10 Panicked

To pass the time Kaoma went and had lunch with her little sister Sarika who would also be turning seven that year. 

"You remembered!" squealed Sarika with delight as she rushed to open a present that Kaoma bought for her.

"It's Lord Darkfall's latest book of poems & short stories," Sarika gushed, "he's such a mystery and all the rage right now in high society, I would love to meet him some day."

Books like these weren't really allowed at the convent so Sarika would have to keep it well hidden amongst her personal belongings. 

As Kaoma hugged her sister she said, "I'm glad that you are pleased, it wasn't so easy to get a hold of but I'm glad to see the joy it has brought to your face."

While Kaoma had inherited her blonde hair and amber eyes from her father who she had never met from birth.

Sarika looked exactly like their mother with long thick black hair and blue eyes that hung like a shroud around her fragile frame.

Kaoma was short, with small breasts and could easily pass for a boy if she chopped off her hair and hid her figure in boys clothes.

Even at her current age, Sarika already had more breasts than Kaoma did when she was a child, also sported long gangly legs like her father Huntley had when he was a child.

Someday Sarika was going to be voluptuous and as tall as her father eventually over time.

It was one of those days that Sarika was doing better and even though she was bedridden she remained as bright and lively as ever.

Sarika often suffered from a mysterious illness, where one minute she was fine the next minute she was struggling to breathe. 

As she grew older she got less fevers and did not have to stay in the hospital but Sarika still had a frail and weak disposition that left Kaoma worried.

Her time at the convent did wonders for her as now the color had returned to her cheeks and she had started to gain some weight.

As long as she managed her time wisely everyone believed that if she too better care of her heath and stuck to a proper routine

Sarika asked, "When can I return to the convent?"

"In a few days time, just as soon as Mother Superior informs me that they hired the requisite guards, we wouldn't want a repeat of what happened on the eve of my wedding," answered Kaoma.

She was alluding to Lord Horace's plan to steal Sarika away from the convent which had gone off without a hitch.

Lord Horace had done so with ease because no guards had been in place at the convent to offer any resistance.

Kaoma had hell trying to convince Mother Superior before the incident occurred that guards were needed but Mother Superior always refused her counsel.

Instead Mother Superior insisted that they could handle things their own way.

This incident pointed out loopholes in security where Lord Horace and his men could have done a lot of stealing or have easily overpowered the Nuns and taken what they wanted.

Had Lord Horace not been decisive with his orders to just have them steal Sarika and leave the women at the convent alone, the situation could have been much worse. 

The two young ladies spent a lot of time catching up and chatting, eventually they ended up napping and it was Lady Gertrude this time around that woke Lady Kaoma. 

Kaoma tiptoed out of Sarika's room not wanting to wake the young miss.

She had been told that her sister had not been eating or sleeping well because she had been frantic and anxious with worry about her sister's marriage to the odious old man. 

Now that her sister had returned alive and well from her wedding night had done a lot to put Sarika's mind at ease.

Now that Sarika could return to the convent where she missed Mother Superior and friends made her the happiest girl alive.

As they hurried back to Kaoma's room Lady Getrude told her, "we found a young man with who I'm told looks like a handsome version of Lord Horace in his youth. You are in luck he's a prime piece of specimen and had I been in my younger days I would have wanted him for myself."

"Knock it off with your silly lusting," said Lady Hilda, who had been waiting out in the corridor and joined in the conversation adding matter of factly, "We drugged him and chained him to your bed."

The women were chatting and gossiping like this was everyday news.

Nothing shocking or noteworthy while Kaoma was left reeling wishing she could be anywhere but there right now.

Kaoma's heart beat increased rapidly the closer they got to her bedroom, "What about the chest?" 

"It's been removed by our men, don't worry about it," Lady Gertrude replied, "the only thing you should be concerned about is getting pregnant, remember that time you spied the dogs getting it on in the kennel, just emulate them."

Lady Hilda sighed, "Stop scaring the young miss. We can't be there to hold your hand through it this time Kaoma. I'm pretty sure that hunk of a man will know what needs to be done and we'll just let nature run its course between the both of you."

Before she knew it they were at the door and just like the women said they would.

Then they bid her farewell but not before Lady Hilda squeezed her shoulder encouragingly then pushed her through the door closing it soundly behind her.

Her stomach started to cramp but not from anxiety but from guilt.

There was so much left unsaid in the short walk to her bedroom, if she heard right, not only was the soon to be father of her child chained to her bed but he was also drugged.

Does that mean he wasn't willing, would she be preying on him like Lord Horace had her, what made her so different from the old dead man?

Panicked.

That's how she felt right now, she should have asked more questions.

Like how long would they keep the young man, where did he come from, what would happen to him after they were sure she was carrying a child?