A man who had just been given an opportunity to demand almost anything and had instead added freedom to her contract.
Eliza signed.
He signed beneath her.
Then looked at the paper.
“We need a minister.”
“Tonight?”
“The sooner the board sees a legal marriage, the less room they have.”
Eliza blinked.
“You really are practical.”
“You brought a marriage contract in a storm.”
“Fair.”
Nathan put on his coat.
Then stopped.
“Eliza.”
“Yes?”
“If we do this tonight, I need one more thing understood.”
Her stomach tightened again.
“What?”
He looked at her for a long moment.
“When we are outside this house, I will act like your husband.”
“That is the purpose.”
“No.”
His voice lowered.
“I mean if Grayson speaks to you the way he has been speaking, I may forget how temporary any of this is.”
Eliza’s pulse jumped.
“I can defend myself.”
“I know.”
“I don’t need you fighting him.”
“I know that too.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Nathan stepped close enough that she could feel warmth from him.
“I’m saying I will follow your lead.”
“But I will not stand beside you and pretend not to care.”
She looked up.
“That wasn’t in the contract.”
“No.”
“Should we add it?”
His mouth curved.
“I think some things should remain unwritten.”
They married at ten seventeen that night.
Reverend Pritchard wore a nightshirt beneath his coat and looked deeply offended by both the weather and the hour.
His wife served as witness.
So did Nathan’s foreman, Thomas Reed, who had to be dragged from the bunkhouse and spent the entire ceremony staring between Nathan and Eliza as though he had missed several important chapters.
The reverend asked:
“Do you, Nathaniel Cole…”
Eliza looked toward Nathan.
“Nathaniel?”
Nathan closed his eyes briefly.
She whispered:
“You never told me.”
“You never asked.”
“I married a Nathaniel.”
“Please concentrate.”
She nearly laughed during the vows.
That helped.
Then Reverend Pritchard pronounced them husband and wife.
Nathan looked at her.
Eliza realized a kiss was expected.
The contract had nothing about kisses.
The reverend waited.
Mrs. Pritchard smiled.
Thomas Reed looked fascinated.
Nathan leaned slightly closer.
Quietly:
“May I?”
Eliza’s heart hammered.
She nodded.
His lips touched hers.
Barely.
Respectful.
Brief.
And far more dangerous than a dramatic kiss would have been.
Because Eliza wanted him to do it again.
He did not.
Of course.
Practical man.
They returned home after midnight.
Home.
Eliza nearly stumbled over the word inside her head.
Nathan carried her small overnight bag upstairs.
He stopped before the guest room.
“Your room.”
She entered.
Bed.
Washstand.
Small desk.
Window overlooking the eastern pasture.
Fresh sheets.
No flowers.
Nathan was not a flower man.
She appreciated that.
He set the bag down.
“I’ll sleep across the hall.”
“Thank you.”
“If you need anything…”
“I know.”
He reached the doorway.
“Nathan.”
He turned.
Eliza hesitated.
“Why me?”