The next morning (after he had me again) I sat in the middle of the bed tangled in the blankets watching Aleister clean then dress himself.

"Cielly love today is going to be a busy day with the final preparations for our celebration." He smiled at me. "Followed by two days of feasting, dancing, and sport. Unfortunately with all that I doubt we'll have much time for each other." He sat down on the bed and gently caressed my cheek. "But I promise you once it's all over I will give you all the free time my schedule will allow." He planted a quick kiss on my lips.

I smiled lightly at him and nodded. "Thank you."

"Ah don't thank me my love." He smiled and stood up. "You are my wife it's my responsibility to make sure you are happy and well sated." He gave me a wink. "Now I must leave you and attend to the preparations for the coming hunt tomorrow." He made for the door. "If any issues arise send my errand boy with a message to find me."

"Okay." I nodded at him. "Have a good day husband." I played up as the good wife.

I had plans of my own to deal with today and they were the first steps in ensuring I get Sebastian out of the dungeon and the two of us out of this castle. It would do no good for anyone to be suspicious of anything I was doing especially Aleister.

He smiled at me. "As well to you my dear wife." He opened the door, gave me one more smile, and headed off to do whatever it was he had planned for the day.

It was only moments after he left when Nelly and Elise quickly entered to get me ready for the day.

"Well how was your first real night with your husband?" Elise questioned as she opened the wardrobe to pull out my clothing for the day.

"I don't want to talk about it." I blushed and looked down at my fiddling fingers in my lap.

"Don't be embarrassed," Nelly sat down next to me and draped her arm across my shoulders. "by law you are his wife and it was either this or he takes it from you and you never get yourself and Sebastian out of here."

"I know." I reluctantly agreed.

"Well if it makes you feel any better," she stood up and pulled the blankets off the bed leaving me sitting there bare and exposed to the two of them. "we managed to get some of the valerian root you wanted from the herbalist."

"Really?" I questioned wide eyed not really concerned with my nudity seeing as how they have seen me naked more times than I would have liked.

"And not only that." Elise held up a light gray and pink dress for my opinion.

I waved it off giving her the decision of what I would wear for the day as I had every day since we met.

"I managed to get my hands on some kava." She nodded as she laid the dress out for me. "So between the two we should be able to knock some people out and get you and Sebastian out of here."

"The problem," I started as Nelly pulled me out of the bed to get me cleaned up. "is how to make sure the right people get it and take enough to put them out." I flinched lightly when she touched the cool wet cloth to my back.

"Well you could just put it into their drinks as you go." Nelly suggested. "But you'd have to wait for it to take effect although," she turned me around and started wiping down my chest. "there will be a lot of drinking to celebrate so most of them will probably just pass out drunk."

"True." I agreed and snatched the cloth from her hand when she started washing lower. She knew I hated her to clean me from the waist down and yet everyday she tried to do it for me anyway. "The most important thing is to make sure Aleister is either drunk or put to sleep, the dungeon guards, and somehow getting outside the walls."

"Well you can use the back gate the servants use to get outside there's usually only one or two guards there." Elise gathered my under things to begin dressing me. "Most of the guards will be out front with so many people coming and going for the celebration."

"What about the clothing?" I looked between the two of them.

"Don't worry about it." Nelly draped the corset around me. "I'll have them wrapped and ready for you just like we planned."

"Okay and here's the gossip before you go out there." Nelly nodded. "Everyone in the castle is aware that you're here and most everyone is excited."

I drew my brows as I stared at her. "What do you mean most everyone?"

Nelly sat down in front of me on a end of the bed as Elise pulled the strings tight on my corset. "Well word is that Aleister had a fiancée before you were found."

"What?!" I froze and stared wide eyed at her. "Then why marry me?"

"It seems she or rather he," she gestured towards me to indicate her point. "was chosen in case you were never found. As a matter of fact if you weren't found they were to be married this fall."

"So what does this mean for me?" I questioned not liking this at all.

"Well hopefully you can get out of here before it becomes an issue." Nelly sighed. "However, she isn't happy about you being found and more so over the fact you married Aleister. Apparently she's on the war path for you so you better watch your back."

This was not what I needed right now. "Suggestions?" I looked between the two of them.

"My suggestion to you is to walk out there and take charge straight away." Elise nodded at me. "If she confronts you don't waste a second in putting her in her proper place. You are Lady of this house and you have to make sure everyone knows it."

"I agree." Nelly stood up. "If you come across as weak-kneed you're done for and it might make it harder for you and Sebastian to escape. We know and you know you're going to escape here but they don't. As far as everyone here is concerned you are now Lady Cielly Chamber and you have to act the part until the very end."

Elise lifted my arms to put my under slip on. "Stand tall, take charge, and show them that you are not someone to be toyed with. Be compassionate when needed and firm when demanded."

Nelly stood in front of me and placed her hands on my shoulders. "What she means is when Miss. Olivia confronts you, put her in her place immediately even if that means getting physical. You are the Lady so be the Lady."

I took a deep breath and nodded. "I won't like it but I'll do my best."

Elise spun me around to face her. "Do it for that hunky Sebastian. If you remember that that's who you're fighting for then you can do anything."

"Right." I nodded and stiffened my spine. "For Sebastian." I held a fist up determinedly and prepared myself to face the people of the castle.

xx

As I wandered the castle meeting everyone it seemed I was most welcome. However, as expected there were some that were weary of me or just didn't not want me there. Which was fine with me because I didn't want to be here either but I couldn't tell them that.

As I was headed for the kitchens to check on the progress for the upcoming celebration and to poison (so to speak) the ale I ran into Olivia. I was ready for the hatred I would receive from her but not on the level she dished it out.

"You little hussy!" She yelled in my face. "You think just because you married my Aleister you can just come in here and take over?! I have been taking care of this castle and everyone in it for the last two years now. If you think I'm going to just give it up and let you have it you have another thing coming!" She bit out coldly.

I remembered what Elise and Nelly said to me and narrowed my eyes. I needed to establish myself for the sake of mine and Sebastian's freedom. "You go too far." I bit out quietly and narrowed my eyes. "I am Lady of this house no matter your standing before my marriage and arrival here and you will fall in line!"

Olivia jerked back apparently not expecting me to stand my ground. However, her shock quickly wore off as quick as it came. "Don't you dare think you can speak to me that way! Even if you were arranged to marry Aleister he loves me; not you but me! You're just his contracted whore!"

I could feel the eyes of the castle workers on me and knew that I was expected to do something to defend my honor. I hated myself for it and it really wasn't Olivia's fault we were in this situation but it had to be done. At least it made me happy to know that Aleister would have someone to love him as he deserved once I was gone.

With that in mind I raised my hand and laid it sharply across Olivia's cheek. "You will watch your tongue when speaking to me and you will NOT speak in such a degrading manner as this to me or anyone. You may have been acting Lady prior to my arrival however I am Lady now and you will do well to remember that!"

I watched Olivia place her hand to her cheek as her eyes filled with tears and hatred. "He will always be mine!" She hissed before she turned and ran away from me face red with shame and anger.

I sighed to myself feeling bad for her and a little guilty. I knew what just happened was going to shame her for a long time to come but she should have known better. The only thing I could take solace in was the fact that she would get what she wanted once I was gone and be happy.

So with that I looked around me before heading for the kitchens and found everyone standing around staring at me. I steeled my spine and narrowed my eyes just the slightest as I looked around at everyone. "I'm assuming everyone is done with their chores for the day since you all have time to stand around gawking?!" I questioned condescendingly.

It only took a second for everyone to start scurrying off to get back to work while throwing apologies to me as they passed by. So riding on my confrontational high I headed for the kitchens to make sure everything there was running smoothly. Not to mention so I could find some way to put all the sleeping powder into the ale or one of the main food dishes.

xx

"I heard what you did!" Nelly beamed at me as she entered my room.

"Yes the castle is abuzz talking about the iron fist of Lady Cielly." Elise closed the door behind them. "You did it." She looked over at me grinning hugely.

I slumped in my chair exhaustedly and shook my head. "I hope I didn't overdo it. If everyone is afraid of me and hates me things could become problematic."

Nelly leaned over the back of the chair and placed her hands on my shoulders. "That's not what happened at all." She massaged my tense shoulders. "In fact everyone is gossiping about how much you must love Lord Aleister to stand up against Olivia like you did."

"Not only that everyone is impressed that you could take such quick control over the palace after only a day." Elise added as she leaned down in front of me. "After all that you should have no problem getting yourself and Sebastian out of here." She whispered.

"I hope so." I nodded.

"So are you going to go for it tonight?" Nelly moved around in front of me and asked.

"I'm going to try." I nodded. "If I'm unable to then I'm going for it during the hunt when most everyone will be out of the castle."

"That makes sense." Elise agreed.

"It all just depends on how well the valerian root and kava take effect." I whispered.

Nelly drew her brows as she stared at me. "So what did you put them in?"

"The valerian is in the gravy and I managed to get the kava put into a barrel of wine." I sighed deeply. "I just hope it's potent enough to take effect."

"Even if it's not the alcohol should take care of the rest." Nelly pointed out. "So now all we need to work out is how to get rid of the guards in the dungeon."

"I already have that taken care of." Elise beamed at the two of us.

"Oh?" Nelly questioned wide eyed. "And what's your plan?"

"Well…" Elise stared at the two of us her eyes glinting with excitement.