Chapter 3--Lady Ashcroft.

I ride alone to the Ashcroft estate after the reception.

And my encounter with Damien.

It turns out my husband thought it was wise to travel separately. I scoff at his knowledge.

What was he thinking?.

During our brief and almost non-existent conversation, I failed to notice specific features about him.

But what I did notice was how tall he was.

And his eyes. So green.

Whenever I think about them, it has me looking at the ring on my finger.

Emerald. For his eyes.

Narcissistic much?. I don't know. Maybe.

I breathe out a sigh of relief when the carriage comes to a halt.

The carriage door swings opens, the coach man helps me out of the carriage.

‘Thank you’ I say.

He bows in response and heads towards the carriage, riding off.

I turn towards irons gates that separates the outside world from the inside.

Groups of servants come out of the main mansion doors towards the iron gates.

They open the gates and bow towards me. I nod because I can't find my voice.

This is a massive stone mansion with ancient architecture.

Ivy climbing the walls.

With the most beautiful gardens I've ever seen.

There was a strange and eerie silence associated with the mansion’s aesthetic that made shivers run down my spine.

The servants stood, standing in perfect rows.

I began walking towards the mansion, looking around me every step I took. I couldn't contain the awe I felt looking at mansion's landscape.

I reached the doubles doors of the mansion in hopes to explore not just the outside of the mansion but the inside too.

Before I could get to open the doors. Someone opens them for me. I cross the threshold of the door.

A man and a woman stand before me which I can only assume are the butler and the head maid based on their dressing.

‘Welcome home, Lady Ashcroft’. Says the head maid bowing in respect.

I freeze for a second at her words.

‘This is not my home’ I say, not being able to stop myself.

She hesitates, unsure how to respond. She looks to the butler for help.

Damien steps down from the stairs behind them.

‘Give her time’. Is all he says.

Both the butler and the head maid are startled by the sound of his voice behind them.

They turn towards him, bow in respect and leave us standing alone in the corridor.

I pull my eyes from the disappearing servants and fix them on the man before me.

Until now, I'd only caught fragments of him.

A pair of green eyes.

A steady hand.

A deep voice that had spoken only a single word. Maybe two or three.

Am I seriously keeping track?.

Now, with nothing more to distract me, I truly look at the man I'd married.

He's tall enough that I have to tilt my head to look at him.

Black hair, slightly messy than perfectly neat.

Strong cheekbones.

Well defined and strong jawline.

Broad shoulders beneath a dark tailored coat.

Hands that look elegant but surprisingly calloused.

Calm posture.

Expression impossible to read.

Unfortunately for me, my husband is infuriatingly handsome.

It would've been much easier to hate him if he'd looked like the monster I’d imagine.

He raises a perfectly elegant eyebrow at me as if to say whether I was done assessing him.

I fold my arms over my chest as my response.

He clears his throat.

‘How was your journey?’. He asks, trying to fill the awkward silence.

‘It was okay’ I reply.

He nods.

‘I’ll show you to your room, then’.

I look at him. Confused.

‘My room?, We're not…’ I trail off, too flustered to continue.

He immediately understands from the look on my face.

‘No’. He assures me.

Oh. I don't know whether to feel relieved or insulted.

‘Our marriage is real’ he says. ‘Sharing a room can wait’.

Then he walks away to a place I can only assume is leads to my room.

I follow behind him.

I can't help but look around.

‘This place is… enormous’ I say out loud.

He turns to look at me over his shoulder.

‘You’ll become familiar with it’.

‘I doubt that’

He simply nods.

‘Perhaps’

We start to climb a staircase that leads towards an upper room whiles servants dart around along side us.

Others going upstairs and some climbing down.

It's surprisingly busy around here.

I only wonder if it's due to my arrival or something else.

I open my mouth to ask him just that when suddenly a young maid accidentally bumps into me.

Her empty tray slips.

Damien catches it before it hits the floor.

How did he get here so fast? I ask myself.

Good reflexes, I suppose.

The maid immediately bows.

‘Forgive me, my lord’. She pleads, her voice shaking slightly.

‘No harm was done’. Damien replies handing the tray back to her.

‘Thank you, my lord’

The maid leaves. Her shoulders trembling.

‘She’s scared of you’. I say turning to face him.

‘Most people are’.

He says it so matter-of-factly that it catches me off guard.

I mean, I wouldn't blame them.

The amount of power and wealth just looking at him screams ‘Danger’.

We continue walking upstairs, this time side by side. I guess he doesn't want another collision happening again.

We reach the topmost part of the stairs, where we walk past three doors on the right.

We pause at the fourth door which he tells me,

‘This is your room, your things are inside’. He says. ‘And if you need anything tell the staff’.

That been said he turns and leaves.

I'm left standing in front of the door leading to my room.

I'm so exhausted that I don't think twice about his attitude.

I open the door and gasp.

The room is so huge, it's bigger than my childhood bedroom. The walls are covered in a pale blue color that gives the room a gentle feel.

I step inside closing the door behind me. He was right. My things were already in the room.

My books are on the shelves in the room, closer to my bed. My cosmetics are arranged on the dresser. And my clothes, already in the closet in the room.

There's so much space that the room still looks empty even with my belongings in there.

I try to stifle a smile as my eyes land on the queen-size bed with one large window at the left side of the room.

This place is beautiful. Perfect even.

I take of my gown, not even bothering to wear a night dress and fall on the bed with just my underthings.

I let out a girlish giggle at the softness of the bed.

My head falls on the fluffiest pillow I've ever felt and welcome sleep with open arms.