The Alpha King's Little Bride

Edward snorted. "To marry us of course, he brought the license with him. And Mr. Brownand the maid Helena will be witnesses."She stood near the fire, it lit up her angelic face. Most of her blonde curls were pinned up,but some hung down around her cheeks, framing her face. Her waist wasn't as narrow as some women, and he did not miss how her breasts swelled. She was beautiful, like an angel, and she did not deserve a hideous monster like him. He swallowed hard, trying to compose himself.He stepped closer, so she could see more of him, but kept his face angled in a way that would keep his scar and eye from her view. She smelled heavenly, like flowers and sunshine on a Spring morning. Shebarely came to the middle of his chest. He had an instant desire to hold her.It had been so long since he felt the touch of a woman. Since before his accident, sincebefore he became too hideous for anyone to love.Emily gasped. "Marry? Here? Now? Surely you were going to give it a week or so. Aw

"She'll be down any moment now, Your Grace." Mr. Brown said and Edward nodded, straightening his stance and doing his best to ignore the curious gaze of the priest. The day was far spent and eve was far approaching. He had agreed to his butler's demand to crank open a drape and allow some natural light into the room. As a result of this, the room seemed airier and more open, the dark paneled walls gleaming and the brass handles of the large door shone as a result of daily polishing. The room had been his father's, and his father's father before that, extending down to a long generation of men whose tales were still being passed down. All the men of Snowshill had spent considerable time in the study, only modifying it to suit individual tastes. When Edward came back from the war a broken and scarred man, he had taken over the affairs of the family in which he was the head and his only contribution to the study had been to lower the drapes.The ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece w

Edward crept into his own house. He felt more like an errant teenager that was returning home too late from a night out with friends than the lord of a manor and a member of the king's parliament.All this because he didn't want to risk Emily to see him when he was least prepared. He knew that she'd be angry. And for a good reason because he was basically traumatizing the poor girl with a rushed marriage and he didn't show up for what would have been their first meal together as a married couple. He only hoped she wasn't the type of person that would destroy everything in her path when she got angry.He was about to start climbing the stairs when Mr. Brown appeared like an apparition on the top of the stairs, startling Edward."Blast it, Albert!" Edward said, his eyes slightly widened in surprise."Welcome, Your Grace," he said quietly, seeming to realize that his master wouldn't care much for loudness. He also chose to ignore the fact that his Lord had called him by his Christian nam

Emily descended the stairs slowly, her eyes already adjusting to the darkness of the manor. Her body was itching with the us to bring a lot more light into the darkened interior, but that would have to wait. She must first formally introduce herself to the staff.At the bottom of the elegantly curved stairs, a group of people gathered. As she got closer to them, she saw that they were all outfitted differently. A few of them wore caps on their heads, indicating that they worked in the kitchens, and a few other were dressed in heavy work clothes and high boots. She thought that those ones must work in the lands or stables. She had heard the whinnying of horses from her room and thus knew that His Grace had horses."Good morning, Your Grace," chorused all around her as they all dropped into low curtsies. She was taken aback by the title for a minute before remembering that she was know a duchess and would always be referred to as "Her Grace".This wouldn't be an easy thing to get used t

Emily made to go after His grace and speak with him about his demeanor towards her but quickly changed her mind. Maybe when was tired as Mr. Brow had said but it still wasn't enough reason for him to have acted the way he did.With a grunt, Emily turned and completed her walk downstairs. She paused as she suddenly had a thought, a question that was beginning to bother her. She turned to Mr. Brown."Does His grace despise my presence?" I asked Mr. Brown whose face seemed to lack any hint of emotion."No, Your Grace," Mr. Brown said, keeping his stoic expression. "On the contrary actually. He really likes your presence but His Grace is not one to show it.""Oh," Emily muttered with a sigh as she made her way to the kitchen. She still couldn't believe she had left her happy and gleeful love to get married to one who refused to show any hint of emotion. She decided to let it not bother her as she was just doing it to keep her father happy.She passed some maids who were dusting the counte