Terra did not realize just how much she'd miss her husband until he was gone. It only took a day to feel a longing for his company which she had grown so very use to. Perhaps this would not be so bad after all. It wasn't perfect, but at the very least, they were friends.
Everything seemed like it would work out..... until talk reached Terra. Through Anya never the less.
Terra had been sitting in her room, reading a book when Anya came in. Now Terra could tell when something was on her friends mind, especially this time for she noticed that Anya had a look of pity upon her face. "Anya, what's wrong? And don't pretend there is not a problem. You wear your emotions on our sleeve."
The girl sighed, "I should not tell you your grace. It will only break your heart."
"Well if it has something to do with me then you have to tell me." She put the book down, and motioned for Anya to sit with her. In all honestly, Terra did not think that whatever worried Anya was that bad. She did tend to over react. "If it's about me then I have a right to know."
"It's not about you... directly," she said as she tentatively sat down, "It's about the duke."
"Anything that involved my husband involves me as well," she said, noting how Anya raised a brow at that idea. She was definitely letting Nathan's idea that they were equal partners sink in.
Anya seemed tentative but then at last, "I know where the duke goes..."
Terra looks confused, "As do I. He goes on business trips and diplomatic missions."
"No.... he doesn't. I spoke with some of the other servants who have been here for awhile. They told me that the duke has been taking long trips for sometime but not on business. They said it's..." she hesitated knowing that her friend and lady had been starting to fall for the duke but she had a right to know she was being lied to, "The servants say he had a mistress. He goes and spends weeks at a time with the mystery woman."
Terra looked on in shock for inside her knew it was not true. Somewhere deep down perhaps, but on the surface level, "That's nonsense. Nathan has assured me he keeps no mistress. He did mention there had been a women he loved..." she paused, trying to recall what it had been he said about the other woman, "But.... he could not marry her..." if she had not already been sitting she would have needed to take a seat.
"Like a man can't marry a mistress...." Anya added in.
"Leave Anya..." Terra said quickly.
"I didn't mean to hurt your grace. But you do deserve to know the truth about the man. You are good and don't deserve to be lied to like-"
"LEAVE Anya," Terra repeated more firmly. This time Anya obeyed leaving Terra alone to think this over. It could not be true. He would not have lied to her like that. He assured her that he would not share his bed with any mistress. Only his wife. A little voice nagged that of course it didn't count if he went to the mistresses bed.
Terra needed air! She quickly went into her closet and changed into something more comfortable for riding. She rushed down to the stables, as if she was running from what now nagged her and tried to convince her was the truth.
The stable hand helped her to saddle Buttercup and he was the only one that knew that she had gone out. She told him she'd only be gone a few hours.
But when the sun was setting and Terra had still not returned, the man worried for her safety and went straight to Arnold. Soon everyone in the castle was worried over the duchess for it was not like her. A search party was sent out to look for her. And when a hour after sunset, Buttercup was located with her rider and no sign of Terra nearby, worry grew to fear.
While the search continued slowly through the night, Arnold slipped away to send a message to Nathan. If Nathan returned to find he had not been sent for right way with his wife missing, Arnold knew there would be hell to pay. He only hopped the message would reach Nathan in a timely manner. He had already been done for three days and could very well be away on a mission already.
