In His World

ian

where I could think without someone asking me questions I didn't want to answer,

ke someone di

nto a stool. "My b

brother James who said commitment w

I signaled for a drink. "My father announced a new rule at d

d Blackwell." Marcus poured me

nnounced his engagement three hours ago." I do

a wife in six

just makes it more interesting." I pu

it. "What are y

nking instead of home panicking." I looked

are." Marcus sat down across from me. "

ke w

." Marcus shrugged. "Rich men have been buying wives for

old air rushed in along with a woman who stumbled

rom across the room I could see she'd been crying for hours becaus

help her?" I

did I, and we both watched her make her way

ine and put her head on the counter. "Vodka,

. "I think you've h

e her eyes were red and swollen. "My parents died two weeks ago in

ebt?" Marcus

se." She laughed but it came out broken. "The house where I grew up, where my mother

lculating that told me this was the opportunity I'd b

the stool next to hers.

ried to focus. "Are you offering to lend

ed Marcus for another drink. "I'm off

?" She squinted at me.

thing from you." I waited while Marcus poured

terical laughter that people do when they've gone past cryin

three days ago just in case. "Marry me tonight, stay married for eighteen

g at the contract now. "Why would yo

're here and desperate enough to say yes.

words but her eyes kept sliding off the pa

d attend events with me and play the role of my wife in public, and when the eig

u'll pay

ed out a pen. "Forty thousand pounds tr

en at Marcus who was watching us both like he cou

e pen. "Sign and save your house

as shaking so badly she could ba

nything, just scrawled her name across the bot

your name

ached for her vo

usand pounds to the account number she'd written

d started crying again. "It'

ded the contract. "Now w

ooked up. "We

he marriage ceremony." I looked at M

arry my sister." Marcus shook his head. "Bu

legally perfor

ically

na who was drinking more vodka

et's get married, why not, I've alr

h a laptop and a marriage certificate, and the old man

," he said. "This is b

ed Elena to her feet and she sw

ding onto my arm. "Ev

from his laptop about love and commitment and forever, and Ele

e Elena Hart to be your lawfu

a who was barely

e Adrian Blackwell to be yo

s opened sli

an as your husband

ords were slur

to say I do,"

swaying worse now

husband and wife." Marcus closed his laptop. "

and I caught her before she hit the floor, a

hree days and looked at her left hand, and I slid the ring

ing on your unconsciou

looked down at Elena.