Beneath The Veil

throbbed at her temples in time with her heartbeat, her mouth dry as desert sand. She shifted slight

hiskey, and what came after. Heat flooded her cheeks as fragments replayed in vivid detail

ld into wakefulness. Esme kept her eyes closed, feigning sleep, unsure how to face t

he sat up, a soft groan escaping him. She heard the rustle

red, so quietly sh

ck of the bathroom door. The shower started moments later, the sound

her wedding gown a pool of white silk and lace, undergarments strewn like breadcrumbs m

r her things and retreat to another room? Pretend last night never happened? Her grandmother had prepared her for many social si

is waist, his hair damp and tousled, droplets of water still clinging to his shoulders. He looked young

w her awake, something unre

, her voice raspy from slee

k-in closet, keeping his back

e intimacy they'd shared. "I've been bet

." His voice was neutral, carefully cont

uldn't see it with his b

suit from the closet: charcoal gray, crisp whi

" he began, still

"We were both drunk," she said quickly, sparing him the discomfo

ded. "Nevertheless, I should have ex

finished when he

ed. "Why didn't

I didn't realize my sexual history w

kly replaced by a reluctant half-smile. "Fair enough." He

w s

oose his words carefully. "I should have

e sheet tighter.

finally met hers, direct and unflinching. "Drunk, with a man

. This man, cold, distant, complicated, was exactly who sh

she said quietly. "We

d back to dressing, movements efficient and practiced. "I have meetings today. I'll be back around eight. Feel free to ex

ief moment of personal connection gone. Esme swallo

had the decorator set up the guest room as your studio. Your grandmoth

htful gesture anyone had shown her in years, and from the last

"The closet in here has been cleared fo

leanor had always chosen her wardrobe, insisting

smoothed back to neutrality. "We'll remedy that. I've arranged for a personal shopper

, but about appearances. The perfect t

she said, keepin

umber on the kitchen counter if you need anything. And here." He reached into

rticularly well-kept mistress rather

her, his tone matter-of-fact. "Standard procedure in these a

way Eleanor had ensured her dependenc

ed his tie in the mirror, the perfect picture of c

the nightstand, checking the screen. His expression shifted sub

d, already moving toward the

of their wedding night, an aching head, and the crushing rea