Page 50

Yet still he couldn’t help but ask, ‘Why? To go after your family?’
‘No. What I want is to escape them.’
Surprise echoed through him. This was the truth. He could see it in those luminous eyes of hers. He wanted to ask her why—wanted to know what had they done to her to send her hiding in the walls where he’d discovered her—but that would be a waste of time. He didn’t need to know her. All he needed was her to be his queen.
With an effort of will that was greater than he would have liked, he took his finger from beneath her chin and stepped back.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘I can see no reason to keep you here any longer than necessary. I can’t say how long our marriage will be, but once Kasimir is more settled we will divorce and you may leave. But not until then—understand?’
She didn’t look relieved or pleased, her skin still pale. ‘And I’ll be a prisoner until then?’
Irritation wound through him—partly at himself, for being curious and starting this pointless conversation in the first place, and partly at her, for asking annoying questions.
The decision to marry her had been an opportunistic one and he hadn’t had time to think through the implications of it yet—let alone what he would do with her outside official appearances. She wasn’t as important as the work of surveying the damage Renzo had done to Kasimir and putting in place plans to fix it. He didn’t want to waste time thinking about what to do with an unwanted wife.
‘We will discuss that later,’ he said dismissively, turning towards the doors. ‘I will call the priest in. He can perform the ceremony now.’
Her eyes went wide. ‘Now?’
Tiberius paused and lifted a brow. ‘Of course, now. There is vital work to be done, and the sooner we are married, the sooner I can start fixing my country.’
‘But… But—’
‘Need I remind you that your father is responsible for nearly destroying Kasimir? If you want to make up for that, may I suggest no more protests?’
She stared at him for a second, with what looked like bewilderment on her face, then she bent her gaze back down at the floor, whatever spirit that had burned in her before now gone.
‘Very well,’ she said colourlessly.
For some reason that only increased his irritation, though he couldn’t imagine why. Yes, courage and strength were important in a queen, but if she didn’t have them, then she didn’t have them. He didn’t need to fight her. He was tired of fighting anyway. Now was the time for peace and the chance to rebuild.
His country would always be more important than his curiosity about one little Accorsi woman.
Annoyed with himself, he turned and strode to the closed doors of the throne room, throwing them open. His guards and aides were on the other side, waiting patiently for him.
‘Father Domingo,’ he said curtly. ‘You are required.’ Then he glanced at his guards. ‘I need witnesses. You and you.’
The ceremony commenced at the foot of the throne and was over in approximately five minutes. The rings would come later, as would the licence, but such things were insignificant details. What was important was the marriage certificate and her signature on it.
Guinevere was silent throughout, except when she was required to speak, and then she was as good as her word and didn’t protest. But she didn’t look at him either, keeping her gaze firmly downcast.
He couldn’t have said why that needled at him. Why it made him want to put out a hand, grip her chin once more and have her look at him. See exactly what she was feeling in this moment. Whether it was fear or anger or something else…
But no, he didn’t need to see it. This wasn’t about her, anyway, nor even about him either. This was about Kasimir, and doing what he needed to for the good of his country, and that was the only thing that mattered.
Besides, he wasn’t going to force her into doing anything she didn’t want to do—not beyond having her signature on the marriage certificate. He wouldn’t touch her, and they’d only meet for official engagements. She wouldn’t find marriage to him…onerous.
As the ceremony finished, Tiberius turned to his new wife. ‘Tomorrow we will speak of the details,’ he said. ‘Tonight I will have my staff ensure you’re comfortable.’
There was nothing more to say, and he had a day’s important work ahead of him, so before she could speak he turned around and strode out of the throne room, followed by his men.
Guinevere felt almost in a daze as a guard led her through the corridors following the wedding ceremony.
Somehow, she was married.
Somehow, she was a queen.
It was almost inconceivable that the day she’d thought she’d escape the palace and Kasimir for good, instead she’d found herself trapped yet again.