Kings of Cardenas: The Complete Series by Elise Marion

Author:Elise Marion
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Romance, Love Story
Publisher: Marion Press
Published: 2014-05-04T14:00:00+00:00

WHEN THE HOUSEKEEPER escorted Garrick into the dining room, Hanako was already seated at the massive dining room table, cup of tea in hand. The high-backed chair nearly swallowed her up and the massive furnishings in the room made her appear smaller than ever. However, the impact of her presence was not diminished in the least.

She sat, her back straight, dressed in an attractive riding habit with her hair freshly washed and gleaming down to her chin in a sleek, straight curtain that framed her face. Hanako nodded in acknowledgement as he took a seat to her left and accepted the footman’s offer of tea.

“Would you care for breakfast?” she asked. “I could have Mrs. Cunningham prepare something for you.”

Garrick shook his head and stirred two cubes of sugar and a dollop of milk into his tea. “No, thank you, tea is fine.”

He sipped slowly and watched her as she drained her cup and sat it back in the saucer, her movements refined. Garrick wondered if she had been part of the nobility in Japan. Her air of superiority certainly suggested it.

“I suppose we may as well get at it. I have a meeting with the king this afternoon and I’d like to see you settled at Willow Cross.”

She nodded but was otherwise silent. Garrick cleared his throat and continued.

“I am aware that you have responsibilities that come with Stonevale, as well as the ladies regiment in Gladstone. I want you to know that as your husband, I do not intend to stand in the way of your interests.”

Hanako raised one raven black brow at him and smirked. “I would certainly hope not, my lord.”

“Please, I wish that you would use my name. You are my wife now and as such, I would think that we should address each other as if we are more than mere acquaintances. Especially if we are to convince people that this is a love match.”

“I do not understand why we must provide that illusion.”

Garrick’s mouth tightened in annoyance. “Pardon me, but are you not out to convince your jilted husband that this marriage is real? If so, then it would stand to reason that presenting a secret marriage would go over best if we play the role of people in love. How else would we explain that we’ve been married for weeks and kept it hidden?”

He had expected his response to fluster her, to make her contrite for her interrupting him. Instead, she merely stared at him, unruffled, her expression as neutral as it had been upon his arrival.

“I suppose you are right,” she said. “Please, go on.”

“I was thinking that it would be best for you to come to Willow Cross, at least for the time being. It would also help for us to be seen together as much as possible. I know that you lead a quiet life and do not attend many soirees, but as a member of the High Council I am expected to. It is not necessary for you to attend all of these functions with me, but I would hope you could accompany me to some.

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