Chapter 2

"Vaidehi." Cool, baritone voice echoed in her ears.

Burly hands were splayed wide across her skin; one encircling her waist and the other grabbing her forearm. The heat from his hefty body warmed her up, the effect of winter breeze paling in front of it. And like the pink flowers wilt away to bow in the honor of sweet cherries in the early winters, her pink cheeks too bloomed scarlet.

Surprise, confusion, embarrassment and a million other emotions flooded Vaidehi. Her erratic heart thumped against the cage.

She pushed her hands against his chest, hoping to shove him away.

He did not move an inch, however. Dark brows drawn together, he said, "Oh —" Slowly, he unwound his arms around her, stormy blue eyes cautious, "—do not mind me."

No sooner did his arms fall back to his side, Vaidehi skittered away from him.

Whether it was her mind playing tricks with her or maybe it was the truth; but Vaidehi could have sworn at Augustus appeared completely different from what she recalled him to be like in her memories. Gone was any sense of softness in him. He had somehow grown sturdier. The long dark green overcoat he wore hugged his body like a serpent coils itself around the sandalwood. His eyes were now a darker hue of blue. The scar on the left side of his face was more prominent and intense. He was more daunting and intense than he had ever been.

Five years on the battlefield would do that to anyone.

But what was he doing here?

"Let me escort you to your carriage." He offered, breaking the chain of her thoughts.

"I would be fine, thank you." Vaidehi ducked her head down, pulling the shawl around her shoulder closer, conscious of the prying eyes. They were watching the two. For sure, there would be gossip. The high society must have found their favourite topic to discuss at tea time by now.

He took a step closer and offered her his hand anyway.

Vaidehi contemplated. She bit her lip, unwilling; but it was rude to refuse an extended hand. Then Mrs Merlo screeched her name from behind, which fuelled her to leap without looking.

"Thank you, you are much too kind." She rushed and grabbed his extended hand. Gloved hands engulfed her naked ones. Heat surged through her at the contact.

"But a trifle, my Lady." He replied as they walked to her carriage.

"Do you fare well, Lady Merlo?" He asked after a moment.

Vaidehi paused. Wondered to whom this 'Lady. Merlo' was addressed to. For him, ever since they met by the grave of an old socialite, she was either Vaidehi or the ward of Count Gregory Merlo and Countess Josephine Merlo.

Then it struck her. She was a married woman. Daughter-in-law of the former Duke, Oswald Merlo. Married to the late Duke of Northern Estate, Bernard Merlo. And widowed the same night of the marriage.

The urge to snatch her hand out of his strengthed in her core. To glare at him and march away. God knows how much she resisted kicking him in the shin for daring to call her that.

Was she repulsed?

Yes.

Was she shattered?

Yes.

Was she rightfully so?

No.

It was her truth. As much as she abhorred hearing it, especially from him, it would remain that till the end.

So she endured. Looked up at him. Not quite having the courage to meet his blank gaze, so she watched the tip of his black peaked cap. And since for him, she was not Vaidehi anymore, she found it only fitting not to address him by 'Augustus' either.

"Yes, sir." She smiled at him and promptly looked away, her free hand fidgeting with her saree.

He helped her climb into the carriage, another 'careful' slipping out of his mouth. When the doors of the carriage closed behind her, she refused to look outside. Her gaze remained fixed on her drape, her nails picking at the stray thread on its embroidery. The sky soon started to pour, but she could not remember much how she got home.

Dazed and dizzy, she climbed the stairs to her room and bolted the door from inside.

"Good heavens," she muttered, "What was that?"

With her back against the door, she sat on the floor.

Augustus was here. Back from the battlefield.

"How come there is no news about it!" She talked to herself in exasperation and stood up. Opening the door, she rushed to her study. There, in the leftmost corner, there was a table with a pile of newspapers. She sat down cross legged in front of it to ferret out any news she might have missed reading in the past few days.

The rain had finally ceased and stars twinkled up in the sky. Moon also found its way beside them but Vaidehi found nothing.

That is how her head maid found her. Lying on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling, with newspapers strewn over all across the room.

"My lady?" Mandy called out. She stepped in as Vaidehi sat up and turned towards her. Walking closer, she gave her the cup of tea she had brewed.

"I appreciate this so much, Mandy. I can't thank you enough." Vaidehi smiled at her, taking a sip of the tea.

"It's my duty, my lady." Mandy smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"I am fine."

Mandy frowned and thinned her lips.

"Would you like me to bring your dinner upstairs, my lady?"

"I am not hungry." Vaidehi tucked the few errant strands of her hair behind her ear. "But Mandy, can you please bring me any newspapers that you might find in the house?"

"Noted, my lady. I will see to it right away. And I will still prepare some soup. If you wish, please tell me and I will bring it to you."

"That would be very kind of you."

Mandy stood up and left. Soon, she came back with another bunch of paper. Vaidehi resumed searching for any article that said anything about his return.

The articles she found said nothing on his return, but yes, all of them depicted how the war waged on Arthon kingdom has become ravenous beyond measures and is swallowing too many lives on both sides.

The royal army of Neopatrad, under the command of Prince Heathrow, along with the army of Jaroslav, the Warlord, were fighting tooth and nail against the Arthon kingdom and their allies. Hundreds of civilians and soldiers died every day.

Candles burned and extinguished one by one, but not one article ever mentioned Augustus. The clock struck 2 in the morning and Vaidehi's eyes burned. Her jaw was stiff and she cracked her neck and knuckles.

"Commander-in-chief, the right hand man of the Warlord and not a single news of him. Incredulous. The journalists are doing such a lousy job." Vaidehi grumbled and collected the newspapers to pile them. Then dressed into her night dress and lied down on the bed.

But the night was a torturous affair and sleep its faithful mistress. Vaidehi tossed and turned. She pulled the blanket close to her chest, and snuggled to it. Taking a sigh, she pulled it over her head. After a minute, it became too stuffy for her so pushed it away from her face. Pulling at the collar of her dress, she turned to lie on her side.

Her mind replayed the interaction of afternoon and she groaned at the memory, remembering how she had reacted. Shoving him and stuttering, akin to a fool. She pulled a pillow against her face and screamed into it.

A fool. That's what she had made out of herself. But it was not something knew. She tended to do so in front of him, more often she would like to admit.

With a thick layer of leather gloves between them, when he had offered his clothed palm for her to hold onto, she wondered if his fingertips would trace her veins. If they would know how her heart is racing and pulsating beneath her dusky skin.

On her stomach, Vaidehi laid anxious and distraught.

"This won't do." She got up with a heavy sigh.

Getting out of her bed, she sat on her chair.

"What now?" She muttered. Then stood up again. She picked up a bottle of hair oil and a wide-toothed comb from her nightstand. Untying the black ribbon that held her braid, she combed and oiled her hair. She almost gave it up half way.

Groaning, she got up, roughly braiding her hair and tying them ruthlessly as if strangling them in a fit of rage.

The clock struck 4 in the morning. Vaidehi sat at the edge of her bed. Rubbed her face and held her head in hands. It was time to wake up and she was yet to sleep a wink.

Shaking her head, she headed to take a bath.