Chapter 9: Lady Penelope (B)

"Why don't you dress up for your husband tonight? He looked all gloomy when you arrived, I'm sure seeing you in a pretty dress would cheer him up." Well, Julien hasn't been much happy since this morning. But how will seeing me in a pretty dress make him happy? He doesn't really care about me, I mean we are strangers.

"I don't think so, Lady Penelope. Julien..."

"Please call me Penny like everyone else and trust me, I know he will appreciate it. I do it for Greg all the time and he loves it."

"I... Oh, well... Okay." She got excited immediately and left the room in quick strides. I was busy drying up my body when she returned with the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. What was that she said about not being able to buy a dress with gems? The dress she was holding was glittering as if it was sewn with silver stones. But I knew enough about clothes to know those weren't silver stones but sequence.

"What do you think? I had on a dress like this on my wedding night and Greg was so charmed by it, we made our son that night." I felt the heat fly up in my face. Did she expect Julien to be charmed by the dress and take my maidenhead? Did I want that? Maybe... I mean, no! We had to be married by a priest before he can claim my maidenhead.

"You have a son?" She looked away from me.

"Yes, I did. He was still a baby when he died."

"I'm so sorry, Lady Penelope. It must have been really awful." Her eyes rested on me and she smiled.

"Penny... and yes, it was awful. But it happened three years ago, I am okay now." She held up the dress. "You didn't tell me if you like the dress or not."

"It is really pretty."

"Of course it is. I bought it yesterday and I planned on wearing it to a party we are hosting tomorrow evening. But now you're here, we can shop for dresses tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? We would be leaving then."

"Ah, nonsense. Julien has asked for a new horse since you have none to travel with and the horses won't be arriving until tomorrow evening. With the bandits issue, I don't wager you would be leaving at such an hour." Oh no! That means we won't meet up before the governess leaves. The children will be all alone without anyone looking after them?

"Is Julien aware of this?" Penny nodded. Then his mood would definitely be worst than before. I guess it wouldn't be of any harm to me if I do take Penny's advice and dress up for Julien, he will be my husband after all.

"Alright, I shall wear it." 

"Brilliant! My Greg won't be able to look away from you tonight." I stilled at Penny's words.

"Oh, don't worry, I shall dress up too. I won't have you stealing my husband's heart away from me now." She laughed and I echoed her.

In nearly an hour of doing our hair and making our faces prettier, we were finally dressed up in the pretty gowns when the servant knocked to inform us it was time for dinner.

I looked myself up in the full-length mirror one last time. I looked like a seductress in the gown; it's neck was even lower than the gown I had on the night I met Julien, it was so low, my breasts were nearly popping out. When I saw how revealing it was, I protested to Penny and refused to wear it but she persuaded me many times and finally convinced me when she told me her brothers-in-law were all married except one, but he seemed not to be ready for marriage. The only man who was partly single and ready was Julien and he was the only one I was dressing up for.

Besides the neck, the body of the gown hung to my frame, showing off my figure and it had two slits on both sides, revealing my legs. I felt really exposed but I had to reassure myself that it was all for my soon to be husband and he would appreciate it.

Soon enough, Penny and I left the room, making our way towards the stairs that overlooked the dining area.

As we got to the head of the stairs, I caught sight of the men, taking their seats at the table but my eyes were fixed on one of them in particular.

Julien.

His head was down as he looked into a glass holding brown liquid I knew was an alcoholic drink. It was as the other men gasped and as he brought the glass to his lips, drinking from it, did he notice the other men were focused on us at the head of the stairs. He followed their gaze and choked on his drink, coughing and wheezing for air.

I ran down the stairs immediately and went to him, rubbing his back to give him relief.

"Are you alright?" I asked, then turned to the table and was reaching for a glass of water when someone caught my hand, bringing it to his lips. 

"Hello, my lady." The man had rich grey eyes and his hair was so dark and silky, I was nearly tempted to run my fingers through it.

"I am Edmund, pleased to make your acquaintance." Before I could reply, someone else grabbed my hand away from Edmund and began dragging me towards the stairs.

It was Julien and oh did he look annoyed!

I was too scared to say anything to him and just let him lead me into the same room Penny said was ours to share.

He slammed the door behind us and dragged me further in.

"What the hell are you wearing?" He asked angrily. If it was humanly possible, I was sure smoke would have been flying out from his ears at that moment.

"Penny gave it to me, she said it might cheer you up since you are in a bad mood."

"Cheer me up? Are you insane?! You are dressed like a harlot and you so boldly came down the stairs, parading yourself like a cheap whore..." A curt sound stunned us both. I was staring at my hand and Julien was staring at me, shocked. I slapped him? I was feeling numb and I couldn't see past the tears that welled up in my eyes.

I turned around and ran out of the room.