CHAPTER TWO — THE WIFE WHO EXPECTED NOTHING

Emily moved into the Hayes farmhouse three days after the wedding.

It wasn’t really a farmhouse.

It was a mansion disguised as one.

The property stretched across rolling green fields. There were barns, stables, orchards, gardens, and dozens of workers.

Emily had never seen anything like it.

She expected Nathaniel to remind her constantly that she was there because of a contract.

Instead, he did something far more confusing.

He gave her freedom.

“You can use any room you like.”

Emily stared at him.

“Except yours?”

Nathaniel almost smiled.

“My room is yours too.”

She immediately looked away.

“I’ll sleep somewhere else.”

“As you wish.”

He walked away.

Emily frowned.

Why wasn’t he angry?

Why wasn’t he demanding the rights of a husband?

That evening, dinner was served in a dining room large enough for twenty people.

Emily sat alone at one end.

Nathaniel sat at the other.

Neither spoke.

Finally, Emily placed down her fork.

“You don’t have to pretend.”

Nathaniel looked up.

“Pretend what?”

“That this is a real marriage.”

His expression changed slightly.

“To you, perhaps it isn’t.”

Emily stiffened.

Nathaniel continued quietly.

“But I intend to treat you as my wife.”

“You paid for my family’s debt.”

“I helped your family.”

“You bought this marriage.”

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened.

“I never bought you.”

Emily fell silent.

Nathaniel stood.

“Good night, Emily.”

She watched him leave.

For the next several weeks, their strange marriage continued.

Nathaniel left before sunrise and returned after dark.

He never demanded affection.

Never questioned where she went.

Never criticized her simple dresses or her habit of helping in the kitchen.

Instead, little things began happening.

A new pair of boots appeared outside her room after he noticed her old ones had holes.

A warm shawl arrived before winter.

When Emily mentioned once that she missed the apple trees at home, Nathaniel ordered workers to plant dozens of young trees near the farmhouse.

She began to suspect something.

Then one afternoon, she discovered an old wooden box in Nathaniel’s study.

Inside was a collection of small things.

A faded ribbon.

A dried wildflower.

A recipe written in delicate handwriting.

And a photograph.

Emily picked it up.

Her heart stopped.

It was a picture of her.

She was seventeen.

Standing beside her father at the county harvest festival.

She had forgotten the picture existed.

Why did Nathaniel have it?

Before she could think, Nathaniel entered.

He froze.

Emily slowly turned toward him.

“How long have you had this?”

Nathaniel said nothing.

“Why do you have my picture?”

He looked at the photograph.

Then at her.

“Because I couldn’t throw it away.”

Emily’s heartbeat quickened.

“Why?”

Nathaniel stepped closer.

“Because I loved the girl in that picture long before she ever knew my name.”

Emily stared at him.

The room suddenly felt too small.

“You’re lying.”

“I wish I were.”

He walked past her.

But Emily caught his sleeve.

“Then why did you make this marriage a transaction?”

Nathaniel looked down at her hand.

“Because I knew you would never marry me for love.”

His voice broke slightly.

“So I gave you a reason you couldn’t refuse.”