The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 338: Lady of the manor (1)

During the ride back to the manor, Annalise switched her seat to sit beside Beatrice to let Beatrice lean on her shoulder to sleep when she became tired. Annalise stayed awake most of the ride, looking out the carriage window at the homes and land they passed by.

There was still much for her to see and she didn’t want to miss any of it right now.

They eventually reached the manor gates and since they didn’t know where River was, Beatrice was going to spend the day in the manor. They arrived just in time for breakfast to be served and as the gates opened, Annalise saw Edwin rushing outside while Mavis went back inside most likely to get a few maids to help with unpacking.

Annalise didn’t attempt to get out of the carriage right away when it stopped because Beatrice was still resting on her shoulder. She waited for a few minutes and then tapped Beatrice on her hand to wake her.

"Beatrice. We are here," Annalise said, turning her head slightly to the left to get a look at Beatrice. There was something about how she told Beatrice she came from the border and Beatrice not minding resting her head on her shoulder that Annalise liked.

Once again, she wished to protect Beatrice because she was too kind for this world.

Annalise tapped Beatrice again and considered if Beatrice didn’t wake up she should just try lifting Beatrice out. If she could handle Beatrice’s giant son, she should be able to lift Beatrice.

Fortunately, Beatrice opened her eyes and once her vision became clear to see the manor, Beatrice leaned away from Annalise.

"Did you hear anything about River?" Beatrice asked, rubbing her eyes to get rid of the little bit of water forming.

"We’ve only just arrived so we haven’t heard anything. If Rafael has, I don’t know. You should wash up and get breakfast before you see River. You wouldn’t want him to worry over you not eating," said Annalise.

"How can I eat when I don’t know what has happened to him? I’ve only received one letter from him. I don’t know if he already got the last one I sent. I suppose I shouldn’t reunite with him looking like a mess," Beatrice said, touching her cheeks. "A nice bath and a fresh dress will be a nice gift for when he comes to see me."

Annalise smiled because of Beatrice’s relationship with River. They were certainly a couple still so in love with each other.

Annalise opened the door and stepped out to offer her hand to Beatrice to help her out.

"Thank you," Beatrice said, gladly accepting Annalise’s hand. She was still tired and if not for Annalise, she wouldn’t have stepped out without falling. "The knights have a lot of unpacking to do. I hope Rafael lets them get breakfast, rest, and doesn’t make them train for the next few days. They need a break."

"I will convince him to let them rest," said Annalise, watching the knights move around as she walked up to the manor with Beatrice. They travelled for hours on hours and did need time to rest as Beatrice said.

The knights not training meant she had more time to spend with Rafael. The knights should come to her with gifts and thanks for saving them from training. Harsh training if she could convince Rafael to let her be the one to train them.

"It is nice to have someone on my side," Beatrice said, hooking her arm with Annalise’s. She didn’t mind Rafael going back to training as it ensured his safety with him practising, but she always wanted for him to have a small break when he returned.

As his mother, she couldn’t always get through to him, but there were tricks Annalise could use to get him to stay put. For example, Beatrice used to tear up to get River to stay home with her. It wasn’t her proudest moment but she didn’t regret it since she got to spend more time with her husband.

"Lady Beatrice," Edwin greeted Beatrice.

"Edwin. Oh, how I have missed seeing you. You must wish your time with the knights away would have been longer," said Beatrice as there was a lot of work to do with the knights back.

"No. I often don’t like it when the manor is too quiet. I like it when the knights are here to give me something to do. I will have your room prepared and a maid to tend to your needs. Annalise," Edwin said, turning to the young woman he was surprised to see. He didn’t understand why Annalise was with Beatrice when she was meant to be visiting her parents. "Mavis and the maids are now preparing for breakfast."

"I don’t need a maid to help me and Annalise is not back to work. It will all be explained as soon as my son is finished with the knights. Can you have the room opposite Rafael’s room prepared for me too?" Beatrice asked, wanting to get to work on Annalise’s room right away.

There was good furniture put away in storage here the manor that could be used and while she waited for River to come to her, she could go around shopping for whatever she needed to give Annalise a good bedroom.

"Of course," Edwin answered. "I will bring up your bags right away."

"Thank you. Come with me, Annalise. You also need to wash up and change into a new dress. My body feels sweaty after a long ride only washing our faces. It has never been easy for me to wash my body outside where there could be anyone looking at me. It was so hard to do when River and I didn’t have a home at first," Beatrice said, thinking of the earlier days of her marriage.

"I am surprised many do not view your marriage as a good love story," said Annalise.

"Well, what good is a love story for these people when River didn’t have a lot of money to his name? Some find it sweet. Some thought it wasn’t worth it when you thought about the future. I don’t care how anyone views it. In the end, I was lucky and wouldn’t trade this marriage for anything," Beatrice replied.

Annalise thought that if she were in Beatrice’s shoes, she wouldn’t want to change her life.

"If I were you, I would rub my happy marriage in the faces of people who had something to say in the past. Especially if they are not happy now. I’m sure it will be the same for me. People will have a lot to say about my relationship, but once they see I am not leaving Rafael’s side, they will try to be nice. That is if they are not afraid to approach me," Annalise said, slowing down as they were about to be greeted again.

Annalise saw Mavis coming toward the front door with the maids behind her. Another reunion Annalise was awaiting was finally here.

Mavis looked surprised to see Annalise walking with Beatrice, but she showed the forced smile Annalise was used to and approached Beatrice first. "Lady Beatrice. It is good to see you again. I hope you enjoyed your trip."

"I did, Mavis. I see you have started to change around the furniture for winter. The manor could use some paintings of my family and some of the knights," Beatrice said, finding the walls to be missing portraits. "I will have some of Rafael sent over from my home. He doesn’t care for art so it would be better to use some paintings of people he knows."

"That is a wonderful idea," Mavis answered, agreeing with Beatrice. "I will have a maid sent to you unless Annalise will tend to you while the young- Sir Rafael is busy?"

"He should give the announcement first to avoid this happening over and over again. Since most of the maids seem to be here, we should do it now," Beatrice said, letting go of Annalise to turn around. "Rafael!" She called to him to get his attention.

Mavis looked at Annalise, trying to gather what was happening. Annalise should move quickly to get changed and be ready to serve Rafael breakfast. It was already strange Annalise got to take time off to visit her family before other maids who worked longer than Annalise did. What was happening now?