up to an

riage. Not that she had expected much anyways. James was a certified asshole an

ot a real

of her chest. She exhaled, looked up like she made a silent

after their encounter. After the dinner, James decided to head home and a driver helped River load her things into a separate car. James

ning, nothin

vast, filled with cold, lifeless beauty that felt more like a museum than a home. Historica

ne of them acknowledged her. They bowed their heads respectfully, but their expressio

xcept

d sy her menacingly. It might not have meant

, so she

a woman in her late forties, with graying hair pulled into a severe bun.

y, eyes raking up and down her cl

way the title sounded coming from the maid's lips. It s

dining table. It was empty, the morning paper ne

"Mr. Prior left before d

n? River's

t of his study and maybe run into him before bed, bu

avoid

nod, ignoring the tigh

ou, Mar

r head, but the smirk in he

ft the dining hall,

thing more than a contract, she had assumed they would at least coexist. She had foolishly hoped

omething. Just the

presence, but maybe he wou

nn

least as a human being worthy of l

up with an apron tied around her waist. She might not hav

t she had insisted. The kitchen staff watched her curiously, some ev

if she couldn't reach him through conve

etables, a delicate red wine reduction. It wasn't extravagant

elieved he woul

able Mrs Prior?" A maid asked,

er voice which she tried to mask immediately. Excitem

and dining table, she took a step back, s

wait

wait

ather clock in the

o sign o

sed her li

saw the untouched plates. A slow,

ear the table, Mrs. Prior?" she

r fists. "He hasn

t River could see through her charades.

eath hitch

"He went straight to his study. He prefers to eat th

eart

ad chosen to ignore th

d

ly. "A word of advice, Mrs. Prior, don't bother. Mr

rply. There it was-that

the woman's hatred, but she knew, withou

ames loved. Or maybe, she simply saw River as

sed to give her the satisfa

ession neutral. Confidence surged in

ecause last I checked, I'm his wife.

garet's eyes flickered

rmured, bowing her head.

n't trust

was righ

ped into her bedroom, she

ulously made that mor

it was nothing, until

s slightly damp, the fabric wrinkled in a way

g her fingers to the pillo

strong it made he

was most defin

nt, but un

deep certainty, that it

nds cl

nwelcome and she had an inkl

d, steadyi

ot be broke

play th

uld pl

she stared into the darkness, the cold sheets beside

ht be ign

anted to or not, he wo

ld make dam