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Part of me thought there was a chance I could persuade her to change her mind, but that seemed manipulative. That wasn’t the kind of marriage I wanted either. I couldn’t help but question whether my pursuit was futile, whether I was setting myself up for heartache in a marriage that might never be more than a contractual obligation.
Then there was a part of me that refused to give up, that clung to the hope that love could indeed blossom between us. Emilie had shown vulnerability in that garden, a vulnerability that hinted at the possibility of something more profound than duty. She was putting on a brave face, but I felt her passion. It was a fucking mess.
I arrived at my family’s estate, feeling a profound weariness wash over me. The evening had been a rollercoaster of emotions, and I had no clear answers. I gave my word I would visit the family’s properties with Emilie. Was I giving them false hope?
I knew one thing for certain—I couldn’t let go of the passion that had flared between us and the undeniable connection. Emilie might have her doubts, her reservations, but I was determined to keep trying.
It was much later than I had anticipated coming home, and the house was shrouded in an eerie silence. I walked to the front door and caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I jumped and did some kind of karate move. It was Victoria sitting on the swing in the yard. She was staring up at the star-studded heavens with a pensive expression.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I approached her. “What are you doing up at this hour?” I asked, my voice a mix of concern and amusement. “You scared the hell out of me.”
Victoria turned to look at me, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. “I could ask you the same thing, Theo,” she replied, her tone teasing.
I joined her on the swing, the chains creaking softly as we settled into the familiar rhythm. “Fair enough,” I conceded. “But I have a good reason.”
Victoria raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Do tell.”
I took a deep breath. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing,” I said with a sigh.
“What do you mean?”
“I told myself I would get through this first session of Wed season and then decide if I want to break the match,” I started to explain.
“Why do you want to break the match?”
“Because I want love, Victoria. But then I talked to Dad, and he pretty much told me I need to stick it out. I’m prepared to do that. Her father asked me to visit Norway and some of their other properties on the break, which means I’ll be spending more time with her. So, then I told myself I would wait until the end of our trip to make a decision.”
“But?” she prompted.
“I happened to overhear her begging her father to let her out of the match.”
“Oh, Theo,” she said and put a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry. Why doesn’t she like you?”
“That’s what I was wondering. I was planning to escape without ever having to talk to her, but she caught me walking out. I ended up in their garden and she followed. I told her I had to keep the match, but if she wanted to break it, I didn’t want to force it. I even offered her a marriage that wasn’t a real marriage. I would live at home in South Carolina, and she could stay in Norway. Even as I said the words, it felt like I was eating glass. I don’t know how to do that kind of marriage.”
“And you shouldn’t have to,” she said gently. “Just break it off. I’ll be fine. I would never be able to be happy in whatever marriage I do manage to get if you’re miserable. I’m not going to have you sacrifice yourself for me. I’m not exactly a mutt. I think I’ve got a pretty good chance at making a good match regardless of my two older brothers breaking their original matches.”
I nodded. “They would be lucky to have you.”
“If you don’t want to marry her, don’t.”
“Well, that’s where things get complicated,” I said with a laugh.
“Why?”
I grinned. “Because after I said we could have a marriage of convenience, we kissed. Not a little kiss.”
She squealed and slapped my leg. “You bad boy!”
“I thought the kiss changed things, but I’m not sure now. I think it might have made things worse.”
“Did she slap you? Does she not want you? Wait! Is she in love with someone else?”
“No, she didn’t slap me. I don’t know what she wants. She says there isn’t anyone else. She’s just so fucking determined to be this woman who sacrifices love and happiness for her country. She thinks the only way to make sure the match works is if emotions are kept out of it.”
“Was she into the kiss?”
“Victoria, I’m not about to give you a blow-by-blow account of my kiss, but yes, she was into it. I pulled back. She said it changed nothing. So here I am back at square one.”
