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Divorce wasn’t an option—not without injuring Marie’s reputation. And as much as he did not like the woman, he stood by his decision earlier. He would not harm her future.

After their conversation in the gardens that evening, however, with Marie’s admission that she hadn’t wanted to marry him either, it was obvious that something needed to be done.

He knew very little about annulments, but that had to be their clearest pathway forward. An annulment, time away from Society, and a proper bribe to her father would do the trick.

All he needed to do was convince his new bride—on their bridal tour, no less—to follow along with his plan.

He had little doubt that she would take any convincing at all. After all, she despised him as much as he despised her.

It was just a shame she kissed so well.

Chapter Eleven

Marie didn’t sleep well that night, nor did she wish to wake up when she finally received rest that morning. She was roused from a deep slumber long after the sun had risen to a soft knocking upon her door. She ignored it for a moment, but when the sound persisted, she blinked as she looked around her, slightly disoriented until she caught sight of the stockings draped over a nearby chair.

They were nearly dry after her night in the fountain with her husband—something that sounded far more romantic than it actually had been. Especially considering said husband sounded very much like he was attempting to end their marriage prematurely.

“Ma’am?”

The soft voice came from the door after another knock, and finally, Marie extracted herself from her bed to answer.

“My apologies, Jane,” Marie said as she allowed her lady’s maid into the room. “I forgot I locked my door last night after you’d left.”

She’d done so loud enough for Charles to hear again—or so she hoped.

“Not to worry, ma’am,” Jane replied. “I’m sorry to wake you, but we’re scheduled to leave in just under an hour. Mr. Charles Shepherd has requested an eleven o’clock departure.”

Marie sighed. There she was again, being dictated by the man. Unless...

A slow smile spread across her lips, and without a word, she scribbled a note to Charles.

My dearest husband,

I understand that you would like to depart at eleven o’clock. I regret to inform you that I shall need at least a few hours more to prepare for our journey.

You see, I did not sleep very well last night and am quite afraid I am coming down with a cold due to the occurrences of the evening. In fact, we may need to request the presence of a doctor here to ensure I am well. A professional opinion is always best, as you well know.

At any rate, physician or not, I cannot see myself being able to leave until two o’clock at the earliest.

I do apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. But you understand.

Yours,

Marie

There. That should buy her an hour or two.

Marie folded the correspondence, then beckoned Jane to deliver it, all the while smiling to herself at the knowledge of how the letter would be received.

After breakfast, which she took in her room, and a very slow start to the morning, reading a few chapters of her latest book she had never before been interested in and brushing her hair at least a few hundred times—which she had also never done before—Marie finally felt motivated enough to dress, so she called for Jane to return to her chambers.

Jane came and brought with her Charles’s response.

To my perfect wife,

How terribly sorry I am to hear that you have caught cold after your antics last evening. Although, I must say, that does not surprise me, what with your obviously weak constitution.

That being said, two o’clock will suit my schedule perfectly. As thrilled as I am at the prospect of spending the next fortnight with you, I am more than happy to wait until you are well enough to travel. In fact, why do we not push the time even further? What would you say to postponing the bridal tour indefinitely?