(Over two weeks pass and the already strained relations between Lord and Lady Wessex became much more noticeable, to the concern in particular of her nurse, whom she had since taken up sharing her tent with):
Cordelia had known enough of the pair not to question her mistress on her concerns, particularly when she had witnessed the poor way her husband had treated her. Little did she know of the events that had followed were the real reason for Viola's abandonment of her marital dwelling.
Robert who was finding it increasingly hard to sleep at night without his wife by his side, took instead to taking the late night shifts for sentient guard duty, every night in fact. Many men suggested that perhaps he was going to end up exhausted by the end of the week – but he was adamant.
He had to protect the fort, he had said, whose walls were literally being built around him. The triangular structure shielded those inside from would be attack from the Spanish and within two months it had been built, so that now the main concentration was on the individual homes within which the colonists still worked jointly on.
But, on one evening during the low tide, they decided to celebrate the victory of the erection of the fort by wine, food, song and prayer.
They created a makeshift table and a few chairs out of logs, it more than sufficed as they sat around it and the food was served. Sumptuous arrays of fruit that they'd found, pheasant that they'd shot and other lovely things brought aboard the ship with them. It was truly a feast. As they all sat down together, one of the men started to sing and soon everyone was feeling pretty merry and others joined in.
Viola had decided to try to make peace with Robert as he sat at the table, glowering rather bored at the singers and trying to get a chance at the wine that was being passed around. The nurse sat chatting pleasantly with her friend Agatha, one of the cooks from back home. She smiled at her. She had turned out to be a pretty fine cook herself, proud of the dish she'd made her husband of muffins with fresh berries, he'd probably forgive her as soon as he sensed the aroma. She had realized that she had provoked him the day before last with her streak of independence and sarcastic comment about something he'd said to her when the first had met. No doubt word had managed to get back to him and that's why he responded as he had. But, had that not happened she would have never shared the incredible moment between them in that bath stall. She still shivered even now thinking about it as a glow came to her cheeks.
As she came around the side to where he was, basically unaware of her presence but looking more distant than usual, she was suddenly intercepted on her path by someone.
It was a woman, who immediately came to her husband's side and lifting her leg without barely raising her short skirts, saddled the log against his hip. He didn't notice her, but continued to play with his empty cup.
Suddenly Viola felt something she wasn't accustomed to in regards to Lord Wessex – jealousy. She looked over the woman with suspicion as she observed her smiling gaily at him. She was striking with long, wavy mahogany hair and beautiful face with warm, gray eyes and full lips that turned into a ready smile. He dress spoke of a woman not of means but perhaps someone who had spent her life in the service of others. She seemed comfortable though rubbing elbows with her husband enough and she didn't like it. Or her.
"Care for some ale? You seem like someone who could use a cool drink as I noticed your eyes in search of something," she teased. Her soft, lilting voice sounded like honey dripped from her tongue.
Viola put her muffins down and glared hard at the woman, a look of dejection on her face.
Still, Robert failed to notice the lovely woman.
"I am not bothering you kind sir, am I?" the woman asked him, still persistent in her approach. She added to it by softly touching his arm to attract his attention.
Finally he looked over and when he did, his eyes lit up to see the beautiful woman trying to vie for his favor sitting beside him.
She smiled at him, warmly as he seemed almost flustered for a moment.
He looked over to the left of her ear momentarily to notice Viola watching them, the look on her face made it obvious what she was feeling. He was surprised for the second time in a matter of minutes as he observed his wife.
Was she jealous? What it possible? It was – she had to be. He could scarcely believe it.
"Something to soothe you?" the woman repeated and held up her draft of beer and finally he took it from her hand.
"I thank you. You can not be a woman here to serve us, not with a lovely face such as yours," he whispered, grinning at her like a cat with a mouse in it's mouth. He knew it was all just a ploy to see how far he could push Viola into responding.
"How sweet of you to say – no, I work aboard the ship," the woman quickly responded. He quickly assessed that flattery did little to move her. "My name is Lisanne. What might your name be?"
"You certainly are presumptious, aren't you? I do have a name yes…"
She giggled. "What is it then, pray tell."
He leaned in and breathed into her face. "Lord Robert Wessex."
"Ohhh…" Lisanne purred. "A Lord!"
He kissed her hand. "At your service, my lady."
Suddenly there was a loud bang at the end of the table and Robert looked up to see Viola had slammed down the plate of muffins at the end of it. Without a word, but with hurt written on her face she ran off in the other direction.
The nurse looked up and then stared over at Robert.
"Not again!" Cordelia sighed.
She saw Robert across the table and waved her hand towards her mistress.
"Well?" she barked.
"You have grown demanding since we have left England, good nurse!" he growled from the other side of the table at her.
Lisanne began to laugh. "I should think you had better go – I take that was your wife who made a dramatic exit?"
"I apologize, I will return!" Lord Wessex said and knew he was out numbered.
Rising to his feet, he ran after Viola who had vanished behind one of the side walls of the fort to be alone with her thoughts.
He saw her hugging herself, leaning up against one of the tallest beams – her back to him.
"Viola, you would not by chance be jealous now would you?" he whispered a bit, teasing her with a knowing smile on his face. He wanted to glower in his small rejoice but the disheartened look on her pretty face made him back down.
"No! Go back to your meal."
He came up and touched her shoulders with his hands.
"You have not returned to the tent for a fortnight."
"I am aware," she commented, shivering under his touch.
"It has been cold without you," he said, softly. "Do not be fooled by that woman. She means nothing to me."
"That is not what is bothering me."
"Then what is?" he asked her and turned her around to face him.
"I really do not know," she replied as she glanced up at him, her eyes were softer now. He touched her face with his palm. It felt wonderful, she closed her eyes and curled her face away into his caress. "I'm scared."
"I know you are."
"I think it is of myself. Please – go back to the table with the others, Lord Wessex."
The fact that she didn't want to call him by his name left him confused.
"Not until you join me...Viola."
She looked down at her feet and seemed hesitant.
"I will, for now."
He took that as meaning to only the share the meal with him and nothing else, but he knew for now that was enough.
He surprised her as he held out his hand to lift it up and place his other at her waist to lead her back with him. As he came up to the table, Lisanne didn't look disappointed in the least but actually smiled at Viola as the couple sat proudly next to one another at the dining table.
As the prayers were said before the actual meal began couples would say what they were thankful for, most said that no matter what they had gone through over the last few months, they had one another.
Listening to the words, Viola and Robert gazed up from the bowed heads to find one another's eyes. There was a quiet look in their glances. Something had indeed changed and again, Viola felt a little shiver as she tried hard to smile at her husband. He tried to smile too as he felt the same exact shiver.
