I TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD—even counting blasted sheep—but it was no use.

I couldn't sleep. My mind refused to drift off. Instead, it was branded with the memory of my lips against Matthew's skin. I laid sleepless till the wee hours of morning before I decided to remedy it another way. I donned night slippers, lit a candle, and walked through the halls aimlessly. By some miracle, I managed to find the library. There was already a small glow in the corner of the room. I slowly walked to the light. "Is anyone there?" I asked. There wasn't a response. I drew closer to the light. There my husband sat, with a book in his hands. "What are you reading?"

"Go away, Rose."

"Don't worry," I drawled. "I won't touch you."

Silence.

I walked to the bookshelf and absently tapped my fingers against the spines. "Why are you here in the dead of night?" I stole a glance at Matthew. His thick red brows were furrowed in concentration. He looked very handsome ignoring me. "Is it because you didn't sleep? I couldn't." He flipped a page. "I tried everything...even counting sheep." I extracted a book from the shelf and sat myself adjacent to him. I opened the book and released a small laugh. "How fitting. My book is about sleeping remedies." His stubborn silence persisted. I surrendered and began to read the first pages.

Matthew clapped his book shut. "What do you want, Rose?"

"To sleep."

"Then wake a nurse for some warm milk and go to bed," he snapped.

"I'm not a child, Matthew. I'm not going to ring a nurse for some milk."

Matthew glowered at me. "Don't you want me to keep my promise?" I resisted the urge to shift under his gaze. "Dont you?" he growled..

"I'm not trying to have you break anything," I whispered.

"Horseshit." He was beginning to get flush with anger. Matthew's hand involuntarily curled into a fist at his side. A vein strained in his forehead. The picture of an angry man shouldn't make me feel at a loss for words. I involuntarily licked my lips. "You're a liar."

"I'm not lying." The bite in his voice was starting to sink into my skin. "I don't want you to hurt me. How could I want to be hurt?"

"Then why don't you just leave me alone?" He exclaimed. I winced at the volume of his voice.

"Because I don't want to leave you, either," I whispered.

"Rose."

"The paradox of my feelings are not lost on me. We don't have to do...anything. All I'd like to do is discuss one of the characters in your novel until I feel like going to sleep. Can we do that?"

"My book is about a pauper and a princess. A sort of fairytale."

"Another romance?" I asked, recalling our last conversation about a book.

"Another romance." He stared at me, as if he could see something I couldn't.

I felt my cheeks heat self-consciously. "What?"

"Your veil. You forgot to wear your veil."

My hands flew to my naked cheeks. I hadn't thought to wear my veil or my wig in the middle of the night. I was hot with humiliation. It didn't matter that the room was dark except for two candles, I was too exposed. He could see my scarred features and bald head when I hadn't wanted him to. Tears began to cloud my eyes. "You're right. I should leave you alone."

"Rose." Matthew hand shot out to grab my wrist. Ordinarily, his touch would've been a pleasant shock but it only threw me further off balance. I shook off his grip before rising abruptly to my feet. "Look at me."

"I c-cannot." I snatched my candle to make my way to the exit, but Matthew blocked my path.

"Look at me." His voice was softer

"Get out of my way, Matthew."

His eyes rested intently on my face. I couldn't take it any longer. With one brisk move, I darted out of the library.

🥀

Matthew cursed himself as he watched his wife escape. It had been on the tip of his tongue to say exactly how beautiful she looked, but he'd cowed out. Or rather, the words hadn't come out in time. There was something about her eyes in the dim candlelight that stole away his breath. Rose was undoubtedly marred by the burns of her childhood, but it didn't hide her beauty.

He didn't know how he hadn't noticed it before. She had the softest, doe brown eyes with sweetly rounded cheeks and a pert mouth. He hadn't minded her naked head, it only accentuated her face. Matthew had had the strangest desire to plant a tender kiss on her scalp. His fingers had ached to trace down her cheek to her full lips. But all he had done was watch his wife wince and flee because his gaze was discomfiting. With a sudden swell of purpose, Matthew made his way to his wife's bedroom door. He rapped upon the door a touch louder than polite. "Rose? Are you in there?"

"Go away."

"I don't want you to go to bed thinking I thought you looked. a fright. You are not ugly without your veil, Rose. You are..." Matthew paused, struggling to find the perfect word. "You are exquisite, Rose."

Matthew heard faint footsteps near toward the door. "You're just trying to make me feel better."

"I wouldn't dare lie to you, wife."

There was a faint thud on the other side of the door. It sounded like Rose had positioned herself with her back against the door. Matthew followed suit.

"You should go to sleep," Rose said, shifting the subject. Matthew decided to allow it, further insistence might feel like a lie. He knew her insecurities wouldn't be solved in a night.

"I wish I could, but I can't sleep a wink. Can you?"

"No," she admitted reluctantly. "Sleep still eludes me too."

"Then I shall sit here and talk until you do. Isn't that what you wanted in first place?"

"You wanted nothing to do with me before," Rose pointed out.

"I've changed my mind."

"Hmmm." His wife was silent for several moments "I suppose I could entertain you for a few minutes. What was the name of your characters again?"

🥀

I don't think I could ever remember waking up with a smile on my face. Despite falling asleep at the foot of my door, utterly disheveled, I glimpsed the first morning rays with a grin. Matthew and I had stayed up for hours talking. First it had been about the characters in books and tired tropes in literature. Then, we had conversed about everything. I rose from my spot to to dress properly for breakfast. It might've been from my excursion the night before, but I was starved. I was in the middle of adjusting my wig when I heard a gasp from outside.

"Mr. Whitfield!" a scandalized voice exclaimed. I bit back a giggle. Did he actually fall asleep outside my door? Unable to stifle my curiosity, I hastily opened my door. Matthew fell ungraciously against it, with half-opened eyes. I looked from him to the maid who looked both confused and amused.

"Good morning," I said sweetly.

"Good morning, ma'am. Lord and Lady Thomas invite you and Mr. Whitfield to breakfast."

"We'll be down shortly." The maid nodded, and looked doubtfully down at Matthew before leaving. I absently tucked a stray lock behind Matthew's ear. "How could you fall asleep here?" I laughed.

Matthew sat up and groggily rubbed his forehead. "I promised to talk so you could sleep. I keep my promises."

"That doesn't mean you couldn't leave after I was asleep. God, Matthew. You look awful."

"You are so kind, wife," Matthew said tersely.

"I'm only honest, husband," I replied, returning his clipped tone with a sugary one. I stood up and extended my hand. "Let me help you up."

"A gentleman does not accept a lady's hand. It's the other way round."

"Does the unorthodox insult your manhood? Forgive me. I certainly didn't mean too," I replied silkily.

Matthew narrowed his eyes at me before abruptly yanking my hand. Instead of pulling him up, the sudden burst of strength brought me down in a tumble against his chest. "This is why ladies don't assist gentleman," he said lowly. "It does not end well."

I couldn't form a suitable reply. I was only aware of the feel of his chest again my own and his sturdy arms around my waist. Butterflies fluttered passionately in my stomach. His eyes studied my face before falling at my lips. For the briefest moment, I thought he might kiss me. Instead, Matthew gently pushed the both of us to our feet. "I should go get ready," he announced.

"Of course. I imagine your mother would like to see us at breakfast, especially after yesterday."

"Yes, I should say so." Matthew avoided my eye. "There's one more thing, Rose."

So sorry for the late update! I'm loving Brisbane Manor so far. I'd love to hear comments about the chapter so far. Drop a vote if you really liked it!