Sylvie noted the medicine he gave her worked fast.
"Now, my Lady, just hold her head still with both of your hands."
Sylvie did as he requested. It took 45 minutes for him to stitch her forehead. It required 13 stitches in total.
"I made sure to make them thin. The scarring should be minimal." He explained to Sylvie. "She will be in pain for the next few days. I advise her to take some of these." He pulled out a small brown vial with white pills. "One at breakfast and one before bed. I will check on her in a few days to see how the bruising on her neck looks."
"Thank you, Doctor. I am so grateful to you." Sylvie said. She was close to tears.
"It will be alright. You and your companion need to be more careful. This manor is not safe for humans." The Doctor was about to elaborate when Whitley cleared his throat.
"Come, Doctor. That will be all." He said.
The Doctor didn't need another telling. With a cordial nod and smile, he exited Bouvier's chambers along with Whitley. A few seconds later, a maid came in and cleaned up after the doctor. Only leaving the tablets he had prescribed.
They were alone in the room.
Bouvier was still unconcious. Sylvie decided to make her even more comfortable. She undressed her to her petticoats and chemise and gently got her under the covers. Once she was done with that task, she sat in the chair beside her bed. What had happened today?
Had she missed something? She wondered, what did the Doctor mean about this manor not being safe for humans? Sylvie now had more questions than answers. She was afraid no one would be able to answer them...
Randolf
Randolf had never been this excited to eat breakfast with anyone in his entire life. He had been feeling guilty for marrying her and locking her up in his room. It had been weeks. He had wanted nothing more than to spend time with her when he got home. Of course, he had been pleasantly surprised to see her naked, waiting for him when he got home.
She was vastly different than any female he had ever known. She was courageously independent, and she was a free spirit. She knew even to himself that sounded strange. Everyone was under the assumption that Loux Garoux were savage beasts, but the truth was they were very civilized and only showed savagery in a structured setting. It was all protocol and politics.
No one ran free under the full moon, nor did they want to. Everyone preferred long dinners and plotting against the next threat. It was all very mundane to Randfolf. Not Sylvie. When he saw her at breakfast this morning, he instantly had to contain his excitement. She looked regal in her luxury attire, but if he was honest with himself, he preferred her in trousers and the oversized leather coat she wore.
Randolf was also noticing how distracted he was by her presence. He had never wondered about someone's well-being as much as Sylvie. He had spent hours in his laboratory trying to decipher Amaruq's journal, all the while his mind kept drifting back to his sweet bride. Breakfast had been the highlight of the day. It was dinner time now and he looked forward to seeing her.
He wondered if he should ask the cook to prepare dishes that didn't require eating utensils. He had felt like a dunce, after watching how mortified she was that she hadn't used any earlier at breakfast. The food they were eating did not require utensils in Sylvie's world. He recalled being in his Wolf form and helping her scrounge for berries and food. She had only a wooden spoon.
He also felt like a pompous ass for asking about her mother. He already knew who she was, and by the way, Sylvie had clammed up, she didn't want to discuss it. He would have to do better. He had to brush up on his human conversation skills. His conversations lately just consisted of battle strategy and interrogation. Sylvie wasn't a part of that world. He had made sure she wasn't.
He had to keep her protected, he thought as Whitley bowed to him and escorted him to the head seat at the dining room table. He was lost in his thoughts when he looked at the large oak clock placed on the opposite wall he had been waiting for half an hour. Where was his
wife? Whitley was assisting the servants placing dinner on the long and beautifully decorated table.
When he was done, Randolf spoke.
"Whitley, where is my wife? Does she not know the time we have supper in this house !" He was annoyed now. He looked forward to seeing her. Where was she?
Whitley hesitated in answering. Randolf smelled his fear then. Something was wrong. Randolf stood up from the table. "Where. Is. My. Wife." He hissed.
"Y-Your Majesty, there was an incident today-" Whitley didn't get to finish speaking.
"Take me to her. Now!" He roared.
Whitley nodded profusely and without further instruction led his Master to Madame Bouvier's Suite. Randolf was confused. Why were they here? He despised this woman.
"What the hell." He muttered as Whitley pulled out a key from his breast pocket and unlocked the room.
They both entered. Randolf hadn't expected to see what he had. Madame Bouvier was lying in bed. She looked beaten up. A bandage was on her head as well as the bloating in her face.
His wife was sitting in a chair beside her. When she heard the door she had assumed it was Whitley and did not turn around.
She spoke, "Whitley is it supper already?" She asked.
When she received no answer to her question she turned around. It was as if she had seen a ghost. She stood up then.
"Y-Your Ma- Uh- Randolf-" She stuttered.
"What the hell is going on?" Randolf demanded.
Sylvie had never seen him angry, until now and she wondered why. She tried to walk over to him but the pain in her ankle had worsened as the day came to a close. She decided to just stand beside the chair and use it as support. Randolf rushed over to her. He cupped her face.
"You are injured! Who did this ?" Randolf saw the budding of a bruise under her left eye. Who would dare touch his bride?
Everyone knew the consequences. It was death.
"I-It was just a misunderstanding." Sylvie furnished.
"A misunderstanding! No one touches you! Ever! " He boomed.
"Please, be quiet. You will wake her. She has been through a great deal today." Sylvie informed him.
"Then come with me to our chambers so that we can speak." He demanded.
Sylvie shook her head no, "I-I can't do that, I promised her that I wouldn't leave her side."
Randolf rolled his eyes. Only Sylvie would make a promise to someone who didn't deserve an ounce of her care or sympathy.
Randolf couldn't seem to get his emotions in check. He was furious.
"I am sorry about dinner. I was very much looking forward to it." Sylvie reassured him. Hoping that helped calm him, but his brooding features let her know it did not.
"Whitley, leave us and go fetch my father. Now!" Randolf barked.
Whitley bowed and left the chambers.
"Sylvie, you must tell me what happened. Please, don't be afraid. Tell me." He said.
"I want to, but-" She trailed off.
"But what?" He asked.
"You must promise no harm will come to Madame Bouvier. I know you do not care for her." She said.
Was he so obvious with his disdain for Bouvier? He thought he hid it nicely. Apparently not, because Sylvie saw right through him. That was the unique trait that he loved most about her. She could see people and things for what they truly were. He wanted justice so he did the right thing.
"I promise no harm will come to Bouvier." He promised.
Sylvie was satisfied with his answer.
"Your betrothed did this," Sylvie answered.
Louve! Randolf had a hard time believing her. Louve was known for her cool temper and extremely ladylike demeanor. Sylvie was not a known liar.
"Why did she do this?" He asked her.
"She was upset." Sylvie furnished, still not comfortable telling him.
"About what?" Randolf urged her.
"I-I am not sure. All I know is your father assigned her Madame Bouvier to assist me in adjusting to this new world, and she has never liked me. I have tried to be nothing but kind and do as you have instructed in your absence, but..." She trailed off.
"Why did she attack Bouvier?" He asked, still not grasping the story.
"She stood up for me. Louve said something about a whore's place. She attacked her and threw her on top of me. Whitley helped us and called the Physician. I promised her I wouldn't leave her side, and I haven't. " Sylvie was unconsciously wringing her hands. Randolf knew she was replaying the scenario in her mind. He pulled her up against him and held her.