Chapter 3 A shy bride

I,.. l am going downstairs," she stuttered without turning back.

Her face was a light shade of pink.

As she noticed he ignored her answer, she quickly opened the door and went downstairs.

"Come, my dear," the baroness beckoned to her as she came into the dining hall.

She looked at the big oak table, well decorated and befitting of a palace. She was sure different varieties of food were laid on it by the servants.

Celine smiled politely and sat at the seat the baroness pointed.

"What would you have?" she said, "or would you wait for your husband?"

"Oh there he comes!" she announced, smiling at her son.

Celine looked up to see David's tall, handsome frame; he was wearing a green t-shirt that seemed to hug his body and bring out his muscular chest.

He went over and kissed his mother's cheek and sat close to Celine.

"Mother, how is your health?" I hope you are not too tired," he asked calmly.

"No my dear," she said.

"I had a little rest and I am fine now."

"Good to hear that," David said

"I am happy you are fine."

Celine was listening to mother and son's conversation, he smelled of men's cologne, strong but still pleasant.

She likes it, she thought to herself.

"Are you going to the office tomorrow?" The baroness asked.

"You should have a two-day break, you just got married, you know, you need to be a responsible husband."

She said it with a wink at Celine which made her blush.

David looked towards Celine, his eyes running over her, as she was seated quietly.

"Blue colour suits you well," he said, making her blush deepen.

"What do you have to say, Celine? Should I go to work or not?"David asked.

He said it with a deep voice that sounded as if he was mocking her.

She looked up at him reluctantly, this was the first time he uttered her name.

He grinned suddenly!

Celine gazed at him in awe.

A smile seemed to light up his face, she never knew he looked charming when he smiled.

"I feel if you have more important work to do in the office, you should go," Celine said

She was startled as she saw him frown at her answer.

"Of course not Celine," the baroness said," he has to stay home for two days."

"It is fine Mother, I will do as you say," David said.

He gave Celine a mocking look as he knew she was trying to avoid him.

Celine looked towards the baroness and smiled at her.

"It's okay ma'am," Celine said.

"Call me mother," the baroness said as she smiled back warmly.

"Okay, Mother," Celine replied.

"I am going to my study," David said after a while when they had finished their dinner.

"I have some phone calls to make," he pushed his chair aside and walked towards the left side of the house to his study, closing the door behind him with a clink.

"I hope you are getting used to the house my dear? "the baroness asked Celine.

"Yes, Mother, "Celine answered, "the mansion is beautiful and huge; it will take days to get used to it."

"Yes, my dear, you have all the time, so take your time; it's your house now."

"Thank you, mother," Celine said.

The baroness stood up and excused herself as well.

"I have to go and rest, Celine; it's been a long day, my dear."

"Welcome once again my dear," she said with a smile, opening her arms to hug Celine.

"Thank you, Mother," Celine said and hugged her back.

"Good Night Mother!"Celine said.

"Good night my dear!"The baroness said.

*********

In his study, David sat in his chair and picked up the telephone.

He had to make a phone call to his secretary, Arabella.

She was a good secretary, she understood how he worked and he wouldn't want to change her, although she had her flaws sometimes,

Coupled with the advances she made at him which he always ignored.

He would have married her but he kept their relationship strictly professional as he wasn't attracted to her.

He called her and arranged some meetings in two days.

Staying away from the office for two days was a long break for him, he found solace in working after he was cheated on by his fiancee and his best friend.

He was lucky they eloped on the day before the wedding and not on the wedding day, saving him some embarrassment.

He knew his fiance was extravagant and materialistic, but he never knew she would have eyes for his best friend from France, who was a business tycoon and was richer than him.

It took his mother's soothing words and care to help him get over the betrayal.

Making himself a workaholic also soothes his pain, but he was over it now, and he swore that no woman would be allowed to come close to his heart again.

It took a lot of coaxing from his mother to finally convince him about getting married because it was stapled in his father's will that he has to be married before the age of thirty-eight to produce an heir, to inherit his father's legacy, and he was thirty-six now, he wasn't getting younger.

He didn't mind any woman, but he had fate in his mother's choice as she chose Celine who was the daughter of their family lawyer.

He wasn't concerned much about her father's problems at his law firm, investing in the law firm was not an issue for him, but he hoped his wife would not be a clingy type, he would hate that, he just wanted a strong woman who would fulfil her duties as a wife, and also produces an heir.

"Dammit!" he exclaimed loudly.

Thinking about producing an heir made his eyebrows raise, he went to the small fridge beside his table and poured himself a drink.

He was aware of how attractive she looked, and he knew he could be lost when he touched her, but the temptation was much.

"Oh my!"

"What is she doing to him?" he said to himself.

Looking down at the wine bottle he was surprised to see he had almost finished it.

He returned it to the fridge, turned off the light and went upstairs to his room.

********

Celine looked around her environment as the baroness left.

Chandeliers were lit and looked Beautiful. The room looks very huge to occupy a lot of people for dinner, but there is a gloom to it that shows there had been dullness for a long time.

She stood up and moved upstairs to her room, took a toothbrush and brushed her teeth, then she opened her suitcase to put her things in the wardrobe.

The first thing she saw was her purple long nightgown. She put it on, wore a robe over it, and continued to hang the rest of the clothes.

She anticipated how her first night married again would be, she didn't know what David expected of her, but she was grateful for this second chance at marriage

She noticed that David was polite but aloof.

"Does he take this marriage as a contract?" She thought aloud.

Anyway, she shrugged, she's happy she could help her father secure his law firm and also boost his career, but for herself, she would just try to make herself happy despite her husband's cold and indifferent attitude.

She took out the last piece of clothing, which was a navy blue suit, and hung it in the wardrobe.

Closing the wardrobe she saw someone standing and looking at her from the doorway.

"My God!" she exclaimed, her heart beating fast with fear.

.