Villains also get Second chance

"I still couldn't believe he actually brought you here. I have told him that you would not agree to come. Oh my Mari, I am so glad that you proved me wrong" said Mother, hugging me for the fifth time.

"And here I thought I would get all the love since I have returned after a year. Now I wonder if it was the right decision to bring my competitor home." said James, puffing his cheeks that looked like he would kill someone that instant.

All the maids and servants who were coming to wish me took two steps back. I shook my head, everyone was afraid of him because of his strong frame and broad shoulders. His strong and stony voice just completed his personality but he was one of those who lived more for others than yourself.

"Go and take rest. Though I was sure you would not come, I still had readied your room. I will call you once your father comes."

*************

"So you have organised the meeting with all the noble girls in the town. Why not at marquess palace?" I asked confused.

We all were sitting in the parlour room with my mother at the centre leather sofa with my brother sitting on the carpet as he kept his head in her lap and only looked above when needed, that place used to be mine, but he had robbed it officially now!

Roselia and I were sitting on the other side of the sofa and she was back in her gown after a long time.

"Well, as you know your brother. I did not want any of them to return wounded let alone without hands."

"Mother!!" 

"What, i love you Jamie. But everyone knows that you speak more from sword and daggers than your mouth."

"Well, and you have even invited all the barons too" I am not biased but I did not like a few lower nobles at all.

"Well, I have even asked for the sister of his majesty. But as you know there is no girl in dukes family and only Isabella in marquess family. So I have invited all the earls, viscounts and barons for the meet too."

"Ah, I met the royal princess once at a tea party. But she is too silent. How will she and brother even interact?"

"I know, she is a bit young too. But this time I want to put all my efforts into getting him married."

"I wonder if this is the only reason to call me here. You have not even run a hand in my hair much less do the oil massage you used to do."

He said as he laid his head in mother's lap, there was a blissful smile on her face. The same smile I used to have when Killian always hugged me.

"Jane, bring the hot oil and a damp towel"

"Yes, my lady"

"So you want me to stay with brother and meet the girls while you and father will meet the parents. Would it not be too modern. I have never heard that male and female meet alone before marriage. I didn't even meet Cassius before marriage.'' I was astounded. Even in commoners I had never heard of that.

"Why, you were infatuated with that man since your academy days. That was the reason I never pressured your father to fix a meeting with him. But we did ask him to meet you sometimes, he was the one who denied." she said bluntly and i could only keep my mouth shut to maintain the meagre amount of respect i still had.

"And, if it's about meeting the noble ladies alone, then you would be there. Then how is it alone?

I want him to have a fair chance of knowing the girl before getting married in case he complains later that the girl is not up to his liking." she added i could only nod. I always knew that my mother was the most liberal woman around, yet she never stopped surprising me with her new ideas.

"She is just trying to compensate that I did not get a chance to do a love marriage." my brother mumbled in a guttural voice as he was drowning in sleep with the magic my mother was doing, I got jealous for a minute there.

"I never denied you to marry a subordinate knight. I even offered you if you wanted to marry Roselia and we would have made sure that you both get the same positing."

"Mother, ewww"

"Aunt" 

"He is like brother to me, aunt"

"Make all the man brothers, and you will surely die alone." my mother commented, shaking her head, poor girl! Always get the same comment.

"Well, another knight did show interest in our Roselia."

My brother stood straight as he eyed Roselia, even my mother looked at me surprised her eyes twinkled as she asked,

"Really, who is he?"

"Yes, Mari, who is he?" 

Asked Roselia making both of them confused.

"You don't know who is taking interest in you?" asked Jamie with furrowed brows as he looked at her and then me.

"I swear brother i have not seen anyone even looking at me for a fleeting second, and you know my senses are trained, right?"

"Ah, don't you remember that Sir Edward had asked about your wound while we were at the cliff. He was looking genuinely worried about you."

"You got a wound when you were on the cliff?"

"Oh that Edward is the younger son of duke Stanford right? That family is very good and their elder daughter in law Meredith, she is a very kind lady."

"Oh, I remember I have met that man too, he is a wonderful knight. He could be the leader of the third order of knights in future, and his brother would be the commandant."

"Brother, aunt, Marianne is just exaggerating. There is nothing like that."

"Explain them or i will tell them about your kiss and the venture in the rain." she threatened me as she whispered into my ears.

I already looked at her but her eyes were telling me it was not a threat. I could not believe that even after being a married woman for so long I had to be threatened by an accidental kiss that was also with my own husband! Could anyone be in a more hilarious yet tragic situation than me!!

[Don't stop voting and comments, i don't know why but these days there is heavy downfall in comments and voting. I hope you will leave a comment and i promise i will try to improve. PS unlock the chapter with coins if you can]