Her eyebrows began to furrow, and I realized I hadn’t answered her. Clearing my throat, I thrust the flowers in my hand at her.
“That’s me. Sorry… I just… you’re beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she said, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, which made me wonder. A woman on her own, who looked like she did, probably garnered unwanted attention, which explained the deep bonnet. Protectiveness welled up inside me. She tilted her head at Clive. “Hello. I’m Sassy McCloud.”
“Sorry,” I said, jumping in as I realized my mistake. “This is Clive North, my partner and your other husband-to-be.”
Sassy’s eyes widened in alarm, and the hand she’d started to hold out was snatched back.
“Other…” Her voice trailed off faintly.
“Told you this was going to happen,” Clive scoffed and looked at me. I could tell from his expression, he was just as attracted to her as I was, but that didn’t stop him from being his usual grumpy self.
I glared at him before turning back to Sassy.
“The ad said we were looking for a wife. Bridgewater is known for having a different way of marriage. The founders of the town decided they wanted a place where they could follow Mohamiram customs and settled here. We mostly marry two men to one woman.”
I pointed at the town, where several triads walked down the town’s only thoroughfare. Sassy’s head turned, the wide brim of the bonnet blocking my view, so I couldn’t see her expression as she examined them. I paused, giving her a moment to take it in, but of course, Clive had to comment.
“If that’s a problem, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
I wanted to groan. His terrible sense of humor raised itself at the oddest times. I was pretty sure he thought we were about to be rejected and wanted to hurry the process along.
“Legally, you’ll only be married to me,” I said hurriedly. “But both Clive and I will both act as your husbands. If you’ll have us.”
I held my breath for her answer.
Sassy
* * *
Two husbands.
Impossible.
Yet… I didn’t think they were lying or joking. As I watched, one of the women in the street kissed both the men she was with on the lips before
going into a store. The two men stood outside, fondly watching her go before turning to talk to each other once she was inside.
That strange little curl of arousal began to ache a little bit more. Why my body was reacting this way, I didn’t know. I had never experienced it outside of a man actually touching me, yet neither of these men had laid a finger on me.
But they were both going to.
A shiver went down my spine.
“If I say it’s a problem?” I asked, curious about their answer. Neither man set off a sense of danger, other than my odd reaction to them, but I was still in shock at the idea of having two husbands rather than one. I thought the ad meant they were both looking for their own wife, not the same one.
The comment from the woman on the train suddenly made sense. She must have known Bridgewater’s reputation.
“Then we’ll invite you to stay and get to know us a bit before you make a decision,” William said. Clive’s expression didn’t change, but an air of disapproval hung around him all the same. Strangely, that didn’t deter me. I’d rather know what he was feeling. William smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll be gentle with you. Your wedding night won’t be anything but pleasure.”
Heat flushed my cheeks, and I bit my lip as I realized their assumption about my hesitation. From the beginning, I’d decided to hide my past employment. Everyone treated whores differently. Likely, they assumed I was a virgin. My extremely modest attire was to help disguise myself, but it was also the reason Penny had called me “buttoned-up” and had thought I was a prude. I had been so focused on reaching safety, I had barely given thought how I would handle my non-virgin status.
Harlot.
The woman’s comment drifted through my mind. Perhaps my experience would be an asset… but no, I dare not risk it. They would likely turn on me, and if they told anyone about my former occupation, it would make it easier for Lord Carmichael to find me. While I hoped I’d fled far enough, he would cease his efforts, I would not risk assuming that.
I would have to pretend to be the virgin I was once; that’s all there was to it. I would not make them wait, either. I needed protection, and men would be more protective of a wife than of the woman who might become one. If I were completely honest, I was also curious about my body’s reaction to them. I was attracted to them, both of them, in a way I’d never felt toward any other man. I could not help but wonder if that would make a difference when they bedded me.