Chapter Sixteen

Beatrice was stunned beyond words. She had expected only a cruel remark from Sarah but the one she gave was not cruel. It was shocking in its simplicity. Sarah was really observant but Beatrice knew that she had to play it out masterfully.

"What a silly observation you have made, Sarah! My eyes are lighter in colour and they are brighter because of joy, the joy of love and my cheeks are rosier because because of these past weeks spent in Alexander's arms and heart. You said I look different. Yes, I do and it is because of the love and care that Alexander has been showing me. After my fall down the stairs, it was as if we fell in love all over again and everything has been blissful between us since then."

"What a detailed explanation you have given me simply because I said you look different. I was just stating my observations. Is it a crime to do so?" Sarah asked.

"Of course, it is not," Beatrice answered.

"Let me confirm my observations from Suzanne and Joshua. Tell me, have the two of you noticed that Beatrice's eyes are lighter in colour and her cheeks are rosier?"

Suzanne was the first to respond to Sarah's question. She said, "Well, Beatrice's eyes are lighter and her cheeks rosier because as she has explained, it is simply from the joy of love. Lord Alexander must have done a number on her to change her this way."

Joshua took a while before he responded. He looked at Beatrice closely, observing for any signs of change on her face but after a while, he responded.

"I do not see any change in Beatrice physically. To me, she is just the way she used to be. However, I have noticed that she is happier and that is because of Lord Alexander. We need to thank him properly before going back to Chester," Joshua said.

"I agree with you, Joshua. Lord Alexander deserves credit for how happy he has made our sister. Just take a look at her. She is glowing with happiness," Suzanne added.

"Since you both have not noticed any change in Beatrice or have attributed it to her happiness with Lord Alexander, I shall keep my observations to myself. However, I shall inform father and mother when we go back home. I will try to convince them and they might decide to come and check on their first daughter to confirm or refute my observations," Sarah said.

"Just let it go, Sarah. It is nothing," Suzanne admonished and Joshua nodded in agreement.

"It is alright everyone. Enough with the arguments on whether I have changed physically or not," Beatrice said. "It will soon be time for the afternoon meal. Come and have your seats at the dining table while I go fetch Alexander from his office to come and meet you. After then, we shall all have our lunch. I trust the cooks to have prepared a delicious meal."

Beatrice ushered them all out of the living area and into the dining area where they all took their seats at the table.

"You can seat down here and wait for a little while. I have to go down to Alexander's office to him," she said. Suzanne and Joshua nodded in agreement and she took it as her cue to go ahead and get Alexander. Sarah had not responded but then, her approval did not matter.

On the way to Alexander's office, Beatrice decided that she had to limit her interaction with Sarah to the least minimum. She did not want her to notice what she was not meant notice. She was sharply observant but Alexander had not mentioned it when he was briefing her about her family and their characters. What was important now was that she had noticed it so she had to stay out of Sarah's watchful eyes.

When she got to Alexander's office, Beatrice did not bother to knock on the door. She just swung it open nad went to meet him at his desk.

"Good day, my dear. My siblings, Suzanne, Sarah and Joshua have arrived at the keep. They are waiting for you at the dining table."

"How are they and how did you act towards them?" Alexander asked.

"They are well. All of them except Sarah received me openly and we talked as siblings should. They did not even suspect that I am not even the main Beatrice. Sarah made an observation. Do you know what she said Alexander?"

"What did she say?" Alexander asked his heart already beating. He did not want anyone to find out that this was not the Beatrice he married the first time.

"Sarah said that my eyes are bright and my cheeks rosier. She also said that I look different somehow. She even asked Suzanne and Joshua to confirm her observations," Beatrice said.

"What then was the response you gave her after her observations?" Alexander questioned?

"I told her that the joy of the love we have been in these past weeks and the blissful times we have shared together made my eyes brighter and my cheeks rosier. I told her that the change in my expression was is as a result of the happiness of falling in love with you all over again," Beatrice responded.

"The answer you gave Sarah was good. I like the way you worded it. I am sure she would not have doubted you after that or did she?"

"She did. You did not mention her as this observant to me but her eyes are sharp. Suzanne and Joshua were convinced totally. She even said that she would try to convince our father and mother of the difference in me so that they too can come here and see what she is talking about. That girl is too observant for her own good. I would say she is a tough nut to crack. "

"We have to be very careful with her then. You will have to act in a way that would make her not to be suspicious of anything. I have always known Sarah to be rebellious but not as observant as this. We just have to be wary with her, " he finalized.

"I am sure it will now be time for lunch and we have guests awaiting us at the dining table. Let us go and meet them," Beatrice said.

"Aye, dear wife. We should go, " Alexander confirmed.

As was their custom, they linked arms together and were about to step out of the office when the door suddenly swung open and a man stepped into the room.

The man looked to be about fourty years of age. He was tall and bow legged. His brown hair was already going gray because of his advancing age and his blue eyes shone with warmth. From his features, Beatrice took him to be Sir Mark Philip, Alexander's right hand man as Nomar had told her.

"Good day, Lord Alexander and Lady Beatrice, " Mark greeted.

"Good day, Mark, my loyal adviser. How was your journey to Warwick and what is the outcome of the issue you went there to negotiate? " Alexander asked him.

"My journey was alright and uneventful and the negotiations went smoothly. They have agreed to our drafts. We have to be thankful for that because the Marquess of Warwick is a tough man with a hard exterior. "

"I am grateful to you for letting it happen, Mark. You are a good negotiator, " Alexander praised.

"You have done well, Sir Mark, " Beatrice added because they seemed to have forgotten that she was in the same room with them.

"Good day, Lady Beatrice, " Mark said, repeating his greeting from earlier on. "Before I left this town for my journey, you we're just recovering from your fall. How are you feeling now? " Mark asked.

"Thank you for asking, Sir Mark. I am feeling as well as I can be. I do not even feel the effects of my fall again, " Beatrice, the Marchioness answered.

"That is what we were hoping for, " Mark said.

"We are heading to the dining area for our lunch. Beatrice's siblings just arrived this morning and we are going to meet them there. I insist you join us for the meal after your tiring journey,"Alexander said.

"If it will not be inconvenient for you, my Lord, I would like to. Thank you for the invitation, " Mark said gratefully.

Beatrice and Alexander linked their arms together again before going out of the office. Mark then followed after them and they all headed in the direction of the dining area, all of them silent.

When they reached the large dining table, Alexander pulled out the chair on the left side of his own chair for Beatrice and she sat down on it. He also took his seat on his own chair at the head of the table before Mark pulled out the chair on the right side of Alexander and he too sat down.

Alexander looked around the table and checked that everyone was present. His mother, his brother, Isaac and Annalise were all seated at their rightful places on the table. He also looked at each of Beatrice's siblings and they smiled at him in greeting. He beamed at the full table before him and spoke after the meal had been brought and placed in front of everybody.

"Alright, everyone. Please, dig in and eat this delicious meal. "