Chapter 125: Proposed Betrothed
"Forgive me for the haste, Claire." He began by saying as they sat inside his carriage.
Understanding his need for discretion, she hadn’t protested when he asked her to follow him to his manor.
The only thing she was afraid of was how Yeren would react when he heard that she journeyed with Lord Bronan to his residence.
She nodded with understanding she didn’t feel as she waited for him to tell her the reason for the hasty departure.
However, Aldrich didn’t utter a single word till they arrived at his manor.
When she looked closer, she realized that his face was pale and his knuckles were white.
Something was terribly wrong.
As soon as the carriage rolled to a stop, he swung the door open and slid out without the assistance of a footman.
He waved the approaching footmen away and helped her out of the vehicle.
Seeing the magnificent house in the day was another spectacle entirely. But she didn’t dwell on it. Some other time, she told herself as he guided her into the house.
She walked to his study as he ushered her inside.
The door slid shut after he entered. All the large windows were draped, allowing little to no sunlight into the room.
"What happened, Aldrich?" Her heart was racing at this point.
"Forget the mission, I might not even live long enough to see its end."
She sank into the cushioned chair across him, refusing to punish her weak knees any longer.
"Why do you say such a horrid thing?"
He ran both hands through his hair and began to pace the room.
"You know they tried to poison the King, don’t you? You saved him, and we all had to drink the poisoned drink in the process."
She nodded, trying to predict the point he was trying to make.
"I thought everything was fine, until I started coughing blood in the middle of the night. That’s when I realized that I was going to share the same fate that befell my father. But a parcel containing a vile arrived just in time to save my life."
The same vile that saved hers.
Redmare.
"It contained an antidote... and a note." He dug into the fold of his brocade and produced the note he spoke of.
"This." He handed it to her, "is what came with the parcel."
She took it and read it. "You owe me your life. Therefore, to keep the life, you must forever hold your peace."
Her face creased with a frown.
"He said something similar to me."
"He? You know the sender of the letter?"
She nodded, wondering if she should reveal Redmare’s identity or not.
Aldrich didn’t ask any further questions. He retrieved the letter from her and stuffed it back where he had removed it from.
"I almost died. Without an heir. I can’t let the crown seize my inheritance - that’s what they want. If not for the King, your father’s lands would have been sold long ago for gold - and that same fate would’ve befallen my lands as well." He drew in a deep breath.
Claire just watched him, trying to appear composed despite her panic.
"And now, the King is in danger as well. I can’t rely on him... or anyone else. Only you."
She blinked, touching her chest as she asked, "Me?"
"Yes." He responded, breathless from pacing.
"How, if I may ask?"
"I want you to marry me as soon as the King’s wedding is concluded."
She froze.
Marry him?
This is what she wanted a few weeks ago, but hearing it now, she felt numb.
"I can’t."
He stopped moving, his red rimmed eyes fixed on her. He hadn’t looked this bad when they had been waiting for the King at the entrance of the castle.
"Whyever not?"
She swallowed the thick lump that formed in her throat as she thought of the best way to tell him that she had been thoroughly compromised.
"I’m no longer... a virgin."
His eyes averted slightly before pinning hers again. All the while, she never looked away.
She waited for the repulsive stare, the usual disgust that followed such a disgraceful admission. All she saw was surprise.
Nothing else.
Just surprise.
"Who did you give it to?" His voice lowered to a whisper as he asked gently.
She wanted to chide him for asking her such a private question, but she held her peace.
"Someone I was foolish enough to fall for."
He nodded. "Well, you’ve saved me the awkwardness of having to break-in a virgin."
Claire blinked. He made women sound like horses.
Was that all he had to say? No condemnation? No disgust?
"I will still marry you regardless - only if you would have me."
Her mouth almost fell open. Tears began to burn behind her eyes as she stared at the innocent face in front of her.
He never gave the illusion that he loved her, but the respect he showed her was something she never found anywhere else.
Not even with Yeren.
"I don’t know."
He moved forward and took her hands in his.
"I understand that you need time, but I need an answer when next we see each other - whenever that will be."
She nodded briefly, wondering when next they would meet.
There was Zach to consider... and Yeren.
Aldrich was the perfect husband for her - but perfect didn’t make her happy anymore.
He was too perfect to need her - except to procure an heir for him. Outside that, they would just be friends who shared a bed, not lovers.
She had to tell Aurora first, then Zach. But at the end, the decision was hers to make.
"When next will we meet?"
He drew her hands close to his lips and placed a soft kiss on them.
"At the King’s wedding. I hope you will give me the honour of posing as your betrothed on that day."
Posing as her betrothed?
It was an opportunity to have a little revenge on the blasted man for marrying another woman.
But why was she more afraid for Aldrich?