Free Web NovelChapter 31: Affairs Of The Heart
SOPHIA
The next morning, my mother was already downstairs drinking coffee when I arrived. I had a feeling it wouldn’t have mattered when I got there, I would be late.
She had a notebook open and was writing in it.
"Good morning, Sophia."
"Good morning." I gestured to the maids to serve breakfast.
Fruit. Eggs. Taro sandwiches. Mother looked at the spread approvingly. "You used to eat too many sweets, especially at breakfast. I’m glad to see that you’re taking your health seriously now."
Was this a compliment? I couldn’t be sure, especially given her flat tone.
"When will the doctor arrive?" I asked.
"He started the journey last night, and probably stayed at an inn. I imagine he’ll be here before the midday meal." Mother ate a few berries, a couple scoops of eggs, and skipped the taro sandwiches altogether. "I’m full. When you’re finished, let’s go to your room. That will be the best place to start if we wish to unlock your memories."
I’d already spent several days in my bedroom, going through everything I could find. Not a single image from my life before had entered my mind. The only true memory I probably had was when I saw the necklace and earrings.
"I’m full," I said, dotting my lips with a cloth napkin. "Shall we go?"
Mother and I climbed the stairs to the third floor. When we entered the bedroom, she stood in the center, looking at the whole room. One door led to the massive bathroom with its circular metal tub. The other door led to my dressing room.
Jace had his own, but there was very little in it. A couple of uniforms. Some pajamas. A few sets of clothes. It appeared he didn’t stay here very often. A conclusion my mother also came to when she entered and looked around.
"Does Jace not spend any time at all here?"
"I didn’t ask him. He brought me home and the next day he took off for the Capital. I’ve gotten one letter from him stating he’ll be working for the next couple of weeks."
Mother left Jace’s dressing area and sat on the edge of the bed. "Does sleeping in here evoke anything? Perhaps your and Jace’s wedding night?"
"According to Jace we didn’t have one." ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Mother shot to her feet. "What?"
"He left me in the company of my lady’s companion and his ailing grandfather for months. I don’t think we’ve been..." I trailed off. Cleared my throat. "Um, intimate."
"It’ll be difficult to birth the Willowmarch heir if you do not sleep with your husband." My mother clicked her teeth together, obviously upset. "Where’s your lady’s companion now?"
"Jace took her to the Capital. He says she’s getting married."
"He left alone with her? Who is she?"
"Penelope Shire."
"Oh. Her." Mother started pacing. "I didn’t realize she’d been designated as your companion when she seems more likely to be his."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, everyone in the Capital thinks that hussy is his wife. She goes out with him everywhere." She smacked one of the chairs that sat in front of the fireplace. "Sophia Marie! You allowed a mistress to usurp your place!"
"She’s his mistress?" That made sense given how Penelope’s attention had only been on my husband. "But she lived here with me. Are you saying he housed his legal wife and his mistress in the manor?"
"Yes. Outrageous! When his grandfather sent him to the military camp at the border, he was what? Fifteen, I think? He was nearly struck by an arrow, but Penelope threw herself in front of him."
"She’s his savior."
"Savior, my foot. That girl is a shameless schemer. It seems only Jace is blind to her true nature."
"Then I should divorce him."
"Divorce? No. Never. You are a Pagemoore. We do not divorce. You must find a way to keep your husband firmly within your grasp."
"Or I could divorce him."
"Sophia!"
I crossed my arms. "I don’t know what I was like before, Mrs. Pagemoore. Perhaps I was timid and obediant. It doesn’t matter. I won’t stay married to a man who has no loyalty to his own wife."
"Loyalty? Loyalty! Marriage is about interests, not love. Love is mercurial. It’s not enough to hold matrimonial bonds. Get your head out of the clouds." My mother straightened her jacket and smoothed back her hair. "Enough of this nonsense. You need to get your memories back. Believe it or not, you actually had Jace in your heart since you were children. When you remember everything, those feelings will return."
A knock sounded on the bedroom door.
"Enter," I said.
The housekeeper opened the door. "The doctor is here, Mrs. Willowmarch."
"See him into the parlor," I said.
My mother left first, marching away like the devil was poking her backside with his pitchfork. I followed more slowly so I could gather my scattered thoughts and try to ease my frustration.
If Jace and I’s marriage was transactional, then what were the gains and losses for the Pagemoores and the Willowmarches? So far, I saw no benefits to being Jace’s wife other than money and land.
I suppose that was plenty of reason to marry for some. But even so, what did Jace gain from marrying into a family like mine? Given my mother’s temperment, I imagine the rest of my family was much the same.
And myself? Was I a copy of my mother? Practical. Analytical. Bitter. How much of my personality, choices, beliefs relied on my previous experiences? Would remembering my life from before be any better than starting with a blank slate?
"Dr. Rhine, thank you for making the time," said my mother as we entered the parlor.
The maid had just finished serving tea and the doctor picked up the cup to drink.
"This is my daughter, Sophia. She was in an accident a few days ago and got a nasty knock on the head. She woke up with amnesia." freewёbnoνel.com
He smiled at me. "Ah. That’s a rare condition, but vicious head injuries will sometimes bring that result. A few days, you say?" The doctor gestured to the spot next to him on the sofa. "Sit down, dear girl. Let’s check that noggin of yours."
