Catherine's POV
"Help me get ready?"
I thought for a few seconds and snapped out of my thoughts as they stood waiting with their backs bent in a slight bow.
I have never had anyone attended to me before, even though we had maids at home I still do many manual chores which Anna never did.
In no time, one of them had moved swiftly and efficiently to the bathroom to fill the bath while I watched the other one sort through the dresses in the closet.
My eyes caught on a red silky night dress, it rang a bell but I can't remember where I saw it.
Oh, now I remember, it was the first thing I saw when I entered Dane's room the night before our wedding. I believe Anna had been wearing it but it was tossed aside when things got heated between them.
Her moan had filled the room and the sound seemed to have engraved into the deepest part of my ears, haunting me. She had sat astride him, her bare back turned towards the door where I stood.
It was the moment my world had tilted before it shattered after he walked away from the altar the following. Leaving me to the humiliation.
Tears filled my eyes again and I blinked rapidly to get rid of them, it won't be good to let the maids see me crying.
"Ma'am!" One of the maids called and I snapped out of my thoughts and flashed a smile at her. It was awkward but better than the tears that had threatened to fall.
"I've filled the bathtub for you". She announced and gestured towards the bathroom.
I nodded and walked into the bathroom.
It was very large, beyond my expectations. On one end was a shower screen and curtain and on the other side was the tub that was filled to brim with bubbles.
I stripped out of my clothes, my body ached. I was still recuperating but still got shoved to the ground by that brute bodyguard.
A soft sigh escaped my lips as I settled into the tub, the water was warm and velvety against my skin.
I closed my eyes and let the water do its magic.
***
I had no idea how long I had spent bathing and cleaning up until one of the maids informed me about dinner.
"What time is it?" I asked in disbelief.
"It's past six". She replied politely and curtly.
They dressed me in a light blue evening dress, with a V-neckline and spaghetti straps, it made me feel beautiful although a little exposed.
I was led to the dining room and I stopped by the door step to watch him make a call while standing by the window.
He had said his name was Gerald Dalkeith. I know no one by that name, who the hell is he?
Why had he married me on impulse? What is his aim?
These were my thoughts until he turned around and his face broke into a smile, and also immediately ending the call.
I walked inside the dining room and smiled back at me, he pulled out a seat for me and held it while I sat.
"Do you feel better now?" He asked as he settled down a couple of seats away.
"Why?" I asked suddenly and he looked at me with a slight frown.
He cocked an eyebrow and I completed my question.
"Why did you choose me?
I'm not naive to believe you have a shortage of women or that you have fallen in love with me at first sight." I asked while my heart beat wildly, I'm sure I have asked this before but I did not get the response I want.
It would be better to know his reasons now, I do not want to trust and have that trust shattered again.
"Because you are my best choice". He replied simply.
That made me frown.
"Choice?"
"Yeah, I don't have a shortage of women but I need someone with the same drive as me." He explained, no smile in sight, just plain seriousness.
"Drive?".
"Yes, didn't you want to get back at those that wronged you?
I will help you do that, while I also get back at those that wronged me". He replied, and stretched his arm to pat me on the shoulder.
"Help me?" I repeated in my mind.
It would feel nice to get back at them of course, I want my father to see that I am not useless and I can get married to a wealthy man.
But he would probably still call me useless because the person I married isn't a well-known person.
We ate in total silence and almost halfway through the food he excused himself to answer a call.
I guess I got married to the busiest man in the entire world.
I did not see him again till I went back to my room, I found it hard to sleep and I sat awake till late into the night.
I walked into the veranda in my room, a soft breeze blew at my hair as I sat down on a love seat.
"Can't sleep yet?" A voice said suddenly and I looked around to see him standing a short distance away.
He was standing in the veranda of the next room and had a hand in his pocket and a cigarette in the other.
"He smokes?"
I thought in disbelief.
"Yes, I can't sleep. It should be because of the unfamiliar environment". I replied to his question and tried to get rid of the awkwardness.
"Yes, maybe. Or maybe it's something else. You can always confide in me if you have any issue. It might not seem like it yet, but we are legally husband and wife." He said between drags of cigarettes.
"Any issues?
I have many issues ". I blurted out but I chuckled nervously to distract him.
"I will definitely get rid of all of them." He said.
I don't know if I should take him seriously or not but at this point I have nothing more to lose.