The guard roared. "I'll count to three. If you haven't bowed your head to the ground by then, I won't be gentle about it."
I kept my chin raised. He counted, loud enough for the whole street to hear. "One. Two. Three."
Then he brought the pommel of his sword down hard against the back of my skull. My forehead slammed into the stone pavement with a sickening crack.
Blood ran down from my hairline. Rosalind screamed, sobbing. "My lady! Have you all lost your minds? Our mistress isn't the heir's wife! You have the wrong person!"
Celeste laughed. "Oh? Now you won't even claim your own title?"
"My lady, it's only a couple of bows. Surely you're not frightened?" Her voice dropped low. "You were so proud of yourself just a moment ago."
"Once I bear the heir's child, even the position of his wife will be mine."
"Honestly, how has someone as foolish as you survived this long? The seat of Lady Gilbert, wasted on someone like you. What a pity."
"The day I enter the estate as the true lady of the house, I'll have you kneel before me and serve me tea as a concubine. Just the thought of it makes me smile."
She straightened up. "My lady, you still owe one more bow."