Once Upon an Irritatingly Magical Kiss by Bree Wolf

Chapter Nineteen

Measurements of a Marriage

Abeautiful summer’s day drew many people to Hyde Park. They promenaded along the Serpentine, enjoying the soft balmy breeze as well as the sight of shrubs and flowers in bloom. Bees buzzed busily, and birds trilled from every branch. The lawns were crowded with children, racing one another or enjoying a picnic with their families.

Walking side-by-side with Christina, Thorne glanced over his shoulder at her family, situated under a small tent, their eyes following them like those of hawks. “I wish I could read their minds,” he mumbled before turning back to look at his betrothed. Then he laughed, “Although perhaps it is better that I cannot, for the looks upon some of their faces suggest rather murderous thoughts.”

Christina followed his gaze and chuckled. “I’m afraid you might be correct.” Her eyes shifted to meet his. “Quite frankly, with the exception of Harriet, my sisters seem to dislike you.” She paused, a slight frown coming to her face. “Perhaps that is not completely accurate. They…do not trust you. They are concerned for me.” She lifted her brows in a challenging gesture. “Should they be?”

“Are you asking for them?” Thorne wondered, unable to shake the feeling that something was different since he had returned from Pinewood Manor. “Or for yourself?”

Although the glow in her eyes remained, there was a slight twitch to her lips as though she had to force herself to maintain the smile she showed him. Yes, something was different. “Does it matter? They are a part of me, and I will forever be a part of them. That is what family is, is it not?”

Thorne nodded, well aware that she had not answered his question. “Yes, I’m beginning to see that. Family is priceless.” He thought of Samantha and wondered if perhaps one day the Whickerton clan would strive to protect her as much as they were now protecting Christina. He hoped they would!

The smile upon Christina’s face faltered. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, dropping her gaze momentarily. “I did not mean to cause you pain. I cannot imagine what life would be like without my family. I cannot imagine ever being without them.” Her eyes returned to meet his, a question in them that he understood well without words.

“It is lonely,” Thorne told her openly as they turned down a somewhat less crowded path, the canopy of the trees overhead shielding them from the almost blistering sun. “You learn to rely on yourself alone because, when you’re weak, there’s no one else who will be strong for you. That life has taught me to be cautious and self-sufficient, to be distrustful and always expect the worst in order to be prepared and not be caught off my guard.” Thorne felt her eyes upon him as he spoke. He all but felt her soft breath as she took in every word, mulled it over in her mind and tried to imagine a life quite unlike her own. She was a thoughtful and empathetic person, and Thorne liked that about her.

He liked her.

Christina looked lost in thought for a long time and just when he was about to ask what was on her mind, she turned to him and asked, “What is marriage to you?”

Thorne had to admit that he had not expected that question, and so he shrugged. “Quite truthfully, I have not yet given it much thought. As I’ve never been married before, I have no experience to draw upon.” He grinned at her, trying to lighten the mood because he sensed that something else was hiding underneath that simple question. “I suppose, marriage means companionship. It means to have someone to speak to and to count on. At least, I hope it will.”

Her head bobbed along to his words as though in approval, and he could see a small measure of relief lighting up her eyes. Had she been concerned?

“And for you?” Thorne asked as he moved to step into her path, his gaze seeking hers. “What does this marriage mean for you? After all, you’ve made it unmistakably clear that you do not approve of me in any way and are only sacrificing yourself in order to protect your friend.” He grinned at her, his voice light and teasing. Only he could not deny the sudden tightness that came to his heart.

Christina shook her head at him, but once again refrained from answering. “Are you ever serious? We are to be married in less than a fortnight, and here you are speaking as though this was nothing more than a jest.” Her brows furrowed as she regarded him carefully. “Is there no small part of you that is concerned? You will be sharing your life with someone you hardly know.”

“Is that what concerns you?” Thorne replied, noting the way her gaze dropped from his for no more than a split second. Although it would have been easy to miss, Thorne could not imagine ever being oblivious to anything that concerned her. It seemed the moment she drew near, his attention, his thoughts and emotions shifted toward her, like a moth drawn to a flame. “Are you worried to be sharing your life with me? If that is the case, then say it.”

For a moment, she hesitated, but then nodded. “It is. Does that surprise you? Displease you?” A daring note came to her voice as she held his gaze.

Thorne could not help but think that this was some kind of test to make out his character, to see what he was made of. “No, it does not surprise me. In fact, it would surprise me if you had no reservations at all for what you say is true, we hardly know each other. How am I to know what kind of person you are? Perhaps you have despicable taste, and I will soon find myself living in a home I cannot bear to look at,” he teased, and she laughed. “Perhaps your idea of a delicious dish is one I cannot stomach. Perhaps you have a most dreadful singing voice, and yet insist upon entertaining me each and every night with a song.”

Christina rolled her eyes at him, then turned back down the path, laughing. “Indeed, you are a most dreadful person. How will I ever tolerate you?”

Thorne liked the easy conversation between them, and he hoped it would always be thus. “Perhaps,” he continued, as he fell into step beside her once more, “you snore in your sleep, and I will not have a moment of peace.”

Although she did not stop in her tracks or flinch in any way, Thorne could not help but think that somehow his words unsettled her. Was it the intimacies they would naturally share as husband and wife that gave her concern?

“What would you do,” Christina asked all of a sudden, “if I were to disobey you? To insult you even?” She took one more step and then turned on her heel and faced him, her blue eyes wide and unflinching, demanding an answer.

Thorne chuckled. “Have you not already done so? You’ve told me quite honestly what you thought of me, what you still think of me. As far as I’m aware, you never hesitate to speak your mind, and—”

“Is that something that displeases you?” she asked, and from the tone in her voice Thorne knew that there was only one right answer.

Holding her gaze, Thorne took a slow step toward her until barely an arm’s-length separated them. He watched her draw in a slow breath, the muscles in her neck and shoulders tightening as she held her ground, her blue eyes as watchful as before. “I am aware,” he began, his voice no more than a whisper, “that gentlemen of the ton do not favor women who think for themselves. However, as you have so often pointed out, I am not a gentleman.”

“Does that mean that it does not displease you if I voice my own thoughts? Especially when they’re different from your own?”

Thorne felt the corners of his mouth twitch. “I might not always like what you have to say, but I find that I quite enjoy arguing with you. I suppose, if we always agreed, life would be utterly boring.” He could see something sparking in her eyes, amusement and a sense of approval. Perhaps he had answered correctly, the way she had wanted him to. Only a spark of concern remained. “What is it that frightens you?”

Like a whiplash, her brows drew down, and a scowl came to her face. “I’m not frightened,” she insisted, lifting her arms and crossing them in front of her chest in a gesture of utter defiance.

Thorne did not reply. He merely lifted his brows in challenge…and waited.