Taming the Rakes

15

Lily was confused as to why a man had joined them in the carriage, and so she questioned her husband. “Amadeus,” she murmured, grabbing her new husbands’ attention. “Who is this man who has joined us on our ride?” Lily tried to seem soft, demure, but she was a bit irritated that they were not alone to chat on their way back to the Royal City.

            Her husband smirked, looking a bit irritated that his wife would question him. “First of all, Lily, please do not address me unless I have addressed you first; either in public or in private. Second of all, this is my lover, and once you give me a male heir my husband, Daniel. My father left me the Duchy very specifically in his will; I was to marry a ranked woman and give birth to a male heir. I would have married Princess Gwendolyn, but she is dull and not particularly bright, and I do not want to be stuck in a marriage with a woman with whom I cannot have a conversation if I wish. You will learn to appreciate Daniel, as he will keep me busy most of the time when that would be your job; expect him in your bedroom when I am there, as I have almost no physical attraction to women at all, and will need him present in order to perform. Princess Gwendolyn has gotten quite good at taking us both at once, which you will have to learn as well. You will give birth to my child, and it had best be a male child. Then, you will give birth to a child for Daniel, so that we may raise the children together and both have a child. You, my dear wife,” he spat the word wife with such contempt it caused Lily to flinch, “are nothing more than an incubator.” Lord Iscor chuckled cynically, shaking his head. “In public, I expect you to be the perfect, loving wife; doting on me, adoring, following my commands. You will not speak ill of me to the High Crowned Princess or any of the Ladies with whom you work. I will, however, not be entirely cruel to you. I have selected a man to be your,” Lord Iscor paused to think of the proper word, “entertainer, shall we say, when I have no need of you. He is proven sterile, and will be very pleasing to you.”

            “Am I to thank you for that!?” Lily spat, her face red in fury. “I will not be an incubator to your child, or to the child of your lover! In case you have not noticed, no one cares who you want to have in your bed! Is your title that important to you that you would trick an innocent young woman into marrying you simply to produce an heir!?” Lily was shouting now, something she did not usually do, but the young woman was madder than she had ever been in her life. “I swear on the Holy Ones, any child I ever give to you will be a daughter!” Lily shouted, crossing herself and clutching her Heavenly Pendent in her hand.

            Lord Iscor growled and slapped her, the sound resonating through the carriage. Lily gasped, and slapped him back instinctively. “Never, and I mean NEVER, lay a hand on me again!” Lily shrieked, pounding on the top of the carriage to get the driver to stop. Lily exited the barely stopped carriage and stomped her way back to the second carriage that Sage and Marigold were riding in with all of her belongings. Lord Iscor slammed the carriage door, and they rode the rest of the way to the Royal City in separate carriages, silently stewing in their shared hatred of their new spouse.  

When they reached Iscor Manor in the Royal City, the two still did not speak to each other as Lily directed Sage and Marigold as to where she wanted her things; she picked a room on the third floor near the library and a small tea room, and decided she would transform the third floor of Iscor Manor into her personal sanctuary. Lord Iscor ignored her and he and Daniel went to the second floor, where his private rooms were, and shut the door. “Sage,” Lily snapped, turning towards her maid. “I want you to find out who this man Lord Iscor has chosen to be my ‘entertainment’ when he is unavailable. I want you to tell him I do not want him. Then, I want you to go to Princess Gwendolyn, and I want you to have her give you a list of names of the unwed men of the court, the richer the better, I do not care how old they are. I am going to charm one of them and get out of this dreadful marriage if it is the last thing I do.” Lily was nearly growling, her face bright red with anger. Sage new better than to argue with her lady when she was this furious, and so she simply did as she was told.

            Lily undressed herself, having dismissed Marigold to finish organizing her closet and then to decorate a small tea room on the third floor. She was sitting at her vanity, wearing only a chemise, corset, and stockings, when there was a knock at her door. “Enter,” she muttered bravely, straightening her back and wiping her face of the tears that had fallen against her will. Lord Iscor entered her room, looking sorry and slightly downcast. “Lord Iscor, may I help you?”

            “Please, Lily, I apologize for my outburst in the carriage. Daniel pointed out that it may have been slightly overdone, and for any pain I caused you I do apologize. May we please start again? You must understand what an awkward position this is for me, I never wanted to marry a woman. My father was completely disgusted that I had no interest in women, and even though most of the country is completely fine with my taste in lover, my father made sure that I would never be able to live my life the way I wanted to.” Lord Iscor explained, sounding extremely sorry and depressed.

            Lily sighed, walking towards him, and embracing him in a hug. Her husband wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close and letting out a single sob. “Amadeus, please, I just want this marriage to work for both of us. I do not want to be kicked out of my own children’s lives, and I do not want us to be enemies.” Lily whispered, consoling him softly.

            “I want to be the husband you deserve, Lily, truly I do…I am just not sure how,” Amadeus admitted sheepishly.

            Lily brought her hands around to his face, and gently pulled him down to her lips, kissing him with all the softness and love that a woman could muster for her new husband. Amadeus was shocked, but kissed her back tearfully and lovingly. “How about we just try to make us work, two people scared in this world of what everyone else thinks?” Amadeus nodded, kissing her again, this time with a bit more passion. “I will be here for you, Ami, no matter what,” Lily murmured against her husbands lips. In the back of her mind, she was silently thinking of how to get away from this man who seemed to be hot one moment and cold the next; it was frightening how he had been so cruel and was now being so kind, and Lily would not stick around for long if she did not have to.