Chapter 317: Violet: A Month of Peace
30 October, 1354. Westerhaven Palace, Islia.
The daylight streaming into her bedchamber as the heavy drapes were pulled back, made Violet’s eyes water. She squinted against the brightness and smiled. She’d missed seeing the sun badly over the past few weeks.
The dark, gloomy part of her confinent was finally over. She’d still need to remain in her bedchamber for another month until a court priest purified her. But at least now, she could enjoy the feeling of sunshine on her skin and the crisp cold air from the open windows.
One of the nurses carefully picked up the sleeping newborn and placed her in Violet’s arms. She looked down at her new daughter, trying to work out whose features she’d inherited.
In truth, she’d been hoping this baby would be another boy, a third son she’d intended to na Michael after the greatest of the archangels.
Leo however, had received the news rrily when told that their fourth child was another girl and announced she’d be nad Eve. He’d spent over an hour in the bedchamber the night before, once both mother and babe had been washed clean. Violet had watched quietly as her husband had contentedly rocked and sang to the baby.
Leo had always indulged little Celia, their oldest child, terribly. It seed he planned to do the sa with their youngest.
She now looked down at the infant, seeing her eyes were shaped like Leo’s and her strands of hair were the sa shade of gold. Another fair haired little Devon baby.
A tentative knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Who is it?" Violet snapped. Who the hell dared to interrupt her quiet ti with her child, not even half a day after she’d given birth?
"Your Grace, your lady sister requests to see you and your babe." The voice of one of her maids ca from behind the heavy door.
Violet sighed. She had little interest in talking with Sancia but given her sister had been nominated as Eve’s godmother, it was only proper she be allowed to et her godchild before the baptism. "Alright, she may enter."
A mont later, her sister strode in, wearing a bright green gown with a low cut bodice. Violet frowned when she saw Sancia’s plump breasts jiggling as she walked.
"Congratulations on your new baby, sister. Was your husband very angry when he found out it wasn’t a boy?"
Violet clenched her jaw at the insensitive question. "Actually, Leo was delighted. Our older daughter is the light of his life and he’s very glad for her to grow up with a sister."
Sancia gave her a doubtful look as she dragged a chair closer to the bed and without asking for permission to sit, dropped into it. "Can I hold her?"
After a hesitant pause, Violet gestured for her sister to take the swaddled infant.
Sancia picked up Eve and sat down in the chair again while she studied the little pink face. Violet, in turn, studied Sancia.
She was a pretty enough girl, Violet had to admit reluctantly. Not as striking as Ilse had been but she could see the resemblance between the two in the shape of their mouths. Sancia had also the sa curvaceous figure.
Sancia had now been at court for almost two months but the sisters still hadn’t been able to spend much ti together. Barely had she arrived at Magdaline Castle that preparations for the autumn progress south got underway. All of Violet’s attention had then been on ensuring everything was in place for her older children, while navigating the nightmare of travelling while heavily pregnant.
Sancia had refused to accompany Violet in her carriage during the progress, claiming it would be far more fun being on horseback with the other young courtiers.
When the court had finally arrived at Westerhaven, Violet had almost imdiately been placed in confinent by the court midwives. Sancia had visited her a couple of tis but hadn’t stayed long. She told Violet she found it boring spending much ti in the hot, dark bedchamber.
So much for being my devoted lady-in-waiting, Violet had found herself thinking more than once.
Now that the baby had been born, the sisters could spend more ti together. And yet Violet, found herself struggling with things to talk about.
"How have you been spending your ti?" she finally asked. "It’s a sha that between the progress and my confinent, I haven’t able to guide you through your first weeks as I would’ve liked."
"Oh, I’ve been managing just fine." Sancia shrugged, looking pleased with herself. "Dancing and picnicking and watching travelling troupes - there’s plenty of people I can join for that. I don’t need you to chaperone ."
Violet looked at her nervously. "You’ve been careful with your reputation, I hope?"
"Funny how you haven’t been ho in years, Violet, and yet you still manage to sound just like Mother." Sancia rolled her eyes.
"I’m serious! Gossip runs through this place like wildfire. You don’t want your reputation stained because of so careless rumour, especially if you want to make a good marriage."
"I suppose. But I’m in no rush to think about marriage. I want to enjoy myself for at least a year or two, to really savour my freedom. Besides, I need to beco acquainted with lots of handso young n to know who I like best, before I can get married."
Violet frowned uneasily at her light tone. A giddy young girl determined to enjoy her freedom in a den full of wolves - that had little chance of ending well. She could only hope Sancia hadn’t managed to get herself tangled in any minor scandals in the past month when Violet had been shut away from court.
"Just make sure you’re careful and demure at all tis. I know everything looks like fun and rrint on the surface, but this court is a dangerous place. And please try to dress more appropriately."
"What’s wrong with my dress?"
"Having half your bosom hanging out isn’t the way to enhance your reputation as a lady." Violet said.
"Actually, I receive nothing but complints when I wear this particular gown." Sancia smiled as if she were recalling a delicious secret. "Especially from the n who ask
to dance every night."
"Sancia! For sha!" Violet wasn’t sure what irked her more - her sister deliberately dressing like a courtesan or her attracting the young noblen’s attention in a way that Violet never had.
"Sister, this is a rry court. I’m just having fun along with everyone else, so stop worrying about nothing. I know exactly how to get by, I promise." Sancia flicked her hand carelessly and then looked down again at little Eve with a grimace. "Will her skin always be this blotchy pink colour?"
"No, Sancia. If you knew anything about babies, you’d know that it’s just what newborns look like. Their colouring becos more even after a few days."
"Well, that’s a relief to hear. I hope the sa applies to her oddly shaped head. Otherwise the poor girl will need a queen’s dowry to find a match when she’s older."
Unexpected tears prickled in Violet’s eyes. She wished she could lean over and slap her sister for her callous words, but the muscles in her belly were still far too tender to let her lean that far forward. All she wanted to do was snatch little Eve back and shield her ears from her aunt’s stupidity.
"Give
back the baby. Right now!"
Sancia looked bemused as she handed the infant back. "Why? Are you worried she might like
better than you?"
"You spend your ti insulting my child and then wonder why I don’t want you holding her?" Violet shook her head in disgust. "Maybe spend a little ti thinking before you speak, instead of just opening your mouth and saying the first ignorant thing that cos out."
"I was just being honest."
"There’s a difference between being honest and just being rude, Sancia." Violet retaliated. "Learn it."
"Honestly, sister. I’d have though being a royal would’ve llowed you. But you’re just as sour as when you were back at Orravalo." Sancia looked genuinely confused at Violet’s reaction to her words. "I can’t bla you though. If I looked as fat and tired as you, I’d be pretty upset too. Maybe ask your maids to bring you less food?"
Violet reached her limit and pointed at the door. "Just get out, Sancia. I don’t have ti for your stupidity!"
"What? Are you serious?"
"I’m serious. I don’t need you here insulting
or my child the day after I’ve given birth!"
As soon as Sancia had stord out of the room, Violet barked an order to Elspeth, her most senior maid. "My sister isn’t welco in my rooms until I’m purified, or in my nursery either. If she asks, tell her whatever excuse you want. But I want a month of peace before I have to deal with that silly little bitch again."
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