A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Chapter 31: Day 45
"Good morning, my Lord, my Lady," Bella said, coming into the master bedchamber with a fresh pitcher of water, a basin, and clean washing cloths.
Matthias and Lilia were cuddled naked together, and the down comforter was at the foot of the bed, as it was quite warm in the Manor House.
"Good morning, Bella," Lilia said without moving.
"I will lay out your clothes for today; breakfast is nearly ready."
Lilia got out of bed and padded naked across the rug to the stand with the pitcher and basin and began washing with a cloth, removing any remnants of the multiple couplings of the previous evening. When she finished, Matthias rose to do the same, as Bella completed her tasks and left the room.
This was another time Matthias truly missed hot showers. Baths were available, but he would need to acquire a tub, something he intended to do. A hot shower would come later, as it was much more challenging, requiring a water tower and a heating source. That complexity meant it would have to wait.
"I plan to buy a bathtub," Matthias said to Lilia. "There's enough space in our room for one."
"Do they make them big enough for two?" Lilia asked impishly.
"I will have Jorah inquire."
They both dressed and joined the others at breakfast. After they ate, Matthias inspected the Compound, checking on the progress of constructing the two windmills and the forge, which were all taking shape. When he completed his tour, he returned to the house to speak with Jorah.
"I've decided we need to extend the walls," Matthias said. "About two hundred paces north and east."
"I'll speak to the surveyor and a stonemason. What will go in the space?"
"For the moment, it will just be open space. Eventually, a building will be constructed with a large room for receptions, and upstairs from that room, an office for you and guest rooms, though with separate access so that your office may be secured. Of more immediate import is a bathtub for my bedchamber. Lilia would like it to be large enough for us to bathe together."
Jorah nodded, and Matthias was positive Jorah was suppressing a smirk.
"It will be so, my Lord."
Lucas came into the room and announced two men were seeking an audience.
"Show them in, please, Lucas. Jorah, stay with me."
Jorah and Lucas both acknowledged Matthias, and a moment later brought in two men who appeared to Matthias to be in their early forties.
"Colin and Jerome, both local farmers," Lucas announced.
"Good morning," Matthias said.
"Good morning, my Lord. I am Colin, and this is my neighbor and friend Jerome. We would like to come under your protection."
"Where are your farms?"
"Mine is next to Sierra's, and Jerome's is across the Southham Road from mine."
"Do you promise to obey the King's Law, pay your taxes when due, and tend your farms to the best of your abilities?"
"Yes, my Lord," both men said together.
"Then you are now under my protection. I will have that recorded with the Bailiff. You retain your current rights to your land so long as your taxes are paid on time. Jorah will determine the assessment, and I promise it will be fair. I will pay the King's portion from what you pay me, and I will make the Bailiff aware of that."
"A generous arrangement, my Lord," Colin declared.
"At harvest time, if you have grain to grind, I will do it at my mill at a favorable rate."
"Thank you, my Lord," Colin replied.
"If you need anything, anything at all, please bring it to the attention of my Steward."
They thanked Matthias again, and Lucas showed them out.
"That leaves twelve farms in the area allocated by King Ludwig to potentially be part of Newtown," Jorah observed. "Do you want me to approach them?"
"No. We'll wait for them to come to us by word of mouth. I am sure they will hear from Sierra, Colin, or Jerome."
"I concur, my Lord."
🎲🎲🎲
"I've considered your advice, and I believe you are correct," Duke Robert said to Miri as they drank tea mid-morning.
"I knew you were wise!" Miri declared mirthfully.
Robert laughed. "My father suggested you might be the wisest and most intelligent person in the Realm. I already knew you were the craftiest. I would also wager there is no one more skilled in bed! You have learned quickly!"
"I have an able and excellent teacher, Lord husband! You are quite skilled, and if my friends are to be believed, larger than most other men!"
Robert smiled. "When will you know whether you are with child?"
"In three days. My cycle is consistent, moon to moon."
"Cycles are not consistent?" Robert asked.
"Many girls vary by a day or two, but some by as many as three or four."
"I have heard seed is most fruitfully planted midway through the cycle."
Miri very much wanted to correct his false understanding of conception, but was not sure it was wise.
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