Brown Skin by Timaira Smith (best beach reads of all time txt) 📖

gentle King Troy, and furthermore how is she married with such a snappy attitude? "Oh Rebecca! My favorite lady in waiting, you seem to be the only one I actually missed during my trip!" She watched Rebecca come out of a secret passageway she had never seen before. Rebecca kissed each cheek of the Duchess before giving a light welcoming hug. "Tell me, what has gone on while I have been gone? You have the eyes of an eagle!"

"More like the eyes of a bat..." Lillian sneered to herself.

"Well my lady, I would tell you but, I do not wish to be a gossiper of private news!" Then Rebecca leaned in and whispered something in the Duchess's ear to make her giggle. "The news is more closer than you think, mistress." Lillian heard Rebecca say, she swallowed hard for she knew Rebecca was talking about only her. Rebecca glanced over at Lillian suddenly, causing Lillian to quickly re-hide behind the wall, praying to God that she would not be seen.

"Edwina? Is that you hiding over there in that corner, show yourself, and get to your job, I did not purchase you to play children's play games with us, announce yourself!" Lillian shivered at the sound of her voice.

"Cold, why is nearly everyone in this kingdom so cold!" she thought to herself. She gathered up any bit of courage she had and walked out from behind the corner.

"Yes ma'am, welcome back to court ma'am I am glad to see you safe.."

"Yes yes, so tell me, do people know of my possession of you? Surely the lords and ladies were in for a surprise!" Rebecca giggled under her breath at that memory that Lillian despised.

"I have....made my presence known, yes ma'am." Rebecca burst with laughter. Lillian cowered at the sound.

"My my Rebecca, what in God's name is so funny?"

"Oh my Lady, I cannot tell you right now, I will wait until you are officially settled back into your chambers so you can have your rest."

"Right you are my friend. Oh how tired I am, I swear I will smite my husband if he does not have our manor repaired, what sister would want to live in the same place with a person she already spent too much of her life growing up beside. King or not, he is still my little brother, my lovely little codfish of a stupid brother" Duchess Mary laughed. Lillian said nothing, she forced a smile to save face, but found nothing funny about such rude comments about the king. Out the corner of her eye she saw Macy, who gave her a look of fear back. Lillian looked at the Duchess to make sure she was not paying attention and mouth the words 'You are protected by the king, come on!' She gave a sly little flick of her hand to motion Macy to come. Macy whimpered and came out from her safe zone. She was wearing a rather large coat over her dress, her best effort to cover her belly but with her already a large frame with a well developing baby bump it was poking out of the coat slightly. She walked to her mistresses side and bowed. Lillian and Rebecca simultaneously took a step back to allow her room. "Ah Macy, my second favorite, how have you be-" And the duchess stopped. She was lifting her hand to give Macy a hug when her hand brushed up against her swollen belly. The Duchess stared at it then sat up looking over Macy. "I take it that is not the result of overeating...." Macy gasped and put her hands on her belly. She looked down at the ground and shook her head slowly. "Whose is it?" She asked coldly. Macy's face went white. "Well? It has to be a man's, no woman on God's green earth can conceive her own child. Who is the father Macy?" Macy appeared to be shaking and terrified, she stayed quiet. Lillian felt her heart break for her, she wanted nothing more for the moment than to swoop Macy under her wings and protect her from their mistress, but she knew she had no power or authority to do so. She glanced over at Rebecca, seeing her shake her head. She watched Rebecca roll her eyes and mouth the word 'Whore' under her breath.

"God's foot, is that your favorite word you witch?" Lillian thought to herself, she did not have the courage to say it out loud. After a moment of silence, before Lillian could gather courage to call Rebecca out, Macy finally said something.

"I know not, my lady."Macy bowed again. Lillian was shocked, she thought back to when both her and Macy discovered that Macy was with child. She remember her words exactly. "It can only be one man, Sir Richard Greenly." Why did she lie? And who did she lie to? Macy stayed low, her knees started to tremble at the heavy weight to balance. The Duchess flicked her finger, motioning for her to get up. She walked around Macy, eyeing her appearance, before snatching the coat off of her shoulders, revealing the very pregnant condition she was in. All the men and woman, working hard bringing in the Duchess's belongings suddenly stopped and looked. Macy lowered her head to the ground and fought to hold back tears. She put her hands back on her belly as if to protect her unborn from the embarrassment she was going through. She glanced up and saw all eyes looking at her, some disgusted, some annoyed, all but one pair of eyes judged her, and those where the eyes of Lillian. Lillian knew that pain and she could not stand to watch her friend go through courtly harassment. She ran over to Macy and stood in front of her, shielding her from as many eyes as possible. She put her hands on the side of Macy's face and reassured her with her eyes, before pulling her in a hug. She felt Macy relax but then re-tense up as she was pulled away by the hand of the duchess.

"So I am gone for a season, rewarding my servants with a break from duty, and this is how I get repaid. A servant having a bastard child. I will not have my reputation tarnished for your not keeping your legs closed girl. Pack your things, you are discharged from my services." Macy cried out and Lillian gasped. She began to rack her brain with an excuse, a come back, anything to save Macy.

"My lady, Macy is a very good worker, I am sure that she promises to continue her work for you as if there was not issue. Please, have mercy and spare her, she did make a mistake but she is not the only one!" Macy quickly nodded her head in agreement

"Edwina, hush your mouth. I did not give you permission to speak, and no she is not the only idiot promiscuous girl in court, but she is one of mine so she must go immediately. She will not be able to cater to me or do her job with a babe on her hip, she can barely balance enough to bow to me. She is useless!" The duchess hissed.

"Mistress, I beg of you, allow her to stay. Any job that she does not complete, I will, I will make sure she stays working to the best of her ability and I will personally fill the void that she leaves."

"And the child? Surely you do not think I will raise another, I have raised seven and I will not care for a child that is not mine."

"I will help her look after her baby, and keep up on my own job as well, and if we cannot keep it, I will help her find a wet nurse, that is close by and allow whoever that will be to keep the child safe, until it is old enough be of some kind of assistance at court." The duchess looked at Lillian with wide eyes. She turned her back and walked a couple of steps and began to pace. No one moved, nothing was heard besides a couple of voices whispering in the background. Macy watched her mistress pace, feeling her heart speed up with the tension in the room.

"Get back to work!" The duchess turned and screamed out, suddenly the hall was refilled with noise and chatter, people running here and there and hurrying to get out of the sight of the raged woman. She walked back over to the girls and faced Macy almost nose to nose. "Very well, you are lucky you made nice with Edwina, Macy. She brings up a valid point, I have had you since you were a younger girl and you were a good worker. I will not be rid of you, but you better not, and I swear this to the holy book itself, make that child of yours a hinderance to your duties because I have needs and I can change my mind easier than I have made it, understood?" Macy quickly nodded her head and bowed. Lillian put her arm around her shoulder and gave her a slight hug. "As for you Edwina, I-" Lillian stopped smiling and started to grow fearful for herself, but a familiar voice, once again calmed her spirits, temporarily.

"Sister! You are back, welcome back to court!" The King yelled from down the hall, walking towards the group. Lillian watched as the Duchess rolled her eyes before putting on a fake smile to turn to her brother."

"Your majesty, it is great to be back, I need rest, and I would be resting right now if it were not for the slow servants I have to put up with." She bowed and kissed her brother's hand then allowed him to hug her.

"Well you did come with a whole town's merchandise in your possession, I swear you put your poor husband in debt, I am glad you do not use much of my kingdom's money, there would be no kingdom!" He laughed, and she forced a fake one. "Are you alright? Do you need some extra assistance with your things?"

"No my lord, I just need to finish my conversation with my ladies. So excuse me." She turned back to the girls, Lillian looked at the king with a pleading look, asking with her eyes that he stay.

"About what? Is there something I need to know?" The king looked at Lillian and gave her a slight nod.

"Nothing to worry about, I just need to know what to do with this one." She said motioning at Lillian. "I bought her for appearance sake only, but I will not tolerate her back talking and disrespect towards me." Lillian's heart sank.

"What did she do?" The king looked at Lillian and tried to give her a reassuring look. Macy cleared her throat and mouthed the words 'Help Her' to the king. He nodded his head.

"I was talking to one, Macy, and she jumped in on my conversation, as if to override my opinion. I will not have it, but she was so expensive to purchase that I will not sell her, I do not know what to do with her, maybe I will just send her to my husband's chamber, He has no reputation to uphold, let him do whatever he wants with the wench."

"You will do nothing to her." The king declared in a calm yet clear voice. The duchess blinked her eyes in confusion.

"Excuse me, your highness, but she is my servant, and I can do what I wish