Sir Thompson

I lay in bed with the pocket watch in my hand. Maria agreed to spend the night in the room to keep me company. A string of thoughts lined up in my mind. I didn't know what else to do if I was caught lying. The magnitude of shame would multiply. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick. 

 "I found your satchel. I wanted to know if I could keep it elsewhere on the table…" she asked to put my things in order. 

 "Open it," I lazily said. She did as she was told. Soon, her eyes widened in shock. 

 "Oh, my good word, Ava, these are coins—gold coins. With this, you can start up your modiste or an exhibition room or maybe a printing company." She excitedly listed while I smiled. "Wait, how did you get to possess such wealth?" she asked as she drew closer. 

 "Him." I sat up, flipping my hair behind me. "He gave it to me as a token for my kindness. However, I did not ask for it. He gave it to me as a token. Do you believe me now?"

 "I guess. Of course, I have always believed you," she snapped, smiling forcefully. 

 "You do not look like it. Yes, my cross, my burden to bear… I have not the slightest idea what I am to do." I held my face in frustration.

 "Lady Beeborn is… suspicious of the matter. She noticed that I had not bled, I had to… lie about it," I said. "Maria, I used to think that my life was over, but it is over now. Certainly," I lamented. She put the coins back into the small satchel and hid them under the floorboard. That was a quick remedy. 

 "Let us go to bed, thank you for your company, Maria." I shoved the sheets over my chest and closed my eyes. She blew off the lights and laid abreast of me. 

 "Good night, my mistress," she said, and I gave a faint smile. 

I held the pocket watch and stared at it. Even in the dark, it glimmered so bright. 

Although the clock was ticking, I could vividly see his face through the glass. He was smiling just like the day we met at the pub. 

I got out of bed and walked to the windowsill. I sat by it with the watch in my hand. 

 "You took everything about you but this. What am I to do with a watch? I'm with a child, your child? What do I say? How do I explain it? Are you real or really folklore?" I asked my breath.

…

By morning:

 "Good morning, my mistress." Maria's cheerful voice escalated as soon as my eyes opened. 

 "My body is sore," I whined. "I have not had the best night recently," I added. 

 "Of course, it happens. It is normal, my mother used to say, a woman with a child changes. Her body starts to adjust and—"

 "Heavens, the last thing I want to hear is a pregnancy lecture." I scoffed as my eyes rolled. 

 "Okay, Ava," she paused after she placed my outfit of the day on the couch. "Word reached the estate at dawn," she began with a dull countenance. 

 "What does it say, Maria?"

She swallowed up, "Sir Thompson will arrive in a few hours. He is already in Western…"

My eyes widened as I sat up, and my heart dropped. 

 "My end is near, I can feel it—"

I clutched the sheets to my chest in fear. 

 "What you feel is anxiety, my mistress. There is no end." she countered my damning words calmly. 

 "What am I to do when he wishes to… to lie with me? I'm with a child," I pointed out almost in a whisper. 

 "You are with a child, but it is not the end," she stated firmly. "Now, I have prepared your bath and outfit. We will welcome Sir Thompson and act normally. I heard that he is rather very fond of his wives. You have nothing to worry about." she tried to make me feel better. 

I smiled weakly, "He has got a new bride. He would demand more than seeing his bride. The first thing he would like to do is lie with me," I looked away. 

 "I do not know this contemplative Ava, but I know the decisive Ava. She can handle this. "Everything," she assured me, and she shot a smile at me. 

…

The three of us, wives, were standing outside awaiting his carriage to arrive. The other two were smiling but I wasn't. Certainly, I would not. I was wearing an emerald green dress that exposed my shoulders and a bit of my bosom. It was Lady Beeborn's idea to wear such a dress that was different from Liana's and Gin's. 

From a short distance, I caught a glimpse of a decorated carriage. I swallowed up an invisible lump in my throat. I used to be very confident, but now, I cannot understand what I am going to be. 

 "Be your best, Mrs Ava Thompson, do not ruin this moment," Lady Beeborn said to me behind gritted teeth, interrupting my thoughts. 

 "You will not tell me what to do, ma'am, I am taught lady-like things," I retorted. 

 "Violent." she snapped under her breath. 

 "She is our husband's sister. Speak to her with respect." Liana, who was on my left, said to me. 

 "Your opinion is not needed, but I take note." I snapped again. 

As soon as the carriage stopped right in front of us, one of the footmen jumped out of the carriage and opened the carriage's door for Sir Thompson. 

My supposed husband stepped out and we all bent. They were all beaming, and I could not pretend to do that. 

 "Ah ha! Here are all my damsels, brighter than the greenery. Just like I prefer," he said with a brazen demeanor. Such impertinence, I thought in my mind. "Here, My Liana." he took her hand and placed a kiss on it. He moved to Gin. "Here, my Gin." he placed a kiss on her hand too. He moved towards me, and I was indifferent to his gaze. 

 "You. New bride. How do you show honor to your husband?" the old man asked, staring at me pensively. 

 "Kneel." Lady Beeborn instructed me. 

 "I do not understand. Kneel? Why am I kneeling?" I asked, splitting my gaze between both of them. 

 "Sister, is she this… vile and uncompromising?" he asked, raising his brows. 

 "She is. Your in-laws are certain of it too," she said. 

 "Isn't she courteous? I was promised that as well. Now was I deceived?" he asked with a frown on his wrinkled face. He irritated me. 

 "Should that be the case, she is very, very bendable. Assurances were given," she said. 

 "Hmm." he veered to me. "Honor your husband," he said to me. 

 "If you mean that I am to bend a knee, I will not. I am not cut out for that… Sir Thompson," I stated indignantly. 

 "I married you at an expense. I paid in full, and I see no reason why I shouldn't be honored. If we start on such a rough… start, it will not end well," he said to me, as if threatening me. 

 "Sir Thompson, if you feel uneven about the whole situation, I can pay back in full, and you will grant me my freedom. That is—"

 "Nullifying the marriage?" he finished for me. 

 "Yes, that is." I snapped with a small smile. 

 "You were married to make more heirs, and you will do just that," he stated very firmly. He forced a smile. "Tyrion? Let's go in. Is it not time to break out fast?! It sure is," he added with pride and left. 

The other ladies and their maids left as well. When I was about to leave, Lady Beeborn caught my arm harshly and my eyes rolled. 

 "Let me go," I barked at her. 

 "You are playing games that you are not fit for. As long as you live here, eat our food, wear our clothes and accessories, and breathe our air, you MUST comply. Is that clear?" she warned as she released harshly. I swallowed up. 

 "Please, Lady Beeborn, convince your beloved brother to nullify the marriage. I tell you, I can pay, and his loss will be fully recovered," I said, as if I was trying to convince the cold woman.

 "You are penniless, so is your family's name," she mocked. 

 "Try me." I snapped and I walked in, alongside Maria. 

 "That was risky, my mistress, Sir Thompson, could throw you out," Maria said to me in a whisper. 

 "That is the purpose. I need him to throw me out." I lowered my voice. "Do you not know my predicament? Maria, it is only fair that he threw me out," I explained, and we furthered away. 

At night:

Maria had been away. Other maids handled my bathing water and night dress. I asked about her, and I was told that she had been sent on an errand. 

Meanwhile, the lunch with Sir Thompson was uncomfortable for me, but I tried to act calm despite their insults. 

 "Who sent Maria on an errand?" I asked one of the maids while she was combing my hair. I've never had anyone do my hair except Maria. 

 "Lady Beeborn, my mistress," the girl said. 

 "I see. So, why am I being prepared? Is there a ball at midnight?" I asked, raising a brow. 

 "Actually… Your wedding ball will be prepared in the coming days but your husband, Sir Thompson, has asked to see you. He has picked out just the night dress for you," she explained. I knew what it meant, a honeymoon. 

 "I… I see." I said as my face fell. 

What should I do, I asked myself. 

…

Later on, I was taken to Sir Thompson's room by Tyrion. The guy I could never fight. 

I entered the room. It was quite large and full of wooden carvings and medals in the catalog.

The man was shirtless. I could see the gray hairs on his chest, a potful of stomach—so round. He had this gruff look while he stared at me, and then he licked his lips as if I was a meal. His lips twitched as if he were to say something and then I spoke up. 

 "Sir Thompson, is there a ball that we… are going to attend?" I asked, feigning not to catch a whiff. 

He let out a mischievous chuckle that made it look like I was the naive one. 

 "A ball?" he scoffed, shaking his head. "I see. Well, there isn't a ball, but there IS a ball in my room tonight. Now," he said as he drew closer to me at a slow pace. 

He placed those aged, shaky hands on my shoulders since he was a bit taller than I was. 

 "I believe this is the moment that we should have to declare our honeymoon—"

 "Excuse you, Sir Thompson—" I retorted. 

 "Husband, you meant to say…" he said. 

 "No, sir, I'm aware of what I am referring to you. Sir Thompson, you have been undeniably absent since our strange wedding contract, and all you want is a… fulfilled honeymoon? No apologies or supposed explanations for the absence? Just like that, I am expected to… give in?" I asked calmly. 

The next thing he did was hit my face even if I wasn't rude to him. I fell to the ground with a hand, coating my red cheek as I looked up at him with instant regret and hate. 

 "What you aren't meant to do is ask questions or contradict my instructions. Ask your co-wives, the fewer questions, the merrier our lives will be. Did you get that?" he yelled at me. 

I rose. The last thing I would ever do is break down before this monster of a husband. 

 "Now, wife, submit. Lie in bed, and await the moment…" he instructed. 

A thicker frown settled on my face as his crumpled brows intercepted. 

 "No. I will not submit to a monster, and an abuser," I firmly said to him. He chuckled dryly, it seemed like he was a second away from strangling me while I stood firm on my words. 

The scanty strands of his gray hair fell across his face, and the several moles across his face seemed like a desert with thwarted figs. I despised him and his wholeness. 

 "You shall not? Huh?"

He pushed me against the bed as he climbed over me before I could grapple. Still, I struggled until I forcefully pushed him off me. 

 "Do not come any closer," I warned, gritting my teeth, taking up his old sword from the wall where he hung it while he struggled to rise. 

 "I bloody swear to you, despicable man, I will slit your throat—it would mean your death. How would it feel to be taken down by an ordinary girl? Your newest bride?" I said, holding the sword firmly. It was heavy, but I tried to hold it firmly. 

He was breathing hard in fury while my hands shivered against the sword. 

 "Put that away, child…" he warned while he leaned on the door, slamming it for help. 

 "Oh, did you just realize that I could be your child and not your wife? Didn't you?" I asked and chuckled dryly. "I will not strike, but we will end this nicely. Just annul the marriage. I will pay you back in full, and you will never see me, nor will my parents ever," I said, proposing a truce. 

He laughed wickedly. 

 "I will not," he countered defiantly. 

 "Then I will strike you dead—don't test me…" I screamed out in frustration. 

Tyrion and Lady Beeborn rushed into the room and then the other guards followed behind. 

Tyrion held a dagger, pointing it at me while I held mine tightly. 

 "Is this duel?" I asked under my breath as my heart was thumping faster. 

 "Tyrion? Kill her…" shouted ferocious Lady Beeborn as the hefty man rushed over to me and out to strike. My hands trembled as the sword fell from my hand and then I screamed.

 "I'm with a child— I am pregnant!" 

Tears filled my eyes as Tyrion stopped when the dagger reached my neck. Fear gripped me.