Page 27 of Unseen

“Not just a widow, Mr Barnley.” Azriel took my hand, and gazed at me lovingly. “My father’s widow.”

“Get out!” Mr Barnley screeched, knocking over a stack of papers as he rounded the desk.

“I was willing to marry you to some shop girl, but this? I will not stand for it. Get ou-” He was cut off with a strangled shriek as Azriel seized his collar, slamming the slight man against the edge of the desk, knocking down yet another stack of papers, which flew straight across the floor of the tiny office.

“Hear me now, you little weasel,” Azriel snarled in the man’s bug-eyed face. “I know of your dealings, and your debts. I know you have drunk and whored away your family’s money, and I do not take kindly to a man who leaves his expecting wife crying in a home with no food, nor heat.”

The man sputtered, slapping at Azriel’s arms, but this only served to have Azriel shake him harder.

“Shut up! I will make right your debts, and see to it that your offspring is not destitute. I shall call off the debtors who would carry away your pretty wife in the night. But the price is this.”

“It is not allowed!” The man squawked, his spectacles sliding from his sweaty nose. “I-I cannot-”

“You can, and you will. Now, marry us, and I shall see to it that besides your debt, a tidy little bonus of two thousand pounds finds its way into your hands. Have I made myself clear?”

Barnley stopped struggling, and I resisted the urge to let out a rather long sigh. The mention of money had his eyes no longer bugging out of his face with fear, but shining with greed.

“Two thousand pounds?” He whispered hoarsely. “That is generous, sir.”

“Exceedingly generous, I think. But you see, my future wife is worth it.” He released Barnley with a shove, turning once again to me with that lovestruck look. “She is worth every penny, and more besides.”

“As are you, my love,” I replied, reaching out a hand to him. “For who needs a good name when I have such a man by my side?”

Azriel grinned wickedly, and planted another quick kiss on the back of my hand. “A true treasure I have found myself, Mr Barnley, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yes, yes, indeed.” Mr Barnley was hardly interested anymore, seeking out papers, and pushing his spectacles back up his nose as he no doubt counted how much money was about to land in his grubby little hands, and just what he would do with it.

For a moment, as I gazed at my husband-to-be, my countenance softened. The way he had spoken of Barnley’s wife and child had startled me. That Azriel should even have any morals surprised me, certainly, and to hear him speak of a woman abandoned by her husband in such a way…

But I could not let him fool me. This was all a means to an end, and nothing more.

Barnley’s failings, just like my own, were nothing but a tool Azriel could use against him.

I knew that if Azriel saw Barnley’s poor wife destitute on the street, he’d step over her the same as he would any other person he considered beneath him.

“Very well, sign here,” Barnely said, waving a pen in our direction.

“Sign?” I asked, frowning at the paper. “No vows?”

Barnley sighed and glared at me over his spectacles. “Madam, this is not a church, and if you wished to say vows you should have considered- ”

“I would choose my next words exceedingly carefully,” Azriel said, his voice low with threatening menace as he signed the paper on Barnley’s somewhat less crowded desk.

Barnley cleared his throat. “I only meant, madam, that this is a civil ceremony. A pure legality. No ceremony at all.” His eyes flickered to Azriel, rubbing his hands together like a greedy little troll.

“I understand that you may be disappointed, of course, but I have no doubt that Mr Caine has a wonderful honeymoon planned for you.”

“Certainly!” Azriel’s voice was bright as he handed me the pen. “Spain is lovely this time of year.”

“Spain?” I raised an eyebrow as I took the pen from his hand. “You never mentioned this to me before.”

“A surprise, beloved.”

I inhaled deeply as I put the pen to the paper, the ink pooling into a blot as I hesitated.

This was it. My final warrant, not for death but for a life of captivity.

Forever the property of Azriel Caine. I dared not even hope for the marriage to be declared invalid, for then he would still hold all the cards. I knew he could never let me go.

There was no escape for me now.

With a swish of the pen, I signed my name, and Barnley snatched the paper away to sign it himself, slamming a giant stamp onto the paper so the table shook. Signed and sealed. I was Evangeline Caine once more.

“And it is done,” Barnley said, fanning a hand over the paper to dry the ink. “Congratulations. May you enjoy many happy years together as husband and wife.”

“May I kiss my bride?” Azriel asked, pulling me close to him.

“If you must,” Barnley muttered, smiling quickly as Azriel’s head snapped in his direction. “You may kiss your bride!” The man announced joyously .

Azriel turned back to me, smiling down at me. “You are my world, Evie. Never forget it.”

The kiss was soft, and warm. I hated how it felt, how final, how possessive his hand was around my waist. It was far too consuming and far too awkward, which was ridiculous considering all the things this man and his mouth had done to me over the past days. But the action felt almost… reverent.

When he drew back from me, he planted one smaller kiss against the tip of my nose, and I sucked in a breath. That felt too intimate. I hated the wave of emotion it stirred up within me.

I had to remind myself that I did not want this, and as much as Azriel was playing the part of the devoted, giddy groom, he was putting on as much of an act as I. Nothing but a play, albeit one performed to perfection, to convince the weasel Barnley that this illicit marriage was genuine.

“For better or worse, Evie. Til death us do part,” Azriel murmured the words, his icy blue eyes gazing into mine.

“Indeed.” I wanted to say more, but I was keenly aware of Barnley staring at us, the rolled up marriage certificate bouncing in his hand as he proffered it to us.

Azriel plucked it from his hand, and gave the man a nod. “Thank you, and good day to you, sir. You have truly been of great service to me today.” He offered his arm, which I took, and ferried me towards the door.

Barnley rounded his desk, rubbing his hands together. “Mr Caine? I mean, sir, I only mean, uh…. When may I expect, I mean… The funds, sir?”

Azriel stopped, turning his head to give the man a languid smile. “My good man, my lawyer is paying off your debtors as we speak. Rest assured, all shall be taken care of by morning.” We again resumed our walk to the door, when Barnley hurried after us .

“Sir, I did mean, the, uh, the extra funds?”

Azriel turned us so we were both facing him, and he perched his hat on his head, adjusting his cane and tapping it in Barnley’s direction. “Do you think I am not good for it?”

Barnley’s eyebrows shot up right along with his hands, and he shook his head quickly. “Oh no, sir, no, I only mean to inquire as to when-”

“Your lady wife shall be receiving the funds shortly.” Azriel cast a quick glance at the clock that ticked solemnly against the wall. “Yes, I gave instructions for ten.”

“My-my wife?” Barnley had not been expecting this, and I suppressed a smirk.

“Of course, sir,” I said brightly, giving the weasel the most dazzling smile I could manage. “Your good lady wife is of course in charge of the household, therefore it would only make sense for the funds to be delivered into her trusted hands. Seeing as she has a child to prepare for.”

Azriel chuckled low in his throat, clasping my hand tighter under his arm. It felt devious to almost be in league with him, but to see the smarmy man squirm and run for his hat was worth it.

“Excuse me, please!” Barnley practically sprinted out of the office, leaving Azriel and I to suppress our laughter as we followed him out onto the street, and to our awaiting carriage.

I cast one last look after Barnley’s retreating figure as I climbed up, hoping his wife delivered of a healthy child, and gave her husband a what for.

“Evangeline Caine,” Azriel said as the carriage began to bounce along the streets. “You are truly a marvel.”

“Hardly a marvel.” I smoothed down my skirts, gazing nonchalantly out of the window. “I simply have no patience for men like that.”

“Then you and I are, at least, in agreement on something. ”

I turned back to face him. “Did you really send the money to his wife?”

“I did. She is a good woman, married far below her station but her family had lost everything. I tend to find such cases tug at my heartstrings.” His mouth shifted into a crooked smile. “Although you, at least, chose well.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “Chose. What an interesting word that is.”

“Indeed. Speaking of choice.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small blue velvet box. “We did not have time in the register there, but I feel the vows are not sealed until there is a ring, wouldn’t you agree?”

I raised an eyebrow, and took the box from his hand.

“I suppose it depends on the ring.” I flipped the box open, and my heart skipped a beat.

Or perhaps even several. I had never in my life seen a diamond that size before.

I stared at it, my mouth agape, as it sparkled and glimmered in the muted London light.

“Is it too garish, beloved?” Azriel leaned forward to take the ring from the box, gently sliding his hand around mine to place the ring on my left hand.

“I did think that for the queen of my heart, only the best would do. And since this is the biggest diamond my mother’s family had, it seemed only fitting that it be yours. ”

“This was your mother’s?”

Azriel shook his head. “My grandmother’s. I asked for it, the last time I was in Spain.”

“The last time…” I trailed off, my head whirring with too many questions. “But, why would you ask for this when-”

“Because I hoped, Evie.” His eyes darkened. “I hoped, and I prayed. And by a miracle, my prayers were answered.”

I stared at him, the cage growing tighter and tighter around me. “You hoped… for me? ”

“All these years, Evie.” He clutched my hand in his, pressing it to his lips. “I am yours. Your servant. Always.”

I raised my hand to run it over his head, a gentle action, in return for all those he had now given me. The love and tenderness I so desperately longed for. But then I recalled what had occurred merely an hour ago, in that very carriage, on the way to our wedding.

Azriel was no more my servant than the Parish priest. Simply more games, more deceit, more playing the part to get what he wanted. Now I was his wife, he would show me no mercy, of that I was certain.

A pretty ring changed nothing.

I shoved him away from me with a heavy sigh. “You say such things, and yet you do not understand them.”

“Perhaps I do not. But it is such fun to pretend.” The satisfied smirk on his face returned, and I knew I was looking at the real Azriel Caine.

My husband.