The Wedding Pact (Marriage by Fairytale Book 3)

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  As he headed for the door, she asked, “What should I call you?”

  He paused then turned to her. “You can call me Julian.” Since she was sleeping in his bedroom tonight, he figured there was no reason they should stand on formality. Besides, he’d never been one who felt the need to be stuffy at all times. “And what about you? How would you like me to address you?”

  “Ophelia.”

  He smiled. The name seemed to suit her. Innocent and pretty. “Have a good night’s rest.”

  Then he left the room to get her some fresh water.

  Chapter Four

  Ophelia had trouble sleeping. She ended up weaving in and out of sleep. The day had been a terrible one. She’d woken up to a flurry of activity as the maids got her ready to meet her guardian. Then her guardian told her she was to marry him, whether she wanted to or not, and he had touched and kissed her in ways that even now made her feel unclean. She had to resist the urge to wash herself. Even if he hadn’t done everything he’d wanted to with her, she didn’t think she’d ever get rid of the sensation of his hand on her breast and leg. She’d never felt so violated.

  She prayed Julian was as kind as he seemed. She didn’t get the same terrible feeling around him that she had with Lord Wolfe, and while that was a promising sign, she was afraid her instincts might be tricking her. Perhaps if she’d had more experience with people, she might have a better handle on how to best understand people. The servants had never been her companions. They’d been there to do whatever Lord Wolfe wanted them to do. Yes, they’d been nice, but they hadn’t ever sat down and talked to her as one would talk with a friend. Her days had been busy doing what they wanted. She’d never lacked for anything. But she wasn’t equipped to deal with other people.

  By the time the sun was lighting up the sky, she decided she might as well get up. She shifted in the bed until it was comfortable enough for her to sit up. She lifted the hem of the nightclothes she was wearing. There was a trace of blood on the bandages, but thankfully, they were dry. She examined her ankle. It looked fine.

  She put both feet on the floor and tested the strength in her ankle. A stab of pain traveled from her ankle and up her leg. With a grimace, she released the pressure she’d put on it, choosing, instead, to put more pressure on her other ankle.

  After Julian had brought in a pitcher of water, he’d set a cane at the foot of the bed. She’d never used a cane before, but the footman had used one. All she had to do was imitate him.

  She grabbed the cane, took a deep breath, and leaned on it. Making sure her grip was secure, she stood up. Fortunately, the cane had a solid base. She was able to elevate her sore foot enough to make walking manageable. It still hurt, but at least it was bearable.

  She made it to the door and opened it. The dawn’s light filtered in through the window in the sitting room, and she saw Julian sleeping on the settee.

  He didn’t look all that comfortable. He was on his stomach. One of his arms and legs were hanging off to the side of the settee. The blanket was only partly on him. Since he hadn’t been able to stretch out on it, his other leg was up against the edge of the settee. She guessed his other arm was under him since she couldn’t see it. She didn’t know if he had a restless night like she had, but it sure looked like it with the way his light brown hair was sticking up in all sorts of directions. She’d never seen anyone while they slept before, but she thought he was rather cute.

  Pushing the observation aside, she checked the floor and was glad to see the blood had been cleaned up. The same, however, couldn’t be said for the chair she’d been sitting on last evening. Though it seemed as if he’d tried to clean up the blood, she suspected he’d given up at some point since she could see steaks of dried blood along the edge of the fabric. She hoped the chair wasn’t important to him. She’d hate to think she’d ruined it.

  She turned her attention to the room off to the side of the sitting room. Curious, she decided to go over to it and see what was in it. She took her time getting there, making sure she didn’t aggravate her ankle any more than she had to.

  When she reached the room, she saw that it was a small kitchen. It reminded her of the one the cook used to work in, except this kitchen was much smaller and the items in it were packed into tight spaces.

  There was a door toward the back of the room. Curious, she limped over to it and found that it led outside. She scanned the area as much as she could, given her limitations from the small window. This cottage was in a wooded area. She got a glimpse of the landscape further out from the trees, but she couldn’t tell if that had been the direction she’d come from or not.

  She recalled that she’d started riding her horse along hilly terrain, and as she progressed further, she came upon a few trees here and there until she found herself surrounded by a lot of them. Had she not gotten too close to one of the branches, she wouldn’t have fallen off the horse. Even now, the memory of falling from the running steed made her shiver. She didn’t think she’d ever forget how scary it was to float in mid-air as she waited to hit the hard ground. Besides how she’d felt with Lord Wolfe, she couldn’t recall a time things had been more out of control around her.

  She turned from the door and hobbled back toward the sitting room. Just as she made it, she saw that Julian was sitting up on the settee. He was rubbing his head in a way that messed up his hair even more, and he was blinking the sleep from his eyes. Again, he struck her as cute in his disheveled state.

  He jerked when he saw her. He put his hand over his heart and breathed a sigh of relief. “For a moment I thought you were a ghost.”

  She chuckled. “It’s the long nightclothes you gave me. Plus,” she glanced down at it, “it’s almost white.”

  “I hate to admit it, but I forgot you came here last night. I was trying to figure out why I was sleeping out here.” He gathered his blanket and rose to his feet. “Do you mind if I change into day clothes? I’m a bit chilly.”

  “No, I don’t mind.” She glanced around the room. “Can I sit in a chair?”

  “Please do.” He motioned for her to come further into the room. “Pick any you want. I’ll be quick. Then we can look for something you can wear. I’m afraid you’ll be stuck wearing my clothes. I don’t have anything for a lady.”

  It was a shame she’d torn a portion of her gown and cloak when she fell. She would have worn that if possible.

  “Before you put on day clothes, you should have fresh bandages,” he added.

  She nodded as she went to the nearest chair. “All right. I’ll let you take care of that.”

  She thought he was going to go straight to the bedroom, but he pulled up the ottoman and put it in front of her. Then he folded the blanket and set it on top of the chair.

  “I don’t know much about injuries, but I think it’d be best to keep your foot up. You don’t want to put any more pressure on your ankle than you need to,” he explained.

  “Thank you.” She sat in the chair and lifted her leg until it settled on the blanket. “It feels better.”

  “You should take it easy. You don’t want to do any more damage to it.” He paused. “Maybe I should fetch a doctor. Do you feel safe being here alone?”

  She did her best to hide her unease. She’d never been all by herself in a place before. Sure, she’d been alone in her bedchamber, but the maids were always nearby if she needed someone. But he was right. She should have a doctor check her ankle and leg.

  “I’ll stay here while you get a doctor,” she said.

  Julian smiled. “I’ll leave right after we eat. I’ll go as fast as I can on my horse. I may be able to get to him in forty-five minutes since the roads are dry, but then the doctor has to come here.” He glanced at the shelf along the wall. “I’m not sure I have something that appeals to a lady, but there are several books you can read. Are you interested in a story with mystery or suspense?”

  “I can’t read.”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “You can’t read? But
you’re a lady who’s been brought up in a wealthy household. The clothes you were wearing last night were expensive.”

  Her eyebrows furrowed. “Are ladies supposed to know how to read?”

  “No, it’s not necessary for a lady to know how to read,” he slowly replied. “I assumed you did since the clothes you wore last night were expensive. Though it’s not right for me to make assumptions. Forgive me. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

  “I’m not uncomfortable. I would like to know how to read. I was just never given the opportunity.”

  “I don’t mind teaching you, but one doesn’t learn to read in a day. It takes time.” He sighed and thought for a moment. “Maybe you should come with me. I do have a carriage, but it’s not in the best of conditions. Even if we wrapped your leg and ankle in the blanket, it won’t be a comfortable ride.”

  “I don’t mind staying here.” Really, being bored was the least of her worries. The main thing was that she didn’t have to marry Lord Wolfe today.

  After a moment, he asked, “At the risk of sounding rude, do you know how to sew?”

  “I can make decorations to pretty things up.”

  “Pretty things up?”

  “For example, I can sew a flower onto something.” She glanced around the room. “Do you have a blanket you want me to sew flowers or something pretty on?”

  “No, no. That’s not necessary.” He let out a sigh. “I don’t know what you can do to pass the time while I’m gone. What do you usually do?”

  “I play music on a piano.” But obviously, he didn’t have a piano, so that option was out. “I like horseback riding.” Which was something else she couldn’t do due to her injury. “Um, I take lessons on how to do things.”

  “Things?”

  “Things like how to sit, walk, talk…” She shrugged. “Basically, I’m taught how to handle myself like a lady.”

  “Yes, I can tell you hold yourself well, but surely, you don’t take such lessons all the time.”

  The way he said that implied she wasn’t supposed to, and that made her wonder if her daily lessons had been a waste of time.

  “What do you do for entertainment?” he asked. “Isn’t there something you do because you enjoy it?”

  “Besides horseback riding, I have found enjoyment in drawing.”

  At this announcement, he looked relieved. “I have parchment and quills. You can draw whatever you want while I’m gone.” He nodded, more to himself than to her, and hurried over to his desk. He opened a drawer and took out a pile of unused parchment. Then he set out a couple of quills on the desk. He gestured to the inkwell. “It’s full. You can sit here and draw to your heart’s content.”

  “What should I draw?”

  “Anything you want.”

  She didn’t dare tell him she never picked out what to draw. Someone else had always done that for her. What would she draw if she could pick something?

  “I’ll put fresh bandages on you and then make some porridge. Afterwards, I’ll give you some clothes I used to wear when I was younger. They won’t fit you perfectly, but you have to be in something other than nightclothes all day.” He paused. “Do you have anyone you want me to take you to?”

  “No. I don’t have anyone I can go to.” She held her breath and waited for him to tell her she must have someone who must be missing her, but he didn’t press the issue.

  Instead, he said, “We’ll figure something out. Right now, the important thing is that a doctor takes a look at your leg and ankle.”

  She released her breath. For now, at least, she didn’t have to explain anything to him. Good. God willing, she’d never have to.

  “All right.” He glanced at his blanket. He blinked as if he’d forgotten he was holding it. “I’ll put this away and then get the things to tend to your wound.”

  He went to his bedroom, and she felt a smile tug at her lips. She’d never come across anyone like him before. Granted, her exposure to people was limited. She didn’t have many of them to compare him to, but he struck her as a good person. He hadn’t tried to do anything inappropriate with her, and he’d had plenty of opportunity to do so. After dealing with Lord Wolfe, she knew how aggressive a gentleman could be. Thankfully, Julian had treated her in a much nicer way. It made her feel safe.

  She closed her eyes and tried not to remember the way Lord Wolfe’s lips and hands had felt on her. It almost made her sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to know what else he would have done if he hadn’t stopped. He hadn’t wanted to stop. He had fully intended to keep going. She didn’t know what prompted him to listen to her, but she knew full well that was the only time he had planned to give heed to her wishes.

  She was never going to go back to his estate. She’d fought hard to escape, and she wasn’t about to undo all of that now. The injuries she’d suffered to her leg and her ankle were worth it. She’d gladly deal with them instead of him. She leaned back in the chair and took another deep, cleansing breath. Whatever happened, she would make sure she would never go back to him.

  Chapter Five

  An hour after Julian left to get the doctor, Ophelia stared at the blank parchment on the desk in front of her. She had made several attempts to draw something, but without being told what to draw, it was proving to be a difficult task to decide what to create.

  She’d started drawing different items in the sitting room. She’d started with the bookshelf. Then she grew bored and began drawing the window. And, just now, she had discarded the drawing of the chair she’d been doing. She wasn’t interested in drawing any of those things. In fact, there was nothing in the room that appealed to her.

  She placed the quill on the desk. Maybe this was a useless pursuit. Perhaps she’d be better off staring at the wall and daydreaming. She’d done plenty of that in the past. She’d even imagined what kind of person her guardian was. Except, she had imagined someone with a kindhearted smile who was on the short and plump side. She didn’t know why she’d imagined him short and plump. There must have been a story one of the maids had told her when she was a child about a short and plump gentleman who was good to people.

  Not that the way he looked mattered to her. She’d been focused on the idea that he would be like a second father. He would tell her about her parents, something the servants never did. When she had asked the servants about them, the servants had shushed her. After a while, she understood they would never tell her about them. She’d hoped her guardian could fill in the stories they’d never told her.

  Lord Wolfe had turned out to be so different than she’d expected. With a shiver, she straightened up in the chair. She didn’t want to think of him anymore. She wanted to forget all about him and move on with her life. Whatever kind of life it was going to be.

  She glanced around the small room. She had nowhere to go. She had no one who was willing to take her in. Besides drawing, playing music on a piano, and riding a horse, she wasn’t sure what she had to offer in order to earn her keep somewhere.

  Just how long could she stay here? Julian would probably let her stay here as long as she was injured, but what would happen to her once she healed?

  She didn’t want to think about it. Not now.

  She picked up a new piece of parchment and stared at it. What could she draw that might be of interest to her? She scanned the items in the room. Again, nothing struck her as the object she must draw. Her interest in the activity was as blank as the parchment in front of her.

  Her gaze settled on the books in the bookcase. Exactly how difficult was it to read one?

  She set the parchment down and grabbed the cane. She got up and leaned on it as she slowly made her way to the bookcase. She had to admit that the trousers Julian had let her wear did make movement easier, especially after he adjusted them so that they weren’t quite so loose around her waist and long. The shirt and waistcoat were snug around her breasts, but she had managed to fasten all the buttons.

  It was a shame she didn’t know how
to sew something useful. The maids had made her clothes. She’d once asked if they would teach her how to make a gown since she’d been bored, but they’d insisted it wasn’t her place to do such menial tasks. Knowing how to do a menial task right now would be useful.

  With a sigh, she turned her attention to the books. They were hardbound, and they were different colors. She wasn’t sure which to pick. After a moment, she chose the one with red coloring on the spine. Leaning against the bookcase, she pulled the book out and opened it.

  The first page didn’t have much on it. Neither did the next couple of pages. But then she reached a page which had strange markings that started halfway down the page and went all the way down. She turned the page and saw that the next two pages were covered in strange markings from the top all the way down to the bottom. She turned more pages and saw the same thing.

  She spent a good ten minutes trying to make sense of the markings. The space between the groups of markings probably indicated a different word. A few words were the exact same. But even noticing this didn’t help her figure out how to read.

  Disappointed, she returned the book to its place. There was no sense in checking any of the other books. They probably all looked like that.

  She heard a carriage approaching. She grabbed the cane and limped over to the window. Julian couldn’t be back with the doctor. Not this soon. She might not know how to read a book, but she could read a clock.

  She leaned closer to the window. The coachman opened the door, and she saw Lord Wolfe inside it. She jerked back from the window. A sharp pain went from her ankle up to her hip. She almost fell to the floor, but at the last minute, she managed to regain her balance.

  She couldn’t let him know she was here! Ignoring the pain in her ankle and leg, she hobbled as fast as she could to the bedroom and shut the door. She had to hide. She couldn’t let him find her!