‘Your room is this way.’Raleigh tried to pull me in the opposite direction until I twisted my arm out of his grip.
‘Don’t touch me,’ I hissed.
‘Do what you want, then,’ Raleigh said.‘I’ll wait.’
I glowered at him and stormed up the corridor alone.The light grew dim the moment I turned the corner, and I had to take the last lit candle with me to guide my way.Had they gone out since I washere last?Or had Moira carried light with her?I couldn’t remember.Either option was far preferable to the third choice: that Raleigh might have been right.
In time I came to a winding staircase I didn’t recognise.This wasn’t the way I’d come, but the only other option was to turn back and admit to being wrong, so I kept going.As I climbed, the light grew stronger, and my candle became unnecessary.The threshold came into view, and then a familiar pair of heeled boots, followed by an insolent, gloating grin.
‘Welcome back,’ Raleigh said.
I pushed past him without a word, in the direction he tried to guide me towards last time.
‘No, no,’ he said.‘It’s back this way now.’
‘I just went that way,’ I snapped, whirling back to face him.
‘You’ll never find your way with that attitude,’ Raleigh said, beginning to walk in the direction I’d come.‘Quite literally, mind you.’
To my immense annoyance, I found myself running to catch up to him.‘What is that supposed to mean?’
Raleigh brightened.‘The halls are loyal to their master.They don’t take kindly to strangers who would do me harm.’
I sniffed.‘I couldn’t hurt you if I wanted to.’
‘But you do.Want to, I mean.’He paused.‘Though your scorn does wound me so.Ah, here we are.’With a bow befitting a gentleman, not a devil in tailored finery, Raleigh pushed open a door to reveal my chambers beyond.This was exactly the route I’d walked down, and yet nothing was the same.I was furious.
‘Now, I’ve helped you here because I couldn’t knowingly leave you to wander the corridors on your own.It might have been hours before you found your way.Will you at least return the favour and allow me one civil conversation with my bride-to-be?’
I seethed, hating that he was right, that he had wriggled me into his debt without me knowing.‘Will you allow me a moment to tidy up first?’
‘I think I can allow that,’ Raleigh said gently.
Lowering my head in false deference, I sidled past him and into the room.Good to his word, Raleigh remained in the corridor.
‘Some advice, highness,’ I spat.‘If you want a wife who will talk to you, maybe find one you don’t have to kidnap first.’Then I slammed the door behind me and bolted the lock shut.
It wouldn’t keep him out for long if he was really determined, but it might at least buy me a few precious seconds of life.A few precious seconds I could use to prepare for the worst.
Or so I thought until I turned around to find Raleigh already leaning against the windowsill.
‘I wasn’t finished.’
I whirled back to the door, breath flying from my lungs, and fumbled for the lock, but suddenly Raleigh was by my side, catching my wrist before I could turn the key.I was cornered, his hand around mine, my back flush against his chest.Death surrounded me on all sides, and there were no other escape routes.
‘What can I do to convince you to trust me?’he murmured.
A good place to start would be to let go of me, I wanted to say, but the words got stuck.All that made it out were the words, ‘Let go of me,’ in a pathetic, choking whisper.
Raleigh lingered a moment, then obeyed, taking several steps back to put a respectable distance between the two of us.‘My apologies.’He almost looked like he meant it.‘It’s been a great many years since I last tried to court someone, and I seem to be failing miserably.I take no joy in forcing you to marry me, so if you’re to be my bride, then we ought to work through these teething problems we’re having.’
‘I don’t want to be your bride.’
‘Yes, see, this is what I mean.’
‘I don’t.Want.To be.Yourbride.’I didn’t understand why he was being so obtuse.
‘Need I remind you that you agreed to our union?’
