Page 12 of The Time Of Queens (An Afterlife Story #2)

12

COOK ME UP SOME REVENGE

KEIRA

H onestly, my husband was going to kill me with lust. Damn, the man knew how to flirt. Holy shit, at this rate I would need to carry around something to start fanning myself with. If the man didn’t kiss me soon, I would end up saying, “To hell with it all,” and throwing myself at him.

Of course, I knew how foolish it was for me to want him to kiss me, considering that would blow this plan out of the water. So, despite this desperate need of mine to have Draven act like my husband once again, I continued on. I waited until Draven was long gone before making my way back into the stables, so I could complete the very reason I had been there in the first place. Something that, thankfully, didn’t have me waiting too long as the rider turned up shortly after to take the letter. In fact, my husband was so distracting that I hadn’t even worried that the rider could have turned up while Draven had been there.

I had honestly forgotten all about the rider.

But then that was the power Draven had always held over me. The inability to think of anything else when he was in the room. Something the girls still teased me about, even thirty years later. I could have been talking about something and then it would trail off the second he entered a room. The ability to steal every ounce of my attention was like one of his superpowers. I didn’t know whether it was his commanding presence or just the fact that, even after three decades, I was still utterly obsessed with the man.

In fact, I kept having to remind myself that this wasn’t some long-standing, period drama, roleplay, with Draven playing Mr Darcy, or even better, Mr Rochester. Although, if I were honest, he blew them both out of the water, as I swear, I wanted to just climb the man like a tree and stake my claim. Like some little flag to plant on his head.

It was ridiculous to think of, but not as much as the fact that I had started to become jealous of myself. I knew the only thing that held him back from claiming me fully, was that he believed he had met his Chosen One already. The girl he now searched for obsessively, and while flirting with me!

Damn good way to make a couples therapist’s head spin before popping off like some pop-up pirate game, that was for sure. But then this did pose the question, if he was so obsessed with finding his Chosen, then why was he asking me to go riding with him? Well, not that he asked because by the end of it, he was definitely more demanding, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Which then presented my next problem, as I knew that the more time I spent with him, the more he would question who I was to him. With or without Pip’s mojo.

Of course, I knew this from experience as he hadn’t exactly been subtle about it two-thousand years ago in Persia. Which was why Pip and Sophia found me pacing in Pip’s room by the time they returned from dinner.

“He wants to go riding with me!” I blurted out the second they came through the door. The look they gave each other was telling, which was why I added, “Yes, I know… I know… you don’t need to say how much of a bad idea this is.”

“I am not sure how much longer this ruse will last, my brother is already acting so out of character, as I have never seen him so distracted,” Sophia said, making me feel guilty once more.

“That’s true, he barely said a word at dinner,” Pip added, causing me to release a heavy sigh before slumming on the bed.

“Well, now he wants to go riding with me, and trust me when I say, I have spent enough time on a horse since time travelling that I would be happy to never see a saddle again in my life,” I told them, thinking back once more to what they must all be going through right now. I knew it would have hit Amelia the hardest, and then there was my dear sweet niece, Ella…

All I could hope for was that Fate kept us all safe, but especially my girls.

“Oh, not me. I love a saddle, although I love riding Adam more when he is in that saddle.”

I rubbed my forehead at this, which I had to confess was a common occurrence with Pip, making me remind her, “Focus, Pip.”

“Although that is a fair point made. Will your focus on masking her from my brother stretch that far when they are on their ride?”

Pip shrugged and told us honestly,

“I am not sure; this is my first Electus Hide and No Kingy Peek game I have ever played.”

“Then there is only one thing for it,” Sophia said, making me ask in a dejected tone,

“What’s that?”

“We will have to come riding with you.” At this my head perked up.

“Great, it’s a double date,” I said. They both tipped their heads as if questioning what I meant, making me wave my hand and say, “It’s a future thing.”

“Future thing or not, we will have to sabotage his plans to be alone with you. Now, he will most likely ask for one of my riding habits in the morning and I purposely won’t speak a word about coming, so he won’t have the chance to argue. We will simply meet you in the stable yard once he has informed you of a time.”

I released a sigh and nodded my head.

“Yes, and who knows, perhaps the men will want to join us,” Pip offered, turning this into a real party.

“I know for certain Vincent will come when he hears what our brother has planned,” Sophia added, confirming my suspicions.

“Yeah, I don’t get the impression he likes me too much,” I said. Sophia joined me on the bed, coming to sit next to me.

“Don’t take it personally, he simply worries for our brother and wishes to keep him on the right track in finding his Electus. Trust me, if Vincent knew it was you, he would be acting quite differently… we all want my brother’s happiness,” Sophia replied, adding this last part softly, before patting me on the leg.

“And yours too, don’t forget our future queen,” Pip interjected, now coming to sit on my other side. Which is why I threw my arms around them both and hugged them close.

“I love you guys!” I said, making Sophia scoff as she went stiff as a board, whereas Pip melted into me.

“I am no man,” Sophia argued, making me giggle. “Yes, yes, it’s a future thing,” Sophia interjected before I could.

“Aww we love you too, Toots,” Pip added, making me turn and ask,

“That reminds me, how did you know to call me Toots?”

“The same reason I turned up to save you… I had a dream and in it, I called you Toots, although I have no idea why.”

I smiled and told her,

“Me neither, you have always called me it. Although I promise that as soon as I get home, I will ask you.”

At this she gave me a beaming smile and I hugged her closer to me. I took this moment to thank the Gods for bringing these two amazing women into my life. As whenever they were near, I knew that no matter what…

I wasn’t alone.

The next morning, and not long after I had finished my breakfast, I was surprised to find some of the other servants had actually started talking to me. The girl I had helped, her name was Fanny, she had been the only one so far. Always passing me the bread with a smile and starting friendly conversation. As for the cook, the horrible Mrs Weathers, whenever I saw her she would openly scowl at me, making me roll my eyes at her.

However, when I did it this morning, one of the other girls pulled me aside and warned me,

“You shouldn’t vex her so.”

“She’s a bully and deserves more than a dirty look,” I informed her, making her look shocked at my words before telling me,

“Yes, but she holds a high position as head cook and has got many a girl removed from service before.”

My eyes widened at this.

“But why?” I asked, wondering if there was a reason beyond her just being an evil bitch.

“Because she is jealous of anyone younger, thinner, and prettier than her, that’s why.”

I shook my head in disbelief at how insane that was, wondering how many poor girls had lost their jobs due to the green-eyed, devil cook.

“So, she’s basically jealous of everyone then?” I asked, making her scoff a laugh before telling me,

“Just take care, that is all I will say.” Then she looked towards the cellar we were standing near and shivered, rubbing her wrists as if a memory had gripped her. Which is when I became concerned, placing a hand at her shoulder before asking,

“Did she hurt you?”

Her expressive eyes found mine but before she could open her mouth to speak, that same harsh voice that had me scowling snapped her name,

“Betsy! You don’t get paid to stand about crackin’ a yarn!”

“Yes, Mrs Weathers,” she said, rushing back to the kitchen and leaving me to stare down the bitch who’s fists were twisting her apron as if she was envisioning it being my neck. So, I gave her a cocky salute, making her eyes narrow to the point they nearly disappeared, and I walked away laughing. Purposely knowing it would piss her off even more.

When I rounded the corner I found Sophia coming the other way. She was dressed in what I assumed was a riding habit. An outfit that consisted of a tailored cropped jacket in a deep teal colour, and a matching, long bustled skirt. She also wore a top hat that had a thick strip of the same teal material above the brim. This with its long ends hanging down the back like a scarf had been tied around the hat. Her abundance of black curls were all gathered to the side and, no doubt, to make room for the elegant accessary. She was also soon telling me in a rush,

“I brought this to you, as I fear Vincent kept me far longer than I anticipated. Which means Dominic will be waiting.” She thrust my own outfit into my hands, which was a daring dark red colour, and also came with its own hat.

“Okay, so I will just go to my room and…” I started to say, trying to make my way past her, but she quickly stopped me.

“No, there is no time. I can’t stall everyone else in the drawing room for much longer.” I frowned at this before asking,

“The drawing room?”

“I arranged for us to all go riding, remember? But Draven doesn’t know so as it doesn’t give him the chance to tell us he wishes to go alone with you. It will look odd if he does this in front of you after we all turn up.” The plan quickly dawned on me, and I started nodding.

“Oh, I see.”

“Yes, which is why you must hurry,” she said, looking around and pushing me into the cellar, telling me, “No one will find you in here, just change quickly and we will meet you in the stable yard.”

I nodded, taking the riding clothes from her and dropping them on the edge of an empty old barrel. Then I removed my apron, tugging at the ties quickly once she was gone.

However, before I had chance to do anything else, I heard a banshee of a scream as a voice hollered from behind me,

“Thief!”

I frowned and turned around to find the cook pointing an accusing finger my way. Then when I looked down at the riding habit and then back up at the mad woman, I was quick to defend myself.

“I didn’t steal this.”

“That belongs to the lady of the house!” she bellowed again, making me roll my eyes before stating,

“Yes, and she gave it to me to…”

Her sinister laughter interrupted me as she walked closer, and I had just put my hands on my hips when she turned her body slightly. Which meant I didn’t see the threat coming when she lashed out and backhanded me across the cheek, making me stumble into the shelving rack.

“Now I get to beat you for a reason!” she snarled at me, making me seethe as I saw red.

She pulled a whip from under her apron and let it uncurl to the floor. My eyes widened as her beady eyes looked behind me, making me turn to find a pair of chains hanging there. Which was precisely when I realised what that haunting look had been about from Betsy when she had glanced at the cellar.

She had already felt the punishments firsthand.

At this, I didn’t just see red, I felt as if my anger would burn me alive! Which meant that the second she took a step towards me, nothing could stop what came next, as I let my fist fly upwards. It connected with her face with a painful crunch, taking her completely off guard as she stumbled back from the uppercut I just delivered. Her nose practically exploded from the impact as blood started to pour down instantly. But even the sight of it wasn’t enough to stop me or have my inner conscious say, enough was enough.

“You think you have the right to inflict pain on others?” I asked, my voice a dangerous tone as I stalked closer, my fist still curled tighter and at the ready to inflict my revenge. She brought her hand to her bleeding nose as if shocked to see that I had landed a blow. Nevertheless, she wasn’t ready to go down without a fight.

Something I anticipated, taking the correct stance just like my husband had taught me. Which meant when she launched herself at me, I side stepped and punched her in the gut, tearing the air from her lungs as I winded her.

However, I was too far gone in my anger, just thinking of those chains and questioning how many poor girls had she tortured over the years? How many defenceless maids had been lashed and gone to bed bleeding, wincing for weeks later? How many had found themselves cast to the street after she had seen to their unemployment? How many had found themselves at her mercy?!

Which was why I couldn’t be stopped. I brought my fist up and connected with her face once more. Knowing instantly that I had broken her nose this time, as I had felt the bone shift against my knuckles. She reared back, her hand shaking as it went to her blood covered face where I had also split her lip. But I wasn’t done, as I continued to hit her, only stopping when I felt a hand grab my shoulder, making me spin and land one elsewhere.

Although it didn’t connect like it intended to as a large hand captured my fist… then my eyes widened as I took in Draven’s astonished expression.

“M-m-my Lord… thank goodness you came… she is mad… she attacked me!”

I practically snarled down at the cook, making her whimper as she covered her face. Doing so no doubt in fear that I would hurt her further. Her face was covered with blood, with one eye nearly swollen shut. The damage I inflicted was easy to see, and yet, I couldn’t find it in me to feel guilty for a single second of it.

“What is the meaning of this?!” Draven asked, making me snap my head back to him as I snatched my fist from his hand. Then I leaned down to pick up the whip and tossed it into his chest to catch.

“That is the meaning of this! That and this…!” I said, pausing long enough to point to the chains on the wall. “…Something that has been going on under your roof and in your household for far too long! Today, it ends! This sorry excuse for a human being and her reign of terror stops today, for I will not stay another minute in a house that holds within its walls such a cruel monster!” I shouted down at her, and then at Draven, noticing the way he flinched.

But I wasn’t in the right mind to question it. No, I was still too lost in my anger to do anything other than snatch up the riding gear and tell him,

“And like I told the bitch, I didn’t steal anything. Now, I must return this to the mistress of the house, for I am no longer in the mood for riding!”

Then I promptly…

Stomped my angry feet from the room.