Page 29 of Covenant

“Come on, Wy. Don’t make me tie you to a chair and feed you myself.” He pauses and his lips quirk. “Although, I don’t think that would be so bad.”

Of course he’d think that. He’d probably enjoy the humiliation that it would bring me. Fucker.

My stomach grumbles, so I reluctantly put one foot in front of the other, and let him lead me to the dining room. Starving myself isn’t going to change anything. That’s the only reason I’m following him. Not because of what he threatened.

When we step inside the dining room, I don’t even attempt to hide my eye roll. Of course it’s opulent. I already knew this, having walked around this space just hours ago. My eyes roamed over the fine china in the cabinets lining the wall, the large windows overlooking the grounds and the large acacia wood table with six chairs on either side and one on each end. It looks like it was taken right out of a period piece. He probably sits at the end like some kind of king while his staff waits on him.

Still, I let him see my reaction. Let him see how ridiculous I think this way of life is. Even when I had money, I never lived like this.

Not that I was ever in the same tax bracket as Matthias. The Buckinghams come from old money. Given what Matthias said about needing to marry for his inheritance, it’s likely a fortune he’ll be acquiring soon.

Figures. Rich people always want more. What they have is never enough.

He pulls out a chair right next to the head of the table, just to the side of him, but I ignore it, strolling to the seat on the opposite side, as far away from him as possible. He says nothing about it, just takes his seat and folds his hands before him.

This is so fucking weird.As much as I want to sit in silence, I’ll take anything over this stilted awkwardness.

“Is this how dinners were growing up?” I ask. My words are supposed to cut him, but instead, he just shrugs.

“Of course. When you grow up like I did, everything is done properly.”

I bristle at that. I know I wasn’t raised like that. What’s more,heknows that. Does that mean he looked down on me the entire time we were friends? Did he secretly mock me when I wasn’t around?

The thought worsens my already dark mood and I find myself shifting anxiously on the cushion.

Maybe I should spill something. Make him have to pay to get it cleaned.

“Well, I feel sorry for you,” I spit out and then turn my gaze away from him, staring at the grain of the wood beneath my hands.

Matthias says nothing as the food is wheeled in by Jules and another waiter. This time, I hold back my eye roll. I don’t want to offend them, it’s not their fault they work for Matthias. God, how is this my life?

Oh right. I left a note under a fucking brick.

Jackson.

I take a steadying breath, focusing on that. My brother. He’s getting the care he needs. When he’s out, he will have a safe, warm place to sleep and food in his belly.

His messages today have been brimming with excitement. Hope. Like he can finally see a future for himself.

That’s all that matters. If I just remember him, I can make this work. I can fulfill my part of the bargain, and then I can put this behind me entirely.

Like it never even happened.

“For the appetizer,” Jules says as he sweeps the lid off a plate and then sighs when he sees how far apart we are.

Part of me feels bad for making his job harder, but that’s not my fault. This is Matthias’s. He put me in this position. He insisted that we marry, despite knowing it was me wearing his ring. Jules is going to have to get used to this.

“Goat cheese and salami stuffed dates,” Jules says and then peers over at Matthias, who makes no attempt to move closer to me. Well, I refuse to be the one to cave.

Jules leaves it alone, saying nothing as he sets a cup of water near me and the other server sets one next to Matthias.

“Would you like a drink other than water?” Jules asks, and I see Matthias watching me closely.

“How about something strong,” I say as I pick up a date and set it on my plate.

“Right, any preference?” Jules asks, and I shake my head.

“Just the most expensive.”

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