Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
As soon as all the guests leave, I start to give a tour to the girls, leaving our bedroom for last.
Chapter Six
Sadie
I am a wife. I kept repeating that during the after-ceremony cake that I didn’t know Jasper ordered. I also repeated it when the Pastor took pictures of all of us to commemorate the day. I felt a little awkward given I wasn’t in a dress suitable for this type of occasion according to English standards. Now it is repeating as we drive through the rest of the town towards his-our home. Our home.
“I was thinking I would take the morning off and take you ladies to the store the next town over and get you anything you need.” He looks right at me when he says it.
“That won’t be necessary. I am sure we will make money soon enough to take care of it.” I tell him looking away right when I say it.
“I know this unorthodox, and we have a lot to learn and get used to, but the one thing I am going to have to insist you accommodate to sooner rather than later is that here, in our way of life, it is unequivocally a man’s job to take care of his wife. He provides for her needs and wants,” he says the last part in the same tone, but I hear it heavier and with another meaning. Something is definitely wrong with me. “He provides for their children and her family if need be. If she wants to work, that is a decision discussed as a team, a partnership, and then they determine how to go forward. I am going to have to insist you let me be the man I was raised to be,” he says it with such finality that my hands begin to shake. I can’t help feeling I have already offended him.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to offend you, Jasper. I have a lot to learn as you can see.” I make sure to turn my head away from him so I can discreetly wipe the tear falling from my eye. Lavinia doesn’t miss it. She places her hand on my shoulder from the seat behind me.
“No, I’m sorry,” he says, touching my hand briefly before removing his. For a moment I long for it back. Something about his touch is soothing and reassuring. “I didn’t mean to sound so stern. I just, I just want to be a good husband and take care of you and our family.” His mention of the word family makes my stomach flutter in anticipation of being a mother, but it also makes my heart stop at the act of making those precious babies.
I look at his face that is already looking at me and see the truth in his words. I can see the silent plea for me to really try and it is not that I don’t want to. I chose this. It's just now that it is all happening, I am losing my nerve I think. It hit me when that ring was on my finger, all I don’t know about a lot of things that go into being married and I feel inadequate. What if I don’t please him? Will he withdraw the contract and then what would become of me and my sisters?
“I believe you.” He nods before turning onto a dirt road. Rapt with fascination at the land in front of me, I am more than impressed with what I am seeing. “Wow,” I say turning to him. “This is amazing.” He smiles at my assessment, obviously proud and he should be.
“This is massive,” Rachel says with her head stuck out the window. I see a few horses running through the training gate with men trying to corral them. All of them giggle at the scene, tickled that these young foals are giving these men heck.
“Those are my new foals, Calamity and Jane. They are sisters, born from the same stallion but different mares within two weeks of one another.”
“They are beautiful,” Hannah says.
“They really are,” I repeat. His hand grips mine, making me look at him.
“Thank you,” he says intertwining our fingers. This is the most intimate I have ever been, and it feels unfamiliar but comfortable. Jasper parks the car in front of his home, and I can’t help but gasp. “Welcome home,” he says to all of us. I am so busy staring at this massive mansion that I don’t realize he is holding my door open until he leans close to my ear and whispers. “Do you like it?” His breath touches me, and I close my eyes with my lips mashed together to stop the unruly noise that is threatening to evacuate my throat and is right now wreaking havoc inside of me. This man is dangerous to my restraint.