A Different Path: A Robin Hood Retelling. by Anna Edwards

Author:Anna Edwards [Edwards, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: English Rose Author Services
Published: 2021-06-07T18:30:00+00:00

Eight

Eleanor

The wedding passes with little pomp or ceremony. Those who need to witness it do and leave to celebrate—no doubt plotting with my uncle. I’ve been brought to my bedroom, and the new lady’s maid assigned to me is waiting to prepare me the way Mathius has prescribed. My long brown hair is plaited down my back, and I’m wearing a simple, silk negligée that feels odd against my skin. I prefer to wear cotton pajamas to bed, so I can snuggle up under the sheets. Comfort is my middle name.

After I’ve been preened for my new husband’s attention, the lady’s maid insists on giving me a short talk about what is expected. While I’ve lived a relatively sheltered life for a modern young woman, I’m not ignorant of the facts or naïve, so the only thing her talk accomplishes is to make my stomach churn with even more nerves. I’ve no doubt Mathius is an experienced man. He’s handsome and probably has women falling at his feet, giving him exactly what he needs in the bedroom. I’m sure I’ll be a huge disappointment to him.

I take a deep breath and start to repeat a mantra in my head. The same one I’ve recited, over and over, ever since Leon left me this morning.

You’re doing this to help the people of Nottingham.

You’re doing this to help the people of Nottingham.

No, it’s no use. I’m going to bring up the meager meal I ate earlier. Sprinting from the bed, I run to the bathroom and empty the sparse contents of my stomach down the toilet. The lady’s maid enters the room and shakes her head.

“This will not do. Mr. Mathius will be so disappointed.” She pulls me to my feet and slaps me across the face. My head spins as I stare at her in shock. “Grow up, girl. In a few minutes, you’ll be a woman for real, and that comes with responsibilities. Open your legs and let your husband fuck you like women have done since the start of time. Now clean your teeth and get into bed. I’ve worked hard to make you look pretty, and I’ll not have it ruined.”

I can’t believe she slapped and admonished me in the way she’s just done. Blindly stumbling through the motions, I clean my teeth and get back into bed. The lady’s maid pulls the sheets up and arranges my plaited hair over my shoulder.

“At least try to look seductive,” she tuts and pinches my lips together to make them look fuller. “God, it’ll be like fucking a wet kipper.”

She shakes her head and leaves the room.

A few minutes later, Mathius enters. He’s still dressed in the suit trousers he was wearing at our wedding ceremony, but he’s lost the tie and jacket, and his shirt is unbuttoned at the top. He’s carrying a glass of an amber colored drink, brandy or whiskey—I don’t know which.

“You want some?” he offers, and I shake my head and look down at the bed.

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