Page 80 of Tangwystle
Isabella rose from the sofa.
“There is a blanket,” she offered, not bothering to present me with a guest bedroom. Which was fair, seeing as in only a couple of hours I’d need to be up so I could be dragged to the Council.
And what I would do if I could just force the Council to understand how awful of a man Isabella Clinemell’s husband was.
twenty-two
The next morning,a sharp rap at the door jerked me awake. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and I found myself blinking at a surprisingly normal room. The furnishings were beautiful and understated; the room belonged to someone of wealth. But the sofa, large clock, and the easels set out with paint could have belonged to any woman, and not just Isabella Clinemell.
The knocking continued, but the crick in my neck delayed a response. The door swung open, and the stuffy, mustached man let out an aggrieved sigh.
“There is a carriage waiting for you downstairs,” he said, the drawl of his voice equal parts annoyed and bored. “The Council is convening early at the request of Master Clinemell.”
I shrugged off a blanket around my shoulders. I really hadn’t thought I’d fall asleep. It could have only been a few hours, but things seemed different. Yes, I’d known about the Council meeting, but something about the daylight threw me off.
An old lady, white haired and sagging with wrinkles, skittered around him. She deposited a large bowl of water and left without further comment.
The mustached man glanced at it and then glanced at me. Then he stepped out, closing the door firmly.
Forcing myself up, I did the best I could. I washed my face, scrubbing at my cheeks. Hoisting my dress up, I cleaned Baz’s dried cum from the night before off my thighs. I tried to fix my hair, the locks now messy and slept on.
I had no other dress besides the sleek ballgown I continued to wear.
Last night, it’d been a fever dream wearing something so decadent. Now, in the light of day, it was too much. But no one offered me anything other than the water to wash my face.
My stomach was empty and in a tangle of nerves. I didn’t have time to focus on it. I straightened my dress and tried to smooth out the wrinkles. I fixed my cloak, placed my slippers on my feet, and then opened the door.
I walked myself back to the servant’s stairwell. The white haired lady watched me walk down the stairs. I’ve no idea what she thought was going on, but her face showed nothing. I could have laughed at the way she acted like this was all par for the course.
The mustached man held the side door open for me. I found myself in the same courtyard where I had once seen Rufus spanking Gretel.
The horse and carriage were at the ready.
Of course, I wouldn’t be allowed to ride in the carriage. The older man helped me up, and I settled on the box beside the coachman. He offered a polite tip of the head, and then I hung on as the entire thing jerked to life.
I’d always walked into town. Just me and my basket. It occurred to me as people peered through their windows that I didn’t have on the black, pointed hat I’d long ago started to hide under.
“Easy,” the coachman told the horse as we neared. My knuckles were white by this point, and I sensed that’s why he kept repeating the word before we came to a complete stop.
I typically passed the Council building, made out of stone and with its steeple and stained-glass windows, without a further thought. It was a pretty building meant for men who made decisions because they thought they knew best.
And now that Council expected me to come in, nothing more than a ransom for another ill-behaved servant.
The carriage door swung open. Rufus didn’t bother to look at me as he got out of the coach and took the few steps up to the magnificent double doors that led inside.
He flung off his hat, his coat whipping with each motion he made. I thanked the coachman for helping me down and then scurried in only to stop myself a second later. With slower, measured movements, I followed, not making as much of a fuss. I’d been made to come here, but no one needed to see me wringing my hands together.
The architecture would have taken my breath away had I spent time paying attention. I followed down a hallway, toward another pair of open double doors.
My chest swelled when I spotted Gretel and Baz standing together.
Gretel noticed me immediately, her face not able to hide her feelings. Blonde brows met her hairline, and her throat bobbed as she swallowed. She had changed into fresh clothes, her simple black dress and coat giving her a somber appearance.
Baz cast an eye over me, but his face remained blank. I nodded slightly to let them know no hardship had come to me. Baz’s jaw clenched in response, still unhappy about my kidnapping.
I crept on the periphery of the edges. Most men barely glanced at me.
Now that Rufus had confirmation that Gretel hadn’t absconded in the night, and Baz stood before the council, he had little use for me.
