I had just decided to announce myself so that she would know she was not alone when she trilled in a quavering wail, reaching forward to grasp something I could not see. She cried out, her body spasming, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away, no matter how dearly I longed to.
“Oh, my lord!” she cried. “Your Grace!”
I felt the color begin to drain from my cheeks even before I saw him. The lady moved, ever so slightly, to give me a good view of my husband kneeling on the floor, placed right between her thighs. I was unable to stop the gasp that rose to my throat, and when the lady spun around I saw that she was indeed a whore, the whore called Anne Clover, who was employed by my husband to clean the chamber pots, and yet apparently did so much more.
“Dear Mother of God,” I murmured to myself, my hand flying to my breast. I felt faint.
“Y-your ladyship!” Anne squeaked, her hands flying to her breasts in an attempt to disguise her nakedness, as though I hadn’t already seen all that there was to see.
“Cecily? What the devil?” Wallace demanded, sounding annoyed as though I’d just spoiled his fun. And it would appear that I had indeed.
“I… forgive me,” I murmured, my cheeks flaming with shame. “I… I did not know you were in here.” I turned to take my leave and had even taken a step forward when it occurred to me: it wastheywho should be ashamed, not me. What did I have to apologize for? Wallace was my husband and had just been caught in the act of betraying me, yet he seemed to feel nothing toward me whatsoever. And Anne Clover! The little whore should be blushing to the roots of her hair and running for the chapel to confess her immeasurable sin!
When I turned back around, Wallace arched an eyebrow, clearly impatient to get back to his sport.
“Have you nothing to say to me?”
He seemed surprised—whether by the fact that I’d addressed him at all, or the biting tone I used, I could not say. “What is it you would like me to say? Good-bye?”
“I am carrying your child, in case it’s slipped your mind, Your Grace.”
“So might she be,” he replied, nodding toward Anne and chuckling at his remark.
My lips curled in disgust and I clenched my fists at my sides. “I want her sent from court.” Anne Clover turned toward me with a gasp, her eyes wide as her face paled. I did not so much as spare her a glance.
Wallace did not answer right away and instead took his time standing up. I glanced away when I realized that he was not wearing trousers. “Oh, you do, do you? And do you command at Württemberg Castle now, my lady?”
“I am your wife, I—”
“That’s right. My wife,notmy ruler. It is I who command here, Cecily, and I say that the lady stays.”
“Then I shall leave,” I declared, turning away and beginning to stride from the room. I’d nearly made it to the door when I felt my arm being seized. With hard, grasping fingers, Wallace turned me to face him, shaking me like a rag doll.
“You take your leave when I command it and not before. Don’t ever forget it, Cecily.”
“I am not a prisoner here.” I glared at him defiantly, jutting out my jaw.
“No, you are not that. You are my dog—you will obey my every order, or be kicked until I can bring you to heel. Shall I offer you a demonstration?” He raised his hand back and I couldn’t help cowering at the wild look in his eyes. I knew that he would not hesitate to strike me.
“Please, Wallace…”
Seeing the fear in my face must have pleased him, because he lowered his arm almost at once. “I thought not. You have my permission to withdraw.”
* * *
When I felt myself being shaken, I awoke with a start.
“Shh, it’s alright. Nothing is going to hurt you.”
I blinked rapidly, trying to gather my bearings. When I saw Antony staring at me, I relaxed the slightest bit.
“Are you unwell?”
“I…” I sat up slowly, trying to recover from the surprise of being startled awake.
“You were crying out,” he said by way of explanation. “You sounded… I was worried, so I woke you.”
I couldn’t help but be touched by the concern in his expression and I offered a small smile. “No cause to be alarmed. I must have been dreaming.” Though, truth be told, it had been more of a remembrance, but I didn’t see the need to tell him that.
