Her parents were still watching, and oh how Gabriel wished to push her on this. Her playing was what caught his attention in the first place, and he wondered how it might change now that she did not have to be so strict.
He thought to push harder… but he stopped himself when he realized that she was not glaring so much as she was trying to hide her panic. For how far she might have come, there was so much further yet for her to go.
Hence, our marriage, I suppose. I should be careful not to push too hard, however, as I don’t want her to break.
“As you say.” He smiled. “Another time.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
They did not stay for much longer. A few more well-wishers stopped by, and Gabriel and Sophia kept up the façade they had spent all day living in. But it was waning, Gabriel was growing bored, and when he suggested again that they leave, he was surprised to see Sophia jump at the chance.
Thus, they left Ashbury Home together, hand-in-hand, as husband and wife. The guests gathered on the driveway, cheering as they climbed into the carriage. He helped her in, laughing all the while, and she returned it in a way that wouldhave told anyone watching that they were as in love as a couple could be.
And then they were in the carriage, the doors closed, and everything changed.
CHAPTER 13
As soon as they were alone in the carriage, Sophia exhaled with such relief that it felt as if a weight was removing itself from her chest and shoulders. She shifted across the carriage, turned to face the window, and contemplated her new life as the carriage began to move.
At least she tried to.
“Well, that was relatively painless,” the Duke sighed and stretched out. “Albeit, longer than I had hoped.”
She said nothing, continuing to focus on the passing city. His estate was an hour north of London, the early hours of the evening were upon them, and she planned on sitting in silence for the remainder of the trip…and the remainder of my life, most likely. Is that not the point? That I don’t have to worry about my husband anymore?
The ceremony and following breakfast went well enough, and Sophia had no doubt that they had managed to fool everyone. But such a realization brought little relief to her, and she could not escape the feeling that something was wrong here.
It was her husband that did it. The way he had been acting. Yes, it was done for a reason, but more than once she had noticed him looking at her, gaping even, and such was the thrill she saw in her eyes that she wondered if there was more to this marriage than he had let on.
That thought terrified her… and excited in equal measure.
“You did well today,” he continued. “You should be proud.”
She said nothing, still looking out the window. Sophia could not say why she wanted to ignore him, only that she felt she needed to, if for no other reason than to establish the boundaries that needed to be set.
“Once we arrive to my estate, your room should be ready, and most of your things should already have arrived and been unpacked. It will be as if you have lived there your whole life.”
She nodded but did not look at him.
“I predict I will be turning in early.” He shifted on his seat, sitting up and leaning forward. She could feel his eyes on her, and she turned her shoulders slightly to present more of her back. “We might have to save the tour for tomorrow.”
Sophia’s heart was racing and she could not say why.
Alone as they were, this was their wedding night, and while he had just said he intended to turn in early, Sophia knew too that her husband was not to be trusted in all things. She had watched him closely today, taking note of the joy he took from twisting the knife and seeing what he could get away with. He was like a big child sometimes.
And once again, she remembered the way he had stared… it sent a ripple throughout her body, a warmth she could not explain. This marriage was for convenience, but it felt different to how she expected.
Suddenly she started to sweat.
“Might I say, you look ravishing in that dress,” he purred.
Her eyes widened and she turned on him. “What do you mean by that?”
He grinned. “Ah, so you can hear me. Just making sure.”
Her face dropped… as did her heart. “Do you mock me?”
“No, no,” he said. “Just trying to coax a conversation out of you. We have quite the trip ahead of us, after all.”
