Blessed Bloodstone Beginnings

20260718

Prompt from Eiiri’s Prompt Foundry, “Pride 2 Disability Boogaloo”.

Lynn's story started here and here.

“So…” Mother smiled over her teacup. “How is married life treating you so far?”
Lynn laughed. “Oh, today has been wonderful.”
“I was glad to find you weren’t lolling in bed.”
“No, no, I… I’m alright.”
Admittedly, part of why she wasn’t suffering from yesterday’s excitement and exertion is that her new household had left her to wake naturally. The extra four hours of sleep had done a great deal to help her recovery. As did the light breakfast the kitchen made up for her, and reclining in a comfortable chair for another few hours, discussing poetry with Ralph.
She was deeply embarrassed about drifting off, but fortunately woke without a stiff neck. And Ralph simply assured her that he’d put a bookmark in as soon as he noticed, and offered to continue reading from where they left off! “My love, I would only take offence if I thought you would rather doze than spend time with me. As it is, clearly you needed the sleep.”
So when her mother dropped by for tea, Lynn was pleasantly surprised to find the prospect of sitting up and chatting felt entirely manageable. Enjoyable, even!
Thank goodness so much of yesterday had been spent sitting down! Between the swift preparations which had been arranged for her, and being given a chaise lounge to recline on during the celebration afterwards, the wedding had been less taxing than she feared. Still exhausting, and she expected to be recovering for a few days yet, but she hadn’t collapsed.
“That’s good.” Mother set the cup down and gave Lynn a pensive, faintly concerned look. “And… ah… were there any difficulties last night?”
Oh.
Of course she would wish to check. And Lynn did appreciate her worry. But she also knew that her mother was going to disapprove of the truth.
She cast about for how best to put this, and settled on “We, um, we’re doing that tonight.”
Mother’s brows drew together. At once uneasy. “He refused to consummate?”
“No, no, he… I was too tired, and he kissed me and said we’d do it tomorrow.”
Actually Ralph, bless him forever, had said “We’ll see how you’re feeling tomorrow”, and something about “there’s no need to rush getting started on the entire rest of our lives”. Words which had deeply comforted her and eased most of her frustration and disappointment at being unable to properly finish their otherwise perfect wedding day.
However, she suspected those beautiful words would make her mother more disapproving, and she was already receiving a scandalised glare.
“You refused your husband?” Mother hissed in a reproachful undertone. “On your wedding night? Did your vows mean nothing to you??”
“I was falling asleep where I stood!” Lynn whispered plaintively. Gripping her knees painfully tight. “I wished to consummate, and I swore to him that I did, but…”
Mother gave a sharp sniff. “Clearly you did not want it enough.”
If only wanting was enough! She need never miss out on anything, were that true. But Lynn knew better than to try and argue. Knew it was futile to retort that, no matter how Mother wished to, oh, pick up a house, wishing would do not a jot of good. Mother would simply point out that everyone else managed these things.
As if Lynn wasn’t painfully aware.
She realised her fingers were pressed against her betroth necklace. While the magic it focused did nothing for emotional pain, focusing her mind on it did.
Ralph had believed her. She was sure of it. While he had shared her disappointment, he had not been disappointed in her. There had been no bitterness. No reproach. He had reacted as if… as if… as if they had planned a marvellous picnic and at the last minute a storm blew up. Disappointing, and sad, but nobody’s fault. Far better to have the picnic another time than suffer such weather.
Hopefully today. While she was far from recovered, with how she’d been feeling so far, she hoped not to be too tired once evening rolled around. And… she was fairly sure nobody here would mind, if she chose to take a nap after dinner. That would help.
But Ralph had said they’d see tomorrow. Made it clear that this was not merely an extension, there was no deadline hanging over her at all. He knew that she wished for this, and trusted her to know when she was able.
“You were very fortunate to get such a good match.” Mother said sternly. Utterly unaware of how true this was. “Please take this marriage seriously!”
“I am. I promise I am.”
Mother shook her head and sighed, a baffled and disappointed sound which stabbed deep. But thankfully said nothing more.
Keeping her fingers on her betroth necklace, focusing on that reminder of patient, stalwart love, Lynn resolutely repeated to herself ‘There is no need to rush the whole rest of our lives.’

Prompt was “Rest”.