Chapter Seven
“Iwill come to you tonight.”
That was the last thing that the Duke said to Thalia before leaving her in the middle of the foyer, moments after having arrived home. They had spoken little up to that point, and in hindsight, she wished that they had said a little more to one another.
Thalia had been determined to make it seem as if she did not need his help in any way, shape, or form. Now that the ceremony was over, and she was at her new home, she wanted to have as little to do with her husband as possible. And she had wanted him to know it!
Alas, she was quickly reminded that such things were not possible.
I will come to you tonight…
The words hung in her mind as the Duke strode up the steps and vanished around the corner. They sat on Thalia’s shoulders, heavy and suffocating, as if trying to bury her in the floor. They were ominous and foreboding, like monsters lurking in the shadows as they waited for the right moment to pounce.
“Your Grace?”
Thalia was not alone in the foyer, even if it felt like it. When the Duke brought her inside, the entirety of the household staff was lined up to greet them. By now, most had started to filter out and return to their stations, but a handful of maids remained.
Thalia forced herself back into the room, a shake of the head, and she pushed from her mind the Duke’s words.
“Yes?” She turned to the five remaining maids who all watched her expectantly.
“Would you like to see your room, Your Grace?” a young maid asked.
“I…” The room where her husband wouldcome to her?The Duke’s words still hovered in her memory, and she could not escape them.
“Your Grace?”
“Yes,” Thalia said with a firm nod. “Yes, I would love to see my room, thank you. Oh…” She smiled at the young maid. “And what is your name? All of you, your names?”
Thalia was alone in this world, as per the agreement of her marriage. But this was now her home, and she was determined to make it feel so. Just as she was determined not to think about tonight.
The rest of the day was spent getting acquainted with her new life. The maid who asked to show her to her room was named Sally, and she was one of two personal maids who promised to attend Thalia in everything that she needed.
They showed her to her room, where her things were already waiting for her. They took her through the manor, touring each wing of the home, every room, and explaining to her everything that she needed to know. Once that was finished with, it was time for supper, and while Thalia was not surprised that her husband did not join her, it might have been nice if he had.
That thought brought with it great confusion.
The Duke was not trying to get too close to her. And that was all right. This was no love match, merely a contract of necessity. Dammit, she reminded herself of this as often as she could. She needed to believe it!
Still, it might have been nice if he put in some effort. If he treated her like she existed… like she mattered to him in any way. But as she ate alone, feeling so small in the large dining room, Thaliawas forced to concede that she did not matter to the Duke. Not now, not ever.
Those first few hours of her marriage served as a stark reminder to Thalia. Of what was to come. Of what she could expect. Of why she needed to be strong.
Now I know how my mother must have felt for all those years. Lonely. On her own. Nowhere to turn and no one to help her. And it’s only my first day!
Once Thalia finished with supper, she had a bath drawn for her. And while that was indeed relaxing, throughout, Thalia’s mind continued to wander toward the future… what was expected of her tonight.
Was it possible that the Duke would simply forget? Or perhaps he would change his mind? Maybe, after the long day he had, he would be too tired and decide that such things could wait for another evening?
Thalia knew she was being naive.
Once she was dried, and dressed in a simple white shift, she sat on the edge of her bed and watched the closed door of her bedroom in wait, knowing as she knew anything that tonight was inevitable.
Indeed, no sooner was she left alone did she hear footsteps.
They came slowly down the hallway. Each one thumped off the wooden floor and she felt it reverberate through her chest. She thought to lock the door. To feign sleep. To do anything she could to dissuade the Duke.
All the while knowing that there would be no point.
