Page 36 of Marrying Bluebeard

The maid curtsies. “Thank you, ma’am.”

Adelaide leans back against my chest, and I slip my arms around her waist. The impropriety of our pose is scandalous. Embracing my wife as she addresses the staff? Unheard of.

I love it.

“Of course,” Adelaide replies. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, my husband and I have some pressing business to attend to. I’m sure Edgar can show you to your room.”

Her backside rubs against my groin as she says this, making rational thought excruciatingly difficult. Bloody hell, I hadn’t even noticed Edgar’s approach, but there he is. Waiting for his orders. I could send the maid up with him. He’d know where to take her. And Adelaide feels so soft and inviting beneath my hands. I’m half-tempted to lift her skirts and enter her right here, Edgar and the sacrificial maid be damned.

No. Celeste will be offended if you send Edgar to do your dirty work. Adelaide can wait. It’s for her that you have to do this, after all. Sighing, I place a chaste kiss on Adelaide’s hair before releasing my hold on her waist and taking a step back. “I’m afraid there are some particulars regarding Miss…” Drat, I forgot that I’d forgotten the maid’s name.

She speaks up, filling in the blank. “Emily. Emily Garnier.”

“Yes, of course. Miss Garnier.” I clear my throat, an edge of panic creeping up my spine. What am I even doing? “There are some particulars regarding her work here that I’ll need to see to personally. It shouldn’t take long,” I add, seeing the moue on Adelaide’s face. “And I’ll return to you as soon as I’m free.”

Adelaide’s lip sticks out in an adorable pout. “Promise?”

God, I love this woman. “I swear on my life, I will rush to your side the first chance I get. The staff will think I’ve gone mad I’ll run so fast.”

“And they’ll be right,” Adelaide says, running a coy hand down my chest. “You must be mad if you’re willing to make me wait after I’ve already been waiting all day.” She stretches up on her tiptoes, her lips brushing my ear as she whispers, “Don’t think it won’t cost you.” Teeth nip my earlobe, and I swallow a moan. “I hope you’re prepared to be punished,” she adds, and this time I can’t smother the growl that builds in my throat. Satisfied with my response, she leaves, sashaying up to the castle.

I take a fortifying breath before sparing the maid a brief glance. She’s watching me with wide eyes, her cheeks decidedly red. “Right this way, Miss Garnier.” I beckon for her to follow, my gaze swinging back to Adelaide’s retreating figure. “Your room will be in the North Tower.”

She trails behind me like a proper little duckling, not uttering a single peep as I lead her through the dimly lit castle. If she’s nervous, she keeps it well hidden, with only the faintest hint of tension lining her face when I stop in front of the tower door and retrieve the ancient key from my jacket pocket. The incessant wailing of my late wives drifts through the door, but she shows no sign of hearing them.

Good. It will be easier for her that way.

She hesitates at the foot of the stairs, however, her expression uncertain as she looks up at me. “My room is… up there?”

“In the North Tower, yes. As I said.”

She nods, and yet her feet remain rooted in place. Perhaps she’s not as biddable as I thought. “The rooms on this floor, they are the servants’ quarters, are they not? I’d hate for you to waste a grand room on a lowly maid such as myself. I’d be perfectly content down here.”

“Ah, but there is work to be done in the tower.” I take a step closer, allowing my formidable stature to crowd her into the stairwell. “It’s why I hired you in the first place.”

She licks her lips, eyes darting about nervously. “Maid work in the tower? Where I’ll also be sleeping?” Her hands ball into fists as she lifts her chin, a determined grimace creasing her face. “I will not be taking any work on my back, if you catch my meaning, sir. I’m a respectable woman.”

Ah, so that’s what is worrying her. I take a step back, allowing her a bit of space. “I promise you, Miss Garnier, I have no intention of laying even a single finger on your person.”

She holds my gaze for a long moment, seemingly assessing the truthfulness of that statement. I must convince her, as she nods and makes her way up the spiraling tower. Making her way to Celeste. I have a sudden urge to call out, to tell her to run, but I clamp my lips shut.

I shouldn’t care what happens to this woman. She’ll be happy enough under Celeste’s thrall. Happier than she likely would have been given her current lot in life. Never again will she feel the sting of pain or the ache of hunger. Never weep from the loss of a loved one. It’s a blessing, really, the bliss that Celeste grants them.

Or so I tell myself.

Celeste’s gaze is on me the moment I step into the room, white hair spilling down her bare back as she stands by the window. I avert my eyes, picking a spot on the wall free of carnage to focus on. She’s naked aside from the dark purple shawl draped loosely around her body, covering only her most private bits. She wants me to look at her, to worship at her feet, but I have no desire to play her games. Not with Adelaide waiting for me downstairs.

The tethers that bind my will to hers tighten, and I find my head turning in spite of myself. Celeste’s less than subtle reminder of who’s in control. “The prodigal husband returns,” she drawls once she’s ensured my full attention. “And he’s brought a gift. How very… quaint.”

“A gift carefully selected to suit your preferences.” I gesture toward the new maid, who looks to be a breath away from screaming. The moment it slips from her mouth, however, it silences, and the young woman’s eyes grow dreamy as she stares into space.

“You were supposed to bring me a shiny new doll,” Celeste says, looking Miss Garnier over. “A bride for your bride.” She looks up from beneath fluttering lashes, allowing her shawl to slip over one shoulder as she pouts. “Do you no longer wish to please me?”

If only she knew how frequently I dream of wrapping my hands around her neck and squeezing. Watching the life flicker from her eyes. It would be as glorious as it is impossible.

“That’s just it,” I explain, infusing my voice with honey. “I do. This new bride, she only married me to save her family from debt. She pretended to be sweet and innocent, but it was all a lie. A show put on to entrap me. Too late I discovered what a lewd, vile creature she truly was.” I hang my head with feigned shame. “I made a mistake, my love, and I can’t see a way out of it. I’d send her back to her family if I weren’t afraid of raising questions. But as long as you’re satisfied with Miss Garnier here, I will do my utmost to bear the dragon’s presence below. Assuming, of course, I’m not too thirsty…”

I pose the last bit as a question, raising an eyebrow as I wait for judgment to be dispensed. Will she accept this flimsy excuse? Or will she insist on seeing Adelaide for herself? If it’s the latter, I’m not entirely sure what I’ll do.