I was thankful she changed the subject as she pointed to a door in the corner.
“Dinner will be ready at half past six. Master has requested your attendance.” The way she said that last part had me bristling, as if I wasn’t to even think of disobeying. Not that I would. I’d willingly come here, knew my role, and wouldn’t change my mind.
My father may have put me in horrible positions over and over again throughout my life, but he was the only family I had left, and throwing him to the wolves to save my own skin wasn’t in my nature.
“Master has also selected your dinner attire.”She gestured to the bed, where a large white box tied with a red satin ribbon sat atop the lush mattress.
I’d been so stunned by everything that I hadn’t noticed it at first.
With one more smile she left me alone, closing the door behind her.
For a second I was frozen in place, my knees threatening to buckle, but I closed my eyes and breathed out slowly.
I was now legally bound to the man—the Beast—they called Master. Forms had been signed before I’d been picked up to be taken to my new home. My father had apologized repeatedly, but I’d been in too much of a fog to pay attention to him or what he said.
How could I pay attention to anything but being legally bound to my new husband—his will something I had to bend to, submit to?
I only allowed ten minutes of alone time to compose myself. I wanted to cry, scream, break something, and just get the frustration out, but I knew none of that would help me right now.
And refusing wasn’t an option, not when my father’s life was at stake.
This all seemed like a dream, with the expensive things, the lavish attendance, and the waitstaff serving me hand and foot. But I wasn’t a fool in knowing what this reality really was about.
I’d read the paperwork before I signed it.
This wasn’t just the Beast needing a wife. He wanted heirs.