Page 24 of Unseen

I turned to face her, lifting one hand then another for her to secure the small pearly buttons at the sleeves of the dress. She eyed me uncertainly, and took a deep breath.

“I will not leave your service, madam.” Sweet little Mary jutted out her chin, her eyes fixed on mine. “I will not. For I am devoted to you, and whatever… whatever sin you may have committed, that is for God to judge, and not for me.”

“And if your family calls you away?” Suddenly, I did feel as though I might cry.

I had truly had too much to drink, for the thought of Mary, sweet, innocent Mary, and her hard-working, dedicated family, seeing me fall from grace, into ruin, shunned by all society - that hurt more than anything else.

That this good family should see their daughter tainted by being associated with someone like me.

It was a judgement that was almost too much to bear.

“I have promised them a place for their daughter in a good Christian household, and instead she finds herself in a house of debauchery.”

Mary gripped my hands, and shook her head. “As long as I can stay, I shall, madam. I shall not forsake you now, not when you need me.”

Mary had no idea just how much I needed her. In the face of Azriel’s possession, I did not know that I wouldn’t be dragged under and drowned. Even now, I could feel his eyes on me, haunting me, lurking in the darkness with a promise of blood - my blood - should I not do his bidding.

My ruin lay hours away, and between it and now, there was only a cursed meal to be shared with my fiancé.

“You are drunk.”

There was not a hint of judgment in Azriel’s tone as I took my place at the table.

He was seated at the head, and had my place set to his right.

I had wavered on my way into the room, wobbling on the heels of my shoes.

But I sat now, back straight and a haughty look pulled into place, avoiding his gaze.

“I am not drunk,” I replied, suppressing a hiccup. “I am simply tired. ”

“Well, you look stunning.” Azriel’s lecherous gaze was so overwhelming I did not even have to look at him to sense it. “The colour is so much more becoming against your skin than black.”

“I did not feel that it was necessary to keep the charade going any longer.” I pressed a bitter smile in his direction before snatching up the wine that had already been served into a tall glass, throwing back a gulp that was far from ladylike.

“Since the wedding is tomorrow and the staff shall all know what kind of master they serve.”

“And what kind of master is that?”

“One that marries a woman illicitly when he knows plainly he cannot have her.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I do not think you are prepared for what this will mean for us.”

He rubbed his lower lip thoughtfully, then shrugged and took up his own glass of red wine. “Your maid has declared her intention to leave then?”

“No, thank God.”

Azriel raised his eyebrows. “Well, see then. Her devotion to her mistress is truly admirable. How kind and generous you must be, for her to stay despite your imminent downfall.”

I scowled at him, the brandy heating my blood and fuelling my simmering rage further. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Watching you come undone?” He leaned on the table, his eyes wandering over my face. “Watching this facade you have built up shatter into a million tiny pieces, ever so slowly? Yes, I confess I am enjoying it immensely.”

“Do you hate me so?”

“I have never hated you, beloved.” He reached out to take my hand, his lips lifting into a brief smile when I pulled my hand away. “In fact, it is you who hated me, all these years, and I could never quite figure out why. ”

“Because you are a cad, and a liar, and you spent your father’s money on all those pleasure jaunts to Greece.”

“My mother’s money.” He corrected me so calmly and quietly, smiling at me softly. “You look confused. You did not know?”

I blinked at him, cursing how much brandy I had imbibed, for now my brain was so fuzzy it could not make sense of what he was telling me.

“Your - your mother’s money?”

Azriel nodded slowly. “Indeed. She was from an exceedingly wealthy family from Barcelona. I share blood with the Spanish royal family.”

“I had no idea, your father told me he’d married well below his station all his life.”

Azriel laughed bitterly, swirling the wine in his glass.

“Yes, he loved that claim. And when he brought home my mother, with all the exotic beauty of a Spanish duchess, it was an easy claim to make.” His brow furrowed for a moment, but he quickly recovered, looking at me over the rim of his glass.

“So was it jealousy that made you hate me? That I was out in the world, philandering, while you were stuck here in this dreary manor?”

“Certainly not.”

“Then what?”

I glared at him, my head starting to throb. “I hated you for many, many reasons. I hated the way you looked at me. The way you spoke to me, calling me Evie and stepmother . The way you were so familiar, and yet so distant.”

“All reasons for annoyance, surely, but hatred?” He shook his head, looking me up and down slowly as though admiring a painting hanging on the wall. “Hatred is something much deeper, Evie, and I fear you are not being honest with me.”

The door swung open, and one of the maids hurried in, followed swiftly by a butler. Both carried trays of food, the smell of which made my stomach lurch and grumble at the same time. The food was laid out before us, but before they could serve, Azriel waved them away.

“Leave us.” He commanded, his eyes remaining on me, not saying another word until the footsteps of the two servants had retreated, and we were once again alone.

“You look rather pale, beloved. Come, you must eat.” He placed slices of beef, golden boiled potatoes, and a ladle of peas on my plate, covering the food in a thin brown gravy.

“This is your special dinner, is it?” I couldn’t help but laugh as I cut into the meat. “I had expected something much more grand. Duck perhaps, or a suckling pig.”

“Perhaps I am saving that for our wedding feast.”

“Oh yes, what a feast we shall have.” I affected a sing-song voice, looking at Azriel with raised eyebrows and clapping my hands together.

“How many of our friends shall be in attendance? Hmm? Who shall stand up for you? And for me? My goodness, how many bridesmaids shall I have? It is only a shame my own father could not be here to give me away to this cursed family yet again.”

“Have you told them yet?”

“Of course not.”

Azriel chuckled softly, pouring himself more wine. “Waiting until it is an inevitability, eh?”

I slammed my cutlery down on the table, wanting to drive the knife through his hand. “Why are you enjoying this so much? Do you know what they will do? Not only have they been left penniless, but now they are to find their daughter ruined, no more good name to speak of.”

He rubbed a hand across his chin. “What makes you think I would leave them penniless?”

Hope sparked within me, breaking through my drunkenness and giving me a small moment of clarity. “You do not intend to abandon them?”

“They are your family, it is your ancestral home, and therefore they shall be my family, a home that I, too, have ties to.”

I didn’t trust a word he said, he was too much of a monster for that. But I had to believe it, somehow. I had borne his father for three years, perhaps I could bear Azriel too, if only for my family’s sake.

“You will continue to support my father?”

Azriel nodded. “Certainly. If you show me just how ardently you desire it.”

A chill ran straight to the base of my spine. “What do you mean?”

Azriel pushed his chair back from the table, his long legs spread out before him. “I want you to show me just what you would do to secure your family’s place. Perhaps, if I can be persuaded, then I shall continue to send your father the money he so covets.”

“I am to be your wife, is that not proof enough?”

“No.” His eyes darkened. “Words and titles mean nothing. But getting to your knees, and begging for my mercy, showing me with that sweet mouth of yours just what you are willing to give… That, beloved, would indeed convince me.”

“You want to defile me like your whore?” My eyes dropped to his crotch, where I could already see him swelling obscenely. “You want me to take that thing in my mouth, like she did when you forced her?”

“Rebecca was more than willing, you could learn something from her.” Azriel’s mouth spread into the most vile grin. “I could point out the brothel in Stepney next time we are in the area, if you like. ”

I clenched my eyes shut and looked away. “You are disgusting.”

“So, you do not wish to secure your family home? Hmm.”

I snatched up my wine glass and downed the remaining wine in one gulp. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, all effort to be ladylike now long gone. “I did not say that.”

“Then go to your knees and show me just what a dutiful daughter you are.”

“What kind of man would ask his wife to do such a thing?”

His eyes flamed. “My wife? You are not yet my wife. For now, you are still my whore, little viper, and I will treat you as such. Now, on your knees.”

“Absolutely not, the servants will see.” My eyes flitted to the door, and I shook my head. “At any moment, someone could walk in, and to see me so-”

“Very well.” Azriel rose to his feet, straightening his jacket. “I shall write my lawyer then, and tell him to cut off the endowment to your father.”

I gawped at him. “You would not dare.”

He flashed me another venomous smile, and moved to walk past me. “Have it your way, Evie.”

“No!” I jumped to my feet, and took hold of his arm. “Stop! Please, you cannot do that to him!”

“I can and I will, as I see fit.”

“Is this how it is to be?” I squared my shoulders as I stared up at him, unable to stop my lip trembling. “Whenever I do not do your bidding, you will violate me?”