The last days of fall dragged by slowly. A new nip in the air encouraged people to add another layer before going out. Lord Montague, bored of the company of his wife and daughter, was often out, leaving the two of them alone at the castle for hours, sometimes overnight. Sofia barely noticed her father’s absence as she was so caught up in her own somewhat illicit affairs. She was often out for hours and once didn’t come home until the wee hours of the morning. Lady Montague on the other hand noticed his absence and was quite relieved by it. She often found herself dining alone and though she missed her daughters company, it felt good to have some time to herself. Also she had missed her courses two months in a now and she knew without a doubt she was once again with child. She of course feared for her life and the life of her child and prayed her husband would stay his hand so that she may have a chance to deliver a healthy son. For the most part she kept quite about the news, not wanting to draw any undue attention to herself.

Her silence was rewarded by her husbands continued indifference. He would wake early, have breakfast then depart to handle some mysterious business. Lady Montague suspected he was paying regular visits to the new tavern or specifically the women of leisure who resided above it. She of course felt no jealousy, only mild irritation and disgust. She prayed he stayed away, she was afraid she would catch something should he venture to her bed again.

With nothing to do in her husband’s absence, Lady Montague took up a hobby. She ventured into the kitchens one day and befriended the new cook who was happy to regal her with stories of the many households she served. Lady Montague was sure the woman was a teller of tales as she couldn’t be much older then she herself was and the experiences would have to have been had since birth. Still she had nothing else to do but listen. She also found herself assisting the woman in the preparation of the meals. It was hard work but she found some delight in it and thought she would like to cook more often.

Her other past time of late is somewhat more secretive then the first. Having received no satisfactory answer to her question on the morning she confronted her daughter, she has made it her mission to discover what secrets she is hiding.

With so much time on her hands she would have thought it quite easy, but Sofia could be very sneaky when it warranted and so Lady Montague was having no luck in that department. Until, Sofia slipped up.

The summer was meant for romance, Sofia thought as she filled Shakespeare’s food dish. She smiled as she watched the parrot crack a seed open and scoop out the treat with its dark tongue. She sighed softly and went to gaze out of the window. She didn’t know when it had happened, but she felt she may be a little bit in love. She knew her mother would not approve of her actions. She would in fact, be downright horrified. The thought made her giggle. Her mother didn’t often get angry and so the picture was amusing to her, but then came the nasty thought of her father’s wrath. She was his favored child she knew. But if she should cause any scandal, anything to mire their longstanding family name, she felt he would beat her to within an inch of her life. She frowned and bit her lip in nervousness. The thrill of being with Lewen was like a drug to her, but it would have it’s consequences should her parents find out. She would just have to make sure they never did. But how long could they continue to sneak around. Eventually she would have to marry and then what? Or perhaps Lewen would get tired of her. A soft knot formed in her belly at the thought.

She continued to gaze out the window, at first seeing nothing but dark shadows. It was so very late. Would he come tonight? Normally she would go to his estate, but her father was home tonight and she felt it prudent to stay in. He and her mother had retired an hour ago though and now she waited to see if her lover would come. She watched for an hour and just when she thought he would not come, she saw a dark shadow moving up the walk. She grinned and ran into the hall only to stop short as one of the servants answered the light tap upon the door. She gasped softly and slipped into the prayer room, a room used most often by her mother when she could not make it to church when she was ill, which lately had been often. It smelled of fresh lye and human sick, as if someone had been ill and the servants had cleaned up. She smirked as she thought this. Perhaps her mother was with child again. She filed that information away for future reference. The door shut and she peered out to see the servant going back to the kitchen. He of course hadn’t seen anyone on the other side of the door. It was there code. He would knock then she would knock back to let him know it was her. When the servant opened the door without knocking he had hidden in the bushes. She stifled a giggle at the thought.

Making sure the way was clear she ran into the hall and knocked softly on the door. At his answering knock she pulled it open a crack and he slipped quietly inside. Taking his hand she pulled him into the prayer room, not seeing the servant watching from the shadows of the back hall.

She threw her arms around him and kissed him, her body pressing familiarly against his. “I was worried you wouldn’t come.” She said her eyes searching his. She frowned when he looked away. Taking a step back she watched him as he looked around the room. “What is it? What’s wrong?” she asked. He took a deep breath and finally looked at her. “I think it time we end this affair.”

She looked at him her eyes confused. “W…why? Is something wrong? D…did you find someone else…?” she felt her stomach clench and she pressed a hand to it.

He sighed. He’d known this was going to be hard. He’d known for some time now that her feelings for him had deepened. He should have ended it then, he was not new to this. But she was. He’d known it a mistake to start anything. And now he had the shadow of her father’s wrath hanging over his head should she he find out. He looked at her closely; she looked stunned, her big innocent eyes shimmering with tears. He felt his heart ache and he frowned. Since when did his heart get involved.

He gently caressed her face and watched as her eyes closed and she moved into his touch. Yes he definitely had to break it off, for both their sakes. “You are so beautiful.” He said and she opened her eyes to look at him. “You deserve better.” He pulled his hand away but she caught it in both hers, holding it tightly. “Why now? Why did you not say, we should stop seeing each other weeks ago. Or even last night?” her questions were valid and he struggled for a moment before answering.

“How could I say no to you. You come to me, so sweet and soft. You kiss me and make me want you.” He smiled wistfully. “You make me want what I cannot have and what I do not deserve. You will wed some rich well to do lord, have his babies…and forget about me.” His jaw tightened and he again tried to pull his hand from her but she resisted. She knew he said he would never wed, but perhaps his feelings had changed. “You…you could marry me. I could have your babies. I would never forget about you.” She looked at him her eyes filled with an emotion she was yet afraid to give voice to.

He laughed.

She watched the amusement dance across his face in stunned silence finally allowing his hand to slip from hers.

He shook his head his mirth dying down. “I am not the marrying kind. I told you this from the start.” He watched as the realization that their affair was over hit her. She took a shaky step back and nodded, her eyes lowered. “Yes, you did say that. I only thought that perhaps…” she shook her head letting her words die out. She felt a sudden wave of nausea and she pressed a hand to her belly and turned away. “Perhaps you should go now. Before anyone sees you.” She said her voice low.

“Sofia I…” he began but she put up a hand to stop him. “Don’t, I have no regrets. I do not like to think that you do.” He nodded and bowing slightly he exited the room. She could hear the gentle closing of the door as he left the castle but she stood there, not wanting to witness his departure.

She stood there for a long while, her body still but her thoughts racing. She knew for a certainty that she was in love with him and now to know they would never be together, whether married or no made her feel lost and alone. She bit her lips trying not to cry out and she took a shaky step toward the door. The world spun and she paused, gasping softly. “Who turned down the lights…? she whispered softly before she fainted.

The resulting crash alerted the staff who were still up knowing the last member of the family was awake and awaiting her retirement for the evening. John reached her first and whispered hurriedly over his shoulder to the others. “It’s alright, it was only a candle holder that fell.” He blocked their view into the room and told them to turn in for the night. He waited until the last of them had departed before sprinting up the stairs to wake the Lady. She would want to be the first and perhaps only one to know.

He was of course right in his assumptions. She had set him to watching Sofia for the last few days and now he knew her secret. Lady Montague worriedly gazed at her daughter. John had made sure she was alright before coming to get her but she still looked to make sure she was alright. Except for a slight headache from here her head hit the hard stone floor she should be fine. She had John carry her up to her room and she looked around the small chapel while he did her bidding. There was nothing out of the ordinary to be found and she frowned in confusion wondering why her daughter would pass out so suddenly with no explanation. She sat and pondered this. The mystery surrounding her daughter seemed impenetrable to her.

She stood pacing back and forth her thoughts racing. She didn’t hear the door open or see John slip in and sit watching her. Turning she gave a startled gasp at his presence. “John, I didn’t hear you come in. How is Sofia.” She asked her worry evident.

“She is as good as to be expected my Lady. She will have a sore head come the morning I reckon.” He shrugged, looking down. Noting his disquiet she went and sat beside him. “This night has been eventful for you I take it.” She said.

He shrugged again, not looking at her. She smiled and shook her head. “John, you have something on your mind. What is it?” She watched, as he seemed to gather his thoughts. “The task you set me about my Lady?” he asked finally looking at her. She nodded indicating that he should continue. “Well, certain things have come to light and I feel I should, as per our agreement, inform you of the details.” Her eyes widened but she remained quiet waiting.

“I heard a soft scratching upon the door, and thinking perhaps it was a beggar come to plead I went to shoo them away. Upon opening it however; I found nothing there but air. So I of course locked up and left. But again I heard a tapping. I went to investigate but the Lady Sofia was at the portal letting someone in.” He took a breath and shrugged again, a habit it seemed he had when nervous. “I do not like to spy my Lady but knowing you had asked this task of me and seeing that this might be of some importance to you I hastened to the chamber door to listen.”

“I spied, I did, through the crack where door doesn’t quite reach wall.” He rubbed a hand across his nose and shrugged again. “Forgive me mum but I seen the Lady Sofia in an embrace with the Lord to whom you gave great hospitality to not this summers past.” Lady Montague frowned trying to understand all that he had said. “You mean to say, you saw Sofia with a man?” She looked slightly bewildered at his nod.

She’d had an inkling that it was something of this nature, but that she would be so brazen as to go beneath there own noses. Turning to the servant she asked, her voice low her expression serious. “And the lord you saw, he is someone who was here recently?”

“Aye mum, it was the one who come after the Royal wedding. The laughing one.”

His eyes were certain and she knew for a fact that he was being honest and true with her.

Nodding she smiled slightly and patted his hand. ”You’ve done quite well John. I hope I don’t need to ask you to please keep this information to yourself. It is imperative that no one know about this.” John nodded and shrugged again. “Of course mum, I will keep this to myself.”

“Good,” she patted his hand again. “You are dismissed, you may retire for the evening.” She waited until he had left and closed the door behind her before moving.

She got to her knees and prayed fervently for a long while. She had hoped something like this would never happen. She’d known Sofia was headstrong and passionate. But to ruin herself? What good could come of this? She prayed for guidance. When almost an hour had passed she stood and stretched tiredly. She worried about her daughter, more now then ever. And if she were to get with child. Why, the scandal! Her husband would be furious. And of course he’d take his anger out on her. Telling her she should have kept a closer watch on their daughter. She sighed tiredly and left the chapel making her way up the stairs to her chamber. She could hear the loud snores of her husband and was relieved he was still asleep.

Pausing outside the door she decided to check on Sofia. She entered the room quietly and stood over her daughter for a long moment, gazing down on her sleeping countenance. Her hair spilled over the pillow like a great black waterfall and Lady Montague could see dark circles beginning to form under her eyes. She didn’t like to think of her daughter in a negative light but knowing she may be the cause of more discontent within there small family made her feel slight resentment toward the sleeping beauty. She watched her daughter and noted that her face was flushed and she muttered something low in her sleep.

Madeleine leaned forward to better hear her and her eyes widened as she heard her daughter whisper the name of her lover. She was even now dreaming of him, the slut! The thought came unbidden to her mind and she quickly pushed it away. It seemed her daughters would do anything to escape the reality of there life here. Her thoughts briefly traveled to Maryanne and she wondered if she’d done her a disservice by marrying her off to Lord Vagel. She had known, though she of course made no mention of it, that Maryanne had fancied the merchants son. If circumstances were different, she might have begged a marriage between them. But she knew without a doubt her husband would refuse and most likely beat her for even suggesting it. She’d done what she had to get her daughter away from the monster that had sired her.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Sofia gave a low moaned and turned in her sleep, again whispering Lewens name. Madeleine sighed and smoothed her daughter’s brow, gently tucking her in. This only confirmed what the servant had said. Sofia was indeed having an affair with Lord Royson. This had to be stopped, if it was too late…

Lady Montague shook her head. She didn’t like to think what would happen if it were too late. But all the evidence seemed to show that it might be. Why would her daughter have passed out in the chapel so unexpectedly? She would have to question the staff, namely the chambermaid. She had to know for certain before going any further. She brushed a hand across her still flat belly. Her husband would know soon enough of her condition. She prayed she didn’t have to inform him that there daughter was in the same state. Perhaps some good would come of this she thought. Perhaps….another marriage. She stood for a few long moments more. Watching her daughter to insure she was alright before heading back to her bedchamber. Something had to be done, and quickly. And whether she liked it or not. Her husband would eventually have to be informed.