The Governor's Wife

Astrid POVThrough the haze of my dreams, I heard someone repeatedly call my name from far away."Astrid, Astrid!!"I moaned, burrowed deeper into the warmth of my blankets, then pulled my pillow over my head, as if doing that would send the insistent voice away.But the blankets were poor cover for what was coming. Because the next thing I felt was the bite of morning air as my blankets were pulled off me."Wake up, Astrid, your sister is missing!"My eyes flew open, and I sat up immediately, my heart racing, as I was confronted by the stress all over my parents' faces.My head swam from disorientation, and I pressed my cold fingers on my heated face.Later by midday today, a ceremony is going to be held on the grounds, in the expansive garden Ingrid and I had played in as children.I had only just gone to sleep not long ago, and I needed to be up early to take care of any last-minute arrangements.So, it took me a second to fully come to terms with the fact that both my parents were

Astrid POVI opened my mouth. Nothing came out.Behind me, the band struck up another song. Someone called for the bride and groom to share a dance.Knox got to his feet, and I followed.He stood motionless, his gray eyes fixed on my face, then he turned around and left.I turned and saw my mother's ashen face.I could only wonder what Knox was going to do now.He only made it three steps away before he stopped.His shoulders went rigid. His hands curled into fists at his sides.My mouth dried up in fear. I was sure he was about to proclaim to everyone present that I was a fraud who had conned him into marriage.Some of the guests who noticed went quiet, a ripple of silence spreading from the groom like a stone dropped in still water.Then he turned around.And walked back to me.Before I could speak, before I could breathe, his hand closed around my wrist. Not hard enough to hurt. Hard enough to make it clear I had no choice."We need to talk," he said through clenched teeth. "Privat