Bonds of Matrimony

by A C J McKechnie

  The look of shock on the man’s face who accepted it showed that he’d figured out the same thing as well, but before he could refuse it Ellie jumped in.

  “Life can be difficult at times, especially when you’re chasing your dreams,” she added. “Take what gifts life gives you and keep after those dreams for as long as you can, or until you catch them,” she advised with another smile.

  “This is –”

  “Adequate compensation,” Zachary said from her side. “My wife’s right. Don’t look a gift-horse in the mouth. Just goes to show that a simple act of kindness can reward you more than you think,” he added.

  “And when you get the opportunity in the future, you can help someone else out with their own dreams,” Pauline added. “Now, you boys go catch that dream of yours,” she encouraged, and Ellie watched as the men all made their goodbyes before heading out to their van in the driveway.

  When it was all quiet again Pauline sighed, dusted off her hands, and turned a beaming smile Ellie’s way. “Well now, that was rather rewarding, wasn’t it? What a perfect end to a perfect day,” she added before heading back towards the kitchen again.

  Conscious of the fact that she was still plastered against her husband’s body, Ellie made to move away when she felt his grip tighten again. Looking up to her side warily, she took in Zachary’s face and tried to read the expression, but it was impossible. The man could have been carved out of marble, and his eyes chips of ice.

  “If you want to broadcast to the house that we’re fighting by slamming doors, honey,” he whispered down at her, “then you’d best be prepared to have just as public a making up,” he finished before bending down and capturing her mouth in another brief yet passionate kiss that sent Ellie’s head reeling.

  Staring after the figure of the man as he headed back to his study, Ellie just stood there wondering when her life would stop getting confusing and complicated. With Zachary McCormack in the picture she couldn’t imagine that happening anytime soon, because with Zachary she’d felt something she’d never felt before. And she was very much afraid that it was all going to get a heck of a lot more confusing and complicated before this was all over.

  Chapter Seven

  Pauline was an angel. An absolute angel. Ellie came to that conclusion mere moments after entering the grand ballroom where the Thanksgiving charity dinner was occurring. When the older woman had insisted on Ellie buying the elegant, yet ridiculously overly formal, outfits on their shopping spree, Ellie had been dubious about the necessity of such purchases. Now she couldn’t be more grateful.

  Scanning her surroundings, and the people therein, Ellie found herself utterly stunned by the world she’d ended up in. It was so foreign to what she was used to, to anything that she’d ever experienced before, that it almost felt like an out of body experience. She knew that she was here, but it just didn’t seem real in the slightest.

  She also had no idea what to do, how to act, or what behavior was appropriate. She was completely out of her league, completely out of her element, and completely petrified of it all and of doing the wrong thing. So as out of place as she felt, she was grateful that at least she didn’t look out of place.

  When Pauline had helped her to get ready earlier in the evening, Ellie had thought that the woman was going overboard, but had succumbed to the woman’s greater knowledge at the time. Feeling incredibly self-conscious in such formal attire, Ellie had worried that she’d be drawing undue attention to herself by appearing finer and richer than anyone else.

  She’d expected some sort of comment from her husband to either assuage her fears or prove her right, but as usual, the man had just given her a cold and frosty look before leading them towards the car. They’d travelled in virtual silence and that fact had made Ellie even more jittery.

  Since their confrontation the week before, Ellie and Zachary had spent every dinner that they’d shared exchanging perfunctory information about themselves. Ellie now knew a lot about her husband but still didn’t really know the man at all. She hoped it wouldn’t matter though, hoped it wouldn’t show. She didn’t need to be worrying about failing and dealing with whatever consequences would arise because of it.

  She didn’t think that he’d take it out on her though. Not yet. Her father had told her that the man needed a wife and an heir, and she didn’t think that he’d do anything to change that for the moment. No, what Ellie was worried about was how her husband could exact his revenge on her father instead. And the older man already had enough to contend with as it was.

  Ellie hated the fact that her dad was now alone, that he didn’t have anyone to care for him. Speaking to him every day was a comfort of a sort, but she could tell that something wasn’t right. He said that he was happy for her, that he could see how good everything would be for her, but she could hear the sadness in his tone as he spoke.

  His health hadn’t improved any, and he even seemed more tired than usual. She didn’t know what he was doing to support himself financially, and he refused to talk to her about it all. Which was another worry. They’d never hidden things from each other in her family. They’d always been open and honest. So for him to keep things back was out of character.

  To that end, Ellie had contacted the Lowensteins, asking them to keep a close eye on her father. She knew that they would anyway, but with Ellie voicing her concerns she knew that the couple would be extra vigilant and aware that there was something for them to be concerned about.

  They’d called her a few times in the last week and a half, and Ellie hadn’t had her fears settled at all. They too were concerned about her father’s welfare. They were speculating that perhaps it was his being alone now that might be affecting his spirits, but even they could see that something wasn’t entirely right with him.

  Ellie didn’t know what it meant, but she was worried. And with the knowledge that something was weighing heavily on and affecting her father, she wanted to ensure that her actions wouldn’t result in having any further burdens placed upon his shoulders. Which meant that she’d have to be above reproach tonight. A feat that she wasn’t sure that she was up to, considering how controlling her husband was.

  “What’s the matter?” came the voice from next to her, and Ellie looked up in surprise at the man there.

  “What?” she asked in confusion.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked more sternly as they stopped and he looked more fully down at her.

  Feigning a nonchalance which she didn’t feel in the slightest, Ellie just shrugged at him in answer. “Nothing. Just taking it all in, I suppose,” she said and looked around herself again.

  When Zachary remained silent she looked back up at him to see him studying her intently, and she almost shivered at the frostiness in his gray eyes as he did so.

  “You’re lying,” he said with narrowed eyes. “But I suppose that’s to be expected, isn’t it?” he added before turning away, and Ellie found her hackles rising.

  “Excuse me?” she demanded while planting her feet when he made to move off again.

  “This whole thing is a lie, isn’t it? It shouldn’t surprise me that you’re good at it,” he clarified before smiling at somebody who passed them. “You can lie to everyone else, honey,” he snarled into her ear, “but you need to think long and hard before you start lying to me.”

  With that edict ringing in her ears, Ellie found herself propelled forward and into the fray that was her first foray into high society. In a way she could thank her husband for distracting her from her surroundings so totally, but she wasn’t inclined to do so when one considered how he’d done that.

  The fact that the man would demand her to remain honest and aboveboard with him was ludicrous. It was absolutely insane considering the underhanded manner in which their whole marriage had been arranged.

  Apparently it was perfectly acceptable for him to be a vindictive and manipulative snake, but she had to be everything that he demanded. Not that Ellie was inclined to lie, but she wa
s sorely tempted to spend the rest of her life lying to the man out of spite.

  Her own vindictive thoughts were splintered when she found herself ushered into a cluster of people and introduced to various businessmen and their wives. Smiling and attempting to be civil and cordial, Ellie focused her attention on the actions of those around her, hoping for some sort of glimpse and education on how to behave during the evening.

  As she observed everyone she noticed a pattern and realized that as much as progress had been made with gender equality, high business was clearly a male dominated world. The men were busy discussing business and other matters of concern to them, and the women were there on their arms, trinkets to display, no different to their fancy tuxedos or expensive watches.

  Ellie had never considered herself dimwitted, or lacking intelligence, but everything that was being bandied about was above her head and she couldn’t help but find herself searching around the room and watching everyone else.

  She wasn’t the only woman who was apparently finding their brains shutting down for the night either, the looks on plenty of the other women’s faces were as blank and vacant as she knew her own was. A couple of the women joined in the discussions taking place, but on the whole it was obvious that for the rest of them the night was going to be a long and tedious one.

  She had no choice but to endure it, however. Her husband’s arm was firmly linked around her waist, and Ellie found herself distracted by that fact. She had nothing else to occupy her thoughts at the moment and they reluctantly strayed back to the kiss that they’d shared a week earlier.

  Despite her best intentions, Ellie couldn’t banish it from her memory. Secretly she could admit to herself that it was amazing, utterly enthralling. Of course she’d deny that fact to her dying breath, but internally she wasn’t going to lie to herself; she’d been swept away by the man. A fact that unsettled and unnerved her.

  How could a man who she didn’t know, who she didn’t even like, have such a powerful effect on her? Even now, the feel of his arm resting along her waist and hip was warming her up and sending shivers down her back. When she felt his fingers gently stroke her waist she found her breath hitching and looked up at him to see what was going on with the man.

  Nothing. It was as if he didn’t even know that she was there. He was completely focused on the others around him, and Ellie blushed before looking quickly away again. She was reacting to the man and it had no effect on him whatsoever, as if that didn’t heap mortification on top of the embarrassment that she already felt.

  When a deep rumble of laughter spilled out of him she focused back on Zachary’s face and studied this carefree and light-hearted side of the man. It was as if the cold-hearted Beast was nowhere to be seen, and Ellie found herself confused by it all. How could he so easily slip into this warm character beside her?

  No sooner had she had the thought then he glanced down at her and the warmth in his eyes completely vanished, to be replaced by the cool ice that was always there when he looked at her. Looking away quickly again, Ellie swallowed hard and reminded herself that the man was a master manipulator. Of course he’d be able to portray himself as something completely contradictory to his true nature.

  As her thoughts started to run down a familiar avenue, one which told her that she was seeing things in her husband that weren’t there and she should stop trying to see a positive in the scenario and instead accept reality, she found herself being led towards a nearby round table.

  Pulling back a chair for her, Zachary helped her into her seat, and Ellie mumbled her thanks before he took his own seat beside her. When her husband immediately turned to his left and started up a conversation with the man seated there, Ellie looked around the table at large and took in the occupants.

  The table was big and seated ten people comfortably. As Ellie took in the other occupants as they took their own seats, she found herself surprised that there weren’t more women. As her gaze swung around the room as a whole she suddenly realized that there seemed to be plenty of men attending without dates. Confused at the fact, she was startled by a voice speaking to her from the side.

  “So you’re the new Mrs McCormack then?” the man said, and Ellie looked to her right to see a man about the same age as her husband smiling at her.

  Extending her hand, she replied, “Ellie McCormack. Zachary and I were married on Saturday the week past.”

  “It’s nice to finally meet the woman that snagged him,” the other man said with a smile, and Ellie smiled politely in return. “I must say though, that the rumors don’t do you justice,” he added, and Ellie looked at him in surprise.

  “Rumors?” she asked.

  “Of course. It’s not every day that one of the most powerful and rich men in the state suddenly ups and marries somebody that nobody even knew existed,” he said with a playful laugh, and Ellie looked at him with a frown on her face. What else were they saying about her?

  Her dinner companion must have noticed her look because he sobered and explained himself, “Zach’s always been so focused on his work and business that people have been wondering at the sudden event. You must understand that.”

  “Yes. I’m not that naïve. This might all be new to me, but I can understand how people would be speculating. It’s just … I suppose I’m not used to it, Mr … uh …,” she floundered as she realized that she didn’t know his name.

  “Langley, Oscar Langley,” he supplied with a smile, and Ellie nodded at him.

  “Well, Mr Langley –”

  “Call me Oscar,” he urged, and Ellie looked at him in surprise.

  “Oh … umm … alright,” she said. “Anyway, as I was saying, I’m not used to so many people taking any sort of interest in me or my actions. And definitely not by strangers who’ve never met me.”

  “No?” he asked with real curiosity, and Ellie shook her head in response. “What are you used to then, Ellie? What’s your background?” he inquired, and Ellie paused while the first course was placed in front of her.

  “My father was a builder,” she started.

  “Would I know his business?” he asked, and Ellie smiled in response.

  “I suppose I should have said a laborer instead.”

  “Oh! Really?” he said in surprise as his eyes widened. “I’m sorry,” he quickly inputted, “that sounded rude, didn’t it? I didn’t mean it like that,” he added, and Ellie just smiled at him.

  “It’s fine. I’m not ashamed of my background. And I’m definitely not ashamed of my father. He worked hard every day of his life to make sure that we were well provided for, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything that he did for me,” she said proudly.

  “Well, a man who works hard is always to be admired, regardless of what that work is,” he said with a smile. “I guess this must all be new to you then?”

  “Yes,” she said with wide eyes. “Very.”

  “Feeling overwhelmed?”

  “You could say that.”

  “And I’d hazard that if I did it would be a gross understatement,” he retorted playfully, and Ellie’s smile widened at his intuitiveness.

  “Most definitely. I’m more used to being on the other side of all this,” she said as she waved around her vaguely.

  “Used to waiting on instead of being waited on then?”

  “Actually, I never even did that,” she confessed and watched as he looked at her in obvious interest as to what she meant. “I was very much one of the staff behind the scenes,” she elaborated.

  “What did you do then?”

  “I was a maid at The Palatio,” she said and watched as his eyebrows shot up before he looked her over again.

  “The Palatio?” he inquired, and she nodded in answer. “I’ve been there a few times. It’s a wonderful hotel.”

  “It really is,” she agreed. “Very grand and elegant.”

  “I’ve always wondered …,” he started before drifting off, and Ellie waited for what he’d been about to say.

&
nbsp; “Wondered what?” she prodded.

  “I’m not sure if I should ask,” he confessed and shot a glance over her shoulder. The move confused her until she remembered that her husband was sitting beside her and Ellie wondered what the man was worried about asking which would have him glancing at her husband.

  “If you say so,” she replied cordially before focusing on the next course that had been placed in front of her.

  As the meal progressed, Ellie found herself pleasantly diverted by the man’s conversation and found herself relating some of her fond memories to him. Memories of her mother and father, and the fun times which she’d had at school when she was younger.

  “You never went to college?” he asked, and she shook her head.

  “My grades weren’t good enough to get a scholarship, and we couldn’t afford it. I graduated high school and started working straight away.”

  “At The Palatio?” he inquired, and she shook her head again.

  “No. I started working at a slightly smaller hotel. Westerside,” she supplied and watched as he furrowed his brow, obviously trying to place the establishment. “It’s good enough, but nowhere near the caliber of The Palatio.

  “After working there for a year, a colleague of mine mentioned that The Palatio was looking for staff and I took the opportunity to apply. It’s a fantastic place to work at. Good pay, and a great environment. Positions there are highly sought after, and I was lucky enough to have gotten one.”

  “I’d never considered the world of maid service, but I suppose it’s just like any other sector of industry, there are the coveted positions to aspire to. A maid at The Palatio is one of them?” he asked, and she nodded.

  “Oh yeah. There’s always someone looking for a position there. The hours are long, but it’s worth it. You get an amazing benefits package as well, not many places will do that,” she added and watched as he seemed to mull that over.

  “Alright, I’m going to have to ask,” he said with a sigh. “Whenever I’ve stayed there I’ve seen maids wandering about but I’ve never been sure if they really are the maid service, or if they’re props, as it were. Are they real?” he asked, and Ellie smiled at the question.