The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 75
It sounded like a groan, or maybe a small whisper.
âMmm, nnhâŚâ
After all that fuss about being cold, she now tosses and turns, mumbling as if sheâs frustrated.
Even though sheâs never been camping before, itâs not so cold that she should be acting like this. Ash had expected it from the moment she started pulling the blankets up so forcefully.
âŚStill, it was a bit surprising.
The person who used to complain about every little thing had quietly followed along, enduring this forced march without a word of complaint.
He was beginning to understand why Melanie and Jeffrey said she seemed different somehow.
ââŚI should probably cover her with the blanket.â
He rose quietly and approached her.
It would be troublesome if her condition worsened and delayed the journey tomorrow.
âMmm, must⌠againâŚâ
But as he saw his wifeâs face murmuring to an unknown someone in her sleep, he stopped, forgetting what he was about to do.
And he couldnât help but stay frozen in place.
***
Come morning, she truly felt like death.
She thought a hot bath had soothed her body, which had been tortured by the carriage ride, butâŚ
Her whole body ached as if sheâd been trampled, and her eyelids were swollen like a frogâs.
As if sheâd been crying all night.
While Nina finished washing her face and applied a cold towel to reduce the swelling around her eyes, Marsha spoke in a serious voice.
âMadam, by any chanceâŚâ
âYes?â
âAbout last nightâŚâ
âWhat about it?â
âNo, itâs nothing.â
Marsha bit her lip with a strangely serious expression.
With her brown eyes wavering and her face tense, it was clearly not ânothingâ at all.
Nina stopped her compress and frowned.
âNothing? What do you mean nothing? Donât leave me hanging, just say it.â
There was no way sheâd look so serious if it were truly nothing.
When Nina urged her to speak, Marshaâs eyes filled with tears.
âDid His Grace⌠by any chanceâŚâ
âYes.â
ââŚDid he lay a hand on youâŚ?â
Him? On me?
ââŚWhat kind of ridiculous question is that?â
Her eyes widened in shock, but only for a moment.
When she followed Marshaâs gaze, she realized what had happened.
Blood-stained nightgown and handkerchiefs were shoved into the corner.
âMarsha, honestly, what kind of misunderstanding is thatâŚ!â
If she were asking if they had consummated the marriage, thatâd be one thing!
Of course, this wasnât their wedding night, nor was it a private roomâit was a tent in the middle of the mountains, so such a thing was out of the question.
But still, to make such an assumptionâŚ
The question was so intense it made her realize just how terrible their marriage must look to others.
âThen, was it perhaps⌠a wedding night?â
âNo, it was a nosebleed! I accidentally tripped last night and got a nosebleed.â
Honestly, the serious expression made sense now.
âSo nothing really happenedâŚ?â
âMarsha, even if His Grace dislikes me, heâs not the type to strike a woman.â
âŚThough he has no problem destroying my family instead.
âWell, thatâs a reliefâŚâ
Still looking doubtful, Marsha eventually picked up the pajamas and handkerchiefs and lifted the tent flap.
ââŚAnyway, Iâll take care of these. We wouldnât want anyone else to misunderstand⌠Oh my goodness!â
âMarsha?â
Whatâs gotten her so startled?
Turning around in confusion, Nina gasped in surprise herself.
Her husband, with slightly damp hair and dressed casually, was standing there, balancing a large tray with baked potatoes and stew on one arm.
âCould he have overheard what we were saying just nowâŚ?â
Even if sheâd said it out of concern, her words could easily be grounds for slandering a noble, so Nina anxiously studied Ashâs expression.
âYouâre awake?â
âAh, yesâŚâ
Seeing him pass by Marsha, who was clutching the laundry with a frightened look, she was relieved to think he hadnât overheard anything.
If he had, he surely would have made a sarcastic comment.
Clack.
Ash set the tray down on a small table.
If her eyes werenât mistaken, this was enough for twoâŚ
Nina looked back and forth between the table and his face, feeling foolish.
ââŚWhy are you looking at me like that? Youâre the one who said you wanted to spend the remaining time as friends.â
âOhâŚâ
She hadnât expected much when sheâd said it, but heâd actually taken her words to heart.
Sheâd been worried that the tent mishap might raise his suspicions unnecessarily, but perhaps this was a blessing in disguise.
It felt like a flicker of hope had come to life right before her eyes.
With an excited expression, Nina sat down and began to eat enthusiastically, her earlier gloom from the morning forgotten.
Unaware of the lingering gaze that rested on her still-puffy eyes.
