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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

WYNTER

S ilas wakes me by kissing me on the cheek. I start, my eyes wide with fear. He smiles, cupping my cheek and placing a kiss on my forehead. “Shower and join me for breakfast on the terrace,” he says, pointing to the double doors that lead out onto the terrace.

Once I’m showered, I step out, and the heat from the sun warms me instantly.

Silas pulls out the seat beside him, and I sit, staring at the array of sweet pastries on the table.

I’m surprised that Ava isn’t here, but he distracts me, pouring tea into my cup.

“Once we’ve eaten, I thought we could go shopping,” he says.

The fact he’s being nice concerns me, so I remain quiet.

“The dresses Ava chose are not really you,” he continues.

“I’m not sure what is me,” I mutter.

“There’s a ceremony this evening, and you’ll need a dress that fits.”

I only manage one pastry, delighting Silas as he comments on my small appetite.

Once we’ve finished, he takes my hand and leads me downstairs to where Ava is waiting in the hall.

She looks tired as she approaches and stands on her tiptoes to kiss Silas on the cheek.

“Good morning,” she greets, smiling up at him.

He stares blankly until she looks my way, “Good morning, Wynter.”

“Morning,” I reply, knowing full well she’s been forced into this fake niceness.

“I’m taking Wynter shopping,” he announces, and her expression changes to shock. “You can help Aurelia get Pearl ready for this evening.”

By the time we get to the village, my mind is racing with questions. I assumed he would have Ava by his side, but his sudden change in mood towards her worries me. If he’s not concentrating on her, his full attention will be on me.

We enter the same shop as yesterday, and the assistant looks concerned. “Were the dresses not acceptable?” she asks Silas.

“My wife has terrible taste,” he tells her. “My new wife is younger and thinner, and she needs to dress appropriately.”

The assistant smiles. “I have some new items out back. Let me get them.”

Silas browses the underwear, picking out a few items that don’t look like underwear at all. He hands them to me. “Try these on.”

I take them, not wanting to be the reason his mood sours.

I go into the cubicle and close the curtain, relieved when he allows it.

I stare at the red bra. It’s lace and there’s no coverage, and the matching knickers are worse.

I sigh before undressing and slipping them on.

I scream in surprise when he tugs the curtain back, and I wrap my arms around myself.

He sniggers, slapping my arms away and taking a step back to admire me.

His appraising eyes don’t make me feel warm and loved like Wrath’s do, so I turn away to look in the mirror and gasp.

The reflection doesn’t look like me. I look . . . sexy .

The assistant returns holding an armful of clothes.

“Okay, this is in season,” she says, holding up a short black dress that looks like I’d need a machine to stretch it over me.

She dumps the pile and begins to wrestle me into it.

When she’s satisfied, she steps back smiling.

“Perfect.” Silas is also smiling, nodding in approval.

I spend the next hour trying on different items, all of which Silas loves, and we end up taking everything. After, he slips his hand in mine and leads me across the road to the bakery. When he senses my reluctance, he pauses. “What?”

“The owners don’t like me,” I mutter.

He stiffens. “Why do you care?”

“Because I’m the reason they lost their child.”

He tugs me forwards, leading me inside. Abel’s father glares at me but smiles at Silas.

“Are you eating in?” he asks, and I frown.

I’ve never been invited to eat in, and I’m surprised when Silas leads me through a door into a café area.

I recognise two wives from the other families, and they smile in Silas’s direction.

We’re seated and brought coffees. “Don’t slouch,” he murmurs, his lips hardly moving.

I sit straighter. “Sorry, I’m nervous.”

“There is no need to be.”

“You put a lot of pressure on me,” I whisper, and he almost smiles. “I have to be on my best behaviour, remember?”

“Are you happy with the clothes?” he asks, stirring his drink, and I nod. “Words, Wynter.”

“Yes, Silas, thank you so much.”

He grins. “You like sarcasm.”

I shake my head, worried I’ve annoyed him after spending a nice hour in his company. For a while, I almost forgot who he was and how much I hate him. “I’m being genuine.”

He nods. “I’m glad you like them. When you’re happy, there’s a light in your eyes,” he says, hooking a finger under my chin and tipping my head up to meet his gaze. “You’re very beautiful.” I’ve never really had a man compliment me, and I blush. “Eyes greener than the ocean.”

I smile. “I’ve never seen the ocean. Isn’t it blue?”

He thinks for a moment before adding, “It appears blue, but from above, there are definitely green areas too. Maybe one day I could take you?”

My heart skips a beat. The thought of leaving the village thrills me, and I have to take a breath to calm myself. He grins wider. “You like that idea?”

I shrug, acting casual. “I’ve never thought about being outside, but I think I’d be safe with you.”

My praise works, and he tries to hide the smile as he takes a sip of his coffee.

Clara, Adrian’s wife, approaches. “Silas,” she greets, “is Ava not well?”

He places his cup down and stares until she wilts slightly. “She’s helping Pearl get ready for this evening.”

“Of course. We’re very excited for you all.”

“I’m sure you remember Wynter,” he continues. She eyes me warily. “She’s my wife now, too.”

“Oh, I wasn’t aware.”

“Were you supposed to be informed?” he asks, arching a brow.

She smiles, stepping back. “I’ll leave you to your coffee.”

He rolls his eyes as she scuttles off back to her friend, probably to gossip. “Nightwear,” he announces, standing. I jump up, surprised by his sudden outburst. “You need better nightwear.”

We go into the third clothes shop, the one we didn’t visit yesterday.

I gasp at the full wall of underwear. There’s not one item made of white cotton in sight.

As we pass, he selects a few pieces, and when we reach nightwear, it’s mostly like the slip Ava wore.

He sighs. “I was hoping for something different.” The assistant smiles knowingly and leads us out back.

She opens a few boxes, and Silas roots through, pulling out the things he likes, which mainly consist of silk but in different styles.

“We also need shoes,” he tells her. “Heels.”

I stare at the red heels held out in front of me.

“Try them,” the assistant says, plopping them on the ground.

I kick off my canvas flats and slip them on, wincing at the way they squeeze my feet.

I wobble, grabbing her arm to steady myself, and Silas grins.

“You’ve never worn heels?” I shake my head.

“You can practise when we get home.” He turns to the assistant. “We’ll take them in red and black.”

By the time we get home, I’m exhausted. Silas leads me to the bedroom and dumps the bags on the bed.

Ava appears from the bathroom, eyeing the bags in annoyance.

“Just the person,” says Silas. “Help Wynter practise walking in those things,” he says, pointing to the shoe boxes, and then he leaves.

I sit on the edge of the bed, slip off my shoes, and rub my feet.

“He’s smiling,” she mutters, lifting the lid from the box and arching a brow. “Red.”

“He chose them,” I utter.

“Of course, he did. He likes his whores to be in slut colours.” She drops the shoes at my feet, almost hitting my toe, and I wince. “Well, put them on.”

I push them on and grab the bed post to steady myself. “I didn’t want this,” I tell her.

“Yet here you are.”

“My father forced me into it,” I spit.

“Because you’re a temptress,” she hisses angrily. “And now, you’re doing it to my husband.”

“I’m not a temptress,” I screech.

“Your mother saw it, and I do too. You tempt the men around you, making sure they give you whatever you want.”

“I do not,” I snap. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Silas re-enters, stopping when he senses the frosty atmosphere. “Ava, are you helping her?”

“Of course,” she says through gritted teeth. She takes both my hands, leading me like a toddler as I walk across the floor. Silas sits on the bed, watching as we walk back and forth until I’m doing it unaided.

“Try on these,” he says, reaching into a bag and retrieving the red lace underwear.

I stare wide-eyed then glance at Ava, who is looking at the floor. “Right now?” I squeak out.

“Right now,” he confirms with the hint of a smile. “With the heels.”

I slip from the summer dress he purchased, realising I don’t feel as self-conscious with both of them here anymore.

Maybe everything that’s happened has forced me to let go of any embarrassment.

I remove my white bra and replace it with red.

I do the same with the knickers and slip the heels back on.

I feel like an animal in the zoo as Silas stares at me. “Walk,” he orders.

He watches every step, his eyes darkening. “Ava, leave,” he orders, and my step falters. I can’t be alone with him dressed like his whore.

Once she leaves, he approaches me, his stance tall as he crowds me.

He cups my face in his large hand and tips my head back slightly, pressing his lips to mine and swiping his tongue into my mouth.

“You’re stunning,” he whispers. His hands rest on my hips, and he glances down between us.

“With the body of an angel.” He pulls me against him, and I feel his erection pressed to my stomach.

“But for now, I’ll leave you be. I know you’re probably sore and still bleeding.

” I nod, relief flooding me. “But soon, my love. Soon.”