chapter 43
Elena's POV:
Isabella's unexpected arrival had forced me to abandon any hope of a leisurely morning in bed.
Now, standing before the vanity mirror in what had become our bedroom, I could see exactly why my body felt so thoroughly claimed.
Dark purple bruises bloomed along my collarbone like exotic flowers, while the delicate skin of my throat bore the faint imprint of Sebastian's fingers from where he'd held me during the most intense moments of our wedding night.
Each mark served as tangible proof of his desperate need to possess me completely, evidence of the way he'd whispered my name like a prayer while mapping every inch of my skin with reverent hunger.
I grabbed a high-necked sweater from the wardrobe and pulled it on quickly—there was absolutely no way I could face anyone with such extensive marks from our wedding night still visible.
Another knock came at the door, followed by the maid's increasingly anxious voice. "Mrs. Vane? I'm terribly sorry to disturb you again, but Miss Morrison believes you're deliberately keeping her waiting and says if you don't come down immediately, she'll come up to find you herself, ma'am."
I could hear the barely concealed worry in the woman's tone.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the bedroom door and walked directly downstairs, where I found Isabella pacing back and forth across the living room with barely contained fury, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.
"Good morning, Isabella," I said, my voice carefully controlled as I descended the final steps. "What has you in such a temper so early in the day?"
At my words, Isabella whirled around to face me, the fury from her long wait still burning bright in her eyes.
"Is this how you were raised?" Isabella snapped the moment she saw me, her voice dripping with disdain. "Keeping guests waiting for half an hour while you primp upstairs? I suppose that's what passes for manners in whatever little backwater you crawled out of. Clearly, your parents never taught you proper etiquette."
The moment she brought my parents into this, my eyes turned ice-cold as I fixed her with a deadly stare.
"And exactly who here lacks proper breeding, Isabella? You show up at someone's home unannounced at the crack of dawn, then throw a tantrum like a spoiled child when you're not immediately catered to."
"Home?" Isabella's voice wavered slightly before she forced a brittle laugh, her cheeks flushing with indignation as she struggled to regain her composure. "This isn't your home, Elena. You're nothing more than Sebastian's latest pet bird, kept in a pretty cage until he grows bored."
"Miss Morrison!" The maid's scandalized voice cut through the tension. "You cannot speak to Mrs. Vane in such a manner!"
Isabella's face went white, her mouth falling open in shock. "Mrs... what did you just call her?"
I met Isabella's eyes directly, my voice calm and matter-of-fact. "Oh, I forgot to mention—we were married yesterday. Legally certified."
Isabella stared at me in stunned silence, the words seeming to rob her of speech entirely. The room fell into an eerie quiet, broken only by the soft ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.
I walked over to the sofa and settled myself down, my tone businesslike as I broke the silence. "Now then, what exactly did you come here to discuss?"
Isabella still looked shell-shocked, shaking her head as if to clear it. "Nothing. I... I should go."
She turned toward the door but stopped halfway, her pride clearly warring with her confusion.
Spinning back around, her voice carried a note of bitter frustration. "I just don't understand how you managed it so easily when I've been trying for years. What is it about you that made Sebastian finally—"
I studied the stubborn defiance in her eyes, catching the subtle notes of the fragrance I'd custom-blended for her still clinging to her skin. My gaze dropped to notice the familiar perfume bottle clutched in her hand—the very one I'd given her.
Understanding dawned on me immediately. "Don't tell me you came here today to ask for the formula."
Isabella froze for an instant, her fingers tightening around the perfume bottle as if it were a lifeline. Though she said nothing, her sudden stillness and the way she clutched the fragrance closer to her chest confirmed my suspicion entirely.
I studied her carefully, then gestured toward the hallway. "Come on then. Let me show you my fragrance studio."
I turned and walked toward the stairs, my footsteps echoing softly in the marble foyer.
Behind me, I could hear Isabella hesitating, her heels silent against the floor as she wrestled with her pride and curiosity. After a long moment, the sharp click of her footsteps resumed as she finally chose to follow.
When I pushed open the door to my studio, I heard Isabella's sharp intake of breath behind me.
Sebastian had spared no expense in creating this sanctuary for me—floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets lined the walls, filled with hundreds of essential oils, rare extracts, and delicate crystal bottles containing my various creations and works in progress.
Handwritten formulas were scattered across antique mahogany tables, while display cases showcased an array of perfume bottles I'd designed myself, each one a miniature work of art with its own unique silhouette and aesthetic.
Isabella moved through the space like a visitor in a museum, her eyes wide as she took in the sophisticated setup, pausing to examine the intricate bottle designs and inhale the complex layers of scent that permeated the air.
When she noticed me watching her obvious fascination, she quickly composed herself, lifting her chin with forced nonchalance. "Well, I have to admit I didn't expect you to actually know what you were doing."
I gestured toward a leather-bound notebook lying open on the central workstation. "The formula for your fragrance is right there, if you're interested."
Isabella walked over and picked up the notebook, studying the detailed notes and measurements written in my careful handwriting.
After a moment, she looked up at me with genuine confusion clouding her features. "You're just... giving this to me? Just like that?"