Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 92: Temptation (2)

It took Ophelia a moment to notice that her hand was no longer held captive by Dante. She lowered her hand when she realised.

"I think we have had enough berries. I am no longer in the mood to eat fruit. We should continue looking around for what we need, so we may return home in time," said Ophelia.

"Have I spoiled your mood? All I did was eat what you were so kind to offer me. Pack plenty," Dante told the man waiting for them to make up their minds. "My guards will settle the pay."

Dante followed Ophelia before she could wander off and be courted again.

"You shouldn’t think anything of it. I was teasing you," Dante confessed.

"I know that you are teasing me. It is the one answer behind all of your actions," Ophelia said, trying not to think of his touch still lingering on her fingers.

"If it is that it stirred something inside of you, it is natural. Afterall, I am your husband. It is only natural that at one point you would be tempted-"

"I am not tempted by anything," Ophelia interjected.

"I will believe you to save your pride. It is not wrong to have those desires despite what others would tell you. I am not saying you must act upon them or take them seriously. I am only saying it is natural," Dante explained.

"I know that our wedding night wasn’t pleasant for you, and you would not have any interest in taking part in those marital duties, but should it cross your mind, I am here," Dante offered.

"Of course you would be. What man would turn the opportunity away? I was affected in the moment," Ophelia confessed, and it pained her to admit. "But that isn’t on my mind. It has never been something I need, and quite frankly, I don’t need that kind of discomfort again."

Ophelia palmed her face. "Must we speak of this now in a market for others to overhear it?"

"Will we speak of it again?"

Ophelia lowered her hand. "No. I’d rather we don’t speak of it again. I like the way we are now and don’t want such carnal desires to get in the way of it. I understand that you are offering yourself if I need to, you know. However, it is not something I need."

Ophelia placed distance between them as they walked. "Do you need it? Since I cannot comfortably take part in those duties, I don’t mind if you go elsewhere."

"What I would like," Dante said, reaching for Ophelia’s hand so she didn’t drift too far away. "Is for my wife to not suggest I be with anyone else. I can control myself and not need to be with another lady should my wife not be in the mood. I am only saying I am here."

"Surely you know the more we lie with each other, the more chances you would have in creating a child. Neither of us wants that, so we’d best avoid it. I am curious why you were so certain I would not be pregnant. You can tell me if it is it doesn’t work well," Ophelia said, her gaze going lower so Dante understood.

"It works quite well-"

"How do you know when you don’t have children? Unless you do," Ophelia said, suspicious.

"I do not have children. I simply know that you are not pregnant. Must I show you that it works quite well?"

"You mustn’t," Ophelia answered, shaking her head. "You are right that it is natural to have these talks. I have enjoyed it, but we must be careful. I have noticed two women purposely coming close to us."

"Ophelia?"

Ophelia looked in the direction of Giselle’s voice.

"It must be that I have a special scent for them to sniff and find me, or they have been watching us," Ophelia muttered.

"Ophelia!" Bella exclaimed, excited to see her sister. "Are you shopping for dresses as well?"

"Bella, you mustn’t be so loud," Giselle whispered, wanting to avoid more attention. "Had I known you were also around, I would have joined you. Good day, Lord Hastings."

Giselle smiled, but she felt uneasy under Dante’s gaze. Dante glared at her as though she had offended him, but it couldn’t be so since they didn’t have a chance to speak.

"Lady Valthorn," Dante returned the greeting.

Freya remained silent and took notice of the men following Ophelia and Dante. They carried boxes which she knew were likely to hold what belonged to Ophelia.

’Why is he wasting his money on her?’ Freya thought.

Freya was impatient to see Ophelia’s fall.

When was Ophelia going to die?

Was that not the reason why her father didn’t push her to marry Lord Hastings? 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Freya didn’t find being courted by the prince exciting since he had not sent her any gifts, and then the awful news came that she couldn’t wed the prince this season.

Freya dug her nails into her skin as she thought of her father’s plans. She could be engaged to the prince this season, but they would have to wed next season.

"Can we join you?" Bella asked, eager to spend time with Ophelia.

"Bella misses you so much. You are all she speaks of, and she said she promised Theo to speak to you," said Giselle.

Bella frowned, hearing of this for the first time. She wasn’t allowed to see Theo, and now that she thought of it, she felt bad for not having any news to share with Ophelia. It was the one gift she could pass to Ophelia, and she failed.

"I would love to speak with you, but I am here with my husband. If we are lucky, we will meet once more where no one can disturb us. It is good to see that you are well," Ophelia said, smiling in hopes of making Bella feel better.

"Then, I shall see you before you depart for your land. There is a dress I wanted," Bella said, her head bowed as she tried to hide her emotions.

"Bella, didn’t you want to speak to Ophelia now?" Giselle asked, nudging Bella forward.

"No. Freya and I have much we need to get before going back to Father and Nigel. I don’t want to wait," Bella answered.

Giselle felt her hands were tied. "Then we shall go. Good day to both of you."

Dante kept an eye on the trio as they went about their day. "It seemed you wanted to speak to the younger daughter," he said.

"I did, but Giselle wanted to make use of Bella. Bella is innocent, so I don’t want to place her in the middle and trouble her. I hope to speak to her one day without Giselle by her side, and hopefully, when that time comes, Bella will still care for me," said Ophelia.