Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 242: Calm before the storm (3)

"Bless you, Lady Hastings," Thomas said after Ophelia sneezed.

"Perhaps it is time I wear a coat," Ophelia said, realising Dante was right that she could fall ill.

"You have been running around since news of the Valthorns came to you. It is time that you rest. If there is news, I will personally deliver it to you," Thomas promised.

"I don’t think I will be able to sleep. My husband is away, and a man I was once afraid of is bringing an army toward us. I am nervous about tomorrow morning, though I am also confident we will win. Send word to my husband in the morning," Ophelia ordered Thomas.

Ophelia hoped to receive a message of how far Dante had reached tomorrow.

"I am tempted to have a little bit of wine. I will set aside a bottle for Dante and me to enjoy when he is back safe and sound. I won’t keep you from your dinner. Please, do eat," Ophelia urged Thomas.

"I cannot leave your side now-"

"I have four other guards, Thomas. They are so quiet that I sometimes forget their presence, but they are there. I have already decided to sleep with Theo tonight, and Alice has convinced me to let her be in the bedchamber. I will be fine," Ophelia assured Thomas.

"The last time I took my eyes off of you, you were kidnapped," Thomas said, still dwelling on his last mistake.

"That was my fault. I should have taken a guard with me to see Eliza. I have learned from my mistake, and now I have other guards. None of you can protect me if you do not eat and rest. You need to switch places throughout the night. That is my order," Ophelia said, putting her foot down.

"I am going to be with Theo and Alice. My dinner will be sent there. I expect that all five of you will follow my order. Now, excuse me," Ophelia said, entering the bechamber.

Thomas wasn’t ready to leave Ophelia’s side. "Two of you, go have your dinner. The other two will stand guard with me and switch when the other two return. Your focus is to be on Lady Hastings. If anything happens to her, Lord Hastings will have your head."

"I think of you as my brothers, but if any one of you tries to betray the Hastings now, I will kill you," Thomas threatened the group. "Now, move."

On the inside of the bedchamber, Ophelia walked into Alice tidying her space where she would sleep, and Theo looking at the very book he said he had no interest in.

Alice stood up straight when she saw Ophelia. "Are your plans for the day over with, Lady Hastings? Are we out of danger?"

"No. This is just the beginning," Ophelia answered. "Our dinner will be brought here, and there are guards outside. Thomas is there," Ophelia said, knowing it would give the pair an ease of mind.

"W-Why should it matter to me if he is there?" Alice asked, having no interest in Thomas.

Ophelia chuckled. "It matters because we can trust Thomas. He will protect the three of us. Until morning, no one is to leave this bedchamber. We shall all stay put and await news from the border. Perhaps some stories can distract us."

Ophelia walked to the fire to warm up, and as she approached it, she looked at the bed. She frowned when she noticed Theo’s state. He was trembling as he tried to keep himself propped up. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Theo, are you-"

"I am well," Theo said, stopping Ophelia from approaching. "The bedchamber is a bit too cold."

"Cold? It is warm to me," Ophelia said, glancing at the fire. "More wood can be added to the fire, and you can have my blanket. I won’t be cold."

Ophelia looked to Alice for her to add more wood to the fire while Ophelia searched for an extra blanket.

"The days are getting colder, Theo. I know of your plans, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a bit of medicine to help you. You are trembling, and it won’t be long before you can’t hold yourself up a little. Could you do it for me?" Ophelia asked, not wanting to see Theo suffer.

’"No. Just leave me be. I don’t want to spoil your day," Theo said as he laid back down.

Ophelia bit her lip. She didn’t need this now. "Very well. I am going to have my bath and then join you in bed. The dinner should be here soon. Alice, give Theo my blanket. I won’t need it."

Ophelia walked to the bathing chamber and entered to have a moment alone.

Alice set back the blanket where she found it and looked at Theo. "I am not going to give you Lady Hastings’ blanket. Haven’t you noticed how she looks? She is on the verge of falling ill because she has been running around all day and the days before."

"I don’t need her blanket. She can keep it," Theo replied.

"Forgive me for what I am about to say, but you are cruel. I understand not wanting to be left behind while the world goes by, but your sister has made arrangements to make your life easier. Even now, when she is ill, she puts you first. Could you not try to hang on a little longer for her?" Alice asked.

"If you cannot," Alice said before Theo could object. "At least do better to hide that you are in pain. Lady Hastings doesn’t need one more issue to worry about. I believe you can go peacefully, and also give your sister more time with you."

"This is not a matter that concerns you," Theo said, not wanting to hear Alice’s advice.

"Whatever concerns Lady Hastings concerns me. All your sister spoke of was freeing you from the Valthorns, and after all that, as soon as you got here, you want to die. Why didn’t you just die as soon as she left-"

’"Alice," Theo interjected.

"In my eyes, you have been torturing her even if you don’t mean it. You had these thoughts about dying and kept them to yourself. Never going through with them, even when you listened to her plan a future for you two. If it were me and I was serious, I would have died sooner to free her from that place," said Alice.

Theo lasted so long with little care, so Alice thought there was a good reason for him to live. He was meant to live.

"If you could last a year at least, I’m sure that would be plenty of time for Lady Hastings. Giving her a few days or even a month isn’t enough. I’d look to repay her before I just throw myself into death, but what do I know? I’m just her maid while you are her brother," Alice said, deciding to step back.

"I am going to help Lady Hastings with her bath and convince her to take some medicine. Excuse me," Alice said, leaving Theo alone to dwell on what she said.