Chapter Nine

Alexander wanted to talk but he did not even know where to start from. His mind was reeling and an ache was already starting to bloom in his head. This information was truly too much to process.

Beatrice on the other hand, simply stared at Alexander, gauging his reaction and wondering how he was taking the information. From the look on his face, he seemed to be taking it badly. She knew he was at a loss for words.

Alexander dragged air into his lungs through his nose to calm him down before he spoke.

"I have pondered on all what you said and I know that it is true. It is baffling me how you could come here but as you said, it was through magic. However, I do not believe that magic still exists in these parts." He cleared his throat and continued. " As for your presence here, you shall continue to stay in the keep and act as Beatrice, my wife and the Marchioness of Ludlow. I will not ask any sexual favours from you and I will be good to you. What do you say to this proposition?" Alexander concluded.

Beatrice took a seat on the sofa opposite Alexander. She had no choice but to remain here because of her mission. She could do nothing other than that. Not to appear too eager to remain here, Beatrice took a while staying silent so that Alexander would think she was weighing her options. After some time, she spoke.

"I accept your proposal," came Beatrice's clear voice. "There is nothing for me to do rather than continue to stay here and act like Beatrice would. I shall also play my role as the Marchioness of this town. You might have to remind me of certain things or ways that Beatrice would have done. You also have to tell me more about Beatrice's family so that I can act the part when I am around them."

" You have suggested a brilliant thing. I shall tell you about the family of Beatrice. Their family name is Henry. However, I will start with Suzanne because she is Beatrice's immediate younger sibling and the one closest to her."

" Go on then," she said. " I would like to know more about my closest sibling."

" Suzanne Henry is a short young woman of twenty and one years of age. She has short brown hair and kind green eyes. She is not too beautiful but has a very good character. Suzanne is selfless and cares more about her family than herself. She likes to bake and sing and she is terrible at dancing. Overall, she is a sweet soul with hardly no fault. That is all about Suzanne I can think of for now. Anything I remember, I shall let you know."

He went on, " Sarah Henry is the second sister of Beatrice. She is a tall young girl of ten and eight years of age. She is taller than Suzanne and even Beatrice too. She is stubborn and always angry and often times, rebellious. Sarah cannot be treated with a calm hand but rather, a strong hand. Without control, she can spiral out and do unimaginable things. She does not like anyone and her usually surly expression is accompanied by her cold black eyes. She has long black hair."

Beatrice did not like Sarah from the way Alexander had described her but there was nothing she could do about it. She still had to meet her because Sarah was her younger sister. He just had to handle her the way Alexander had said.

"As for Joshua, he is a boy of ten and five years of age. He has long blonde hair and clear blue eyes like you. He too is tall but not as tall as Sarah. His character is a mix of that of Suzanne and Sarah. He is sometimes calm and sometimes stubborn but it takes much to get him angry. When he does, it is as if thunder has struck. Joshua usually cautions Sarah on her rebellious ways but she does not pay him heed. Joshua is a bright and handsome young boy."

Having heard the descriptions of her siblings, Beatrice took it all in. It was time to hear about Mr and Mrs Henry.

"What about the people I shall now call mother and father?"

" Well, Mrs Amelia Henry is a strict woman but her strictness does not seem to terrify Sarah anymore. She is tall, with green eyes and black hair. Mr Abraham Henry is a calm middle aged man. He corrects his children with love but all the love is lost on Sarah. You are his favourite child. He loves that you take after him in looks, hair colour and eye colour whereas Joshua only takes after him and hair and eye colour." He paused. " That will be all for now, I think."

"I have heard all what you said. I will play the part of Beatrice so well that no one would have any cause to doubt me. Now that I remember, why were you so against my wearing of the exact replica of the dress on the woman in the great hall?"

" I do not want to talk about it," Alexander said sharply. "I have to go to bed now in view of my duties tomorrow."

" Alright then, Alexander. You can go to sleep. If you ever want to talk about it, I will be here for you. That we will not be making love to each other does not mean that we cannot talk about what bothers us. Anyway, I want to go to the washroom to cleanse my mouth of the taste of the apple cider ale that was served at the ball."

Beatrice got up and went into the washroom. While there, she pondered on why Alexander did not like to hear of the woman in the portrait. She was a relative of his, that Beatrice knew. On the portrait, a skillful hand had written: Lady Eleanor Thomas, 1353 - 1412.

Alexander had told her that he was twenty six years old. She made quick calculations and found out that he had been about seven years of age when Lady Eleanor had died. Probably, something tragc had happened then.

Since Alexander had refused to tell her, all she could do presently was guess at the chain of events that had transpired back then. When Beatrice got back to the sleeping area, Alexander was laying on his back and staring upward. He seemed to be occupied by a lot of thoughts. Perhaps, some memories were prodding at him.

"Alexander, please move over a little bit. I want to lay down and sleep," Beatrice said quietly.

Alexander did not even stir. Perhaps he had not even heard her because she did not speak loudly.

"Alexander, can you move over a little bit?" she repeated, her voice louder this time.

He still did not act as if he had heard her. He was thinking too deep that he was oblivious to his surroundings. Beatrice was sure that he had not even heard her come into the room. He shook him on the shoulder and he came to a start.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Please, I need to sleep. Can you move over a little bit?" she asked.

Alexander shuffled over to the other side of the bed still occupied by thoughts. He did not even spare Beatrice a glance as she climbed into the bed. Beatrice turned the other way and pulled the covers up to her chin. She tried to stay awake to watch Alexander but felt her eyes closing in exhaustion. She simply gave up the fight and closed her eyes finally. Within seconds, Beatrice was fast asleep.

Alexander continued staring up and thinking. He was in another world now. The memories were eating away at him. He tried to stop them from coming but he could not. They plagued him uncontrollably.

In the early hours of the morning, he finally closed this eyes in a fitful sleep. As soon as he had been taken up by sleep, the nightmares came. He screamed and thrashed all to no avail.

Beatrice felt a disturbance on the bed and she woke up. She looked at the source of disturbance and saw Alexander screaming and thrashing around on the bed. She rushed over to his side and shook him awake vigorously. When he opened his eyes, she brushed rivulets of sweat away from his face. His whole body was drenched in sweat.

"Alexander, what is it? What is wrong? You can talk to me."

Alexander did not hesitate as he started to speak. The unpleasant memories had plagued him for years followed by occasional nightmares.

"When I was seven years of age, my grandmother was still alive. I called her Ma and she loved me so much. One day, I threw a tantrum and demanded a pie made from a special type of berries that were only found up a hill. My grandmother loved me so much and she said she would get the berries. The maids asked her not to worry about it that they would go and get them but she declined their offer. She wanted to go and get the berries for her favourite grandson and bake the pie for him. On her way down from the hill, she stumbled upon a loose rock and hit her head on a boulder. She bled to death before my father went to find her in a pool of her own blood. The lady in the portrait in the great hall is my grandmother. Can't you see, Beatrice? I killed her. If only I had not thrown a tantrum."

Beatrice patted his head comfortingly. " You did not kill her. Do not place the guilt on yourself. You were just a child then and tantrums are normal with children. Moreso, your grandmother offered to get the berries out of her own free will so you did not kill her. You have to absolve yourself of the guilt you have felt since then and let all the bad memories go. I promise I will be here for you."

Alexander looked at Beatrice and whispered, " I love you. It does not matter whether you are the Beatrice I got married to or not."

Beatrice was tired of pushing her feelings away so she replied him. " I love you too, Alexander."