Any Other Name (The Split Worlds) - By Emma Newman Page 0,25
He’d worried that Catherine would have been incapable of polite conversation, and she did seem to take a long time to emerge after the talk with his mother, but she got through it well enough. He suspected she was too shell-shocked to cause any offence.
He watched her drift towards the living room, the crystals in the train of the dress sparkling under the bright modern lights. It had been pinned up into a cascading set of ruffles and the veil was still attached to her hair. He tried to imagine unhooking all of those tiny clasps later that evening and wondered what she was like beneath all of the layers of silk.
“It’s a nice place,” she said.
“I told you we’d honeymoon in Mundanus.”
“Honeymoon.” She shook her head.
“It doesn’t quite seem real, does it?”
“No, not even slightly.”
They reached the candle-lit living room, its walls covered in art. The servants had arranged the supper beautifully and would now be resting in the apartment below until they were needed again. Will was pleased to see his instructions had been carried out, and checked his pocket watch as she looked at the paintings. Everything was on schedule.
“I thought the reception went well,” he said. She didn’t reply. “Champagne?”
“No. Thanks.”
“Do you mind if I do?”
“Go ahead.”
He twisted out the cork and it opened with a perfect sigh. Pouring into a single flute seemed a tragic act so he poured out a little for her and carried the glass over.
“Let’s toast the future, Catherine,” he said, holding it out to her.
“I said I didn’t want any.”
“Please. For me.”
She took the glass and he chinked it gently. “To our future. May we find success and happiness together.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Did they put a Charm on you to have unfailing optimism in the face of doom or something?”
He drained the glass. “I thought I’d make an effort. We can choose to be positive or drive each other mad. I hope you prefer the former.”
“What did you think when you heard about what they did to me?”
“You mean the Fidelity Charm?”
“‘Fidelity Charm’? Is that what they call it? Oh, the joy of euphemisms.”
“I was surprised. I thought about you. I knew you wouldn’t like it.”
“Do you agree with it?”
He took his empty glass back to the table, wanting a moment to gather his thoughts. “I can see why it’s done. Lord Iris is most particular when it comes to children, I suppose it’s a way to ensure they’re… of our blood.”
“I asked you if you agree with it, not why it’s done. I understand that perfectly.”
“I think it’s a rather harsh way to guarantee trust.”
“Yes, I had you down as one to seduce a woman into being compliant, rather than forcing her.”
He poured a larger glass of champagne. Catherine still hadn’t tasted hers. “I can see you’re angry. You’ve been furious about this from the very start and this certainly hasn’t helped.”
“You bet your life it hasn’t.”
“But I’m not the one who did this to you. And I’m not the one who forced you to marry me.”
“But you moved the date! My father said you wanted to marry sooner. That screwed everything up! Why did you do that?”
“Screwed what up?”
Then she downed the champagne.
“You were hoping to find a way out of it, weren’t you?”
She shrugged in a most petulant manner and he had to consciously remind himself to remain patient. He was certain there was a way to bring her round. He needed her more than she realised and more than he liked to admit.
“I pushed for the date to be changed to get you away from your father,” he replied, noting her surprise. “You didn’t think I’d see those bruises and do nothing, did you?”
“I was scared you were going to tell someone. When nothing happened I just… I don’t know, I thought you’d forgotten about it.”
“You think I’m that shallow? I was outraged. I would have gone and demanded an explanation from your father, had he been anyone else. But he and my father are close, and besides, it’s always best to make as few enemies as possible. I thought it better to remove you from the abuse by getting married sooner.”
She was scowling at him. “Why didn’t you talk to me about it?”
“I didn’t want to embarrass you.”
“So you just decided to rescue me instead.”
He shook his head. “You’re very difficult to please, you know.”
“I would like it if once, just once, a man would not decide what’s best for me without seeing how