.
That’s better!
Jess looked at his wife with sincere gratitude and set about destroying his breakfast. Later, Mirrie grabbed her father’s attention, whereas Lily decided to head to the aldon.
“Momma, do you really have to go?”
“Yes, sunshine.”
“Will you come back soon?”
“I will try to make it quick.”
“Stay, Lilian!” Jess used all his charm, but it worked badly.
“I promised.”
“I understand that I've just arrived, but we need to spend more time together. Maybe we could go riding outside the city? They need to see us together.”
Lily sighed.
“Can we do it when I return?”
“I would be glad to.” Glad? What does he think I feel?, thought Lily as Jess added, “We don’t know much about each other.”
“Not surprising! Back then I was severely poisoned.” Lily sighed. “I remember almost nothing about myself from the past. Everything is covered in a haze. It’s scary to think about.”
“It’s my fault that you got poisoned.” The subtext of his words was, “It’s obvious that you will forgive me. Women don’t stay angry at me for longer than ten minutes”.
“You are not Aldonai to be able to foresee everything.”
“I had to take care of you.” Jerisson’s hand covered Lily’s palm. The woman freed her hand and moved a lock of hair away from her face. She wasn’t pushing him away, but she let him know that she wanted to keep a distance.
“Yes, it was part of the contract. But it’s too late to talk about it now.”
“Why?”
“Because the past is in the past. You’re alive, I’m alive, we are more or less in good health—I mean your wounded hand and the consequences of my miscarriage.”
“Is it anything serious?”
“As the medicus says, I can’t have children for at least a couple of years. Otherwise, I could die with the child.”
The only medicus Lilian trusted was herself, but she wasn’t lying. Her health was far from perfect, plus she needed to get in shape before another pregnancy. A woman is not a stamping press. Jerisson vigorously expressed sympathy.
“Hmm! A couple of years is not long.”
Lily shrugged.
“We’ll see. Do you know about the theory of relativity?”
“When something is carried somewhere?”
“Almost,” giggled Lily. “If you spend the night with a beautiful woman, it will fly by in an instant. If they put your naked bottom on a hot frying pan, an instant will seem like an eternity to you.”
Mirrie laughed. Lily kissed her nose an
d asked her if she could tell the servants to prepare the horses. The guards needed time to get ready, too.
Miranda ran off, and Jess decided to ask his wife, “What does your theory have to do with our family? If you wish, I can ask to dispose of all frying pans at once!”
Lily felt more freedom without Miranda.
“Relationships can be built in different ways. Some people make an eternity seem like an instant, others make a minute seem like an unbearable eternity.”
Jess understood the hint.
“I hope we will not tire and annoy each other.”
“What about cheating?”
The question was very blunt and acute. Jess gritted his teeth but restrained himself. It was his own fault.
“I won’t,” the earl said calmly. “There is no need. Any woman looks ugly next to you.”
“Lady Wells would say otherwise. She made several attempts to kill me.”
Lilian rose from her seat and paced around the room.
“I don’t blame you for what happened. Let’s admit, I was nervous before the wedding, and I wasn’t myself. After the wedding, everything started to go wrong. It happened so quickly! It was hardly possible to find attractive the woman who was just a piece of meat. As for reason, mine was marred by datura. What about now? You had a mistress, and I don't want to be a part of your love triangle.”
“Calm down,” Jerisson almost forced the woman into a chair. “If you understand everything yourself, please don’t. Why would I need a lover if I have such a beauty at home?”
Lily squinted.
“A beautiful woman who should wipe away a crystal tear and fall into your arms?”
The irony in the melodious voice surprised Jerisson. What’s wrong? We’re married, I'm attractive, and she’s attractive. Why waste time?
There was so much offense in Lily’s voice that Jerisson unwillingly smiled to himself. Women are so strange! They can forgive anything except being with another woman.
“There will be no more women.” Jerisson did not even doubt the power of his charm. Lily, who had started to cut through her husband’s character, did not even think to put pressure on him. She was suffering. She already realized that any attempt to put pressure on her husband would end à la the Stone Age—hitting a woman with a bat on the head and pulling her to bed. She didn’t want to get into the same bed with Jess. Not just yet. The earl is terribly attractive. One should give him that. So what? I will show him how to run after his own wife!
Love? Lord, what are you on about? If Jerisson Earton takes me for Lilian, I passed the test. There will be no suspicions on account of my identity. If not, they might kill me. If I reject the earl, he will definitely start a wave of unpleasant questions, suspicions, reproaches…
Lily realized well that the Crown protected her only because she made a lot of effort for it, and the king favored her because she treated him. Second, her artisans could pose serious competition for the guilds. Everyone had begun to realize it. The king gradually realized it. Before, Edward hadn’t had an alternative. But now he had an opportunity to crush the guilds. Why not use it? He would agree to a treaty with Maldonaya, not to mention with Lilian Earton.
“How many women have you been with apart from me? Every second lady grins after I pass.”
“Forget them.”
“Do you think it’s that easy?”
After about twenty minutes, the spouses agreed they should attend court together more often to make everyone shut their mouths. Jerisson swore he wouldn't run after every lady. Lily looked at him with disbelief but acted out something like Tatiana Larina from Pushkin. Onegin, I was younger then, and it seems like I was better, I used to love you. Lilian did say something that sounded like a love declaration. She described her sufferings after she came to her senses. The child is lost, the castle is destroyed, the husband started going from woman to woman. I loved you, I suffered, how could you have caused me so much pain? Tears streamed down her cheeks. Men shouldn't believe women’s tears if they aren't from cutting an onion. Any woman can cry on request. If not, she’s a man in disguise.
Yet, Jerisson relaxed. Everything fit into his scheme—a weak woman, a fragile creature, nerves, jealousy. The thought of her production didn’t occur to him once. Production? So what? The earl couldn't take a woman seriously. He doesn’t perceive me as a real owner of the business.
“—Taral castle was in ruins, I did everything I could, but then my father sent a governor who sorted everything out—”
“—Production? Father helped. He sent me his people. Taris Brock is his trusted person—”
“Doctors? I found them by accident. If they had been around earlier, our child would have stayed alive. Our poor child! Will you ever forgive me for his death? If only the medicus Craybey hadn’t poisoned me when you were away—”
“—What! The Virmans? Father helped them with the ships. When he found out about what happened—”
“—I couldn’t hope for your protection, you were so busy! Your guards did a good job—”
“—The Khangans? My friendship with them is purely accidental. I was looking for the best doctor to make sure that the thing with Craybey doesn’t happen again.”
Lily carefully studied Jerisson. The earl didn’t think it necessary to hide his emotions. Therefore, it was easy to guess what to say. He would've done otherwise had he expected a trick, had he taken women seriously. What’s the easiest way to put any person off guard? One should say what’s expected of him. Lily simply credited her father for her own success. It convinced Jerisson that Lilian didn’t have a lover. A father had the right to help his daughter, especially when her husband was away.
***
Lilian’s sophisticated perfidy did not occur to Jess. It was not unusual. Every representative of the stronger sex was firmly convinced that a woman was a tender, fragile creature. It was hard to explain to men that this tender creature could stop a horse with only her gaze. The gentle creature woke up at five in the morning to make breakfast and feed her husband, get him ready for work, feed her children, get them ready and take them to school. She went to work, went grocery shopping during her lunch break, rushed home after work, and the scenario went round in circles: dinner, husband, children, homework, mother in law, husband, washing, cleaning, cooking. If a decent horse followed such a schedule, it would have been exhausted long ago. Women, though, ran around in this manner year in and year out.
Lily sobbed, showing her weakness. She talked about her broken heart. Jerisson comforted her. He didn’t put pressure on her just yet. He was of the opinion that any woman could be pulled into bed. It wasn’t worth rushing. He never raped women; they themselves jumped into his bed. Jess wasn’t going to become a rapist. A little earlier, a little later, she’d eventually give in and fall into his arms.
He had in front of him a stranger; he didn’t know this new Lilian. If only I knew what she’s like…
Jerisson asked himself questions. How would I have behaved if I had seen this Lilian at the wedding? I would have definitely not gotten that drunk. I also wouldn't have sent her away into the wilderness.
Jess was angry at himself and at his wife. Lilian gave Jess nothing he could use against her. She did reproach him, but only with her tears. There was no malice and no anger. She didn’t shout “scoundrel!”
Instead, she said, “I suffered so much, I wanted to die, you did not write to me at all.”
The complaints were similar in nature but very different in form. Lilian balanced on a very thin line. If he put too much pressure, she would explode; if he didn’t put enough, he risked remaining on a long leash. He took every step almost blindfolded; every move was like walking on ice. It was scary, but he had no choice.
Lilian didn’t get a chance to continue her play-acting. Someone tapped at the door (as much as a Virman managed to tap).
It was Olaf. “My Lady, you wished to go to the aldon today. He will be waiting for you.”
Jerisson flashed his e
yes, but that was like bananas to an elephant. The woman grabbed her head.
“Oh, Aldonai! I’ll make everyone wait! My Lord, my dear husband, I need to run.”
“Can I keep you company?” The earl didn’t expect to be rejected, and rightly so.
“Of course. I have no doubt that Aldon Roman will be happy to see you. He already tried to speak to me about our family life.”
***
Lily hastily pulled a mirror out of her purse, looked into it, wiped away her tears, and blew her nose. A little breeze will make my face look brand new! Although she was a blonde, she was lucky to have thick skin. Some women couldn’t allow themselves to cry. After five minutes of crying, their thin skin would look terrible. Lilian had smooth, thick skin, and in some twenty minutes, there would be no trace of her recent performance. Or maybe it’s due to the better environment? Oh, never mind! After the mention of family values, her husband evidently changed his mind. He followed his wife with his eyes and went to deal with the Virmans.
***
Lily warmed up her horse, leaning against his disheveled mane. Lidarh raced with the wind, but that didn’t dispel Lily’s disquieting troubles. She thought about the earl. Jerisson was definitely leaning toward closeness. Am I ready for it? A ghost of memory came over Lily.
She saw herself as Aliya Skorolenok at sixteen. Alex Satin was an army conscript, a couple of years older. Later, they would study together. Back then, they were still two young children who sledded down the hill together with joyful laughter. He was on his army leave, she had school holidays, and they were both happy together. Pine trees swung over their heads, the snow rose like a silver blanket. Their eyes shone. The sleds slowed down as they looked each other in the eyes with the brightest look of love. This radiance of love that is described in novels, plays, and movies, is different in reality. You look at someone and see your life in them. It’s empty, dark and cold without them—nothing less. This is what happened with her and Alex. As for Jerisson, is it possible to reignite the fire of love? Lily didn’t know. Deep down, the splinters of the first Lilian moaned and whined. Try it, see what happens! Maybe it will work out! Lily wasn’t sure. Miranda was her only bridge over the abyss. She loved both Lily and Jess. They both loved their daughter. Maybe it’s worth trying for her sake?
The Price of Happiness: A Strong Woman in the Middle Ages (A Medieval Tale Book 5) Page 23
