On the upper floor, he showed her the various guest chambers before taking her to a large chamber in the east wing.
It was indeed very beautiful with the best view she had yet seen. The window overlooked the pond and looked out on the wider estate. There was a fine bed that could have done with some fresh blankets, but otherwise, it was very comfortably made indeed.
“It is beautiful. Whose chamber is this?” Frederica asked, turning to admire the white-molded ceiling above her, spinning slowly on the spot.
“Yours.” His answer made her crick her neck as she looked sharply around at him.
Never had she had such a grand room. This last year at Honora’s, she had grown very used to a smaller chamber indeed.
“Through that door is my chamber.” Allan no longer smiled as he pointed at the door.
Frederica stiffened, feeling her stomach knot tightly together as she stared at the door.
He is performing. He’s picking the room he knows he should pick if we had married for another reason beyond convenience.
“Wait,” she whispered, knowing she had to say something. She shifted her weight between her feet as she looked at Allan. “Perhaps this chamber is not the right choice for me.”
“Why not?” He stepped further into the chamber. Frederica tried to stop the echoing of her heartbeat in her ears, just at the thought that her new husband was in her bedchamber. “Do you not like it?” He looked around with concern, as if he was searching for cracks or mice in the walls.
“I mean…” She paused, wringing her hands together relentlessly. “If you wished to bring someone to your chamber, then this would not be the best place for me to be. You must have your privacy if you wish to take a…” She couldn’t quite say the words. “I should move chambers.”
His expression hardened to something steely. She froze, no longer wringing her hands together, wondering what on earth she had said that was so wrong.
What happened next was all very fast.
Allan walked toward her with such purpose that she backed up quickly. She nearly tripped over the rug in her haste but managed to right herself. By the time she ended up with her back flat against the wall behind her, he had reached her.
He didn’t touch her, but stood tall and overbearing, his hands flat to the wall on either side of her.
For one wild moment, Frederica thought he might kiss her. Excitement shot through her at the thought though it fled just as quickly as it had arrived when she saw his hard expression. It was flintlike.
“I am a married man,” he said, his voice stiff. “Do you think I would actually have an affair? Take a lover now that I am married to you?”
“Why not?” she said just as quickly back. “You would not be the first man to marry for convenience and then do so. It’s natural, is it not?”
“Natural!?” he cried in clear outrage. “You think it would be natural for a man to be so cold of heart towards you? You clearly think very little of me.”
“That’s not what I said. What I meant was?—”
“That you expected me to be such a man. To be such a beast?—”
“You have married me for convenience.” A sudden confidence blazed within Frederica, and she held her chin high. “We talked before about how you should have your freedom. You told me gladly that you would take it; that you were free to do as you wished.”
“That does not mean I would bring other women constantly back to this house. To my own bed,” he spat angrily. He kept looking down at her lips. For a wild moment, she thought he would kiss her, despite being so angry, then he looked away, and she was convinced it had all been in her imagination. “Dear Lord, Frederica, think a little kindlier of me. I don’t think I’m worthy of this condescension.”
Then he was gone. All of a sudden, he was no longer that tall and impressive presence above her. He’d spun on his heel and marched away.
Frederica stared after him, unable to pull herself off the wall as she wondered why on earth she wanted Allan back again, wanted him to be standing so near with his hands so close to her.
Rather than heading back to the corridor, he took the adjoining door to his own chamber. He shut it loudly behind him, so loud that she flinched, then she heard the lock turn firmly in place.
Frederica raised a hand and covered her lips.
What sort of marriage was this going to be?
CHAPTERTEN
Frederica pulled herself out of the bed at dawn. The sun had barely risen above the trees across the estate when she clambered from the bed and moved toward the window, peering out at the early-morning white light.
