With child

Three weeks later.

I expected my monthly courses which were late by a week, but I have yet to see them.

Meanwhile, Sir Thompson is expected to arrive by the end of the week since the weather is uncertain. He wrote to Lady Beeborn, and she read the letter to us. The wives. I've been locked in this estate for weeks now, and I am not allowed to go out until he's back. 

 "Mrs Thompson, you sent for me," Maria said as soon as she entered the room. I was sitting by the windowsill staring at the green field through the window. 

The weather has been calm and quite breezy. It was spring anyway. 

 "Ava, are you all right?" Maria asked as she sat opposite me. She placed the back of her hand on my neck and shrieked. 

 "You are hot, your temperature," she said. "Shall I get a physician? I shall speak with Lady Beeborn right away," she rose to leave as I grabbed her arm. 

 "No. It is not the physician that I need, it is something else," I sighed as she sat back down gently. 

 "I am uneasy, Maria," I voiced out. "I haven't seen my monthly courses—"

She used her hand to cover my mouth instantly as her eyes widened. 

 "That is forbidden to say. You cannot say that, my mistress," she said, looking around despite us being alone in the room. The room that I had forcefully accepted to be mine. I took her hand from my mouth. 

 "Leave me be," I snapped. "I am… I am not… I'm quite confused now." I said. I was short of words. I've never been like this. How did I not figure this out much earlier? I debated it in my mind. 

 "How did this happen? I believe that you have never known a man before, Ava, so, how did this happen? Was it not all a means to annoy your parents when they asked about… your honor?" she asked. 

 "Do not speak to me about honor, Maria. I have lost the honor I had since birth. I have no honor, I never had." I countered tearfully. She looked around and veered to face me again. 

 "I am not trying to judge or anything related, but—"

 "What is my fate then? If have I missed my courses?" I innocently asked. 

She rubbed her neck shyly.

 "Is it … bad or forbidden?" I asked. 

 "Your mother, hasn't she discussed such personal matters with you?" she asked me. 

 "Mm. None. I would not ask if I had known. What does it mean, Maria?" my eyes widened. 

 "It means that you are with a child, my mistress, you are going to be a mother…" she forcefully said. 

 "No, no, no, no, Maria, I cannot be pregnant," I swore, moving away from her. I placed a hand over my head. Tears rolled down my cheek, I could not hold them back. She rose and stood next to me.

 "It is not that bad, it has never been bad to be a mother, Ava," she tried to calm me. 

 "Do not pacify me, it is bad," I complained. 

 "Okay, I understand. Can we at least sit? You should sit down…"

 "It is the least of my problems. How do I get it out? I can, right?"

 "No, you cannot. It is not a remedy either, Ava Rosette," she countered. 

 "Oh please," I snapped as I dropped to the edge of the bed. 

 "Who is the father? I mean, have you gotten intimate with someone recently?" she asked. How do I break it for her?

 "The ghost. I told you before, I met a man at a pub, and we got to talk, and then we lodged in an inn and emotions ignited. The next morning, he left." I explained as best as I could and then I sniffled. 

She was confused just as I was. 

 "Who is he? Do you know his initials? His family name?" she calmly asked. 

 "That is what is worse. I know nothing about him and he doesn't know my name. He was just a traveler passing by," I explained. "I am foolish, I know that very well now," I cried. 

 "No, you are not. Come here." she embraced me. I cried in the arms of my maid, my best friend, and my sister. My true and only family. 

 "We will find a way. However it presents itself, we will," she assured me. 

When night came, I was told that Lady Beeborn was to see me. Maria helped me dress up more appropriately. 

 "Do you think that she knows?" I asked innocently. 

 "Dead that, she couldn't. Easy on you now, Ava," she said. 

I stepped out of the room with Maria beside me. I met Lady Beeborn in the drawing room. She was sitting alone. 

 "I will be outside the room, scream if you need help," she teased, but I took her words seriously. 

I braved up elegantly, walking into the room like nothing mattered. I managed to dry my tears long ago. 

 "Lady Beeborn," I called out, and bent as soon as she turned to face me. She gave an almost invisible smile. "I came as soon as I was told. I made haste," I said. 

 "Sit," she ordered, and I sat opposite her. 

 I composed myself in every way possible. 

 "I was informed that you have not bled this month. How true?" she asked. My heart dropped and beat ferociously. 

 "Not true, Lady Beeborn…" I defensively stated. "Is Sir Thompson's estate best at spreading lies now?" I asked. 

 "You know… it is your… contemptuous spirit that irritates me all the time. I have not known a woman so rebellious," she stated with displeasure. 

 "I am very much aware that you do not like me. Words cannot sugarcoat it," I stated too. 

She smiled a bit. "Well, you have not seen your monthly courses, which is… rather a cause to worry about. Should I be worried? Should your husband be worried?" she asked. 

 "So far, I am very aware that I am not married because I have not seen the man you call my husband for weeks. I should not be flattered when you speak of him," I said with a sharp gaze. She scoffed as her gaze shifted from me and returned. 

 "He will be here soon. The wreckage of the weather is a cause for you to pray. Prayers. Of course," she said. "I would like to believe that you are not with a child because the maidens assigned to you have reported—"

 "Oh, now you monitor our monthly courses up close?" I scoffed. "Funny." I snapped at her, crossing my arms. I was pissed. 

 "It is my duty," she coldly and proudly said. 

 "Duty? Is it also done to Liana and Gin? This is absurd. Well, I have seen my monthly courses and I have my maid to testify. She is quite more reliable to depend on than… others," I said. 

 "I will invite the physician in the coming days to confirm my suspicions. I pray to be wrong."

 "Lady Beeborn, why are you so… shallow?" I blurted out before I could revert it. 

 "Now, I'm shallow?" her face squeezed. "Child, I will not have you say bad, bad words to me. I warn you." she warned me. 

 "My apologies, Lady Beeborn, I am not to blame for any situation that you are in. Now, if you would let me, I would like to go to bed. I have a lot to do by morning." I rose to leave. 

 "You do nothing, Mrs Thompson," she retorted. 

 "Oh I do, I read lots of books to spend my dreadful days as a third wife. Good night, Lady Beeborn," I said and bent before walking away as she groaned. One thing was certain: I was in deep trouble.