Chapter Four
“This is nonsense!” Mother cries out and throws her hands in the air. “Tell her, Anthony.”
My father’s eyes meet mine and he smiles at me. “Clara, we’ve groomed Cora for this for two years. She’s ready to marry and quite honestly, I couldn’t have selected a better man for her myself. Who cares that they’re eager to marry? If I recall, you and I weren’t so different.”
His words silence my mother and she begins to cry. “I-I-I just assumed we’d have more time with her.”
He draws her into a hug. “Darling, we shall still visit her. And when she bears children, we will come and stay with her and her husband to help out where we can. Nothing is changing except our daughter is marrying a wealthy businessman. He is lucky to have our little angel.”
When Emmett and I returned to presentation court, he boldly informed our fathers of our decision. Both men shook hands and agreed that this was in everyone’s best interest not to draw out the inevitable. Hugh even invited my entire family for dinner at their manor to celebrate our engagement. Everyone seems pleased by the arrangement, aside from Mother.
“I promise, it feels right,” I assert, hoping to comfort her with my words. “I think I will love him just like you love Father.”
Mother dabs her handkerchief to her eyes. “I have no doubt he will love you.”
I frown at her words. “You do not think I can love him back?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “You’re much like your father, always doing what needs to be done—not necessarily what you desire in your heart. I pray that you will love him and that your life is full.”
Hours later, donning a pale yellow dress that I can breathe more easily in, my family and I stroll down to the Claxton manor. Father and Mother walk ahead of me, my brothers running and playing in front of them, while I follow behind them. My mother’s words have confounded me, and for the first time since I made my decision to marry Emmett, a sliver of doubt creeps its way into my mind.
What if this is an awful mistake?
We approach the manor and I pinch my brows together in frustration. Even if, for some reason, I decided to spend the rest of my week keeping my options open, it still boils down to the fact that Emmett is the best choice.
He and I are simply speeding up the process. No harm in that.
We’re greeted at the door by Hugh and the men blab on about whatever it is men speak about. I’m lost in my head, no longer interested in the décor or pleasantries. I remain quiet and follow my family and Mr. Claxton through the hallways into the dining room. Emmett is nowhere in sight and dread fills my belly.
Perhaps he had second thoughts as well?
I’m passing by a dark doorway when a strong arm seizes my bicep and hauls me into what appears to be a small closet. As soon as I’m in the dark space, his scent invades my senses and I know without doubt that Emmett has stolen me away.
“Is it mad that I’ve missed you today?” he questions, his warm hands resting on my hips. Without the hoop skirt under this dress, his touch there affects me more and I have the urge to fan myself.
“Not having second thoughts?” I throw back at him.
His hot breath tickles my lips and I flutter my eyes closed when he brushes the softest of kisses there.
“Actually yes…” he trails off before deepening his kiss.
My heart stops beating in my chest and I slide my palms to his front, slightly pushing him away from me. “What?”
“My first thought,” he murmurs and hauls me against the wall, crashing his lips back to mine, “is about you. My second thought is about you.” His hands slide up my hips and over my breasts before he cradles my face with them. “My third and every thought after is about you. I’m not going anywhere my darling, and neither are you.”
I’m swooning over his romantic words and I wonder how I found myself with such luck in finding this perfect man. At first, he was annoying, but now as he mutters sweet words to me and kisses me as if there is no tomorrow, I’m completely happy. I’m thrilled and eager for what our future together will bring.
“Dearest Cora, if I don’t get you out of this closet soon, you may be losing your virginity before our marriage,” he growls and slightly thrusts the indication of his arousal against my belly.
“Oh,” I squeak out, a tendril of fear twisting its way through me.
He clears his throat and grasps onto both of my hands. Dragging me out of the dark closet, I’m finally awarded a view of his handsome face. His features are at ease, and if I had to guess, he’s as pleased about the decision of our union as I am. Our chemistry is undeniable.
He releases one hand and threads his other hand with my remaining one. Together, we stroll toward the sound of voices down the hallway.
“You’re even more exquisite than I recall from hours earlier,” he flirts with a grin. “I thought about you the entire time and tried to remember what you looked like. You’re much more beautiful in my arms than in my head.”
I blush and smile back. “Quite the romantic, aren’t you?”
He shakes his head and laughs. “Sometimes I surprise myself.”
Dinner was dull business talk. I found myself uninterested in the conversation and my attention fixated on him.
Emmett Claxton.
He sat across from me at dinner and his eyes never left mine. Of course, my eyes left his to watch his lips move when he talked or the way his strong hand would grip his wineglass, reminding me of how he’d gripped my hips several times today. My head swam with lust-filled thoughts and by the end of the meal, I was flustered and irritated.
Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.
“Sir,” Emmett says to my father as we all gather to leave. “I want to give your daughter something as a token of my promise to marry her tomorrow.”
My eyes find his twinkling brown ones and I nearly melt on the spot. The gasp from my mother tells me she feels the same. Father nods and I step over to Emmett.
“Dearest Cora,” he murmurs as he takes my glove and slowly slides it from my hand, baring my warm flesh to him. “While I waited for your return, I went to town and purchased this token of my affection.”
I blink several times when he produces a stunning gold ring with a yellow, multifaceted diamond on the top. It’s quite possibly the most beautiful piece of jewelry I’ve ever laid my eyes upon.
“Oh, Emmett,” I breathe. “It’s perfect.”
He flashes me a grin and slides it upon my marriage finger. It glistens and reflects the lights in the hallway. Lifting my hand to his lips, he kisses the knuckle of the finger that now proudly wears his ring.
“Until tomorrow, darling.”
I accept his kiss on my cheek and then follow my parents from the place that as of tomorrow will become home.
And I shall not sleep a wink until I’m here with him in it.
“I love you, and your father and I will come to visit in a couple of months,” Mother tells me with a sob.
Tears well in my eyes, but I blink them away because I’m excited about this new leg of my journey. The wedding was intimate, yet beautiful, and Emmett was the perfect, doting husband. It truly is a fairy tale. But I’m looking forward to the wedding night and our future.
“I’ll take great care of her,” Emmett vows as my family leaves.
The moment they’re gone, he snatches my hand and drags me down a series of hallways, my giggles echoing off the walls.
“You’re eager, Mr. Claxton,” I laugh.
He squeezes my hand and tosses a wicked grin over his shoulder. “And you pretend that you are not, Mrs. Claxton?”
I blush at hearing him call me by my married name. “I’m actually thrilled, dear husband.”
Our banter continues until we’re standing outside of a solid mahogany door. Unease creeps its way through me and I drop my gaze to the wood floors.
“Emmett, I’m frightened that it will,” I sigh, “hurt.”
He draws me to him and tangles his fingers in my hair. “I’ll be gentle, sweetheart.”
His soft words calm me and I lift my eyes to his smoldering dark ones.
“Well then, let’s do this,” I tell him bravely.
My eyes flutter closed when he leans in and kisses me. Our kiss is sweet at first, but soon it becomes fervent, and his hands are all over me. The dress I’m wearing feels thick and heavy—I want it gone.
“Come,” he growls and drags me into his bedroom—our bedroom. A lone gaslight flickers beside the gigantic four-poster bed but aside from that, he doesn’t bother with lighting the space anymore. Instead, he sets to tugging at my dress and fussing with the buttons that run down my spine.
My dress loosens around my middle and soon falls to the floor around my feet. The air chills my flesh and I shiver in anticipation.
“My wife,” he chuckles. “I never thought I’d hear those words and enjoy them. My God, you’re such a vision.”
He steps away from me and begins plucking through the buttons of his dress shirt. When he drops it to the floor, my eyes fall to his masculine, sculpted chest. I’ve never seen something so breathtaking in all my life. Our eyes remain fixed on each other as we remove the rest of our clothing and stand naked before the other.
I whimper when he prowls toward me, but our romantic encounter is interrupted by a brisk pounding on the door.
“What is it that cannot wait on the eve of my wedding?” Emmett snarls and snaps his head to the door.
The angry glint in his eyes only makes me crave him more.
“Son,” Hugh barks from the other side. “This is important. I’ll only keep you a moment.”
Emmett casts an apologetic look my way and I smile at him. “I’ll wait for you on the bed. It is fine, Emmett.”
He waits until I’ve climbed onto the bed and covered my naked body with the blanket before cracking the door open. I’m awarded a fine view of his bare arse that I knew would be every bit as delectable as I had imagined.
“Yes, Father?”
Their voices become hushed as they speak and I sit up to listen. Words like “shipyard,” “entire fleet,” and “arson” rise above the rest. Finally, he closes the door with a soft click and rests his forehead against the door. The muscles in his back tighten and his hands draw into fists.
“Of all the bloody damn luck!” he roars and slams one of his fists into the door.
All heat evaporates and a chill slithers down my spine.
“What is it?” I squeak out and tug the blanket over my quivering breasts.
Like a wild animal catching whiff of its prey, he jerks his head over to me and pins me with a furious glare.
“Women mustn’t worry themselves about the business affairs of men,” he grumbles and prowls over to me. His body ripples with rage and despite how handsome he is when he’s angry, I can’t help but be afraid. In this vulnerable moment, with me as his wife and naked upon his bed, I fear for the fact that I do not know a thing about this stranger I married.
“I was only attempting to help,” I whisper.
He grabs hold of the edge of the blanket and yanks it away from me. “I need to see you,” he hisses, ignoring my explanation.
The room blurs with my unshed tears and I hold out a shaking hand to him. “Please share your burden with me, Emmett.”
His hand starts to reach for mine and his gaze softens for a moment before he runs a frustrated hand through his hair. “Cora, darling. I beg of you to give me this one night to distract me from what I must do.”
I find myself nodding because I want to help him, even if I do not understand what is plaguing him. It is difficult not to shrink away from him as he climbs on the bed but instead, I lift my chin and meet his stare.
“Kiss me and forget about the rest,” I murmur.
He relaxes briefly before launching himself on me. The moment his bare skin slides against mine, the heat once again ignites to life from within me. Our mouths are a flurry of tongues, nipping teeth, groans and moans. And it is without warning that he enters me.
Stars obliterate my sight as I recover from the pain of having lost my virginity. But soon his kisses distract me and I’m writhing in his arms, enjoying every bit that he delivers to me. When an odd sensation steals over my entire being and I cry out in a voice I don’t even recognize, I realize he’s brought me the ultimate pleasure. Soon after, the heat of his own desire surges inside of me, hot and explosive.
After our breaths even out and the sweat on our chests begins to dry, I run my fingers through his hair and sigh. I’m truly a woman now. No longer a girl. A happily married woman.
“Tomorrow morning, I leave for the coast.”
His words confound me and I blink several times to process them. “I shall pack my things tonight so we may have an early start.”
He lifts from me and shakes his head in disappointment. “No, I am sorry, but I must handle this on my own. You will be needed here to manage the household staff.”
My body stings as he pulls away and my core throbs from the loss of him there. “Emmett, I simply do not understand. Are we not married?”
Sauntering off into the washroom, he doesn’t answer me. Peeking down between my legs, I suck in a sharp breath to see some droplets of blood staining the linens. I’m still fixated on it when a warm, wet cloth is dropped into my lap.
“You should clean up and find a dressing gown to sleep in,” he tells me in a bored, gruff tone.
Tears do win over this time and I sniffle. “Emmett. Please explain to me what is happening.”
He begins rummaging through his chest of drawers and tossing garments onto the bed. “An arsonist has set fire to every ship in our fleet at one of our most profitable shipyards. Father is needed here to tend to our busy factories here locally and has requested I survey the damages of the crime.”
I climb off the bed and quickly clean myself before clambering over to him. “I shall go with you—assist you with the affairs.” My hands slip up his bare chest but he grips both wrists, stopping my movement.
“It is dangerous being that someone purposefully committed this crime against us. Having you there would be distracting, not to mention foolish. You will stay here until I return.” His voice is firm and leaves no room for negotiation.
I lean forward to kiss him—to beg for him to bring me but he drops my wrists and stalks away to find more garments to toss on the bed.
“Will you at least tell me when you will come back to me?”
He shrugs his shoulders—and his unaffected stance has me believing he doesn’t care that he must leave me. “Could be three months. Six, perhaps.”
This time, the tears rush from me and I slide to my knees on the floor. “I will miss you.”
A dark chuckle reverberates off the walls and I shiver. “You hardly know me, Cora,” he snorts. “It is doubtful you’ll truly miss me. We shall pick up where we left off when I return. Until then, behave.”
Behave?
“Emmett, please…”
He slams the drawer shut and pins me with a furious glare. “Enough, woman. I am leaving without you and the matter is done. Don’t speak of it again or I’ll be forced to quieten you.”
And so my marriage begins.