Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 235: Normal dinner (2)

"Forgive me, I cannot stop laughing," Ophelia said, covering her mouth to help the laughter stop.

Dante pulled out Ophelia’s chair at the dining table. "You must make it stop since it isn’t funny."

Ophelia tried once more to be serious, but she couldn’t. Laughter soon filled the dining hall, gathering the attention of the knights.

Ophelia laughed at Dante sulking all the way from the bedchamber to the dining hall.

"What did I miss? I want to laugh as well," Theo said, curious what had Ophelia so happy.

"It is nothing," Dante said as he sat down beside Ophelia.

Alice chose a seat out of arm’s length from Dante. It was odd to sit down with the Hastings, and with the other servants staring, it grew even more uncomfortable.

Alice reached for a glass to pour water, and at the same time, Thomas sat down beside her. "What are you doing? This is the table for the Hastings and guests."

"Lady Hastings’ brother invited me to sit. Why did you choose that dress?" Thomas asked, inspecting Alice’s appearance.

"What? What is wrong with the dress? It was a gift from Lady Hastings," Alice said, annoyed that Thomas further ruined her mood.

"It is pretty," Thomas replied.

Alice frowned as she realised what Thomas was trying to say. "Are you saying it is too pretty for me to wear?"

"No, it is too pretty for you to wear and be frowning all the time. If it is uncomfortable to sit here, why don’t you be honest with Lady Hastings? You’re not going to find too many ladies like her who allow their maids to sit with them for dinner. You should enjoy the moment," Thomas advised Alice.

Thomas watched as Ophelia laughed, and Dante smiled while failing to get her to stop laughing. Theo laughed on the sidelines. It appeared like the dining hall had a normal dinner again.

"Or, you can leave," Thomas added.

"Why is it that as soon as I think you are comforting me, you must end it in a way to upset me? I am not going to allow you to be the only one seated at this table. I will stay and enjoy myself," Alice said, straightening her posture.

For one night, Alice was going to enjoy what it was like to be a lady.

Thomas shook his head at Alice’s behaviour. She didn’t need to turn it into a contest, but at the very least, she was staying.

Thomas assumed Ophelia would enjoy having more seats filled at the table, even though family members didn’t fill them.

Theo looked behind Ophelia and Dante at the knights who were focused on their table. "Lord Hastings, I think your knights want your attention."

"It is not my attention they want. I am certain they wish to know why we are all dressed up, and they weren’t informed. Many of the knights have fine clothes for gatherings like this. I’ll leave it to my wife to explain," Dante said, giving Ophelia the floor to speak.

"Never mind," Theo said, realising the true cause of the knights’ stares. "I was mistaken. They were not trying to get Lord Hastings’ attention; they were looking at my sister’s dress. It is a pretty dress."

Ophelia’s laughter finally ceased after hearing what Theo said. Just as she turned to Dante, she saw him standing up to remove his coat.

It didn’t surprise Ophelia when Dante’s coat came to rest on her shoulders.

"I wasn’t cold," Ophelia said, but she still fixed the coat so it wouldn’t fall off her shoulders.

"But you may still fall ill with the flu if you don’t cover up. Right, gentlemen?" Dante questioned the knights.

Being addressed by Dante, the knights averted their gazes.

Ophelia held Dante by his arm and forced him to sit down. "Leave them be. Most of them are going out to war soon. Allow them to enjoy admiring a beautiful woman."

"Not my beautiful woman. They can go find their own," Dante said, keeping a watchful eye on the men seated behind them.

Ophelia palmed Dante’s face. "Jealousy looks good on you, dear. Now I am tempted for us to leave dinner and be alone."

Theo, clearing his throat, disrupted the moment. "Must I remind you two that you are not alone at the table? It is bad enough that I have to witness the knights admiring my sister, but now I am forced to watch you two be lovely. Please, remember there are others without lovers at the table." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Well, I might be the only one without a lover. Thomas and Alice appear to be quite close," said Theo.

Alice patted her chest, trying to calm herself after almost choking on water. "We are not lovers. Thomas has feelings for me, but I am unable to return them."

Thomas glared at Alice for speaking of her assumptions out loud. "I do not have feelings for you. I ignore it when you come up with these ideas when you are alone, but please refrain from speaking of it out loud."

Thomas didn’t want to endure the knights speaking about him liking Alice. The men were all childish and would never stop teasing Thomas, even though it wasn’t true.

"He is in denial," Alice argued.

"No, I am not," Thomas replied, annoyed that Alice kept going. "You have convinced yourself that I am in love with you. You are Lady Hastings’ maid, so I am near you and protect you. You have misunderstood."

"I know when a man loves me," Alice said, adamant about Thomas’s feelings.

"Yet, we have never seen you with a man," Thomas fired back.

Theo reached for a biscuit to munch on as he enjoyed the show he had started. He spoke with Thomas once, regarding Alice, so he knew there were no feelings, but it was fun to see the pair bicker. They were like an old married couple.

"I am a bit concerned these two are who I am trusting to watch over you in my absence," Dante whispered, questioning the pair’s ability to guard Ophelia.

"Well, it is good that I trust them. I also enjoy it when they argue. They are funny, and I don’t think they realise it. I must save Thomas," Ophelia said, motioning for the maids to start serving the food.

"I do not think it is Thomas who needs saving. I advise you to stop Alice from mentioning that Thomas has feelings for her. I have never seen him look so annoyed," Dante whispered.

"Perhaps it is Alice who has feelings for Thomas, and hopes the pressure will convince him. Time will tell," Ophelia said, leaving the two to figure it out. "Please start to serve dinner. Quickly, before there is a death at the table."