Chapter 15 What a lovely day, wait what!

After Brenton left, the maids made me a bath. For some reason though, they could never quite get the temperature right. It was always to hot. But once I got in and got used to the water, it would feel just right. This was only the second time I had ever bathed in my bedroom. The first was the day after wedding. Brenton did not want me walking the distance to the hot springs. You know the ones that were basically just across the hall.

I had to giggle to myself. Honestly, it is rather sweet. I don't think the man would let me walk period, not now that he know I am pregnant. But boy does he like his play time. I blushed bright red the thought brought back memories of us in the hot springs. I cant imagine what he may have in store for me in this tub. I blushed brighter red. I heard my bedroom door open and ducked down into the water.

It was the maid! She shouted, "Ma'am… Mistress… Lady of the house! For heaven sacks child! I can not remember what you wanted to be called! What was her name? Oh right, that's it, JOY!"

I sat up, blush and all, laughing. "My dear Mrs. Weatherbee, I am perfectly OK. I am sorry if I frightened you."

Mrs. Weatherbee put her hand to her chest and let out an exasperated sigh. "Mrs. Fuoco-Fenice" I corrected her by shaking my finger at her giggling. "Mrs. Joy" I shook my head at her. "Mrs! you gave me old heart a dragon sized work out you did. I am not as young as I used to be now. Anyway, I came in to see if you could use any help my dear."

Not once in my entire time living here with Brenton has any of the staff out right offered to do anything for me. I have had to command or direct. Then they will act without question. Maybe this is a good sign that maybe I am changing things.

I smiled brightly, "Yes actually, could you possibly wash my hair. I would not like Brenton to come back and smell my dirty hair before he smells these beautiful roses you added to my water."

The old woman came over and very gently pulled my long hair out of the water. She scrubbed it from my head down to the ends. She was very thorough. She worked in sections. After she got all my clean she then brushed it out. She separated it into multiple sections and braided each section. Then braided the sections together. When she was down to one braid she made a bun on top of my head.

I fell asleep while she worked. She worked slowly as well. When she was through she felt of the water. It was beginning to get cold and she had one of the guards to go get a Kilm. (No not a Kiln. A Kilm in this story is a brazier made out of clay or rock. You put wood in it and open the air holes on the bottom. Then you light the fire. You push this Kilm under the bathtub to heat the fire) When he came back with the Kilm and the wood, Mrs. Weatherbee took it and light the fire. She put it directly under the tub. Before long the water was heating up and quick. The water went from cold, to cool, to a-a-a-a-a, to nice, to heated, to Oh my goodness who is trying to cook me!

That was when I woke up. At that point the poor old woman had just realized how hot she had made the water. The Kilm had to much air and had burned hot. The water was nearly boiling. She knew she could not lift me out and she thought I was still sleeping. She was frantically pulling out small pieces of wood and putting out the flames as fast as she could. She was whimpering while she worked.

I could not touch the sides of the bathtub. I could not even put my feet down on the floor. The tub was just to hot. That was when it hit me! Mrs. Weatherbee always put a towel on the end where we sit and prop our backs against the back. I turned around and grabbed where the towel was at and my hands did not burn. I quickly pulled myself out of the water luckily without burning myself further.

Unfortunately, I did not aim. I missed the stairs on the side of the tub completely and fell to the ground. Mrs. Weatherbee squealed, "Mrs. Joy!!!!" She ran over to me, "Are you all right miss?"

I could not help but laugh, "Well I think the Joy stew is done. But next time I thing maybe you should add some vegetables. I mean who like's plain broth?"

Mrs. Weatherbee began laughing. She had tears rolling down her cheeks. "I am so sorry Mrs. Joy. I made the fire. I lit the fire. I did not realize it was to big. I thought it small enough to warm the water slowly. I have not left your side Mrs. Joy. Not even for an instant.

I laughed as the poor old woman attempted to help me to rise. Unfortunately, the baby seemed to like the hot water a little to much. He made my stomach poke out showing a small pregnancy belly. Mrs. Weatherbee noticed. She noticed and looked at me in delight as she pointed to my belly. I shook my head and gave her the shoosh look finger and all. "We do not want people to know yet." Mrs. Weatherbee. She made the action like she was zipping her mouth and she had an extra hep in her step while she cleaned up the tub and the room.

After she had left I finally got some much needed alone time. I went out of our balcony hole to get some much needed sunlight. As I stepped out, I had to notice that the air was turning cold. I only stood there for a few moments before coming back inside. I heard a loud BANG! I wonder what that was?

The servants never came to my room. So I assumed it was nothing. I got a book and sat down to start reading. It was initialed, Motherhood and what to expect. It even had illustrations. I told myself, one chapter and then I will go do something else. As I began to read I actually found the information to be mildly interesting. There were even graphics to help explain the different parts of the anatomy. Someone had gone to great lengths to write this book. However, I knew from helping with my nieces and nephews that some of the information was bogus. I was there for their births for most of them. It was not near as horrific as the writer had expressed. He must have had a pretty bad experience.

When I stood up I looked at the clock, that was when I realized how late it was getting. It was already noon and time for lunch. I was still sitting here in my robe. I went behind my dressing screen to put some clothing on. It was truly amazing how quiet the day had been. I had been all by myself and all had been quiet. It was really the first time that I had noticed this feeling since being here too. I was feeling rather lonely.

I went to walk through the castle after I had gotten dressed, and the first thing that bothered me was that my two guards were gone. Ever since the misguided kidnapping, Brenton had made sure I had at least one guard with me at all times. But there was no one outside my door. I walked through our entire castle. I could not find anyone.

There, there is that feeling again of being lonely. What on earth could be happening around here. I can not even find the little boy who is always running around or sweeping the halls. His mother is a kitchen maid. She is usually giving him some shore to do. But the kitchens were empty. They left the food on the stove though.

That big loud noise earlier must have been something really bad for everyone to run off like this. I made me a plate of the stew from the stove, and grabbed some of the freshly made corn bread. I sat down to enjoy this lovely meal. I had made it about half way through my meal when I heard another CRASH, BAM, BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!

What on earth could that be. I promised Brenton if I ever was worried or scared about anything I would find him or go to our room. So, I grabbed my cornbread having finished my stew and ran to our room. What ever was going on, I could not risk my life and the baby's!

I don't know what is going on. I don't know how to get ahold of anyone. As far as I can tell the castle is empty. Brenton is at the main castle with his parents holding court. They are going to be packed over there. If I don't go in with the royal family, I will have to make it through the crowd. Brenton has strictly forbid me from going to the court if it is not with him. Simply because the crowds are so bbbbiiiiiiggggg... AAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I had an actual scream escape my mouth, as I fell down to the ground. I was rolling trying to protect my stomach in mid air, and trying to see what I tripped over.

I hit the ground hard. I had to laugh even though it hurt. Because, my cornbread hit me in the face when I landed. The corn bread was so brittle and soft that it crumbled into pieces when it hit my face and stomach. I guess the bread wanted to be inside my stomach instead.

I shook off my face and hair and slowly sat up. I turned to see what I tripped over. Only to find…