Chapter 155: Pregnancy announcement.
Sigrid wondered in the silence which had swept over everyone if Lettice York ever really knew Roland Maximus. This public tantrum, the silly declaration of her love which tarnished a duty he had been proud to accomplish served only to anger him. It seemed like the young woman was about to see a side of Roland most people did not like to see, the quick tempered one.
"Lettice York," Roland’s voice was sharp, cutting through the heavy stunned silence. "Of all the nonsensical notions you have conjured in your youth, this.....this is by far the worst. It is beyond comprehension. Why can’t you be my wife...because I don’t want you as my wife and I am already happily married. Even if I did not have Sigrid I would not look twice at you."
Lettice flinched at his tone but she held her ground, "You are lying, you cannot be happy. You never liked her, she tarnished your reputation by following you around. She has no talent, your highness, I have thought it throught__"
"Thought it through?" Roland interjected, his brow furrowing deeply. "Obviously you have not thought it through because if you had you would not be shouting such nonsense out loud. Have I not been like a father to you?"
Lettice’s body trembled, tears spilled from her eyes to the ground.
"How dare you call my wife talent-less? She is the most talented woman in the world." He snarled. "I have never once come to you to complain about Sigrid Thorin. If she gave me any trouble the one person I went to was Jesting and I know Jesting would not have gone to you."
"She has a habit of eavesdropping on the private conversations of others and a few maids have long been in the habit of treating her as a superior, the lady of the house. Anything that they hear, they say to her. They also report to her any servant that says or does something unfavorable to her and she finds a way of getting them fired from Stormwind in your name, your highness. More than a few have been sent away from the village completely." Mrs. Brum chimed in.
Jesting frowned, it was the first he was hearing of this. It was true that Lettice had suggested the termination of servants here and there over the years but she always had a good reason. Some were branded thieves, others harmed horses, one maid had been accused of seducing three stable boys. There was always a genuine reason to send such servants away but it seemed now that there was more to the story than what had been presented.
"It is the first I am hearing of this your highness." Jesting said slowly, regret in his tone.
"It’s a lie." Lettice cried out. "Roland, do not believe them, they are making up stories. It is the the crown princess, she must have bribed Mrs. Brum to say bad things about me."
Shooting Mrs. Brum a threatening glare, Lettice added a plea, "Roland, I would never do anything to ruin your name. You have been kind, noble and gentle towards me, I love you..."
"Shut up!" Roland barked.