Wilting Roses (Formerly known as Arranged)

Grand Feast

~Chapter Two~

Dathan felt his anger at near breaking point. He cared not for their starring eyes as he pushed open the church doors emerging in seething anger. The rice was tossed high above the sky sprinkling over his head and shoulders. He paid little attention to it as he descended the stairs quickly and climbed into his carriage. In mere seconds she followed, her dress taking up the entire small space between them. When the door closed the carriage gave a hard tug sending her forward unto him.

"Just how clumsy are you?" he snipped.

Pushing away, she settled quickly in her seat her face blushing madly out of humiliation. "Let's make it perfectly clear that we are not indeed truly husband and wife. Do not convince yourself that things will change. My father made a big mistake one he will regret. I married out of money, not love. I hold no interest in you, and my heart belongs to another. I do not want your head filling up with preposterous ideas." He stated.

"Of course, I understand," she replied.

"You will have your own chamber and are more than free to come and go as you please. However, you are not to see your family until the three-year contract has completed. Do not question my whereabouts nor take an interest in what I do. I will not stop seeing my mistress and as for you if any man has captured your heart feel free to see him away from my mansion." He clarified. He stared at her, taking in the tacky dress she wore. The veil above her head was slowly slipping off her curls and the blush filling her cheeks only made her look like she was suffocating in that dress.

She wasn't entirely hideous, but neither did he want to find her interesting. The last thing he needed was find this stranger attractive.

"I understand."

"Good, then it is agreed that we are free to do what we please, it is simply a contract nothing more, start looking at it that way and the burden will feel less weighty on you," he lastly said to her.

He stared out the window feeling the tension in his chest lift just a morsel. It was best to kill any hope blooming inside of her. There was nothing he hated more than to have had married today. However, he needed to encourage himself in a way. He prayed the three years would slip by unnoticed and before he could recall give her a document stating she no longer was his wife. His stomach flipped in anticipation, he could not wait for that day to come. After everything was said and done and the immensely large land that Sir Worthington had added in the contract was his, he would marry his love Camille and be rid of this woman forever.

He had seen the broken expression on Camille's face as he stepped out of the chapel. He had insisted that she did not attend but she had, maybe in hopes that he would decline. She had nothing to worry about, he would of course spend his wedding night in her arms. He was certain the woman sitting before him had her intended significant other waiting to meet her somewhere private.

The carriage finally came to an abrupt halt, the horse's protesting in their struggle to stop the large carriage. Footsteps then crunched under the gravel and they neared to open the door. The sweet wind invaded the carriage and Dathan took advantage to swallow a lung full of air. He pushed out speedily, determined to get this night over. There was nothing he wished for more than to pursue the comfort of his mistress. Sadly, she did not deserve such a title in his eyes. He had met her at a banquet, a gathering where the rich mingled and bragged who was richer and wealthier.

That night Dathan had danced with more than his share and he had become bored and tired from searching all the faces only to be disappointed with each woman. They talked about marriage, love, children, and even money. All needy and clingy women. He shuttered at the memory, but it had been Camille who had saved him. She was witty, beautiful, and smart. She had succeeded in captivating his full attention.