The Invisible Husband Read Online Free

seemed to promise every conceivable evil. Eve spun
round to see a dark shape of a man against the closed curtains.
“…I’m right here.”

    “Forgive me my
Lord…I thought her Ladyship would sleep longer…”

    “Send up her
lady’s maid and prepare the small dark dining room for breakfast in
an hour.”

    “Yes my Lord.”
Jangling keys clanked together as the woman ran back the way she’d
come leaving Eve alone at the mercy of her husband.

    “You
called…my Lady?”

    Was there a
smile in his husky whisper? She slammed the door closed and marched
across the room her knees weak with fear, her hammering heart
advising caution. A few feet from the shadow she noticed the black
hole in the wall where he’d entered. She stopped within arms reach
and put her hands on her hips as she conquered the desire to turn
and run. “At last, my invisible husband; perhaps you’d be so good
as to introduce yourself and explain why you married me.” Her voice
rose to an ear splitting scream. “Why?” A shadow arm reached out as
if to comfort her. “Don’t touch me!” The arm recoiled as if
slapped. Shadowy hands were placed on hips, somehow giving off an
air of injury. Taking a deep breath she asked in an almost normal
tone. “Why did you close the curtains?”

    “I’m
hideous.”

    “Why are you
whispering?”

    “I can’t talk
any louder. I survived a deep wound across the throat.”

    “Well, that
makes me feel safe. Did you cut yourself shaving? Did you try to
kill yourself out of despair or did someone try to murder you?”

    “I challenged a
man to a duel.”

    “How romantic;
I might also add…how stupid.”

    “Yes. Thank you
for adding that.”

    “So this
romantic stupid streak…this inspired you to purchase a woman, a
woman you’ve never met, to be your wife?”

    “My mother
thinks so.”

    “You have a
mother? Are you a widow? Do you have children? How old are you?
Where do you live? Are you mad? I don’t know anything about you. I
wasn’t even privy to your name before that melodramatic insanity
you dreamed up for a wedding.”

    “You’re my
first wife. I know I should have written, but every time I tried to
put pen to paper it all came out sounding…stupid.”

    Eve relaxed; it
wasn’t exactly what one expected a demon-lord to say. “I suppose I
should be grateful that you’re aware of your faults. Would you
please open the curtains? I’d like to see what my husband looks
like.”

    “No…I’m not
presentable.”

    “I can see that
you’re wearing a dressing gown, so I assume you mean your
face?”

    “Yes.”

    “What’s wrong
with your face?”

    “I’ll show you
when you’re ready.”

    “And how will
you know when I’m ready?”

    The man paused
and took a long deep breath. “You’ll be in love with me.”

    Eve’s burst out
laughing; her life was getting stranger by the hour. “You can’t be
serious.”

    “I am.”

    “Why would you
want me to fall in love with you?”

    “You’re my
wife. Why wouldn’t I want you to love me?”

    “So you’re not
going to ravish or beat me if I hazard an unfavourable opinion on
the state of your sanity?”

    “I wouldn’t
dream of hurting you…” A soft knock on the chamber door announced
the arrival of the maid. “…your wish is my desire…my lady.”

    “I desire you
to leave my room my Lord.”

    “My Lady.” The
shadow bowed respectfully and then disappeared into the black hole
in the wall which slid shut with a soft click. The whole situation
was absurd. Eve was still laughing at the thought of falling in
love with her demon-husband as the lady’s maid helped her change
her dress and put up her hair. Questions burst into her mind like
fireworks; thankfully Lord Latham appeared quite willing to feed
her curiosity…if she could find him. Her stomach rumbled with
anticipation for breakfast and another strange interview with her
husband.

Chapter 6

    Adam slumped
onto his bed and railed himself with a