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“Let me go!” I shouted, I needed to get away. I needed to be far from this place.
“Rose, please, she is long gone, I swear it, you are safe,” he said, tightening his hold. I looked up at him, looked into his pale green eyes.
“Why was she here?” I asked, nausea rolling. “She mentioned a secret, William, what is it? What are you? She’s one, too isn’t she?” His face was cold, hard as his eyes locked with mine.
“Another time. Let’s get you warm.” He let go of my wrists, taking a hand in his as he pulled me toward the house.
“No,” I stopped walking, tugging back. “Why was she here, William? What is the secret?”
“I promise I won’t leave you again,” he said, voice tight. “Come, let’s get you inside.” I glanced over my shoulder toward the orchard, afraid I might see her standing amongst the trees in wait.
“Rose,” William touched my cheek softly, turning my attention to him. “She is long gone, there is no more need to fear.”
“I deserve to know,” I asserted, tearing my hand away from him. William sighed, shaking his head without another word. He merely walked away, perhaps knowing I was much too frightened to stay outside alone.
When we crossed into the threshold of the kitchen, William tenderly held my arm up, inspecting the torn fabric and tiny cuts from Noel’s nails. His nostrils flared, those shadows gathering under his eyes.
“Let’s clean this up,” he said through clenched teeth.
After William wrapped my clawed arm in a bandage, we spent the remainder of the day working with Mother on the final touches of the wedding. They were all rather surprised at his early appearance, but I was grateful. For, if he had not appeared I full well believed Noel would have killed me.
In the evening, I watched Mary begin to pack my belongings in quiet resignation. We were slated to stay in Boston for a few months until William wrapped up business in the summer. His hopes were for us to return to the country for a calm and quiet birth.
When the day of the wedding arrived, the sun was streaming golden yellow through the curtains, and the house was quiet below. I stretched, my joints unhinging in a most delicious way, a hand coming across my stomach. I rolled over, William propped on his elbow, gazing at me with such emotion in his eyes I couldn’t hold back my own tears. He kissed me, setting his hand on the bump between my hips.
“Your eyes are dark again this morning.” My voice croaked, thick with sleep and tears shed the day before. “They were so light this week.”
“Good morning to you, too,” he whispered, eyes guarded. “Are you aware that today you become my wife?” I beamed suddenly, overcome with excitement at the promise of the two of us. Just the two of us. William reciprocated that jubilance, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.
My joy soon faded, “Will she be here you think?” I asked, my blood cooled at the prospect that we might not be alone today. William pursed his lips.
“I doubt it seriously, let us focus on the task at hand. I do not believe she would be so reckless.”
“Why does she continue to come? Please, if you can’t tell me what you are, please tell me why she continues to come around.” I fiddled with the ring on my finger nervously. William shook his head.
“It’s what she does. She finds any means to torture me so. I can only explain it as she has seen so much, lived such a life that she works in an entirely different way than, say, you do. You are my only reason for existence now, and if she can get to you, she can get to me in the way she likes.” I swallowed hard at that realization, trying to piece together his cryptic messages. “I have known her for a very long time, Rose, and I cannot say she would be so irresponsible as to do something today. This is our day, let us put her from our minds and enjoy one another.”
He rolled on top of me, grinding himself in between my legs. I couldn’t help but groan as he pressed into me, kissing my neck, down toward my breast as his hand traveled under my nightgown. It enraged me that he could distract me so easily, but as he took my nipple into his mouth, I begged him to take me.
“Not until tonight,” he murmured huskily, sliding his tongue into my mouth. I locked my legs around his hips, I would not let him go so easily.
“No, now,” I urged. “I want you.” He chuckled, nibbling my lip softly.
“We have already broken this rule so many times, let us keep it for just today. We will have each other tonight, as Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell.” His smile was infectious. Wrapping my fingers tightly in his hair, I pulled his mouth back down to mine, locking our lips together.
William untangled himself from me, adjusting the erection in his trousers. “You are like nothing I have ever known, Miss Abbott,” he said as he ran his hand through his hair in frustration. I sat up, letting my nightgown fall down my back, exposing my breasts to the cold. I watched as he vibrated with utter need.
“I take leave. Get ready. You know where to find me.” With a lingering smile, he quickly and quietly left.
***
Mary and my mother arrived with breakfast sometime later. I downed my tea and ate the platter of food they had before me, blood sausage and pancakes with fruit. The blood sausages were the better portion and I asked for more repeatedly until Mother finally had the plate sent back to the kitchen. As she tightened my corset, she groaned when she realized just how big my belly had gotten.
“Rosemary, look at this! It will be a miracle if we can get away with the nuptials without anyone noticing.” Anxiety radiated off of her as she gnawed her lip, drawing her eyebrows together. Mary fussed with Mother, hiking my skirts higher still, draping me in the white satin dress. The sleeves were wide and puffy, ruffles cascaded down the skirt itself. It was her theory the grandeur of it would distract from any implications of pregnancy.
They pulled my hair up, fastening my wedding hat and veil to my curls. I peered at myself in the mirror, more than ready to rid myself of the façade. It was only a matter of time. Once we were in the city, we could be safe; no one would know how long our courtship had been, no one would question us like they might here. Here, in the country, everyone knew everyone’s affairs. It would be refreshing to live more authentically.
Ursula and her sisters burst into my bedroom, their voices loud and busy as they scurried around to assist in the departure for the church. Seeing my greatest friend who had abandoned me here, as if nothing had happened, leeched melancholy into my bones.
