Part 18
2 days later
Tristan tried his best to concentrate on listening to Lady Giselle, but he hadn't really heard a word she had said. His mind was somewhere far away. Nadine was just removing his belt with her teeth and rubbing her naked body against him. She was driving him crazy. His dreams were driving him crazy. The fact that he hadn't seen Nadine in two days had made them even worse. There had to be a way to make them stop, he didn't know how much more he could take…
"My love? My love?"
"Hmm?" he muttered absentmindedly.
"Are you not hungry?"
He had barely touched his food, he didn't have much appetite.
"Not really."
Lady Giselle looked at him across the table.
"What is troubling you?"
"Nothing, I simply have…a lot on my mind," he replied.
"I can see that," she purred and stood up. She looked nothing but gorgeous wearing a red silk gown. Her blonde hair was down, just the way he liked it. Everything was supposed to be perfect, just like always when he spent the evening with her. First dinner and conversation, then sex. She smiled and moved behind him.
"Let's see if I can help you to relax," she purred and started to massage his shoulders. He sighed and closed his eyes.
"That feels good, puppet."
He was too lost in his thoughts to realize what he had just said and he didn't see the shock on Lady Giselle's face. She continued massaging him for a while before she leaned down and planted seductive kisses all over his neck.
"My love?" she hummed between kisses. "I need to talk to you about something."
"Yes, sure."
She ran her fingers softly over his cheek and sat down on his lap.
"What is it?" he asked.
She blinked few times and twirled her hair around her finger.
"This is a little delicate matter, but I think you want to hear this."
He waited for her to continue, but she didn't.
"Yes?"
"Well… This is about one of the servants who acted very improperly in public."
"Improperly how?"
"Like a harlot. She was caught near the garden lying on the ground; one of Count de Quise's sons, the Lord Niklaus, was on top of her. Unfortunately I saw it with my own eyes."
The matter didn't really interest Tristan, but he needed to take care of his responsibilities.
"She needs to be punished, yes?" Lady Giselle stated.
Tristan nodded absentmindedly.
"Yes, obviously. Who was this servant?"
"Oh, I think she is one of yours. The mute one."
Tristan froze.
"What?"
"Yes, I was shocked too…"
"When was this?" Tristan cut in, his voice held no emotion.
"Three days ago…"
Tristan shoved Lady Giselle off his lap and stood up. He was unable to think clearly, he was beyond apoplectic. His puppet…
"Punish her good, my love," Lady Giselle purred when he marched to the door.
Tristan didn't say anything until he reached one of his guards.
"Bring Nadine to my chamber," he snarled. "Now!"
The guard certainly understood that he wasn't kidding and left running to pick up Nadine. Tristan went straight to his chamber; he was still unable to think properly. He had never felt anything like this. Someone had touched his puppet… Someone was about to pay for that. It didn't take long when Nadine arrived, clearly she had been sleeping. She was wearing a long grey nightgown, her hair was down and she looked sleepy. Still her dark brown eyes were vigilant; she curtsied when she entered his chamber. He stared at her piercingly; he needed a moment before he could move. She startled when he marched towards her and slammed the door shut.
"So," he started, his voice was dangerously calm. "I just heard something quite interesting." He paused and looked at her. "About you and the Lord Niklaus."
Nadine blinked nervously; Tristan stepped in front of her and took a hold of her chin.
"What happened three days ago, puppet?"
She had the frightened deer look in her eyes again; she was shaking her head. That infuriated him even more.
"How dare you to lie to me," he snarled. "You were seen with him, he was lying on top of you!"
He really couldn't understand why this was making him so angry; he had never felt something like this. She looked desperate and he finally managed to pull himself together enough to remember that she couldn't tell him anything with words. Somehow he managed to calm down enough to take a step back.
"Show me what happened," he demanded.
She nodded quickly and mimicked picking the apples and placing them in the basket.
"You were picking the apples?"
She nodded and mimicked running.
"You were running? Why were you running?"
She pointed at her eyes.
"You saw…"
She moved her hand and squirmed.
"A snake?"
She nodded.
"You saw a snake and you ran. Then what?"
She hesitated for a brief moment, clearly she was nervous.
"Let's say I am Lord Niklaus," Tristan said. "Show me what happened."
She nodded and mimicked running again, moving in front of him. Carefully she bumped into him and fell down on the floor.
"So you ran into him and you lost your balance?"
She nodded and motioned him to fall down too. He kept his face free from emotion when he crawled on top of her, supporting his weight on one arm. Her delicate frame felt warm and inviting under him, he had to really concentrate to ignore his body's urges.
"Like this?"
She nodded.
"Then what happened?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing? Really?"
She nodded.
He stared into her eyes and clearly felt how nervous she was. He didn't believe anything she had just told him. No, her injuries implied that the truth was much uglier. Obviously Nadine would never make any kind of accusations against a nobleman, all the servants knew better. Had that bastard… No, Francis would have seen if she would have been injured like that. Still she had no doubt been attacked; Tristan didn't think for a second that his poor innocent puppet would have been a willing participant.
"He didn't touch you?"
She shook her head and blinked her eyes nervously when he leaned closer.
"Look at me, puppet."
She obeyed, but she looked even more nervous.
"You know you belong to me, don't you?"
She tensed a little, but she nodded. He observed her face and softly touched her cheek.
"That means you are under my protection. Do you understand?"
Clearly she didn't.
"No need to worry about anything."
He got up and held out his hand for her. She looked surprised, but she took his hand and let him help her to her feet.
"Your brother told me you are feeling a little better," he stated.
She nodded.
"That's good. Go back to rest then, I want you to get better as soon as possible."
She looked very confused, but she curtsied and left. He took a deep breath, giving himself a moment to calm down and process the whole thing. As always, his mind worked efficiently and systematically. After he was finished, he called for Laurent who arrived quickly.
"I want to know everything about Count de Quise's children," Tristan stated, he was his calm and rational self again. "Especially about the Lord Niklaus."