Chapter 6: Double It

I did not tell Rhys about the hallway.

I went back to bed, lay beside him with my heart going, and watched the window turn from black to gray.

At seven the housekeeper knocked and left a tray of coffee outside the door.

Rhys woke, rolled toward me, and put his mouth on my shoulder like he had done it for years.

"Morning," he said.

"Morning."

"Regrets?"

"One," I said. "You snore."

"I do not."

"A little."

He pulled me closer and kissed the corner of my mouth, and for ten seconds I forgot there was a house around us.

Then I remembered the voice in the hall.

"Breakfast," I said. "Before your grandmother sends someone."

I put on yesterday's jeans and a clean white shirt of his.

I went down ahead of him to find the coffee.

The breakfast room was empty except for Dorian, standing at the window with a cup in his hand.

He turned and smiled at me.

"Ms. Marwick," he said. "Sleep well?"

"Fine, thank you."

"The east room is drafty. I hope my cousin kept you warm."

"He did what he could," I said.

Dorian set his cup down.

"Let's save time," he said. "You're a smart woman. You know this arrangement is a performance."

"I know what I'm engaged to," I said.

"Do you."

He took a folded check from his breast pocket.

"Two hundred thousand dollars, and I release your sister's grant tomorrow."

"All you do is tell my grandmother this morning that it was a misunderstanding, and go home."

I looked at the check.

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