She drew circles on the side of his exposed chest while she pondered.
Abigail fluttered her lashes and said,
"Seeing how you've tried for two days to get her down from her room, maybe you should get her flowers and get your mind of it. I know of something better we could both spend our time doing other than worrying."

"No. It won't be right to have fun while she suffers."

Abigail caressed the side of his thigh, stealthily moving up his smock. He halted her hands.

"I mean it." He said.

Floorboards creaked from the left and Agnes appeared,

Adris smiled up at her. "You're down."
She scanned their bodies and lingered a little longer on the hand which held Abigail's at the hem of his clothes.
He yanked the hand away, his face burining with shame and guilt.
"I'm interrupting, I'm sorry." She stomped back up.
But he'd seen the look of hurt she had worn before fleeing back to hiding.

"It's not what it looks like." He heard the door slam and stopped at the foot of the stairway looking up.

"I thought you two were just friends." Abigail crossed her arms with a crossed face targeted at him.
"You know, Adris, you'll have people thinking otherwise."

Her insensitivity boiled his blood.
"If you're not going to be of any use, Abigail. Get back to your husband."

She slithered to him.
"I can be of use." Touching him yet again.

"You're a married woman."

"And when has that mattered to you?" She blinked her amazement at his action.

"Please go." He handed her her discarded bracelet and showed her the door.

Adris took the stairs two steps at a time.
He knocked on Agnes' door and entered even though she objected.

"Nessie, I'm sorry. It really isn't what you think."

"I mean why else would her hand be far up there. It's not like she was looking for her husband in there."

He sighed sinking into the bed.
"I stopped her from going any further. She's gone."

"Don't stop on my account. After all I'm just a slave you bought in exchange of a donkey."

Adris whipped his head,
"You aren't a slave and I didn't buy you Agnes. You're free to go back anytime. And you're worth more than a donkey. Your grandmother is dense to see that."

"I want to be alone." She curled in a ball.

He was lost. He didn't know what to say. He wasn't even sure what to do, so he left her and went into the market place subconsciously stopping by the flower stand.

"Lord Adris," Helen approached him.
"Who are those for?"

"Agnes."

Her brows lifted. "Really? That's ... nice. Agnes isn't home."

"She's staying with me." Adris replied.

"She is? Well she needs to let me know what tricks she's using on you."

"Her grandmother drove her away."

"Is that what she said."

"She didn't say. I bore witness."

Helen licked her lips.
"I didn't mean to imply..."

"I'm a little irritated because she's broken and I can't do anything about it. Why don't you pay her a visit; she'd like that."
The idea sprung from nothing yet it was the best one he'd had all day.
"Helen you know her best. It'll cheer her up considerably." With the flowers her mood would be lifted and consequently his in turn.

"Helen, there you are."Her husband kissed her cheek and wrapped his possessive arm around her.
Adris smiled at the small gesture.

"Who is this, darling?" He asked.

"You remember him? From our wedding?"

"I was too distracted by you." He hugged her while his worried eyes remained. "So what do we owe the pleasure?"

"We were just discussing Agnes. She's been feeling down. And I just thought Helen would be the perfect at cheering her up."

"Agnes isn't home." He repeated what they already knew.

"We know. She's at my home. So Helen, what do you say. Come with me?"

Her husband drew her behind him.
"I don't think so. My wife has no business being alone with you in your house."

"But, darling, I'm going for Agnes."

"Yea, right. And I was born yesterday. He's clearly trying to get you alone so he can steal you."

Were people of the town wired to leap to unfounded conclusions based on nothing because he was noticing that a lot since his unintended stay.

"You can come with us to keep an eye on your wife if that would make you feel better."

"You are aware I have to work." He said as though he'd uncovered a hidden ploy.
"Let's go Helen."

He pulled her behind him.

"I'm sorry Adris." She waved at him only to get pulled harder by her husband who's face darkened with anger.

Adris rolled his eyes and returned with a single flower.
He didn't bother to knock and just entered the room. Walked around the bed and laid down.

"Please leave."

"Please let me stay here. I won't say anything. Just know I'm here."
He tapped the petals against his chest contemplating its delivery to the woman he bought it for.
Her intermittent sobs were quieter.

"I don't like to see you cry." He murmured causing her to turn giving him the chance he needed.

"I got this for you. But If I give you this rose, will you smile for me?"

Agnes wiped her face and sat up to collect the flower.
"What's this for?"

Adris walked around the bed and laid down.
"It's a simple gift for a very special maiden. I hoped it would grant me a smile."

"I've never received a flower before." Her voice soft as she beheld the blue flower with restrained gratitude.

"Then I'll get you one everyday, if it'll make you smile." He turned smirk over at her and got nothing in return.
"You know..."

Her forehead dug into his chest with her hug.
So he just held her.
She didn't cry that time.
She only slept and hopefully her dreams were filled with flowers and honey so she would forget her life.
Even for a moment.