The End Of Walden's War

VIII

I was astounded by the instant comfort between Abigail and Loretta as I stood with them, tea in hand, as the gleefully got to know one another.

"Mother," I turned away from my sister and friend as my mother came to my side once again, "is Henry not joining us?" I pondered, I'd been at my home for almost an hour but I had yet to see my younger brother.

"Henry busied himself with the horses this morning, insisted on helping the stable boy." My mother responded, "but I feel as though he still fears his brother in law."

"Fear is an understatement, Mother." Abigail jokes from beside us, "he may stay with the horses to avoid Finnegan, especially with Frank here as well."

"We should move to the garden, Henry may have returned." My mother smiled, ignoring what Abigail has said entirely.

I followed my family out of the doors onto the patio of the garden that stretched acres. Finnegan came beside me, his hand gently brushing my arm.

"Your father still holds a vendetta against me." He whispered quietly, the words only meant for me to hear as we stood with my family, and Bayliss.

"You threatened to kill my brother on many occasions." I whispered back, "he may always hold a vendetta against you."

"Your brother nearly had my entire family arrested."

"You trusted a 16-year-old boy who has never had responsibilities in his life." My eyes caught Bayliss' as he was focused on Finnegan and I.

"I gave him a legal job." I wasn't sure if Finnegan saw Bayliss focusing on us, but he gently ran his hand down my arm before taking hold of my hand.

I looked up to him, my eyes meeting his.

"We have appearances to keep up." My eyes drifted from him to Bayliss once more, who was now speaking with my father. "Those wandering eyes won't make it more convincing." He whispered into my ear.

"Excuse me?" I spat, my voice remaining quiet but my tone surely told him of my annoyance at his previous statement.

"Maddie, the way you look at him is making everything far too obvious. If I can notice, so can the others. You're mother and father are the only others that know the true meaning of this marriage. Everyone else, including the man you are pining for think we fell in love. Keep those lovesick eyes on me, okay?"

I wanted to pull my hand away from him but he kept hold tightly as I glared at him.

"You can't deny it, Maddie. You didn't want to see your family again did you?"

"I did." I protested, suddenly feeling incredibly small stood beside my husband.

"But you wanted to see him more." He squeezed my hand tighter, pain started to occur from his strong hold, "I don't care if you don't take this seriously, I've learnt to deal with you not taking your role. But you will not appear unfaithful to me." My mouth had started to become dry as I tried to keep my family from noticing my distress.

"You're hurting me." I coarsley whispered, his grip almost immediately loosening as he heard my words. I took my hand from his hold and took a step away from him.

For some months, and especially the few days since we had made our deal, I had begun to think that Finnegan could have been a nice man despite the illegal acts he committed. But, at that moment, my blood ran cold as I looked at the despicable man I was married to, his expression held one of concern and I stared at him with one of fear.

It was the first time he had genuinely scared me since we had been married, regardless of our family history and the bad blood strongly felt between them, he had never once hurt me.