Page 39 of The Bastard Heir (The Gilded West #2)

Chapter Eighteen

S he was marrying Castillo. She would be his wife.

Though two days had passed since the arrangement had been made, Caroline was no closer to processing that fact. She felt anxious and excited in equal measure. Both emotions were wrapped up in a tangled mess that made her feel elated one minute and nauseated the next.

“You make a beautiful bride, Caro,” Aunt Prudie said from the doorway of Caroline’s bedroom.

“Thank you.” Caroline had to admit she agreed. She never was one to look at herself and see beauty, but she was having trouble tearing herself away from her reflection in the looking glass. All she could think was that Castillo would approve. She couldn’t wait to see his face when he saw her.

Emmy surprised her with the cream-colored dress first thing that morning.

She’d had it pressed and waiting. Caroline hadn’t even bothered to argue against accepting it.

She had wanted the elegant confection of silk and lace the moment Emmy had brought it in.

Having resigned herself to a serviceable traveling costume as a wedding gown, she was beside herself to have something of actual beauty to wear when she became Castillo’s bride.

“Do you think he’ll like it?” she asked.

Aunt Prudie laughed. “Of course he will, but that man would have you if you were wearing a burlap sack.”

The imagery was enough to snap the spell of the looking glass. “Aunt Prudie.” She turned and smiled at the woman.

“He is in love with you,” she said unequivocally.

“He’s not—”

“He is. Castillo Jameson is not one to give his heart easily, but he has given it to you.” Aunt Prudie fussed over Caroline’s curls that Mary had painstakingly pinned up so they would stay in place during the carriage ride to town where the justice of the peace would marry them.

Finished adjusting, her aunt touched Caroline’s chin.

“Now, I presume you know all about what to expect tonight, but I’m here if you have any questions. ”

Caroline’s face flamed. “Oh, I don’t think…

I mean, I do know what happens on wedding nights, but I don’t think Castillo plans…

it is a marriage of convenience.” He hadn’t made any attempt to talk with her privately since the other night.

He most certainly had not come to her room, no matter how late she had waited up for him.

It felt as if he’d put a boundary between them.

She didn’t think he had any intention of consummating their marriage.

Her aunt raised a doubtful brow. “I have seen the way he looks at you.”

If it was possible, her cheeks burned hotter. “What do you mean?”

“At the wedding yesterday, he could barely keep his eyes off you, dear.”

Caroline didn’t think that was true, but it pleased her that it might be. Her stomach tumbled pleasantly at the idea of spending the night with him tonight.

“I assume with medical school in a couple of months that you do not intend to carry a child now?” Aunt Prudie asked.

“No, we haven’t decided things, but now is not the time for a child.” Her entire future seemed to be up in the air. There was medical school, but she had no idea what followed. Divorce? The idea pained her. Castillo injured by his nemesis, or worse?

Her aunt nodded. “Then you must take precautions.”

“I don’t think precautions are necessary, but in the event that…” That Castillo wanted to. “I do have a tin…in my medical bag.” She couldn’t say the word to her aunt.

“Good. Good. Then we should head downstairs. I believe everyone is gathered on the veranda.”

A soft knock sounded at the door. Aunt Prudie raised her brow again and gave Caroline a kiss on the cheek before going to answer it. Anticipation shimmered down her spine when she heard Castillo’s voice.

“Could I have a moment with Carolina?” he asked.

“Of course, I’ll await you both downstairs with the others.” Her aunt swept out of the room and Caroline met her groom at the door.

His eyes widened in appreciation when he saw her and he took the length of her in, all the way down to her toes and back up again. “You’re beautiful.”

“You look very handsome in a suit.” She hadn’t been able to tell him that yesterday at the wedding.

Somehow she had lost her words in between their engagement and now.

But it was true. His shoulders seemed impossibly broad and the fine fabric brought out the green in his eyes and the olive tone of his skin.

He grinned, revealing a flash of white teeth, but it was gone almost as quickly as it had appeared. “I’ve come to make certain that this is what you want. It’s not too late, if you aren’t sure.”

That was the last thing she wanted. Her claim on him was tenuous at best, but she wanted him in her life. Needed him, if she was honest. She loved him now and there was no turning back on that. “I am certain. But if you—”

He was smiling before she could finish asking if he wanted to call off the wedding. Reaching up, he stroked her cheekbone with his thumb, sending a flutter through her belly. “This is what I want.”

He wanted her. He hadn’t said it, but that’s what that statement meant.

Before she could answer him, he said, “I have a ring, so don’t concern yourself with that. I am more than ready to make you my wife. Let’s go.”

He offered her his arm and she took it, allowing him to lead her into this brand new start.

***

No one had been more surprised than Castillo when he’d offered to marry her.

In that startling moment of clarity, he’d realized that the only way to really keep her safe—from scandal and her family interfering in her education—was to keep her under his protection.

The meeting with her parents had been very brief and to the point.

Her parents had agreed to the marriage as an inevitable consequence of her admission, but they weren’t happy about it.

Castillo suspected her mother wanted someone more socially acceptable, but her father seemed content as soon as Castillo had voiced his opinion about Carolina’s education.

Hunter and Emmy had offered a double wedding, but Castillo had refused.

He told them that he didn’t want to take away from their ceremony.

The truth was, he wanted Carolina all to himself.

Despite the fact that his marriage to her was supposed to be little more than an arrangement, he’d wanted the moment they took their vows to be for her alone and not shared with another couple.

He’d barely seen her since the night in Tanner’s study.

Hunter’s wedding had been the day before, and Carolina had sat with her parents while Castillo and Zane had stood at Hunter’s side.

Then he’d had to go back out and ride the property, ever vigilant to the possibility that Derringer could make an appearance.

The few times he’d made eye contact with her, she’d smiled but looked away as if unsure of herself.

This morning was the first time they had really spoken. It had taken all he could do not to pull her into his arms and kiss her in the doorway of her bedroom. Instead, he escorted her outside and to the carriage where her family waited and then ridden outside to keep watch for Derringer.

Derringer. It always came back to him. Castillo had to get her safely to Boston as soon as possible, but he couldn’t think about not seeing her again. Not yet. Not when they had the rest of the day and tonight.

Already apprised of their arrival, the justice of the peace ushered them into his office, a small, stuffy room that everyone barely fit inside. “Welcome, welcome,” he greeted them.

Carolina found her way to Castillo’s side and slid her hand in his.

He gave it a squeeze. Though his heart was beating faster than the hooves of a galloping horse, he was certain that this was right.

He wanted her in every way a man could want a woman and for more than he’d let on.

More than the years it would take her to get through school.

“Let’s get started,” the man said a moment later when the door closed and took his place standing behind his desk. “We are gathered today to join Castillo Jameson and Caroline Hartford in marriage.”

Minutes later, Castillo was sliding his mother’s ring onto her finger.

The room was silent after he’d voiced his vows.

Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he stared into her eyes, hoping that she knew that he meant them.

He would love her and honor her even though he still hadn’t the slightest idea how to actually be with her.

He searched her eyes for some hint of regret or sorrow—this couldn’t possibly be the wedding she’d imagined for herself—but all he saw was hope and an emotion he couldn’t identify shining out at him.

Part of him wanted to call it love, but—

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” The words penetrated Castillo’s thoughts, bringing with them a well of emotion that swelled in his chest and made it ache.

Carolina smiled up at him. Shyness and nervousness was evident in that smile, but she wasn’t uncertain.

She tightened her hold on his hand until her father shoved in between them to shake his hand.

She stepped back out of the way, but her gaze didn’t leave Castillo’s until her aunt pulled her into an embrace, blocking her view of him.

Castillo mumbled words to Hunter, Zane, Tanner and her father, but he couldn’t stop looking at her.

He couldn’t believe that she was his—that this amazing woman had agreed to become his wife.

Wife. He knew he shouldn’t get too attached to the word because this was only a marriage of convenience, but he liked it. He liked it a lot.