Sam sighed as she lay in her cot, the sunlight outside filling the space as it shone through the windowpane over her head. She would have loved to draw some curtains over said window, but as her mother- in-law forbade such things she was stuck with the sun blinding her every morning. Her mother-in-law hated her with a passion, the older lady having been a widow and divorcee in the years she had been married.
She seemed to abhor Sam for no other reason than the fact that she was bitter, but said raven haired female knew differently. She had heard about the gentleman that had been the woman's second husband, the one that had left her for a younger and prettier female. The fact that the woman had had black hair seemed to irritate her more when her son fell for someone with similar coloring. Sitting up she frowned at the space she had been forced to call home all these years of her marriage.
She had been given a splendid room when she had first married her husband of five years now, but that had been when they had first been married. As the first year passed and Sam could bare him no heir her husband changed to a monster, his thirst for a child so unnatural. She had been only twenty at the time and unused to the male gender, save for her one guy friend, but he had been gone for forever, his marriage to a girl of his own choice taking him away from her.
Sure, they had been the ones to move, but Sam had not heard one word from him since his marriage even though he had promised to write to her at every chance he got. That had been five years ago when he had married first and then her marriage had followed shortly after. The only reason she had married her husband had been for how he had treated her, for her husband was not a handsome man, and the other fact had been that her mother had pushed it because the family was wealthy and would ensure their future.
Sam hated being married and vowed that she would never marry again if something befall her husband. The sound of her mother-in-law coming up the stairs that lead to Sam's room echoed loudly. It was slow and the older woman's cane tapped every step like a drum in the beauty's ears.
"Samantha!" came the call that came every morning. Her mother-in-law loved to wake her up, startle her out of bed, but over the years Sam had found that waking up super early stopped that... for the most part. It seemed to anger the old lady since that was part of her fun. "Get up!" As the door swung open Sam stood, her amethyst gaze boring into the older lady's own blue ones.
"Yes, Mrs. Francis." That was just her last name because Sam was forbidden to even use her mother-in-law's first name, Dorothy. The older woman glared at the younger female, her hate for the girl before her strong and unwavering. Her son had picked the woman before them for her looks, not her status and Dorothy hated her. The woman was a beauty and when she was allowed out she had caught all the male attention. When they threw their party for the engagement the older woman had noticed how upset most of the male populace had been and it had angered her. Had the woman slept with all the men?
Sam knew about the accusations that had been thrown around since the engagement and had found them appalling because she was not a whore and had never slept with anyone save for her husband, but her mother-in-law still felt that she was lying even when her son had clarified it. It was the only nice thing he had done since their marriage.
"Get dressed and get to dining hall because we have things to discuss." Walking away Sam was left glaring at the back of the woman she hated.
Thirty minutes later found the pair of females alone at the breakfast table, the servants rushing to feed them. Sam hated the over abundance of help for she had not wanted servants. Her husband's family couldn't seem to live without them and while her own mother had been the same way Sam hated it. On particular servant rushed forward, the dark haired lad no older than ten. He placed the mail before Dorothy while at the same time trying to stay far from the older woman. She was known to beat a servant indiscriminately so most stayed out of her way unless necessary.
"Where is my husband this morning?" the raven haired beauty inquired even though she could really care less where the man she had married was. Dorothy said nothing as she picked through the letters in her hand slowly. Sam didn't force it because she didn't really feel up to messing with the older woman and her temper. That's when she noticed that Dorothy had stopped on a particularly beautiful blue envelope, her blue eyes hardening as she lowered her grey head down to conceal it. Sam knew that envelope. It was her great aunt's signature envelope. The young woman hated this ritual.
"Your husband is going to be gone for the day with his friends as they are competing later this week." The older woman looked up. "His Polo match is this week so he must be ready, not that he needs practice as he is the best one out here." Still clutching the letter in her wrinkled hand Dorothy stared Sam down. She said nothing more as she opened the letter. Sam wanted to say something, but knew that if she did then the older woman would trash the letter as she had done on occasion. Pulling out the contents the older woman began to read. After a few moments she threw it at Sam, her face twisted in disgust. "It seems that your aunt requires you to visit her." That wouldn't happen save for the fact that the last time she had seen the doctor he had insisted they let the young girl have a vacation since she was looking a little peaked.
Reading the letter herself Sam felt her color drain. Her great aunt had been her rock through it all and it seemed that she was feeling a little ill. Looking up to her mother-in-law she opened her mouth, but before she could the older woman shot her down.
"No, we need you to perform your task as a dutiful wife," Dorothy spat.
"The doctor said that I may not be able to if I am continually under stress to do so," Sam rebutted. "Let me go and see to her health for a matter of a month. When I return I shall be healthy and relaxed, more able to give your family an heir." The older woman opened her mouth to say no again when the sound of a car pulling up interrupted her.
"The master has been hurt!" came a cry. The older woman's eyes grew wide and shoving back her chair she was gone leaving Sam there in shock.