Third Meeting
1201 Words
Genevieve had the satisfaction of seeing her aunt look like a goldfish. Her aunt turned red and opened her mouth several times and struggled to speak.
“...Married?”
Lucian to give him his human name, put his arm around her.
“I married your niece. Would you like to check the certificate?”
Genevieve didn’t move. She was surprised, but not to the extent of her aunt. Who would have expected the demon to take this route to fulfil the contract?
“...No,” her aunt said weakly. “I’ll tell my husband.”
Her uncle reacted in a very similar way to his wife. His face was red and he struggled to speak. Genevieve was satisfied. She had longed to tell them to shut up.
“In any case, I will repeat myself, I am coming to live here and I do not want to live with you two. You two can leave in the morning,” Lucian said and leaned back.
“I agree,” Genevieve said.
Her aunt opened her mouth weakly.
“She was supposed to marry someone else…”
Lucian glared at her and Genevieve watched her aunt wilt into the chair.
“I married her. I am rich and I have a title. Surely that is enough for your darling niece?”
His cards were well picked. Genevieve wondered if it was part of him being a demon. Her aunt had been claiming the match was well meant for her and was what her parents wanted. Now he had turned that on her.
“I’ll give you an allowance,” he continued. “Just for being related to my dear Genevieve and for looking after her since her parents’ death.”
Her aunt perked up noticeably at the mention of money.
“I am so honoured that you would want to marry my niece. I will leave in the morning with my husband so you newlyweds can have some peace.”
Lucian poked her nose and Genevieve frowned at him. She was not appreciating the intimate contact.
“That will be much appreciated. We have had to spend our courting days in secret, it will be nice to be open about our love for each other.”
“Of course,” her aunt said gushingly. “We will leave you in peace now. Have a nice evening. I will ask the butler to arrange a room for you.”
Lucian smiled and Genevieve waited until Mr and Mrs Banks had left the room to demand some answers.
“Is this your method?”
Lucian leaned back into the sofa and smirked.
“It is what I came up with.”
Genevieve squinted at him,
“Is there any chance you will leave after they have left?”
Lucian frowned. “They might visit regularly to check on you. They will be be suspicious if the servants tell them I left and never came back after tomorrow.”
Genevieve groaned. She was stuck living with a demon for an unfixed amount of time.
“I will be well behaved,” Lucian quipped. “I do not make much noise. We just need to keep up a married couple act for the servants.”
Genevieve groaned again. She sensed he was having fun with this.
Lucian looked at her searchingly and she frowned.
“Why are you staring at me?”
“You look better.”
Had he been concerned about her?
“I’ve been quite hungry since you scratched my arm. Is that a side effect of the contract?”
Lucian had the grace to look guilty.
“The contract drains energy from the human contractee. It is not a large amount, you will find you have an increased appetite. You just have to share blood with me each day.”
Genevieve sensed he wasn’t being quite serious with her.
“I sense a lie.”
Lucian shrugged.
“I was exaggerating. We just have to have skin contact with each other.”
He touched her cheek with the back of his hand and Genevieve flinched. His skin was burning hot.
“Shh. You’ll get used to the heat. I am a demon after all.”
The demon kept his hand there for a minute and Genevieve did feel noticeably more awake. Now she had even more questions.
“Is this your real face?”
Lucian snorted.
“You are very kind to me. This is my real face and my name really is Lucian Ward. I really am a Lord. I’ve been around for centuries on earth.”
“Do you age?”
He shook his head gently.
“It does cause some logistical difficulties. I have to keep inheriting my own money.”
It did seem like demons did have some problems. Genevieve’s curiosity had been sated a little, but not enough.
“How involved in my life are you going to be?”
“I am your husband,” he grinned.
“It is a serious question,” she asked.
Lucian appeared to have realised that she really wanted an answer.
“You are free to do anything, but given that we are supposed to be married you cannot court any men, marry them or have anyone on the side. Other than that, I don’t care what you do.”
Genevieve saw the logic in that. She couldn’t turn up at balls declaring herself a single woman and fill up dance cards like a woman in search of a husband.
“That is fair,” she agreed.
“No affairs,” he agreed. “Do not cheat on me.”
Was that what he was worried about? Genevieve couldn’t understand his priorities. She took up her book again and made an attempt to read.
She only managed a few pages before realising he was staring at her. Another page and she could still feel his gaze.
“Yes?” she asked after another page worth of staring.
“Surely married women do not just sit there reading and ignore their husbands?”
“This one does,” she retorted and opened the book again.
Her hair was moved away from her face by a very warm hand. She frowned at him.
“Someone is listening,” he whispered.
It was probably her aunt wanting to check on them.
“What do I do?” she hissed.
“Are you fine with me kissing your hand?”
She nodded and he kissed her hand very loudly.
“I love you very ardently,” he said in a raised voice. “Let’s stay married forever.”
She knew she needed to reply somewhat affectionately.
“I feel the same way.”
“Good girl,” he said a moment later. “Your aunt has gone. Probably felt like she was going to vomit hearing such sweet talk.”
Genevieve relaxed. He was at least a polite demon.
“We might have to put on acts like that occasionally.”
Maybe he wasn’t such a polite demon.
- Writer
