Arabella
"what's your name?" his deep voice came and I felt my heart sting, did he just ask me what's my name?
He doesn't even know the name of his bride, I never wanted this kind of marriage, I wanted to fall in love and have a wedding but I am stuck with a husband that doesn't even know my name.
"Arabella Declan" I said lowly, almost above a whisper, I didn't think he heard me.
"It's Arabella Rowan now" he corrected and I bit my lips.
He walked closer and my heart hammered in my chest, his presence weighed heavily on me, I had a feeling l would die if I breath anywhere close to him.
So this was the Duke of Valmor.
He didn't say anything further, he walked towards the bath, I believe has already been prepared for him and after a while he came back, his upper body was bare and I looked away.
My heart raced rapidly, this was my wedding night, of course he would want to have sex with his wife, wasn't that the reason Evelyn dolled me up.
But i don't want to have sex with him, I was still a virgin and I had hoped to loose my virginity to the man I love not someone I was sold to.
"If you think I have any plans of touching you then erase that thought little girl" his voice came again and I turned to him.
He was standing closer to me now but not so close to invade my personal space.
But wait... Little girl? She wasn't a little girl, she was eighteen years old.
Though her mom had said she was getting old and needed to marry, she stood on her ground to find the love of her life, but it was just a fantasy right now.
"I am not a little girl" I replied, a little bit offended by his words, though I was relieved he hadn't planned on touching me.
"What are you? Eighteen?" He asked.
"Yes" I replied.
"Still a little girl" Duke Rowan replied before climbing the bed, laying down.
I squeezed my fist at his comment, though the air was still thick with tension, I wasn't going to let him look down on me.
I stood up from the bed and walked towards him, he was already lying down on the bed, his golden eyes looked at me, no expression on his face but I could tell he wondered why I was staring at him.
"I am not a little girl" I said but he ignored me and turned away from me.
I took steady breaths and walked out of the residence and towards mine, it was already quite dark.
I slipped out of my dress, though it took a while since I didn't know how it worked but i managed to get out of it, I wore something comfortable and fell on the bed.
At least I was still a virgin, he didn't touch me probably because he thinks I am too little but I am eighteen.
I tried not to think about my first meeting with my husband and rather just fall asleep.
_
My eyes fluttered open with the rays of sunlight from my window kissing my face, I was lying on a rather soft mattress, I don't think my bed has ever felt that soft before, I stretched looked around only to remember that I wasn't in my father's small cottage, I was the Duke's wife now.
"My lady" I heard Evelyn's voice and I sighed.
I walked towards the door and opened it, she stared at me for a while before entering the room, I noticed how she was looking at me and it made me feel uneasy.
"Is something wrong?" I asked in confusion.
"Nothing" she replied, her gaze on the floor, which made me frown.
"You would be having dinner with the duke's family today, he has asked me to prepare you" Evelyn added and I sighed.
"Alright"
_
I was led into the carriage with the help of Evelyn, the yellow dress I wore was rather uncomfortable but I couldn't complain, I am meeting my husband's family, I am supposed to look my best.
Even though I never wanted to get married to the Duke, I should at least make peace with his family, making enemies of them won't be beneficial to me.
Immediately I entered the carriage I met Rowan sitting inside and I sat beside him, he stared at me for a while before looking forward.
The carriage started moving.
"Good morning Duke" I said respectfully, I should at least be on good terms with my husband right?
"Call me Rowan" he said plainly and I nodded, he didn't look like he slept well last night cause his face was pale.
Wait... That's the way he was last night but I hadn't noticed cause it was late and dark, I was more worried about herself.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, he looked at me and his eyes flashed with surprise but it disappeared.
"No" he replied.
I was going to speak again when the carriage stopped, we were at the Duke's family house.
The Thorne Manor.
I was helped out of the carriage, Rowan came down too and we walked together into the manor we were led to where we would be having breakfast.
On the breakfast table sat a middle aged man and woman at the far end with another man sitting at the right side, a beautiful lady was sitting next to him.
I don't know them but I can guess who they are by the way they sat.
"Greetings" I said with a small bow but I didn't get a reply from any, rather I received a glare from the beautiful lady with blonde hair and a disturbing look from the man sitting next to her.
The woman I assume was Rowan's mom wasn't even looking at me while his father had a plain expression.
Rowan pulled out a sit for me and I smiled at him before sitting down, he sat down next to me and the servant began serving the food.
"You made us wait" his mother spoke but Rowan didn't reply.
"He thinks because he is the Duke, he can do whatever he wants" the one I assume was his brother added.
"Don't start a scene this early and let's eat, we have a new member of the family" his father spoke with authority and they fell quiet.
I glanced at Rowan, he hasn't said anything since we came in, I was assuming he would greet his parents at least.
I could see the blonde lady sitting next to Rowan's brother giving Rowan seductive gaze.
I thought she was Rowan's brother wife, why is she looking at my husband like that.
I ate the food in front of me but immediately I swallowed it, my body shivered and I coughed, my throat burned.
Rowan's eyes snapped towards me. "Are you okay?" He asked, I could hear the worry in his voice but I couldn't stop coughing.
"Arabella" he said again.
I couldn't speak and I could see everyone's shocked expression, soon my vision became blurry and I felt a warm, strong hand on my back before I passed out.