Inessa smoothed her dress, smiling in the mirror. It was of course a work of art. Tima cleared her entire schedule to work on the dress for two days. Inessa was not a concubine anymore, and the dress proved it. It was such a lovely lavender color with the beautiful flowers and butterflies sewn onto it.
Adosina walked in, smiling as she hugged Inessa. “You are gorgeous, my friend. Absolutely gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” Inessa said.
“Come! We must show you off! Guests are already arriving!” Adosina said.
Inessa smiled, touching Adosina’s elbow as they walked out of the room. “Addy, I don’t know when else I’m going to tell you, so I just want to let you know that I owe my life to you.”
“Nonsense, it was Api that forgave you completely,” Adosina said.
“No, I mean…” Inessa sighed. “That first time you introduced yourself. I don’t know if you understood quite how close to death I was on that Sabbath day.”
Adosina nodded, a small smile on her face. “I did, actually.”
Inessa frowned. “You did?”
Adosina glanced around to see if they were alone. “Ana, Rosa, and I always make the rounds through the concubines during the Sabbath social before we go on to our other socializing. Ana secretly points out all the women who have an alarming amount of demons near them. She pointed you out the moment she saw you enter the Cathedral. She suggested I stay by you the entire time and to not leave me alone ever, because you had a deadly amount. When you… when you became Api’s concubine I made Ana swear to tell me if you ever got that many demons again, but she never did. But it shouldn’t have mattered. I should have talked to you anyway.”
Inessa stared at Adosina, then nodded. “It is a good service you do for the concubines. Thank you.”
“I am confident Ana’s abilities have saved at least two dozen concubines. Every time a concubine dies, she takes it personally. She will often use Api’s titles to visit other High Elder’s concubines during the week, too. You are an incredible woman, Inessa. The ones who fight a lot of demons often are. I admire your strength, and I’m just sorry our friendship took such a rough turn when you got here.”
“Stop, Addy. If Martin has taught me anything, he has taught me forgiveness. I forgive you entirely,” Inessa said.
Adosina smiled, hugging her again before breaking away and grabbing her hand. “Come, now. That dress must be shown off immediately.”
Inessa giggled as they went through the house before appearing in the back gardens. Sara was there, hugging Inessa tightly and squealing about how beautiful her dress was. Inessa smiled as she gave a twirl to show it off before Adosina and Sara took her, introducing her to guests and nobility. Yes, these women caused her a deep loneliness, but they were making up for it. It was easier to see Sara’s actions as motherly, so easy to consider Adosina the sister she always wanted. She found a family here in the highest of noble class. She never expected it to, but she wouldn’t trade it for the world.
***
Martin walked out of his study, knowing some guests had already arrived and he needed to be there to greet them. The house was empty, with the kitchen doors opened to the back for easier movement for the servants. Which is why the footfalls going up the stairs were so easy to hear. He walked over, seeing his son walking up the stairs.
“Nathaniel?” Martin asked. His son paused, then barely turned his head, enough for Martin to see he was holding back tears. “Son?”
“Father, hello. Forgive me, I just need a moment to prepare myself for dinner.” Nathaniel faced forward again to hide his face as Martin stood at the bottom steps.
“May I offer any help?”
Nathaniel shook his head, his back to him. “No, Father. A small marital disagreement is all.”
Martin had never heard of Nathaniel and Rosa having a fight. He knew they had them because every couple had them, but they always worked it out. The fact that whatever it was hadn’t been resolved already, coupled with Nathaniel vocalized that they were indeed having a fight, meant this was bad. Whatever happened, whatever they were going through, he needed to treat this as carefully as he could.
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“I’m sorry, son,” Martin said. Nathaniel grabbed the railing, rubbing his forehead. He looked like he was about to say something but paused. “Say it, my son. I will not think less of you.”
Nathaniel nodded, then turned around, facing Martin, even with his eyes cast downward. “The devil was right, Father. She loves Tolomon.” Martin’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “She saw me as a good friend. A friend with titles. She’s made a happy life with me. But…”
“Nathaniel,” Martin started to say. “She loves you.”
He shook his head. “Not enough. She denied herself true happiness.” He turned around before Martin could see the tears fall. “We denied Tolomon true happiness.” Martin had no idea what to say. He watched his son finish walking up the stairs. “I will be there for dinner. I just need a moment to compose myself. I will not ruin Inessa’s happy night.”
Nathaniel disappeared down the hall to his room. Martin waited until the door closed before he turned, staring at the open door into the gardens. He had no idea how to help them. Divorce was forbidden, except when a woman was caught in adultery. And even then, the consequences of such were ones Nathaniel would not allow Rosa to receive. Despite the hurt this certainly caused Nathaniel, Martin knew his son loved his wife deeply. And he’d never want Tolomon to get the punishment of an adulterer, either.
The gardens were beautiful. The tables were set up beside the gardens, looking as though the tables belonged in the gardens somehow, covered in flowers and bouquets. Everything was in perfect order as Martin walked through them. He did what he did best. Placed his worry about Nathaniel to one side with a promise to come back to it as he put on a smile and welcomed the guests that had already arrived.
Martin walked over to Sara who smiled in his direction. “The gardens look beautiful, Sara. You have outdone yourself.”
“It is a joyous occasion. I could not help myself. Have you seen Inessa?” Sara asked.
“I have, yes.” Martin’s eyes fell on Inessa in her lavender dress as she talked to some of the higher nobility. “She is wearing a beautiful dress.” Sara chuckled to herself, and Martin smiled. “Is she not?”
“Absolutely. I might have to visit Tima’s dress shop myself sometime. Do you think she makes dresses for old women?”
“If you do not trust my words that you are a beautiful woman, go let Tima make you a dress to confirm what I've always believed about you."
Sara giggled like she was a schoolgirl as she touched her burning cheeks. “Blast those robes. If you weren’t wearing them I’d kiss you right now.”
Martin smiled, then cocked his head to one side, wondering what exactly she meant by that. Sara, realizing she might have stumbled on an inuendo, had a tomato red face as she stumbled away. “I must check on the servants.”
Martin smiled as she moved away. He took a deep breath before walking over to the crowd, welcoming the guests to his home. He talked with the elites, smiled, laughed. He didn’t realize how much he needed this night. A night to finally relax. He’d never have to see Inessa in her room. She would be a powerful influence for good in Indenuel’s life. Indenuel now had a solid reason to get the mark off his chest. And more importantly, no one would ever know who she was to Martin.
He moved from one guest to another when he realized he had come up to Inessa. What with preparing for the Empress, he hardly had time to visit her, and he used every excuse not to see her at times. But here they were, almost stumbling upon each other. Inessa looked startled before giving a low curtsey. “High Elder Martin, thank you again for everything you’ve done for me.”
Martin bowed back. “An honor to serve, Inessa. And please, Martin is enough of a title.”
“Are you certain? I no longer have a roll in your family, and I thought maybe you’d like me to use your proper title,” Inessa said.
Martin ignored the lie Inessa unknowingly told. “Despite the circumstances which brought you to my home, you are Addy’s closest friend. As such, you will always have a place to stay here, and you need never to call me High Elder Martin again.”
Inessa smiled. “If that is what you wish.”
“It is. And that dress is absolutely stunning. It is a pity Indenuel isn’t here to see it. You might have gotten another reaction out of him like the one in the study,” Martin said.
Inessa’s smile widened as she gave it a small twirl. “This must be the reason why betrothed aren’t allowed to the woman’s betrothal celebration.”
Martin smiled. “Indeed.”
Inessa caught sight of someone and waved. She touched Martin’s elbow. “I see one of my friends, I must go. But I wanted to say you truly live up to your title of healer. In more ways than one. You may not want me to call you by your titles, but I will never forget the kindness you have shown me.” Martin said nothing, giving a small bow instead. Inessa moved away, greeting her friend. Martin stared at the open air for a moment. Inessa gave the compliment in earnest, but he didn’t deserve it.
He agreed to take Inessa to his bed. It was a hesitant agreement, one made with a threat of exposing his darker sins, but it was an agreement all the same. That young woman suffered much during her time as a concubine, and he did not feel like he should be praised for doing something he should have done a long time ago. But she was finally leaving him, and more importantly, she would never learn the truth.
Sara appeared at his side, touching his hand. “There’s Adosina with Elias and his family.”
Martin looked over at the side of the house to see Adosina talking with Elias. There was a small crowd of people around them. Martin felt nervous, knowing he let Adosina invite them because they needed to know this part of her life, and it startled him to realize how much he wanted this to work. He imagined the worst that could happen, a fight breaking out, the nobility shunning this good family, before he forced himself to stop. He was a High Elder, and if he wanted the nobility to show them grace and welcome them to this party, he needed to lead by example.