Firebrand

Firebrand
FaTaLfURy

Chapter 16, Part II - Reprieve

"Do not worry so, James. I know what I'm doing. I won't be gone long. Try to not wake my husband yet; he's really tired,"

With that, Kagome vaulted on Tempest's back and rode away like there was a demon chasing after her.

Without the bridle, the stirrup and the saddle.

James didn't know where the duchess learned to ride, but she sure as hell was one skilled rider. It was rare to see someone, much less a woman, ride without the trappings that went it. The new duchess was really something, James thought to himself as he went back to his chores whistling. If the duchess didn't want the duke to find out, it was fine by him.

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Inuyasha woke not long after, expecting his wife to still be beside him. When his searching hands found no trace of his wife, his amber eyes opened wide and he was fully awake in a second.

'I must've been very exhausted for her to have slipped away like that without my noticing. She's probably breaking her fast in the dining room so as not to disturb me. Such a thoughtful little wife she's becoming,'

Inuyasha thought with a grin, imagining just how he'd show his appreciation to his 'thoughtful' wife.
But first, he had to find her.

Eager to see his beautiful wife, he dressed his self and went on his way to the dining room. He made sure his schedule was clear for the day, planning to spend the entire time with Kagome. It was still early enough to take her on their customary morning ride, and he'll do that after they had eaten.

When Inuyasha went inside the dining room, he was surprised not to find his wife there. Puzzled, he went straight to the kitchens. Perhaps Kaede knew where she was.

Kaede was busy designating tasks to the multitude of maids and servants employed in the castle as they ate their morning meal together. Inuyasha cleared his throat to catch her attention and every servant scrambled in their haste to bow and curtsy to him. All but Kaede, who was now frowning somewhat fiercely at him. She dismissed the servants to go back to their eating on his behalf before heading straight into the dining room, where she knew the duke would follow.

In another noble household, Kaede's impertinence would have earned her nothing but punishment. But here in Inuyasha's domain, she did as she pleased and he never minded. Except when she was nagging him to death about something (which he suspects is what she'll be doing now). Kaede was his nanny ever since he was born and after his mother died, she and Myouga became like his family. There was nothing he wouldn't do for them.

Hands on her hips, Kaede rounded on him, a fierce frown distorting her already homely face. Inuyasha sighed resignedly to the nagging that would surely follow.

"What did I do now, Kaede-baa?"

Inuyasha took pains for Kaede not to notice, but she can still make him squirm in his shoes like a schoolboy with one look. That 'look' was the one she was giving him now and he resisted the urge to actually squirm like a worm.

"You're treating your wife poorly, Inuyasha. Why, the poor girl is still thin as a waif as the first time you brought her here["

Inuyasha wanted to say his wife wasn't thin: she was deliciously slim and had her curves in all the right places. But one look at Kaede's face made him rethink his options. He decided to shut his mouth.

"[and all of that is your fault! Kagome's being ran ragged by your infernal lust, not even having the time to eat enough before you whisk her away into the bedroom["

Now Inuyasha DID protest at that. Or at least he tried to.

"Now, Kaede-baa, you["

"I haven't finished yet, have I? Now you're being rude,"

That shut him up effectively. He suffered through her drawn-out and exaggerated lamentation of his 'so-called' maltreatment of his wife when she caught him off-guard somewhere.

"She still doesn't know, does she? When are you going to tell her? She has a right to know; Kagome's your wife now,"

Inuyasha clenched his jaw hard to keep himself from shouting at Kaede.

"That is none of your business, Kaede-baa. My wife doesn't need to know; she'll only be bothered by it. And I forbid you, Myouga or anyone to enlighten her. Anyone who disobeys shall answer to me!"

The duke said in cold fury before he stormed out of the dining room to look for his missing wife, leaving a sad-looking Kaede to shake her head unhappily behind his retreating back.

'You're wrong, my boy. You're afraid Kagome will leave you once she knows, but she's not like that. The one thing that could destroy your life with her is your reluctancy to trust her,'

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Inuyasha went in search of Myouga next, hoping the butler has seen his wife.

"Good morning, Your Grace,"

Inuyasha waved off Myouga's formal greeting and inquired after his wife.

"I believe I saw her head out to the stables earlier["