“... Why can’t she see him again?”

“Because apparently that woman, Mrs. Ashowan? Is his mother!”

“Oh, Gods… wait, why does Mr. Wit have a different last name?”

“Perhaps he is a bastard?”

The maids that had convened to discuss their Mistress’ bad mood shot Raymond scathing looks for his crude suggestion.

“He isn’t a bastard.” Clara entered the kitchen with a sigh. She had just delivered the cup of coffee to the Viscountess who was having a great deal of trouble getting out of bed that morning. Whether or not it was because she was hoping to avoid a certain guest was debatable…

“The Viscountess is acting in everyone’s best interest keeping her… Mr. Wit’s, identity a secret. Or have you already forgotten that there is the much bigger issue of a spy amongst us?”

The staff looked properly chastened as they each swiftly recalled the fact that they had spent most of the morning being questioned by the King’s Knights. Lady Jenoure meanwhile, had remained fast asleep well into the day, and had only stirred past the luncheon hour when Clara had gone in with a cup of coffee.

“Raymond, I came in here to inquire what you will be making our guest for lunch.” The woman moved her icy blue eyes to the burly cook who was in the process of shifting his great weight back and forth on each foot.

“I was thinking of preparing some sandwiches,” he muttered, when he suddenly lifted his gaze. “Wait! Mrs. Ashowan… isn’t that the last name of the castle cook?! Is Mr. Wit actually that cook that everyone is-”

“That makes so much sense!” One of the younger maids burst out as she spun around to continue gossiping with the cook.

Clara closed her eyes and sighed. In all fairness, it was rather surprising they hadn’t figured it out sooner…

“Raymond. Please prepare lunch for our guest.”

Without another word, the maid swept out of the kitchen and headed back towards the front entrance where a Knight was awaiting the Lady Jenoure with an official summons from the King.

Ideally, the Viscountess had finally managed to prepare herself for another long day.

Clara had just stepped foot in the entrance way when Annika came barrelling down the stairs, her hair not yet adorned with any of the customary finery for a meeting with the King, her purple skirts with fine gold embroidery hiked up in her hands.

“My Lady! What is the matter-” the Knight who had come as a messenger asked while placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“No time, get in the carriage! Go! Go! Go! Clara hurry!” the Viscountess gasped as she sprinted past the Knight, showcasing impressive agility for a noblewoman.

Both the Knight and Clara stared at each other for a brief moment before turning to stare at the top of the stairs where no one appeared, further deepening both their suspicions and concerns.

By the time the Knight had mounted his steed at the front of Lady Jenoure’s carriage horses, he was shaking his head wondering if the woman was ill.

Clara stared at her mistress who had plastered herself against the wall of the carriage and fixed her eyes out over the water. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she tried to quiet her breathing.

“What… happened?” Clara asked, openly bewildered.

“Fin’s mother,” Annika breathed quietly as though the healer was standing right outside their carriage.

“What about her? I know the woman isn’t necessarily fond of you just yet, but did she threaten you or-”

“She was waiting for me outside of my chamber and wanted to talk… then… she wanted…” Annika let out a small breath of relief when the carriage jolted into movement.

“What did she want? I’m at the edge of the seat here.”

“She wanted to… hug.”

Clara stared at her Mistress and waited for an elaboration on the strange conclusion to her explanation. None came, and when it dawned on the maid that it was the fact that Mrs. Ashowan was what one could call motherly at times… Clara burst out laughing. A worsening habit of hers since Annika’s relationship with the cook first started.

“She hugs everyone, yes. I thought you would’ve known this about her nature.”

Annika gradually relaxed into the seat of the carriage, and dabbed at the sweat on her brow using the back of her sleeve.

“I knew her to be an affectionate woman, but… I thought she wouldn’t demand it of a person! Good grief Fin was bashful just brushing my skin for months and-” The Viscoutness abruptly stopped talking when she noticed the amused smile on her maid’s face. “One day you are going to fall in love and I am going to find great joy in tormenting you,” Annika declared through slitted eyes.

“Hopefully by then you and Mr. Ashowan will have wed, and you’ll be too busy to pay me much mind.”

Annika’s expression indicated that the entire world could be on fire and she would make sure that Clara would experience the same treatment she was being given.

“I understand you are not… a warm person,” Clara began, a smile already working its way up her face. “But did you physically run away from the woman who is set to be your in-law when she wanted to hug you?”

“A maid walked by fortunately, and I said that she was summoning me for the impatient Knight in the entryway. Even so, I’m sure it left yet another negative impression of me to her.”

Clara continued laughing as Annika resumed staring out the window, her eyes lost in thought as the carriage pulled her towards the castle.

“It’s a good thing Mr. Ashowan has been away from the estate lately,” Clara announced suddenly while staring at the Viscountess closely.

Annika’s gaze cut back to her maid and frowned. “Don’t worry, I’ll manage this. I’ve overcome everything in my life thus far.”

Clara’s lips pursed as she stopped herself from saying a great deal many opposing thoughts. Instead, after a moment of silence, the maid settled on a single barb.

“I still can’t believe you hiked up your skirts in front of his mother and literally bolted. That’s the fastest I’ve seen you move since-”

“Clara, shut up.” With a sigh, Annika closed her eyes and did her best to ignore her maid’s snickers on the opposite end of the carriage. The Viscountess could already tell that despite the late start to her day, it was going to be a long one.

*

“Mr. Ashowan, my boy! Just the fellow I was hoping to see!” Lord Fuks called out, nearly making Fin jump out of his skin. The redhead had just walked Hannah to the barracks to have her interview with the Captain, when the Lord had appeared at the castle’s West entrance.

When the witch turned around and revealed the dark bags under his eyes the Earl tsked, and continued his journey over to him with a small spring in his step.

“I trust you have already completed the preparations for the dinner feast this evening?” Lord Fuks clasped his hand on Fin’s shoulder, a mischievous smile on his face.

The cook blinked slowly down at the man. It was obvious that he hadn’t slept properly, and while standing under the hot August sun, he was in danger of keeling over at any moment.

“I have… it will be a feast of cold meats, fresh bread, and fruits. It is too warm for there to be a hot dish…”

The Earl had already begun ushering Fin back into the cool shelter of the castle away from the sun. Though dark clouds were beginning to roll in from the east, indicating a storm was coming.

“Wonderful, sounds delicious… now, do you remember how you owe me a debt of servitude from when you insolently laughed at my name?” Fin stopped in his tracks and faced the man with obvious mortification.

“It seems you do, how splendid. I’d hate to have to call physician Durand and Mr. Howard here as eyewitnesses of our first meeting.” The Lord reached up and idly brushed off some flour from the cook’s tunic.

“What… is it you want Lord Fuks?” Fin asked slowly.

“Well, you see… I have a great deal of questions regarding you and your betrothed. It is the type of story I normally would like to hear while sharing a good bottle of whiskey, but ah… thanks to yourself I can no longer drink more than a glass.”

“Lord Fuks… you want me to… tell you about… my future wife and my relationship and… have a drink for my punishment?”

“I said I would also have a drink. Even physician Durand says very rarely one should be perfectly fine. You on the other hand are quite entertaining while drinking, and I think you being responsible for the rest of the whiskey will be just the ticket to perking up these dismally stressful times.” As he spoke, Lord Fuks grabbed Fin by the arm and began pulling him further down the castle corridor. “Mr. Helmer is visiting Lord Piereva today, so we don’t have to worry about running into his nasty arse.”

Fin finally had the presence of mind to stop being literally pulled along, and faced the elder who was looking a little too delighted with himself.

“Lord Fuks, I have work that needs to be completed, and we are trying to find out… important information. I do not think drinking before it is even the dinner hour and discussing my relationship is what we should be-”

“I could always bring up to the King how rude you were the first day we met. Of course I don’t think he is particularly fond of you after last night…”

Fin sighed and rubbed the back of his neck wearily. The old bastard was too cunning for his own good.

“If I can at least see that dinner is delivered, I-”

“You already said the dinner is ready! You had to finish early because your aides are being questioned. Now, I will have a bottle sent to them to enjoy as well to make up for your absence. How’s that sound, hm? Onwards, Mr. Ashowan!”

The short Earl with his wispy white hair in his glaringly bright red tunic waved his finger in the air, and continued marching towards the north end of the castle. Fin sluggishly began to wonder if the man was a spy himself, leveraging him for information, or if he were perhaps crazier than he initially realized.

*

Annika’s face bore its usual mask of indifference as she left the Princess’ chamber with Clara and physician Durand at her side.

“Her majesty seems to be recovering well,” the Viscountess announced as a pair of noblewomen passed her and immediately began whispering behind their hands to each other.

“She is indeed. It is Mrs. Ashowan we have to thank for her still being here with us,” Physician Durand admitted with a smile. “I hope you are faring well with these new dilemmas surrounding your brothers, Lady Jenoure.”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness.” Annika bowed her head to the man as they walked away from the nursery and neared the staircase where they would undoubtedly have to part. The smell of wet earth had filled the castle during dinner when the storm had broken out, barring the Viscoutness from returning to her estate. Instead, after meeting with the King to discuss further details of her staff members, she had filled her time with catching up with Ainsley. A great blessing indeed.

Once at the stairwell, both Physician Durand and she began to bid their farewell to each other, when a sudden commotion rang out in the corridor.

Turning around swiftly, both the physician and Annika were stunned to see none other than Fin being hauled out of the council room by Mr. Howard and the Captain…

Annika straightened her shoulders in alarm when she started to make out the things he was saying…

“Of course mage Lee can’t unlock a door I lock! It’s...It’s my door!” The redhead’s speech was heavily slurred as the pair tried to manage the cook down the hall towards the servant’s stairwell.

Physician Durand stepped forward blocking Annika from view.

“Gentlemen, Lady Viscountess is here, perhaps we save her having to bear witness to such an indelicate sight.”

“What? Why is she still here?!” Mr. Howard hissed conspiratorially to the Captain.

With a frown, Annika stepped out from behind the physician and gave both Antonio and the King’s assistant a steely glare.

“What in the world is going on here?”

Fin’s head rolled forward, his blue eyes blearily landing on the Viscountess. “It’s you-!”

Mr. Howard slapped his hand over Fin’s mouth in an instant while Captain Antonio had the decency to look apologetic.

“Forgive us, Lady Jenoure, his majesty specifically requested Mr. Ashowan to undergo… a different type of questioning to help make…” The Captain glanced at Physician Durand briefly before continuing. “Decisions regarding Mr. Ashowan’s future career.”

“He’s drunk!” Annika snapped angrily. “What in the world could his majesty be thinking?”

“Aye… well… Lord Fuks suggested it, and then well…”

“ARGH!” Mr. Howard suddenly snapped his hand back from Fin’s mouth. “This newt with a bull’s brain just bit me!”

“Didyouknow everyone thinks you’re beautiful?” Fin asked her with a teasing, drunken grin towards Annika. “They’re not wrong, but I think you are-”

Both the Captain and Mr. Howard managed to slap their hands over the witch’s mouth at the exact same time, then immediately bowed while forcing Fin to do the same.

“Pardon us, Viscountess. Mr. Ashowan had a few debts he needed to pay… We will be off now.”

As they continued dragging Fin further down the corridor towards the servant’s stairwell around the corner, Lady Jenoure stared after the three men with clenched fists. She was fighting the urge to demand just what the hell they thought were doing to her fiance…

“WHERE’S KRAKEN?! HE’S SO SOFT! HAVE YOU EVER PET HIM?” The very excitable remark made by the cook echoed back up the corridor to Annika who winced and suppressed a groan.

‘Why must he be so terrible at hiding his nonsense? I bet he didn’t even think why they wanted him to drink just like at Mathilda’s. The fool is going to be the death of me…’

As she turned back around, Physician Durand wore an amused smile though his eyes were remorseful.

“I apologize you had to witness such a scene. Be sure to take good care of yourself, and… avoid unnecessary risks, Viscountess.” The man bowed again, and with another reassuring smile took his leave and began descending the stairs.

With a small huff, Annika turned back, stared off after Fin for another moment.

Occasionally she could hear the odd shout, or… singing?

Gods. Was he drunkenly singing?

Why was he not more guarded? A war was on the horizon, his father was present and trying to harm him and… and…

Closing her eyes, and taking a deep steadying breath, Annika’s heart skipped a beat when she slowly raised a hand to her abdomen.

‘Man that I love… man of my dreams… father of my unborn child… we better convince the King to get married soon... ’