Isabel attempted to make her sigh of relief not too audible.
The flicker of light in Sebastian’s deep green eyes said he noticed all the same. She hadn’t heard his name until the vicar said it. Sebastian. A large name for someone his size. It fit him. And those green eyes…
Whatever her muscles had done to relax at his words, it immediately halted when he suddenly stepped closer.
Any space between them vanished. Her heart skipped a beat. She swallowed. Her hands clutched at her dress. She didn’t have anything else to cling to.
A hundred questions came to mind as she thought about moving away. Or even hiding from him. It seemed childish, running. And hiding would get her nowhere. They were wed now. If she could survive those cutthroats, surely, she could survive him.No, she wouldn’t run from the man she married. She had made her bed with the duke.
But what was he doing? Would he touch her? Had he not meant what he just said to her?
“Isabel.” The way her heart spasmed when he said her name was strange and heated. She swallowed again. There was hardly any air between them. Standing ever so still, she waited for Sebastian to go on. “The only thing you should be certain of here is that you are safe with me. I cannot offer you more than that.”
Apples.
That was what Sebastian smelled like. She’d caught whiffs of it before but hadn’t been able to place it. Not until now. Apples weren’t in season. She didn’t think they made cologne for that scent. But he indeed smelled like apples.
Her mouth dried out, leaving her speechless. All she could do was offer him a jerky nod for a response.
Slowly the words registered as she understood what he was saying. That she didn’t have to worry about running or hiding. That he wouldn’t touch her. There were many marriages only in name, though usually at least one or two children came from them. It seemed Sebastian didn’t even care for having any children, any heirs.
As she waited for comfort to wash over her, she met his gaze as it still lingered on her face. Those piercing green eyes seemed to see too much. She couldn’t feel any consternation then, only intrigue. He looked so alert, so attentive. Could he see something in her? His dark hair was a little long over the ears and a little unkept, but those eyes…
A small sound escaped her when he stepped back.
Once again, she had been leaning forward. Swallowing hard, she immediately took a step as well––banging her head into the door. She winced before offering a pained smile. Her hands shook and she clutched her dress harder so he might not see them.
Whatever just happened?
“Good evening.” Sebastian said at last. He gave a deep and respectful nod before turning heel to disappear down the hall into another room.
Her pulse was racing as she stayed pressed against the door, needing a moment to catch her breath after what just happened.
What had happened, she couldn’t particularly define. Only that something did indeed happen between them. Something they weren’t going to acknowledge.
Her heartbeat seemed to try and tell her otherwise, but she brushed it off as she took one more glance around the hall shestood in. The bed chamber would be hers, so she would have to be able to find it the next time she took her leave of this hall.
It must be old since walking halls are still somewhat new. Some restructuring was clearly done, but not entirely. I’ve never been an awful stranger to mapping a house, but this one might be a challenge.
“A challenge for tomorrow,” she decided before twisting to step into her new bed chamber.
Isabel closed the door and stood a few steps inside to consider the room. It looked very much like her other glimpses of the house thus far. She had a large fireplace that already had thick flames heating the room. Dark wallpaper covered the walls with more artwork on top. She craned her neck up to note the gilded patterns on the ceiling, darkened with time.
The place was beautiful, albeit dark and strange and brooding. Much like her husband.
Resting a comforting hand over her stomach, Isabel gave her head a shake to try and get Sebastian out of her mind. But it was difficult not to. His presence, even his absence, felt so intense.
Not having him in the carriage on the ride here had been helpful. He most likely would not have fit comfortably with her and Amber already inside. But then she had been consumed with worry the entire time, wondering if he had a death sentence, wondering if he would be all right outside.
Their arrival had further exacerbated the issue as he was stony-faced through the introductions to the staff. And she had thought his delivering of her to the bed chamber might be an attempt to give them time alone together.
His curt manner had made her wonder if he thought of this place more of a prison than a home. But that was a ridiculous thought. She had tried to ask questions, only to be shut down repeatedly with curt answers. That hadn’t helped her nerves. Nor had his pause at the door.
But then he promised her safety…
Sighing, Isabel went to a closed window and decided to open it to consider the view. She had two windows on one long wall that was partially separated to include a small sitting room before the bed itself. And then on the next wall there was a small window, like it might have been added later.
All of them were opened. The skies didn’t offer much light, but she would gladly accept it. Turning back to face the room, however, she frowned.
