"To what do I owe the honor of your visit Miss Woodson, I thought I was a psychopath"
That stung "I came to thank you for your help your highness, your plan to offer myself as bait worked, I don't know what I was thinking to doubt someone as wise as yourself, I also want to apologize for umm"
He looked amused. "go on I'm listening" he said motioning his hand for me to proceed, I closed my eye tightly and said it all in one breath. "I am sorry for calling you a crazy stupid psychopath"
"you're welcome, and apologies accepted"
"thank you your highness"
"if that is all then you may leave, I'd like to take my rest" I bowed and took my leave heading straight to my room.
…
After treating the injury on his back with some herbs, the pain James felt had subsided, although he still couldn't lay on his back, it was bearable, he felt a reasonable amount of relief, what had happened this night was both unexpected, unbelievable and just wrong, he still could not find what he had done to deserve any punishment at all, talk more about being publicly whipped, but it did happen.
The room where he laid in was extremely quite and dimly lit, he would have thought he was alone had Mrs. Woodson not spoken up "How are you feeling James?"
It was wired that she was her without Eva, I mean he looked up to Tessa Woodson like an aunt, but he doubted she saw him in the same light like a nephew.
"better, where is Eva?"
"in her room probably asleep, she won't be coming here tonight" she said it with so much confidence and assurance that it must have been true.
A certain silence lingered in the air but not for too long as Tessa broke it "You understand that what happened today was necessary don't you?"
"No, I am afraid I don't Mrs. Woodson, would you mind explaining why my getting flogged is something necessary"
"Well its simple, that is because now, you know what will happen to everyone in this town, if we do not ready ourselves. And even far worse will happen if you, or any four of you are caught." What she was saying was hard to digest but true.
The prince however was not the problem the general was.
Tessa stood up and went to the door ready to leave "So you and Mr. Timothy should be careful, where and when you decide to speak about secret matters, I hope you understand Mr. James, do have a good recovery and a good night"
She opened the door and closed it behind her, leaving James alone to think, He wasn't sure if the last statement was an advice, it very much sounded like a threat to him.
…
I laid on my bed for a long time, I was sure almost everyone else was asleep, I kept tossing and turning. I was sure I wouldn't sleep this night, not with James at the fore front of my thought, followed by the unusually kind gesture of the prince
Since I was sure I was not going to sleep anytime soon, why bother trying. I sat up on my bed, thinking of what to do, since everyone was asleep it wouldn't be a bad idea to go visit James now, I doubted that he would have gone to sleep himself, so I took up my cotton sweater and wore it over my night robe, wore a simple pair of slip-on footwear and picked up the candle lamp that was seated on my bedroom table, ready to move.
Slowly I cracked open my bedroom door checked the passage to know if I could find someone, but there was nobody there, when I was sure it was safe to come out without being caught, I very slowly tip-toed out of the room and quietly closed the door behind me, I then proceeded to tiptoe the rest of my way down the stairs until I was outside.
Now all I had to do was enter the servants quarters already filled with people and then the boys section of the servants quarters to go see James that may or may not have a roommate.
The only reason the idea sounded stupid is because it was a stupid idea, but I was going to do it anyways, here goes nothing.
I ran my way to the back of the house trying to minimize the sound I made, I approached the cottage, feeling like a thief in the night, this would be a funny story to tell James, that is if he is awake, entering the cottage with full confidence that I already had my mission half way completed when I heard the sound of a door opening.
Lucky I was near a door which I opened out of panic and slid in, my heart half way leaving my chest when I heard "who the heck do you think you are" but the person continued "how dare you eat my cake" I looked closely but it was just Deborah sleep talking.
There were sounds of footsteps passing the hallway, I peaked and saw it was mother and someone else, she must have gone to check up on James, thank the gods I hid on time, I waited…. waited a little more before opening the door just to make sure she was not going to come back then I headed to James room. Hoping that no one else was there.
When I opened the door the room was empty except from James, the light was not bright but I could tell that he was awake, but I didn't say anything, I only walked to his bed and sat on the chair next to it "I'm really sorry"
"for what, it's really not your fault, the general was just blood thirsty, I should be thanking you, had you not been there it would have been much worse, he planned to beat me till collapsed, or at least that's what he told his men"
"How can a person be so cruel?"
"Are you really surprised, remember he was the one that burnt down the orphanage?"
"Yeah, I forgot, how's the injury?"
"Good, I thought you're not supposed to be here?"
"I'm not, are they coming back to treat you?"
"No, she should be asleep by now"
We must have been talking about different people because mother just left "Are we talking about the same person?"
"Yes, Mrs Grace right?" "No my mum"
"she came earlier, but she left a while ago" "oh okay, then I have nothing to worry about, or do you want me to leave ?"
"No, stay, please, I at least need the company"
We chatted away the night talking about past memories, how scared we were this night, how I snuck in like a thief, Debby's sleep talking. I left really late in the night the whole time trying to figure out why he would lie to me.