A Rake, A Spinster, And An Arrangement

Chapter 24 : The Soil and The Seed (Ep 5)

In truth, Hermione wasn't at all upset by the inn. In fact, it was rather quaint and sweet, the scent of something delicious in the air, and it felt warm and homey, much like the Weasley home. She would enjoy staying here, a place that Draco frequented, apparently, on his journeys from Wiltshire to London, and back. Well then, she would likely be here often.

Shown to her room, Hermione smiled at it - there was a large fire going in the fireplace, a grand bed to one side, and chaise that she wouldn't mind relaxing on after the long journey, as soon as she was out of the corset she was in.

Draco would need to take it off of her, and soon.

She turned to look at Draco, to smile at him, expecting him to follow her within, only to see him give her a nod before heading down the hallway. She followed to the door and watched as he was shown into a room beside hers... she looked, and there was no door in the wall. How... what...

Separate rooms. He had... they were to have separate rooms?

She watched as Draco entered his own room, and then, the door was shut behind him. The innkeeper did not even look back at her as he continued down the hallway, leaving Hermione standing there, halfway hanging out of her own room, standing there in shock.

Draco had requested separate rooms, and she was... she was to stay here, by herself, on her wedding night? What... why? Why would he...

all of her fears, all of her worries, her concerns about him not wanting her, about her not being as attractive as what he was used to... they all quickly rose to the top in her fears. He was a known Rake - he was used to women that knew what they were doing, that could please a man without thought. He was used to women that would likely do deplorable things for a coin.

And she... how could she compare? How could she hold a candle to any of them?

How was she supposed to get out of this dress?

Panic began to build in her lungs as she continued walking back and forth across the floor. Draco, next door, sleeping separate from her, and she... she wasn't even wearing a corset! She was dressed for him, in a gown and underclothes specifically selected for him. Ginny and Pansy had both sworn, insisted, that this would be... that he would enjoy it, that she would benefit, and now...

And now, they were in separate rooms, she was wearing a dress that he was supposed to peel her out of, in a corset that was missing half the boning, and no shift! How was she supposed to get out of this? Was she to call for a maid to help her? How would she even explain the ensemble she was wearing?

A Duchess, wearing such a thing! Not even the French would approve of this.

She would have to spend the night standing at this rate, awkwardly, wearing her gown... why would he...

Was she so deplorable that he would not even consummate their marriage? He had kissed her in the garden, had wanted to sneak away with her, he had... he had seduced her, promised his love for her, and she... she had even gone to an apothecary, hood raised, so that she could buy a tea specifically so she could lay with him without concern.

And now, she was pacing back and forth in an inn room by herself.

Oh. Well then. So, this was her lot in life, and.... she had expected something else entirely for this evening, but...

He had said that he did not plan for them to have their wedding night in a roadside inn, but she had assumed that he was simply being kind, that he would ask for nothing, and she... she had worked it up in her mind, that she would ask him to help her undress, and as he peeled off the layers, he would discover...