Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“I heard Emmaline, and I wanted to know what was happening, so I sneaked up here.”
“At least you are honest,” he sighs. “But you cannot keep sneaking up to hide and watch the goings-on in my office.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, not making the mistake Emmaline did. Arthur wants submission, and I am happy to give him that. At least, as much as I can. I keep making mistakes, but I want him to know I’m not going out of my way to be bad.
“Never mind,” he says, showing me a forgiveness he has certainly not extended to others. There is warmth in his tone that makes me think maybe I am at least a little special to him. I am sure that if anybody else spied on him he would be beyond furious.
A glance in Lydia’s direction confirms that. I see the same thing in her eyes that I recently felt. Jealousy. She is jealous of me because I am adored by him. I do not think she has romantic designs on my husband, but I think she wants to be special to him. Arthur has that kind of charisma to him. He is a natural leader. I am very lucky to be his wife.
“How are you feeling?” He asks me the question kindly.
“Good,” I lie. I feel heavy. My limbs seem to be weighted. My thoughts feel like they are coming at half the speed they usually would. I wonder if I am feeling worse than usual, or if this is just what it feels like when I don’t take Soma.
I know what would tell me which of those things is true. Just a tiny little pinch of Soma.
“Coffee?”
He takes me by the hand and leads me to the dining room. It is a very formal place, but that suits him, and I suppose it suits me. My mother and father sit at opposite ends of the long table at home. Sometimes, when they are silly, they throw ornate teaspoons at one another. I can’t imagine doing that to Arthur. Well, I can. But I can imagine what would happen afterward too. I would be very sore and sorry.
Arthur does not sit at the opposite end of the table. He sits at the head, and I sit next to him on his right-hand side. The servants set the table smoothly, bringing us everything we need. I am quite lucky, really. I imagine what it would be for all of this to go away. What if what happened to Emmaline today happened to me tomorrow? What if I was sent to the far-off dusty colonies to serve miners?
I don’t think he would do that to me. Would he? No. I’m his bride, and I’m going to be the mother to his babies.
Arthur looks extraordinarily handsome today. His strong jaw, scarred face, and powerful gaze are all very appealing to me. He is a picture of strength and stability, and I know that if I was to say so much as a word about Soma, he would deeply disapprove.
He pours me a cup of coffee and I sip it. It is bitter, but it does make me feel slightly better. My mind clears a little. I notice that Lydia is now in the room. She must have come in with the flurry of servants. She is standing with her back to the wall somewhere behind me. I catch her out of the corner of my eye when I turn my head. She almost blends into the decor in that uniform, but I can feel her judgmental gaze on me.
“Could we perhaps breakfast privately?” I ask the question as politely as I can. “There are discussions that cannot take place in the presence of others.”
“We are breakfasting privately,” he says.
I look around the room. Lydia is here, but she is not the only one. There is a male guard stationed at the main door too.
“There are four people in this room,” I point out. “Which one of them would be most interested in what I have to say about our bedroom activities, do you think?”
Arthur raises a brow at me and shakes his head ever so slightly. Don’t try it, little girl, he says without saying anything. Apparently I am misbehaving. But at least the first time we woke up together and had breakfast in bed, we didn’t do it with a small horde of armed people in the room.
I feel the urge to say something scandalous. Something that would force him to send the guards out of the room. My mood is not as good as it could be. I am sure I am going to be approaching the time of my monthly soon, though who knows what the stress of travel will do to that.
“Eat your breakfast,” Arthur says. “You and I will speak more privately soon.”