Page 23 of Beauty's Beast

“Why do you stay here, Kristine? Why don’t you hate me? Why haven’t you run away?”

Her gaze slid away from his. “I have nowhere else to go, my lord, but if you wish me to leave, I shall do so.”

“You didn’t answer my other question.”

“I cannot find it in my heart to hate you, my lord.” Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. “You saved me from a cruel death, and for that I shall ever be grateful.”

“And that’s why you stay, why you let me into your bed? Because you are grateful?”

He saw the blood rush to her cheeks and wished he could call back the words. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “Forgive me.”

She refused to meet his eyes. “It’s obvious you have no need of me, my lord,” she said stiffly. “I’m sorry if I’ve … ” Her voice broke and he knew she was on the verge of tears. “I’m sorry for intruding.”

With a sob, she turned blindly toward the door, wanting only to get away from him. How could she have been so wrong?He didn’t need her the way a man needed his wife. And he never would.

“Kristine, wait.”

She hesitated, her hand on the latch, her whole body quivering with the effort to hold back her tears.

“Kristine, what do you want of me?”

“I want to be your wife.”

Trevayne stared at her back, noting the tremors that shook her, the slender shape barely visible beneath her gown. “I don’t understand.”

“I want to share your life. I cannot abide living the way I do. I feel like a prisoner. Oh, the castle is lovely, and the servants are kind, but I have no one to talk to, nothing to occupy my time. I’m so lonely.”

She had mentioned that before, he mused, but he had not really listened. “Go on.”

“I want you to take your meals with me. I want to go riding with you when you tour the estate. I want to … ” She paused, and he saw the telltale flush climb up the back of her neck. “I want to sleep beside you.”

She wanted the impossible, he thought bleakly. She wanted a normal life, but he could not give her that. He closed his eyes, remembering his vow to get her with child, then leave the castle, to end his life when she had borne him an heir. Selfish lout that he was, he had never taken her feelings into account. What would it hurt, to spend a little time with her, to keep her company if that was what she wanted? He refused to acknowledge he wanted it, too, refused to admit that his solitary existence was slowly choking him to death … Ah, death, it loomed before him, shining, beckoning, the only hope he had to end the curse that was slowly robbing him of his humanity.

He took a deep breath, let it out in a slow, pain-filled sigh. “Very well, Kristine, it shall be as you wish.”

“You mean it?” She turned around, her green eyes sparkling with hope. “Truly?”

“Truly.”

“Thank you, my lord husband.” Smiling shyly, she took a step toward him. “Will you not tell me why you wear a mask?”

“No. You have told me what you want. Now I shall tell you my terms. You will never again ask about the mask, and you will promise to respect my privacy in this matter.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

“I shall do my best to be your husband in every way, but I cannot stay the night in your bed.” He lifted a hand to still her protest. “I do not wish to sleep with the mask on,” he explained. The hours of darkness were the only time he was free of it; he could not sacrifice those hours of freedom, not even for her. “If you wish, I shall stay with you, in your bed, until you fall asleep.”

She nodded, hoping her disappointment didn’t show. She had thought she might be able to sneak a look beneath the mask while he slept, but he had neatly forestalled the possibility.

“Very well, I agree to your terms.” Kristine held out her hand. “Will you join me in my bed, my lord husband?”

It was too soon. He needed time to adjust to her demands. “We will start our new life together on the morrow, Kristine.”

“As you wish, Lord Trevayne,” she replied. “Sleep well.”

Their new life started the following morning. Mrs. Grainger stared at Erik, obviously stunned by his presence as he entered the dining room.

“Good morning, my lord,” she said when she had gathered her wits. “Will you be dining with Lady Kristine?”

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