She felt his hands upon her neck, massaging it gently, and she closed her eyes. She was tired. Today had been a long day. Though they had married for convenience, everyone around them had been thrilled for them so she had had to fake an excitement she had not felt. It had been draining. The day had lacked the joy she had hoped one day to feel on her real marriage day, and it saddened her.
“Thank you.” She looked up at him; his eyes were dark and his face devoid of emotion.
He turned to stoke the fire and then poured two small brandies, handing her one glass and taking the other for himself.
“Well, today is over,” he said with finality, sipping his drink.
“Yes.”
He watched as she began to take out her hair pins, one after the other. As each coil of auburn hair fell down her back, he remembered that morning at the chateau when he had touched her hair with his fingers. The texture was soft as silk. He swallowed and looked into the fire.
“Are you happy or sorry it’s over?” he asked absently. It was suddenly sinking in that she was his lawful wife.
“Happy or sorry?” She pondered the question. “I’m neither. I’m grateful.”
“Grateful?” he asked, startled.
“Yes. Not many men would marry a woman to keep her safe, receiving nothing in return.”
Sebastian smiled. “Your safety is my reward. And it won’t be forever, Sophie. Only until the madness with the inspector dies down.”
She smiled at him. “Yes, I know.”
“Come. I’ll show you the rooms and you can pick the one you like best.”
They made their way up the staircase from the downstairs foyer and onto the landing of the second floor. The house was quiet, as early evening had set in. The shadows along the walls from the sun reminded Sophie of the days she had spent at the chateau and the night she had accidentally spent with Sebastian.
“Do you ever think of that night at the chateau?” she asked him.
Sebastian almost smiled, as he had just minutes before remembered it. “Yes,” he said, but didn’t elaborate, and she didn’t ask him to.
One room was decorated in cool blue tones and another in gold. A room at the end of the hallway was decorated in peach and green, which was pleasant, but she liked the blue room the best.
“The blue room,” she said.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes. Why?”
“No reason.”
Sebastian’s room was next to the blue room and the rooms had an adjoining door between them. He had Sophie’s trunks brought into the room.
“This room adjoins with the next room. You can lock the door easily.”
“Do I need to lock it?” She looked puzzled.
“I’m in the next room,” he said simply.
“Do I need to lock you out?” she asked. “I trust you.”
You shouldn’t, he thought.
“Good night, Sophie.”
“Good night, Sebastian.”
***