“Where I am going,” she said. “I was just now planning on heading to London, thinking I might make a day of it. I would have told you, but…” She shrugged. “I did not think it was any of your business.”
He reached the bottom step and stopped, a curious smirk on his lips as he studied her. “I suppose it is not.”
“So, you do not care?”
“Why should I?”
“And you will not try to stop me?”
“I do not see why I would.”
Helena pretended to look unconcerned with his words, as if she did not care either way what he said. And while that was indeed the case, a small part of her was surprised… as well as relieved.
“Good,” she said with a smile. “I should be back this evening, but I cannot say when exactly. Again, I do hope that is not a worry.Your wife, heading to the city on her own. I will understand if you are against such a notion.”
“It does not cause me concern,” he said, matching her smile with his coy one, as if he knew what she was doing. “Besides, I will also be out all day, and I cannot say when I will return. So, it makes no difference to me.”
“You will be?” she asked before she could stop herself. “Where are you going?”
He winked. “Questions that do not concern you. Or so I would think.”
“They don’t.” She straightened and looked away. “Just making conversation.”
“And ordinarily, you are so good at it,” he laughed as he crossed the foyer, turning to head toward the breakfast room. “We will call this a rare misstep. But enjoy yourself, Helena. Perhaps I will see you tomorrow.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” she said after him, but she doubted that he heard, as he was already through the foyer and walking down the hall.
He is entirely too dismissive of me. Which I should be thrilled by, even if it is somewhat annoying.
This was all part of Helena’s plan, one concocted the previous evening after Anna left. She still could not say what she expected from this marriage, and why she even cared to find out. But knowing that she had to, lest she lose her sanity, Helena had come upon a brilliant means by which to figure out what married life with Sebastian might truly be like.
The problem, as she saw it, was the trap that married life offered. If she gave in to such fancies, she feared that she would find herself under Sebastian’s thumb, and the freedom that she coveted so dearly would be lost to her. And that, she could not allow.
Thus, she decided to test her husband by taking advantage of the freedoms he promised her. She was also certain that if she pushed too far, he would step in and stop her. In a way, she wanted him to, proving that he was exactly as she feared and thus curbing any ridiculous notions that she had been having.
Hence, her first effort to force his hand, and she had done exactly as he promised. Free to head to London without question, she was indeed her own woman.
It might be nice if he cared just a little. Not even trying to stop me, just… an indication that he was worried or concerned or… or… or was thinking about me at all.
Stupid, she knew. And she hated that her mind went that way. But that just spoke to how confused she was.
So it was that Helena spent the day in London. She did little while she was there, most of it spent in the park, reading and writing. And while she tried her best not to think about Sebastian, her mind drifted to him more than once.
It was early in the evening when she returned home, and she fully expected him to quiz her. However, as he had told her, he was out for the day and did not return until late in the evening when she was getting ready for bed.
She wanted to ask where he was, but realized that doing so would be the antithesis of what this marriage was meant to be. So, she left it, figuring it was likely just work-related.
The following morning, once again, Helena waited for her husband. This time, she was dressed more casually. And as she hoped, Sebastian took notice.
“I take it you’re not going to London today?” he asked, noting the half-dress.
“Oh, this?” She looked down at herself. “Not today. In fact, I am thinking of going out for a ride.”
“You are?” he asked curiously. “Where to?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. But I might take one of the horses and explore. Assuming it is fine by you?”
She looked at him expectantly, certain that this time he would try to stop her.
