Jackson went to the nearby woods to get some wood as soon as they got home. He had to solve the problem to the hen’s cage since they had already bought the hen.
Mira started to prepare supper. It was nothing special. Just some roasted vegetables and porridge. That was all they had.
Mira sat thinking about how she could make money while the porridge cooked. She remembered how she had learned to sew in her past life after she divorced Jackson and had gotten married to Jason. At that time, it was more a passing fancy for her to kill time as Jason was never home; he was always meeting up with people in the big city and at the king’s court.
Heh! She was too naïve… he must have been holed up with Alina. Mira shook her head to free herself of the thoughts of the vicious couple. Thinking back to the sewing lessons she learnt, she didn’t know if she had really learnt anything worthwhile. She had to try to see if it was any good.
She was very good at embroidery… Ursula had taught her well since she was a little girl. She thought of a plan to make money. She would start with what she was good at and slowly experiment. She decided to go with Jackson to the city when he left the next day and ask around at the popular dressmakers to see if she could get a job.
“Chop…chuck…chop….”
The sound of Jackson’s axe woke Mira from her thought. She hurried outside with a glass of water.
“Why didn’t you come in?” Mira asked in concern as she extended the glass “Drink some first.”
“It’s okay. Let me finish this.” Jackson took the water and drank even though he refused to go inside and rest. The water that his wife gave tasted really sweet. Perhaps it was because it was mixed with her concern for him…
“No… come inside and sit for a bit.” Mira tugged his hand acting like a spoilt child.
“It won’t be fair on old Joe if we take up his space.” Jackson shook his head. He was not willing to inconvenience anyone else for his sake if he could help it.
“Alright. I will help you.” Mira nodded “What should I do?”
“You…” Jackson frowned; This was a man’s job. Not something a delicate person like his wife could do.
“You go inside. I will finish quickly.”
“No. I will finish the porridge and come. We will do it together.” Mira refused to listen as she ran back to the kitchen.
Jackson quickened his pace as he didn’t want his wife to do the hard work. By the time Mira returned, Jackson has finished chopping down and was sanding the pieces. Mira refused to go back in; Jackson could only give up and show her how to do it safely.
Mira put on her kitchen mittens as she sat to work. She didn’t want wood splinters in her hands. They worked in harmony and swiftly for the next 4 hours and a considerable sized coop was built. It could comfortably house at least 20 hens.
Jackson was able to acquire this manor with a considerably large size of land for a fraction of its original price due to luck and assistance of Mira’s father. The original owners of the manor ran into trouble and wanted to get rid of the property before fleeing the land. Mira’s father’s position in the chamber of trade made him aware of this situation and connected the two together. Thus, Jackson was able to buy a land of 6 hectare that was worth more than 1000 gold pieces for just 100 gold pieces.
The land was barren and laid to waste; other than space and the buildings, there was nothing worthwhile in it; there was a house, a large barn covering an acre, 3 servant cottages, a separate room for the cesspit, a large outer storage room with a side room and a free-standing structure that looked like a single room.
Although the house, the servant’s cottage and the barn that stood on the land were well-maintained, no one was willing to buy as it was away from the posh areas and stood neighboring the peasant living area. It didn’t offer the wealthy nobles any advantage. The other reason was most of them were afraid they would run into trouble with the crown for buying the land; no one was sure of the trouble the original owner ran into.
Jackson only wanted a space to live with his wife. He wasn’t politically ambitious and was not worried about losing favor. Both were desperate and didn’t have many options. Jackson was happy to buy even a small block just enough to build a house, but he didn’t have much to spend. This was a bargain for him as the land came with a house and the owner promised to leave most of the items except for large luxury furniture. They left behind many things stacked in the outer shed along with the beds with linen bedding in rooms and the dining table and chairs around it.
The previous owner’s situation was not much better as they had to flee the country urgently. They had to lose the property and leave if they weren’t able to sell and this would go back to the king’s treasury. Something was better than nothing, so they decided to take the bargain. Jack made up this amount by borrowing 20 gold pieces from his employer at Slegh estate in addition to the 10 gold pieces from Mira’s father given to him at the time of marriage and the 70 gold pieces which was left to him by his parents. His aunt had never touched it even through their toughest times. Jack’s wages for a month at this time were 2 gold pieces and he had made an agreement to pay back a gold coin every month.
“Good” Mira clapped her hands happily as she circled round the coop. Jackson’s lips curled up. He wasn’t feeling tired at all.
“What are we going to do with the rest?” Mira asked as she looked at the remaining stacks of wood that were neatly stacked. It would be a shame to have to use the nicely sanded wood for firewood.
“What do you have in mind?” Jackson asked as he saw the sparkle in her eyes. This Mira gave him a different feeling…. Full of life and mystery…
“Why don’t I use them to make chairs for the front room or fence our land into different blocks so that I can experiment with different vegetables on this land?” Mira asked with a mischievous smile.
“Okay. But wait for me to come back from work tomorrow.” Jackson agreed without an after thought.
“Can I come with you to city tomorrow?” Mira asked hesitantly as they sat down for supper. She had fried an egg for Jackson. Jackson halved his egg and placed it in Mira’s plate without feeling awkward.
“Won’t you be bored?” Jackson raised his head to look at Mira “I will be really busy. I have been away for 3 days.”
“That’s ok. I want to walk around and explore.” Mira explained her plan in detail to Jackson before adding “I will wait where you drop me off once I finish.”
“Okay.” Jackson nodded; He felt a heartache when he thought of how she wanted to help him “But if you finish early, take a carriage into the Slegh estate and wait for me in ladies waiting area.” It was a common practice for men to bring their ladies in to the city with them if there was anything they needed to get from the city and then wait for the men to finish. The Sleghs were generous in that aspect to their employees. They had a dedicated rest area for their staff’s family waiting for them to finish work, whether they were farm hands or workers from the estate office.
“Alright.” Mira nodded although she didn’t think that she would be early.
Mira was very nervous once they finished supper and went to the bedroom. Although they had been married for three months, she had never let Jackson stay in the same room as her. She hurried jumped on the bed and laid to one side covering herself from head to toe with the sheet.
“Nervous?” Jackson chuckled as he saw her ostrich like actions. He was about to get the pillow and head out to the front room as norm when he saw that she had left space on the bed for him.
“Um” Mira’s voice was a bare whisper.
“Should I go back to the front or stay?” Jackson teased in anticipation.
“Stay.” Mira hurriedly got up and pulled his hand. She realized he was teasing her as she heard him chuckling and turned pink.
“Mira, I will stay in the front till you have made up your mind but if we take this step today, I won’t let you go in future. You can only be my wife for the rest of your life.” Jackson warned seriously. It was not that he didn’t want to …. He knew that he couldn’t take a step back once they took this step even if the cost would be hurting each other.
“Um.” Mira nodded as she lowered her head shyly and whispered “I have thought it clearly. I only want to be your wife.”
Jackson hugged her, overwhelmed with emotions as he heard her shy confession. He couldn’t stop himself from kissing her as he soaked in her sweet fragrance. What followed was the symphony of nature.
Jackson stopped his moments even though he was uncontrollably entangled in the web of desire as he felt the pressure at the entrance and groaned in a low voice “You…. you…. this… is your first time?” Normally one wouldn’t ask such a stupid question when making love to your wife for the first time…. But she had previously told him that she had already given herself to Jason, her first love.
“Yes.” Mira whispered as she bit her lips. She had heard stories how this was meant to be a blissful and thoroughly pleasurable, but her experience was different. It was really painful. She didn’t want Jackson to misunderstand so she endured gritting her teeth.
“But… you…” Jackson held himself back in shock.
“I lied.” Mira pouted as she whispered.
“Sorry…I will be gentle…” Jackson’s face lit up as he slowed his movements. They cruised the peak and crashed into the oblivion of bliss together. Although it was painful at first, slowly it became pleasurable, and Mira enjoyed his care and unspoken affection.
His new wife suited his taste thoroughly. Jackson lost count of how many times he asked for her through the night. He only let her go after she collapsed from exhaustion.
Jackson woke up the next day with a spring in his step. He was not worn out by the night’s activity. It would be more truthful to say that he was more energetic if anything.
“Is it morning already?” Mira mumbled from under the blanket.
“Um” Jack nodded as he dressed.
“Oh… no …. You are already ready?” Mira tried to sit up. Her body felt like it was falling apart… it ached so badly like she had been crushed by a huge boulder.
“You sleep.” Jackson chuckled as he heard Mira cursing him “Beast!”
“No… no… I have to come… what about your breakfast?” Mira frowned.
Jackson shrugged. He was used to not having breakfast ever since they moved here as Mira never cared and he had never done anything in the kitchen.
“Wait… wait…” Mira rushed to wash her face. She put two eggs to boil as she went about her morning rituals. Luckily, she had bought a loaf of bread from the shop yesterday.
“Don’t rush.” Jackson shook his head helplessly as he saw her rushing about. He was going to take a ride in the carriage if she was coming along, so he wouldn’t be late. He was definitely not going to make her walk after what he did last night. His lips curled up as he thought back to last night. Even the last bit of reservation he had towards her change was washed away after last night.
“Here…. Why are you standing there smiling like a fool for?” Mira grumbled as she saw his silly smile. She served him breakfast as she ran to change her clothes.
“You too…. Eat first.” Jackson pulled her to sit next to him “We have plenty of time.”
Jackson slowed his pace for Mira as they walked to the collection point for the carriage. The usual 5 minutes’ walk took them 15 minutes, but they still had plenty of time before the carriage departure. Being early meant they got a seat in a comfortable position in the carriage.Jackson usually did not waste money on carriage ride. He would walk; it would take him an hour and a half to get to his office in the Slegh estate following the shortcut through the fields and streams. But today, since Mira was coming along, he decided to splurge and take the carriage. It would cost him 3 silver pieces each.Mira handed 20 pieces of silver to Jackson as she knew he didn’t have any money on him. She left the 30 pieces with her as she wanted to see if she could find something in town to make money.“Sleep. I will wake you when we get there.” Jackson put his arm around her shoulders pulling her into his embrace. He knew she was tired. The trip to the city in the carriage would take an hour.Mira
Jackson felt a heartache as he saw all the stuff, she bought but he didn’t have the heart to scold her. He only sighed inwardly as they walked to the carriage pick up point.They sat in the carriage quietly on the way back. Mira gave Jackson the buns she bought for him and dozed off as she was really tired. Jackson’s lips curled up as he ate the buns his wife bought for him. He was really hungry as all he ate since morning was the half egg and slice of bread at breakfast. He woke her up when they reached the stop near their home. He carried all the items while Mira carried the basket with needles and threads from the corner shop.“Let me tell you an exciting news….” She paused as she remembered the money she spent and sighed “Actually there is one good news and one bad. Which do you want to hear first?”“Bad news.” Jackson pursed his lips. He didn’t want to hear as he thought she was going to tell him that she regretted her choice and wanted to go back on her word to live a good life
“You’re here.” Almera smiled as she saw Mira waiting at the door.“Um.” Mira nodded.Almera invited her into the office and poured a cup of tea.“No one else has come?” Mira looked around curiously. The last time she came. It was earlier than this but there was a doorman at the door and a few salespeople at the front.“Friday is a day everyone starts late.” Almera smiled amiably as she sipped her tea.“What brings you back so soon?”“I finished the work you gave me. So, I wanted to check if it meets your satisfaction, or you wanted me to change anything.”“Finished?” Almera hooked her eyebrows suspiciously.Mira quietly took the completed cloth and placed it on the table for Almera to inspect along with the unused thread “I didn’t use the brown as I changed my mind. The others are…” Mira paused as she smiled sheepishly “I didn’t know how much I would need so I unwound them for washing… so they look a bit unkempt, but I swear they are not dirty.” Mira completed awkwardly in a low voice
Mira proudly handed her pouch to Jack as soon as they reached home.“You should keep it.” Jack pressed it back into her hand. “It is the wife’s job to take care of these affairs.”“Really?” Mira asked skeptically.“That’s how my parents did it.” Jack shrugged as a matter of fact and then pulled his pockets inside out “I don’t have any money now. But when I do, it will be yours to keep.”“I made you a pauper, didn’t I?” Mira lowered her head guiltily. She knew he had to take out all his money and also take a loan to buy this place.“I think it is a good thing.” Jack held her waist with one hand and with the other, lifted her face with a cheeky smile “Don’t we have our love nest ready for us?”“You… you…” Mira pouted as she gently hit him with her fists on his chest.“Let’s make the most of it.” Jack chuckled as he lowered his head and captured her lips. He deepened the kiss and ravished her senses, riding the storm with her all the way from the front room to their bedroom. Jack pulled
“What were you doing?” Mira asked curiously as they sat for breakfast.“You’ll see …. Soon.” Jack smiled as he poured her hot water.“Alright.” Mira didn’t ask further. She would wait for him to show her.“What should we eat for dinner?” Mira pouted as he nibbled the meat bun in relish.“What do you want?” Jack raised his eyebrows.“Can we go fishing?” Mira asked with an expectant sparkle.“Um” Jack nodded.“Then you finish what you are doing, and I will prepare some stuff for the fish.” Mira cleared the table as she spoke.“Um” Jack nodded as he walked out the door.An hour later, Mira had finished the preparation and also packed a basket with dinner which was a pot of tea, boiled eggs and a few slices of bread when Jack walked in “Wife, come take a look.”Mira followed him curiously.In the second bedroom was a beautiful stand with the height of a slightly tall table, her slate frame resting on it in a perfect fit.“Good Lord.” Mira shrieked in excitement as she circled inspecting t
“Aunt, I am home.” Jack stood at the door and announced.Unlike the last time they came, everyone was home today except for uncle and second brother. Farm hands at the Slegh estate had to work 6 days a week. Second brother was working as the blacksmith’s apprentice and also had to work 6 days a week.Anne-Marie the youngest came running as she heard her favorite brother’s voice. She moved back shyly as she saw Mira. She knew this big sister didn’t like them. Mira smiled sweetly at the little girl, but it didn’t have much effect, the damage from her previous vicious behavior was too deep.“Come in… why are you standing there?” Oden pulled the door to open wider.“This will always be your home.” Oden added as he saw Jack’s hesitation. “You left on your own, no one sent you off.”Oden wasn’t wrong. It was Jack who insisted on moving and never came back. None of them had seen him these 3 months. Actually, that’s not right. Beth did tell them about Jack’s visit 5 days ago, but no one bough
“What is it?” Mira asked curiously once she couldn’t see the horse cart anymore.“Must be tools.” Jack guessed as he opened the sack.Sure enough, the sack had 4 spades of two different sizes each, 2 hoes, 2 rakes and a pitchfork.“This….” Mira had a conflicted expression as she looked at the items. This would cost more than 10 gold coins.“Like Dad said, we must repay this kindness with our actions.” Jack knew there was no point in being conflicted. He swore inwardly to return this kindness when he had the ability.“Umm.” Mira nodded with determination.“Wife, has the fish soup finished?” Jack asked with regret as he saw the empty bowls on the table.“No. I have left a tiny portion for you.” Mira giggled as she took the bowls to the kitchen to wash.She bought a bowl full of the last portion of the fish soup after washing the bowl
Jack walked around for a while before he returned back home. The walk cleared his head and there was a smile dancing on his lips as he entered. Mira was waiting anxiously, she kept pacing back and forth in the front room.“Jack” Mira’s voice was strained as she rushed to him. She was stepped back in confusion as she saw his smile. She knitted her brows with a pout.“Wife, you are right.” Jack chuckled as he gently knocked on her forehead.“I know I am right.” Mira pouted as she rubbed her forehead “What are you talking about now?”“That you were too stupid.” Jack chuckled as he embraced her.Mira pursed her lips into a resentful pout as she gently fisted on his chests.“Do you want to hear what I figured out?” Jack tapped her nose with an affectionate gaze.“Um.”“Do you remember saying that you thought I stormed out of the room because I overheard your conversation?”“Um…mm” Mira nodded confidently.“That’s why I said my love is too stupid.”“Huh??”“Think about it…. you told me what
Jerome lifted his eyebrows quizzically towards Cyan, who looked equally baffled; Neither could make sense of the duo’s ramblings and yet strangely, they could feel the regret and sadness emanating from them.“Did we know each other before?” Jerome turned back to the two sloths who were drowning in self- blame and asked cautiously.“Know???” Harry scoffed before shaking his head regretfully “No…. we don’t deserve to claim to know you… we couldn’t even find you in so many years…. How could we claim to know you?”They say men never cry and yet, streams of hot tears ran down the faces of the two men sitting before him and oddly this made his heart ache as well.The four men sat silently sipping their drinks, gloom looming in the room; no one dared to break the solemness in the room, partly because they didn’t know how to.Jerome, who was rarely short for words suddenly didn’t know what to say; he wasn’t sure if he had unknowingly hurt the two men in front of him.Matthew and Harry sunk in
“Search the whole mansion.” The man roared in anger “I want those old bastards before me in 5 minutes or I will skin you all alive.”The men, guards and servants all scattered in fear, searching frantically.Meanwhile, neither Matthew nor Harry was in a rush, they methodically searched the mansion, from one end to the other. Not only did they search all the rooms, but also the tunnels and secret rooms that not even the men in the mansion were aware of.The man stood frozen among the chaos as he heard cry of a goshawk; although the cry of a goshawk was strange in their mansion as there were no goshawks and no hunting grounds nearby to justify the sound, he seemed to be very familiar with this sound. He frowned trying to place the sound, only to have triggered a headache.“Chief are you alright?” one of the guards went forward and stretched out his hands in concern, in an attempt to steady his boss; the man slowly straightened his back and without any change or reflection of his inner t
Matthew and Harry stood in front of the weird looking mansion with an unreadable expression. There was a reason for their mood; this was the very mansion that they had won in a gamble along with their dear friend, Jerome in their carefree younger days. The mansions aesthetics were the result of their rebellion towards the norms that existed regarding the do's and don’t of building mansions for nobility.They had never thought of this place as they had never returned after wining the bet and remodelling the place. Gradually as their days and exploits became too many to count on fingers, as their adventures and achievements started to leave a mark on every feat they undertook, as one of the first and more insignificant feat, this place seemed to lose its original lustre and was tucked away in their memories, only to be forgotten; But now that they were standing in front of it, how could they not remember?The trio had personally deformed the place with their own hands and with the guidan
Matthew left Southamberston palace in the wee hours of the morning, he didn’t take the carriage that was carefully prepared for him and took the horse that he had taken a fancy to and rode off; his first stop was his office to leave instructions for his assistant and also to let them know that he wouldn’t be coming in for the next 2 days due to urgent family matter.As soon as Matthew came out of the chamber of trade and book of hereditary rights, he saw Harry waiting anxiously, next to his ride, mounted and ready to bolt the minute he came.“You took the beauty even before I woke up…” Harry chuckled as he leaned forward and rubbed the mane of Matthew's ride “You didn’t play fair.”“Hur … .hur…hur…” Matthew chuckled smugly as he jumped on to his ride and the two friends rode, bickering non-stop just like the good old days.It took half a day of riding non-stop to reach the west end of the water tribe county, the poor horses were ridden to their death when they finally alighted at the i
They returned to the manor by late afternoon and had the footman deliver all the items that they had purchased from Old Joe to the cottage where Martha and the rest were staying.As they were planning to leave, Jack called Lazarus to instruct him to leave behind 2 men to guard the manor.“Your grace, two men won’t be enough to cover the expanse of the land.” Lazarus shook his head as he explained “The woods of the manor border three other properties of which one is commoner property, and one belongs to someone who does not have a good reputation. Now that your grace’s status has been elevated, there might be unnecessary eyes on the property.” He paused before adding “I have brought six men that can be left here to guard the place if your grace permits.”“Go ahead.” Jack nodded while Mira asked in a low voice “Can those men cook on their own? Should we transfer a cook from the main house?”“They are rough men… they can take care of themselves.” Lazarus shook his head although he was hap
For the rest of the morning, Mira taught Sierra how to make the flowers and leaves with the remaining satin cloth she had in space; of course, she pretended to take the spare cloths from her work room in the manor. She stayed with them for the entire morning, until the Jack came over with grievance in his eyes “Wife, I am hungry.”“Aha…. I forgot …. Wait, I will make you, your favorite meal.” Mira smiled sweetly as she rushed to pacify her husband.Jessie, Martha and Sierra struggled to hold their laughter till the shameless couple walked away before bursting out laughing.Once lunch was ready, Mira didn’t forget to give more than half of the meal to Martha “Call everyone and share among yourself.”“Thank you” Martha bowed as she whispered in a soft voice. They were just worrying about food when their master brought them a generous share of meat and bread. In their excitement to start a new life, at Mira’s invitation, they grabbed their belonging and set off in the morning without thin
“Are you crazy?” Mira frowned once she saw what was written; previously when they were discussing although she couldn’t hear them, she assumed that they were discussing how long they wanted to work for her. She felt like she had crows flying around her head once she read what Sierra had scribbled; before she could stop them, she had done the same to Martha’s contract. Martha hurriedly signed as she heard Mira, worried that she would stop her and grinned happily as she handed the contract saying, “Its signed.” “Yeah… now you cannot get rid of us in this lifetime.” Sierra too laughed happily. Mira seemed momentarily lost in a daze; she forgot to respond; she remembered that they had said the same thing in their last life when they found her sitting on her own and crying her heart out, overwhelmed by loneliness. They sat on either side of her and promised her that they would always accompany her, never leaving her side and even joked with the same words 'you cannot get rid of us in thi
The carriage stopped at the manor; it was a short ride. Jack and Mira alighted from the carriage without waiting for the etiquette that was customary in the circle of nobility.Mira’s face lit up, her lips curling up into a blissfully happy arc as she whispered, “We are back.”“Um” Jack habitually snaked his arm around her waist and walked forward; he raised his hand to gesture the footman to stay back, conveying that their services were no longer required.“Help the ladies with their luggage and rest after that till we are ready to leave.” Mira turned around and instructed in a gentle tone at the footman who was waiting eagerly for his master’s orders while Jack opened the doors.“Let’s open the side gate and lead the ladies to their homes before resting.” Mira spoke softly, as she looked at the footmen who were carrying the heavy suitcase over.“Um” Jack nodded and silently walked over to the side wicket gate on the right side of the manor and opened it. He walked in along with Mira;
“I asked you if there is a chance….” Mira smiled mischievously “What will you be willing to do to get that chance?”“I could sell my soul to the devil for that chance.” Jessie’s face beamed with genuine happiness as she boldly declared; there wasn't even the slightest hint of hesitation on her face.“How about selling it to me?” Mira lifted her chin arrogantly, her lips curling in a happy arc “I am much prettier and kinder than the devil.”Jack inwardly shook his head helplessly as he looked at his wife, who was smiling happily like a sly fox, with eyes filled with affection.“Ha….ha…ha…” Jessie laughed watching Mira’s adorable actions before sighing “Thank you for listening so patiently. I don’t know why I told you all this. I don’t even know you.”“I am not joking.” Mira’s expression turned serious “What if I can give you that chance? Are you willing?”Jessie looked at Mira for a long time with a sizing gaze before shaking her head, “Why me? I have nothing to offer.”Mira pursed her