The Rain Stays The Same - Ch. 15

It’s been ages! Hello! I finally had the time and motive to write so…woo.
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While Evey and Vailean spent the day together, walking, eating, or practicing sports, Magnus took advantage of the distraction. The Senior Macintosh wrapped himself up and stepped out of the castle, heading over to the village by himself. The name “Annis” had been said before, and apparently this woman had his son’s heart. This woman, as he heard the horror stories from England, could easily become the source of Evey’s pain; she would lose Vailean’s attention and heart before she had a chance to win it. Worse, she might lose him from her bed and leave the throne without an heir – a crime that the public was never too sympatric about.
If he could nip this in the bud, he would save Evey some trouble.
Ah, Evey…that woman, he thought with a slight grin. She had spirit that was for sure. Magnus knew that if she wasn’t restrained by the duties of royalty, she would be far more free and feisty than now. Somehow, he chuckled at the thought, he knew people weren’t ready for it.
Why was he going through such trouble? Well…they were friends. She had said so herself, and he hadn’t felt so close to someone in…many years. No, not just someone but…a female. Although she was going to marry his son, he…
No. They were friends. He was helping her out. And he was curious to see what type of woman had finally caught his son’s attention. So when he stepped into the village with a hood over his head, trying to keep himself in the background, he was stunned to find that…it wasn’t so easy to find this “Annis” woman. For a son so loud, he was surprised to find that this woman that captured his heart…wasn’t. In fact, he was just about to give up when he heard the name from a maiden passing by. His gaze followed her, his brows shooting up to spy a mousey looking lady. She wore dreary, simple clothes, her hair plain but her shy eyes beautiful. She was something of just a maid, definitely not “royalty” and certainly would not bring anything to the throne – money, land, or blood.
So what was it about this quiet, demure girl with no talent, skill, money, or land that caught his son’s attention? There was always a gaggle of females around him…so why her? He stroked his beard, pulling at it when it got tangled around his fingers as he thought.
“Come on Annis,” the second girl called out, “we have to go in and serve the customers.” So she was a…a bar maid? A bar wench? This just kept making…less and less sense. Annis was worth throwing away a Princess and a Duchess?!
He waited until the young ladies walked into the pub before following. Time to have a conversation with this Annis…
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It was nightfall when Evey and her betroth went their separate ways. She was exhausted but hadn’t been that happy in ages. Vailean had been nice; he had even made her laugh at times. And, more importantly, she had gotten him to smile and look rather relaxed in her company. Perhaps this marriage would work out after all.
When Evey got to her apartments, she had dinner in her room after hearing that Magnus was out. It was only after she ate and regained some energy did she realize that he was out…and no one knew where exactly. After telling her ladies to dress her in a casual gown wrapped with fur, the Duchess stepped outside. A quick peak to the stables showed one horse missing – so where exactly did Magnus go? Last time she took off on a horse by herself, it ended with a scar on her hip. So instead of going to look for him – it couldn’t be too bad since he didn’t take guards, right? – she wrapped the fur around her tighter and groomed once of the horses.
Before long, she had finished grooming a couple of the horses and was brushing her third. Some of them were asleep, others wide awake. “Waiting for your family to come back too, eh?” She mused quietly, staring into the horse’s black eyes – Agnus, wasn’t it? “Yes…I’m worried about them too.”
“Yer worried about me, eh?” A familiar voice rang out, startling her into dropping the brush. When she turned, she spotted Lord Macintosh walking his horse into the stable, looking tired but not anymore than normal. His hair was messier from riding, his eyes a bit sad.
“My lord.” She curtsied and stared as he gave the horse an apple. “What…I mean, welcome back. Your journey was well, I imagine?” Evey stared at him with wonder and confusion, trying to guess where he had been. He wasn’t bruised or bloody…so he hadn’t gone fighting. What was wrong?
Macintosh walked over to her and picked up the brush, placing it on the wall before exhaling slowly. “It was interestin’, let’s say. How has your day faired, m’lady?”
The Duchess wrapped her arms around herself, just now realizing that her hands were numb. “My day has been well. Vailean and I spent most of it together; we walked and had breakfast, had lunch, and we played some sports. I’m quite pleased.” She gave him a small smile; it wasn’t quite sad, but perhaps a little tired…with a gleam of hope. It made him smile.
“I am glad to hear it.” He glanced at her hands that she rubbed together. “Would you like to go inside and warm up with something to drink, m’lady?”
She stared for a moment before nodding. “Only if you start using my name, Magnus. May I…be bold and ask where you went?” She held her arm out for him to take it and walk together. When he did, she shivered; how was it that he was just a touch bit warmer than her?
As they walked through the darkness with only the castle torches to light their way, he thought of what to say and how to phrase it. His hand patted the back of hers before it fell into slowly rubbing circles with his thumb. He barely noticed that her hand, which was held in his other, had gone limp. It was relaxing to be touched in such a way, something the Duchess couldn’t recall experiencing before. “My lord?” She whispered with a sleepy voice, a grin to match it in the dark. “If you keep doing that, I may just sleep on the ground here right now.”
A deep chuckle was her response, though he didn’t quite stop tracing circles with his thumb. “I went out to the village today. I wanted to hear what my people thought…better to have an ear to the ground to see how things are goin’. What better way to listen than to be unnoticed?” They got closer to the castle, enough to see each other in the glow of the torches.
“That is a wise decision, Magnus. A reason, I imagine, that makes you such a great leader.” She looked up at him with a smile. “And what did you find out?”
Again, he hesitated. Now she was alert, aware. “Well I found out that…” he sighed and stopped walking, turning to face her, “Evey, I met Annis.”
Evey’s eyes widened and her flesh lost what little color it had from the cold. “What?” She whispered, fearing the worse. “How? What did she say? What did you say? If Vailean finds out, he’ll blame me and…”
“Evey, Evey, shh…breathe, lass.” Macintosh placed his hands on her arms, feeling her through the fur coat. “Annis doesn’t know I was there. I’d like to say I talked to her, but outside of askin’ for a drink…she didn’t say much back. But that’s the woman that has my son smitten, eh?”
The lady swallowed thickly but relaxed in his hold. Though she had made peace with Vailean that morning, it still stung to know there was a mistress. Giving him permission, however, just made it sting less. “Yes Magnus…but please, do not sabotage them. Please leave her be.” At his eyes widening, she quickly explained, “This morning I met up with him and…Magnus, listen to me. Many queens before me have dealt with their husband’s line of mistresses. It was uncommon with your reign, but it you and the late Lady were…a beautiful story, a rare one. I made the decision for peace; I told Vailean that he may see the woman who owns his heart…as long as we keep up our duties. He agreed. Please don’t ruin it for them.”
“W-what?!” He sputtered, almost as shocked as when his son had told him he didn’t want the Princess’ hand. “You…but…he’s your…!”
“My what?” Evey’s tone took on a sharp edge. “He is my betroth and husband by name only, Magnus. I will never capture his love and attention like that quiet village girl has – fate is cruel, it can make those we were meant to love be underneath us, a different station than us. They will always be just out of arms reach, always! If she was in my place and I was in hers…perhaps all of us could have been happy. But we aren’t…so we have to just make peace.”
Magnus stared at her for a moment longer before speaking softly, “Are you referrin’ to your lad in England…George, wasn’t it?”
Evey’s eyes flickered away, ashamed. When she looked up again, her words halted in her throat. Instead, she felt a bit of her melt away, though the shame still stuck…but for another reason. “Perhaps, my lord. Perhaps…perhaps not.” It wouldn’t be the first time she caught her heart flutter when Magnus was near. “I have asked Vailean to allow all three of us to meet.” She changed the topic slightly, putting on a grin.
“I see…if you need a private room, there are many in the castle.” He stepped back and offered his arm for hers once more as they finally escaped the cold.
Evey nodded, sleep threatening to take over as soon as the warmth hit her. “I appreciate your offer, my lord. In the meanwhile…I wish you good dreams.” She smiled as they grew closer to her room.
“And you, Lady Elward.”
Next chapter: Evey and Annis meet. Also, what exactly happened to that letter, eh?
Wedding preparations soon...and surprises guests from England!