by Rose, Louise
“I understand.” I speak through gritted teeth, but it’s enough to satisfy him.
“So, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, not only did you manage to manoeuvre yourself into an engagement with House Navarre, which was a rather bold move on your part, you’ve been developing connections with House Knight and House Dauphin.”
“Declan’s just my writing partner,” I say.
“Now, now, Ivy.” My father tuts. “You and I both know that’s not true. You and Declan have a very… special connection.”
I pale. How on earth had my father found out about me and Declan? Nobody knew about our times together.
“I commend you for your forward thinking,” he continues. “It was very sensible of you to build alliances with the other Houses to keep your options open. But now you have only one option open to you: Lucas. He is your husband and you will be a faithful wife to him.”
“Or what?”
The blow comes without warning, a slap to the side of the head which sends me sprawling. I cry out in pain, putting a hand to the side of my head where my father had hit me.
“Some women need firm discipline,” he snarls, and the evil side of my father I hate to see comes out in full. I don’t know how I am related to this monster. “Your mother was just the same. They won’t listen to reason, so you have to make sure they get the message another way. You are to stay away from those boys. Do you understand me?”
“You really think you can beat me into doing what you want?” I know talking back to him is dangerous, but I don’t care. He might have a temper, but I am my father’s daughter. I am going to get back at him for this.
“I can have a darned good go.” My father raises his arm to hit me again, but Lucas catches it.
“That’s enough!” he snarls. “You’ve gone too far. Ivy might be your daughter, but she’s my wife and nobody lays a finger on her. Do you understand me?”
For a moment I think my father will hit him as well, but to my surprise, he lowers his arm, nodding.
“You’re right,” he says. “Ivy is your wife, and it’s up to you to keep her in line. But I warn you now-–do not let her make a fool of you with those other boys. A bit of fun is fine while you’re young, but as a married couple, a married Archaic couple, you both have an image to uphold. If I hear you’re allowing her to do anything to bring our name into disrepute, I will be holding you responsible for any consequences arising from that. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir.” Lucas nods.
He comes over and reaches out his hand to help me up. I take it, never taking my eyes off my father as Lucas puts his arm around me in a reassuring hug.
“Now,” my father went on as if nothing happened. “It’s the King Town annual ball this weekend. You will both be attending and as your first major event as a married couple it is important you make the right impression. Ivy, this is your opportunity to prove you are a true Archaic. You have an uphill battle given your recent behaviour, so don’t let me down.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t,” I snap. I’ll just stab you in the back the first second I get.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Safely back in our rooms, Lucas turns to me, a worried look on his face. He brushes my hair out of my face, wanting to get a good look at where my father had hit me.
“Are you okay? Ivy, I’m so, so sorry. I had no idea he was going to do that.”
“I know.” I wave him away. His fussing irritates me. “And I’m fine. You don’t need to stress about me. I can take care of myself.”
“But you don’t have to.” Exasperated, Lucas runs a hand through his hair. “That’s the whole point. That’s what I’ve been trying to get through to you. You’re not on your own anymore. You can rely on me. I’ll look after you.”
“You just don’t get it, do you?” I shake my head. “I don’t want or need you to look after me. I was never one of those girls who imagined a white wedding, a prince swooping in to rescue her from her life. I saw what my mother was like after she left my father. I swore I would never let a man affect me like that. If I can’t stand on my own two feet without a man propping me up, then I’m a pretty sorry excuse for a woman. So if you’re serious about making this marriage work, you’ve got to start giving me some space to make my own decisions.”
“But what about--”
“My father?” I humourlessly laugh. “Don’t worry about him. I know how to keep up appearances. Years of sneaking out of foster homes taught me a lot about leading a double life. I’ll make sure he has the good little Archaic girl he wants me to be. But he doesn’t get to control me, and neither do you. I’m going to do what I want and you can either support me in that as the husband you claim you want to be, or you can go telling tales to my father, in which case I’ll know you’re the spineless wonder the boys say you are. It’s your choice. Now I’m going to take a shower. It’s been a long day.”
Lucas leaves me alone as I head off to the bathroom. I turn the water up as hot as I can take it and stand under it without washing. Letting the water cascade over me in a vain attempt to stop my mind racing at a thousand miles a minute.
It never gets any easier. It seems that everyone is determined to make my life as complicated as possible.
After the water begins to cool, I pick up the soap and scrub myself down. Sometimes it feels like a shower is the only time where I get any privacy...room to think. Shutting off the water, I put my PJs on. It’s still early, but it has been a long day and I want nothing more than to flop into bed and binge some Netflix.
“You okay?” asks Lucas, who is already stretched out on the bed. “Want me to get some food brought up?”
“No.” I sigh. “I’m not hungry. You get something if you want.”
“No, I’m fine. Besides, it would be rude to eat in front of you if you’re not having anything.” He pats the bed beside him. Even sitting next to him feels like a betrayal. However, he did protect me and a part of me knows he isn’t the bad guy.
“Anything in particular you want to watch?” Lucas asks. “There’s a new game show where people have to figure out a way round a maze while dressed up like rats. Looks silly but fun. Or we can check out that zombie survival drama if you like.”
“I don’t mind. Whatever you want.”
Lucas points the remote at the TV mounted opposite our bed and flicks through Netflix to find Where’s My Cheese? The game show is as daft as it sounds, and just what I need to take my mind off everything that has happened.
After a few episodes, Lucas puts on a thriller. I’ve seen it before, so I close my eyes, listening to the sounds of a father desperately trying to rescue his kidnapped daughter before time runs out and her attackers kill her. If only my father would do something like that for me. My life would be so different.
I’m so comfortable I end up drifting off to sleep out, worn out and exhausted.