They were his parents! She was so glad that she had masked her jealousy of the woman. How childish would it be if she was envious of her own mother-in-law?
Eleanora felt much better; perhaps it was the relief that Sebastian wasn't a polygamist or maybe the medicine was doing its job; but whatever it was, she read a few pages of one of the books and then fell asleep.
When she woke up, Sebastian was lying beside her, holding her hand in his sleep. She was still feeling as if she had been stuffed full of rocks, but she felt that she could move now. She slowly sat up and pulled her hand away from him. He twitched, mumbled something and instinctively started feeling for her. When he couldn't find her, he woke up.
"Mmm…" he sighed, looking at her and smiling. "Lady…What are you doing?"
"I have to use the necessary," she whispered.
"Hurry back…" he murmured and pointed to where the bathroom was.
Eleanora did her business and returned. Sebastian was now sitting upright, waiting for her.
"By the way," she asked casually, sitting down at the edge of the bed, "what are you doing here?"
"Here? I was sleeping, until you woke me."
"But…why are we in the same bed?"
"…Because this is my room?"
"You could have given me a guest room or something…"
"Eleanora," Sebastian said, looking at her, "does sleeping together in one bed distress you?"
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," she said and stopped. She glared at him. "Since when are you allowed to call me 'Eleanora?'"
"I naturally assumed that, due to current events, I'd be allowed to call my wife her name." He gave her another of his looks. "Is that a problem?"
"Yes it damn well is a problem," she hissed. "Have you forgotten already how much I hate you? This…matri verum doesn't change anything. You're not allowed to call me Eleanora."
"Oh, really?" he said and suddenly leaned in really close. "And just how are you going to stop me?" he whispered. "Hm? Eleanora?"
"D-Don't call me that…"
"Then stop me…" he murmured and began leaning in, his eyes closed, he pursed his lips a bit…
"RISE AND SHINE, PANCAKES!" Jean shouted, bursting into the room. "Guess who's hungry?! ME! And Rose says that I can't eat until I get at least two more people down here…Am I interrupting something?"
Sebastian's face was still several inches away from Eleanora's; his lips were still pursed.
Jean whistled.
"Weeell, getting a head-start on the honeymoon, are you?"
"Uh…No," Eleanora said, scooting away from Sebastian. "We were just…uh…we were just…"
"Oh, I don't mind," Jean said, jumping on the bed and crossing his legs. "Pray continue at your leisure." He removed a pair of opera glasses from his pocket and began watching them, smiling.
Sebastian just looked at him.
"Oh, don't mind me. Don't mind me at all."
"I don't think so," his son said icily and stood up. Eleanora realized that he wasn't wearing pants; just a long white shirt that barely covered his rear. He entered the bathroom.
Jean sighed and flopped back down on the bed.
"Well, that's that. Are you coming down any time soon? I'm hungry."
"Uh…Sure. Just as soon as he's done in there."
"Hurry down! We're having bacon!"
Jean stood up and left. Sebastian exited the bathroom several minutes later, wearing a white shirt with black pants, no trace of the butler about him.
"What?" he said upon noticing her looking at him.
"Uh…nothing," she said, and darted into the bathroom before he could ask any more questions.