His words stung. With her hands now folded tightly in front of her, Jane shot back angrily, “And yet, you chose to marry me, did you not? Wasn’t that your reason for springing this marriage on me, anyway?” She glared at him purposefully.
“Springing it on you?” He scoffed in disbelief. “I asked properly, and you so eagerly accepted, if I can remember correctly. You were nearly jumping for joy.”
Jane’s cheeks flushed and her eyes flashed with indignation as she squealed, “I was not eager about it! I merely chose tohelpyou!
C-Calling me eager after you declared your-yourneedfor help with your nieces! I chose to do a good deed.”
Colin raised a brow at her, light amusement twinkling in his eyes as he shook his head. Then he paused and nodded, a sign of acknowledgement of her words.
He sighed and lowered his head. "Jane, I must beg your pardon for the hurtful words that escaped me. My heart was heavy with frustration. Yet that is no justification for my actions."
She gazed upon him, compassion softening her resolve. Unable to resist the pull of his sorrowful eyes, she cleared her throat at last, her tone a delicate balance of firmness yet with understanding as she spoke.
"If your heart truly seeks absolution, then I must request the presence of my sister as our honeymoon nears its end, Your Grace." She stared at him purposefully. “And you shall agree.”
Colin's eyes lit with a sudden surprise. His smile holding a touch of amusement as he remarked, "You never heed my words, yet now you seek permission for what is rightfully yours."
Jane couldn't look away from his face. Why did he have to be so handsome?
"Of course, you may invite your family whenever you wish," He conceded, a flicker of warmth in his tired eyes.
“Thank you," Jane murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. .
His tongue clicked softly before he delicately asked, "Tell me about your family. I wish to know more about you."
"It's quite the story."
He responded with a small smile holding a world of understanding as he gestured gracefully to the vacant seat beside him. With a grateful nod, she accepted the unspoken offer and easily settled into the plush chair.
"I lost my mother when I was but a child," She began, her voice quivering. “After that, I was tossed into the arms of my ever-steadfast sister.
“Sarah became my guiding star in the dark days. Despite not being much older than me, she took on the mothering role without a single complaint.”
She shook her head as the memories filled her mind. “I recall a moment when I fell ill after that, and she was the one who stayed by my side, like our mother would have done, tending to me with unwavering devotion. I remember how her gentle hands cooled my fevered brow, her soothing words like a healing balm to my young and troubled heart.”
Her smile grew wider. “In those moments, she was all I had. I knew that I was not alone. Her presence was always a beacon of light in the dark hours."
Her tone shifted slightly and her voice held a tinge of bitterness as she recounted, "Our father, however, was a man consumed by his desire for a male heir and cared little for his daughters beyond their marital prospects.
“Sarah, ever the obedient daughter, bore the burden of his expectations with grace, always the one to appease his whims. However, she was too quiet to hold the attention of suitors and father quickly gave up on her as the seasons went by without her finding a match, considering her undesirable." Her words exposed her brokenness and upset.
"I, on the other hand, refused to be a pawn in his game. I stood up to him, for both myself and her, every single time." She paused, and her voice filled with sadness.
"I see it as the reason I'm terribly argumentative now, a trait born of necessity rather than choice," She added at last, a sardonic laugh escaping her lips.
Colin stared at his wife in silence yet his gaze never left her eyes.
"You have been through quite a lot, haven't you?"
Jane felt a magnetic pull, unable to break free from the intensity and affection in his stare.
Suddenly, he stretched a hand towards her, his touch, gentle and unexpected, sending shivers down her spine as his fingertips brushed against her cheek.
Her eyes widened in surprise, mirroring the astonishment reflected in his gaze. Warmth. That was all Jane could feel. She barely remembered what came before this moment.
As he withdrew his hand the next moment, Jane couldn’t bring herself back to reality.
No.
