Sitting on the windowsill, Jerrick looked at the distant trees swaying in the wind.
William brought up a valid point. He didn't think about it till now—the reason he didn't marry her the first time. He acted like a blinded horse and set everything in motion.
His palms went cold. He rubbed his hands together and blew into his cupped hands to warm himself. He pondered.
Should I back off?
"I cannot…" Jerrick said. "I made my decision."
It was not the same as the last time. He didn't love her anymore.
William gulped another glass of scotch looking at the celestial figure in ponderance sitting by the window. He appreciated beauty whoever had it. Jerrick was handsome by any standards. The golden autumn sunbeam illuminated his skin and his hair shone like the ears of wheat ripe for harvest. He never noticed the tint of red in his usual brown hair before.
"You're making a mistake. Women like her are tough to control. Get your head out of the cloud. She's not going to look at you the way she looked at you before. She'll disintegrate before you try to control her and disappear before surrendering to you. She's the dust particle you see in a narrow beam of light. She is attractive like a precious gem but if you try to catch the glitter, it will disappear leaving you with~"
"I know she will disappear!" Jerrick shouted interjecting William. His godly face was contorted with exasperation and he jumped down from the window.
William's hand reaching for the glass paused and he observed Jerrick. He paced in the room running his finger through his hair.
William shook his head and continued gulping down alcohol. At least he got Jerrick thinking.
*Bang*
Jerrick stood in front of William and banged the table.
"You will not change my mind, William. I do not love her and I do not want her love! The wedding is happening."
William blinked.
"Be there!!!" Jerrick said and stormed out.
*Bang*
William chuckled hearing the door banging shut.
"You know I am right, Dear Jerrick…"
With a sigh, he opened the middle drawer in the table. On top of the portrait of his mother was Jessamyn's crossbow. William didn't even realize he had hidden it there. Shaking his head, William picked up the picture.
Caressing the picture with his finger, he smiled. "Your son has gone mad…" he whispered. Looking at the smile on the woman's face, he scoffed. "He truly is your son…Don't worry. I'll look after him…"
Placing a kiss on the picture, William kept the picture back in the drawer. He couldn't help but caress the picture once more and a smile formed on his face.
He didn't like the crossbow there. He thought of destroying the crossbow but then he decided to see where everything would lead to.
He left the room to hear Jerrick's majestic voice in the servant's area. So, just like the curious puppy he was, he went there to check. Jerrick didn't usually step into the servant's quarters. That duty was usually reserved for the mistress.
"Bernard, chop off their hands!" Jerrick commanded.
William's ears perked up and he rushed down the stairs. A group of maids were huddling together, shaking in fear. William noticed the maid who applied the ointment on Jessamyn pushed to the front.
He guessed the other maids were gossiping with the maid thinking they were being loyal to the late mistress of the manor. Too bad they didn't realize the lord of the castle would barge in.
"No, chop off her tongue and hands," Jerrick pointed at the mean maid. "And cut off the tongues of the rest."
Bernard bowed his head. "As you wish, Your Grace."
Jerrick turned to leave and met eyes with William. Clearing his throat, he avoided meeting his gaze and walked out.
William sighed.
Right… He doesn't love her and doesn't want her love. He just wants to rain hell on anyone who hurts her even a little bit. He wants to have her under his protection and doesn't want to lose sight of her even for a moment.
Yeah, that can't be love. Who said it was love? It most certainly is not the basic instinct of a man in love!
-----
Jessamyn checked with Lynae and learned that her brother and mother were staying in the Theodulf Castle for the day before their travel tomorrow.
Jessamyn found what looked like a guest room and gave a quick recap of what happened to Isadora and she cried. She didn't complain though. She understood why she agreed to the wedding.
"Do you…" Isadora held Jessamyn's hand. She hesitated to ask whether she liked the Archduke now that she had spent the night with him.
Did she though? Isadora wanted to ask what happened that night but she didn't want to disturb the hornet's nest. Lady Jessamyn would get scary at the mention of his name.
"This room is cold…" Jessamyn said looking around. The fireplace was empty and even when the doors and windows were closed, coldness seeped in.
What a wretched weather!
"Let's find a warm place then," Isadora stood up.
"No, Isadora… Tell me what you saw that night," Jessamyn held her hand and stopped her. She had been meaning to ask this for a long time.
"That night?" Isadora's eyes widened and she gulped. All she remembered from that night was her lady eating the face of the archduke.
"Yes. The wolf! The white wolf that talked! I saw the wolf before I slipped. You must have had a clear view since you were on the tree. Bernard was running toward you and did you~"
"Wait… wait… Milady…" Isadora had to stop Jessamyn. "I did see a big wolf. I was scared for you. If not for the bear cub-I mean- Bernard coming there, the wolf might have hurt you. But talk? The wolf was grumbling and gnashing its teeth. I almost fainted out of fear. You heard it talk? Talk as in humans talk?" Isadora asked.
Jessamyn rubbed her temples. "You should have heard it too, Isadora. I sure heard its voice loud and clear. You are telling me you didn't hear it talk? It mocked me and said it tried to help us. How did you not hear it?" she asked.
Isadora shook her head. "Milady, wolves don't talk..."
Jessamyn bowed her head and rubbed her temples thinking back. She did hear the wolf clearly.
"Milady, is your head hurting?" Isadora scooted closer to Jessamyn and gently massaged her head.
"No," Jessamyn held Isadora's shoulders. "Are you sure you didn't hear it talk?"
"I am sure. The wolf ran away seeing Bernard and the Archduke followed on his horse. He asked me where you were and he rescued you from the pit and then…" Isadora gulped holding her chest. "You weren't yourself that night, Milady…"