Page 22 of Dishonor Among Thieves
I narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms over my chest. “What specifically does that mean? What do you mean for me to do or to avoid? I don’t want to be found guilty for something we disagree might bring dishonor.”
“Those are my terms,” he said, his voice deep and inflected with deep emotion that I could not fully understand. “Do you accept, Brexia Eloise?”
I had no idea what he might consider dishonorable behavior. Stealing, perhaps? But if his family’s current enterprise was raiding or theft, how could I debase his name by joining him in his work? There was no need to worry that I would violate our marital intimacy, since I assumed he did not expect to share a marriage bed with me. Heat rose to my cheeks, and I wondered if perhaps I should add more terms. Clarify what he expected of me once I became his wife… The very idea was both enthralling and horrifying. Exciting and somehow terrifying all at once. No, I could not ask. I’d find out soon enough what was expected of the wife of Lord Oderisi. I’d be better off not knowing ahead of time.
But there was one thing I needed to know. One thing I could not abide, and I simply could not accept if it were true. “Neo,” I said, trying to keep any hint of fear from my voice. “Are you a cruel man?”
His honey-gold eyes fluttered shut, and his brows furrowed as if he were deeply, deeply troubled by the question. He appeared to be in physical pain. Then he opened his eyes and extended his hand to me. I looked at the strong fingers dusted with dark hair and, without meeting his eyes, slipped my hand in his.
Heat flooded my body as I looked at our hands. I’d never held hands with someone like this before. The contact was delicious, sweet, and exciting, but I reminded myself it meant nothing to him. I would be little more than an employee, honor bound in name and by vow to this man for a period of one year. Anything that took place between us was simply honoring the commitment we’d made. Girlish fantasies of romance, family, even love, had no place in this marriage. Or in my life. No matter how my heart pounded in my chest and my fingers seemed content to stay locked with his.
He brought my hand to his lips and pressed a kiss against the back of my hand. “I am cruel,” he admitted. “I am damaged and angry. There is space for revenge in my heart and very little else. I’m a man with one mission in life, and that mission is brutal. You should expect nothing but disappointment from my personality and misery in my mood. But I will never, ever turn the darkness in me against an innocent. Not a horse, not a pet… Not you.” He kissed my hand again. “Never against you.”
That was reassurance enough for me.
“Let’s call in your sister-in-law,” I said. “I accept. I will marry you. And would beg you to do it tonight.”
ChapterSeven
The only one who seemed uncomfortable with the announcement of our plans to marry was, to my surprise, Gia. As Neo called the household together, she sat in the velvet armchair apart from the rest of the family, her eyes fixed on the floor.
Odile looked surprised but then laughed as though she’d heard the most enchanting joke. “This is unexpected, but how very exciting!”
Rain looked smugly at his brother, shaking his head. “And you both enter into this willingly?” he asked, a protective hand on the back of the settee, where I sat holding tight to the charm around my neck.
“Yes,” I confirmed quickly, while Neo simply nodded.
“It makes sense, sir,” Antonia said, her voice somber. “The deepest of secrets can only be protected by the most intimate unions. Marriage and family above all else. I look forward to welcoming the new lady of the manor to the family.”
I didn’t think ours would be an intimate union, but we would certainly protect each other’s secrets. I thanked Antonia formally, wishing I could throw myself in the woman’s arms and hug her but not at all feeling that would be appropriate behavior. While I’d said I wouldn’t be the distant mistress of the manor, I knew I had a lot to learn about being a lady. A wife. By the gods, I had so, so much to learn.
So much so that I decided if I were to make a grievous error, now would be the time to do so. Forgiveness might be offered a bit more generously now than later. I cast my worries aside and approached Antonia with my hands clasped together, my eyes lowered. “I could not be more grateful to have two such as you and your husband to guide me through this. I know nothing of manor life and expect I will be a most disappointing lady.” I put my hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently.
Antonia laughed, a carefree sound from deep in her belly. “Girl!” she exclaimed. “You’ve already far surpassed my expectations for you.” She gave me a conspiratorial wink and threw her arms around me, giving me a moment’s hug before releasing me. “Beg your pardon. I should say, my lady.”
After the household had been informed, and once the shock began to wear off, the excitement over planning a small feast began. Odile went off to search the manor for something suitable for me to wear. Rain excused himself with a slap of his brother’s shoulder and a few low, whispered murmurs. Dale and Antonia set about the preparations.
Gia stood from the chair, but Neo stopped her. “We have a request, sister.”
I noticed immediately that he’d said we, as if he were already treating he and I as a bonded unit. An us.We. Part of me felt uncomfortable with the newness of the term, with the way the word suggested there was more than just myself and Neoruzzi Oderisi, two nearly total strangers despite everything that had happened since Fish Head End. But that word, thatwe, somehow stitched us together, like the embroidered threads which flowered in wreaths on the luxurious pillow. Apart, we were petal and stem, but now we would come together to form a new whole.
Gia waited, quietly studying her brother-in-law’s face as he spoke.
“A marriage contract,” he said. “May we impose upon you to write the terms and witness our signatures?”
Gia’s lower lip trembled, and she looked at Neo with raw concern on her face. “You really mean to do this?” she asked. “Marriage?”
He nodded, and I mirrored the action when her eyes met mine.
“And this is something you truly both enter into willingly?” she asked.
“Again, yes,” Neo said curtly, his tone sharpening. I could see what he’d meant when he spoke of his sour mood and lack of patience.
“Gia,” I said, “is there something on a professional level that gives you pause? Are you concerned about the validity of the agreement or signing as witness? Because I assure you, I—”
“No, it’s… It’s not that.” She shook her head. “I’m happy to write up the terms for you. I just…” She wrung her hands together and finally sighed. “When I married Rain, I had nothing. No one but Odile to stand as witness. No parents, no well-wishers. Certainly no friends, unless of course, you count Flynn. But what we did have was love. Deep and joyful love.” She addressed her words to me, not at her brother-in-law. “I wish for every bride to have that.”
I rested a hand lightly on Gia’s shoulder. “Thank you,” I said. “For caring so much about a stranger. I assure you, I have no people, nor do I have any love to look forward to. There is no one waiting for me back where I came from. This marriage is a…” The words caught in my throat. I didn’t know what to say, but the reality of what I was about to do was beginning to sink in.
