Arthur’s eyes flicked over her shoulder, flashing with recognition as he realized what she’d been studying. But he didn’t comment on it. Not as he nodded his head in the direction they’d been heading. She was grateful for his silence, as it gave her more time to take in her new home.
Finally, he stopped before a set of double doors.
“This leads to our rooms,” he said.
He’d said that a few times, ‘our chambers’ or ‘our rooms.’ But this entire time, Marissa had thought he was referring to them as separate rooms. Lumped together only by the fact that he was speaking about both her room and his room at the same time.
But as he pushed open the door and she stepped inside, she realized that she had made a mistake.
What he’d referred to as their chambers was a series of rooms sectioned off by two large oak doors.
The first room was a circular sitting room. Just like the rest of the castle, it was extravagantly furnished. A large fireplace occupied the wall to the right, and the far side was occupied by two large, curtained windows.
Between the windows sat a beautifully carved, round wooden table, two chairs on either side of it.
In the center of the room was a group of four overstuffed, high-back chairs around a low table. A chessboard sat on top of the table, the pieces arranged as if two people had been in the middle of a game mere moments ago.
“What do these doors lead to?” Marissa asked, pointing to them. “Me room and yers?”
“One is a separate bathing chamber,” he explained. “It’s where I’ll be washin’ up. The servants are preparing another one for ye to use, since we both need to wash at the same time. The other door leads to our bedchamber and dressing room.”
Marissa sputtered. “Our bedchamber? What do ye mean,our bedchamber?”
Arthur arched an eyebrow at her. “It’s the place where we’ll both be sleepin’.”
He said the words as if they should be obvious. And sure, in some sense they were. But that didn’t mean her brain didn’t feel as if it had to work overtime to understand them.
“Together?” she asked, her voice becoming shrill.
When Arthur nodded, she immediately began to protest.
“Nay,” she insisted. “We cannae share a bed. We arenae married yet—it would be improper. The things people would say! I willnae have people startin’ rumors that I behaved wantonly before we wed.”
Arthur shook his head. “Nay one will say a thing,” he assured her. “And I understand why ye’re worried. But that’s how things are done in me clan.”
“But that’s nae how things are done in mine!”
“Doesnae matter.”
Marissa opened her mouth to protest further, but he cut her off with a raised hand.
“I understand yer concerns,” he said gruffly. “But as I said, things are done differently in me clan. Men and women share rooms from the moment they get engaged. And if we dinnae, then the council willnae believe we are truly betrothed. Which would mean ye came all this way for naught.”
She took a step back, considering this.
Marissa had heard that some clans behaved this way, but it was rare. And, so far, Arthur had given her no reason not to believe or trust him fully.
Besides, what choice do I have? Even if I demand to have me own rooms, it’s nae like he has to actually give them to me.
With a sigh, Marissa nodded.
“Let me make meself clear, though,” she said, her voice coming out harsher than she had intended. “There will be nothin’ goin’ in that bed besides sleepin’. Do ye hear me?”
Arthur smirked. “Dinnae worry, lass. I have nay interest in women who dinnae want me to touch them. I will do nothin’ to ye until ye are beggin’ me for it. And trust me, soon enough, ye will be.”
Marissa’s mouth dropped open in surprise, causing his smirk to widen. He didn’t wait for her reply before nodding over his shoulder, back toward the doors they’d just walked through.
“Now, come this way, and I’ll show ye to the bathin’ chamber they’re preparin’ for ye.”
