7. Uninvited Guests #2
"Don't worry about it. I think the official introduction is in order?" Sky said. She knew she should know who her guests were, especially when they said they were the closest neighbours, but she hadn't the faintest idea. It was another of her shortcomings, but she didn't care.
"But of course," the blonde woman said without batting an eye. "I'm Lucinda Goldmanter, and this is Amaya Serpentine. As we live nearby, we thought getting acquainted as soon as possible would be good."
"Pleasure to meet you both." Skylar bowed her head slightly with a smile she was hoping looked sincere. "Shall we get back to breakfast?"
When they sat back down, Skylar proceeded to laden her plate with food, ignoring the astonished gazes of her companions, who were moving salads around their plates.
"I must say, you have quite an appetite, Lady Skylar," Lucinda said innocently, but her eyes were full of glee. Both guests were so willowy and dainty that Skylar suspected a stronger wind could probably blow them away.
"Well, I need to replenish my energy after my morning─" she bit her tongue and finished after a second, "jogging."
"Oh, so that's what you were doing when we arrived?" Amayaasked, cocking her head. "Jogging? What a novel way of passing the time for a lady."
"There's nothing novel in that." Skylar shrugged. "It's good for the body and the mind."
"But it's so... messy," Amaya said, the disgust evident on her face. "All that sweat and all."
"Nothing that a bath can't wash away," Skylarreplied, trying to hide her annoyance.
"We all have our hobbies," Lucinda said with a smile that was so fake that it hurt just looking at it. "Tell me, Lady Skylar, how are you finding your new life? You are fortunate to win such an influential husband."
"It's hard to say. We haven't been married for more than a week."
"But how is the Lord General treating you? He is rather cold and distant in most situations, is he not? I hope he's not giving you a hard time..."
Skylar frowned. "No, I wouldn't say so. We can't be different from any newlywed couple."
Suddenly Amaya laughed loudly, startling Skylar. "You must forgive dear Lucinda this shameless prodding. She has a bit of an obsession with your husband."
"Amaya, don't be ridiculous!" Lucindahissed, giving her companion a death stare. But the other woman was determined to continue.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, my darling. Everyone knows that before the King went for the alliance with Shawcross, you were the most suitable candidate for Lord General's wife," the redhead added with a malicious smile.
Skylar looked at Lucinda in a new light. Now it made more sense; a sudden visit to meet a new wife - the woman that stole the highly lucrative position right from under Lucinda's nose.
"It was nothing more than speculation," Lucindasaid stiffly. "And I don't know what you are insinuating, but I harbour no ill feelings for the General nor his wife. You better remember that and stop talking nonsense."
"Of course, you don't," Amaya said with a sweet smile. "But the truth is, the man is rather hard to approach. And he was never involved with any woman before, right? Only Lucinda ever got close enough to him to share a dance and companionship during the balls."
"Did she now?" Skylar asked, looking at the woman with a cocked head.
Lucinda raised her chin. "Yes. You know how it is with the balls. On most of them, you are expected to attend with a partner. On such occasions, the General was usually inviting me. But I can't say he was easy to entertain. He never did anything more than a bare necessity that good manners dictate.
That's why I'm not jealous," she added, looking pointedly at Amaya.
"On the contrary, I feel for Lady Skylar, as living with that man can't be an easy task."
"I hear you," the redhead said. "I even heard some rumours that maybe he doesn't like women at all. You know what I mean." She wiggled her brows.
Skylar was so taken aback by the rude comment that she was just sitting there and gaping at her guests.
The women were smiling innocently at her.
She couldn't believe those two had just barged in there uninvited and now were shamelessly fishing for crude gossip.
She might not like her husband much and still be annoyed with his condescending attitude towards her, but she will surely not stab him in the back by spreading outrageous rumours.
"That is ridiculous," she scoffed.
"Oh?" Amaya raised her perfectly shaped brow. "No problems in the bedroom then?"
"No, none," Sky said, looking the woman straight in the eye. "I'd say he's rather passionate."
"That's very interesting. Who would have thought the cold Lord General had a hidden, spirited side?" Amaya mused, giving Lucinda a meaningful smirk.
The other woman just shrugged, clearly disappointed, but she put a sweet smile on her lips again. "I see. In that case, maybe you've beenalready blessed with a new life growing inside you. That would explain your appetite, Lady Skylar."
Sky forced herself to swallow her retort and smiled at Lucinda. "I don't think so. I would love to talk some more, but unfortunately, I have prior engagements that need my attention right now." She stood up. The women followed suit.
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Skylar," Lucinda said with a slight bow of her head.
"I believe we'll meet you at the feast at the palace next week?" Amaya said.
"Yes, we can talk more then. Zachariah, can you please show our guests the way out?" Skylar said with a sweet smile.
Skylar was sitting on a comfortable armchair in her room reading the book recommended by her tutors when the loud knock at the door startled her.
"Come in," she said, closing her book and straightening her back while Gawyn entered the room. She was expecting him and was prepared for what was coming.
"What have you been thinking?" the General asked, not bothering with any greeting. He was still wearing his uniform, with the black and red jacket still on, though he undid two top buttons of his shirt.
"Hello to you too, husband dear."
"Don't waste my time on pointless pleasantries." He scoffed, crossing his arms and looking down at her. "Do you know what I've heard today from one of my lieutenants?"
"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me."
"That first thing in the morning, my wife is running around in my clothes and greeting the guests all sweaty and filthy."
"Well, that was quite accurate, though the filthy part is a huge exaggeration." Skylar shrugged.
Gawyn made an inarticulate growl and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Why would you do that? Did I not warn you not to? And stealing my clothes? Really?"
Skylar jumped to her feet. She will not be intimidated by him.
Even though he was taller and still towering over her, she raised her head and looked him straight in the eye.
"Maybe if you hadn't ordered my things to be thrown away, I wouldn't have to! And I disagree that it's my fault that those two impertinent women just barged in here uninvited first thing in the morning. I may not be fluent in royal court etiquette, but even I know that's simply rude.
You could have warned me, especially because one of them was your former sweetheart."
"My what now?" Gawyn asked, his eyes widened.
"Lucinda Goldmanter? She was the one everyone thought you would marry eventually, which she hasn't failed to point out. Several times."
"Oh, her," the Generalsaid, his brows knitting in annoyance. "That was never going to happen. I just needed someone to accompany me on social occasions. I picked Lucinda because she's from a minor noble family, so I thought no one would make such ridiculous assumptions."
Skylar scoffed. "Gods, you are hopeless when it comes to understanding women."
Gawyn frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you can't just go out with one girl all the time and not raise her hopes! And now, she is infuriated because you discarded her and married me, a girl with even lower social status."
"I..." He frowned and sighed. "I didn't think about it, I guess."
"Apparently. So, it's your fault she came here snooping. I don't know why you are angry at me."
"Don't change the topic, please. It hasn't even been a week, and the rumours about you already circulate everywhere!"
"Well, then there is no point in hiding it anymore, is it?" Skylar asked with a hardly contained grin. "If everyone already knows about my weird morning routines, I can just continue."
"You are impossible!" Gawyn groaned. He opened his mouth to continue, but his face contorted with pain, and he swayed on his feet, pressing a hand to his temple.
"Are you all right?" Skylar asked. She was surprised because he suddenly looked vulnerable.
"Yes, I'm just tired and have a headache." He waved his hand dismissively. "I'd better go and retire for today."
"Of course," Skylar said, not buying his excuse. He looked like he was in some intense pain right now, but he didn't want to share it with her.
Gawyn was already at the door when he turned back to her.
"There is a back door to the mansion, you know. Use that one, so you can avoid barging through the main foyer next time. And don't run too deep into the forest in the south. You can easily get lost there," he added, not looking at her and closing the door.
"Huh." That sounded surprisingly close to permission to continue with her morning training. She felt her mouth form a smile despite her attempts to keep it cool.