The End Of Walden's War

IX

Dinner passed and we had collected ourselves in the living room of the building. My sister was still gushing about the ring and the engagement, a smile plastered on her face. I smiled at her, a genuine smile despite the pain my heart was feeling. 

I couldn't stop myself from feeling happy for my younger sister as she smiled so brightly, feeling complete joy as she looked from us to Bayliss. She really was in love with him. 

"Oh you have to be my maid of honour Madeline!" Abigail spoke happily as she took hold of my hands, "I couldn't be married if you didn't!" She beamed at me as she waited for my answer.

"Of course." I smiled, there was no other way to respond. How could I deny my little sister, the girl I cared more about than anyone in the world, something she may have always dreamt of having at her wedding. 

"Madeline." She squealed, her excitement almost irritating me as she wrapped her arms around me. "This may be the best day ever." Her complete joy would have been infectious if the man I loved had not proposed to her within hours of me returning.

Over her shoulder I could see Bayliss talking with my husband and Frank, who had his arm thrown around Henry's shoulder forcing him to stand with them. 

"Darling, I think we should save Henry from them." My mother laughed as she followed my gaze. "You should show Finn the gardens." I smiled at her, of course, she would want me to take a private stroll with my 'beloved', she would probably want me to tell him the beauty of the garden was my mother's doing rather than the team of gardeners that focused on it day in day out.

I nodded in agreement and excused myself to join my husband. 

"Finn," I smiled as I reached his side, he turned to me with a smile of his own. "Care to join me for a walk?" I asked, my hand gently resting on his arm. 

"How can I resist?" He joked as he turned to face the direction of the garden. 

"You two kids have fun!" Frank laughed as we began to walk away, I turned to look at him as he smiled at me, his arm still keeping Henry in place. 

"Be nice to my brother, Frank." I called out before turning and walking beside my husband again. 

"I assume your mother suggested this." Finnegan spoke as soon as we were out of earshot.

"For the benefit of Henry." I replied, my hand still on his arm. 

"Then I don't suppose you'll actually enjoy a walk with me." He continued, briefly turning to me.

"The gardens are beautiful, I enjoy them regardless of my company." I replied, keeping my eyes away from his. His body stiffened as he turned back to look in the direction we had walked and gently took hold of my hand that had rested against his arm. 

He pulled me to the side, the shrubbery making it difficult but not quite impossible to watch our interaction.

"Finnegan, what are you doing?" I squealed quietly, the sudden movement shocking me as he moved his body in front of mine and leaned in close to me, his face inches away from mine as he began to speak again, his hands slowly drifted down my arms, an action that would easily be mistaken as an affectionate gesture between man and wife. I was intimidated by the sudden change of behaviour in Finnegan. The once calm atmosphere becoming very hostile very quickly.

"I know you wouldn't have changed your mind even if someone had disagreed, I know you Madeline." He told me, referring once again to the agreement we had come to. "You want to fuck me." His hand held my wrist as I flinched, wanting desperately to slap him at that moment, and he knew that's what I wanted to do. He showed no signs of remorse for what he said. Neither did he seem affected by my glare and obvious want to slap the sly grin off of his face. "And I know you want to fuck him as well." His eyes flickered to the area of the garden where Bayliss was talking to Frank. "I've seen enough whores in my time, Maddie. But I never thought I'd be married to one." 

My body went stiff, the insult resonating with me and the urge to walk away from him grew stronger but I couldn't make a scene, not when I knew my mother was watching us with eagle eyes from the top of the patio. Finnegan brought his lips close to my ear, his body shielding me and my sour expression from anyone who may have looked our way. 

"How many times did you fuck him before we wed? As often as he wanted or was it your lust that needed to be satisfied?" 

"I never once slept with him." I spat back, my voice full of venom in the whisper I sent him back. Once again, my behaviour not having any affect on him at all. 

"But you don't deny you want to." He countered, he took a firm grip of my hand and lead me out of sight of my family, "I'm no idiot, Maddie. I notice things, things you may be too oblivious to see. You're naive mind has lead you to believe he's in love with your sister." 

"He wouldn't propose to her otherwise. What are you suggesting, Finnegan?" 

"He's marrying her because she's the closest thing he can get to you. He's pining for you, Maddie." Finnegan's expression seemed softer as his hand came up to caress by cheek, his thumb gently rubbing the skin underneath my eye. "I watched him, throughout that entire meal he focused on nothing but you. His attitude changed when you told them we would be trying to conceive." 

"You're delusional." I told him as I moved his hand away from my face. 

"You're mother has followed us, don't go starting a scene." I turned my head to the right, the direction we had moved from, and saw my mother (not so) subtly trying to observe us. Thankfully, she was still out of earshot from us. 

"He loves her, Bayliss wouldn't do something like that." I spoke with confidence as I turned my attention back to Finnegan. 

"He loved you and didn't propose." He told me, "Had he proposed I wouldn't have married you. I could have taken your sister for myself." I glared up at him one more time. "Don't strain that pretty little face Maddie." He smirked, his condescending tone making my blood boil more than the comment he had made before. 

His hands came up to cup my face again, his thumbs repeating the action of gently rubbing my skin. 

"What's so good about him? Why are both you and your sister smitten with a man who probably couldn't dress himself?" He looked into my eyes, both his voice and his gaze sending me messages I wasn't sure I understood. 

Was he jealous?

"Madeline," He spoke softly as he took a small step forward, his body coming dangerously close to me. "I know this is fake to you, that you have only stayed for the benefit of your family but can you tell me that in the past year you have felt nothing but hatred towards me?" 

His words struck something in me as my heart began to beat erratically, what did I feel towards Finnegan?

"Madeline I married you as an agreement with your father. Our families would be at peace if we wed, no more fighting, we forgave your brother. I never thought anything would become of the two of us but, Maddie, this isn't a marriage of convenience for me." 

"Finnegan, I-" I began to talk but he interrupted me as he closed the small gap between us.

It was the first kiss we had shared since the day of our anniversary, his sudden confession had sent my mind into a blur, I must have stopped thinking as my hand found it's way to his waist gripping the fabric of his jacket I pulled his body completely against mine, cherishing the warmth I felt from him.

Realising what I was doing, I quickly pulled away from him and pushed his chest so he took a small step backwards. 

He looked down at me, his chest rising and falling as neither of us spoke. 

"I don't appreciate your lies, Finnegan." I muttered quietly, my eyes not meeting his. 

He took hold of my hand and pressed it against his chest, his free hand resting under my chin as he forced me to look into his eyes. I felt the quickened heartbeat of my husband, my forced husband as he opened his mouth to talk. 

"Does this seem fake to you?"