How good she feels.
How delicious she smells.
“Thank you,” she whispers against my chest.
I touch her hair, trying to fight the surge of protectiveness for this woman that fills me, but it’s no use.
Guess I’m a sucker for a damsel in distress.
Chapter Twelve
Charlotte
My future husband went through with his threat. First thing Monday morning Mother stops by my room to inform me I’ll be moving out by the end of the day.
The end. Of. The.
Day.
“I can’t pack all of my things in that short amount of time,” I tell her, glancing around my cluttered room, trying to stuff down the panic that rises within me.
“Just pack the necessary items for now and you can get the rest later,” she suggests. “Besides, we’ve already made the arrangements. You and your husband will be moving into the apartment Grant used to keep. The place with the lovely terrace.”
She focuses on the oddest things, I swear to God. Who cares about the terrace? You’d think she’d be upset her only daughter is about to move out earlier than expected with a man.
A man who’ll eventually be my husband, but still.
Doesn’t she care that I’m leaving? Isn’t she worried about me? Or do I not matter to her anymore? Am I only a nuisance?
I decide to put her to the test.
“Great.” I leap to my feet and start pacing the room as I’m wont to do when Mother drops a bomb on me, which is often. “I don’t want to move.”
“You don’t really have a choice,” she murmurs. “He will be your husband in a matter of weeks. He wants you living with him. He called your father first thing this morning and made it happen.”
“He only wants me living with him so he can control me,” I spit out, though I don’t know if that’s true. From what I’ve seen, Perry doesn’t seem the controlling type.
Well.
He was sort of controlling at the engagement party. Very demanding too. But that was out of anger. He wants to protect me, not control me.
At least, that’s what I think.
Hope.
Mother shrugs. Doesn’t offer a reply.
Meaning she believes he wants to control me too—and doesn’t bother trying to stop me from leaving.
Proving my point.
A frustrated growl leaves me as I stomp around my room. I spot Doja under my bed, watching me with her all-seeing golden eyes and I swear I see sympathy on her feline face.
I turn to face my mother. “What about my cat?”
“What about him?”
“Her,” I stress.
Mother shrugs. “You can leave her here. She’ll be fine. Jasper will feed her. Or one of the maids.”
“I don’t want to leave her here. I want to take her with me.” My tone is stubborn and sulky, but I don’t care. Besides, no one would take care of my cat. They’d totally neglect her. She’d probably run away and eventually live on the mean streets of New York City. “Doja’s mine.”
“You’re being ridiculous, Charlotte.” She moves to sit on the edge of my bed, watching me as I pace about. “What you really need to do is learn how to work a man, my dear. Be agreeable. Downright submissive even. Then when they’re content, they won’t feel the need to watch your every move.”
Spoken like a woman with experience. I stop my pacing, curling my arms in front of me. “Is that what you do with my father? Act the submissive pet most of the time and let him feel like he’s the man?”
“I wouldn’t quite put it like that, but something close.” She pats the empty spot beside her. “Come sit with me, darling. You’re giving me a headache.”
I drop my arms at my side and resume my pacing. “You act like none of this is a big deal, when it’s huge. Do you not care that I’m moving out forever? Won’t you miss me?”
That’s what I long to hear. For my mother to hug me and tell me she loves me. That she’ll miss me when I go, and life won’t be the same around here without me.
“Of course I’ll miss you,” she says automatically, sounding like a robot. “But it’s what’s expected. You’re getting married, darling. Aren’t you thrilled?”
I’m scared and nervous and I need her comfort right now, but all she can focus on is how happy I should be.
It’s obvious I’m not happy at all, but she’s either oblivious or she doesn’t want to know what’s really bothering me.
More likely the latter part.
“Perry is a fine young man. He already seems besotted with you.” She smiles and I look away from her, rolling my eyes as I keep pacing.
We’re faking it, and she knows it. Why does she act like this is the real deal between Perry and me?
“From all the society pages showcasing your engagement party, you two look like you’re helplessly in love,” she continues.
I come to a stop once more, glaring at her. “What are you talking about?”
“You haven’t googled yourself? You should.”
Dread settles into my stomach like the heaviest stone. “There are photos from the party? How?”
I don’t recall seeing a photographer there.
“Someone leaked them. One of the guests I assume. There were quite a few characters in attendance I had no idea who they were.” She taps her finger against her lips, momentarily lost in thought. “They’re quite flattering, though. You look lovely. And we were able to move up the engagement announcement to this weekend, thanks to the leak. The society editor was so upset that it happened. She wanted an exclusive, but unfortunately we weren’t able to give it to her. I’ve already promised she’d be the first to know about the birth announcement.”
My jaw drops open. “Birth announcement? Mother, I’m not having sex with that man.”
“Charlotte, please. He’ll be your husband. Of course, you’re having sex with him.”
“No.” I shake my head. “This is a fake marriage, remember?”
“Yes, I remember.” Her voice is droll. “You’ll get to know him. You two will settle into a—comfortable existence.”
That sounds like pure misery.
“I’m not attracted to him.”
That’s a lie. He’s attractive. Every time he touched me, kissed me, I loosened up. I even enjoyed it.
The man can kiss. And he has a way of looking at me, talking to me, as if no one matters. His attention is always one hundred percent for me.
And no one else.
“Darling, he’s a virile, handsome young man with broad shoulders and a pleasant smile. You’ll end up attracted to him. Just let him take the lead. He’ll know what to do.”
Oh my God, she sounds just like Perry when he thought I was a virgin and he told me he’d be gentle.
Please. Maybe I don’t want gentle.
“Maybe he’s not attracted to me. Maybe he’ll never take the lead and I’ll die lonely and heartbroken.” Okay, I’m being a complete drama queen, but what if?
What if Perry is just a really great actor and he doesn’t care about me? The moment we’re married he’ll take off and live his own life, leaving me alone? What then?
What will happen to me?