Firebrand

Firebrand
FaTaLfURy

Chapter Seventeen, Part II - The Summons

Inuyasha had just dismissed the king's messenger and was looking out of his study's window, not really seeing anything, when a knock sounded at the door. He forced himself out of his reverie and gave the command to enter.

It was his wife.

"We didn't get to finish our lunch, my lord. Are you still famished? Kaede said["

Inuyasha thought now would be a good time as any to tell Kagome of his plans.

"Sit, wife,"

Kagome's heart was pounding painfully in her chest as she did as her husband ordered. She even welcomed his command, feeling she had lost all the bones in her lower limbs for the moment. She was actually relieved to be sitting down.

"The king has ordered us back to court,"

Inuyasha waited for a beat for his wife's reaction. When she failed to give him one, he continued.

"We will be leaving the day after tomorrow. Make sure you inform the staff as quickly as possible,"

"Is that all, Your Grace?"

He fought the urge to wince at the coolness of her voice. The dratted formality was back again with a vengeance. Inuyasha sighed heavily as he raked a hand through his silver hair.

"No. As you know, our marriage has a certain degree of... controversiality,"

Inuyasha lamely improvised as he searched for the right words to say to his delicate wife.

He should've known he was wasting his efforts.

"Don't you mean the biggest scandal in England's history, Your Grace?"

He lost his patience then and there.

"Damn it, don't goad me too much, woman! I am trying to find the right words to tell you["

Kagome waved his comments aside indifferently.

"I do not need the right or correct, Your Grace. I am not some simpering idiot who would faint in the face of honesty. I prefer to be given the truth at all times, no matter how brutal it may be. You have no need of embellishing it for my convenience, Your Grace,"

Inuyasha stared in amazement at his wife. Her expression never wavered when she politely informed him of that. It would seem Kagome was not yet done surprising him.

"As you wish, wife. The moment we enter the king's court it will become a circus and we are going to be the main attraction. The gossips are going to have a field-day with us there,"

"I do not care,"

"But I do. Your reputation and honor is of utmost importance to me, wife. I know, I know,"

He interrupted her before she could voice out her protest.

"I know you think it has largely been damaged and beyond repair, but it is not. Your honor has remained intact the moment I made you my wife,"

"Are you saying I should thank you, Your Grace? I probably should, but forgive me if I don't. It probably would have been better if you didn't marry me in the first place and allowed me to sail home,"

Inuyasha wanted to shake some sense into her and his fingers curled in his hand to stop himself from wringing her neck.

"Be that as it may, you are now my wife. Never forget that, Kagome,"

She had silence for him with that, only staring back at him proudly.
"There is also the business of Norfolk,"

Now her eyes narrowed a fraction at his announcement.

"What have I to do with him, Your Grace?"

"Bloody hell, Kagome, it's 'Inuyasha', 'your lord' or 'husband', but I specifically recall telling you never to call me 'Your Grace' ever again! Do you hear me?"

Kagome remained stubbornly silent, refusing to acknowledge his command. He ran another hand through his hair in agitation and frustration.

"We have to find out who was behind it all. The king expects nothing less,"

"And the Lady Winters?"

Her voice was quiet, her azure eyes staring at him intently. Inuyasha had to look away from her probing gaze.

"Nothing could change what Kikyou was to me, Kagome. I do not regret marrying you, but neither do I regret having been with her,"

Kagome's heart was numbed by his answer. And so it has come to this.

"I owe her my assistance, if anything. I will not turn my back on her if she sends for me. I have given her my word, and my word is my bond,"

Kagome now moved her eyes from his face to the window, staring unseeingly outside. She wanted to shed tears, but her eyes remained dry. And she was glad of it. If her pride was all she had left, then she vowed she would never lose it. Especially to him.

"I understand perfectly. Is that all?"

Inuyasha stared incredulously at his wife. He wanted her to react, to say something, even shout at him or throw things at him if she wanted. Anything but this cold front she was showing him.

"Kagome, I["

She slipped out of her chair in an instant and was on her way to the door. She didn't want to hear anymore.

"Forgive me, but I find I am extremely exhausted. Do not bother waiting for me to have dinner; I'll just have a tray sent to my room. Good day, Your Grace,"

She gave him a perfect curtsy before walking out of the room. Her spine was so ramrod straight, she feared it would break.

But it was her heart that was broken.

She never should have loved him.