Governor's Bride - Chapter 33

“We’re almost there.”

At his calm voice, Deertes lifted up her head to glare at Lachlan. She could barely make out his smiling face through the thick veil. Suddenly, the horse she was riding cried out and shook its body.

“Kyaa!”

Deertes shrieked before falling flat on her stomach again. Ever since she left the governor’s estate till now, she has experienced this numerous times already. Instead of saying how she had been travelling on horseback, it’d be more accurate to say that she had her back on the ground much longer.

“That, let me help you up.”

Recognising the glare that Deertes was giving him, Lachlan lightly stepped off his horse, not even attempting to stifle his laughter. He walked over to where Deertes’ horse stopped and reached a hand out to her.

“What? Are you planning to stop riding?”

“That’s not it…”

“Then, what are you waiting for? It’s late. If we don’t hurry up, Brian will be even more annoyed. It’s been a while since I got to work.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“What do you mean? Just leave this to me.”

“I can just get back on using a pedestal.”

Deertes said before proceeding to look around and search for the pedestal. Even when she was riding horses in Ramedes, she always made sure to have a pedestal with her to act as a small staircase. So Deertes continued searching around, something like that should be here too, right?

Yet, when Deertes said the word ‘pedestal’, Lachlan could not help but stare at her confusedly.

“Helen had it prepared when we were at the estate… But not even children here don’t use pedestals to get on and off horses”

“…”

Deertes’ face immediately flushed red as she heard his comment. Suddenly embarrassed at the fact she was doing worse than a child. She was grateful for the thick veil she wore that prevented him from seeing her face.

“So, are you going to just stay like that?”

At Lachlan’s question, Deertes hesitated before grabbing his outstretched hand. Immediately, he pulled on her arm. For a brief moment, Deertes felt as if her body was floating as Lachlan lifted her up and onto the horse by his hands that had moved to her waist. This same sensation followed her on the rest of her ride. It was not long before she got off and stood on solid ground.

“The governor has arrived!”

“How are you feeling?”

As Lachlan spoke, people flocked to greet him. He returned their greetings with either a pat on their shoulder or a high five.

Deertes retreated slightly, looking at the scene unfolding before her. Ever since she left the governor’s estate, she had yet to meet anything strange or foreign.

Then again, she must have lost her mind since this morning.

“You’ll be following me to City Hall.”

At Lachlan’s words, Deertes questioned whether he had suddenly gone insane. He knew better than anyone how she had ended up here. Yet, he was planning to take her outside?

“What if I run away…?”

“There’s no harm in you trying to do so.”

Deertes’ face hardened at his tone that seemed to question her abilities. Lachlan, having noticed the change in her expression, added.

“I can’t be certain what I’d do when I catch you again… You had sworn a vow to me… If you were to break it…”

Lachlan and Deertes met each other’s eyes. Until now, she has never seen a scarier face than now. Lachlan wasn’t frowning. He didn’t have an angry expression. Actually, he wasn’t showing much emotion. And yet, she didn’t expect him to be this scary.

It felt like his eyes were scanning her from head to toe. He looked to be trying to catch his breath. Deertes couldn’t help but recall the beast she had first encountered in the desert.

“You’ll have to give me something in return…”

“…”

The air seemed heavy all of a sudden. If there was anything Deertes knew for certain, was that should she be caught trying to escape, Lachlan would never let it slide. Her hand, which had been holding a fork, couldn’t help but quiver. Expression soon returned to his face and he let out a laugh.

“That’s enough of that. Go on, finish your breakfast.”

At that, breath seemed to fill her lungs again as she turned towards the plate in front of her. Like always there were pieces of meat left behind.

“Need I feed you again?”

Deertes hurriedly stabbed a piece of meat with the fork and pushed it into her mouth. She completely forgot the teachings she learnt as a child, to chew food into smaller pieces when eating. All that came to mind was what would happen should she not finish the meat quickly. What Lachlan might do again.

At least this time around, eating it wasn’t as bad. Deertes swallowed the meat and looked at her now empty plate. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of emptiness too.

‘It was good.’

When she had first tried meat, it was almost unbearable. Now she barely had any problem swallowing it. The dishes Helen had made for her were delicious. The way Lachlan’s face lit up with delight as he took in her eating more. Deertes stared at the plate. She thought that maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a little more meat.

After Deertes finished her meal, possibly having been alerted by Lachlan, Helen entered the room with her outdoor clothes in hand. With Deertes now dressed up, she turned to Helen with a troubled expression.

“What about, veil…”

“It’s…”

Helen turned away at her words, a slightly distressed look. It was not long before Lachlan walked down the stairs and looked in their direction.

“Were you looking for this?”

In his hand was a hat and a finely woven veil. Deertes was beyond relieved to see that. She had no idea what to do if he told her to go out without her veil.

Reaching the end of the stairs, he approached Deertes and gently placed the wide-brimmed hat on her before wrapping the veil on it.

“I had Helen teach me but I’m not sure if it’ll end up looking alright.”

Lachlan’s hand moved quickly and precisely contrary to all his muttering. As he finished up, she could vaguely see a mirror behind him.

Deertes knew why he was able to boldly bring her out. He knew that she might attempt to contact Bernst. He must also be aware that she could not let herself be revealed to others.

Instead, it would be Lachlan who would be happy if her identity was revealed. Deertes would keep worrying if the next person they met was talking about Deertes. As such, she was grateful to at least be given a veil to wear.

As Deertes continued deep in thought, Lachlan slowly bent down and whispered in her ear.

“Honestly I’d prefer to unveil you here right now, but… I’m not going to overdo it from the beginning. And… it’s meaningless if you aren’t the one taking it off.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

For aristocratic women, veils are incredibly important. Long ago, taking off a veil held the same meaning as taking off their clothes. Though she’s not in Ramedes, taking off her veil in front of strangers, especially men, was not a modest thing to do.

The feeling of disgust and discomfort she had when her veil was taken off when aboard the ship.

When coming to Endeavour, she had been forced to give up her veil so she did not wear a veil in front of Lachlan or Craig, but going out was a whole other issue. She had not enough confidence or determination to leave without one.

“Do as you please. I’m not going to force you.”

Lachlan said as he finished adjusting her veil and moved to go outside.

Deertes stood rooted to the ground, her mind now drifting to the work she had planned today, when someone now suddenly moved in front of her.

“Governor, sorry, who is this…?”

At the sound of a voice with a question relating to her, Deertes finally raised her head. Before long, people started flooding in and crowded around her as they greeted Lachlan.

“Ah, this is my scribe who I’ll be working with from today on.”

There was a collective “Ahh” from around her.

“Good decision, governor. Your handwriting is terrible. No, I meant it was just a little hard to read.”

“Not a day or two goes by without Brigadier General Brian grumbling about it.”

“That’s right. Last time, when I referred a scribe to you, you refused saying how you didn’t need one.”

Their words came from all directions as they chattered excitedly with Lachlan. Deertes could not help but stare at him in amazement. She had felt it as soon as she stepped foot into Ramedes and saw the way they interacted.. The way the people treated Lachlan more like a close friend as compared to a citizen and governor. 

“How noisy, you guys.”

“Well, I’m glad that General Brian will be less annoyed now… Also, their name is…?”

Deertes froze. Her gaze fixed on Lachlan. Suddenly she felt distant. What use does the veil have if he were to say her name?

“…Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

Lachlan had looked back at Deertes, noticed how her legs were trembling, before opening his mouth. Those standing around looked between Deertes and Lachlan with bewildered expressions.

Veiled women weren’t uncommon in Endeavour. In fact, it could be the exact opposite, there were many. Especially architect families and wives of soldiers who came to Endeavour during its early days of development. Where women used the veils to show they were different from female prisoners.

Though they were only wives of the lower nobility, they were still a higher social standing as compared to prisoners or commoners so they were to have a stronger adherence to strict etiquette.

An example of strict etiquette was that women should not speak of themselves without someone introducing them beforehand.

‘I’m almost certain she’s one of those women who wears a veil, yet you’re letting her introduce herself?’

‘Is she not from a noble family?’

Those questions seem to quickly enter everyone’s faces and thoughts. The reason behind why this new individual was wearing the veil became more and more unclear.

Deertes could not help but be more flustered than the people around her. She has never once thought of how to respond to such a situation.

“I’m…”

What should she say? It’s clear that if she hesitates any longer, their curiosity will only grow. If you’re standing here, you should know who you are…

Deertes looked at the people around her through her veil.

Everyone was looking back at her. They didn’t question why this newcomer was here. Instead of criticism, their faces only held pure curiosity.

Of course, it was only a matter of time. A stranger. The person they’re standing around is just a stranger.

No one knows who she is.

Deertes could not help but clench her fists tightly.

No one knows. No one knows that the person standing before them is the woman praised as the forest fairy of Ramedes. The heir to Count Russell. The sinner. The woman who gave herself away on a vow to live.

She could be anyone she wants to be as long as she says it now.

Deertes’ body trembled as she reached that realisation.

“I am… Tess.”

Her voice came out shakily. But once again in a clear voice, Deertes spoke.

“It’s Tess.”

For the first time in her life, Deertes introduced herself without having to go through anyone else.