Free Web NovelChapter 24: Heart Attack
SOPHIA
I must have stared at him too long without responding. He shuffled his feet and dropped his gaze.
How was I supposed to answer his question? Everything he said I had to take on faith. But the bottom line was that we were strangers. And him standing in the bathroom gazing at me with what I could only describe as raw lust made me feel really, really uncomfortable.
Surely he didn’t expect me to do ... to do ... that, did he?
I’d only been released from the hospital a few hours ago. The doctor gave me explicit orders to rest well. Not only did my head hurt badly, but aches and pains throughout my body reminded me that I’d fallen off an airship.
I was lucky to still be alive.
Finally, Jace said, "I only asked to join because you might need help." He nodded, obviously pleased by his reasoning. He thought he’d come up with a good excuse to jump in the tub with me. "You don’t feel well, so I can be your hands."
I wanted to say: My limbs aren’t broken. I can bathe just fine on my own.
But I couldn’t quite get words to form. My silence seemed to encourage him.
He smiled and stepped closer to the bathtub. "Wife, you’re not shy, are you?"
"Yes," I said, my voice shaking. I drew my legs up to my chin, seeking to protect myself. "I’m not ready for us to be intimate together."
Disappointment lanced Jace’s expression. He put the bottle down on the same table as the bathing accessories. A gentleman would’ve kept his gaze averted, but my husband’s was very much attempting to sneak a peek. Even though the purple water kept most of my body hidden, I still felt exposed.
"We haven’t had our wedding night." He crouched next to the tub and swirled a finger around in the water. "I’m your husband, Sophia. You should trust me."
"Why didn’t we have a wedding night?"
He grimaced. "Oh. I ... uh, had to return to the Capital suddenly. The emperor kept me busy, so I wasn’t able to return home. Unfortunately, the night I returned, we attended the Hunter’s Ball and took an airship ride with Duke Stonehart."
My heart clutched, and I lost my breath.
"Duke Stonehart?"
Jace studied my expression. "Why do you look so devastated? You barely knew him." His brows dipped, and his gaze turned suspicious. "Do you remember him?" He leaned closer. "Are you faking your amnesia?"
My mind was blank, but my body seemed to have a memory of its own. I looked Jace directly in the eyes. "I’m not faking. Why would I? Is there something you’re not telling me?"
He looked away, but not before I saw the guilt flash over his features. What on earth was going on?
"I don’t like Stonehart," he finally said. "And neither do you." He splashed the water then abruptly stood up. "There’s no point in thinking about him, Sophia. He died in the airship crash."
I felt like Jace had punched me in the chest. I suddenly lost my breath. Tears gathered in my eyes.
"Don’t feel sorry for that bastard," said Jace. "I’m your husband. You should think only of me."
I nodded. "Of course. I’m just tired, Jace. My head hurts."
"I’ll bring you some warm water so you can take your pain pill. Finish bathing and get dressed. You should rest."
"Okay."
He left the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
After he was gone, I rubbed my chest. My heart ached so much. It hurt worse than my head.
I didn’t believe Jace. Duke Stonehart’s name caused a deep reaction in me, so I was betting he was someone important. I chewed my lower lip as I thought about what that meant. Jace was my husband. So why would I have such a reaction for another man?
I gasped, and slapped my hand over my mouth. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Oh, my goddess.
Had I been having an affair?
My mouth dropped open. Me? Cheating on my husband only three months into our marriage? Surely not. And if so ... what kind of horrible person was I? If this Duke Stonehart had been my lover, it made sense why Jace was so upset.
What should I do?
It’s not like I could ask Jace, oh, hey, husband, did I cheat on you?
What would I even do with that information?
I had no memories. Not of Jace. Or this Duke Stonehart. I slapped the water. It was so frustrating!
Jace knocked on the door. "Your water is on the night stand. Take your pills and go to sleep."
"Okay," I called out.
"Good night," he said.
"Good night."
I heard his footsteps fade as he left. The far off sound of the bedroom door closing brought a huge sense of relief.
Did that mean he would find elsewhere to sleep tonight?
Did we share a room?
If he hadn’t returned to Amaranth Manor for the entirety of our marriage, we most likely did not share a bed.
The bath water was cooling down and my head was hurting even worse, no doubt because of my overthinking.
I patted myself dry, dressed in the nightgown, and went into the bedroom. The gas lamps on either side of the king-sized bed were turned on low. I carried the bottle of pills to the bed, and sat down.
The doctor said two pills would do the trick, so I plopped two into my hand and swallowed them with the warm water Jace had left for me.
The bedroom door was made from thick dark wood. It had wrought iron hinges and big lock above the handle.
I stared at a for a long time.
Finally, I made the decision. I got up and turned the lock. Maybe this was basically me admitting I didn’t trust my husband. I didn’t want him or that Penelope woman to enter my bedroom while I was sleeping.
I turned off the lights and slid under the covers.
I pulled thick coverlet up to my chin and closed my eyes.
