“What is in it for you?” she quietly asked.
He turned to face her as a smile played across his lips. Then, he turned away once more and walked out of the manor.
CHAPTER3
THREE WEEKS LATER
The carriage swayed back and forth as Ethan and Meredith headed back to Penrose Castle. Meredith’s brown eyes were glued to her lap, and she hadn’t uttered a word since the brief and intimate ceremony. Only four people were present, and the after-party lasted for less than half an hour after finding there wasn’t much to do at all. An untraditional celebration for an unlikely match. Yes, that seemed fitting to Ethan.
As the carriage jolted to a halt before the castle, Meredith’s thigh brushed against his, and she offered him an apologetic glance.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, her voice trembling slightly, as if they were strangers as opposed to a newlywed couple.
The footman opened the door and Ethan exited the carriage, holding his hand out for Meredith who struggled to bunch up her long, ivory wedding dress. As exhausted as she seemed, she appeared ravishing, more beautiful than most women that generally surrounded his company. If she wasn’t his wife, Ethan would certainly be of a mind to take her right here in the carriage. But everything was different now. The carriage tilted briefly as Meredith’s pale fingers interlaced with his and she stepped onto the mounting block, but her feet gave way, causing her to almost trip. Instinctively, he caught her by her waist before she could fall.
“Thank you,” Meredith breathed, blushing.
Ethan didn’t respond as he helped her inside the castle. He could feel her gaze on him and when he met it, she averted hers in embarrassment. She was far too timid and he was unaccustomed to such conduct in a lady. They walked in silence until they reached the grand foyer. A servant stood ready by the door to take her belongings and escort her to her room.
“Your chambers are already arranged if you wish to retire,” Ethan explained, motioning in the direction of the servant.
He could swear he noticed a hint of disappointment cross her expression, before she said, “Will you not…escort me yourself?”
He shook his head. “No,” he said far too quickly. “Perhaps I should take some time to remind you of the rules we—”
“I amwell awareof the rules,” Meredith interrupted him. “I do not need to be reminded like a tired puppy, and I think I will retire to my chambers now.”
There was silence between them and Ethan was surprised at her sudden change of attitude.
“Very well then,” he replied. “I may come later to check on you but do not wait on me. I do not spend my nights inside the castle and our marriage won’t change that.”
Without uttering another word, Meredith swished her wedding gown, turned her back to him, and glided up the carpeted steps of the castle, all as he watched her go. Her frail body faltered for a moment and he felt that she would turn to look at him, but instead, she continued on with her head lowered to the ground.
Ethan struggled to make sense of his emotions at that moment. They were a mixture of fear, lust, and guilt, and he was unable to distinguish between them presently.
All that could offer him any kind of solace was that after two weeks, they would separate for good.
* * *
Meredith entered her new chambers, her spine pressing against the now-shut door as she exhaled a soft breath. Her heart felt heavy, and her muscles numb after Ethan’s last words. If he was going out at night, knowing his reputation, it likely meant he was going to share the companionship of other women. Her fists clenched and she couldn’t help but feel he was treating her the same way as everyone else; someone who did as they were told, someone whose thoughts and feelings were secondary.
Perhaps there was a way to keep him at the castle. If she showed him that staying with her was far better a prospect than seeking the company of another, it could change his mind. It was possible. It wasnecessaryif she wished to make the most of her allotted fourteen days. Shuffling through her portmanteau, she found and placed a thin, white nightgown on the bed. Shutting her eyes for a moment, she tried to recall all the scandalous words and passages she had read in her romantic novels.
Then, she bit her lip as she cast a discerning glance around the room. The wooden walls were sheathed in intricately carved patterns. Framing the tall, gothic windows were curtains and draperies, their hues a rich, royal red. Nestled within the back wall, a hearth served as the room’s heart, its flickering flames casting an intimate glow throughout the chamber. The air here was vibrant and pure, carrying the faint scent of some floral musk.
It was the perfect ambiance for what she was planning to do if he did truly arrive to check up on her, and as much as she tried, she couldn’t find an ounce of uncertainty in her sultry intentions.
* * *
Ethan made his way toward Meredith’s bedchamber, and couldn’t help but feel the sharp sting of guilt in his each step. Yes, if he was being honest with himself, he had been a cad to the young lady from the very start. She seemed unhappy as it was—one could hardly remain positive when your only family was dead set on selling you off with no regard for you.
He paused, then took a deep breath as he reached the door to her chambers. It was only fourteen days. Fourteen days and they would both acquire their freedom as agreed, and he wouldn't have to bear the immorality of this arrangement any longer. He would keep his distance as planned, but first, he felt the need to check on her.
His hand reached up to open the door, but he paused once more, contemplating what etiquette would demand of him considering their sham marriage. She was indeed his wife by letter of the law, but by all other standards, they might as well be strangers.
Etiquette be damned!
With no little caution, he opened the door and stepped into her chamber. Meredith’s gaze immediately fell on him as she lay on her bed in a silk nightgown, the fabric scandalously sheer. The light from the hearth lit her figure and illuminated the outline of her hard nipples alongside the rest of her sensual proportions. He grew speechless as she smoothly lifted herself from the bed with her elbows and then glided to her feet to tread a single, light step in his direction.
