The Taste of Seduction

Or better still, she could take him out of the castle, leave him to survive how he wanted, besides, hadn\'t the patriarch in a completely unprecedented move, given the house to his wife instead of the product of his son?

Meredith did not pay them any attention because she had a plan she was going to execute that very evening. What was more, it was the same evening Gwen was going to be coming over.

She would be staying in the chambers in the east wing of the castle, the side facing the edge of the sea, where she could inhale the sea wind, the refreshing, invigorating air, and where she could hear the soothing sounds of waves hitting the rocks on the shore.

It was all so very carefully calculated.

The maids scurried over to the stove, to squash the grapes, to milk the cows, etc. they had only a few hours before he returned.

Meredith could have lost a little hold on her son, but she still had a firm grip on her maternal instincts. She knew Jonas would always return home.

He definitely would today, when he had exhausted his anger by screaming into a void, or engaging in a fight to the fancy of the irresponsible girls in the kingdom. So, she knew what she would do. She would simply wait.

They made the most exquisite diner, and just as she predicted, Jonas came in through the door, smelling of alcohol. He had been drinking.

He placed his hands on Meredith\'s shoulders and stared at her with glazed eyes.

When he opened his mouth to speak, a belch escaped instead, and he giggled. He staggered from side to side, occasionally gripping the banister and flirting with the maids who in the presence of Meredith, righteously rejected his leering offers and turned their eyes away modestly.

"I missed youmother" Jonas slurred.

Meredith said nothing. She led him up the stairs, to his room. And when he laid down, she fished out a poultice from her pocket, something to make him dazed, but not drunk. He only had to lay for 30 minutes.

When he was up, Meredith made him drink a soup which she had already laced with a strong aphrodisiac. It was his favorite soup which the maids had done well to prepare. After that, she made him wait in his room.

Gwen came a few moments later. She arrived in a carriage bearing all of her belongings, scents and spices. Meredith gave her a hug as she came into the house.

The girl looked helpless and nave. Her face was full of freckles, and her nose was large and unsettling.

Yet, she still had that magical glint in her eyes that had drawn Meredith to her when she was a kid and her hair was still red and fiery. This was what Meredith wanted.

She hugged her again, made the maids take her belongings to the prepared chambers, and told her to come down for dinner after freshening up.

Throughout the ordeal, Jonas stood silently at the top of the stairs. When he was incredibly drowsy earlier, Meredith had dressed him up, now he stood, looking regal and resplendent.

Dinner was an awkward affair.

Meredith sat at the head of the table. She had freshened up too, and her hair was held up in its perfect chignon once more. She beamed; radiant ad confident.

"So, Gwen, how do you feel about being here, finally?" Meredith asked.

Gwen looked down, she was incredibly shy, her face went beet red, and Meredith smiled at her stiffly. She hated the demure manners of the girl. Gwen was too docile for her liking.

As much as Meredith hated it, she knew it was something she would have to put up with because Gwen was indispensable as it stood.

She was the key to fulfilling the prophecy she had waited for, for long, tortuous years. Finally, it was all falling into place.

The obstacles that wound themselves tightly over her dreams were unraveling, giving her room to breathe, casting themselves to the ground and letting her confidence burst through.

The prophecy was that a child, held by a mother as ordinary as any woman, was going to be born into a family of blue bloods. She would be the most powerful being the world has ever seen. It also stated that the mother would have the auras around her, and she would not be particularly good looking. Gwen fit all of this.

Gwen was the one, and Meredith was determined to have that golden child, that offspring full of promise. Her only child and son was Jonas, and she wanted him as part of her plan to. He proved reluctant, but she was his mother and she had the upper hand, the final say.

"I think it\'s wonderful." Gwen finally said. Meredith nodded and took a sip of wine. Meanwhile, Jonas was dazed. The soup he was made to eat at the table, was laced with additional doses of aphrodisiacs. So now, he was ogling at Gwen.

They finished up dinner quickly. Gwen had only taken small bites, and Jonas had eaten all of his.

Meredith stood up. "Gwen, there is this awesome view I have to show you from a certain spot of the house. Come."

Gwen stood up eagerly. Meredith took her soft, small hands and led her up the landing, to Jonas\' chambers where he had huge French windows open. It faced a section of the sea.

"Wow." Gwen exclaimed. From this point, she could see the silver moon kissing the sea. "it is so..beautiful."

Meredith smiled. In that moment, Jonas came up behind them. He stumbled and held on to the door frame. The first two buttons on his shirt were open showing the hair on his chest.

"Alright," Meredith said hurriedly, "I will leave you two to talk privately." There was a mischievous glint in her eyes as she said this. She hurried down the stairs, breathless with anticipation at what was about to happen.

She was about to explode with joy because her careful scheming, planning, and calculations were all unfurling for her good.