It'd been two days since my father had passed away and rites were conducted. I had been in my chamber ever since. Sobbing uncontrollably until my eyes and cheeks were puffy from my grieving. I couldn't eat and had barely drank the tea my silent maid insisted on bringing me.

But it was this afternoon that the butler arrived to tell me I was being summoned to my father's office downstairs.

Bodin.

He'd be the only one that would be down there, that I knew of.

"I don't want to see him." I told Robert.

The Butler turned stiltedly to relay my message.

***

Sarah materialized in my doorway soon after. "How are you holding up, Darling?"

"Sarah!" I rushed across the room and flung myself into her arms.

She put her forehead to mine. Seeming more like a sister than the dear friend she was. "I've come to give you strength."

"I'm in dire need of it!" I said brokenly. Swiping tears from my face.

"I do see that!" She teased. "Come."

She walked me to my dressing table and helped put up my hair in a simple knot. And she scrubbed my face with cool water to help the swelling before she adjusted my purple gown and took my hand. "Now, let's go face your fears."

"Fears?"

"Bodin." She said simply. Leading me down the stairs.

I began to tug at her grip. "I don't want to talk to him."

"I'm sure." She paused atop the stairwell to give me a sympathetic look. "But you have to face what is to come, nevertheless. You're the Lady of this house now."

It hit me like a cold dousing of water, that she was right.

***

I entered the small, clustered office on reluctant feet. My hands linked before me.

Bodin's dark head was lowered as he scribbled on documents on the desk. The room was dim. Darker than I ever remembered it when Papa was alive. He always had the shutters wide.

But Bodin is a far darker being. I swallowed.

He looked very ominous with his wide shoulders and tall frame behind that desk. Looking like a persecutor ready to sentence me.

He looked up at me and set the quill down. Inviting me to sit in the chair opposite him.

I chewed my cheek and took the seat. Glaring at him as I sat. "What have you summoned me for."

"You know full well we must discuss your father's will. This is your father's solicitor." He gestured a distance behind him, to a man leaning on one of the shelves.

I'd been so preoccupied with my study of Bodin, I'd not noticed the other man. My eyes rushed to him now.

He was a short balding man that looked rather uncomfortable just being here.

"He's going to explain to you the details of your father's direction."

I went utterly still. Feeling my stomach dropping.

The other man stepped forward and cleared his throat. "You've been provided $1000 pounds as a monthly stipend to be provided to you. Upon your marriage your husband will receive a dowery of $25,000 upon consummation of the arrangements. You're now Lady Demetrius of Demetrius House."

The man paused, shuffled sideways and cast Bodin a quick look.

I watched them anxiously. There's more. And I'm not going to like it.

I hoped it wasn't going to be what I so feared but the way Bodin sat back so precisely in the chair sent my alarm bells ringing. The chair creaked, and he linked his hands over his flat belly. A belly I now knew was ridged with muscle when he was unclothed. My mouth went dry, and I clutched my skirts.

Bodin was staring at me steadily as the solicitor announced. "You will manage all needs of Demetrius House as Ward of Lord Charters, from Charters Manse."

***

I leapt out of my chair toppling it. I shouted exactly what I was thinking. "No!"

I pointed to Bodin accusingly. "You orchestrated this!"

"Of course, I did." He said emotionlessly as he met my study. His face eerie in its utter unreadability.

"My father did not will me to you!"

"I must intervene in this dispute," The solicitor stepped forward "to assure you Miss, this is most certainly the will of your father."

"You coerced him!" I refused to look from Bodin. So angry, I could feel myself blinking rapidly and my hands shaking with the urge to jump over the desk and strike him.

Bodin leaned across the desk as if challenging me to do so. "I positively did."

"You son-of-a-whore!" I swore. Stalking from the room.

Making the solicitor gasp in shock. "I never!"

"You should really learn what those words mean, Belle." Bodin's soft emotionless voice taunted me as I reached the door.

I ripped it open and saw Sarah standing on the other side. Her expression stunned at my shouting.

"You think you've won, Din!" I shouted scathingly. "But remember you're the one that has stuck yourself with me and it wasn't my doing that landed me under your roof!" My threat was clear.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw the slight darkening on his face that told me, he took it for precisely what it was.

"Careful who you threaten, Belle. As my ward I'll have tremendous power over you." He stood and rounded the desk.

I caught Sarah's arm and headed for the stairs. Pushing her up them as fast as I could to maintain my head start.

But I heard his boots methodically thunking on the stairs behind me.

He caught up to me at the bannister and caught my elbow. Spinning me so fast that I released Sarah to look up at him. Taking a step back to put distance between he and I.

"And when I am your husband, imagine where you'll be then." His eyes narrowed in warning.

"You don't scare me!"

"No." He caught my upper arms and hauled me back in-front of him so he could lean down to whisper for my ears alone. "But you're certainly afraid of how your body responds to mine when I'm buried in your heat." Every word was enunciated so perfectly there was no misunderstanding his meaning.